This morning I arrived back in Boston just after 5am. With the lack of mask requirements in Arizona, and not wanting to give anybody at school COVID, I decided to stay away from work today until after a negative COVID test. It was nice to be home, and I jumped in bed with the chihuahuas for a little bit to rest after the trip. Later in the day Ash and I took a drive to get some new Soda Stream canisters near Peabody. We can find them closer to home, but we wanted to get out of the house for a bit. Feeling rested after today, and ready to be back at work tomorrow.
Homeward
Tough day today, because in the back of my mind I know I’m taking a late flight back to Boston. The redeye is never fun and is always a drain, but it’s really the only way to get back to Boston. This morning we took a nice walk along the canal starting at 32nd street just north of Camelback. We walked down past the Biltmore and back. It’s a nice stretch of the canal there, and the weather was very pleasant. After, my mother and I bought some groceries, which included some Navajo flour for Ashleigh, and some chicken and carnitas from the carniceria on 36th street and Thomas. That place is so good, always a pleasure to go in there. Eden and Danielle came over for dinner, which was a nice spread my mother worked on most of the afternoon. My mom dropped me off at the airport around 9pm, and it ended up being a noneventful flight home.
Friendship
Again I spent some time with my mother helping her with errands around town. My brother Eden came over and we hung some new frames on the wall. Met my friends John and Chris for food and drinks in the evening. We started with cocktails at Across the Pond, then had dinner at The Clever Koi, which is adjacent to Pond. I had never been to either place before, but really enjoyed the food – had a spicy Szechuan catfish that was very good. After dinner we walked over to Lux for some more cocktails in their Salon. Jeff and Kate joined us, and it was nice to have everybody together. Chris and I went for a nightcap at the George and Dragon.
Horses
This morning my father and I took a ride out to the horse farm where they get horses ready for the race track. We saw two of his horses get a little gallop around the short 1/4 track. They were very green, moving around all over the track. Hopefully, they will be fast once they get to California. We grabbed some burritos for lunch at Los Vaqueros, which is right around the corner from my parents house. I was pretty satisfied with the California burrito. There just isn’t anything in Boston that resembles the Mexican food in Arizona.
In the evening we went to Durant’s for dinner. It was a really nice dinner. we sat next to the bar. My father and I shared a 16 oz Prime Rib, while my mother had the Salmon. We also had some oysters. It was all delicious, and its always special to be at Durants.
Hall of Fame
Today I spent the morning with my mother driving to some of my favorite vintage stores in Phoenix. We were a little pressed for time, but were able to hit Retro Ranch and Antique Sugar. We also stopped at Frances, but that store is not as good anymore since changing hands. After vintage shopping we stopped at El Napolito for some tortas. I had the Cubana, very good!
Later in the evening was the Hall of Fame event. It was nice to be back on BCP campus and to see the large support for the event. I’d estimate 200-300 people were there. I gave a short speech about my friend Evan Whitfield who was being inducted into the hall of fame. I think my speech went well, although I did confess to being nervous during my speech. Afterwards many soccer alumni hung out and had a few beers while reminiscing about the evening. It was great to see everybody.
Got to hang out with this guy while getting ready to go to the event this evening.
