Urban hiking, without the boots

I may have overestimated my body's abilities today.

In the first two work days that I was here, I applied for jobs with Harvard, MIT, the city of Cambridge, the Cambridge public schools, and a couple other places. Yesterday I put in an application to be a substitute in the Somerville schools, the next town over. Cambridge requires some kind of certification that I don't have, if I read the website properly. I immediately heard back from the woman, Marie, who is in charge of subs for Somerville. She wanted me to me her at 3:30 today, but I said I had to be here then. So we agreed on 12:30 today at the Healey school.

Molli lent me her transit pass and I studied the various options. I was up very early, my natural schedule plus some excited anticipation, I guess. Molli and Tamara were on the last minute side today, so I had eaten and was ready to go when they had showered and dressed. We took the dog and walked T to school, then Molli and I walked a few blocks toward her destination. Osa and I came back Beacon to Kirkland, noting the location of Whole Foods.

At home, I relaxed a bit on the computer and then got ready to go. Shower, put on black pants and lavender shirt, brush hair, eat lunch (leftover pork chop and potato salad). I thought I would be early, but wanted to allow plenty of time for mishaps, mine or the transit systems. I downloaded an app that would tell me when buses were coming, to help. I took my raincoat because it is no longer 90 degrees in Boston, but rain is expected.

First step, walk to Kirkland at the end of Trowbridge...bus arrived as I did. Rode it to Sullivan Square (the famous Sully Square station in the song about Charlie and the MTA), where I got off and waited for another bus. I had two choices, but the 89 came first, if memory serves me. I got off in Somerville, at Main Street, and walked down a steep hill (Edgar street). The neighborhood seems "working class" to me; most of the houses are large, multi-family buildings, with occasional smaller individual homes among them. The sky was cloudy and there was a breeze, but the rain held off.

I found the right door and got buzzed in, as the first drops fell, along with two girls. Marie was at the desk, headset on, dealing with several things at once. We liked each other quite well, I would guess. No nonsense, just fill out these papers and she asked me a few questions. I will have to be fingerprinted and have a background check, but may be able to start as soon as Monday. The pay rate is $75/day...I would probably not take a permanent job that paid that little, but it's about twice what they pay in Athens. Now, can I do it??

Next stop, the grocery store. I only wanted a few things, so I could carry them. There wasn't a very good way to get from the Healey school to the store or the store to the apartment (via transit), so I ended up walking the whole way.

I figured I would treat myself to a drink and a rest when I got to the grocery store, but this was not Whole Foods. Instead of a place to sit down, there was a teeming mass of humanity of all shapes, colors and ages. I felt happy to be among them, buying my few items and waiting in the express line with 10 other people. I did buy 2 pounds of organic grapes, because T finished the old ones yesterday, and I certainly want to encourage her to eat fruit. Ground beef, pepperoni, 1 lemon, a package of yeast, and something else...turned out a little heavier than I had planned. Another mile and I was here, ready to ditch my shoes and set myself down.

T. will be here shortly and I will have to find the energy to make supper!