Boston - Part 1

To end this week, I had the chance to travel to Boston, Massachusetts.  This was a combination of work and fun.  Actually, that might describe most of my trips ; )  To kick things off, I made my way back to my old office in Boxborough.  I still have a few employees at this location.  This is where we established a large testing lab, to make sure that software and games work really well on the computer chips that my company makes.  It's a really cool lab - stuffed full of computer equipment:

As you can tell, the room is jammed full of equipment.  My employees are asking me to knock down yet another wall, and expand ; )  When I worked at this location, I used to take groups on tours through this lab, especially Boy Scouts and Boys & Girls Clubs - because they could see all the games that we test...well before they are released ; )

One of the few drawbacks to this location, is that there is NOTHING close-by.  No restaurants, no stores...just a bunch of houses.  The only thing that is close, is the most amazing produce market in all of Massachusetts.  It's called Idylwilde Farms, and I used to LOVE going there, just to check out what was in season.  Here's what they had this week:

Golden Beets - next to traditional beets.

Gigantic blackberries

I just loved these ornamental peppers...the colors are fantastic.

After a hard day at work, I was lucky enough to spend time with old friends from our days in the Boston area.  Our friends, the Balmforths, were kind enough to host a little party in my honor:

The group assembled for a quick picture, before everything go out of control. After this friendly snapshot, the whole thing devolved into a competitive game of "Do You Love Your Neighbor".  If you don't know what that game is...you need to find out.  This time, no furniture was broken:

These people are pretty awesome, in my book.  As an example, the invitation to this party also included a request to bring Apple Crisp.  One of my favorite desserts...they were delicious!

Truly the sign of great friends....

I consider myself pretty lucky to know this people.  Even though we've moved far away, we're able to instantly pick-up with these folks, the minute we reunite.  I love them dearly and am so glad we spent the years in the Northborough Ward, getting to know all of them.

That's it for the first post.  Next up...traditional apple-picking in New England!