M. Willis Monroe

I baked my first bread in the new house today. The begining, I’m sure, of many loaves. I made myself a late dinner and listened to BBC Radio Four; a debate on Aid in Africa, a special on The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire and a segment on Leprosy in India.

I arrived yesterday after a suprisingly short flight across the Atlantic. My bags didn’t make it with me, but I suspected they wouldn’t as my transfer in Newark was a bit hectic. I took the tube up here to Turnpike Lane and walked to the new house. Esther was here waiting for me so I put down my backpack and fiddle and we went to the cafe at the end of our road to have lunch. Peter arrived later and we all went in Ether’s car to Ikea to stock up for our house. When we got home Esther made us a dish she learned in Ethiopia. We sat around for a while then Esther had to head back home. I went to bed early as I was knackered.

This morning Peter and I went and got breakfast at the same cafe then played some cards for a while before he headed back home. My bags came later while I was making myself some lunch. Then I went myself to Ikea via the bus and bought to cheapo bookcases and brought them back and assembled one for books, stereo, and cds. My room is looking better and better. I just need to get my futon so I can replace the bed.

Went out to dinner last night with my parents and then we walked around waterfire (the 200th!). Packing up today, and meeting Esther at our house tomorrow morning when I arrive.

Yesterday I took the bus in the morning and did some buisness downtown. Deposited some checks and got my watch fixed. Then I walked up college hill and stop at Geoff’s to have lunch and read the paper. I ran into Allen at the Brown Bookstore and we chatted for a while. Then I saw Mike briefly and walked down to Wayland square bought two poetry books at Books on the square and then sat and read them over a hot chocolate in starbucks. Then lanny got back from the hospital and I went over to his and we hung out for a while and had dinner. Then Mike returned and we hung out some more till he had to go on a date. So I got him to give me a ride via Speeny and his girlfriend Ally to Kennedy Plaza where I took the city line bus and walked home from the city line. Waiting for the bus I met Scotty from the heart of Miami who told me, whatever be my vice make sure you get the good shit.

Today I’m going to stay at home and pack.

This past week has been great. I heard tons of great music at the Philly folk fest, and played some great music in the camp site as well. Plus volunteering was fun as well, setting up and taking down stages.

Monday I went to see Sasha in New Rochelle. It was really quite nice. Monday night we hung out with a bunch of friends. Tuesday we took the train into New York. First we got some sandwiches and ate them in the park while listening to an opera practice for that evening. Then we walked to the Met and saw a bunch of stuff there (the ancient near east collection was closed however). Then we walked over to the Natural History museum. That was pretty amazing, it jogged old memories for both of us. The giant blue whale, all the dioramas, especially the sperm whale and the squid.

We hung out in the park for a bit. Then we headed south to the village, I showed her where I used to live right off of washington square park, some fifteen years ago. We walked around some more and got fallafel and then headed home. The next day we woke up had breakfast and then she drove me to the train station and I took the amtrak up to Boston to meet Nia. The visit to New York was very enjoyable I left in high spirits. Spending time with Sasha was great, it’s too bad we live so far away from each other during the year. I like her a lot.

When I got up to Boston Nia and her friend Dan met me at South Station. We then walked to his new flat right round the corning in China town. It was pretty cool, a big factory floor loft type of place. They had just moved in but the place had so much potential. We hung out with the other flat mate all together on the roof as the sun set and the buildings in centeral boston around us turn different colours. Then we went back to Nia’s in cambridge and hung out for a bit and went to bed. The next morning I left just before Nia and her friend left for a road trip. I took the T to South Station and then the commuter rail to Providence and then the local bus to my house. It took maybe two and a half hours from Nia’s house to mine and cost exactly eight seventy five all on public transport. I was pretty psyched about that, for all I’ve maligned to public transport system here, in some places it actually works. Anyway the time with Nia was great, we talked a lot about various things, including potential sweeties and ex-sweeties (like usual). Sunday I’m leaving to go back England. Today I have to run a few errands in Providence , I’m going to take the bus.

My parents and I drove down to Beavertail park on Jamestown today. The weather was amazingly beautiful and everyone was out either on the shore or in boats on the bay.

Yesterday my sister and I biked to the Zoo and saw all the animals.