The days leading up to February 14 were a time of doing some shoveling of the sidewalk in front of my house. I took it easy and did the job in three stages over three days, spending no more than 45 minutes per day at a relaxed pace. (I really don't want to have a heart attack just yet.) Then today, I did the 10 feet from my property line to my neighbor's driveway.
Here are pics (click to enlarge) from before
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| Looking from the intersection toward the small section to be shoveled |
and after
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| Looking back from the neighbor's driveway |
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| Looking from the intersection (same as in first pic) |
Wednesday was the much-anticipated Ash Wednesday, and I helped give out ashes at the four services in my parish. (Had to have an early dinner on Tuesday, so I wouldn't be eating meat on Wednesday.)
Come Thursday, I was planning to attend a concert at the Harvard Musical Association, and at noon I made a reservation online for a table for one at Scollay Square. (BTW, there are pics on their home page that give some idea of what it looks like.) Through the day, I was happily tweeting and commenting on people's blogs about how I'd be dining alone on St. Valentine's Day, and it didn't bother me at all. And I was right. I had a fine time — nothing spectacular at the restaurant. The waiter I call Tommy Kirk was at the hostess's desk when I walked in and I greeted them with a cheery "Happy St. Valentine's Day." "Tommy" hadn't been there the last two Friday I was, so I was especially happy to see that he still worked at the place, and I hoped he'd be my waiter. No such luck. Natalia was my waitress. She's very good — pleasant and pretty and efficient — she's just not a good-looking guy.
The whole time I was there, a table nearby was vacant, so I wasn't keeping a couple away. Among the patrons who arrived while I was having dinner (and were seated nearby) were two pairs of men. One pair were probably in their sixties, the other in their twenties. There were no PDA's, so the thought that they were gay is speculation on my part, but it's at least possible. All the other couples I saw were male-female.
The restaurant had a dinner-for-two special, a prix-fixe which allowed two choices from appetizers, two from entrees, and two from desserts. When I asked about specials, Natalia brought the special menu and said I could choose from that too. I chose a flatiron steak, and it was good.
Then, on to the concert, but …
just before leaving for Boston I checked an unopened e-mail from the HMA to see what they'd be playing (three Beethoven string quartets) and there, in red letters, was an announcement that attendance would be by reservation only. I tried to call and see if there was still room, but got voice mail. I couldn't wait for an answer, since I needed to leave to get to my restaurant reservation. So I checked the Boston Symphony calendar and found that they'd be playing things I wouldn't mind hearing. I finished dinner in time to get to Symphony Hall at about 7:40 andwas able to get a ticket (with a subscriber discount). So I had an enjoyable evening at Symphony Hall. I'd mention the fact that I also saw young guys in pairs there, but there are always young guys in pairs at Symphony Hall. I'd have enjoyed the post-concert supper at the HMA — sausages, red cabbage, and beer — but no complaints about the evening I did have.
