The Arnold Arboretum

The Arnold Arboretum is the oldest public arboretum in North America and a hotspot for horticultural researchers around the world.

The Arboretum is a living museum dedicated to the study and appreciation of woody plants. Upon its 265 acres grow 15,000 trees, shrubs and vines, each of which is scientifically documented and available for teaching or research.

Harvard University curates the collections and maintains the landscape, while the city (which has leased the area to Harvard for 1,000+ years) maintains the paperwork.

Of course, the famed Frederick Law Olmsted (landscape architect who designed the Hello Walk at the University of Idaho, Central Park) worked together with Charles Sprague Sargent, the scientist who collected the plant life. Olmsted laid out the road system and overall planting scheme to make sure that it flowed with the rest of the Emerald Necklace. The Emerald Necklace is a series of park areas in Boston that are all joined by roadways or waterways, so you can go from one area to the next easily.

We biked up to the top of Bussey Hill and Peters Hill, which offers one of Boston's best vistas with Kris and Candace, who recently transplanted to Boston (also for educational purposes). After biking uphill for three hours, we all went out to Mike's Deli, which has the most delicious Reuben any of us had ever encountered. So satisfying (and dairy-free!).

We also had a surprise visitor! Mary Tait was stuck at the airport, so we rescued her and utilized our queen-size air mattress! Then, of course she left us to go spend the week on Cape Cod with her parents. :) It was fun while it lasted!

Nick's White Coat Ceremony

Last week was Nick's White Coat Ceremony. During the ceremony, the third year students return to pin and put the white coats on the first years. The speakers were great and the food was delicious.

Plus, Nick looks pretty sweet in his White Coat. Very professional.

If you look closely, you'll notice that on Nick's nametag, the "k" is capitalized (NicK). For FREE - it didn't cost a thing for that extra panache.

Without any further adieu, here is a glimpse of the future Dr. Caylor.

4th of July on Cape Ann

We spent the 4th on the ocean and on Cape Ann, thanks to the hospitality of Dennis's parents! We swam in the pool, in the freezing cold hypothermia-inducing ocean, and we were even bit by sand fleas while wading off the beach finding beautiful seashells. The beaches were full of every type of medium to tiny-sized dog, as well as a lot of swimsuit-wearing people and boats anchored in the sand.

We also took in the views on the water, and since we had traveled in two separate groups, when we traded places and swam to the shore or to the boat, we couldn't take our stuff with us! So when we put on dry clothes to warm up - they weren't ours! It was kind of fun to put yourself in someone else's shoes . . . literally.

On the cape, they have fireworks and a giant bonfire with 1800 wood pallets, and a wooden sculpture on the top that burns throughout the evening. In the recent past, the wooden sculpture was of Frosty the Snowman, but so many of the kids started crying when they saw Frosty "melting" that they had to save Frosty's life.

Note to self: don't burn effigies of anything from children's literature. It will traumatize the children.

;)

June is Over

Nick is in class 35 hours per week, he's studying 30 hours per week, and he has about 20 hours of free time per week, if you count breakfast and dinner.

Still, we managed to find time for food and fun at Atwood's Tavern with our L-town Crew: Jessica and Travis. Jessica is a 2L at BU Law - she's unstoppable! If you like mandolins, Atwood's Tavern is the place to be on Thursday nights. We like mandolins.

If you like Sushi, hit up Ginza, a fantastic, delicious, and yes, affordable sushi restaurant in Coolidge Corner. After that, feel free to travel down the D line to Matt Murphy's - a pub with live music every weekend. A few of the 1Ls and our posse met up for expensive drinks and good conversation.

If it's shopping you'd like, head over to Newbury Street, the Prudential, or Copley Place. Allison, my neighbor (she lives in the same apartment building one floor above us), and I hit the streets of Boston looking for suits, with fantastic results. She found one at Ann Taylor, and I found this one at Banana Republic - on sale, of course - in black.

http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/outfit.do?cid=30924&oid=OUT07989


Meanwhile, Nick is busy with his dissection, coming home everyday complaining that the smell of embalming fluid has permeated his clothing, and raving about getting to saw through and remove an entire leg. I asked if he would rather be a Pathologist. He said no, but I don't know if I really believe him. ;)

I wish I could be more excited for him, I really do, but I just don't like the sound of crunching bones.

So sue me.

;)