...there and back again...

I've been home for about 5 days now, and I miss pan con tomate. Hmm, that was a bad opening line. It could have been, "and I miss friends terribly, think about them everyday and stalk them using facebook so that I can virtually be a little closer..."(true.) or "and it sure is nice to be back, see my family, look out any window and see mountains/beautiful sky." (true.) or even, "and while I'm excited to learn useful things from my papí, get to watch my niece and nephew's softball/T-ball games, etc. three months seems daunting in this little pueblo without any people my age/ulitmate/climbing...better get out into the mountains and go backpacking." (true.) or EVEN, "and have already seen traces of the legendary 3-foot long scorpian (about 1 meter, for those of you who don't understand "American measurements") ;)~ said to inhabit the wild lands of the West, occaisionally stinging and then eating cattle from local ranches..." (false.)

But, I've just had my café con leche and toast for breakfast, really wanted to eat tomato on it, and had none. (What? I was fully expecting huge ripe garden-fresh tomatoes all summer!?) I suppose I'll survive. I HAVE been getting my fill of New Mexico green chili (and red), which makes me incredibly happy. There's nothing like it, really. I might have to end up settling in New Mexico just for the green chili. Eh, lets not say the words "settle down" yet...

This summer I've decided to teach my neice and nephew as much Spanish as I can...they're just at the right age to absorb all that stuff without much effort. We'll see what happens. Either way, they're absolutely adorable. I'm jealous of their beautiful brown skin, hazel eyes and loooong eyelashes (inherited from my dear brother). *sigh*

Pictured above, Marlea and me, posing with our gafas. At left, happy Darrion, playing with Kelcie's dog, Echo.

Yesterday Dad and I mixed and poured 5 loads of cement, to add on to the porch on the the west side of the house. Looks pretty nice. I've also already been to the local "library" twice and am trying to do a pre-application for a masters program in Granada for next year. We'll see what happens! I've also been getting up at about 7am and going to bed at around 10 or 10:30 pm. (...Not an uncommon supper time for me in Spain...) weird. I think I'm going to go sit on the porch and read for a bit...