The tree

I have been kind of sad that we weren't going to have a Christmas tree this year.  We were spoiled in Idaho when we could get one for $10 but not this year.  We were going to be without and it kind of made me a little sad.  But that was until my landlady told me we could have her old one.  She said that since she was getting old she wanted a pre-lit tree so she wanted to give us her old one.  Isn't she wonderful?  What a miracle!

So here is a very long video of us decorating our christmas tree.  It's nothing exciting so if you are expecting it to get better it probably wont.  I just wanted to do something different and easy.  I am apologizing beforehand because we look like bums.

Blog stalking

When I am bored I love to stalk people on the internet and I actually find a lot of cool things.

First order of business is the Mud Run.  It's a 10k mixed with an obstacle course.  Looks pretty amazing to me! It's in Midvale so I'll have to figure out how I will get over there to do it.  Maybe it will have to be after  McKay graduates.  They do team races too, doesn't it look fun?!

I already told you McKay and I are addicted to the Shaytards?  One of the reasons why I think we like it so much is because it is our only window to back home. Fast forward to 7:07 and I started crying b/c I missed our piece of crap Jetta (those stupid belts), then because I missed the SLC parking lot.  Fast forward to 10:03 and I started crying b/c of I-15, the snow, the scenery, and the highway, Inkom, and Century high school.  I never went to that school, or liked it, and it looks like a maximum security prison but apparently I miss it. 

I have been stalking other people for quiet book ideas (my latest project) and came across this very cool Star Wars one. Click on the link and scroll down to see the awesomeness!  

Other holiday ideas I like are this wreath and this flower (you are supposed to make 100 of them and string them together to make a garland) pretty cute!

As far as cute desserts go I found these cupcake bites and they look so fun!

What cool things have you found blog stalking?

music

I love this song and the video.  It's been out for a little while so I'm sorry if you have heard it already

I like these other songs even though most of them are old

Birthday

 Fall is here and it is very beautiful.  If anyone wants to visit boston I definitely recommend to come in the fall.  It is just gorgeous.  This is the view from our kitchen window and you can see some trees that are changing.  pretty nice.

Today is my birthday too.  McKay went and bought a birthday cake from Mike's Pastry shop in the North End.  He came home in the pouring rain carrying this beautiful cake.  I have never seen one so beautiful before.  It was delicious too, Chocolate moose, with strawberry pieces in it. If I make McKay's birthday cake I will never be able to top this.

McKay got me boots and a backpack too. I have never had boots that weren't snow boots before so this was exciting wardrobe milestone.  In this picture I met McKay at school for a birthday lunch in the city.

These roses are grown in our front yard.  Sue cut me some and so the are just brightening up my kitchen with happiness.  Oh how I love fresh flowers.

 A tree near McKay's school

On the way to his school still.

These pictures are from when I took a tour at Harvard.  I'm thinking about being a prospective student.  haha not. It is the most beautiful campus I have ever seen.  In a nutshell it is just like Hogwarts.  Students are divided into houses like Gryffindor and Slytherin and that is just so funny to me.  They even have that great dining hall (no floating candles.)

 One interesting story I learned is about that red building with the white windows up at the top.  George Washington and his men stayed there while they were recuperating from battle.  They stayed for the night and melted the doorknobs so they could make more bullets.  After America won it's independence Harvard was one of the first to sue the new country for the property damages caused by the desperate soldiers.  Kinda interesting huh?

Halloween in Salem

We failed Halloween.  A big fat F-.  We didn't dress up or go to a party. So when the big day came we decided to go to Salem, MA with people from McKay's school.  Home of the witch trials.

Lots of people were dressed up in really cool costumes.  All the skanks come out after dusk so I'm glad we went during the day.

See look, REAL witches!!!

This place is really commercial on Halloween.  It was basically like a fair or carnival with tons of greasy food, rides, and crazy things you need to pay money to see.  We went to a museum that basically just reenacted The Crucible.  I hate that book with a burning passion.  I just hate what happened, pretty jacked up if you ask me.  Anyway I wanted to go in a haunted house or something but we didn't so that. I guess we have something to look forward to next year.

I LOVE this cottage/shed thing.

There were tons of "real" witches there and they were all trying to make a buck by reading your palm or whatever.  That's what the upper left picture from below is all about.  These people are all doing the Tarot card thing.  It was hilarious because the customers would hang on to their every word and were all dead serious about it.  

They also were selling herbs and spices for WAY more than what they are really worth.  It's because the ones they were selling had medicinal qualities.  But BAY LEAVES?! really people.

Weird stick roof!

Sheesh! Look how hairy McKay is...  No worries people, I already gave him a haircut and trimmed that dang beard.

These cool vines were crawling over everything! Houses, fences, gravestones, you name it and it takes over.  It's definitely one of my favorite things to change color in the fall.

It was quite a long day and we looked forward to our Harry Potter style train ride home back to Boston.

The Greek Corner

So couple of weeks ago I received an email from my aunt saying that while she was watching Diners Drive ins and Dives she saw a Greek restaurant in Boston that was owned by two Boretos brothers. Since the restaurant is now famous and the chances of us being related are more than likely McKay, Delys, John, and I went to go check it out.  These pictures are of our fun night. Unfortunately George or Themis were not there but we will go back sometime and say hi. 

 When I got home I did some research and tried to figure everything out and got some interesting information. I'm pretty sure George and Themis' father was a cousin to my grandfather.  I think.  I also learned that the last name "Boretos" is thought to come from the Italian word Umbros/Embros meaning merchant/shopkeeper.   Themistocles is a popular name in the Boretos lineage and has been passed down for a long time and sometimes in the form of Thomas. Ta Da!

The furthest back I could go was to Themistocles Boretos (b. 1825, d. 1920)  I don't really know much about him but this picture.

In addition to Guy coming to their restaurant they have also been on the Best of Boston list.  The lamb was heavenly!!! Guy put one of their recipes online and now I have a family recipie to try called Pastitso. We will see how it turns out.  

The Library

Good news! I have a library card! I go the branch near our house but I visited the main library and it is very cool.  Hopefully my books that are on hold will come soon!

 Look the green lamps! Just like in Gilmore Girls or something!

 There is an atrium in the middle of the library with this fountain.

 Oh, and a little update from McKay.  A couple of days ago he had to go down to Dorchester (aka Deathchester) to give the Head Start kids screenings.  It's a little worrisome but he will be fine because he is with his school.  I don't think he has to go other sketchy areas like "Murderpan" and "Glocksbury" so that's nice.

 I am proud to say that I have officially walked the whole freedom trail! Yay me! Did I pay money to go inside every stop on the way there? No.  But I saw the outside of all the buildings.