The sense and sound of being underwater

bug view, originally uploaded by sammarin.

When I woke up this morning, the house was totally silent. It seemed like you could actually hear the blank space. And then there were a few rusty goose honks outside, and I realized where I was...

As I walked downstairs, I saw the lonely 4:00 timer for timeouts and walked past a pile of stuffed moose on the sofa and thought it was a pile of my nephew Paul. Isabella's bed is all rumpled and empty. The family left this morning for a wedding in Vancouver, and it feels eerie to be here on my own today.

The underwater feeling might have something to do with my fierce head cold. I slept in and still felt tired. Then I took a bath and ate some all bran, which felt very adult. I plan to dedicate today to Water for Elephants, but I might be sucked from my book, back down into a sick nap. I guess I shouldn't resist - it is quiet enough, after all...

here & then gone

summer evening, originally uploaded by sammarin.

I was back in Sacramento for a few days... a few short days. And now I am headed out for Portland for a week. I'll visit Dan and family and then see Dad the following weekend. We talked about camping, but now it seems like we might just take a spin somewhere in the PacNW and stay in motels.

It feels like I've unpacked and am just repacking again. Well that's probably because... it's true!

I look forward to a little bit of nothingness when I get back home next week.

Fresh Starts

It isn't fall yet, by any measure, but it is AUGUST now. And you know what that means...

• Thinking about what classes to register for in the fall


• Back to school shopping (although I've spent SO much money this summer that I'm going to go easy on this one)


• New academic-year planners (!!!)

I just got myself a new planner and I totally dig these moments. There's nothing like the feeling of a clean calendar into which you can pencil down upcoming weekend trips, concerts, birthdays (in the vain hope that THIS year I will get cards sent out on time), etc etc...

Firsts

I caught the list bug from my new friend Beth, who is always making lists of one type or another. (So Beth, have you made that last and most important list yet??)

At the risk of being perceived as a) melodramatic slash cheesy, b) nationalist, or c) unappreciative of the spontaneity and variety involved in travel to a different country (because I actually LOVED the differences)...

I am going to make a list of Firsts I Have Particularly Relished Upon My Arrival Home To North America.

And here it is:

• First text message (sent to Brett as soon as the plane landed)


• First longish conversation with my mom


• First fast food (at Checkers in the airport in Atlanta, included spicy fries and a vanilla shake)


• First dependable shower in which I could open my mouth to the water shooting forcefully from the spout (and during which I thought that the fact that we bathe in potable water is kinda unbelievable after all)


• First morning waking up in my bed and hearing morning swear words from the alley


• First burrito (!!!!!) at one of my neighborhood cafes (see above photo) ... Who would have thought that one of my biggest USA-related desires in Peru would be Mexican food?


• First successful logon with the laptop I missed so dearly at my favorite neighborhood bar where I am drinking a club soda with lime on the patio

There are more things I have relished, but I right now I am busy.

Focusing my attention on this lovely summertime weather.

Aaaaah.

Flat tires, empty pockets

I left for the Lima airport this morning at 3:45am in a taxi that quite unfortunately got a flat tire on the way. Fortunately the driver was a fast tire changer and I still made it on time - but once I got to the airport I was out of cash and had to pay the exit tax AND extra money because I had been careless and said I was staying for 30 days (on my little form at the beginning of the trip), when I ended up staying 37. When the uniformed man told me I wouldn't be able to leave without paying, I spilled ALL of my extra sol coins out on the table and said (trying not to cry): this is all I have... Please can I go home now! OK, so it is not all I have, obviously, but I did NOT want to go back to the cash machine AGAIN. He showed mercy and told me what I had was enough.

I am in Atlanta now and ... I can't. Wait. To go. Home!!!

More photos to come on flickr of the end of our trip: Pisco, Islas Ballenas, and the final dinner with our group... once I catch my breath.