Birthday Surprise

I had an unexpected birthday treat this weekend: my family surprised me with a delivery of delicious Armenian food on Friday! 

It was a really good idea for a surprise; I was not at home when it was delivered, so these two bags of food with my name on them appeared in the refrigerator and I spent two entire days trying to figure out where it came from and who in Boston knew to get me muhammura and leblebi. 

So I have a wonderful birthday dinner tonight with plenty to share. Thank you!

Another Long Weekend

Well, between almost every bank holiday in the Fall semester being on a Monday and the hurricane, it feels like long weekends happen at least twice per month. I'm not complaining, but I guess I shouldn't come to rely on them for catching up on reading and studying for exams.

Mama and Papa visited two weeks ago and we enjoyed a long Saturday of touring Boston and we hiked the entire Freedom Trail, from downtown Boston to Charlestown naval shipyard.

A beautiful Autumn morning on Boston Common.

The Marzonies in their element at the historic Granary Cemetery.

Samuel Adams' grave.

The Boston Massacre victims' grave marker.

The Old Statehouse, hub of activity c. 1776.

Pausing for a break at Faneuil Hall.

The U.S.S. Constitution, oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat, at the end of the Trail.

In other news, I survived my first "nor'easter:" there was about 2 inches of snow accumulation Wednesday before things heated up again. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially since I got to make a few trips out and spend some time in the snow.

In addition to remembering all veterans who have served in the U.S. armed forces today, I also remembered my grandfather Marzonie today. It's hard to believe it has been 18 years. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

Growth, Glitches, and Gales

What South Boston looked like before the hurricane hit...

I have a little more time to post this week because of the weather; we've had a couple of half days because of the storms, but unfortunately the hurricane excuse doesn't work for classes that are down the hall from your room, so it wasn't a totally free ride.

It's the halfway point in the semester and it is time to review my goals for formation and personal growth. That coincides with the November day of recollection, and I will be unavailable from Wednesday evening to Thursday evening this week, but after that I should be free to talk.

The storm was not too bad in our part of town; we're several miles from the unsheltered coast, so there were high winds most of the day Monday and steady rain, but nothing on the magnitude of what was forecast. Everything was shutdown Monday and things have only gotten a slow start today, but aside from some glitches with my internet that are probably weather related, there hasn't been any problem here.

Mama and Papa visited over the weekend and we toured some of the historical sites I had not yet seen in Boston. It was fun and I have some pics to post when the net is working better.

Lastly, thanks to everybody who has been sending mail. I'm trying to reply to everyone individually, but I'm a little backlogged so it might take a while.