Thursday, August 30, 2012

My First Day of (dis)Orientation!


Well, today was a full day of (dis)orientation at BU. It involved a breakfast (read awkward conversation over pastries and orange juice), financial aid seminar, a BU student life overview, a Ph.D./Th.D. luncheon, and a meeting with my advisor all finished up with a reception at a swanky hotel nearby. The day was a bit frustrating as I kept finding myself turning into registration dead ends. I couldn't get a BU student ID until I registered; I couldn't register for class until I met with my advisor; I couldn't check out a book from the library until I had a BU student ID. It was cyclical frustration. I could tell I was starting to go downhill when I had the almost irresistible urge to stand up and yell, "Shut up!" to the girl who kept asking questions only pertaining to her during one of the last workshops. It turns out a financial aid workshop can really get my blood boiling.

Also, in between these meetings I had to drop my dad off at the airport. This was fine until I headed to the hotel for the reception and found that there was no parking. So, I had to drop $20 for valet parking at the hotel in order to go to the reception. Let's just say I was determined to eat $20 worth of prosciutto, grilled vegetables, and fried goat cheese balls to make the evening worthwhile. I think this gave me that extra touch of class that I needed for the evening. ("Oh, so you're from Maine? Cool. Would you excuse me while I pile large portions of meat on my very small plate?")  Also, I thought when I got to mainline seminaries/universities they would begin serving alcohol at receptions. Apparently I need to keep going to the episcopalians or Catholics in order to get booze.

So, I did end up registering for classes today. I know you're all dying to hear what I'm taking, so I'll just tell you: liturgical methodologies, the Psalter, Sung Faith (on hymnody and the Trinity which is like a dream course they designed for me), and either American Evangelicalism from Jonathan Edwards to Jerry Falwell or the History of Sacred Music at Harvard (you better believe I'm getting a sweatshirt and telling people that I did some doctoral work at Harvard for the rest of my life).

Tomorrow I am opting out of another day of orientation (which includes an afternoon of service, officially making me a bad person) and sleeping in before heading up to New Hampshire to visit Amy and Andrew Daigle for the weekend! I can't tell you how excited I am to catch up with these former ResCovers/Chicagoans!

Now, I just finished watching the Republican National Convention and decided it would be better for my blood pressure if I just shut it off. This occurred after the U.S. Olympians implied that Romney saved the US by helping get the Olympics back on track. So, I'm going to try and get some serious sleep tonight. Later!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Beantown or Bust!


So, my first full day in Boston has come to an end, but I want to take you back over the last couple days because it's been quite a trip.

Sunday. A beautiful service at ResCov with a sermon that ran a little long as I kept deciding to say everything I was thinking...sometimes more effectively than others. And yes, the last half of the service was pretty much spent on the verge of tears or full-fledged crying...especially the liturgy of sending at the end. Then, the ResCovers exceeded my expectations with their hotdish potluck. I have to say, ResCov in general knows how to have a potluck. They had very kind words to say, and it was both meaningful and difficult to say goodbye. I love this picture (credit: Natalie Mendez):



After my red-eyed nap, I picked up a Uhaul and packed it in the rain all Sunday afternoon, which did wonders for my general melancholy spirit. Next, my dad got in and we did some more packing in the rain. Monday we drove 14 hours; 14 of these hours were in the rain - some drizzling, some downpour. Again, this does wonders for the mood. The night was capped off by a stay in Binghamton, which, I apologize if you're from there, was one of the more depressing towns I've been to. The hotel was sketchtastic. The sheets were less than ideal, the TV was an ancient Apex that I basically had to kickstart to get going, and the continental breakfast should have been in quotes. If that's a continental breakfast, I do not want to live on that continent nor break my fast.

Anyway, the next day went well. We dropped off all the stuff at a Uhaul storage, my dad lost his glasses, and then we had to conveniently drop the trailer off at a different Uhaul because this one already had too many trailers. This trip affirmed everyone's warning about driving in Boston, but it got finished.

Finally, we got to the Bouris household, which has been absolutely wonderful. It is very nice to be in a town and feel like you have people to help you get your bearings, point you in the right direction, and teach you how to say the names of all of these unphonetic Boston suburbs.

Anyway, today was also an adventure. We went down to BU, talked to my former NPTS professor (and now BU professor) Phillis (Woo!), and then decided to walk the Freedom Trail. This morning I went for a run that was basically all uphill, and I began to notice that the top of my foot/ankle was sore. By the time we were halfway through the walk, I couldn't do it anymore it was hurting so bad. So, my dad continued the walk (I think more because he wanted to get a cannoli at Mike's Pastries) and I took the T back to Boston Common. By the time I got home, I had to borrow a cane to go out for dinner because I literally couldn't put weight on it. I felt like quite the cool cat and thought of adding a top hat and a long cigarette with a cigarette holder so I could embrace the eccentricity and become the "weird kid" at orientation. Anyway, now it is late, and I need to sleep (and ice my ankle). Tomorrow is orientation, which includes a walking tour...just to stick it to me. It still feels like vacation, so I'm doing fine emotionally. I think when I get my syllabi and start the grind I'll begin my cryptic facebook cries for help. Something to look forward to!