Showing posts with label Boston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boston. Show all posts

Saturday, January 19, 2008

The Freedom Trail

Our residency has a rotation where we go to Tufts School of Dentistry in Boston and teach the dental students on their pediatric dentistry rotation. So I was in Boston on Thursday for my last day of this rotation. I decided to use the chance without children and a wife to finally walk the entire freedom trail.
The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that leads you to 16 nationally significant historic sites, every one an authentic American treasure. Preserved and dedicated by the citizens of Boston in 1958, when the wrecking ball threatened, the Freedom Trail today is a unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, a ship, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond.

They have a red trail going throughout the city. Sometimes it is a painted line, but the majority is red brick. It was pretty cool thinking about all the history that took place where I was walking. I think the Paul Revere house along with the Old North Church, where he hung the signal lanterns, was my favorite. Near Boston common, where the trail begins, is the Park Street Church. Next to the Church is a very old cemetery, the granary burial ground, where many famous people are buried, including John Hancock (I think). The Union Oyster House is the oldest restaurant in Boston and the oldest restaurant in continuous service in the U.S. — the doors have always been open to diners since 1826.
Often referred to as “the home of free speech” and “the Cradle of Liberty,” Faneuil Hall hosted America’s first Town Meeting. Built by wealthy merchant Peter Faneuil in 1741, this imposing structure is the place where the Sons of Liberty proclaimed their dissent against Royal oppression
The trail ends at this monument to the Battle of Bunker Hill:

"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!" This order, found in a German Manual of Arms and believed to have been uttered at the battle by Colonel William Prescott, has come to immortalize the determination of the ill-equipped Colonists facing the powerful British Army during the famous battle fought on this site on June 17, 1775.
The Battle of Bunker Hill marks the first time Colonial forces held its own against the British army. Today a 221-foot granite obelisk denotes the site of the first major battle of the American Revolution.


What a wonderful, courageous, and fun history our country has.

Saturday, December 01, 2007

Two weeks ago yesterday we were in Boston. When we got back I saw that my bag was missing. We thought that perhaps it somehow fell out of our van as people got in and out. Saturday Em realized that her wallet was gone. We put a few more pieces of the puzzle together and realized someone had taken them out of our car while we were parked next to Boston Common. We went through the steps of canceling credit cards, identity theft protection, witness protection, etc. One night I felt inspired to call the Boston Police and file a report. So 4 days after the incident I filed a police report without a whole lot of hope that anything would come of it. Two days later I had a message from the police saying they had my bag. Yesterday, while back in Boston I went to station A-1 and got it back! Here's how the other part of the report reads:

ABOUT 10:30 AM ON 11/21/07 OFFICER FOLEY IN THE AT55D WAS GIVEN A BLUE BAG BY AN UNIDENTIFIED PEDESTRIAN WHO STATED THEY JUST FOUND THE BAG IN THE PUBLIC GARDEN.
OFFICER FOLEY FOUND BOOKS AND PERSONAL PAPERS IN THE BAG. OFFICER FOLEY FOUND THE BAG WAS REPORTED STOLEN...PROPERTY LOGGED IN TO AREA A1 EVIDENCE ROOM AND SECURED ...

I got the bag back and everything was still there minus my iPod and Em's gift cards. Another amazing thing is Em's wallet was inside my bag. It was empty and then I found her credit cards and license in another pocket.

So...we are very very grateful and happy that we got so much back in the face of almost no odds in our favor!

So I'll add this "unidentified pedestrian" to Em's list of Random Kindness. Unless of course its the person who took it...

Monday, October 08, 2007

The Big 3-O

I turned 30 on Tuesday! It was my best birthday in 30 years.

A while ago I was planning on attending a Sedation Course in Seattle on this weekend. Then Em began telling me that because it was my birthday week I couldn’t go to it. It was maddening. I tried to get her to move whatever she had planned but she wouldn’t budge. So Monday evening I come home from work and there is a strange car in the driveway. I walked in downstairs and there was a little girl watching TV with the boys. She looked familiar but I wasn’t sure where she fit in. Then when I made it upstairs Mike and Lindsay Dunn were there. I think all I said was “What!” then just stared in dumb silent astonishment. I was totally blown away. I couldn’t believe that he was there!!

(Mike is one of my best friends. He was part of the V3ST (V Hall @ Deseret Towers, 3rd floor, Sauce Troupers=a silly name for our group of friends, I was an honorary member as I lived on the 4th floor. He is also partly responsible for me meeting Em as he taught me how to rock climb and also was the friend I made go climbing with me and Em on our first date)

So they stayed with us until Friday morning. Tuesday we had Eggs-Ala-Goldenrod for breakfast, then went up to Boston to spend my B-day. Along the way we stopped in Quincy to see the Adams National historical Park. I have been fascinated with John Adams ever since I listened to his Biography on CD by David McCullough. After Quincy we went to Boston Common, let the kids play and then walked the streets and had Pizza at Upper Crust. It was very good. I elected to go back to that restaurant despite the crowds because I figured it would be better then one down the street called Nino’s where there were no customers. Correct decision.

Wednesday night we had a babysitter and we went down to a nice restaurant in East Greenwich, Table 24. Very nice and very fun. (Great Lobster Bisque!) Thursday ended with Wienerschnitzel and kyacking with Mike at night.
It was so nice to have them here. I can’t believe 1)Em invited them, 2)that they came, 3) They pulled it off and surprised me. I don’t think I have ever been surprised that well before. They all made it my best Birthday ever.



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