Friday, August 31, 2007
Cumpleanos Feliz!
Happy Birthday to jdt! You are a wonderful sister, friend, wife, mother, daughter, aunt, niece, cousin, woman!!!!! We are glad you were born, and we thank you for the beauty you put into this world. For example:
A Poem
EddyYour reverse current creates a receptive space,
Devoid of downstream-flowing water, but bursting with possibility.
You taunt our notions of flow along a path of beauty that begins where it ends where it begins…
Water rushes in, offering a safe haven where we rest, drenched with delight.
mdw, 8/31/07
Espana, REMIX
What a difference a year makes. mtw and I returned from Spain (our belated honeymoon) just over one year ago. Since the blog wasn't up and running at that time, I thought I would post a few highlights from our amazing trip! Our travels began in Madrid...
followed by a magical time in Barcelona (a hands-down favorite). Here is a shot from Park Guell, Gaudi's famous and spectacular creation, 
and one from the Miro museum...
Then we headed south to Costa del Sol where we stayed at a beautiful timeshare (thanks Grandpa Meaders and dad for facilitating that!), and soaked up the sun on the southern coast.
We took a day trip to Tangiers, Morocco and embraced the sights, sounds, smells, and scenery of North Africa (check out mtw rockin' the kasbah wall).
It was so great to be exposed to so many people, ideas, and experiences that differ from our day-to-day routines. Some were liberating (late meals and siesta); some inspiring (Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia); some reassuring (Madrid's seamless metro system); some over-stimulating (Barcelona's Rumbla); some delicious (el Buey - an off the beaten path restaurant in Madrid that any visitor MUST visit); some challenging (the bullfight in Madrid and the ferry ride back from Tangiers), but all were well worth it! I am grateful for that time together with mtw and look forward to the many travels we will take in the future (especially those in the near future)! Hasta luego!
followed by a magical time in Barcelona (a hands-down favorite). Here is a shot from Park Guell, Gaudi's famous and spectacular creation, 
and one from the Miro museum...
Then we headed south to Costa del Sol where we stayed at a beautiful timeshare (thanks Grandpa Meaders and dad for facilitating that!), and soaked up the sun on the southern coast.
We took a day trip to Tangiers, Morocco and embraced the sights, sounds, smells, and scenery of North Africa (check out mtw rockin' the kasbah wall).
It was so great to be exposed to so many people, ideas, and experiences that differ from our day-to-day routines. Some were liberating (late meals and siesta); some inspiring (Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia); some reassuring (Madrid's seamless metro system); some over-stimulating (Barcelona's Rumbla); some delicious (el Buey - an off the beaten path restaurant in Madrid that any visitor MUST visit); some challenging (the bullfight in Madrid and the ferry ride back from Tangiers), but all were well worth it! I am grateful for that time together with mtw and look forward to the many travels we will take in the future (especially those in the near future)! Hasta luego!
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Back to School
So, I have a new alma mater to add to my growing list. I just finished a seven week intensive Spanish 102 course at the Community College of Philadelphia with flying colors. In fact, my "outstanding record" from both 101 (which I took at CCP in the summer of 2004) and 102 warranted me a letter from the Dean of Students, inviting me to enter their honors program. I'm thinking about it...
It was a great class, taught by a fantastic teacher - mi profesor Marco! The other students resented me a little because I really wanted to be there (as opposed to needing the credit). Now I will just have to figure out how to keep up my language skills and maintain my learning trajectory while teaching full time, choreographing three new works, caring for the pups, and having a long distance marriage. No sweat:)
It was a great class, taught by a fantastic teacher - mi profesor Marco! The other students resented me a little because I really wanted to be there (as opposed to needing the credit). Now I will just have to figure out how to keep up my language skills and maintain my learning trajectory while teaching full time, choreographing three new works, caring for the pups, and having a long distance marriage. No sweat:)
Monday, August 13, 2007
El Mercado
We've had a busy and wonderfully intense couple of weeks. Our time in Central America was completely magical - we'll share more details in the future. I had a chance to practice my Spanish, and I got myself into trouble a few times because of overconfidence and faking a pretty good accent. All in all, I was proud of my language skills. The puppies were happy to see us upon our return, and we were truly happy to see them! mtw is making plans for the move to Ohio - looking for a place to rent, and figuring out how we will successfully manage two households. We have adopted the Durham family motto - "if there's a harder way to do it, we'll find it!" Preliminary preparations begin this week for Princeton (ah - the calm before the storm)! I love academia, but the pace of Fall semester is always a little daunting.
Back in Philly, we joined our neighbors, Rio and Toby, for a lovely brunch at Cafe Libro (a delicious Cuban restaurant near Old City). They actually took us out to thank us for feeding their fish while they were in China for five weeks - they had some great stories to share. Their trip actually overlapped with mdw's mom's visit to Beijing. After eating, we visited the Reading Terminal Market and enjoyed shopping for fresh vegetables amidst the crowds. I recommend a visit to the market next time you're in town.
Back in Philly, we joined our neighbors, Rio and Toby, for a lovely brunch at Cafe Libro (a delicious Cuban restaurant near Old City). They actually took us out to thank us for feeding their fish while they were in China for five weeks - they had some great stories to share. Their trip actually overlapped with mdw's mom's visit to Beijing. After eating, we visited the Reading Terminal Market and enjoyed shopping for fresh vegetables amidst the crowds. I recommend a visit to the market next time you're in town.
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