tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134935582024-03-12T20:00:41.984-07:00life without translationUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-86724442356352288942010-08-02T09:18:00.000-07:002010-08-02T09:25:24.502-07:00dream cabin - a room with a viewI love the idea of starting with a small cabin and building off of the original room as time and money permit. This month's issue of Sunset Magazine features a perfect starter cabin that could put us on the path to our future vacation home....<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500848752776021282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUnko2pGX-zuKI1MQ3nb2Ur0Ox6wONUJp_qa8U9qgyCyqbGDPqAWQH0lHwNFOFgPkxgGe53q90SZlT-BQGLeG5YLgpkMjSbDn7gynvK31a79-oCm9z0waodDA7SuQvG2qKBn1/s320/cabin-exterior-0810-l.jpg" border="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-49081487749483745952010-07-30T16:10:00.000-07:002010-07-30T16:25:41.516-07:00dream cabin - table<div>Someday we will have a cabin. Someday this cabin will need to be decorated. In the meantime, I've decided to start my own catalog of things I'd like to consider for the cabin once someday turns into today.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Exhibit #1 - Bird Table<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499841130546719650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VQ01RJb7MQwXtIfF23xHNAPUAHvm58NT47kcnXSajHUM1PnvDpbCi1M0rSn8nXq3Qk9nBx1QAIXKLaExCKdfnShB_LXyr5CmlOQzCufcHdeiAEkJF1rpKWiEEW7WyazDzMwG/s320/birdtable300.jpg" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div>I love the structure of the steel and the wimsy of the bird. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-76202006246520831332010-07-30T15:23:00.001-07:002010-07-30T15:58:42.583-07:00where are you going and where have you been ...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFxv5qge0qZvtADA53MInbmQKbzacPukkIbpcR6WFa81oa7hDufreWKTRtujZUAYAoWe3tsefq6_ZbLHZ_Mxqxp6Teg_8dUmvZ4xYzGyVc8VamWKaLyJeapQqwhRSw9ILZdT2/s1600/IMG_2393.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5499828873859186562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFxv5qge0qZvtADA53MInbmQKbzacPukkIbpcR6WFa81oa7hDufreWKTRtujZUAYAoWe3tsefq6_ZbLHZ_Mxqxp6Teg_8dUmvZ4xYzGyVc8VamWKaLyJeapQqwhRSw9ILZdT2/s320/IMG_2393.JPG" border="0" /></a>Soon after returning from Greece in 2008 Dave and I began our quest to add to our family. Max was born in January of this year and is amazing in every which way.<br /><br />For the last two years I have let my blog go dormant as we worked on starting our family. It is hard to remember the challenges we went through on our road to parenthood but at the time it was all encompassing.<br /><br />Communication has changed dramatically in the past two years. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Facebook</span> and Twitter are now a major part of my day and I am practically glued to my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">iphone</span> and photo apps. But, there is still something fun about posting longer notes and capturing a collection of ideas in one place. So today I am restarting my life without translation. It won't be a baby blog, although I am sure Max will show up from time to time and it won't be a cooking blog, although I can make a mean mashed banana and apple mush. This is just life, no need for translation into anything more.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-80875799868669692272008-09-02T09:08:00.000-07:002008-09-02T12:31:08.140-07:001000 places to see before you die - #12 & #13We woke at 5 am tired but eager to get to the airport to begin our long day of travel from Seattle to London. Coffee in hand, Dave went to the front door to retrieve the morning paper and discovered instead that our beloved "purple monster" had been slain during the night. Across the front path the giant plant and the trellises which had supported it lay unmovable.<br /><br />Since moving into Villa Sophia the purple monster had become our protector and nemesis. A 12ft tall potato plant perched atop 2 arbors, it grew faster than we could trim it and engulfed the entry ways to our house.<br /><br /><br />At 5:15, to early to call anyone and needing to head to the airport, we sent a couple distressed emails and left my parents with numbers to call to help in moving the beast.<br /><br /><br />One should always begin vacation with a story and so with the beast blocking all the doors we sneaked out the garage and started our trip.<br /><br /><br />After traveling for 14 hours we arrived in London and took the train and then the tube to our hotel. Fortunately Dave had dissuaded me from choosing some place "funky" and we found ourselves instead in a lovely room near the palace with absolutely the most comfortable beds we have ever had in Europe. Understanding the first rule of jet lag - don't sleep - we dropped off our bags and headed out for a day of sight seeing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq21YZg7sgTy2P8Q3O77mX6xxZnMIbYpC0_yseRl69XNqr2Z6InnMQSXRGDOJ9CXLJj1NBge6MsppezTr2oigO0xC0wt8w3GXsLt_ZXEIiSgj907FuscLk2PPWhq0eOjqP4fqv/s1600-h/363153796_yL2jb-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241471152965179842" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq21YZg7sgTy2P8Q3O77mX6xxZnMIbYpC0_yseRl69XNqr2Z6InnMQSXRGDOJ9CXLJj1NBge6MsppezTr2oigO0xC0wt8w3GXsLt_ZXEIiSgj907FuscLk2PPWhq0eOjqP4fqv/s200/363153796_yL2jb-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />On our way to our first stop of Westminster Abbey, we made the obligatory pass through Buckingham Palace. The Queen was in but did not come out to welcome us.<br /><br /><br />First stop - Westminster Abbey.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9W5AQMIn4f2odWXGK2XW-LKt_-9gr6Sb0TlCnhcua7FEVl5Kg99P26H4Dt-dWRi_93jk4iLgfKlJpkV1zKkbNDw7qZzfKo04JW_7zz8s16V4ioXMGkXTfmi8M46NZRuO8pM1/s1600-h/363154137_ftEbX-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241471764916480850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 128px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px" height="144" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9W5AQMIn4f2odWXGK2XW-LKt_-9gr6Sb0TlCnhcua7FEVl5Kg99P26H4Dt-dWRi_93jk4iLgfKlJpkV1zKkbNDw7qZzfKo04JW_7zz8s16V4ioXMGkXTfmi8M46NZRuO8pM1/s320/363154137_ftEbX-M.jpg" width="160" border="0" /></a>In Italy I was surprised by the lack of the Father, Son or any sign of the Holy Ghost in the Cathedrals. Most seemed to feature various popes instead. So, I was prepared not to see a lot of religious icons in the Abey. Here everything was devoted to the king. Westminster is more a museum to the dead. After walking amongst tombs of kings and queens we came to an alter flanked by a memorial for Newton and one side and Darwin on the other. Most surprising of all was the grave of the plumber located in the west hall. Apparently it is not all about being king.<br /><br /><br />After the Abey we headed to "The Eye". Touristy? Yes, but cool none the less. The view of the eye before boarding our pod.<br /><br />Here are the views of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster from the Eye.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGNGDN0UtgxYT2HSg_vRKlLmB6wnNJY2kec3N7J4-AWhySW8HDM27-hTiFA6TXFcmvqUvgGVtjsTPsRxJttEJyaun5D-NPDgRbk_IxEo2q_xSoGLaSgbRWnualU9q9QZ6aX5T/s1600-h/363154408_8BMXP-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241480199816415810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGNGDN0UtgxYT2HSg_vRKlLmB6wnNJY2kec3N7J4-AWhySW8HDM27-hTiFA6TXFcmvqUvgGVtjsTPsRxJttEJyaun5D-NPDgRbk_IxEo2q_xSoGLaSgbRWnualU9q9QZ6aX5T/s200/363154408_8BMXP-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxtXi89W9tD7w3-lrDkUJMij-2yxAL8uiS95sN0VJsRIF069Q90yyadPkQhL4pGZGxF1hxfIX1nOh3cyuAYcsFceziRd5UWMqTg3OIWm-RviKRtl0YtA-764Q42FHwPB9fPEe/s1600-h/363155645_T85vu-S.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241480286660534210" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGxtXi89W9tD7w3-lrDkUJMij-2yxAL8uiS95sN0VJsRIF069Q90yyadPkQhL4pGZGxF1hxfIX1nOh3cyuAYcsFceziRd5UWMqTg3OIWm-RviKRtl0YtA-764Q42FHwPB9fPEe/s200/363155645_T85vu-S.jpg" width="189" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjO-eThB8I0qGO5MPCth5xKjy5ktOKnTmy5wW_zaQ7rZVDqw3L8CEZiIJUwsOGLWbySLaKbwcv54r0a0RV6aFM5d9GUtkxWXzQiVoUiCtkO90USxoiBz9QdgISMkGs28eqVQdb/s1600-h/363155966_U2d28-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241480365891458018" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjO-eThB8I0qGO5MPCth5xKjy5ktOKnTmy5wW_zaQ7rZVDqw3L8CEZiIJUwsOGLWbySLaKbwcv54r0a0RV6aFM5d9GUtkxWXzQiVoUiCtkO90USxoiBz9QdgISMkGs28eqVQdb/s200/363155966_U2d28-M.jpg" width="187" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For lunch we went to the firehouse at Waterloo. The waiter had a fantastic Scottish accent and although we couldn't understand the name of a single beer he listed, he did a fine job of recommending a local pint.<br />Full and having enjoyed a pint, we headed to the Tate Modern. Wow, Matese, Picaso, Pollack an amazing collection which could easily have taken us a week to enjoy. And it was free too.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>With Parliament's members on holiday we had the unique opportunity to visit Parliament. We started in the grand hall which was part of Henry the VIII's palace. Incredible is just about the only word to describe the intricate Gothic Architecture. Angels, lions, kings and unicorns adorned the walls and beams that held the majestic ceiling. It was interesting to learn the history and understand the role of the Lords and Monarchy in today's government.</div><br /><div>Next we went to the British Museum. As our ultimate vacation destination was Greece we had heard that to see the Greek ruins one must go to London. Sad but true. Wonderful headless stone reliefs from Greece. Mummys from Egypt and various treasures from Asia. As Dave said - this place has a lot of lute.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241466757468822930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Pcf8zJSUUIHZwZ4OCdMTFsEu0C-QtIZG8VadoR9gWrNqHZ_Z1EozwSMxLzf1Zm5jyTJJ8aJ_zgvqe3vYEDVRvt56iCTqYw8Tq41QjiWfOjBvO75Pupb-XQ6lP8cHlfHgRnl9/s320/363156449_Thmtc-S.jpg" border="0" />You may not be able to see it but this gold shawl fits me perfectly ; )</div><br /><div></div><div>It started to rain as we left the museum so we tucked into a pub for a quick bite and then waled through Chinatown inadvertently and then to the market. For dinner we met up with friend's of Dave's from Caltech at a swanky rooftop deck over looking the city. Although I don't know if I would ever learn how to cross the street, London is a beautiful city and would be a fun place to live.</div><br /><div>The following morning we headed back to Heathrow to catch our flight to Athens and then onto Rafina.</div><div></div><div>After checking into the hotel, we headed to port to catch some dinner. Sardines when not stuffed into a can and covered with oil are a beautiful gleaming silver. We saw trays and trays of fish and twice as many cats. This would be a theme that would repeat over and over during our time in Greece.<br /></div><div>The next morning we took the ferry to the island of Tinos.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6twXft4Zji4SYax-KCQ8Z-kWzUjRrtxVhUcV_etIIO_eQJxalAHJMYsPzpIS2PrGQW2j7onsPKpWcEr-Dw5X74bl_asAIZ1F01-Zp2i4rQsUw7OhV92ZYXCPQmHkbxCdJNLTM/s1600-h/363157742_aQEBj-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241482562092761730" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6twXft4Zji4SYax-KCQ8Z-kWzUjRrtxVhUcV_etIIO_eQJxalAHJMYsPzpIS2PrGQW2j7onsPKpWcEr-Dw5X74bl_asAIZ1F01-Zp2i4rQsUw7OhV92ZYXCPQmHkbxCdJNLTM/s200/363157742_aQEBj-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsdrcCGjHrRxVwEAjOX1AXh0pIU1ZFAPNFCPrqldJRW-89l9MoZ98cHFZcO7oe23NDqM93EP1Wn_Jw2w3svzIXX_0MO0DzNAFD_bHY-5kwdotqnyM62KhbuJLjwVKkSmC3lRQ/s1600-h/363156996_PbSFs-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241482485925873858" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsdrcCGjHrRxVwEAjOX1AXh0pIU1ZFAPNFCPrqldJRW-89l9MoZ98cHFZcO7oe23NDqM93EP1Wn_Jw2w3svzIXX_0MO0DzNAFD_bHY-5kwdotqnyM62KhbuJLjwVKkSmC3lRQ/s200/363156996_PbSFs-M.jpg" width="187" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUw5QnibptqiOtFIe0IKahdVXII0m7h9L6oXjkyBb3TeLMUJqIYKqUi_B_Pvf_5m88VZMGUCVjDPZFM5Ce_eyXWjcKvtthBhWk6vIki_QSG4sxQWyjnoTcXyp_JVJCf-zov3JM/s1600-h/363156795_GgoCa-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241482375869300914" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUw5QnibptqiOtFIe0IKahdVXII0m7h9L6oXjkyBb3TeLMUJqIYKqUi_B_Pvf_5m88VZMGUCVjDPZFM5Ce_eyXWjcKvtthBhWk6vIki_QSG4sxQWyjnoTcXyp_JVJCf-zov3JM/s200/363156795_GgoCa-M.jpg" width="187" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmyLzQ6KsB05Sjq1d8pXX1jB6Vzm7l4_4i5wqZE1h3grWlIo_nrkEKCGuTZ8WffRotiE5b1vInW2kRAmu_aj2jFwCHmBIEbSqr3wN2PtaqSUjopzQ-MaEVuYFlqY25tA1Ckk2/s1600-h/363183674_odWUx-M-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241473555505982914" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 131px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" height="180" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmyLzQ6KsB05Sjq1d8pXX1jB6Vzm7l4_4i5wqZE1h3grWlIo_nrkEKCGuTZ8WffRotiE5b1vInW2kRAmu_aj2jFwCHmBIEbSqr3wN2PtaqSUjopzQ-MaEVuYFlqY25tA1Ckk2/s320/363183674_odWUx-M-1.jpg" width="62" border="0" /></a> The island of Tinos attracts pilgrims from all over Greece to worship an icon of the Virgin Mary. As part of the pilgrimage women who are suffering from infertility or other ailments climb the hill to the church on their hands and knees. If you are successful in conceiving a child (and the baby is a girl) you are obligated to name the baby either Maria or Pelagia after the nun who discovered the icon.<br /></div><div>Religion is central to life on Tinos. The small population of 10K is served by more than 600 chapels.<br /></div><br /><div>The thing about a trekking trip is that the paths are not always well marked. Therefore the guide must lead the way by following the notes from the last explorer and seeking out various mile points. In our case we were fortunate in that our guide had arrived a few days earlier to scout out our walks. After arriving on Tinos, our first walk was to be up Mt. Tsiknias. Unfortunately the instructions called for us to turn right at the three dogs barking. When our guide got to this point when found three unchained and unhappy dogs barking. So, we went on a different walk instead.</div><br /><div>My fears of not being in shape were quickly put to rest as Dave and I found ourselves waiting at church after church for the rest of our group.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LRCaRghCbieLOgKtYB3JHRWdkW0uAhtD6fkA3yeocIrcFl7lBft3k30VUgVWTg5azbmuK5QHI1_Zrf2d4e0dzlwEui1KcY3bTZjYxmsEwGpBxvkCKMxn4McgGTopQNXuS_R8/s1600-h/363159243_GXZzq-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241483328603203074" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LRCaRghCbieLOgKtYB3JHRWdkW0uAhtD6fkA3yeocIrcFl7lBft3k30VUgVWTg5azbmuK5QHI1_Zrf2d4e0dzlwEui1KcY3bTZjYxmsEwGpBxvkCKMxn4McgGTopQNXuS_R8/s200/363159243_GXZzq-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCX3o0-MJKvqwSzGT9epfOPHoeKr9ONMziL0cuT28KNXW4ie_PtlGefaZ2Y4qKJ_VhrGxfBJp-GlWtDlMbKMdq3R-gB0pTuO6PXiXWQjJtOyEjA4gHesH4tefDvOwoGN80vxg/s1600-h/363159478_u8si6-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241483407998758290" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCX3o0-MJKvqwSzGT9epfOPHoeKr9ONMziL0cuT28KNXW4ie_PtlGefaZ2Y4qKJ_VhrGxfBJp-GlWtDlMbKMdq3R-gB0pTuO6PXiXWQjJtOyEjA4gHesH4tefDvOwoGN80vxg/s200/363159478_u8si6-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjp0iSISR7ik1wyaKFsjRjKm5ycubanSRAvJqZb1dj1ZUhrMAynp-IOcQUW-xR1VR9HGy4VN4dqPmHFmU97DWjQIfTqen_uwKLbGsmDVRGsPX2KTCuAgnIAp42Z5tUmhc0d3_-/s1600-h/363159970_QDJ7Y-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241483980581171218" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjp0iSISR7ik1wyaKFsjRjKm5ycubanSRAvJqZb1dj1ZUhrMAynp-IOcQUW-xR1VR9HGy4VN4dqPmHFmU97DWjQIfTqen_uwKLbGsmDVRGsPX2KTCuAgnIAp42Z5tUmhc0d3_-/s200/363159970_QDJ7Y-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The first walk was a great start to our vacation and gave us our first taste of the villages we would pass through. The day ended with a wonderful group meal in Tinos. When in Greece - Eat Greek Salad.</div><br /><div>The second day was our first all day walk - destination Kolymbithra.</div><br /><div>Our route took us up to the summit of Exobourgo peak where excavations have revealed there was a settlement from the 8th to the 5th centry BC. The views were incredible on the way up to the cross that marked the top of the peak - so were the winds. Dave assured me that I would not blow over. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtLe9H1Yt_jvz9E0rdVQ4R7zo-fSUmMGPPA51NpNp27IAW9QIt9J_WDTPPMGwMUZcpT0QeWSTucxQ70Zcs4uZd9GNGNTkBlkvWd_A-RD6pUanPQv0VmvyOibCA1mVsdlEsmyS/s1600-h/363161386_cNfuR-S.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241501638115982946" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtLe9H1Yt_jvz9E0rdVQ4R7zo-fSUmMGPPA51NpNp27IAW9QIt9J_WDTPPMGwMUZcpT0QeWSTucxQ70Zcs4uZd9GNGNTkBlkvWd_A-RD6pUanPQv0VmvyOibCA1mVsdlEsmyS/s200/363161386_cNfuR-S.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmle8ElSLUgiQOwFIQO1zD2W225OXRZjhiFSf1z33O7GyV1FcxIB1vP7LG1o6DTucwXX03tf-KKW4UX3l4PEY_sDSQlS_fUEWd7g_JSJj3YKgoGI3FUJ2LWcrjxEbzB8MYrcB/s1600-h/363161529_N9xNo-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241501727081045202" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmle8ElSLUgiQOwFIQO1zD2W225OXRZjhiFSf1z33O7GyV1FcxIB1vP7LG1o6DTucwXX03tf-KKW4UX3l4PEY_sDSQlS_fUEWd7g_JSJj3YKgoGI3FUJ2LWcrjxEbzB8MYrcB/s200/363161529_N9xNo-M.jpg" width="188" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQpvno5z8Mu38d8_llHxBIyLkpTNeCeTvf8z6m7_q4H50_aYzhr21ugl0W8YbRfxLURLD5MwMCBblUI0YYf2yXXGFCuZ1rCphL-zgktogF2k64N2kCPuLcHc1XAevgHb2Xgtx/s1600-h/363161879_aUFG6-M-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241501819232752082" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQpvno5z8Mu38d8_llHxBIyLkpTNeCeTvf8z6m7_q4H50_aYzhr21ugl0W8YbRfxLURLD5MwMCBblUI0YYf2yXXGFCuZ1rCphL-zgktogF2k64N2kCPuLcHc1XAevgHb2Xgtx/s200/363161879_aUFG6-M-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our next stop was the village of Volax. Along the way we past "alternative transportation" and took a moment or two to review where we were.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVB09jI5kX78AChfak_BRCPLfA54gy1prSRkNHpkBaQSijvWA5fylKykS8oy7Ljgxgz6Bk0pxIcGOK2EmlQ6Stke_Dk6XJUtSC5L13pWoIO3nRdyDcKvQKkxqOiCc8CBcc4SVp/s1600-h/363163709_tcjm9-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241487428378621442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVB09jI5kX78AChfak_BRCPLfA54gy1prSRkNHpkBaQSijvWA5fylKykS8oy7Ljgxgz6Bk0pxIcGOK2EmlQ6Stke_Dk6XJUtSC5L13pWoIO3nRdyDcKvQKkxqOiCc8CBcc4SVp/s200/363163709_tcjm9-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfz-eeElu2qPaT78nMOwlDVXS5xUkVyBgANhf3fse-S1MbkUq-DsXO-sXCZOXFoadrpQmLVCEVOMGHa_zUpi6fWzO2ejjWayhnP9iHmVtJDVL3VygKxoz1sgFpa1fUDzy3hbz/s1600-h/363168818_BgiXW-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241487530912926562" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfz-eeElu2qPaT78nMOwlDVXS5xUkVyBgANhf3fse-S1MbkUq-DsXO-sXCZOXFoadrpQmLVCEVOMGHa_zUpi6fWzO2ejjWayhnP9iHmVtJDVL3VygKxoz1sgFpa1fUDzy3hbz/s200/363168818_BgiXW-M.jpg" width="186" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTFNMUXIBHWqVvNTvHbihKhld6HzNOmhKDtZWalJ-3cd909dEP33Xc0LxRD3tAyNiqVPD6xPquKxg8fuZgrl9BHMpDQY2WJJPcWvCGBHqVjEqzy4hGLUNYPuC01zehU-e_snQ/s1600-h/363164323_92wqh-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241487644612444754" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTFNMUXIBHWqVvNTvHbihKhld6HzNOmhKDtZWalJ-3cd909dEP33Xc0LxRD3tAyNiqVPD6xPquKxg8fuZgrl9BHMpDQY2WJJPcWvCGBHqVjEqzy4hGLUNYPuC01zehU-e_snQ/s200/363164323_92wqh-M.jpg" width="185" border="0" /></a><br />After a fantastic lunch at a small taverna - we had the Volax salad - we headed on to the beach at Kolymbirthra - 4 hours away.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhrlfNYz68Ej2_NKs7udNVFL1HW6z37hSoN0n4rp8RCVN9QaXFJl6nMqEYAqnQh-O5qKYCketQAN4Ao9WMdjCqAVdwmtQ2Q_zg7yD3ZY4KwKeSp2KxDCiIWK6KNc4pqlBQJql/s1600-h/363165945_Faa6i-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241489406454122818" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhrlfNYz68Ej2_NKs7udNVFL1HW6z37hSoN0n4rp8RCVN9QaXFJl6nMqEYAqnQh-O5qKYCketQAN4Ao9WMdjCqAVdwmtQ2Q_zg7yD3ZY4KwKeSp2KxDCiIWK6KNc4pqlBQJql/s200/363165945_Faa6i-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpL-7RI0-U0kEyu6Wo11mMDR0G9iN7V5gUyvXuq3f6bFx2M2_kcsA6WwsNuZcwc5yK-GbhsZ7uEFuZ6ayx5okUtRBWhmLG0DN3G1dUNVEdCwAMPSStA-Lwsu161ggskuB7SaV/s1600-h/363167628_aZu2q-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241489533445813234" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpL-7RI0-U0kEyu6Wo11mMDR0G9iN7V5gUyvXuq3f6bFx2M2_kcsA6WwsNuZcwc5yK-GbhsZ7uEFuZ6ayx5okUtRBWhmLG0DN3G1dUNVEdCwAMPSStA-Lwsu161ggskuB7SaV/s200/363167628_aZu2q-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2UXEJTOu8i-GglmjfkUMouTDmUMn9XwZy938vIPf7ciI-CVBdSI3_KSKwCfX1HiSfN2rFEHsMmkrO8PmVbx5a-GoXrzmIcftJhgHwp_UtfsXZfPVWFTrj1WVVD7c3cffNjv6/s1600-h/363167970_KBBrF-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241489622615182434" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2UXEJTOu8i-GglmjfkUMouTDmUMn9XwZy938vIPf7ciI-CVBdSI3_KSKwCfX1HiSfN2rFEHsMmkrO8PmVbx5a-GoXrzmIcftJhgHwp_UtfsXZfPVWFTrj1WVVD7c3cffNjv6/s200/363167970_KBBrF-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTFxim34utKW-2o9E19FWc8pv-yFYzYoeXCt_Coo1BCybWHik0NchPH-EPproPua5SxMFHfZhF7x_q_NAwqJ6QGC5J1rBsgb4i69Q7f49LwzD3elokGPgs0UDVAE3tPS0kXf0/s1600-h/363170781_wNE6h-S.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241489770330195874" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsTFxim34utKW-2o9E19FWc8pv-yFYzYoeXCt_Coo1BCybWHik0NchPH-EPproPua5SxMFHfZhF7x_q_NAwqJ6QGC5J1rBsgb4i69Q7f49LwzD3elokGPgs0UDVAE3tPS0kXf0/s200/363170781_wNE6h-S.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuEQgVKrUBh_o9Lo8FIoDNNwnZH51i8dEr1TYro3Nos5kU6i6ySkaFOfhlQpcXNQI7bxlKwY-nTUDqksEz4fs-VEAU9F-ZSiqYpN2iDmaY6dzm-MtSZcQ3PgrDVGHrgO6b0M9/s1600-h/363170958_LhgXb-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241489857567583810" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuEQgVKrUBh_o9Lo8FIoDNNwnZH51i8dEr1TYro3Nos5kU6i6ySkaFOfhlQpcXNQI7bxlKwY-nTUDqksEz4fs-VEAU9F-ZSiqYpN2iDmaY6dzm-MtSZcQ3PgrDVGHrgO6b0M9/s200/363170958_LhgXb-M.jpg" width="189" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzm9OB6Gi9PS1Km37BRK9_T392kViR_ENfT5OXHqhsUmh49AmFGS0cCDku6t3MtQWqPECHCXQPR9G9BOvpBZab4LLsKDCf0N8jNVT1oqlw20Yp2ggILrQBXnuoIc4rHw1pKgN/s1600-h/363171515_LjJ2c-S.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241489943009890034" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzm9OB6Gi9PS1Km37BRK9_T392kViR_ENfT5OXHqhsUmh49AmFGS0cCDku6t3MtQWqPECHCXQPR9G9BOvpBZab4LLsKDCf0N8jNVT1oqlw20Yp2ggILrQBXnuoIc4rHw1pKgN/s200/363171515_LjJ2c-S.jpg" width="177" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYwgHfv-daImeJ0QKdLGfwuOr8oVk16HIz5ycYwki9QiWh19vC8SDxmXki0ifvqdoQSiyNX8CnFGLmI6wRSCYwdvwkynJ02RYlPVYP9cFFPRDUii_rd_8ZoxmX5YV-9cJUM1g/s1600-h/363172018_Fyjwb-S.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241490045002846642" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYwgHfv-daImeJ0QKdLGfwuOr8oVk16HIz5ycYwki9QiWh19vC8SDxmXki0ifvqdoQSiyNX8CnFGLmI6wRSCYwdvwkynJ02RYlPVYP9cFFPRDUii_rd_8ZoxmX5YV-9cJUM1g/s200/363172018_Fyjwb-S.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyebhBlJx9aJHVRARlpI_zSI0SLo29V6qJaSWlznJ2YcsgYM2K-5Y9UQB8TD6JZgeHtMhaI2DRrYpfm9-Kmo5FSG76xAzCKZI-Jd28eL0_baVkjFdDelxWS3WABU5oGfdpGstq/s1600-h/363172465_XwFR9-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241490172187819970" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyebhBlJx9aJHVRARlpI_zSI0SLo29V6qJaSWlznJ2YcsgYM2K-5Y9UQB8TD6JZgeHtMhaI2DRrYpfm9-Kmo5FSG76xAzCKZI-Jd28eL0_baVkjFdDelxWS3WABU5oGfdpGstq/s200/363172465_XwFR9-M.jpg" border="0" /></a> This is Dave's awesome shade shelter.</div><br /><div>Day 4 was a free day, meaning no guided walks. Dave has been taking up rock carving so we decided to head to Pygros the center of the marble production on the island. Everything in Pygros was carved including the marble sidewalks.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgKhDYm-y38y_Ll1RyBf4v9YfY_ogscf0z3T_0_EzbUTQ3fl8xJ_TXiZsogJQZj5FQZ3J0RIPyrlZS6kSKf-_XcUbKRjCP6W-ntrhSbWaeDIRjbA98v9G_RKaMpKOO11aGs8G/s1600-h/363176122_U6Aom-S.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241493269435911906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgKhDYm-y38y_Ll1RyBf4v9YfY_ogscf0z3T_0_EzbUTQ3fl8xJ_TXiZsogJQZj5FQZ3J0RIPyrlZS6kSKf-_XcUbKRjCP6W-ntrhSbWaeDIRjbA98v9G_RKaMpKOO11aGs8G/s200/363176122_U6Aom-S.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWisZGLWzQci2MJ0Mmqj248LEaVU_DQ-mpNpzA0HgmLCszk1Uf3IzDYhpl0tbeINd47vPq8XbrIkMAcjjikSHkES4Jzr800gTcUz4fBaU1a2cvUtjYemYPWMW79Y2d755z-YMk/s1600-h/363174003_NYW2h-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241493353042734514" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWisZGLWzQci2MJ0Mmqj248LEaVU_DQ-mpNpzA0HgmLCszk1Uf3IzDYhpl0tbeINd47vPq8XbrIkMAcjjikSHkES4Jzr800gTcUz4fBaU1a2cvUtjYemYPWMW79Y2d755z-YMk/s200/363174003_NYW2h-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6WWb88H-5VJhprJqpbYT8NYWDHw9FvvSzVdIhR1jTb1lxPYqRxjKlqJ-rKO_K_Rsi6jyuD0XZvOcB6XDzngKOeg-nCuLeI31Lp1GwXfHoWlhrYawzNsH1KhprVpobSvKEK99/s1600-h/363175565_8qRPU-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241493473846017858" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6WWb88H-5VJhprJqpbYT8NYWDHw9FvvSzVdIhR1jTb1lxPYqRxjKlqJ-rKO_K_Rsi6jyuD0XZvOcB6XDzngKOeg-nCuLeI31Lp1GwXfHoWlhrYawzNsH1KhprVpobSvKEK99/s200/363175565_8qRPU-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>Unfortunately the museum was closed so instead we decided to hike down to Panormos where we were treated to great views and a fun lunch of grilled Octopus.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWb3tvetxoCq9-ekNcSfJD9K1nCf_Er4wW3rDFbQejcBVPdWuuiu91ABSXgQCEv5hjswaB4gbF5c6PR63pURGx-43F2Z_E4rFNI6IASCBWW2QijTsCMCm8OqMyDJxxXdUxvjS/s1600-h/363176969_JEPdM-S.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241494299789959250" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWb3tvetxoCq9-ekNcSfJD9K1nCf_Er4wW3rDFbQejcBVPdWuuiu91ABSXgQCEv5hjswaB4gbF5c6PR63pURGx-43F2Z_E4rFNI6IASCBWW2QijTsCMCm8OqMyDJxxXdUxvjS/s200/363176969_JEPdM-S.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF3VjKREcXKXSt2IIp7Afco5IySuo5UrUmFumPf4ab1HLRag-YG-zHzXE-1cC6hqGMYan6X4zP40xQ2FKEET0g_KJ3n-jCY21_p1hoU3vTnFi9lYuW6yVsbXC6lcDGr95pOkD/s1600-h/363178092_4LVKZ-S.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241494396796430674" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWF3VjKREcXKXSt2IIp7Afco5IySuo5UrUmFumPf4ab1HLRag-YG-zHzXE-1cC6hqGMYan6X4zP40xQ2FKEET0g_KJ3n-jCY21_p1hoU3vTnFi9lYuW6yVsbXC6lcDGr95pOkD/s200/363178092_4LVKZ-S.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>The following day we walked from Tinos to Ktikados and then took the Ferry to the island of Andros.</div><div></div><div>The first walk on Andros took us to the village of Korthi near the southeastern corner of the island. Half way through the hike we headed up to the hilltop fortress of Palikastro. Legend has it that a goddess lives on top of the mountain and blows trespassers off the side. Needless to say - it was very windy on top.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lFwNiql7T2g4Bj-U8PPlUgx8Pb46LLrSgAlsdaQ3XVejmR6RSqovrkh-ErMS9oIqovym5xoSJt93Dl8z_sH5DFjLw2HsWbCs0N7VAm8leH3Hb1rYusc4aJ_UiPTQAH12VQMJ/s1600-h/363184880_NBX9c-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241497611474614690" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lFwNiql7T2g4Bj-U8PPlUgx8Pb46LLrSgAlsdaQ3XVejmR6RSqovrkh-ErMS9oIqovym5xoSJt93Dl8z_sH5DFjLw2HsWbCs0N7VAm8leH3Hb1rYusc4aJ_UiPTQAH12VQMJ/s200/363184880_NBX9c-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDc5ArL7ShtCiu6wqtOLxjE_IEB9Dph7tO3c-yUiWlm1lX668KwEInugDnS21IlQLfmXAzPIisWHONaiuLceySnVYaz0C0gTiH_yC_J2eUJqBH-ByloprxE6z0S8mlF3tnxaZp/s1600-h/363184581_tGwzr-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241497760315363730" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDc5ArL7ShtCiu6wqtOLxjE_IEB9Dph7tO3c-yUiWlm1lX668KwEInugDnS21IlQLfmXAzPIisWHONaiuLceySnVYaz0C0gTiH_yC_J2eUJqBH-ByloprxE6z0S8mlF3tnxaZp/s200/363184581_tGwzr-M.jpg" width="185" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsLQ9akvc-Wlom5cPbn1i4_-I8rUaF1wZP2WQwyeH4Um_dpNr00PBv-5W8wvjNk_bIHXMNrrsRKSHqSPECaEjhOqAlmTImDmJOEYEv78dfPkaCpBYxYt4X4pvsKd48t9p_xVL/s1600-h/363187672_HdMFw-M-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241497854988340530" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsLQ9akvc-Wlom5cPbn1i4_-I8rUaF1wZP2WQwyeH4Um_dpNr00PBv-5W8wvjNk_bIHXMNrrsRKSHqSPECaEjhOqAlmTImDmJOEYEv78dfPkaCpBYxYt4X4pvsKd48t9p_xVL/s200/363187672_HdMFw-M-1.jpg" width="180" border="0" /></a> </div><div></div><div>After a long days hike an Etna Beer sure would have been nice...<br /></div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbu2cYe0s72rQCVQHs1FE589tsyRGbbvkO_9clx399qz4j6Tj5-RnUq83XfVoPm-g3_0ec1Pl_K7pqw4LDi8l5C2PbJhjCFdGPI124cxrUV__wQJnloMrsnTo9LNyY7Raw0rE/s1600-h/363194519_GJorL-S.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241498446715821474" style="CURSOR: hand" height="187" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbu2cYe0s72rQCVQHs1FE589tsyRGbbvkO_9clx399qz4j6Tj5-RnUq83XfVoPm-g3_0ec1Pl_K7pqw4LDi8l5C2PbJhjCFdGPI124cxrUV__wQJnloMrsnTo9LNyY7Raw0rE/s200/363194519_GJorL-S.jpg" width="269" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br />Our final walk was all down hill! We started at the Panachrantos Monastery and ended back at our hotel in Andros.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5zMiOrEWopxnhR91qNd4_uk2DI4VtO4wO8UFyyCz1fuU_W01J39KkuozHF4jqgyLOPGc5kwzSw-gwoVpA_okF6gKCm2D5azi6OOpHrDumyeUURcBUHl3NMEffgZIa1aK5-hy/s1600-h/363197079_YdmN2-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241499710276733266" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5zMiOrEWopxnhR91qNd4_uk2DI4VtO4wO8UFyyCz1fuU_W01J39KkuozHF4jqgyLOPGc5kwzSw-gwoVpA_okF6gKCm2D5azi6OOpHrDumyeUURcBUHl3NMEffgZIa1aK5-hy/s200/363197079_YdmN2-M.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT23wC6q4B2VQswbp0X7Qq8LqZv7vuc8PPD4rRsKK0pkovomTt8CLXzT1w9t342jRy8VZ8I0CnSGTcdGmPoqLWAeJPznrjdLTI-ocz2j9YN7XGoihosANoMcmOWJwkagSHaR8E/s1600-h/363197409_pdFCk-M.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241499804956177922" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT23wC6q4B2VQswbp0X7Qq8LqZv7vuc8PPD4rRsKK0pkovomTt8CLXzT1w9t342jRy8VZ8I0CnSGTcdGmPoqLWAeJPznrjdLTI-ocz2j9YN7XGoihosANoMcmOWJwkagSHaR8E/s200/363197409_pdFCk-M.jpg" width="186" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0bezh8WO-eokTxZl4BAju0_6TNUlvrzTkP_q3REIn3yL5uDx7EqYUketBqmih8C6b-tp6r-GrgbwOdOVubrdMyOH511noJcgbjXqSsXAh4ILEeImP9xFIKUQM-GFFCGRqhrV/s1600-h/363227190_5L9LC-S.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241499933386222930" style="CURSOR: hand" height="134" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0bezh8WO-eokTxZl4BAju0_6TNUlvrzTkP_q3REIn3yL5uDx7EqYUketBqmih8C6b-tp6r-GrgbwOdOVubrdMyOH511noJcgbjXqSsXAh4ILEeImP9xFIKUQM-GFFCGRqhrV/s200/363227190_5L9LC-S.jpg" width="187" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The trip ended back for one more night in London. We headed to Brick Road and had amazing Indian food for dinner and than back to our hotel for a last night in the "most comfortable bed ever."</div><br /><div>This has been truly a great vacation and definately two places everyone should add to their list of places to see. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-41428196543839380812008-08-11T13:29:00.000-07:002008-08-11T13:42:45.266-07:00so you think you can walk ...You may recall (given that it was just a few blog posts ago) that back in November (yes I really do need to post more frequently) we gave up our two cars and scaled down to one. I had great hopes at the time that this change would result in my taking advantage of other forms of transportation such as walking and the magical thing called the bus. Alas, my habits haven't changed much.<br /><div></div><br /><div>This weekend I was again reminded of why walking can be so much better than driving. </div><br /><div>In preparation for our upcoming vacation - it is a "walking vacation" - I decided that rather than drive downtown to run my errands I would make the trek on foot. Wow, Seattle is a really cool city when you don't have to worry about finding a parking spot.</div><br /><div>I think the highlight was coming upon the international fountain just as it started it's musical performance. I had no idea that the fountain plays classical music and shoots off water like dancing raindrops. Go figure. Very Cool!<br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233362130115800802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08IOaAOC5KEqyc_KqYFtKWaho_73fkkSdPrvf04nFw4f0yvBJPzUk1yQjbqidRMwef71G40iiyFJCOJyfUl0gqX_RklLsU5fL8eOZahC8cdneV73oipSEmRRvIkWlOANTTjno/s320/20060923_SeattleCenterFountain.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div>The low point was the man who almost killed me by running a red light while speeding down 3rd ave. Fortunately, I saw him coming and stopped mid-way. He saw me at the last minute and slammed on his breaks to amazing effect - screeeches and burned rubber. I guess what we learned in Kindergarden about always looking both ways continues to be the best advice I've ever received.<br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-14081365453582350842008-08-07T12:19:00.001-07:002008-08-07T12:23:38.306-07:00time time time ......<div>I either have to post more often or give up.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here is the picture of the house project completed - Villa Sophia is now a lovely shade of dark grey. I know, the idea of living in Seattle where grey is the prominant color 10 months out of the year, and painting your home grey seems a bit well ..... depressing. But truly, this is a beautiful and rich color of grey, not the cold damp, blah color we usually see in the sky.</div><div> </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231858480679035474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIY_vlMuz84bgil5kPqs3_ReEbMSoEgigFC0wpVPv-5XAzWO3Eh_f7JQFdKLIRsTUfB2YJfk0YCMWbk2EPuA0eLj9HRPhJt8ZVeM6d_hAJcxG12cZPHevHHk-V2gPIW3Wyx3GV/s320/IMG_0509.JPG" border="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-69238468691121314302008-05-20T18:12:00.000-07:002008-12-10T22:41:53.908-08:00sophia's face lift ....<div><div><div><div>This spring our Villa Sophia begins her much needed face lift. To date, she has a new door, new windows, a new chimney (a surprise to both of us) and is getting a "peel" in preparation for new stucco...</div><div> </div><div>Next up .... paint!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202634312529403394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST0y9mjNAI1tbtYska5eAl7OxmerYe7cY3MrSQAEmIEXtyLVpPaFRSNqd_9Na4KdzOj-14G7ytD1ZtyAQ0akVAZwCHgLcUYRSo_YKM_lSZA1Cjgok0Q5xXLzS75pd15ZPIEA4/s320/IMG_0201.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202634802155675154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymmLJUFeV7nf5kmapL01a12e2WBu0pAg6PKZJb0g3_dFfZRIy_sa0HW2h66CRPIj1qe1WHwYbAHIoqcUCvlf-V2_fHZSfs47P7bAnA9k1ty2H7Vw4kdvRgyX4FNuFRsxhD50u/s320/IMG_0209.JPG" border="0" /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202633840083000818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE_RnqbOo_H0Lf7sDXxP2p9MoNLy49_nN0MO_3jnEt1vqn-nRxnacD48eqAhrwcAvQ-5-pS5KPU9o_qvyW7bJ1mptD0yM1yVjQs7dqoA3bb8GHkphhSaZwSwfrwlwGrGfWw7_q/s320/IMG_0195.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202635317551750690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGy8_F6NdXsZJbUe8_aCgA79QjCChwTsTEYnLZmUaW6F4BuWKEfL74BVCwze629wokmNszZ600DmoSh-A7OC_5hkqePfwnJK8F8ocJgGyZJGGP9VFDB3CMYaFe-EqeZZaEQZX0/s320/IMG_0217.JPG" border="0" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-1295399575918261112008-02-18T12:35:00.000-08:002008-12-10T22:41:54.379-08:001000 places to see before you die - #11<div><div><div><div>Santa Fe, New Mexico</div><div> </div><div>Having not seen the sun in quite some time, I was excited to visit the place where it reportedly winters. Wow! I don't know if it is beacause I haven't seen sunlight in months, or if there is truly something different about the way colors reflect in New Mexico - either way everything I saw was breathtaking. So ... rather than one photo to capture this place, here are a few.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168426831316373298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kwLOFlh4KGDzewvfIsRdxl_ooE15AbFLuuE6KYl-e0clcuIfIHutIhxI-bxJjSHaO_G3kmr1xJ-QSr9YDf_wcnBcwghiU-dTFoz2yYHNOdZ1BvWcK-Tx8A8sRTXhHV3WI3OI/s320/bldg.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /></div></div><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168427046064738114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiWPpZp5VSduosUksUCqQ9HTP9BGiM8ZoO084pIKAgkZKnRtf-Wty8qhtUV6E541UAJTl09OK_-hKJ-szhPFfMKR9055U8ylR9kcvUff6z2uqbsnaAx6IOn62yf1pZ2hcVfnj/s320/martyr.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168427363892318034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsLDBge6AacAgOTFmJoQ5cregbW3nLwh3nx-ofnneuhRs-2guRqgunvAfLDbR77kUK2nvYnIjst696syd5LmB19oO2_hC5WXhl_d2ppOEpYTuuBYYyifFCQR40NG0deiUHYwc/s320/sky.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-2004203842982813642008-02-12T16:53:00.000-08:002008-12-10T22:41:54.552-08:001000 places to see before you die - #10Panama<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdcjQbBkYZftDj5MDqxlcvLXPV4pV5rVc1fwzxFTfGi5ET23YuwgiQytLQhIyvnWZ1Y6LPbpZt_h5wvMtV7qIr2CK92nTjIhMRkAC7FwpHpV7Da3uoEa4CTIlyqFO_ODSfYVD/s1600-h/Panama.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166262348187815714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdcjQbBkYZftDj5MDqxlcvLXPV4pV5rVc1fwzxFTfGi5ET23YuwgiQytLQhIyvnWZ1Y6LPbpZt_h5wvMtV7qIr2CK92nTjIhMRkAC7FwpHpV7Da3uoEa4CTIlyqFO_ODSfYVD/s320/Panama.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This picture was taken in Boca del Toro, Panama. The t-shirt is from the Etna Brewery in California (which come to think of it should also be one of the 1000 places you see before you die.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-88122571829123467072008-02-12T16:43:00.000-08:002008-02-12T16:51:46.741-08:00baconized ...It is official. In the eyes of the US and foreign governments I have been officially baconized (as evidenced by my spanking new passport.)<br /><br />My new passport is much more sleek and techy than the last one but I will miss the worldlyness and general well-traveled appearance of the old one. And, given that my international travel has slowed down considerably, I am guessing I may never fill this new one with the same level of exotic locals - oh Paraguay Visa, I will miss you the most.<br /><br />Now that I am officially a new person with new stamps to acquire it is time to start planning a trip.<br /><br />Any suggestions?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-2438552989121214062007-12-04T11:09:00.000-08:002007-12-12T16:40:37.041-08:00the simple life ...For the past year Dave and I have shared one car. The switch from both of us driving our own vehicles to my parking my car in the driveway and always taking his happened quite literally overnight.<br /><br />Last year, about this time, Seattle had a horrible wind storm and I found myself rushing to make it across the bridge before the DOT determined that crossing the bridge with 50+MPH winds was a bad idea. Miata + Floating Bridge + High Winds = white knuckles. The next morning we awoke to snow. The fate of the Miata was sealed, it would stay in the driveway for then next 11 months while I slowly came to the conclusion that perhaps my days of driving a convertible were numbered.<br /><br />As I mulled over the idea of giving up my car persona, Dave too was thinking of life with something different then his Subaru. The conclusion to both our issues was simple. We would become a real one car family once and for all.<br /><br />You'd think that since we were already driving one vehicle that the giving up two cars would be easy. Yes and No. I think the idea of not having a second car available is much more stressful that the reality of what this means to our daily lives. After all, we are in walking distance to shopping, we both have bus passes (although I don't yet know how to ride the bus), and we are getting hooked up with the Flex Car program. But, still it is a bit of a mental adjustment.<br /><br />Week one has definitely had its pluses and minuses.<br /><br />Plus - I was sans car on Saturday which was fantastic! I knew I wanted to go to an art sale. I also knew that to do this I would have to walk or take the bus. So I bundled up in hat and gloves and set out with my trusty map (don't laugh.) The great thing about walking is that you get to see (and stop by) all sorts of great shops that you would normally speed past. The other great thing is that since you are walking you can't carry home the fantastic (albeit expensive) 6ft tall metal lamp that you fell in love with.<br /><br />Minus - Last night was a bit of a puzzle as I had an appointment and Dave had a friend in town. After some wrangling we decided that Dave would drop me off and he and Mick would go to dinner and then I would meet up with them when I was done. Unfortunately our new car also has this very cool smart card feature which means that Dave was able to drive away and not know that he didn't actually have any keys until after he had parked the car. Fortunately, I was not far away so I was able to meet up with them and wave my magic card over the car so that we could get home.<br /><br />And so it begins, the simple life. With one week under my belt I am looking forward to learning how to take the bus and more opportunities to walk my city. This may be the begining of something really great. I'll let you know.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-63574241808623490752007-11-02T18:27:00.000-07:002008-12-10T22:41:54.793-08:001000 places to see...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3bYsr_rnDfuH5OwnOWHweEfjROYdclM3NApnx2mPR827PcBfCtirdJHX2WotrQJEGu5TfpTjkA4BArGBKoFQEmRRpnJ5KA4zPkP5kDr5NXhGVxe1x6mZbLQu6gzI2f96pM26/s1600-h/Backyard.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128420008225976546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3bYsr_rnDfuH5OwnOWHweEfjROYdclM3NApnx2mPR827PcBfCtirdJHX2WotrQJEGu5TfpTjkA4BArGBKoFQEmRRpnJ5KA4zPkP5kDr5NXhGVxe1x6mZbLQu6gzI2f96pM26/s320/Backyard.jpg" border="0" /></a> The view from your back yard ...<br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-83099310430948119152007-11-02T18:16:00.000-07:002008-12-10T22:41:55.122-08:00the fruits of Dave's labor ...<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJFqR4esZbJNtHI0Pc0XwJxAOecOdSBeRiBtuWSRjO-yxVqNEb62_RbMne3deo-nA15tI-HclqE-hjQKOCxlHnFeLT97UgJf_neDULs0T7H4ydnVQ3ewqSWoiXMz_p6NRH-FU/s1600-h/IMG_0012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128417237972070594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJFqR4esZbJNtHI0Pc0XwJxAOecOdSBeRiBtuWSRjO-yxVqNEb62_RbMne3deo-nA15tI-HclqE-hjQKOCxlHnFeLT97UgJf_neDULs0T7H4ydnVQ3ewqSWoiXMz_p6NRH-FU/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128417847857426642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJ6MmSprJhyphenhyphenqG7waq8cwduY_Jhdlj9Epn-_3Fwgn9IuLOQz7iw_EcP3ybJOPAncrwWsh24B3A8d75HRLWhJfKIOud26xer-dyyLasnbdimgpokGLYAS-7nzTt4AB5T7kIfI8U/s320/IMG_0016.JPG" border="0" />Home grown tomatoes + roasted peppers = Yummy Soup</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-59689898524896434142007-11-02T17:29:00.000-07:002008-12-10T22:41:55.330-08:00grandpa butch ...I decided to try something different. This is my memory of my grandfather's barn.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-R89zG7ZNqKRRNpnDqWcjqm4QWpemt4JyITGaE1pYPx3RpPpqqXQ-nztiT6A1IQwerq0ChoS-hFjywU1dgjEBhlTVZnIs4jy3YNUjWMchl4_eZxIzjQgjK42q1iMRYzcd7kD/s1600-h/barn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128407067489513650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-R89zG7ZNqKRRNpnDqWcjqm4QWpemt4JyITGaE1pYPx3RpPpqqXQ-nztiT6A1IQwerq0ChoS-hFjywU1dgjEBhlTVZnIs4jy3YNUjWMchl4_eZxIzjQgjK42q1iMRYzcd7kD/s320/barn.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-37360352231150268312007-11-02T17:11:00.000-07:002008-12-10T22:41:55.713-08:00Dia de la muerta<div><div><div>I just completed my last trip to Mexico. I will miss the friends I have made over the years and the city I have come to know as my second home. In celebration of the Dia de la Muerta I baked a traditional bread and a not so traditional spicy chili chocolate cake. Here are the results.</div><br /><br /><div></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128403824789205138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdRcR2nru-xEvkds4z4YjmjMP4yBGZ8mB0NmW5XyaGgG0UZ0nJPegAfKTFtznD2scHEti0J5TpFkZKX06fntt0tJ_lyuFcu3EQaPY-o9ItbF3cuM1TEb5w4o8mOgz_K4agVgl/s320/IMG_0048.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>This cake as a wicked kick ....<br /></p><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128404374545019042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAlCfmQRaC0hhDTNY3Z6IS3mn9TTzO7mJ8N-AODOV-yTZWUiiHx2qAd4Lq4w8H-g1us-5CRRKA4YwdQ5fratx-GCcTeIWzDuuLqMVMZY2Rh6Yj-cGyElkiKcE0Fnwd7Wr3bkD/s320/IMG_0047.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-50760672851328762432007-10-08T13:10:00.000-07:002007-10-08T14:04:36.750-07:00a year of planning and transition ...Last week I celebrated another birthday. The last couple of years I have tried to document the big events and capture them in a blog post that would sum up a life lesson. This year, I started to write and nothing. I started again, nothing. I decided that clearly I hadn't done anything during the past year. Over dinner, I shared with Dave how I have become the human equivalent of a slug. Dave gently reminded me that this was the year of planning and transition.<br /><br />So, here is my year in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">summation</span>.<br /><br />October - April: Planning for the most incredibly wonderful experience of my life thus far. - Marrying Dave.<br />April - October: Transitioning away from the job that in many ways had defined who I am as an adult.<br /><br />The lessons I learned this year are more difficult to capture then simply saying I tried something new. And to be totally honest, I haven't <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">completely</span> come to terms what what that lesson is. I think that I am still transforming and it may be awhile down the road before I understand how I have changed as a result of this year. What I do know is that I am exceptionally fortunate. This has been the year of love and friendship and understanding truly what is really important to me. A funny thing happens when you come to a fork in the road. Sometimes, you get to make a choice that will determine the rest of your life.<br /><br />So here's to another new year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-36394985539532825682007-09-13T15:12:00.000-07:002007-09-13T15:24:38.252-07:00you're hired....????!!!!!<p>The job search / candidate search is kind of like going out on a blind date. Sure that friend of a friend's aunt said that his cousin was nice but what do you really know. Having been on both sides of the table recently I had to laugh when I came across this list of actual expediences recruiters and hiring managers have had with potential candidates. I think my favorite is #13. We should all be able to "phone a friend" if we are not sure what the right answer is.</p><ol><li>Candidate said he was so well-qualified [that] if he didn't get the job, it would prove that the company's management was incompetent. </li><li>Stretched out on the floor to fill out the job application. </li><li>Chewed bubble gum and constantly blew bubbles. </li><li>Candidate kept giggling through serious interview. </li><li>She wore a Walkman and said she could listen to me and the music at the same time. </li><li>Balding candidate abruptly excused himself. Returned to office a few minutes later, wearing a hairpiece.</li><li>Applicant challenged interviewer to arm wrestle. </li><li>Asked to see interviewer's resume to see if the personnel executive was qualified to judge the candidate. </li><li>Announced she hadn't had lunch and proceeded to eat a hamburger and french fries in the interviewer's office. </li><li>Without saying a word, candidate stood up and walked out during the middle of the interview. </li><li>Man wore jogging suit to interview for position as financial vice president. </li><li>Said if he were hired, he would demonstrate his loyalty by having the corporate logo tattooed on his forearm. </li><li>Interrupted to phone his therapist for advice on answering specific interview questions. </li><li>Wouldn't get out of the chair until I would hire him. I had to call the police. </li><li>When I asked him about his hobbies, he stood up and started tap dancing around my office. </li><li>Had a little pinball game and challenged me to play with him. <br />(I've actually brought my DS to an interview but I think it was relevant.... I think ...)</li><li> Bounced up and down on my carpet and told me I must be highly thought of by the company because I was given such a thick carpet. </li><li>Pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a flash picture of me. Said he collected photos of everyone who interviewed him. </li><li>During the interview, an alarm clock went off from the candidate's brief case. He took it out, shut it off, apologized and said he had to leave for another interview. </li><li>He took off his right shoe and sock, removed a medicated foot powder and dusted it on the foot and in the shoe. While he was putting back the shoe and sock, he mentioned that he had to use the powder four times a day, and this was the time. </li><li>She threw-up on my desk, and immediately started asking questions about the job, like nothing had happened.<br /></li></ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-82501933442023342972007-09-05T16:45:00.000-07:002007-09-05T17:06:04.800-07:00Pobre TomateAt the beginning of the summer Dave and I entered into the "Great Tomato Showdown" with our friends Brad and Lynette. Now, with the summer coming to an end, our tomato plants are taller than I am and dripping with mostly unripened fruit - Fried Green Tomatoes anyone?<br /><br />The cherry tomatoes were the first to turn red and we guarded each fruit as if it were a rare treasure. In fact, we took the first tomato over to our friends house and carefully carved it into 4 quarters so we could each taste the first tomato of the season. But now... I am beginning to sense that I will soon be drowning in ripe tomatoes. So, while Dave was away I decided to experiment with the first crop and roasted a batch for use later in pasta's, saladas, etc... After three hours cooking in a slow oven the smell of tomatoes permiated through the entire house. The result was a sweet carmalized tomato with just a bit of chew to it. Yum. <br /><br />I shared the news of our burggeoning crop with Brad and Lynette and they shared that they have moved onto cucumbers instead. I guess that is the end of the "Great Tomoato Showdown." Poor Poor Tomato, you've been upstaged by the cucumber again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-89684880264305088922007-09-05T16:35:00.001-07:002007-09-05T16:35:14.746-07:00Veggietales - Dance of the cucumber<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/LiBACkvosq0' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/LiBACkvosq0'/></object></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-18833365617026078372007-07-30T13:06:00.000-07:002007-07-30T13:14:36.326-07:00me translated ....rarely irritated, positive, tough, non phobic, fearless, likes the unknown, self reliant, high self control, confident, trusting, strong instincts, prudent, optimistic, willful, likes parties, prefers a specialized career, takes charge, altruistic, strong, high self concept, adventurous, practical, thoughtful<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://similarminds.com">personality tests by similarminds.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-8747700314834710812007-07-27T13:04:00.000-07:002008-12-10T22:41:55.961-08:00never say goodbye - Etna High - ...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_x5OWlTuQApD-4fx0OUn1kpKh3YoaKZs_adP_QqquFhTlSi9J_4mP2TETUgLN8nd58zsthDv-ecwENt8rxKdb8WNMEBHPjOX7lI28-LKlmE981pNgFwF1nSBQmJOAOI6_C9q/s1600-h/class+photo.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091970304698985362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_x5OWlTuQApD-4fx0OUn1kpKh3YoaKZs_adP_QqquFhTlSi9J_4mP2TETUgLN8nd58zsthDv-ecwENt8rxKdb8WNMEBHPjOX7lI28-LKlmE981pNgFwF1nSBQmJOAOI6_C9q/s400/class+photo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2NRJjR1OqrOwT224WCxotmY4_YNEQCqp2joO6IUcqkTTuVgQc48cBaIIzieD2IeUHgDD_iGV-3UFDCDb-3Tm3q201pbwC5-jbxIAwPwh04sS9Z5EO7_CaSlBqG5L1WTNS_op/s1600-h/class+photo.JPG"></a>so, I did not go to my class reunion.</div><div> </div><div>And I am amazed to say I don't recognize most of these people.</div><div> </div><div>It would make for an interesting game show. "Name that Classmate."<br /></div><div>If they all got older, does that mean that I am older too?<br /></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-18578275780052513842007-07-04T16:06:00.000-07:002007-07-04T16:36:18.904-07:00in memory ...Tommorrow we will celebrate my grandmother's life. Although my relationship with my grandmother was often complicated, as a child she filled me with wonder. Her love of the world around her influenced every aspect of who I am. These are the words I will share about my grandmother ...<br /><br /><em>Sometimes when you split open a rock you discover a magical world inside. A rainbow of colors reflecting off the crystals hidden deep within the earthy crust. My grandmother knew this secret about rocks and my grandmother knew this secret about people. Behind every unassuming crust my grandmother believed something wonderful existed and she spent her life splitting the outer shell to find the crystals inside.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>It is hard for most of us to recognize the beauty in front of us. Not so for my grandmother. Throughout my childhood each visit was market by a walk in the woods. There she taught me to see the trees through the forest. I learned how to spot a shooting star among a pile of pine needles and when the wild dogwood would show his fleeting blossoms. It was there alongside the river where my grandmother was the most beautiful. Her spirit glowed and she reflected the wonderment of everything she saw.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>On visits when it was either too cold or too wet to go to the woods my grandmother and I would sit at the piano. She would teach me how to roll my knuckles over the black keys to play a simple song and eventually I would bring my lesson books to play for her. Always our time would end with the song Puff the Magic Dragon. I loved the song but hated it when Jackie Horner grew up.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Eventually I too grew up. And, although our time together changed the experiences shared and lessons learned stayed with me.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>On Saturday my husband and I headed out to the woods with our dog. It was nearly noon by the time we reached the trail head and although the clouds had parted from the evening's storm, the air was still heavy with the remnants of the summer rain. Test and Dave ran ahead and soon I found myself alone on the path and headed down toward the river. Trillium covered the forest floor and patches of daisies reached toward the summer sun. I could hear Test running ahead, finding a shallow pool and plunging in in search of her stick. Among the trees and with my dog splashing in the distance my grandmother's rock split open. All the treasures hidden within my grandmother were there for me to see.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>I could hear the music as it flowed from her fingers and her voice, warm and sweet as she told me stories of the Indian princess locked forever on Mt. Shasta. I could taste her sugar cookies as they dissolved on my tongue, so thin and delicate you could see the Christmas lights shine through as you held them up to your mouth. I could feel her hand wrapped gently around mine as together we guided the paint from the end of the brush into a flower. I could see the blue of her eyes reflecting off of mine and then up into the sky above us. Her spirit glowed and the wonderment of everything she was reflected off of everything I saw.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Many many moons ago, as my grandmother would tell it, our ancestors walked the paths connecting the mountains that surround us. Their spirits now blow in the wind and guide us as we walk along our life's path. Many many moons from now my grandmothers spirit will continue to flow through these mountains. Joined with her ancestors she will seek to show us that treasures that lie just beneath the crust.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>My grandmother saw the beauty within each of us. Celebrate this beauty in yourself, seek it out in others, recognize it in the animals, hear it in the rustling of the trees and imagine it waiting to be discovered just beneath the earthy crust of the rocks you pass by.</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-33736516587869097242007-06-26T12:35:00.001-07:002008-12-10T22:41:56.174-08:00sunset ...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxy1Ynqa7PllfO2C5tWgFmc0S4nm3HcxP2UgmZEMtcxUOW-gPcWLiPTz8gqpo8G1bpKn9A9Q0_MKW6ZvvAgCXkhWQxNTOG6MdAAyOSyjMjQhbjaKUXtYWAoyMBHBPOmvmmlGje/s1600-h/sunset.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080460545661361186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxy1Ynqa7PllfO2C5tWgFmc0S4nm3HcxP2UgmZEMtcxUOW-gPcWLiPTz8gqpo8G1bpKn9A9Q0_MKW6ZvvAgCXkhWQxNTOG6MdAAyOSyjMjQhbjaKUXtYWAoyMBHBPOmvmmlGje/s200/sunset.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7OTtkaK6KDKifoVEW5vNETekRKlAnQ_DCkU-9JU4JDvwnVEf7UQfUdQ9f2ZrOYuJomGkgFLWkTF9FTn-OBjiOrKzgIPUChH59XWlGVng_9DFDy9fhb5HHA3I8Skske22GljYp/s1600-h/sunset.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-56669050789636013082007-06-26T09:04:00.000-07:002007-06-26T11:11:42.082-07:00my grandmother ...The last two months have been really difficult. Faced with the prospect of early retirement I found myself wallowing in self-doubt and agonizing over what I should do with my future. Every action I took was painful and I often felt victimized by my own life choices. What if I hadn't chosen this career. What if I had never moved to the city. What if I had ...<br /><br />Throughout this time I have continued to try to look at the opportunity, face the things that scare me, and realize that the future is undefined. But to be truthful, in the midst of change the life lessons I have collected thus far never seem to be enough to push me forward.<br /><br />Three weeks ago we were back home and went to visit my grandmother, who was celebrating her 92nd birthday. My grandmother was an extremely talented, beautiful and accomplished woman. Her paintings were detailed and full of life. She was an meticulous musician. Her butter cookies were so paper thin and delicate that you could see the light from the Christmas tree shine through them as you held them up to your mouth. She was an avid naturalist. Up through her late 80s she could still find and hike every trail in the N.Cal mountains and tell you exactly where and when the rarest of the wild flowers would make their fleeting appearance. She wore beautiful clothes and had striking blue eyes that contrasted dramatically against her dark hair. She had a wonderful grandmotherly voice with which she told fantastic stories of Indian princesses and the guardian mountain. And she was unhappy and full of self doubt.<br /><br />My grandmother, who had so much to be proud of and to celebrate, never rejoiced. There was always something that could have been done better by someone else. A lost opportunity that could have changed the course of her life. A love that was never accepted as true or unconditional.<br /><br />On Thursday my grandmother was moved into hospice. As the attendants came to help her into her new space she turned her head and said "you tricked me." I believe she was referring to the belief she was going to have to go back to the hospital. But I also wonder if it was a statement about life. "You tricked me." I thought I was going to get well if I had the surgery. I thought I was going to be able to hike in the mountains forever. I though I was going to be in love. I thought I was going to paint. I thought I was going to travel. I though I was going to .... I thought I was going to be happy.<br /><br />During our visit my grandmother shared that she wished she had listened to her grandmother when she was younger. "She knew so much about history and life, I should have paid attention and asked her to share her stories." As she said this I thought to myself - my grandmother knows so much about history and life. She has shared so many stories with me. She has shown me so much of what can be accomplished. It is from her that music flows from my fingers. It is from her that I can see colors and textures in the sky and translate these onto canvas. She taught me how to tell stories. She taught me how to appreciate the outdoors. But most importantly, she taught me why I need to celebrate and why I need to rejoice in myself and rejoice in my family and friends.<br /><br />There will always be someone who is more accomplished, smarter, prettier, brighter than I am. There are always going to be moments that I look back on and say - what if? But there is never going to be another opportunity for me to live this life. This one where I can be happy without regrets and qualifiers. This one where I can look upon my family and friends and say wow. They are great! Where I can look at myself and say wow. I am great!<br /><br />When I have children I will tell them about my grandmother the Indian princess. I will sing to them the songs she sang to me and point to the sleeping princess as we drive by Mount Shasta. We will hike in the woods and I will uncover the shooting stars that are nestled in the pine needles. I will hand my children paint brushes and show them how to paint flowers like my grandmother showed me. And in my memories and those of my children I will celebrate my grandmother's life. And I will say wow. She was great!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13493558.post-66522358111646733202007-06-25T16:35:00.000-07:002008-12-10T22:41:56.369-08:00a house made of straw ...When I was little my father used to always tell us the story of the three little pigs. First pig, straw house, kaput after the first huff. Second pig, stick house, huff puff, gone. Third pig, house of bricks, huff puff, huff puff, huff puff....nada. The wolf is still blowing for all I know. The moral of the story is that if you build your house of bricks it won't be blown down by a big ugly rabid dog.<br /><br /><br /><br />The obvious metaphor to life aside, is there real a reason why we don't build our homes out of straw? Sometimes in life you need to think outside of the box to truly see what opportunities exist. Here is an example from a friend of mine:<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><em>As I continue to explore the feasibility of building a straw-bale house , I want to plant a seed/paint a picture. Think of the barn-raising scene from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Now see yourself in the picture, only you're hoisting straw bales into position in between dances. Or, allowing for bad backs, administering water or prepping the BBQ for any other free labor I can wrangle. Think of it as an eco-friendly weight resistance workout.</em><br /></span><em><br /><br /></em><em><p><span style="color:#ffffff;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080155993825369090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xcDKg1tIyza1LCOR9tY3ArQLuMMdOpuwu3UPHuKSbcN4HMXN7WdrK8WwmSa2GCkLRdrEio7BmFYLFY78emDkTF_Cq6SVtRhyphenhyphenr10a6G4feQHvxd9RB4ON5tdp67qnXp_nH_Kg/s400/truth_window.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span></em></p><span style="color:#cccccc;">There is a huge part of me that wants this plan to come to fruition. I'd love to be able to dance around the bails as each block is stacked. I think the plans look great and there is something truly liberating about the idea of moving to a town where this idea would be feasible. But at the end of the day, I think I might not be able to be that little pig. I guess I would always wonder about the big bad wolf and when I could expect my house to come down.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0