Much has happened in the two months since our last post! Not only did I successfully move into our apartment in Somerville and start a new job at Northeastern University School of Law, but we also traveled to Tampa, FL; Bryson City, NC; and Newport; RI! Additionally, Hakim took a five-week break from school in September, during which time we hosted a picnic for friends, helped scoop ice cream at the Common Ground Fair, and Samir came to town for an extended weekend. That sure is a lot to fit into one little blog post, but I'll try to touch on some of the major events!
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| Royals vs Rays |
I officially moved in on August 17th. That is, we put my stuff in a big pile in the office and then took off to Treasure Island (near Tampa) for some relaxation by the beach. Hakim got us a great condo right on the beach with beautiful views of the Gulf. While I was there (I left on Wednesday and Hakim stayed until the following Saturday), our friends Ian and Pete were able to join us for a couple days as well. We spent hours playing in the surf and soaking up the sun, cooked some awesome meals on the grill, discovered a wonderfully delicious, late-night Italian restaurant,
Vito & Michael's (we went twice!), took in a Tampa Bay Rays game, and I learned how to play shuffle board! Oh yeah, and the first thing we did was get Publix subs! After I left, Hakim got to spend a few more days on the beach with Pete, Pat, and Jason before heading to Orlando for the Olde Driveway annual Fantasy Football Draft. I was definitely a little jealous that I had to leave the beach early, but I stayed busy learning the ropes at my new job and spending the weekend in Portland with my parents.
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| View of the Gulf from our condo on Treasure Island |
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| Flying a kite |
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| Cornhole at Nantahala Brewing Co. |
Less than two weeks after our trip to Florida, we headed due South again to North Carolina. We met up with our friend Robbie in Charlotte and then hopped in a car and drove to Bryson City, which is nestled amongst the Great Smoky Mountains. Our friend Ryan works at a local brewery,
Nantahala Brewing Co., which makes awesome beer! We spent a lot of time there, playing darts and cornhole, watching college football (go 'Noles!!!), engaging in pinata demolishing, and generally having an awesome time. Ryan gave us a very informative tour of the brewery as well. And we spent a lot of time outdoors: kayaking on Lake Fontana, hiking in the Smokies, zip-lining and completing ropes courses, and, of course, rafting the Nantahala! It was a great weekend with great company! We're definitely anxious to see where Ryan heads next so we can plan another epic adventure.
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| Alum Cave Bluffs in the Great Smoky Mtns |
After all that travel, it was time to get settled into life in Boston. We worked hard to unpack my things and Hakim expertly assembled all our new furniture (two dressers, a pantry cabinet, a bookshelf, and a bathroom cabinet!). We also painted the bathroom a lovely warm tan, which is a vast improvement over the egg yolk yellow that it was previously. And when Samir visited, he and Hakim moved the big blue couch down to the cottage, which has greatly increased the seating capacity there. So the apartment is looking pretty great, and while we have a few small things to finish up, we now looking forward to spring when we can start a garden in the backyard!
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| One of the 1st meals Hakim made us in our apt.: pork chops w/ apples, roasted potatoes & green beans |
We also wanted to celebrate my return to Boston with all our friends, so we organized a day of fun in the park near our house. Friends from near and far gathered to enjoy a small feast, which included Hakim's special chicken legs, hotdogs on the grill, chips and dip, tuna macaroni salad, sangria, brownies, and chocolate toffee bars. We enjoyed the sun and played a li'l cornhole and soccer, before having a homerun derby with the
buoy bat!
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| Picnic in the park! (photo by Kim) |
Well, I think I'll let Hakim update you on what we've been up to more
recently: the Common Ground Fair, Samir's visit, our trips to
Newburyport and Newport, some of the delicious food we've been making
and eating (a few teasers are below), and more! So keep a lookout for another post soon!
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| One of the 1st meals I made us in our apt.: panko-encrusted fishsticks, brown rice & salad |
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| Delicious mussels made by Hakim! |
