Saturday, August 16, 2014

Celebrity


My honey giving a talk in Indiana today on his book of motorcycling stories! My book, whenever it comes out, won't ever be this interesting to strangers! :)

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Home, sweet home


Back home after my short Puerto Rican adventure, I'm counting down the days until school begins again (August 28) and enjoying these unscripted days of summer. Starting a week day (not just a Sunday) with my husband's buttermilk biscuits, accompanied by the Tupelo honey that a friend suggested I try in Savannah and which is now my favorite, has been a summer perk for me.

Crazy Hamlet, looking like he's "playing possum" and Chiquita, following me to the basement when I do laundry and waiting, patiently, for me to return upstairs, have been some of the highlights of these fast-ending August days.



It was dark today by 9 p.m., when we walked Lizzy, and it was sad to realize that the days are already getting shorter. Nothing good lasts forever, it's true. But while memory can do its job, there is an eternity in remembrance.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Puerto Rico time


This past week I flew to Puerto Rico to attend a literature seminar at the Universidad del Turabo, where my mom works as coordinator for the reading room created in her and my dad's honor. The lovely room contains many of the books my dad read and owned, and many of my mom's, too, and it's an ideal place to gather to think about and to enjoy literature. I decided to go because the person who gave the seminar, Mercedes López Baralt, is one of the most renowned scholars on the island and I just couldn't miss the chance to take a two-day class with her! And I wasn't disappointed. It was a great experience and I feel so privileged to be part of such an amazing group, led by my mom, of Puerto Rican professors at the UT.


Not only was the seminar terrific but the campus of the UT is a lovely place, including this glorious ceiba, native to the island, one of the few that remains.


My mom gave out certificates of participation and I got one, too!


My mom and I went to Bebo's for dinner, in Santurce, a place that specializes in Puerto Rican food. I was able to order a scrumptious salmorejo de jueyes with tostones de pana, my favorites! And we capped it all with the best flan de coco I've ever had. Bebo's has definitely become a "must eat there" kind of place when we go to the island.



This is the time of year when the flamboyanes and the trinitarias are at their most glorious and they were a delight to the eyes.



This is a short video I took of the Puerto Rican night, serenaded by our tiny coquíes, the tree frogs that make island nights so different from anywhere else in the world.


It was a short trip, only four days, two of which I spent at the seminar. Saturday I got to reconnect with an old college friend I hadn't seen in 14 years. That was rather bittersweet because while he was very important to me during my college years and was a true and supportive friend, he didn't remember any of the stories I told him of what a good friend he was to me. It's one of those lessons in life when you realize that someone may mean a lot to you but you may not even register in their (long term) radar. 
And that's perfectly alright. 

Then on Sunday, I was up before dawn to catch a flight back home. No matter how much I enjoy being away, returning to Ohio, to my beloved husband and furry children, is always the best part of leaving.

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Fun time at the State Fair


The Ohio State Fair is a must-do for me every year. This time around, I dragged my husband, who had never been at this particular fair before, and who went only to please me. Yes, he's that kind of a good guy. It's no wonder we've been married 20+ years. As we entered, this huge, organ-looking thing very appropriately welcomed us with fair music.



I'm like a kid in a candy store when I'm at the fair (I guess I regress to my childhood), so I insisted that we visit the Budweiser tent to see the gorgeous Clydesdales and their dog. This Budweiser Superbowl commercial from 2012 always make me cry tears of joy at the end...


From then it was on to the railway exhibit, to see some of the livestock, including the judging of prize-winning steers, and the famous butter cow, my favorite.










A rainstorm prevented us from staying at the fair too long but I was quite content. Now I can look forward to next year and, hopefully for my husband, I'll find someone else to go with next time. :)