Thoughts are things

Trip East, ii: Pennsylvania

I’m finally finding time to get caught up with the record of our east coast trip. I’ve forgotten a lot but here’s what sticking:

Adele and I spent time in southeast VA seeing my family, then my father and brother drove us up to PA so we could briefly visit my extended family in south-centralish PA before joining Bill and his family for a week in central-easternish PA. Bill’s family is from Long Island who relocated to the Allentown area after Bill left for college. Bill’s never lived there.

My family in PA has been there for generations. They were dairy farmers back in the day and now most of the men are truckers. My Grandpa now, like my father, drives a roll back and my uncle drives a tractor trailer. Driving’s definitely in the genes.

During our stay in PA, we not only visited our people but we also met with the herd of Black Angus who live next door to my grandparents. It was a very entertaining pseudo stand-offish kind of experience that provided over an hour’s worth of entertainment. On the human front, we visited with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents.
It’s always good to reconnect with the PA folks.

Once we made our way to Fleetwood, we were treated to several family oriented, fun excursions around the area. We went to the Crayola Factory, Knoebles Park, Outdoor World, and the Hands on Museum. The Hands on Museum was really cool. Adele’s favorites were “driving” the blue tractor (after getting situated in her seat, she looked to turn the radio on), pretend performing and the market – especially scanning & ringing the register.

The weather was really hot and humid…like 100 degrees and 100% humidity or some other such similar nonsense. It was stifling for us dry heaters. Fortunately our outings involved water parks or air conditioning so we fared all right. One night it did storm quite spectacularly though – it was the night C was grilling…really big chunks of hail poured from the sky. I wanted to take a picture of him being pelted out there at the grill – courageously saving our steaks – but I thought I better not - I was really hungry!

Our first night in town, we went to a Thai restaurant which was awful. Each dish was a beautiful contemporary take on traditional dishes but totally lacking the Thai flavor factor. I felt bad that this was Bill’s mom and step-dad’s first Thai food experience but since they didn’t know what it was supposed to taste like, I think it was far less disappointing for them than it was for us. I knew when the Thai teas were served unsweetened but covered with whipped cream and cinnamon, that things weren’t looking good. The chicken satay was okay but the Tom Kha Gai was an abomination. It tasted like milk soup with onions – no lemongrass, no galangal, no coconut.

After having spent a week with my Mom’s Thai cooking, I suppose I should have had my fill but oh the disappointment nonetheless. Apparently it’s the only Thai place in those parts of PA. It makes me a tad sad to think that so many people’s perception of Thai food is being shaped by such flagrant misrepresentations…oh well, such as most perceptions are shaped, I suppose.

For our anniversary (the 9th), Bill’s Mom and step-dad took us to The American House Hotel in Hamburg. The menu was an eclectic blend of various culinary influences. Some dishes were fine dining favorites, others were regulars from a down-home cookin’ kind of kitchen. It was all wonderful! Not only were the dishes gorgeous and delicate but they were super tasty too! It was a lovely outing.

For our anniversary, we actually spent the day relaxing as Adele spent time with Grammy & C around town. We were thinking of heading out to a museum but instead - we watched HGTV AND a group of 5 young Mennonite men put a roof up on a huge luxury home across the street. They were amazing in their skill and speed and we watched the roof go up on this gigantic house in about an hour or so. It was pretty impressive. When we arrived the foundation was the only part of the house visible. A week later, when we left, all three stories had walls.

Our anniversary was a perfect and leisurely day. Adele did a great job being around so many people and only came home with just a few bad habits. Those, of course, are long gone now. :)

Some pics from this leg of the trip:











A couple of shots of Adele & her cousin D:

On a whole, the trip east was eventful and as always, educational. Everywhere we went it wasn’t simply hot but humid. I regret not making clearer plans for our time as I’d hoped to make a few more excursions while home. At any rate, we were pleased with the things we did manage to fit in.

In Hampton, we spent time at my Dad’s house and shop as well as at my Mom’s house and restaurant (which was really good.) They have been making improvements but as in most cases, turning a profit in the restaurant industry still seems to be a long time coming.

At my Dad’s there were routine fighter plane outings, motorcycle stunts and burns, giant bugs, the largest compost ever, visits to horses, deer and peacocks, a rescue of a turtle and a baby fox sighting. At my Mom’s there was panang curry in a pineapple, Chanello’s, kids’ clothes galore and the marvel of brand new baby birds on her window ledge.



We went to church with my Dad and met with some of his long time military friends shortly after. They knew me and Ben when we were Adele’s age so that was an interesting perspective check. My brother was awesome – carting us around here and there and keeping an eye on Adele when needed. She grew extremely attached to him and wailed for him when they parted ways. Being pregnant, I’m a hormonal mess as it is, but this broke my heart.



We went to the playground at Gosnolds Hope Park where Dad’s dog Ella made her rounds alongside Adele.



The first visit to Buckroe Beach, we walked in the sand, on the pier and along the water’s edge. On the second visit, we played at the playground then Adele happily made her way into the water. There were jelly fish everywhere but if she was stung, we didn’t know it.



Adele went to the VA Living Museum with Grandma and Grandpa and seemed to have a fine time. When we drove past a dinosaur sculpture back in AZ, she remarked that she had seen them before with Grandma and Grandpa so something apparently stuck.

We spent a few hours in Williamsburg. We met A & S at Kidsburg – a Jamestown-esque play area - which was a lot of fun. The slides were so slick that both S and I fell flat at the bottom of a big one. Adele and S got on well.



Aside from my Mom’s food, we also ate at the Olive Garden and Mama Rosa’s. All are favorites at my Dad’s house. While in W’burg, we ate at a place called “Food for Thought” which was fabulous! Well crafted home-style food in a modern environment made for a leisurely and delicious lunch. I had delectable crab cakes with sweet potato fries. All of our plates were clean when we left.



For a little early Father’s Day treat, we picked up some Trader Joe goodies and brought Dad lunch from Smitty’s Better Burger to the shop. Smitty’s is an institution for Hampton and our family. I remember eating there 20 some odd years ago. This trip I got a grilled cheese and bacon sandwich – mmmm!

We co-slept and were off our regular routine but Adele and I fared well, all things considered. She is an amazing spirit, full of interest and appreciation. She makes for a wonderful traveling companion.

We're in PA now. Limited access to the web. Hot and humid but faring well.

I used to think the main reason life in Arizona was better than life “back east” was due to the 3k mile wide buffer between us & our families. This visit I see there’s *much* more to it than that. Being far from family has its benefits, no doubt, but there are a host of other factors making life in Arizona seem luxurious by comparison.

Note - I admit that I do have a terrible habit of first considering the external as a direct reflection of the internal. Shakespeare’s “analysis” and representation of Richard III, I suppose…perhaps the only bit that stuck from a Histories & Tragedies class. I no longer use a person’s appearance as the sole criteria of my evaluation...usually but I’ve judged “here” versus “there” and I’m fascinated by the outcome. It’s hard not to infer further from my observations of the physical but I’ve tried.

So I’m in Virginia right now visiting “my” people. I lived here for about 17 years - 12 in Hampton Roads and 5 in Williamsburg. I don’t remember hating it but I definitely never loved it. I remember hurricanes, light falling of snow, wearing a wool trench, and lightening bugs. I remember the beach, the humidity, the smell of fresh cut grass and the sight and scent of chimneys burning.

My memories are overcome by my present day observations. The sky seems insignificant here and the sun weak. I find the trees suffocating. I find the earth’s proliferation of things spouting from its grounds sloppy, haphazard and excessive. It strikes me slightly as some sort of topographical gluttony. The weather is not only unpredictable but uncertain of its performance. The roads, much like the weather, seem troubled. They wind, they narrow, they curve, they dip…and this just to get to the end of the lane! After living in Arizona the last 8 years, I think I have a much keener sense of how my environment can either enhance or complicate my life. In my quest to simplify, I definitely don’t foresee moving east again.

My wardrobe is a lot simpler in PHX where the rare accumulation of rainfall dominates the local news and the heat permits great leniency in dress. The roads are laid in a grid and when I need to get my bearings, the mountains and the sun are always an accessible place to start. I can barely locate the sun let alone any permanent natural indicators of direction here. While not fans of AZ’s bees, ants and flies, they are nothing compared to the ticks, spiders and mosquitoes here. By these pests, I’ve already been bitten, forced indoors and chased out of my bed.

Nature may seem a little harsher in the desert but there’s a lot to be said for how she’s at least not fickle. Of course I'm rarely surprised by the sudden violent but exciting shaking of tree leaves and I don’t see deer in the front lawn, baby foxes cross the road, or newborn robins on my window ledge in AZ but I believe I’d rather count on seeing the sun anyway.

Phoenix feels deliberate, determined and decisive. I love how nearly any day of the year, I can probably smell someone’s grill, find north, get a full dose of Vitamin D, and count on wearing flip flops anywhere I need to go. If nothing else, journeying east is a good reminder that time in AZ has been, and should continue to be, well spent.

Much of my trip revolved around food. I stopped in lush Riverside for a quick lunch with F, S and their 2-year old A. We ate at Carl’s Jr. because I was craving a burger like nobody’s business and also because I don’t remember ever eating there before. While I felt bad that F couldn’t eat carbs due to a recently developed health condition, I couldn’t fight the temptation to have a burger with cheese & bacon. I’m glad I was weak because it was perhaps the most divine bovine treat ever.

I brought snacks so I didn’t need to stop for most meals, opting instead to eat apples, bananas, ginger-lemon crèmes, sunflower seeds, Starburst, sour patch kids, & pita chips. I did stop in charming Portland for lunch with old friend J. We went to New Seasons market – a place just like Whole Foods. I was craving pizza by this point so I got a big rectangular slice plus a coconut bar. Both were terribly disappointing and went unfinished.

Fortunately Seattle was a haven for delicious victuals, as my guide Mimi, made certain.

Friday night, we dined at Mona’s Bistro & Lounge/Mona’s on Latona and our meal was perfection. First off the place was very cool – sultry, jazzy, electric purples and reds - too cool. We shared 2 entrees and a dessert. We had pork and tuna. I don’t remember every detail…there was risotto cake and probably some greens but we snarfed the deliciousness before we could adequately praise each bite. And because there were people next to us, we refrained from licking our plates - the food was THAT good. The dessert was a banana thing but for the first time in quite some time, the real food stole the show for me this meal. We had a pinot noir which was quite nice.



Saturday, M took me to Matt’s in the Market for my birthday dinner. It was a gorgeous little place that sits overlooking Pike’s Market and we were there in time to witness the setting sun. We had a delicious first course of clams, mussels & chorizo with which I had a Sauvignon Blanc. The wines at both restaurants were so EASY to drink; I wish I’d taken more note of what they were. For an entrée, I ordered the leg of duck confit which was okay but M’s seared sea scallops were delectable. I knew I should have ordered seafood while I felt safe doing so! Here though the bread pudding with pistachio ice cream more than made up for what was wanting in my duck.



Sunday was a dreary day and in the morning we wandered through the Greenlake neighborhood. We hit Whole Foods so I could try Dry soda as recommended by the adorable saleswoman at bump/pop tots, who named her daughter Miet Esme after characters from a film and novel I knew nothing about. I explained that my pregnancy cravings revolved around soda and apparently this Dry stuff is a good substitute – all natural and what not. The soda *was* pretty good. I tried the kumquat and will definitely have to be on the lookout for it at Whole Foods.



We had breakfast at Sunlight Café, a place I realized was vegetarian AFTER I decided they must have simply forgotten to add bacon to the al la carte menu. Fortunately I didn’t ask and embarrass us both. The eggs w/ cheese and potatoes dish was really tasty. M had tofu and veggies with eggs. I decided since this was all good for me and what not, I could have 2 desserts. The lemon tart tasted funny - I think it was made with tofu and Nigel’s chocolate chip cookie was not memorable. Both went unfinished.



After relaxing at home for a bit, we eventually ventured out for some comfort food at Latona Pub, the place M says she will miss the most when she leaves. We shared the Grilled Cheese & Tomato Basil Bisque as well as the Adobo Chicken Quesadilla. Both were splendid! Cheesy, melty, warm and absolutely what I wanted and felt I needed! We sat on the darkened second floor at the little counter overlooking the establishment and the rainy roads. It was as I sort of imagined life in Seattle…a pocket of relief and consolation from the soaking gray outside.



Monday, before heading to Sea-Tac, M needed to make a work-related cupcake stop. Apparently one of the specialty cupcakes Trophy makes was recently featured on Martha so M treated me to one. It was a chocolate graham cracker crumb and toasted marshmallow confectionary dream come true. I didn’t get to enjoy it until later but oh. my. god. There’s no doubt, if I lived in Seattle and I knew about these places, I’d have to commit myself to keep from becoming a true food addict 12 times my current size.

Seattle was lovely on Saturday and while the drive in was a little harried the evening before, I loved what I saw. Apparently I was lucky to hit the first and only day of spring/summer the city would see for a few weeks maybe. People were out in droves and just as I would have gone on gushing about how great it was there, the rain and dreary came on Sunday. It was definitely a show stopper since the energy to get out and go was tapped out with the arrival of the wet and cold. I’ll talk about food in the next post but some of the other non-edible highlights included getting to see Mimi, Kong, and the Dalai Lama speak at Qwest Field during the Seeds of Compassion conference. He’s a funny dude with a hearty and infectious chuckle.

He thinks mothers & teachers plant the first seeds of compassion, but believe all who encounter children should feel genuine concern & responsibility for a child’s future then listen to them and act on their best behalf, which would ultimately benefit us all, society & our future. He believes women should be leading and with them at the helm, more dialogue and less violence will naturally follow. He thinks this should be the century of dialogue. I am reserving judgment as we heard him speak in bits for a very short time. Overall his tone was inspiring and I’m very glad we were there, though I wish Mimi didn’t have to get super burnt in the process. He spent no time addressing current political trials though small groups protested and hosted various gathering in and around the stadium. A plane circled the area above with a sign asking that he “pls stop supporting the riots.” The event was incredibly “kum ba ya” but a very enjoyable “kum bay ya” indeed.

Later we enjoyed Pike’s Market where I got to see the famous fish people do their famous fish throwing thing- “incoming!!” It was a bustling place alive with people & their pets, homemade goods, fresh flowers, dried flowers, produce, seafood and all sorts of amazing scents. I even got to enjoy a skinny vanilla latte at *the* original Starbucks.







Sunday we journeyed near and through the Greenlake neighborhood which was charming and quaint with its local bistros and one-of-a-kind cottage-esque residential dwellings. The plants astounded me with their vibrancy and I couldn’t stop admiring them. I thought I read that Seattle was one of the highest quality of living cities in the US and while the rain could certainly get you down, someone pointed out that a lot of people walk which helps. I also think that the abundance of negative ions must impact people’s well being more than perhaps is usually acknowledged: http://www.inspiredliving.com/airpurification/a~negativeion-serotonin.htm

Next post: FOOD!

We picked up the Toyota Scion from the F Family in North Phx Wednesday night. The car is modest in size but packs a surprising punch in pick up for a 4-cylinder. As a stick, I thoroughly enjoyed driving it though I felt that much of the time I was driving a toy in a BIG like movie. After spending 25 hours or so in it to travel 1500 miles, I sort of miss the little fella.



Bill rigged up the GPS which turned out to be the most critical & enjoyable tool for the trip, next to the Blackberry. I left shortly after 6am Thursday morning and arrived in Riverside at about 1130. Driving through Arizona was breathtaking - it really humbles me to call this great place home.







California was equally as lovely but as I saw so much more of it than AZ, I was intrigued at the variety of topographical features dotting my way. If I didn’t know better I would swear I saw the exact location of where the Teletubbies “live.” The land seemed to rise in uneven but glorious mounds and I felt each was alive and larger than life. I felt like I was in Lilliput of the Gulliver’s Travels story and that his heaving body was lying all around me. The 60 over to Riverside was very unique – all twisty and curvy between green mounds of land on both sides. I felt I had an out-of-US-body experience for a few moments, arriving perhaps in a place where Celtic tales first were told. It was short-lived but memorable.







After Riverside, I ran into cows. The sight of what seemed like millions of them was absurd and though the stench was hardly funny, I couldn’t keep from laughing at how insane the sea of them seemed to be. I felt out of my element, being so outnumbered. Despite being familiar with cows, the number of them grouped in one place was overwhelming and actually stressed me out a little. I wondered about them being slaughtered and felt terribly guilty for the amazing burger I’d heartily consumed a few hours earlier. But later the smell of skunk struck me as oddly comforting and I fell out of my guilt.

I brought music but found that books on CD were a pretty entertaining way to pass the hours, next to taking pictures with one hand. I went to the library at the last minute and the pickings were slim. I listened to a crappy love story by Nicholas Sparks called _A Bend in the Road_ which made me cry because a young mom dies and I thought a dog was gonna get shot but overall it was pretty lame. I also listened to Nora Ephron’s _I Feel Bad About my Neck_ which was thoroughly enjoyable even though I may not be its target audience. I skipped around to giggle at parts of _Eats, Shoots and Leaves_ but grew too bored of British accents to finish it.

I developed a headache and thought it must simply be the event of driving longer than usual in unfamiliar terrain. As the sun set, I realized though that it was the heat and brightness beating on me that caused my brain to ache. In the west, there’s no escaping the sun which seems to offer a particularly long day before it seems willing to finally set. I passed Weed, CA and I laughed - wondering what people do there when they’re bored.

Oregon was incredibly inspiring with its bright green hills and crisp cool air. I could see myself buying a cow, some chickens and a plot of land and staying put forever in what seemed like the forgotten patch of Promised Land. My only reservation would be getting gas there. After I spent the night in Ashland (where the oldest man in Holiday Inn history – Walter - took 45 minutes to check me in at midnight, hunting and pecking my name & address into the computer), I fueled up in the morning. When I opened my car door, a young bearded man was leaning on the car and said “What can I do for you?” I looked up for the “self” sign and said “I can’t pump this myself?” I grilled him when he told me no and learned that it was state law (along with NJ) to have attendants pump the gas. I still didn’t believe it so I took my card in to be sure. Then I was very anxious about whether I should tip and decided I shouldn’t. My friend told me that since Portland is so close to the WA border, it’s hard to remember that the law is different there. He said the first time he fueled up across state lines, he sat in his car, waiting and waiting…

During one of our trips east in fall 07, I made a couple of notes to remember for next time:

One – Check the family boarding policy before getting tickets. Southwest changed theirs the day we flew home. The only reason we were flying Southwest with their ridiculous seating “system” was because they were cheap and they loaded families first. We got a raw deal that day.

Two – Make sure the President isn’t in town. Bush was in Allentown the same 2 days we were so the 222 was an incredible mess upon his and our departure. We nearly missed our flight and having had to pull over, it was clear he didn’t have a lot of fans out in cow country.

Tip: When traveling with a tot: it helps to be/look cute yourself but it helps even more that the kid be looking good. Dell had a summer dress and a butterfly clip to keep her bangs back and she looked quite sweet. She got lots of compliments and smiles and as a result, I think, I got a lot of pleasant offers to help. I think appearance makes a big difference generally speaking but especially when you’re looking for a break here and there.

Finally. Home.

So many things I should write but the stories are still swimming in fragments. As always, family educates and this visit was no exception. There are so many perspectives on home and family that I keep shuffling, trying to comprehend and shape in ways to be useful. Need to try and tie some thoughts together before they flit away.

We're barely unpacked. Stuff is strewn happily and haphazardly across the floors. It's good to be home. I've been doing the things I only can do here - strut nude, sleep in the tub and lounge on the floor in front of the tube. Speaking of which, cable appears to be $10 a month - is that right? That seems like a deal! We had cable everywhere we were this trip and it was great! Then for the latter part of the trip, our little chevy cobalt rental had xm radio which was TOO COOL! Anytime I felt overstimulated and felt I maybe needed a dose of the "real world," I felt I could just escape to the car! Cable, XM...we're still perusing the sky mall catalog so I'm in total want mode. Still sick...it's in our chests says Dr. Bill who brought me Mucinex and vitamin c today. Want to be well enough to enjoy dear M's wedding next week so I may have some heavy healing on the weekend agenda.

Who: Bill, Adele and me with various factions of our families (my extended, his immediate and extended)

We're having an eventful time...

Currently in Kutztown, PA…where even a radio signal is hard to keep so finding wireless has been a D-R-E-A-M!

It's frigging COLD up here.

I'm still sick – with no voice and I may very well be dying, it sure sounds like I am after night falls. Dell is in good spirits but burdened with quite the ugly cough

Rental car was vandalized during our stay in York, PA…classified as a “hit and run” (sounds worse than it was) - what a story that is!

Dell was a doll in her Grammy’s wedding…once we get the meatball sauce out of her dress, it may even be re-wearable!

I’m exhausted...but good...

So much to say...too sick to say it (but not to see it.) :(

Who: Dell and me
What: Visiting Hampton

Cable TV *is* vacation! In the wee hours, when Adele woke rather pleasantly but viciously early, I headed toward the much loved and leaned on tried and true portrait of reliability: the TV. I forgot my Dad has cable so I happily settled in with Adele to make an event of channel surfing. I learned I couldn’t find my much adored HGTV so we watched Animal Planet. Miami Animal Police is a bit much for me but some program about the Japanese macaque that later followed was impressive. These “snow monkeys” *learned* how to enjoy hot springs when it became too cold…and are supposedly one of, if not the first species of animals outside of humans to prove that they transmit learned behaviors. I think they learned how to enjoy sweet potatoes by “salting” it too. They are such cute things! More here I think: http://japundit.com/archives/2006/02/01/1934/ I could make a vacation out of a couch, coffee, the computer and cable. Maybe next time we consider leaving the region, we’ll just go up the street.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the F22’s have been busy. Luckily the planes don’t scare Adele and every time she hears them, she rushes to the door and says: “Airplane – UP – in the sky!” She wants to be held up and closer to them. Grandpa obliges her nearly every time. They’ve gotten along famously although I hear she isn’t a fan of the garage or the shed, fighting him when he had her out and about in the yard. They took the mile long walk this morning to get the paper. Adele insisted on being “helpful” by helping to hold Ella, the dog, on her leash as they walked.

Adele’s been a bit of a chore around sleep time. We’re co-sleeping now out of necessity but she is not as easy here as she is back home in her own bed. It’s an exhausting hour or 2 trying to lay her down for a nap or a night’s rest. She is so unbelievably good at all other points in the day – seriously, freakishly good. Both my parents seem amazed at how well she listens. They both have said multiple times the same thing in a variety of ways but all equally as incredulous: “She *knows* exactly what you’re saying – look at her listen to you!” So I guess I should consider myself lucky that she’s not a little monster the majority of the time. She’s still mischievous and demanding but very respectful and seemingly understanding. She’s made everyone feel loved too. She asks about Grandpa when he leaves the room and says “Hi Grandpa!” when he returns. She wais Yai beautifully and is very polite to everyone. She also greets the dog with genuine warmth and affection who returns the love four-fold! Adele’s a really cool kid!

Practiced my song at the church and feel pretty good about it though I'd like to decide how I'm going to end it sometime soon.


More on this day to follow...

Who: Me & Dell
Where: the 757



Yesterday my mom came to my dad’s house and while it seemed like it should have been weird - it totally wasn’t. We all sat at the table, ate her sticky rice and chicken while she happily ate the duck I carried 3k miles across the country for her. My mom used to do nails and after we ate, she offered to do mine for me. It was a really nice bonding experience. I think the last time my nails were “done” was for my wedding. She massaged my hands and painted my nails a lovely mauve-ish shade. She even did my toes and said that no matter what you do, a lady must ALWAYS have her toenails done. Unfortunately, I’ve already messed them up…*that’s* why I don’t spend money on getting my nails done! She thinks I’m too much of a tomboy and should be more lady like…whatever that means. Despite my better judgment, I let her have the pleasure of bonding with Adele by letting her do my girl’s nails too. Dell’s, like Mommy’s, are all messed up now too.



Earlier that day, we explored Grandpa’s yard a bit more. We watched Ella, the dog, chase after and romp with giant bumblebees out by the flowers around the well. We watched deer graze and scamper through the yard. We saw fawn frolick. We watched Miss Kitty, a descendent of the Bengal I’m told, literally stalk said deer and chase them off her land! Later, we watched the dog go after the cat. We followed a butterfly. We watched a big spider sit in its web.



It was like an interactive hour in the National Geographic!

After Mom left, Adele and I eventually fell into a much needed nap. That night we visited Dad’s church where I’ll be singing a tune called “Cover Me Lord” this Sunday that I’ve known since grade school. My cousin Billie introduced me to Lisa Welchel (Blair from Facts of Life) back in the day and her one album is burned in my brain. We used to lip synch and make up dance skits to all sorts of music but for some reason, I’ve always remembered the lyrics to several of these Christian songs.

When we got home, I made yogurt with banana, cinnamon and all spice topped with oatmeal cookie. It was a pleasant cap to a pleasant day. Then it was bedtime and not so pleasant anymore. I wished for a few shots of anything hard liquor. One for Dell and 3 for me.

My father met us upon arrival and I have to say that it is one of the most wonderful things to have someone waiting for you after a long day. Even meeting at the baggage claim just doesn’t quite give you the same warm fuzzies that someone looking for you at the “gate” does.

The weather is cooler than I thought it would be but it’s been refreshing and fall-like. We drove straight to the restaurant my mom works at with her sort of ex-partner. It’s not at all what I expected and I was sad to see her there. She was generous and sweet but there was a weird tension in the space, not between her and my dad but between her and her sort of ex-partner. They have problems and I honestly don’t want to know about nay of them. A lady and her 9-year old daughter, named Angel, came in and sat behind us. Adele went and joined them. It was cute how determined she seemed to be to make new friends. They gushed over her and she ate it up.

The restaurant was one they took over and they left much of it the same except for adding Thai food to the seafood based menu. The décor was awfully kitschy – images of boating, fishing and marine life jumbled the walls and curtains. Mom’s partner, an excellent chef, makes the seafood but the place seems so blah for him. We had mom’s spring rolls, pad see ew, tom kha kay, sompthomp and chicken. I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I normally do - I’m not sure it was made with a whole lot of love. Luckily Mom is hosting a Between Birthday Birthday Party for Dell at her house on Saturday and I KNOW her food there will rock.

After dinner, we hit the supermarket and then headed back to my Dad’s house. My Dad lives on a little bit of land that backs up against the Little Back River with a few other people and a lot of deer.



It’s really pretty during the day but at night, I can imagine every one of my worst nightmares happening here. At night, I ask that the doors all be locked then I lock me and Dell in our room. I’ve also been blocking the door with furniture and things that will make noise if disturbed. I was here alone w/ Dell earlier in the day and it was not a pleasant experience. Every little sound seems to move quickly through the house and I feel I must be in constant defense mode. The other thing that’s taken some adjusting is the F-22 Raptor training that seems to be happening. Living just a stone’s throw from Langley, it seems every half hour 2-4 F-22’s are racing overhead, shaking the windows and doors. As I tried to sleep last night, I kept envisioning the sky opening and the world about to violently unglue, such was the power of their noise. I guess they have a demo scheduled next weekend so they must be practicing for it. Dad turned the AC back on today so it was a bit better this evening.

Who: Me and Dell
What: Flying East via Southwest Airlines(PHX to Chicago-Midway to ORF)
Why: To visit family and friends

People: Most have been exceptionally helpful – strangers and Southwest airline service folks alike. On the first leg of the journey out, Danielle with her fiery red hair and wide horsey smile, elected to sit with us even though more than half the plane was empty on our way to Chicago-Midway flight. It was a bit awkward especially since when she sat, she said to Della: “Since I bet you’ll be crying, no one will notice me when I do.” Freshly dumped and easily disarmed, she talked a lot during the flight. It was not a completely unpleasant way to spend a few hours but it was hard juggling all the whining coming at me from both sides. She admitted to being baby crazy as her biological clock ticked closer to 40 and I revealed to her that I was dream crazy, often investing more than your average bear might. Strange though our exchange seemed to be, she was a fast friend and the information we shared passed in a personal and frenzied rush. I was grateful neither of us tried to unload our contact info – it was definitely one of those “reason” kinds of “relationships.” An artist and a cynic, Danielle was likeable from the get go, even all torn and teary.

Irritants: Security - Getting through security at 4 in the morning was much more difficult than I thought it would be. Sure I had a bunch of crap and a kid but I didn’t expect to be rushed or get quite the rigmarole that we did. I had psyched myself up and even practiced a bit for this part. No jewelry for the metal detector, all my liquids and gels set in a quart size bag, larger quantities ready to declare, laptop ready to be screened, etc. I didn’t expect to have to take Adele’s new mary janes off her. It took me a lot longer to get reorganized than I’d wanted and I got all confused trying to remember which gate we were departing from and the exact location of our boarding passes.

Other people’s kids - During a layover, 2 year old Madeline, sporting a mullet, came over to us as Dell rested in her sling. Dell was drinking water from her cup. The little monster toddled over and laid her hands on my bag and looked up with angry eyes and hollered: “Miiiine!” Her mom looked over and said sweetly “No sweetie that’s her cuppy, here’s your cuppy.” Madeline insisted again: “Miiiiiiine!!!!!” If she were a terrier, I would have gently kicked her but since she was a child, I just ignored her. Eventually Mom pulled her away from our space without acknowledging us or her daughter’s behavior. I need to judge out loud: I would never consciously allow Dell near a stranger’s stuff…even if the stranger were a kid…I simply wouldn’t let her put her grubby paws on someone’s stuff or risk getting someone else’s grubbiness on her. And if that did happen, I would almost certainly apologize for the intrusion. It may be Dell’s actions and choices that inspire the touching and space invasion but I feel that it is my job as the parent to shape and channel what she does with her volition and for quite a few years, I’m inclined to believe that I’m responsible for her acts of volition. This child was on our flight and we met her again as she wandered the aisle alone. I understand wanting to give your kid a break but I’d sooner Dell crawl all over me and her window than touch and be touched by strangers.

On the second leg, the flight was full and we didn’t get to talk to the young woman beside us since she fell asleep right away. In 2 rows ahead of us, a family of 4 “sat.” Instead, I guess, of opting for kids shrieking in horror and fear, they chose instead to have their kids shriek in delight and excitement. I would have preferred the former. The father figure was throwing the kids up in the air and they would scream and yell for more. He screamed and hollered right along with them. When the seat belt sign was on, they didn’t fuss so I’m not sure why all the noise was necessary but I was a little worried for them…especially if their happy screaming woke my happy sleeping baby.

Della: The first leg of the trip was tricky. I didn’t bring the car seat though she had her own seat. The belt was too loose to hold her down so she roamed as much as she could all over her chair and me, occasionally pushing her foot into Danielle’s leg. I apologized and Danielle was very sweet about it. Being baby crazy, I guess any little tap might do. I brought far too many things to try and occupy her. All I really needed were the shuffle (fully loaded with the Dixie Chicks, the Wiggles, Fergie and Gwen Stefani), a notebook, a pen and a Dr. Seuss book. The music was the clincher on both legs. I used ear drops, teething tablets and orajel to numb her up but it’s hard to tell whether those were really necessary. She slept the entire second leg mainly because I wore her ass out on the “moving steps” – the flat escalator things. She had a time on those and we walked at least a mile as we waited for our plane to arrive. We had a picnic on the floor and garnered quite a bit of attention as we shared our food and hummed “the sweet escape”’ (whee ooo!)

Food: I packed way too much food for me and the girl. I threw most of it away on the layover. We didn’t buy anything but I totally overestimated how eager either of us would be to eat. (Bill – remind me next time that I don’t need an entire bag’s worth of food!!) We ate only a little of the grapes, pineapple, banana, chips, salad, cheese and crackers. The little snack pack Southwest offers is pretty decent and the coffee wasn’t half bad even though it ended up all over me and Della, mostly cooled by that point anyway.

Concerns: I hate flying and found myself repeating over and over during takeoff, landing, turbulence and cloud covers “I love you” to Adele. Whether she slept or not, I spoke this to her and shuddered with remorse for what kind of situations I *could* be putting us in.

Observations: While I detest the idea of flying I really loved being above the clouds. After spending so much time admiring them from the ground seeing them up close was pretty magnificent. They were like glaciers dotting the sky’s terrain. When we seemed to be stuck in one on our descent into Norfolk, I almost felt a bit like I was drowning…it was a little terrifying waiting for my visual anchor – the ground - to appear.

I don't know why but every time I go on a trip, I treat the day I leave as a deadline for all sorts of things. I want the house and all my affairs in (near) perfect order, "just in case." I don't think of it as morbid. In fact, I kind of find it invigorating. I take the time to try and consider where I'm at and where I want things to be when I'm gone. It's an interesting exercise.

I imagine if something were to happen to me, how would Bill know what to do with the all my piles of projects either in progress or in planning? How would he know where I keep tax information, bills to be paid, our love letters, the palm tree trimmer's contact info, the matches?

Adele and I leave for a 15 day adventure Tuesday so naturally a major decluttering purge was initiated weeks ago as well as a serious commitment to consolidating paperwork. I want to inventory everything before I leave - I may just post the process in order to motivate myself in the "show and tell." I am running out of time though. I am surrounded by big black trash bags filled with books, baby clothes, baby gear, apparel, household stuff, office supplies, pet stuff, crafty things and general what-have-you. I've sold some stuff on craigslist and ebay but tomorrow we're having a yard sale. I have a lot to do for that still...signs, get change, make a set-up design, price, look for more stuff to sell.

My Trip To Do's: I need to pack and practice carrying Della (and our junk) since we'll be "solo" a major leg of the journey. I've collected all kinds of things to entertain her on the plane - I just don't know yet how best to pack it all. We're both mildly deep into a cold so I need to figure out how best to keep us each on top of our game as we change time zones, sleeping quarters and altitude. I need to clean, clean, clean everything I can. I need to shop for a few essentials - strappy sandals and spanx! I need to make a list of the things for Bill to do in our absence(!)

I've canceled the mail, made pseudo arrangements for the pets, selected clothes for me and Dell, and started planning gifts.

Bill won't join us till later in the trip so I'll probably take a series of photos of the house so he knows how I'd like for him to leave it, that is, how I'd like it to look when I come home.

Okay - that was a good exercise! Now back to GTD!

I was worried about "shopping." I felt anxious about my ability to haggle - to negotiate. I wanted to look at the local goods but I distrusted myself. I thought I may either be too rude or too easily pushed over. After a few hours making our rounds - I now can't wait to go back and spend more money! I only came away with 2 items but the interaction of the experience was quite fulfilling and I truly enjoyed the banter.

I bought a silver metal star shaped lamp. The middle age guy with canes and the smooth light brown face wanted $40 USD. I said no. He said $35 and he'd throw in the bulb. After looking at his pressed black pants and nicely starched red polo, I said $20, no bulb and it's a deal. We went on like this for 5 minutes. Finally, I said for $22, I have to go for lunch and think on it. His final offer was $20 and a soda. I bought it for $20 and no soda. My brother thought it would be cool to take him a coke before we left the area. I meant to but forgot.

I also bought a jar of vanilla extract. A 16oz bottle was $25USD and an 8oz bottle was $12. After some haggling, I got the 16oz bottle for $15. I felt very proud of myself for knowing what I wanted and what it meant to me to have it. This part of the market experience was rather enjoyable.

Out on the beach, small time vendors were peddling silver, hats, toys and braids. More than one woman offered to braid Adele's fuzz and I was tempted to see just how they would make that miracle happen. Even still, I didn't feel bad or angry or sad or anything when I would repeatedly say "no, gracias." The economic disparity is glaring but I don't feel bad and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

There were all kinds of older white folks (Americans, I presumed) donning pink cowboy hats and much too terribly short shorts and there was a part of me that thought it was cool that they were finding respite and retirement here. I didn't feel as if I was a part of the exploitative regime but rather that I was doing a small part to help possibly equalize things a little. Puerto Penasco's unemployment rate is supposedly lower than it's ever been as a result of the US tourism boom. What better way to share one's "wealth" than to spread it around (geographically) a bit? Of course, I have more reflection on this matter and will try to sharpen my thoughts in the next few days.

We spent a few days in Rocky Point during B&K's visit and I want to share some thoughts on eating. Since we stayed at a condo, I did bring a bunch of food in coolers. We found that the following were the easiest to transport and eat: turkey & havarti tortilla wraps or sandwiches, kettle corn, cereal (buy milk there), nuts and dried fruits. We also took bottled water. We thought it important to enjoy some of the local flavors and here's what I thought.

RESORT DINING
We stayed at the Las Palomas and the food was surprisingly delicious. As a new resort, I expected there to be a lot of kinks in the dining arena but both room service and breakfast at La Maria's Bistro were wonderful. From room service we enjoyed: cheese pizza, quesadillas (the salsa and guacamole dip were so fresh and amazing), tiramisu and some non-American "brownie" dessert with grapefruit. At the bistro, I had french toast (cut into circles) which were sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar crystals. Much too sweet for my taste but good nonetheless. There was a bagel with lox and cream cheese, a divine bread basket with muffins, a western omelet and eggs "benedictine" that were all also happily enjoyed at our table. A lot was also made over how fresh tasting the orange juice was which led to conversation over how fresh most of the veggies and fruits we'd enjoyed were.

Despite the allure of the heated pool bar, I found it much to cold to be in the water. That's an experience we'll have to save for next time.

IN TOWN DINING & MORE
Since the legal drinking age is 18 in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, we decided we should drink together. We found one small liquor store with bars and a large scary dude behind the counter. We about faced and drove till we found a store with no bars. We got a bottle of Jose Cuervo, Bacardi Superior and some mixes for well under $50 USD. Back at the resort, I learned that I not only love lime margaritas but that really do enjoy taking (lots of) shots of tequila.

We had dinner at a restaurant recommended to us by a former local: The Lighthouse. It was awful. The food, the view, the experience - all were just bad. This was a restaurant located on a hill reputed to have a great view of the sunset. We made it over to enjoy bland dinners with the company of a stray cat just in time to see the sun fall behind a pile of rock and brick. We had to ask directions to the place and when we finally found the driveway up, I was regretting not having AWD. It was a long, windy and dusty drive. The parking area was one way in/out and was really tight. From the front and inside, the place looked nice, with a lot of "character/charm." We were greeted by someone we all presumed was the owner. No one much fancied their meals. I had the fish of the day - flounder - drowned in what tasted like a chipotle-and-what's-left-that's-good-in-the-fridge sauce. The frozen strawberry margaritas were boringly sweet and the lime on the rocks were better though not much more so. Instead of enjoying dessert, we decided to find something sweet elsewhere. On the way out and over $100USD later, I stopped in the ladies room while the others were hit up by the fella we thought was the owner with a smooth talking time-sales pitch. A bit of irritableness followed - a lovely cap to a lovely meal.

We enjoyed lunch at the truly lovely The Point restaurant. Easy to find, easy to get to, with easy to eat foods made this the place to which we'll definitely return. The coffee tasted brewed with chicory and it was delicious. We enjoyed shrimp chimichangas, clam chowder, flan and fried ice cream. It was a perfect meal! Bill didn't fancy the chowder as much as I did. It was a bit on the oily side but there was a crisp and sass to the flavor that really intrigued me. The chimichangas were lightly fried and chock full of shrimp and freshness. The sauce had a nice kick and the guacamole balanced the flavors out. My only regret is that we didn't have all our in-town meals there. The restaurant sits on stilts over the water so you walk aways over a wooden bridge to get inside. It got breezy and since we were beside the door (the deck was completely full) we found ourselves shutting the door a lot. Since the restaurant is filled with large windows, I never really felt like I missed much - we saw the boats and the paragliders and the birds. Bill remarked that this must be like a big birdfeeder for them. No encounters with time sales folk as we exited and we all very much content.

As for the baby - I forgot formula so we had to rely on whole milk for the latter half of our stay. She eats what we eat but still very much enjoys her "baba." We spent the last night there awake most of the time as she writhed in discomfort. We're not sure if it was the leche or if it was just a general out-of-sorts-ness. We thought it interesting how everywhere we went, the servers wanted to strap her into the highchair. I think it must be part of the customer service but our little miss was having none of it. Whenever they came to the table, she fussed.

My brother really wanted to hit a taco stand but we didn't find one in time for him. That would have been a solo venture for him, I think. None of us were up for THAT kind of excitement!

What a day! I've been working hard...cleaned up a 1/4 of the backyard (filled up the green bin), patched the million holes in the laundry room, recaulked the tub and toilet, used tsp for the first time ever and steel wool for the first time since a grade school science project.

I definitely need a tool belt.

I filled the hairline cracks in the bath vanity with epoxy - too much, actually. I used 2.5 bottles of acetone to even things out. I'm currently waiting for the chemicals in "Tough as Tile" to set so that I can begin trying to refinish the vanity. Review forthcoming.

I feel like a chemist with my rubber gloves.

I worked so hard and was so hungry that I asked Bill to bring me home something sweet. I already ate homemade pineapple sorbet (1/4 c. oj + frozen pineapple chunks) but felt I'd die without some chocolatey goodness. I've been noshing on oreos since Heroes (OMG - what an ending - I wept and moaned)! I have convinced myself that eating the cookies all at once does less damage than spacing out my opportunities for their enjoyment. Once they're gone, it's like they never really happened.

We're off to Puerto Penasco/Rocky Point with my brother and his girlfriend next week. We're looking forward to the beach and the pools. We're staying at Las Palomas and I'm psyched about staying at a real resort...where I won't have to either serve food or sell "vacation ownership."

Sand, surf and sun...

Pretty bronze colored 2-piece bathing suit...



Stupid, stupid oreos.