I Like The Way You Burke It

Yesterday Wells left (again) for the states to see to the potential buying of his company, Synthis. To his credit, he really has no choice. He is damned if he doesn’t go, and he is damned (by me) if he does go. Wells is truly stuck between a rock and a hard place. I wonder if I am the rock or the hard place? I had a whole week of tennis scheduled and other outdoor activities planned as well but it has not stopped raining since he left. Life imitating art I guess because I feel rainy when he is gone. I have been ferociously reading instead. Here is a list of books that I have read since we have been in Spain.

The Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett

The Road, by Cormac McCarthy

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne

Atonement, by Ian McEwan

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak  ***almost finished…will be done by the time this posts***

What are some of your all time favorite books? Please send me your recommendations in the “Comments” section of this post. (”Comments” is located at the bottom right of the post in green text.) I can’t wait to see your list!

The dogs are even depressed at Wells’ absence and the rain. Pitiful!

I joined an art class! This is my professor, Blanca. I have also included a photo of the view from my classroom. There is no lack of inspiration here. I am taking an oil painting class and I have no experience so this should be pretty ugly but soooo fun! We meet every Monday night from 5 – 7. The classrooms are surprisingly close to our house – three minute walk.

Today was a terrific day. First thing this morning (let me stop here and remind everyone that ‘first thing’ in Spain is 9:30 a.m.) we took the dogs through Capistrano Village and up the mountain. There are three natural parks that converge on the mountain range. It is uphill to get through Capistrano and about a 20 minute walk from our house. This walk alone is considered exercise. It was sunny and warm and we hiked very far up and we turned around to see the town and water, which were really breathtaking. See the pictures below. When you are that high on the mountain the rocks are grey and striated, and they look just like elephant skin. The mountain is covered with wild lavender. I felt all Annie Oakley when I picked a bunch of it to hang in our house so it doesn’t smell like socks anymore. Anyway, I thought our hike was lovely and started to head back down the mountain. Oh no. Wells demanded that we go ALL THE WAY to the top of the ridge. I swear, he would hike uphill both ways if he could for the sheer joy of it. I rationalized the uphill part with, “If i go a little higher then i will burn off that extra glass of wine that might fall into my mouth by accident tonight.” There wouldn’t be party if Kate didn’t fall down so I included a picture of my hip from my tumble down the mountain. Sorry so fleshy. I should be tanner in the next few weeks.

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