Tax Free Weekend

Wow. So this past weekend, the state of Massachusetts (well, really the Commonwealth) decided to have a sales tax holiday: any item under $2500 was tax free. Amazing! To ramp up sales a little more, pretty much every store I visited had additional sales. I didn't really end up spending too much. It was pretty much what I expected, give or take.

Here's what I got:

1. Skis! At REI I found a really nice pair of skis for $105. Since they were originally marked at $400, it seems like a pretty good deal. I still need to get bindings and boots, but that shouldn't be too hard. I can just use tape and sneakers!

2. Bike stuff. My bike tires have been flat for about 4 years, so I got them fixed. I also got a helmet and a new lock. My Senate Contact lives just up the street from me, and it is an easy bike ride.

3. An iPod Mini for my Senate Contact. His b-day is coming up.

My Senate Contact also bought a new mattress. He has a bed, but didn't have the mattress yet. We have to modify his bed slightly, but that should just be fun. It will be coming on Sunday.

So I did my part, helping spend money while keeping it from the state. Go America!

Call to Arms

So I've decided to form a team for the Samaritans 5K walk this fall. I would love people to join up or make pledges. The walk is on October 1st. Let me know if you are interested in either walking or giving. I'm really excited about this!

Ice Cream, Movie, & Lake George

Ice Cream:

I am a fan of ice cream. A huge fan of ice cream. I've been trying new flavors whenever I get a chance. When I was in Vietnam last August, I tried a few new flavors: green sticky rice & green beans. I had never had a vegetable flavored ice cream before (red bean and green tea don't count), and it was delicious. A few weeks ago, my Senate Contact and I stopped by J. P. Licks, and I had cucumber ice cream! It was delicious too. I recommend it. Then, about a week or so later, I brought to a Tuesday night dinner corn flavored ice cream. Talk about an interesting and subtle flavor. It had a very subtle flavor and texture. Go for it, if you have a chance. Christina's has another winner with it.

Movie:

Murderball. My friend A. R. dated the director of this amazing film for many years. The director is a great guy, and his movie is moving, gripping, and inspirational. The players have more moxie than anyone I've actually met. The game itself is amazing. I recommend to everyone to get out there and see this movie. Immediately and without delay.

Lake George:

This past weekend, my Senate Contact & I went up to Lake George to visit my family and to have a break from the Sturm-und-drang of life in Boston. It was fantastic. The water was delightfully warm, as indicated by the fact that I myself went swimming! Even better? My Senate Contact took a plunge off Calves' Pen, a rocky cliff over a deep hole. I haven't ever done it, so I was impressed. We then took a boatnic on Saturday, swimming and wandering around the rocks.

On Sunday, we took out the kayak, paddled around the island and the small bays on either side of the causeway.
We took the motorboat out to the club, and on the way home, my Senate Contact took the helm and we went South for a bit instead of North. After getting home, we helped set up Grandma's party, and then we took out the Sunfish. My Senate Contact had never been sailing, so Mom gave him a few pointer, then we took out in the boat. He did a great job! We had a good time sailing around for a while. He fell in once (caught unawares by the main sheet), but we never capsized. I thought he did really well for his first time.

All told, it was a really great weekend. I am glad we went, as we had some time to relax. Now I'm back in Boston, trying to get things all sorted out here. Life continues, even when we are away.