I miss my husband

I was so excited today! I went to bed last night thinking My husband is coming home! I woke up this morning and checked the computer flight tracker and saw that his plane was over Portugal heading west! I rushed home from work curled my hair and applied fresh make-up, cooked a frozen pizza for the boys and as I was heading out the door to Kansas City, I got the call. Delta totally overbooked the flight. Seven people had to stay behind in Atlanta. Hopefully he will be home in twenty four hours. In the meantime my love, enjoy the Atlanta airport and all that it has to offer ! (by the time you come home , the house wont be clean anymore nor will I look as nice as I looked today)

My Aunt Ludi

If weather were to affect getting out of the house in Asturias, people would sure miss out on a lot! This is my auntie Ludi's home. We are having a typical family meal/party, and the family has grown so much that we spill outdoors as well. My uncles can rig up plastic tarps in a flash when it looks like rain, the rest of us.... well we just keep eating and eating and....

I look forward to the day I can walk up this mountain road to visit my auntie and not be a sweating pig on the verge of a massive heart attack!

Asturian Casa/ Asturian Horreo

On one of my many hikes through Asturias over the years I came across this little gem of a home. How handy to have your barn sitting right on top of your house. I cant say I have seen this before or since!

I remember the day I saw this I wanted so badly to meet the family that lived there. Maybe this year I will summon the courage to knock and introduce myself.....

Something tells me that a large /overweight sweaty Americana grinning like an idiot will not impress this family! I will let you know.

My Favorite Transportation

Have you ever wondered what the most important car on a high speed train is? I know you know that its the bar car !! This is the car that you can smoke (I don't care) you can stretch your legs (yeah that's nice) You can eat a hot and crusty ham and cheese sandwich or nibble on olives stuffed with lemon or anchovy's (yes that's good ) or you can have a drink and watch the castles go by.... YES now that's what I'm talking about!! Trains are so awesome in Europe, I would recommend to anyone as a way of travel!

Miguel the Tour Guide

Today my husband Miguel arrived in Madrid Spain with a tour group of 50 people. (way back when arrangements were being made I declined to go because I did not want the responsibility of being a chaperon.) I do regret that decision right now. Miguel's group will be touring Madrid, El Escorial and Segovia for a few days before taking a high speed train across Spain to Barcelona. I would love to see the Salvador Dali Museum as well as La Sagrada Familia.

Yes here I sit with my kids... it is about 30 degrees outside and raining non-stop. We are feasting on t.v dinners and kool aid. I can smell the faint aroma of dog shit as Raphael just pooped somewhere in the house.......

Seven Things About Me

Way back on January 23rd I was tagged for a questionnaire by my friend Candid Karina. I don't use the title friend lightly. Although we have never met I consider her a person that I have a connection with. I find myself wishing frequently that I lived across the hall from her. CK wants to know seven things about me........ this is difficult , here goes nothing.....

1. Number one is is no secret. I f-ing hate George W Bush. He is the most incompetent President EVER. He is a f-ing moron.



2. I so don't understand the Republican Party. They totally freak me out.



3. Chardonnay is my favorite white wine and Zinfandel is my favorite red wine.



4. My best friend from childhood died of a drug overdose and I have never stopped thinking about her , and how much I miss her.



5. I take a high dose of Zoloft and it makes me a better person .



6. I worked in a beef slaughter house for 10 years. I regret that I witnessed so much animal cruelty and did nothing for fear of loosing my job. What a lame excuse.
7. I would love to make amends for that.

Veguin de Alla

This is my favorite view from the house. I love love love this mountain, too bad I don't know the name of it! You cant see from this photo but there is a rock wall up the side. Can you imagine the work that it took to construct? Occasionally some strong climber will plant a flag at the top. I know my father in law has climbed it many times. Veguin de Alla is the village at the base of the mountain. It translates "The Veguin Over There" Both Veguins are separated by the Nalon River. The difference being My Veguin has all the bars!

My Bedroom View

This is the view from my bedroom if I stick my head out the window and look left. I love laying in bed late at night( like 2 a.m) and listening to the old women chatter as they pass by on their nightly paseo. By the way..... a large scary family of Gypsy's live in an apartment across the street and all the way down. They play very loud gypsy music and seem to enjoy constant fighting amongst themselves!

Bedroom view of Vegiun

It seems that a lot of people post photos of the view from their homes. This is the view from my bedroom in Spain, if I stick my head out my window and look right I see this. You cant see them in this photo but there are three cider bars within a stone's throw.

Ralphie's First Haircut

Raphael received his first haircut on Saturday. It must have been very traumatic for him as he fought the stylist for five hours. I wonder who was the most tired after it was all over, the stylist or the puppy? I felt really sorry for the girl who was brave enough or unlucky enough to tackle my hard headed Westie. I gave her a nice tip to make up for his lack of manners! He looks really cute by the way. (my boys think he looks like a lawn mower ran over him while he was sleeping.)

Garcon, il y a une mouche dans ma soupe!

Yeee-Haaaaw! Today my Husband purchased two tickets to (drum roll.........) Paris France! We had planned to visit Germany but things change and I can live with this. [insert smiley face] Our plan is to fly to Paris and spend some time and take a train through the French and Spanish Basque Country and head on home to Asturias. I know nothing about France, I am an ignorant American. My husband speaks French and I speak a retarded dialect of Spanglish. I don't have enough years to attempt to learn French so I will concentrate my efforts on learning........duh French Food/ French Wine If any readers have any " must try "French cuisine please do let me know! I do believe that I will try my best to eat and drink one of everything that France has to offer me!

¡Organízate y Lucha!

I like this graffiti. It translates " Organize yourself and fight! " ok ..... why cant we organize and fight for affordable health care? I just don't get it..... Did you know that Spaniards do not pay a dime to go to the doctor? Doctors in Spain make house calls (for free) they don't want sick people in their waiting rooms making everybody else sicker! If a Spaniards needs a new organ (liver, heart, double lung etc...) they don't have to pay the first 100,000 in cash up front. They just get one. Yes you guessed it, for free. A prescription that cost me 240.00 dollars a month in the United States cost me 2.00 euros in Spain. Oh yeah I should be truthful here and tell you that the 2.00 euros I had to pay was full price. Widows and retired people get their medicines free!

Asturian Comida

I cant remember the street name of this part of Oviedo, and my husband isn't here to ask. Its a block or two from the Cathedral..... Anyway there are two very good restaurant's in this square. Its nice to enjoy a bottle of sidra, people watch and listen to some wonderful Asturian bagpipes. Here there is a restaurant that serves Patatas rellenas (filled potatoes) , I live for the one time a year that I get to eat this dish! Patatas rellenas are a lot of work to prepare. Its a whole potato cored and then filled with a mixture of meat, pimento, onion, white wine and spices. Lightly fried and then slowly stewed until soft and flavorful. OMG its so good! As a matter of fact that just might be the first thing I eat when I step off the train this summer!

The Life Solitude

My cousin Lobo is so cool. He is one of those rare guys that everybody likes! Lobo knows every hidden mountain path, every creepy cave, every lonely beach and most importantly every wonderful wacky bar. I love going places that few people get to visit. The top of this mountain was just that place. I remember that the sun was shinning strong at the base of the mountain and when we finally got to the top it was raining and so cc cold! In the distance I saw a mountain man milking a cow and I thought what a life of solitude, I would at least need a small village to socialize with.