Exploring JP

Today I wandered around Jamaica Plain, or JP, for a while. It has a reputation as the most diverse neighborhood in MA and being very friendly and liberal. It's similar to Columbia Heights (where I used to live in DC) but bigger and nicer.

Izzy and I explored SW Corridor Park in the morning. It was supposed to be a run, but we kept stopping to say hi to other dogs. I talked with a bichon frise's owner, who has lived in the area for twenty years, for quite a while, and found out about a dog park off Beecher St. The park is awesome - fully fenced, lots of toys and water, about 8 blocks from my apt, and Izzy loved it. He also told me about Centre St, which is like Main Street in JP.

I headed there in the afternoon. It's only a mile away and has many fun shops! I went to Ace Hardware (mousetraps and key copies), Gadgets, Boomerangs (thrift store), Goodwill, and a few others. I now have a VHS player (to watch gametape) and ice cube trays. Between Gadgets and the thrift stores, I could get any possible kitchen item I could ever desire, from kitchen torches to a monkey wine bottle holder.

I also went to the grocery store, which wasn't as awful as I thought it would be. Going to the grocery store is up there with checking voicemails on the list of things I hate to do.

I mentioned how nice the people in JP are. It's directly in contrast to how the rest of the state drives. The nickname "Masshole" is well earned.

I also mentioned mousetraps. There's a strange hole in my bathroom, so I knew this might be a possibility. And several times when I have come home and let Izzy out of her crate, she'll ignore me and immediately begin a dedicated search of the apartment. Last night I watched one run along the baseboard of my bedroom. So, I have a mouse. I now have poison-free repellants and between that and Izzy's German Shepherd capabilities, I am sure we will be just fine.

I'm waiting around for Comcast tomorrow morning, and then hopefully venturing out to Concord to make a beer delivery for Justin and check out the beginning of the American Revolution.