Time is a downhill freight train with no brakes and waits for no one. Proof = July 1 is in 4 days. What the actual HECK?!?!

I am writing from Boston, where I am already on the 4th week of my contract. And maybe you are wondering (or not) how a suburban Florida beach girl is surviving in Boston. Well, since it’s my blog, imma tell you.

It is absolutely fascinating, slightly terrifying, always in motion and I struggle hard each day to pick my jaw up and play it cool. Also, constantly chuckling at the Boston accents that surround me, entertaining everyone as I throw it back at them. Oodles of entertainment.

The driving here is controlled chaos. Bostonians make their own rules as they go, banging a U-ey at any given time and somehow navigate safely through it. Running red lights and blocking intersections and somehow not grid locking traffic. It is a sort of sorcery. Pedestrians and bikers hustle along mostly within crosswalks and cross lights but will also cross wherever and whenever it is most convenient (looking at you Red Sox fans). Of course, as I write this, the intersection outside my window sounds like it has just had a rear-ender so it’s not all perfect, and most definitely a little cookoo. Which is why I am embracing public transportation for the most part…….

The bus stop is across the street from my house, making it extremely convenient for commuting to and from work and around town. I use 2 separate apps AND the MBTA website to figure out the best way to get where I want to go. I’ve purchased (and lost) a few Charlie cards now which will get me on the bus and the subway. I’ve ridden the bus from various locations around town as I run errands, exercise or just explore. Still figuring out which side of the street to stand on and have plans to brave the subway this week and explore further north but I am definitely gaining confidence. Sometimes it’s loud, crowded, and off-schedule, but man……they can move people around. The FREE silver line will take you from the airport to South station cutting your Uber fare in 1/2!! Also, Uber. Like a boss. Who am I?

Food: Trader Joe’s is my go-to for quick groceries. I have a new love for Pho Ga (Vietnamese chicken soup and it’s amazing!), poke bowls and I am taste testing various bakeries as I come across them. So far, a cake shop that was “meh” and a french bakery that was good but ridiculously overpriced and appropriately snooty—I loved it for being on brand, but won’t be back. Looking forward to a ballpark hot dog (barring rainy weather, that could happen tomorrow!), some legit cannolis and whatever else I come across.

As for work, my assignment is busy with great people. Our patients are widely international with me actually using the Spanish I’ve been trying to learn for over a year and hearing multiple other languages as we program them for instruction on our scanners. The day goes by quickly and it is very enjoyable. My steps are averaging about 16K per day between work and exploring the city—-thankful for good sneakers!! I spend the week in Boston and head back to the hubs on the weekend. It’s not ideal or perfect but it is going fast and it is better than being 1,000 miles away from each other, so, I’ll cling to that silver lining!! In the meantime, we just make the best out of our weekend time together.

That’s the summary for now! More to come later. Probably. I’ll try.

Peace!