Moving Day In Boston

Ah. September 1st in Boston. Moving Day. Our apartment is situated right inbetween BU and BC, so September brings tons of new and returning students. But folks aren't just moving in, some have to move out. And that means that the sidewalks are littered with old furniture and the dumpsters are overflowing into the road.

Since we're staying put this year, I took my camera for a little walk.

It was quite the scene. There were bright orange stickers on every piece of furniture on the sidewalk warning people not to take said furniture for fear of bedbugs.

I saw VHS tapes and records, men carrying new couches and old, a girl watching two grown men struggle to move a huge TV, dressers, mattresses, cookie sheets, fouton frames, and the list goes on.

Of course there were moving vans galore, but I especially liked the Gentle Giant. They have an awesome phone number, too: 800-GIANT-MEN (too many numbers, right?)! Amazing.

Welcome to September.

[Don't forget to check out the new stuff at ELM.]

My Journal

I started keeping a personal journal at UMass, because it was a requirement for my college writing class. Once I got into the habit, it wasn't so hard to write on a daily basis. In fact, I sometimes found myself writing many times a day. My second semester freshman year wasn't easy, and my journal became a very important part of my life. 

Lately (by lately, I mean the past year and a half!), I've been really bad about updating my journal. I tend to pick a day and do a massive update, but I don't write much; I glue in business cards from restuarants, cards people send to me, stickers, news articles, and little things I've collected since the last update. It's sort of like a scrapbook I guess. 

I think I stopped writing because I was just complaining about work (ugh) all of the time, instead of documenting what was happening in my life. Maybe now I'll start up again. We'll see. Even if I don't write frequently, I still use my journal to keep track of the things I do. 

Shredded Sign

Like so many signs posted on telephone poles, this one has been forgotten. Since people rarely go around to take them down, passersby are often left wondering whether or not dogs were found or sofas were sold. 

Telephone Pole

My mom and dad spotted this telephone pole in Cold Spring, NY on Saturday. 

This pole has been home to fliers, advertisements, and messages for years. The papers have come down, but the nails and staples have been forgotten. They've been left in place to rust.

White Picket Fence

Fences are used to keep things out (or in). They are used to mark boundaries and protect property and privacy. While white picket fences seem old fashioned, they continue to be popular. 

To me they represent the idea of a happy family, the type you'd see on a sitcom. In reality, anybody can have this fence. I've seen sad looking picket fences and others that have been maintained. Some protect wayward yards and or guard homes that look like they should be in a 50's era photo album. 

Rust

It must be tedious being left alone to rust. Luckily, a little grease and oil could probably fix this bike and make it usable once again. Just ask the Tin Man, he'll tell you. 

I really wish I could fit this rusty old bike into my apartment. When we have space, I think one of the first things I'd like to get is a bike. I really used to love riding bikes and I'm pretty sure that hasn't changed. My taste in bikes is different, however. My first bike was pink and had a banana seat so that I could fit a passenger on the back!

That actually makes me think of all of the things I've used and eventually outgrown thus far in life.  This includes everything from toys and beliefs to friends. Like an old bike, these things (or people) could potentially become part of my life agin, but they may also end up as memories. It's a little sad to think about leaving things behind, but it's part of growing up. 

Wow. All that from some rusty gears. What are you thinking about?