Home stretch

Wow, I'll be getting on a plane home in 3 days. I can't believe how quickly it's gone by.


It's strange, I'm really excited, but a little stressed to be back home again. I have lots of packing to do of course and I want to make sure I see everyone and do everything while I'm there.

I just dropped Iñaki off to catch the bus for his hoop camp this week. So, I have 3 days that will be filled with the kids and scrambling to get things together. At the same time, I wish I were leaving tomorrow. The 3 days wait, especially with the kids off of school, could be a bit of a torture.

It's interesting to think about what I've gone through to get to this point. I remember having to run away from Mom and Whit at the airport so I wouldn't break down and cry when I left on September 12th. I also remember feeling quite free as I was all alone waiting to board the plane. I was starting my adventure and it was just me.

I remember arriving in Bilbao after a bunch of flight delays and taking much longer than I should have and seeing Catherine standing outside the exit doors waiting for me in one of her smart suits. I just walked right up and gave her a hug. She's so tiny.

We got to the house at around 4 am and I just hit the sack but I couldn't sleep because it was all so strange. All the sudden I had a new home, but I didn't know where to take a shower or who my new family was yet.

The 5 or so days I had with Alicia were a huge help. She showed me everything and introduced me to people and my head wouldn't stop spinning and I couldn't imagine how I would remember all of it, but somehow, I did.

Learning the stick shift was my first big accomplishment here. Now I try to apply that experience to learning the language. I just have to keep trying and eventually it will work.

I remember meeting Lourdes for the first time and how she was so sweet, but we could barely speak. She helped me find my team and it was quite exciting to go see them play for the first time and get bothered by Iosu for the first time. I went back and met the coaches after the game and Iosu tried to speak to me in english and he introduced Iñaki and Iñaki said, "Pleased to meet you," in perfect accent and form. I remember feeling so relieved. He says my face just sort of lit up at that moment, like "thank God, a little help!"

From there everything just started rolling and suddenly I had a busy life... a busy life in Spain! I never expected it. I thought I would be in my room reading and writing a lot but as it turned out, I have been able to experience everything and have made a rule to try not to say no to invitations out or to do things with people and it's worked pretty well.

I've felt more stupid, awkward, nervous, frantic and strange here than at any other point in my life, but for some reason, I love it here. Granted, if certain people, or a certain person, hadn't come into my life, I don't know how well off I'd be. Maybe I'd be sitting here telling you about how I'd finished my 3rd childrens book of the year and am moving on to a novel. Though that would be great in its own right, I'm glad that is not at all the news I have to tell.

I'll see all of your sweet faces in a few days! I can't wait to hug and kiss you all and just sit down and chat for a while.

An ode to Dad

My Dad is the best. Just like my Mom. But, I suppose many people feel that way about their parents.

One of my fave memories I have of my Dad was during college when we'd go to the Hoop together and lift weights or run and wait for a court to open. As soon as one cleared out, we'd go down and play one on one full court to like 40 or some unheard of number. He always beat me. I'd always get out of control and yell and get mad and he'd just calmly hit threes in my face. Then we'd go get a Jamba Juice. I can't remember feeling more tired and satisfied than on those days. I earned my afternoons in the sun.

One day we actually had a good game going and I may have even been ahead. I'm not sure what prompted it, but near the end of the game he got all pissed and actually yelled! I loved it, because I knew he must have been really pissed.

He sort of has a game face for life really. He never shows his emotions or gives you his opinion unless you ask for it. I admire this a lot because I can't really stop what I'm feeling from coming out on my face or in what I say. Dad always has things in perspective.

Anyhow, there's much more to him than that. He's so silly and does things like salmon dances and "pree G" and the tip toe touch down and cheerleader signals to me in the middle of bball games and gives speeches on ruffage to my little league team. Like some cheeses, he's really gotten better with age. Though he's got a great game face, sometimes he has bursts of enthusiasm and will put a sock hat on in the shape of a peter pan cap and twirl around the living room. I can't help but laugh when we're hanging out.

I love how we talk so easily. Not like hard things are easy to talk about, but when we're on the phone together I feel like we sort of slur and have an easy twang. It's strange, as I've lived in Portland all my life and shouldn't have this, but it comes out.

I think it's pretty sweet that my Dad has been at the same job for over 30 years. I know it's not his favorite thing to do, but it's allowed me to have everything I need and want. Also, he starts his day at 6. This could be becuase of the east coast market opening at that time, but it made it so he could be at home with us in the afternoon. Being in Spain with a family that has a Dad that can't be around much has really made me appreciate that my Dad was there and coached me and played with me and we did things together.

I love how he loves being with me and our family as much as we love being with him. Going over to Gramps' for BBQs with my whole family is about the best thing I've ever experienced. We just chat and laugh and watch games on TV and it's great. I can just tell that Dad loves it just as much.

I used to be so happy to see him after he came home from work during summers in college. I'd just try to be weird and make him laugh. He always would. One of our favorite things to do is hold our arms at our sides and flex our stomachs and punch eachother in the gut until we can't take it anymore. He can always take what I dish out but I'm usually out in one punch with a big, hhhuuuuhhh, outlet of breath. It's great. I love you Daddy-o! Happy F Day!

Farmer's breakfast

On our way to London, Iñaki was reading a little brochure/map that Patrick had given us. One of the things it recommended we do is take the Farmer's breakfast challange. This seemed odd to me as England is not known for having very tastey food. The brochure said that some places will let you eat for free if you can finish it all. We didn't run across any offers like this and felt a little jipped out of getting the full London experience. So, this morning, we took our own Farmer's breakfast challange and just made everything the brochure said and ate it.

The meal consisted of two fried eggs, two sausage, two bacons, two pancakes, baked beans, a tomato slice and a flat mushroom (whatever that is, we just sauteed some mushrooms). You also had to drink a cup of coffee and an orange juice and wipe it all up with some toast. Here's our re-creation.
The challange wasn't as hard as it seemed. Iñaki finished way before I did and said, "easy." He also ate an extra piece of toast, because I skipped mine. We figured it was a team effort. I was going to eat an extra tomato to make up for it, but forgot, oops. Here is the aftermath.
And here is the aftermath, as it effected my girlish figure.Don't worry, this was a one time thing. See you soon!

Do you see what I see?

Okay, I know I've dropped a few photos from London in here and there, so now I'm going to release the hounds and show you all my faves. It's a big place.

Where to begin, where to begin?... Ah, yes, on the ride to the airport. Iñaki drove, I took pictures. I think this one's funny because it looks like the last photo they might find on his camera at the site of a car crash.

This is a shot of Portobello Road, my favorite part of London. It's a huge open air market that probably runs for 30 blocks in the Notting Hill neighborhood. They have lots of antiques and t-shirts and original clothing. I almost bought another cape there, but went for a little red jacket instead.

Here are some glimpses at Hyde Park. On the lake...

Iñaki and I in Hyde Park. I think he looks like a manican and my nostrils are huge, which is an issue I had throughout the whole trip, large nostrils in pics.

Here's one of the Peter Pan Statue.

I just like this one of a sign, so I'm sharing.

Now, from the Westminster neighborhood, here's Westminster Abbey. It was already closed when we got there, so we couldn't go in and see all the cool tombs. I guess they Have Isaac Newton and Darwin in there.

And right next to this is Big Ben. I was singing "England Swings" by Roger Miller the whole time I was in this area. See and listen here. I especially like the strange girls in the background with the leotards in the video. Thank you for letting me know that song exsists Dad and Whit. If you ever get the chance, ask my Dad to sing it to you. You just can't beat his rendition. Anyhow, here's Big Ben.

Here's one of Winston Churchill looking oddly similar to Jaba the Hut.

Buckingham Palace.

Tower of London. This houses the crown jewels, oooooh.

Next I have a bridge comparison. The first one I saw was the Tower Bridge. It's pretty cool.

So, from here, we went in search of the London Bridge, which must be so amazing if this is only the Tower Bridge, right? Here is what we found.Can you see it? That's it, right in the middle of the photo. The only thing distinguishing it were the words "London Bridge" carved into the side. I suppose it really must have fallen down (yuck, yuck, yuck!).

Here's a snap of Saint Paul's Cathedral.

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre was next. Or, at least the replica. It made me feel so "Shakespeare in Love." I'm not a big fan of his actual works, but the films of today that represent them are always pretty good.

The typical American I am, I had to have this one.

At the end of this street we found a pretty sweet restaurant, check out the name, of course, we didn't eat there.If there are two things that go together, it's Texas and London... not! Texas and Paris, maybe.

We had a big English meal on our last night in London. Iñaki had the fish and chips and I had the cottage pie. It was yummy. The only thing that gave us a little pause, was that on the menu, the fish and chips had a sign next to them that said, "improved!" But, Iñaki ate it and didn't have issues.

After dinner, we visited the big finale. Well, at least it was the big finale for me. Are you a Harry Potter fan? Well, I am. And guess what? It's real...

On our way back home we had checked in at the airport and checked our bags. I happen to have a bright orangish-yellow suitcase and as we were sitting at our gate Iñaki says to me, "hey Darb, take a look out the window, can you see your suitcase?" It was sorta funny. Pic...

And here we are, all tuckered out. We came, we saw, we Londoned.

And now, a story. Each day we'd walk down to the Tube station and get our day pass and go through the gate. Each day we'd have to take the "lift" down to the train and each day an automated voice would tell us, "the doors are closing, please do not obstruct the door." Well, Iñaki really took a liking to this phrase and started immitating it each time we got in the elevator. Each time, he'd get a little louder and sound a little more Wizard of Oz. By the end, I think his line was, "Pleeeez, DO NOT STROPKT Thuh DOOOOE!"

I said, "Iñaki, what was that word in the middle, stropkt?" He said, "yes, I was trying to make it sound stronger." I said, "you can't just make up words in english just to make them sound stronger." He goes, "yes I can." So, everyone, FYI, stropkt, is now a word and it means the same thing as obstruct, but it's stronger. Iñaki, I wouldn't go on another vacation to London sintigo!

I'll be home in like 3 weeks, crazy! I'm getting so anxious. Luvins!

Tate Modern Crappola

One of our stops on our trip to London was the Tate Modern Museum. Some of it was really cool and we had the chance to see some famous stuff... Picasso, Warhol and a Kandinski. My friend Stelz loves her some Kandinski. We actually had a painting of his on our wall during our senior year of college. In fact, I saw that painting in person and it was hung differently than we had it, 180 degrees to the left. The funny thing is, it was a poster and had a caption beneath it, so the poster people were way off! Anyhow, Iñaki and I, at the risk of being chewed out by a guard, took a picture of it and ran, just for Lauren...

One of the cool parts of the Tate Modern was the restaurant at the top. It was 7 floors up, right on the Thames River and you could see all of London and just sit and have a juice for a minute. Here is the view, lots of construction...

We started at the top and cruised down through actually. All the museums in London are free. By the time we got to Duchamp's "Fountain", we knew it was time to go, take a look. I'm pretty sure we saw something similar at the Whitney in NY and that was our cue to get the hell outta dodge there as well.

We needed a little pick me up before leaving, so we stopped in the coffee shop downstairs for an iced latte. They didn't have an iced latte on the menu, but they did have just a regular latte. I had been doing all the talking since english is my native language and all. I went up to the guy at the counter and said, "can you make an iced latte?" He just shook his head no and I turned to iñaki and shrugged. Iñaki turned back to the guy and said, "can you make a latte and then put it in a cup of ice?" The guy's face sort of lit up and he said, "sure we can do that."... what? Isn't that what I just asked for? Hello, McFly, is anybody in there? I think Luis said it best... the fog in London does something to effect the British brain.

Sorry for the quicky, but I have to run. More to come later on.

A word on London

So, surprise, I went to London this last weekend! It was great. Pictures are to come tomorrow, but for now a few choice moments that I can't resist to share, in order.

When I first got off the plane in London, I split from Iñaki to get in the very short non-EU line and make my little declaration. As I waited, I picked up on a cell phone conversation occurring behind me. A man in a leather jacket, white colared, shirt, sunglasses and Italian leather boots, blathered into the receiver...

"Hi, it's me, I just landed and thought I'd check in and see what's going on in your world... yes, I'm about an hour late... I have a headache and I need a glass of merlot, but I'm fine, just fine... So, I was thinking about something and I just wanted to run it by you. Why are we using, "it puts the 'zing' in amazing"? I mean, I read it in the times too, but I don't even know what that means... mm hmm... yeah, I know, but what DOES that even mean? I mean, it's like we're just using words here. Can you tell me what that means? And, "putting the 'gin' in original"? What is that? I mean, what is that really? It doesn't say anything to me. It brings no image to my mind, sends no message. I mean, why are we really doing this anyway?... we need to remind ourselves why I think... ok, yes... well you do that and then you get back to me... mm hmm, bye bye."

And click, the convo was over and he walked through the gate. I thought he was some kind of play director or something. It was like watching the Isaac Mizerahi show in real life. Someone who thought that what was at the center of his world was at the center of everyone's.

I relayed the conversation to Iñaki afterwards and as we were riding an escalator up from the underground later, we saw it... a poster for the show, "The Drowsey Chaperone." And right there, in large yellow letters on a red background, gleamed the words, "putting the gin in original." I couldn't believe it. We saw them all over the tube stations after that and laughed each time.

Uff, I'm tired now and I'll share more tomorrow. Just know that there is a real platform 9 3/4 and I've been there and it really does put the zing in amazing.