earlgreytea68 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
earlgreytea68) wrote2011-10-26 06:28 pm
earlgreytea68) wrote2011-10-26 06:28 pm
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A New Englander Moves to New Orleans, Chapter Eleven: The First Trip Home
This weekend I went home for a few days, mostly to celebrate my nephew's first birthday.
IT WAS GLORIOUS.
So, to conclude: everyone had colds at home and I will no doubt fall sick myself, but it was well worth it.
IT WAS GLORIOUS.
First of all, I very intelligently made a decision to always only fly direct between Boston and New Orleans. This is a little bit of a pain, because the "Providence" airport (it's actually in Warwick, not Providence, but only Rhode Islanders care about that stuff) is much closer to my parents' house and so would therefore be more convenient for them, but the hassle getting home from Boston and the additional price of a direct flight is SO WORTH IT FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF NOT BEING STRANDED IN VARIOUS TERMINALS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY (there are no direct flights into Providence from New Orleans). I do not have good flying-on-time luck and I really do usually end up delayed somewhere during the journey, and then having to take some tiny airplane with, like, ten seats and eat eleventy billion fast food meals in airports. This is decent for productivity (I love to work in airports, I don't know why), but not good at all for my sanity.
Operation: First Direct Flight Home Ever was a rousing success. I left my house in New Orleans at noon and five hours later had landed in Boston. UNPRECEDENTED. We live in wonderful times. As I told a friend, it takes roughly three hours to go between Boston and New Orleans if you fly direct. If you fly with a layover, IT TAKES ETERNITY. The only catch was that JetBlue has weirdly shaped overhead bins, meaning that my suitcase wouldn't fit until I took two sweaters out of it (I'd stuffed it with winter clothing in anticipation of winter break). So I had a carry-on bag, a laptop bag (empty, awaiting the new laptop waiting for me in Boston), and two random sweaters.
I do have to say, no matter how many times I am in the New Orleans airport, I am constantly bewildered anew by how desolate the terminals are there. There's so much empty space. Why don't they put in some stores or restaurants? I had to resort to pizza for lunch (I don't really care for pizza), and it wasn't very good pizza, and it cost me $15. World's most expensive lunch. Largely because there is zero competition in there, there's only one other place selling lunch-type food. It's like being at Disney World or something, only without it being the happiest place on Earth.
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arctacuda and bscotchpuma awesomely braved rush hour traffic to pick me up at Logan. They disappointed me by not squealing and knocking over suitcases when they saw me, like the weird sorority chicks we witnessed at the airport, but whatever.
It was SO NICE to be home, you guys. While arctacuda and I were standing at the airport waiting for bscotchpuma to circle (the security at Logan is in such stark contrast to the security in New Orleans, it's kind of hilarious), I was like, "Smell that air? It smells *wonderful.*" And it did, all crisp and fall and fresh, with just a hint of sea in it. So what if we were also breathing in mainly exhaust fumes? IT'S ALL GOOD. Even arctacuda supported my flight of fancy by saying that she does notice the air in Boston has a very particular tang to it (she says it's the ocean, which is sweet of her, but it's probably just pollution).
bscotchpuma continued to be awesome and braved rush hour AND pre-Head of the Charles traffic into Harvard Square so I could pick up Tealuxe. Me, while we drove: OMG THESE ROADS ARE SO SMOOTH. bscotchpuma: They're really not. Me: YES, THEY ARE, YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO NEW ORLEANS.
We found a place to pull over so that arctacuda and I could hop out and dart into Tealuxe, and it was so amazing. Harvard Square was dark with that New England winter's-coming twilight (so much darker there so much earlier than it is in New Orleans) and it was buzzing with people moving quickly, huddled against the nip in the air and weaving around the cars and each other. I had actually forgotten how much I love Harvard Square. I swear that I stepped out of the car and jaywalked across the road and relaxed for the first time since I left.
We ordered tea at Tealuxe, and the clerk talked to us just the right amount. I bought the tea, and when arctacuda protested, I was like, "No, no, you picked me up at the airport, it's my treat," and the clerk was like, "Picking someone up at the airport is MAJOR here, definitely worth a cup of tea in payment." We commiserated briefly about terrible rush hour traffic into Logan. Note that she did not say, "Oh, you'll get used to it." Then we parted ways. IT WAS AWESOME.
Operation: First Direct Flight Home Ever was a rousing success. I left my house in New Orleans at noon and five hours later had landed in Boston. UNPRECEDENTED. We live in wonderful times. As I told a friend, it takes roughly three hours to go between Boston and New Orleans if you fly direct. If you fly with a layover, IT TAKES ETERNITY. The only catch was that JetBlue has weirdly shaped overhead bins, meaning that my suitcase wouldn't fit until I took two sweaters out of it (I'd stuffed it with winter clothing in anticipation of winter break). So I had a carry-on bag, a laptop bag (empty, awaiting the new laptop waiting for me in Boston), and two random sweaters.
I do have to say, no matter how many times I am in the New Orleans airport, I am constantly bewildered anew by how desolate the terminals are there. There's so much empty space. Why don't they put in some stores or restaurants? I had to resort to pizza for lunch (I don't really care for pizza), and it wasn't very good pizza, and it cost me $15. World's most expensive lunch. Largely because there is zero competition in there, there's only one other place selling lunch-type food. It's like being at Disney World or something, only without it being the happiest place on Earth.
Anyway,
arctacuda and bscotchpuma awesomely braved rush hour traffic to pick me up at Logan. They disappointed me by not squealing and knocking over suitcases when they saw me, like the weird sorority chicks we witnessed at the airport, but whatever.It was SO NICE to be home, you guys. While arctacuda and I were standing at the airport waiting for bscotchpuma to circle (the security at Logan is in such stark contrast to the security in New Orleans, it's kind of hilarious), I was like, "Smell that air? It smells *wonderful.*" And it did, all crisp and fall and fresh, with just a hint of sea in it. So what if we were also breathing in mainly exhaust fumes? IT'S ALL GOOD. Even arctacuda supported my flight of fancy by saying that she does notice the air in Boston has a very particular tang to it (she says it's the ocean, which is sweet of her, but it's probably just pollution).
bscotchpuma continued to be awesome and braved rush hour AND pre-Head of the Charles traffic into Harvard Square so I could pick up Tealuxe. Me, while we drove: OMG THESE ROADS ARE SO SMOOTH. bscotchpuma: They're really not. Me: YES, THEY ARE, YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO NEW ORLEANS.
We found a place to pull over so that arctacuda and I could hop out and dart into Tealuxe, and it was so amazing. Harvard Square was dark with that New England winter's-coming twilight (so much darker there so much earlier than it is in New Orleans) and it was buzzing with people moving quickly, huddled against the nip in the air and weaving around the cars and each other. I had actually forgotten how much I love Harvard Square. I swear that I stepped out of the car and jaywalked across the road and relaxed for the first time since I left.
We ordered tea at Tealuxe, and the clerk talked to us just the right amount. I bought the tea, and when arctacuda protested, I was like, "No, no, you picked me up at the airport, it's my treat," and the clerk was like, "Picking someone up at the airport is MAJOR here, definitely worth a cup of tea in payment." We commiserated briefly about terrible rush hour traffic into Logan. Note that she did not say, "Oh, you'll get used to it." Then we parted ways. IT WAS AWESOME.
Then we went back to arctacuda's and bscotchpuma's and we ordered in Peruvian food that took fifty gazillion years to reach us, I don't know why. We had some *fabulous* prosecco whose name I made a note of at the time because I was like, "OMG! Why is this prosecco so awesome?" but now of course I have forgotten it. There was a virus crisis with their computer and a fake version of my husband Karl Pilkington's new show (whyyyyyyy? why would someone try to deny me Karl?) but it was all averted and we watched two episodes of "Idiot Abroad" and their animals had a Cold War over my lap and it was all super-fun.
In the morning I had Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast (I had a moment at the counter when I placed my order when I thought she was going to tell me there was no iced tea, but there was! Huzzah!) and then I had my hair done and then bscotchpuma and arctacuda went above and beyond and drove me to Rhode Island, where a welcoming committee was set up on the lawn. I spent the rest of the weekend basically catching up with my family: there was the baby's birthday party and lots of television to watch (Pretty Little Liars! Come back to me! I miss your craziness!) and my sister's new house to tour and neighborhood gossip to catch up on. We had a small get-together on Saturday night with my favorite meal of ham and potato salad, which was an awesome way to be welcomed back. My mother took the day out of work yesterday and we took the baby shopping with us and somehow I ended up with two new pairs of shoes to wear to work. Oh! And it was chilly enough that I got to wear my Uggs for the shopping expedition!
New Bennie never really warmed up to me (they gave Old Bennie back; they knew where he lived, so it felt a little bit like stealing not to). He kept running away from me like he thought I was going to hit him. My mother, cuddling him last night: All these people are your friends, Bennie. Anyway, the dog is extremely cute and has huge eyes and looks like a Doctor Seuss character to me. I'm hoping he'll warm up to me over Christmas break.
The only sad news is that my mother apparently does not have my winter coat. WHERE IS MY WINTER COAT? I am going to need it for the aforementioned Christmas break, and I guess it's in one of these boxes still littering my house. Why would I unpack everything except my winter coat? I seriously have snow boots sitting on the floor of my closet. So why wouldn't I unpack the winter coat? Bah.
I took the train into Boston this morning and hunted through the terminal for the Dunkin' Donuts, where I ordered an iced tea that I then nursed all the way to New Orleans. Although it's only a month until I'm home again, and that's no time at all, really.
New Bennie never really warmed up to me (they gave Old Bennie back; they knew where he lived, so it felt a little bit like stealing not to). He kept running away from me like he thought I was going to hit him. My mother, cuddling him last night: All these people are your friends, Bennie. Anyway, the dog is extremely cute and has huge eyes and looks like a Doctor Seuss character to me. I'm hoping he'll warm up to me over Christmas break.
The only sad news is that my mother apparently does not have my winter coat. WHERE IS MY WINTER COAT? I am going to need it for the aforementioned Christmas break, and I guess it's in one of these boxes still littering my house. Why would I unpack everything except my winter coat? I seriously have snow boots sitting on the floor of my closet. So why wouldn't I unpack the winter coat? Bah.
I took the train into Boston this morning and hunted through the terminal for the Dunkin' Donuts, where I ordered an iced tea that I then nursed all the way to New Orleans. Although it's only a month until I'm home again, and that's no time at all, really.
So, to conclude: everyone had colds at home and I will no doubt fall sick myself, but it was well worth it.
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I'm glad you had such a good trip. :)
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And yeah, Cambridge is pretty great. The good news is that it's *so* close to Boston, though.
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Your flight sounds so smooth! That's awesome. Direct is always better.
Even compared to London Boston has smooth roads. London has an excuse though - it's okay. No idea why New Orleans wouldn't have good roads. Probably because they are all just used to it!
Your description of Harvard Square made me smile. I remember what all that energy was like. Also, it made me cold. LOL Your words. They have power!
Your weekend basically sounds perfect. Lots of friends and family and revisiting of things you've missed plus just lots of hanging out and visiting. That's ideal for a short trip home.
So cute that you got to take your nephew shopping with you and YAY shoes.
I'm sure Bennie will warm up to you once you are there for more than a few days. Your long chunk of home time in Nov/December will help for sure!
I do hope you find the coat.
The next month will FLY by! You'll be home again before you know it! HUZZAH!
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I think the explanation given for the poor roads in New Orleans is that they're below sea level, so their land is always collapsing.
Ha! Cold and energetic! Sounds like Harvard Square. :-)
And yeah, I really do think this month is going to fly by!
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Glad you had a fun trip!
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