Quick update...

I wrote yesterday about my job interview. Well, today I received an e-mail from them requesting a second interview next week. Good news! I did not expect to hear from them so quickly. We'll see what happens.

Job interview

Anyone who will take time to read my blog knows me well enough to realize how much I enjoy talking about myself - not at all!!!

This morning I had a phone interview for a job I applied for not long ago. The call lasted just over 30 minutes. And I will tell you, it was the most exhausting half hour of my life! It was only 9:30 a.m. when I hung up the phone, but I felt like I had already put in a full day's work - I was (and am) ready to go loaf for the rest of the day.

The interview was not difficult. The questions were very generic - like those found on "common interview question" handouts. So I feel I was prepared and provided solid answers. So why the exhaustion?

Well, I don't know if I have spoken about myself for a solid 30 minutes ever before in my lifetime. I do not know why, but I have never liked talking about myself. Even when people sincerely ask about my schooling, career goals, relationships, etc. I usually give a short answer and quickly change the subject. I shift the focus to them instead of me. Why do I do that? Why am I so uncomfortable sharing my life with others? I really do not know.

Update...

It was last Sunday when I posted my comments regarding b.good burgers in Boston, MA. To my surprise, when I returned home from a date on Tuesday evening I had an e-mail waiting from one of the founders and co-owners of the b.good company - Jon Olinto. Jon graciously expressed thanks for my comments on my blog.

Among other things, he said, "I can’t tell you how much it meant to us to read your amazing blog... In fact, your writing was some of the most beautiful customer feedback we’ve gotten in our 4 years of grinding burgers. Truly, it’s hard to explain just how good your entry made us feel over here on Monday. So, thanks a lot. We really appreciate the love."

Not only did he send a kind e-mail, he sent me four coupons for free burgers to be redeemed during my next visit to Boston! So, reluctantly (not really) I am planning another trip to Beantown.

Thank you, Jon.

b.good

What does a town like Boston have to offer? World class universities, museums, national historical sites, Fenway Park, lobster, clam chowder. Certainly it has all of these. But when I decided to make a weekend trip up the Eastern seaboard to this New England city, none of these attractions are what excited me most. No, it wasn't the prospect of visiting Paul Revere's house, walking the halls of Harvard University, nor enjoying the charm of the brownstone streets that prompted a countdown of the days to my arrival in South Station. Instead, it was a hamburger. Yes, a patty of beef sandwiched between a whole wheat bun which stimulated my excitement.

Now, let me make one thing perfectly clear. To relate to my readers living out west I must communicate my 100% loyalty and satisfaction with In-N-Out Burger. Anyone who has eaten at one of their many establishments will agree with me that their burgers are delicious, fresh, and worth driving several hundred miles from Salt Lake to Vegas to enjoy.

But if In-N-Out Burger is like the prime rib of burgers, then b.good burgers is the filet mignon. If In-N-Out is a Mercedes Benz, then b.good is a Rolls Royce. If In-N-Out is a deluxe ocean-front suite, then b.good is a private beach bungalow. That is how good a burger from b.good tastes.

Located on Dunster Street near Harvard Square, it is only a short walk from the T. Upon arriving in Boston, I immediately found the Red Line and went directly to b.good. My order - an el guapo with fries and a drink. What is an el guapo? Well, b.good uses ground steak for their burgers. The el guapo is a patty of said beef with strips of all-natural bacon, lettuce, tomato, and a unique jalapeno ranch sauce - wow, I want another one as I sit here writing about it!

My 1:00 feeding

Being utterly satisfied with my lunch, I set off to see some of the secondary sights. Although I was satiated and nourished as needed for the remainder of the day, I certainly could find room for another burger a few hours later. At 5:00 I found myself passing through Harvard square again. I stopped a second time to enjoy another succulent el guapo.

el guapo, the 2nd round (5:00)

During the evening hours I attended a reception for a friend who is marrying a girl from Boston. I traveled by bus to Belmont where the reception was held. I stayed until about 8:45, after which I quickly found a bus returning to Cambridge. And where did the bus route terminate? Yep, Harvard Square. With b.good closing at 10:00 I had just enough time to make another order. Now, if my second burger was an indulgence visit, my third was an I-don't-know-when-I-will-ever-be-back-so-I-better-enjoy-it-while-I-can visit.

My 9:30, and final, visit (am I any fatter?)

At my third showing I decided to try a different burger. This time I ordered the maple apple turkey burger. It is ground turkey with a maple glaze topped with a sliced apple, bacon, and grain mustard. Different, yes, but quite good. However, next time I will stick with the fail-safe el guapo!

Notable quote: "I adore things like that... food you can't do without... It comforts you" (Susan, Meet Joe Black).

The self portrait

It is an odd phenomenon. When traveling alone I end up with a dozen copies of essentially the same photograph. The only difference among the many pictures is the background.

I made a one-day trip to Boston this weekend. A round-trip ticket on Greyhound buses - only $40! I left New York early Saturday morning and arrived in Boston at Noon.

Aboard the bus - a new way to travel for me (the first of many self portraits)

My first stop upon arriving in Bean Town...? b.good Burgers in Harvard Square of course. (I would expound upon this, but b.good deserves its own posting (see here).

Is your mouth watering yet? Mine certainly was - just standing outside the place!

I made a quick stroll through the campus of Harvard University (Note: it doesn't hold a candle to Columbia's campus. Can I say that or is there a conflict of interest?).

Harvard Yard - a lot of red brick here!


The Harvard Law School library

Now, my visit took place in January - a cold, wintry time. Everyone in town was pumped for the upcoming AFC Championship game pitting their beloved Patriots against the visiting San Diego Chargers. But what was on my mind? FENWAY PARK!

That is Fenway! The best ballpark in the country. I am standing on the famed Yawkey Way. This entire road is closed during games and essentially becomes part of the stadium - you must be a ticketed fan to gain access. Awesome!

From Fenway I decided to make a trip down memory lane. I walked the final mile of the Boston Marathon. I was so emotionally and physically distraught the last time I made my way through these streets that I hardly recognized them this time.

I do remember this short tunnel. There is a small hill on the other side. It probably climbs only 10 feet over a distance of 100 yards, but it almost killed me at the end of the marathon!

The homestretch down Commonwealth Ave. At this point I was ready to punch the next fan who yelled, "you are almost there!"

The finish line!!! I really did not recognize this. I thought I was in the wrong place until I saw the painted yellow finishing line on the pavement. On race day this street was lined with people, bleachers, advertisements, etc. It was a madhouse.

The motivation for my trip to Boston was a good friend's wedding reception. I attended the University 40th Ward in Salt Lake with Dave Moss. He became a close friend as we shared similar experiences. He is engaged to a girl who grew up in Boston. They had an open house on Saturday evening in her childhood home - a nice spread in the hills of Belmont.

Cousin Shelley was kind enough to let me crash at her pad. They live in a quaint apartment. To illustrate how quaint it really is - we tripped the the master circuit for the entire apartment that evening when I was ironing my shirt and Shelly was using the hair dryer. Wow! I guess Boston really is colonial.