Boston

Justin and I learned about a new study that is being proposed for type I diabetics.  He contacted the lab, and while they are waiting for FDA approval, they told him he was welcome to come and get the pre-admission blood work done, ‘any time he happened in Boston.’  As we are unlikely to just drop in to Boston, we made plans for a special trip.

Of course, everything is more complicated due to precautions still.  While our airlines did not require testing, the state of Massachusetts does.  The testing sites refused to guarantee a result in time for our trip, but Massachusetts does accept the BinaxNOW.

This test requires two tests taken 36 to 72 hours apart, but they can be done at home—Yay!

Both negative.

Justin re-read the paper on the previous study on the flight out.

We stayed in a hotel near the airport so we could shuttle ride over.

The concierge was able to point us to some restaurants in walking distance of our stay.  His recommendation was a few blocks away.

We walked through a fun little neighborhood to the pizzeria, which had been featured on Drive Ins and Dives, which I must admit we’ve never seen.  The sign say, ‘On this site in 1897, nothing happened.’

We picked a spinach, olive, and feta pizza, that we knew the kids would never go for.

The next morning we Uber-ed to Justin’s appointment.  It was just a simple overview of the proposed study, consent forms, and a quick blood draw.

We were able to look at some history of the MRI machine—who wants to be shut into that room?!—while we were in the lobby.

And we saw art that represented some of the ongoing studies being held.

We spent several hours poking around the nearby areas of Boston after his appointment—it was warm, but we were so thankful for good weather.

We saw the Navy yard,

Including the USS Cassin Young

And the USS Constitution (Old Iron Sides).

We were able to go the the visitor’s center, though the museums were closed.  This was a tool box from a ship—it held files, drills, and other woodworking tools for ship building and repair.

A model of how rope was made.  

The USS Constitution had 40 miles of rope aboard.

A reference for size comparison—the overhead rope was much larger than rope in the case.

We walked up Bunker Hill.

We flew back that afternoon, into evening.  Now we wait!