Saturday, May 5, 2007

Summer Dreamin'

 

" A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless.  We find after years of struggle that we do not take a journey; a journey takes us." 

                                                  John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley

 

It had been a while since I last updated. I have been slow in visiting other blogs too. I blame Tabby for this. Her slacking is contagious. LOL. Kidding aside, I have been really busy trying to balance my life. A job, a part time business, a home, a garden, and a family to juggle have not left me with a lot of time to update and visit lately.
 
I have made a lots of non virtual friends of  late. I recently came back from Asia and met a Vietnamese lady at the airport. She is from my Florida hometown. She calls me regularly and I often drop by her store. She has a gas station/grocery a couple of blocks away from my son's school. She is 20 years older than I am but she finds me interesting and I am fascinated by her wisdom. I also have my lovely neighbors who I often share my surplus veggies with (and them, their plants and wines). This is our second year in the neighborhood and I could not ask for better neighbors. I also made friends from work and from the programs and events that I manage.
 
I am planning on throwing a little party next weekend to welcome summer and get together with some of them. I want to have a Spanish theme. I am thinking of making paella, sangria, sardines, and flan. I'll try to order a jamon serrano online but I doubt if they can deliver it that fast. I have other goodies to round up the meal such as kalamata olives, caponata, almonds, cheeses, fruits and other tapas. I also have plenty of riojas for extra libation and I will be downloading some suitable music to complete the atmosphere.
 
Lately, I have been thinking of going to Spain a lot. Madrid and Barcelona in particular. My mother is part Castilian and part Irish. I grew up eating Spanish food and hearing about my great grandparents' old life in Madrid. I also heard about all the fascinating sights of Madrid, Barcelona, and Seville; the brilliance of Gaudi; the genius of Goya, Velazquez, Miro, Picasso and Dali; and the delicious foods. Hubby and I were planning to visit there this summer but our son has commitments to attend the Nationals for his school's Medical team and a campus visit/interview in Notre Dame, Indiana. Hubby and I can't take too much time off for vacation to squeeze in another  trip. I am heartbroken. No, not really but it would have been nice.  
 
If I get to go to Spain in the future,  I want to be able to stay for at least a couple of weeks to visit all the places I have been hearing about and try all the strange tapas I could get my hands on. I am not squeamish. I had frog legs, snails, beetles, horse meat and other foods that you might find bizarre but I find exotic.
 
I also want to go to Greece. Athens and some of the small islands in particular. I want to see the marvelous Greek antiquities and architecture. Of course, I also want to eat plenty of Mediterranean cuisine and drink lots of retsina. Maybe indulge in some Greek Adonis' gazing too. Why not? I'm old enough to contain myself and my hormones are almost extinct.
 
How about you? Where do you want to go and why?  

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

OH MAN )STOMPING FOOT) I wish I could be at that party. HEY its good to hear from you.

Anonymous said...

OMG.........hun you have no idea how much you and I have in common...
All I ate growing up was spanish food...my parents origin actually started in Spain..northern...last name Ostolaza....very big and popular there...my dad says there is some sort of royalty connection but he cannot remember what. Paella is one of my favorite dishes along with rice with pigs feet...OMG...we fight over that here...lol
I so love Sangria...OMG....wish we lived closer to each other.....
Good to hear from you...... take care....
-Ellie

Anonymous said...

Any place is alright as long as I can forget I ever knew him...LOL...There are so many places I would love to go...The party sounds like it will be so fun..have a great time!  Hugs,TerryAnn

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great party!  I have not been fortunate enough to go to Spain in my travels yet, but it is on my list of places to go along with Italy and Greece!  I have quite a few friends that are 15+ years older than I....actually most of them are.   I find that I have alot in common with them and I love the wisdom of their years.  There is no age barrier to love and friendship in my opinion.  Sounds like you have made a valuable friend there!
Marie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariealicejoan/MariesMuses/

Anonymous said...

HEY, I WANT TO GO TOOOOOOOOOO...ROBERTA

Anonymous said...

So happy for the update.  Life is so much smoother with good friends and neighbors and the thrill of adventure.  You satisfy my curiousity for travel in part with your detail and recollection of trips.  I absolutely would miss reading this journal, so sporadic entries are far more acceptable!

The place I would love to visit more than all others (though I have quite a list myself) is Ireland.  Since I was about 11 I've craved a trip there, though I cannot fully explain a 'why'.  Someday...

Tammy

Anonymous said...

I have been meaning to leave you a comment.  Last week when I read this for some reason I could not leave a comment.  I was laughing when you blamed me for you laziness  LOL.  Im am just as bad, I just posted today pics of camping from last weekend.  Any way I want to travel with you, you sure get around its so exciting!  Post some pics of your Spanish part that sounds like so much fun.  Take care girl and Im glad your good!
Hugs,
Tabatha