Happy Toes

Thanks Krista - good choice.
M

Cheryl's Lament

My sister in-law
is sad about winter and hoping for an early Spring.
Cheryl - in your honor:


First a howling blizzard woke us,
Then the rain came down to soak us,
And now before the eye can focus -
Crocus.

~Lilja Rogers


http://www.quotegarden.com/spring.html

B Day

Ten Thousand Waves (a.k.a. "10,000 Steps")
Japanese-style spa and baths in Santa Fe.









Plaza Cafe in the center of town for lunch.



Emile's Basque Chicken


And Tina and Krista's creation...







I'm calling it:
"Pandora's Surprise"

Immersion

Immersion language courses excite me.
I remember back to high school and college;
"traditional" Spanish and French classes,
and my sorry attempts to learn another language.

This week, my current instructor cut through the crap
of what could be a boring first class.

Reminding us:
Many visitors attempt to memorize 400 "new" nouns in the language-of-choice;
to "speak fluently" in a foreign country,
but are forced to use (a whole lot of) sign language to communicate.

But properly armed with correct verbs, (maybe 50-100),
correct use of verbs,
and not only one verb per sentence - but many;
strung into beautiful, specific, jewel-like necklaces of structure and form
joined with only 50-100 nouns...
Opens the clearest path to be understood, to understand others,
and work with the correct tools and material,
toward the proper respect of people and languages in the countries we visit.

I am on a journey in Santa Fe
- for more beautiful Spanish.
My best friend begins her journey this weekend in the Midwest
- for the passion of Italian.

Dive in and do your best.
The shiniest rocks are in the deepest pools;
and are worth the most work.