dog days

Well. It’s been almost a month. Sorry about that.

My MacBook arrived. I love it. I doubt I’ll ever buy another PC, though I’ll undoubtedly have to use them for work, etc., in my future life. Whatever that happens to be. I’m so impressed with the Mac’s elegance and ease-of-use, with the included software, and, of course, the aesthetics. The transition was remarkably easy — probably because the interface is so intuitive — and where Windows comes with Solitaire and not much else, the Mac comes with a boatload of fun (and sometimes even useful) software to play with. I have daily fantasies of discovering that I am a natural at creating beautiful movies — and even soundtracks to accompany them — and have only been lacking the software with which to do so. My sister has discovered that there is no better way to spend a quiet Massachusetts afternoon than by taking one’s own picture with the built-in camera over a hundred times.

And that’s where I am now — Massachusetts — enjoying another quiet afternoon. Jancey and I came up Sunday afternoon for a few days of relaxation before the semester starts next Monday. It’s dreamy here. Our aunt lives due east of Boston, across the bay, on a tiny spit of land called Hull. It’s a small town where the police blotter in the local paper contains true small-town fare:

12:28 p.m. Caller reports she is on U St. with a confused, elderly female. O/Colligan detailed and reports the woman lives on Manomet Ave. Family members said she sometimes forgets to take her medication. She had gone out to have her hair done…

9:53 p.m. Waltham St. caller reports a loud group of youths. O/Dunn detailed and reports the kids were chasing a skunk and have been sent on their way…

6:21 p.m. Beach Ave. Caller reports finding a bike on his lawn. Wil leave it for maintenance to pick up…

On the other hand, last night we took a half hour boat ride into Boston for some big-city shopping (literally — Urban Outfitters), and an evening with Johanna, one of my oldest friends. I mean the friendship is old; she’s my age. We had a lovely dinner overlooking the Fort Point Canal, then walked, trained, and bussed to Johanna’s apartment where we spent a mellow couple of hours.

I’m not a city girl, but I enjoy having friends to visit in fun places. This was the third city I’ve visited this month — DC for the Corcoran and Potbelly sandwiches, Pittsburgh for sushi, beer, and one of the best breakfasts of my life, and now, of course, Boston. When I visit cities, I try to imagine myself living there. (Don’t worry, Mom, I think I’ll probably stay in Harrisburg.) I started the month thinking Boston was my favorite, then DC, and then, well, Pittsburgh wasn’t even on my radar. But I really liked Pittsburgh. It could use a subway (I don’t know why, but I love subways), but the cost-benefit analysis reveals it to be a no-brainer. Let’s review:

• Convenient to Harrisburg
• Full of college/university students
• Rife with interesting restaurants
• Coffeehouses on every block (well, almost)
• In the midst of an impressive-appearing revitalization
• Etched with not just one but THREE rivers
• Green green green
• Low crime rate
• Outpost for a gaggle of tech companies I’d love to work for though I’ll never be qualified for anything useful
• Cheap

So, really, that’s everything I need. Maybe an integral school would be nice.

Anyway. That’s a fantasy as real as the possibility that I’m a genius musician whose latent talent will become blindingly obvious as soon as I take the time to really play with GarageBand. Actually, I suppose Pittsburgh is a whole lot more likely than that.

This was a fairly boring post after such a hiatus. I know you were thinking I’d have some incredibly insightful thing to say about all the issues I’ve been silent on — Lebanon, Cuba, Iran, JonBenet, etc. Sorry about that. Maybe later.

For now I’m off to enjoy the rest of a lazy afternoon on the porch, one hand occupied with a book, the other with a cat.