More from Lisi

Denise and Lisi just arrived in the Netherlands. Here is the ditty she wrote about her interview:
LE INTERVIEW!
I was very, very nervous the morning of, so to calm my nerves, I listened to some Fratellis and then Lily Allen while dancing around madly to get in the English spirit! Denise and I headed to Queens’ College in the icy midday weather. Once we arrived at the office for Queens’ (which, ironically, is the smallest and least-imposing of all the Colleges of Cambridge – of course I pick the one college that looks like it could have been Anne Boleyn’s summer cottage), I met a nice English girl and we headed up to the group meeting room, but not until Denise could snap a photo of me all dolled up. In the group room, I chatted a bit with some very nice kids: one girl from Pakistan, one from another part of England, and a guy originally from New York but living in Denmark. He was actually sort of a creeper. Oh well.
So, at about 2:50, all four of us headed up to the top floor of the Cripps building, which houses the classrooms for the college, to take a written test. About ten or twelve of us were there in total, with only two guys out of the lot, which amused us all. Before the proctor arrived, we all chatted a little and the other interviewees, once they found out I was from California, asked me if I was jet-lagged, et cetera.
Once the proctor arrived, we took our written exam, a nice little essay about a 17th-century poem, ‘The Mower’s Song’, which I tried to spice up with lots of punchy adjectives and the like. After we finished the essay, I bolted out of the building and literally ran (or as much as I could in the world’s most painful flats. Aren’t flats supposed to be comfortable?) to the Fisher Building, where my interview was scheduled.
I was a little shaky with nervousness before they called me in, and the professor who opened the door offered his hand to me, which I of course, in my idiocy, took as a sign that he wanted to see my confirmation paper. He of course jovially replied “Well, I was going to shake your hand.” Ah, I knew I couldn’t get through the interview without making an ass of myself at least once, so that was out of the way.
The two kind professors (both men, one around 50ish and the other late 30s) proceeded to jump right in to the questions, asking me the literature I was familiar with and then the poetry. Our subjects began with the Beats, ranged to Whitman, Steinbeck, segued to Shakespeare, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and then to a poem entitled “Break, break, break”, which we explicated in depth. Then, it was all over! They seemed pleased with my answers – and I felt absolutely overjoyed with the in-depth, intellectual, free-flowing conversation I’d just had. Because that’s what it felt like – a conversation. Good times.

Mind boggling

Remember the story of the kid, Alex, who lost his father in the train crash? Their house caught on fire this morning. They all got out and, although they had some smoke inhalation, they will be fine. The garage and all that was in it, is totaled, but the rest of the house survived with smoke damage. They can't get back in for a while, so they are going to be living at another Band family's house.
I am trying to coordinate how people can help. Some are making meals, some are donating gift cards to clothing stores. I am putting together a toiletries package.
One thing I am certain of: We don't have a band aid big enough for the real damage.

Lisi in London

ok, so she's not really in London, but it sounded so phonetically phun!
Our celebrity blogger of the day is Lisi:

Mommy! Hi! Everything is going amazing – the flight was great and smooth, but a little bumpy on landing. We got driven from the airport in a wonderful and spacious mini-limo-like-car and got to see the wonderful English countryside! It’s SO beautiful, and Denise and I were trying to decide what it looks like most – it’s a combination of Vancouver, Olympia, and the drive between Portland and Eugene. Except there are much cooler road signs! And the roundabouts are really fun – we need some of those in the US. We got to the hotel, and Cambridge is WAY cooler than I could have imagined! It’s such a big city – it’s way bigger than I thought, there are tons, TONS, of shops, bars, coffee places, restaurants, and stores. We walked around the corner and down the block from the hotel in the freezing (and I mean, literally near freezing, around 40 degrees) cold and had a very early but 2-hour dinner at Zizzi’s. We had DELICIOUS food – this garlic bread with cheese and balsamic caramelized onions, and then D had a seafood risotto and I had a delicious olive-oil soaked pizza margherita. Then we finished it off with a chocolate mousse cake… perfect! We’re in the hotel now and are going to hopefully watch a movie. Tomorrow, we head out to explore the city and check out the museums, then try and find the infamous River Cam! You would love it so much – at dinner we were lamenting the fact that you aren’t here. We miss you already and we’ll keep you updated. Check your Facebook just in case. I love you so, so much and I’ll take loads of pictures. <3 Love, ABB!

My little Lisi

OK, so she's about 6' tall. And fierce! Tomorrow she leaves with Denise for England to interview at Cambridge. Good luck (I think!)...

Gratitude

Well, I swallowed the deep-fried-turkey-kool aid (and everything else) yesterday! Russ and Chandra brought the frier over and we documented the moment. So cool, it took 45 minutes to cook a 14 lb. bird. With 16 people attending our glorious dinner we knew one turkey would not suffice, so we roasted one in the oven also. Soup today, and leftovers! YUM!

So forgive me for being a day late (and a dollar short)...but I am so thankful for my friendships. To those of you who are near, you make me smile (and downright laugh) and I am grateful. For those who are far, distance cannot break our tie.

And for my friend Ann, here are the pictures.

Whirlwind

Well, marching season is done. It was quite the season! The challenges were minimal...a bus breaking down on the freeway, wheel blowing out on the trailer bound for Vegas...the trip to Vegas (let's just say it stays in Vegas), a 20 hour day with 130 kids (and their less durable parents)...and the last day, Macy's in the morning, Moorpark at night, then Senior Circle. Home by 1:30am. And there's the pyramid...but that's another story.
It's about closure. In marching band there is a tradition of closing out the season by playing the show for the last time. We met in the "Quad" on the high school campus at about 11:30pm after our last show. The band forms a huge circle with the Color Guard in the middle. The parents form an even bigger circle around the outskirts. The Seniors and their parents are brought into the middle, presented with flowers and a student gives a speech. Lisi was the speaker, and she recalled the past four years...well done. Then the finale...our show played for the last time. Poignant.
That page is turned. I look forward to the rest of the book, but I must say, I enjoyed this chapter.

Blog sista

OK, my friend Ann (she who knows all) sent me this link to a blog site. It is definitely worth your time. I hope I am half as wise when I reach that age!
http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/

The sticker

I love it. I love standing in line with my fellow citizens (even the enemy). I love the wobbly voting booth, the black pen, the large ballots. I love the old people who hand you the ballots, in their red, white and blue attire. I love the teeny little elementary cafeteria that hosts this great event. But mostly, I LOVE the sticker. You know the one..."I Voted" with the American flag on it. I keep it stuck to my finger until I can decide what article of clothing will carry this little gem around on it. Such a simple thing, but I wear it with both pride and humility. I was raised believing that voting is a duty and a privilege. Especially as a woman.
But I would probably do it just for the sticker.

I am always gratified by moments of "substance". We have so many distractions in our day that separate us from those moments. We are misled into thinking that the distractions are important. Job deadlines and to-do lists feel necessary. Then something triggers us; a comment, a song, a moment of pure joy or sorrow, and we are reminded that the true substance of our lives can be found in the smallest moments of our day, but we have to be willing to see it, hear it and respond to it.
I remember a church song that says "take time to be holy". I feel that way today, even though my "holy" time was spent watching the link below. I am so grateful.
Stop, watch.....but mostly, listen.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/10242008/watch3.html

Enough said

http://www.hoffmania.com/blog/2008/10/the-big-gay-threat-to-california.html

Those autumn leaves...

Ah, the beautiful colors of Fall. The ambers, reds and yellows signaling cooler days and warm fires. OK, so if you live in Southern California those fires aren't in your fireplace, they are in the surrounding hills, jeopardizing homes and animals. Oh, and humans. Yes, the Santa Ana winds are upon us. We get those gentle breezes (65 miles per hour) that toss glowing embers under the eves of homes, or in conveniently located piles of dried leaves and branches from a drought-filled summer. The pictures are from my front door about 1 hour after the Porter Ranch fire began. The palm tree picture is of the same set of trees, just from different angles so you can see the sky. It is bright orange in one direction, and clear blue facing the other way. (Hard to tell from my photography!). And, in the hopes it won't discourage people from visiting and swimming, a picture of the crap in my pool from the winds. Thank goodness for the pool guy.

One annoying aspect of the onset of fires (besides the poor air quality, loss of homes,etc) is the non-stop TV broadcasts of guys in face masks saying the same thing over and over again. When will they realize it is dramatic enough to see these fires without them having to blather on and on about them.

On that note I will heed my own advise and quit blathering on my blog!

La Vida loca

Meet Frances. She's the one sporting the miniature Daniel Boone hat. (note: this WAS the end of the day, big surprise!) Frances invited Denise and I on a little trip with some other friends to wine country in the Santa Ynez area. As you will note, the day started with a refreshing rain. For those of you from Seattle, this may sound like a disasterous beginning, but for us it was such a welcome moment! The air was clear and the views spectacular, and that was BEFORE drinking tastings from 6 (yes, six) wineries. Quite the task to battle...six wineries, but we were up to the challenge. Thank goodness for our designated drivers, Keith (and later Val) and Javier. After tackling the wineries we settle into the Hitching Post like we owned the place....wrangled up some good grub and tossed back a couple more cupo de vino just for good measure. Seriously nice day. Ironically enough, it was a day that I didn't think I could "spare". So many more pressing engagments (ok, other people say 'chores'). But it was so good to drive out of town and spend an entire day computer and chore free.

We do live so close to some rockin' places. People should really visit more often.

The peaks and the valleys

Just to start, I read and re-read what I wrote below to check myself because I can be labelled as "quick to go dark" on a subject. I don't want to over-dramatize OR make too light of a subject, but I also want to pass on the process of healing and moving forward. Share the love. I'm just doing the best I can, so read on:

The highs and the lows. We all have them. This week has been a roller coaster of emotion. You know how you have those times where you just feel so fortunate? This was that week for me.

I feel fortunate that I could be a part of the healing that this small community is going through. Last night was our first football game and the band performed at halftime. All of this took place after Pete's memorial in the afternoon. I watched a boy become a man, as Alex stood as the last speaker at his dad's funeral. We all cried as he cried and asked the crowd (too large to fit in the church) to please forgive the engineer driving the train, because that is what his dad would want. At half-time of the game, the Kish Clan were quietly escorted into the stadium to watch Alex perform. The band was great, and in a small way we all felt the step forward.

And I feel fortunate for the (small?) successes noted above in pictures. Lisi is a National Merit Semi-Finalist! She is one of 5 students in her school who earned this honor, the only other girl being Shirley, who is also in Band, and also a drummer girl. Very cool moment, and worthy of a whole blog in itself. I would love to describe a day in the life of Lisi, because, as many of you already know, what she does in a day is impressive for both its difficulty and need for endurance.

This aint high school like we did it! We are so proud of her. In many ways we feel that this is the tip of the person that AnnaLise is. Yes, she is smart, but it goes so far beyond that.

So today the weather is perfect...sunny and crisp. We have limited obligations, so the tempo is relaxed. This day is beautiful in many, many ways.

Perspective

There are occasional moments in life where things become cloudy and clear at the same time. This happened for me on Friday afternoon, when the Metrolink train wreck occurred. It was a surreal moment to see the accident and realize that it was the exact train at the exact time that I rode on with my niece, Chelsi, and Lisi and friend Cindy in June. I remember our train stopping for the signal light to let the freight train go by with a whoosh. Whoa.
Say a little prayer of thanks for a safe journey.
Unfortunately, one of our band students, a friend of Lisi's that she talked into joining drumline last year was not so fortunate. Alex's dad, Pete (Ernest) was commuting home on that train. I felt a pit in my stomach when I saw Alex's facebook asking for people to pray for his dad who was still not home and it was midnight on Friday. Pete, the guy with a smile on his face every time we'd greet. Pete, the guy who stepped up to run the pancake breakfast last year for the Band, even though he had one the next morning for his church. I got a text from Alex the next day that was gut wrenching and simple...his dad didn't make it.
It is cloudy right now. A heavy marine layer lies over this valley we live in. It mimics the heart. But for all the fog, the clarity is sharp: Life is precious and in a split second yours can change or end. Appreciate your moments.

On my honor...

I will strive, to do my duty, etc. etc. OK, here I sit, in the Ventura County Courthouse, serving my country. Better here than Iraq, as the Judge said earlier. It really is a fascinating process, this jury system. This is a huge case, a criminal case, that I can't talk about right now. Suffice it to say, it made my stomach turn when the Judge read the charges and the guy was sitting right there. One is always reminded that we are innocent until proven guilty, but man-oh-man, someone did something very bad. Unfortunately, it is a two week minimum case, so a number of us were excused. I now sit and wait to be called for a shorter case.

It took me all of 23 minutes to make the drive this morning; a drive I thought would take about 45 min. so , of course I gave it an extra 15 so as not to be late, so I had ample time to watch the scene. Lots of people arriving with books tucked under their arms. Once through the screening for weapons (thank goodness, as you know the boredom alone can cause one to do crazy things) we settle into the holding tank. Here you hear lots of sighing. The sigh of having to listen to them talk about honor, and serving, blah blah blah. The sigh of sleepiness that comes when air conditioning is played like white noise to lull the masses. The sigh of frustration as some of us are excused, while the sigher remains. Lots of sighs.
The second hand creeps forward...I learn the "secret code" for the WiFi access and give just a little sigh of happiness. Then they call my name.
Sigh.

Avoidance

I have been artfully avoiding my blog...checking daily for new comments, while feeling guilty over the lack of updates. I pin this problem directly on the political scene. I have a low grade feeling of malaise. This happens to me anytime I hear bitter banter. I refer, of course to the recent speech by Ms. Palin. I was hopeful that I would like her, because, as we all know, I like to like everybody. But I was chilled to the bone with her caustic, sarcastic speech. And doubly bothered to see the mob mentality response. Instead of hearing about how things were going to change, I heard mocking of the idea, as though belittling the opponent was going to help unify our country. In an age where we need more compassion we were dealt a severe dose of cynicism.

That said, I have hope that folks will look at the facts and use their better judgement. That happens sometimes, right?
I promise the next blog will have a few pretty pictures, and uplifting words, but for today I think this is the best I can do.

First Days

The first day of school. Always an exciting moment (for the mother)...new books, new locker, new friends (OK, so I don't get the new locker). This last week was the beginning of Lisi's Senior year, or what she calls her "last year of compulsory education". She willingly let me take the obligatory "First Day Of School" picture, as I have for every year that she has been in school. My favorite remains the first day of pre-school (above, obviously). The look of intent upon her face is a true display of the person she has always been: Ready for the challenge. As she drove us to school (see earlier blog) I was acutely aware of the passing of time. Now, we all know that it is usually about me, so why be coy? I wonder what my days will be like next year after driving her to college. I have given up the idea of following her (all breath a deep sigh of relief). She refused to join a sorority with me any way, so what's the point? (And to think, I had matching outfits picked out). So as she begins her senior year towards independence, I too begin mine.

"I Promise"

I think that's the name of the Band field show this year, but I am referring to the promise that will not inundate my blog readers with numerous blogs about Band. Yes, I have kept my famous "All Band, All the Time" quote, but am attempting to keep my Mexico promise to have a life. ( I definitely hear my band-parent friends snickering...and there is always Arlene's eye-rolling to deal with..more on that later).

Any way...today a few of us gathered together to attempt to create a prototype of the field show prop for this year. Arlene the Artist (and eye-roller) is the brains behind this endeavor. She located some material from a friend in the "business", therefore saving us a bundle while we tested out the concept. It is a pyramid that will eventually have one of the words from John Wooden's Pyramid of Success on it. There are many stipulations to this prop...it must have quick entry for a student, as they will be inside it and moving around the field. It must be light, and yet not light enough to take off like a kite if the wind is strong. You must not be able to see in, but they must be able to see out. Etc. etc. You see the idea, right? Arlene is very disappointed in the finished product, but she is picky. I kinda liked it. And this little video is my interpretive moment of how it will work on the field. Enjoy!

Band Camp

Most of those who know me see the signs....the edginess, irritability, eye twiching, night sweats...

Yes, it is true: Band has started!

It began on August 11th with two weeks of Band Camp. I marvel at the fact that teenagers will actually show up at 8am in the summer to memorize more than 70 pages of drill, tons of music, and then march in the 90 + weather for hours until they go home at 5pm, sunburned and exhausted. And they show up again the next day. I keep waiting for them to unite, look up in the stands at the instructors and yell "HELL NO!" Visions of Norma Rae.

On a serious note, it is marvelous. I cannot comprehend how they manage to sound like a Band in 2 days! They are so very, very good. But it is not without effort. Above are some pictures of the first couple of days on the field. They march for hours, learning drill, then spend the afternoon learning music. The show emphasizes John Wooden's Pyramid of Success, and they demonstrate it daily.

Parenting

We knew it was bound to happen...the child being used as fodder for the blogger. Shhhh...don't tell her. I doubt she looks at my "lame" site. She's too busy on Facebook.

I have always considered being a parent a gift and a privilege. Sure it has its challenges. Yes, it has its joys. The ups, the downs.

You worry when they are babies about fevers and immunizations. They toddle into banged heads and broken bones. They learn passwords to avoid potential abductions, swim lessons are a safety "must". Then the teenage years come along and your friends warn of drugs, alcohol, sex and partying. So the shock comes when I look out my window and see the "Be Safe Driving School" car and realize the TRUE HIDDEN DANGER...the Teenage Driver! (hear the music...dum dum duuuuuuum). Yes, she began driving lessons.

Have you ever driven in Southern California? It is a competitive sport! No signalling! Are you crazy? They will know you want to change lanes, you idiot! 50 miles/hr in a school zone? Of course! 70 on the freeway? Move over, gramma! And don't even start me on the Hummer situation.

So imagine my surprise when they take my gem, my puddle duck, my baby, and place her in the driver's seat on her first time out! I grab the camera and slip it between the shades to document what I am sure is a true safety violation (right Denise?). Off they spin for an hour. I hope they told her where the brake is.

I bite my nails and contemplate drinking at 2:30 in the afternoon until her return. She bounces in the door and shouts with glee about driving on the freeway!! And the Norwegian grade (a narrow, twisting road featured in the Tour De Amgen). She poses the question that is sure to challenge me...Can she drive to the Farmer's Market with me?

This is a test. I hear the clock ticking. Or is it my heart beating?

Of course, I reply.

The rest is history. I am here to write the blog another day.

The Getty

One of the great aspects of living where we live is the close proximity to Los Angeles. We don't take advantage of it as often as we should, but we recently took a trip to the Getty museum.

On previous visits to The Getty it has been empty as a tomb. Not so on this trip! We hit it on Family Day, and stood in long lines to catch the train, which is the only access up the hill to the museum. It was definitely worth the wait. The exhibits were wonderful and the flowers were all in bloom in the garden. There was also music and dancing while we ate an exotic lunch of hot dogs (which have been featured before in this illustrious blog!). There was a foggy-smoggy haze over the city, but the views are still spectacular from there.

Time for an update

There was a debate going on (in my head) as to whether I should continue my blogging now that we have returned to Thousand Oaks. The conclusion is obvious....why the hell not? It seems to be the easiest way to stay connected, and lacks the voyeurism of "Facebook". So today I am documenting Denise's recent birthday. We had a few friends over for dinner, and one of the gifts from AnnaLise was a serenade on her guitar! Hope the pictures are viewable. (Ignore the plethora of wine bottles.)

Hasta Luego!

Well, it's time to say "adios" to San Miguel. It has gone impossibly fast, this last month. Isn't that aways the way it is when you are having fun? I have learned a lot, and not just about the Spanish language. Mexico is a country amazingly rich in culture and history. They also have muchas problemos with corruption and poverty. The so-called "middle class' of Mexico has a house, and a car, and food, but no extra money for medical needs and upper education. There are no government programs for the elderly. And in the campo (the country) children go hungry. In many families they have to chose which person eats that day. In spite of all that, the people of Mexico are warm, friendly,and loving.

I am including some pictures from Delores Hidalgo, a small town close to San Miguel where the revolution for independence began on Sept. 16th, 1910. Father Hidalgo led the people in a dangerous uprising, and the cathedral in these pictures is where it began.

And so today dawns much like the day we arrived...with roosters crowing, dogs barking and the hot air balloon rising from our "backyard".

We aren't starving.

Last night Denise and I decided to reward all our hard studying with a dinner out on the town. Mind you, Lisi is eating like a Queen at her homestay with Chef Marina! Marina is the mom of the house, and she teaches the cooking classes we have at the school on Fridays. After our first cooking class with Marina I stopped worrying about how Lisi was doing at their house. At times I am even jealous!

Our normal schedule gets us out of school at 1pm, at which point we normally eat a large lunch out, shop around town, then home to study and eat a light dinner. Yesterday we came home after school, then went to a place called The Restaurant for dinner. It was expensive by San Miguel standards, but a fantastic meal. I am including pictures of the appetizer of crab cakes, served on beds of guacamole. For the main course Denise had snapper in a thai coconut broth, while I had the chipotle meatloaf, served with cheddar mashed potatoes and corn relish. Yum. For dessert we had an ice cream sample. Double yum.

It is so difficult to believe our month here is nearing an end. Today was a huge turn-around point for me in class. I felt as though I understood what we were doing...a BIG plus. We are conjugating irregular verbs and then using them in sentances. Along with that are 2 hours of conversation. For those who know me I hear you laughing!! 4 hours is a long time for me to focus, but currently one of my classmates, Anita, has returned to New York, so there are now only 2 of us in class. That means no slacking off!!

This experience continues to challenge me. It's a good thing.

Film Festival

Yesterday was a fantastic day. It began with a group of us taking a tour of Queretaro. It is a large city located about 1 hour away, and it is historically fascinating. Tons of churches and statues, and an all-around interesting adventure. But I must admit, the highlight of the day was the film festival. All the films are free and, as I mentioned before, there is a huge screen in the Jardin, as well as the screenings in the local Teatros. We saw about 6 or 7 short films, some funny, some dark. Our favorite was a German film that was very poignant. As we were leaving we saw our classmate from London, Ezimna, who introduced us to the Director of that film! Very cool! Then on to the Jardin where there was an East Indian dance exhibit going on. I have included the video of that in this blog. If you are patient (not just with the video, but also with my bouncy filming) you can see the Jardin filled with people, as well as the Parroquia, and the statue of Allende.
Today we are studying our Spanish and then attending more films. Tough life, huh?

July 18

Last night we decide to walk into town for a drink and to check out the opening of the International Film Festival. There are free screenings going on all over town, but the one we are most interested in is in the Jardin, where they have set up the largest screen I’ve ever seen (sorry, Marty). As we walk down the narrow streets the big, fat drops of warning begin. Uh oh…but NO PROBLEMO, we have our umbrellas! What we forget is that in the deluges that happen here an umbrella is a laugh! The streets flood with up to 6 inches of water (goodbye shoes) and we end up soaked from our feet to our waists. We pop into a place that serves tasty Margaritas only to find it packed to the rafters. But surprise surprise, we are shoulder to shoulder with the stars and dignitaries that are part of the film festival. As we drip on their lovely clothes the paparazzi shot pictures of them. I am relatively certain my breasts are in many shots. Famous as I always knew they would be. We finally settle at Harry’s restaurant and tank down our margaritas with a couple of burgers, then set off to check out the Jardin. It is packed with people watching a documentary on Tongolele, a dancing diva from the past who is known for her seductive hips. I recognize the hips, as they had brushed past mine on the way out the door earlier. The festival is here all week, with films and workshops a plenty, so I am sure you will have many more updates.
The afore mentioned band on our Thursday adventure was awesome, and they willingly allowed me to tape them. Unfortunately the establishment dimmed the lights, and I am only using a digital camera, so even the sound quality turned out bad. We look forward to next Thursday’s performance. I am including a pic of Lisi and her new BFs.

Today we are off on another adventure to Queretaro. More to follow.

A day in the life...

We have fallen into the rhythm of Mexico. Up at about 7am, a light breakfast, then off to school, where we study until break. They put out teapots of hot water, as well as tea bags, (instant, blech) coffee and little biscuits. At 1pm we are "released" from school and we go for our big meal of the day. Usually Denise and I will stay in town and find a nice place to eat. There are many, many good restaurants in this town. Then we go home to study Spanish, then watch a movie or soccer, or we go back to town to attend some function. Last Tuesday we went to the Bibliotecca to attend a lecture on the ruins of Pozos, an old mining town near here. Then margaritas (2 for 1, now you're talking) and on to the Teatro to attend a concert. There is always something to do. Tonight we are going to see a band at the wine bar in the area we live in. We are meeting most of the students in our school there. I'll try to get a video clip of the band to download for tomorrow. Meanwhile you'll just have to amuse yourself with the food pictures I took recently. I have included one for all my friends who love hot sauce!

I love the way the storms roll in with such command here in SMA. One minute it is a blue, blue sky, with some puffy clouds on the horizon. A sweet, warm day full of promise. Next you notice in the distance a building of the clouds, like a bomb explosion, reaching high into the endless sky. Then a deep, booming crash hits, as though directed by the conductor’s baton! You can feel it in the soles of your feet. In the midst of your surprise the clouds open and dump a deluge of rain down. Buckets of rain. The storm crashes on, and the birds come out as the sky returns to blue.

It feels magical.

On a less romatic note, I have included, for my cooking friends, Gigi, Joan, DanDan and Sean Madden) a picture of a process we have to do here to eat certain foods. We take any fruits (that you don't peel) and veggies and put them in the blue bucket with an iodine mix that kills bacteria. We put a plate on them to submerge them and leave them for 1/2 hour. Once that is done they are safe to eat. You NEVER skip this step unless you want to spend an lot of time in the bano.