Do you want a cheese pizza?  This is a typical New York craving, although native New Yorkers know that you can't find that amazing, greasy, cheesy Queens pizza everywhere. 

Here is the Spanish equivalent.  La pizza margarita - which very often comes with an egg on top!

 Carmen - 1994-2007

Carmen, it's been a week now since we've said goodbye, but the emotions are fresh now as I remember how precious you were.  I sincerely hope that you no longer hurt, and that you are eating lots of chicken, fish, steak, bones and leftover pizza on the doggie heaven floor. 

Carmen was just 8 weeks ago when she came to me.  Her first name was Dolly and she was the runt - the 9th puppy of a first litter.  Her human breeders, who were leaving for Ireland days later,  tried to convince me to choose one of the larger, wilder, male JRTs that remained.  "It's never a good idea to pick the runt you know," they advised.  "She could have major health problems."  But I didn't.  I chose Dolly, aka Carmen, and for many, many years - five to be exact :) - she was perfect.

Her fancy jack russell terrier pedigree papers showed her mama to be a long-legged JRT and her papa to be a short-legged JRT.  They were racers and in her day, Carmen was very fast. Mitch was the only one to point out that her grandpa JRT and her great-grandpa JRT were in fact the same, Nasty-Ned.  In hind-sight - probably not the best choice, but I'm not in the dog-breeding business. 

Mitch and I began to date just days after Carmen came home with me.  I suppose I will only find out now who the true love really is.  I, for one, was madly in love with my first baby Carmen.  I brought her everywhere and she obliged.  I was getting an MBA at Darden, which had its laid back atmosphere in those days. She slept in my bag during classes, or entertained herself in the library as I worked.  She caught her first squirrel between the library and the old law school.   Much to my mother's absolute horror (I'm also surprised at myself now looking back) I had Carmen walk on the stage to receive my MBA diploma with me.  Given Carmen's history that year at Darden, I don't really know how shocking it was to administration. 

It took a year for Carmen to bark and become territorial, but it happened when I moved to Baltimore.  Given that Carmen was such a small dog, it always seemed amusing to me.  She made fast friends with a dog named Ashes, who according to her owner Mini, had no other friends because she was so mean.  This became a constant in Carmen's life.  Owners would say to me in shock, "gosh, your dog is the only one my dog doesn't bite.  How odd."   And in keeping with the business school trend, Carmen would accompany me on late nights or weekends to the office. 

It's been actually quite healing for me to reminisce about Carmen's early years.  She really filled my life with such joy.  She needed to be walked about 3 miles a day in her younger years so I was much skinnier then too!

Carmen lost sight in one eye due to glaucoma at age five and suffered from high pressure in both eyes after that.  It was painful, but she adjusted, and the $80 a month Xalatan medication was a bit painful for us.  She was almost ten when she lost total sight in her other eye, and the doggie ophthalmologist recommended that we remove her lenses.  Shocking as the concept was, she did seem to be much relieved of pain after that, and gained some of her confidence back.  She would still occasionally chase squirrels and cats although she really never stood a chance. 

Moving to Spain with Carmen was an ordeal.  It was expensive and there was one particular vet at Friendship animal hospital didn't want to certify her papers because he couldn't assure us that she was in good health - I mean she was TWELVE!  We needed to escalate those papers to a head vet at the USDA - no joke. 

Carmen was a joy on the flight -as she has always been since she traveled with us in the cabin from a very young age.  Only when the flight attendants stated beef or chicken, did the aggressive JRT awake from the bag beneath the seat.  FEED ME NOW she barked. 

We noticed Carmen's total deafness on arrival in Spain.  There were fireworks almost every night back then and she didn't stir.  Even during Las Fallas, which really sounds like incoming artillery confirmed by Mitch, she was silent and calm.  It was only during meal times when she became increasingly aggressive.  Had she been a bigger dog, we really think she would have learned to tie us up and steal all of the food. 

Despite her obsession with food, and our weakness for giving it to her, Carmen died a mere seven pounds.  She had lost almost half of her body weight in a year due to massive liver failure.  She became increasingly incontinent and when she began to show pain, we knew we had to make the difficult decision. 

In Spain, we were blessed with a very kind and competent vet (Richard) on la Avenida del Puerto.  I know that Richard, the owner and the vet, wanted to keep Carmen alive as much as we did.  He didn't think she would survive the flight home, but was all for us trying.  However, he assured us that most dogs with livers like that would not still be alive.

I'm sure that all of us dog owners want our dogs to go peacefully in their sleep when it is their time.  That was not our luxury.  I hope Mitch won't be embarrassed that I share that we both bawled our eyes out as she went.   We fed her tons of biscuits which she still ate and I tore myself up inside by the fact that we were putting her to sleep when she still had one source of pleasure left in her life. 

Good bye my dear Carmen.  There is a big part of you within us all, and there are so many that loved you.  Your name was Benjamin's first word (CA) and despite his ability to say dog, doggie, perro and perrito, he still prefers to call dogs CAs

Carmen, we will miss you always.

I was going through my pictures last night, found this one from April and smiled.  I remembered why I took the picture.  When I saw these three drinking their wine, right out of the bottle, I knew in an instant where they were in their lives. Three American college students during their junior semester/year abroad.  One studying in Valencia (the girl) and the other two visiting from London.  (Those facts were indeed validated!)

My historical imagination however also ventured to guess that one of the guys has a thing for the girl.  But he won't work up the nerve to say anything about it until a lot of time....or alcohol....or both happens.  He convinved his friend to come along for this visit.  Will the girl wait for him to decide, or will she let some foreign guy who has a lot more dating confidence sweep her off her feet?  We can't really say now can we?  Perhaps one of my writer friends can expand on that.

Beach glass, glorious beach glass.  Or sea glass as it seems to be called these days.  I am obsessed with it. 

I'm sure it all started when we had guests.  One afternoon in March, mid-Fallas, Aunt Betsy, my Mom, Joseph and Melissa and I took a walk in Malvarrosa.  I don't actually recall picking up beach glass that afternoon - simply pottery shards - but my downward gaze must have begun then. 

By the time we walked Peter and Josh on the beach during a rainy afternoon in April, I was beginning to search in earnest.  And when Juliet and Max headed down to Almeria with us, I became obsessed.  I joke that all of her pictures of me will be with my head pointed downwards.  Mitch's sister and boyfriend (his sister's boyfriend that is :)) enjoyed the beach combing with me as did my friend Jean.  Let's see what this weekend's guests think!

Here are my treasures.  Some of the really large dark green pieces that look like stones are from a private beach near a house we rented.  They are almost too big for jewelry if you can imagine that! 

There is something so reassuring for me to find such beautiful creations in nature.  Many of the pieces I find are just as beautiful and precious to me as the semi-precious stones I use to make jewelry.  Of course, only the nicely shaped pieces, one in fifty perhaps, can be used for jewelry.  Even then, I need to wrap the pieces, when often, I would rather string it.  (I sense a dremel hand drill with a stand in my future. :))  I also can't wait to enlist my mother's help with the saudering and foiling techniques that she learned in stained glass.  

A year abroad.  6 bags allowed back on the plane.  One small, blind dog.  Ahem.  The sewing machine I lugged over here.  (No regrets - lots of use - even learned to quilt!) Oh yes.  And the beach glass.  It's not too much yet, but I still have a bit of time to find some more.  

And here are a few of my first pendant creations. 

When Jim and Jean came to visit, we were able to see, thanks to them, the final race of the America's Cup semi-finals.  It happened to be our 8th wedding anniversary.  I smiled when I saw the following picture because we have a few with the same pose from our wedding day.  Sure, a few more wrinkles here and there, but the look of love is just the same. 

Yes, we're still here in Valencia.  We have had a whirlwind of visitors - which we have loved.  Josh and Peter came to visit in early April.  Juliet and Max arrived on April 17th a few days after they left.   Mark joined his family in late April and Mitch's sister Amy and boyfriend Marty joined as well.  (Full house for those few days!)  After Amy and Marty left we were all alone for a week - and Jean and Jim arrived on Tuesday.

BOY do I have material to write about :)  Trips I mean, not Mitch's joke to our guests that I am secretly writing a book about visitor behavior. 

With Juliet, we visited the coast of Almeria and have lots of beautiful pictures to share.

Amy and Marty took us to Madrid where Marty delighted Madrilenos with his blues.  (Check out www.martychristian.com)

Jean and Jim took us to the America's cup yesterday where we boarded the spectator boats to watch the races.  Spain lost to New Zealand :( but we had a great time out on the boat.  Rough seas - not for the non-sea saavy - but lots of fun.  It was also our anniversary so we enjoyed doing something memorable to mark the event.

More updates soon on our past trips.  Off to sightsee with Jean and Jim.

It seems like guests and blogging don't go together in this apartment in Valencia so I have a bit of a back log on things to write about.

When friends Juliet and Max were here, we spent a few hours at Port America's Cup with the children.  Mitch and I were AMAZED at how quickly the entire port came together as a destination. 

We truly did not recognize the place compared with four months prior.   Fences, security and distinct entrances where before there was none.   A lot of swanky bars and restaurants, Miami south beach style, where the beautiful people can go out to have a 10 euro drink.  (We almost splurged because it was clear that Max and Ben liked to dance to that techno music, but because they were using the matress lounges as crash pads instead of the seats intended for the "in" crowd - we decided to pass)

There are free boat shuttles linking the different ports which is great free entertainment for those with small children. 

There are also remote controlled sailboats for the children, a fantastic playground and jumping park and even a balloon ride.   We can't wait to go again.  Our friends Jean and Jim will be here soon - our only visitors from the world of sailing to take advantage of our ideally located apartment in Valencia :)  Perhaps we'll learn a thing or two!

Blogging again after several weeks.  Josh and Peter came to visit; a day after they left - Juliet and Max (Ben's friend) arrived, Mark arrived on Saturday, Amy and Marty arrive in a few hours and Juliet, Max and Mark leave tomorrow.  If you haven't already made your reservation here at Life in Valencia, I think you may be out of luck until our next sabattical, whenever that will be :)

Peter and Josh were here for just a weekend and unfortunately it rained almost the entire time.  Nevertheless we enjoyed the company and the sights like the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de Artes y Ciencias) and all of the sand art on the beaches of Malvarosa and Las Arenas. 

This is not a typical Ben expression, none the less, it made me laugh.

The sun finally returned to Valencia today after having been gone for a while.  Valencia has had its rainiest April in 50 years.  Our friends Josh and Peter came to visit us for a weekend.  They were great sports about the weather, but we were bummed that they had to experience Valencia in the rain.  Juliet and Max arrive tomorrow for a few weeks.  Hopefully they will enjoy the great weather that we have been absolutely spoiled with. 

Although Ben and I have enjoyed the beach for at least an hour or so every day for the past four days - today was the first time we enjoyed it without rain.  It was packed.  We also ran into one of his classmates there.  Also 'expats' (albeit from Hungary), they told me that come May and June, the beach and promenade are packed in the evenings as Valencians come out with their families for picnic dinners.  What a nice thought.  I can't wait to see it.

Life has been busy with this and that so I thought I would write a quick generally summary of what we've been up to.

Sunday evening the Semana Santa Marinera started in the nearby neighborhood of Cabanyal.  These are the holy week celebrations and processions that are common in Spain and world famous in Sevilla.  What is unusual is that Valencia's Cabanyal processions are unique and barely mentioned.  We went Sunday night and I will go a bit this weekend since I can hear them from the window. 

Monday evening was Passover.  We were so lucky to find a wonderful group of people celebrating Passover here in Valencia.  We attended a seder with almost 40 people, 6 of which were children which was great for Ben.  Ben had a fantastic time and found the afikommen and got a prize.  He was (and is) so proud.  He also behaved like a champ.  One of our lucky nights since we never know what he will be like on a late night.  It helped that it was a relatively fast seder and we were actually home by midnight.  And although it can be wonderful to host a seder at home, it's quite a pleasure to attend one!The haroset was interesting as well.  The nuts and apples were ground completely and the haroset was served in balls with a lot of Cinnamon.

Joe and Melissa left early Tuesday morning.  It was wonderful to have them.  I'll be honest.  Now that we have family visiting, we're not so homesick anymore.  We started to get kind of sad about going home in late Summer. 

Ben had his first swimming lesson yesterday.  What a champ!  We couldn't go in with him but could watch through a window.   He got right into the pool, wore his bathing cap, and actually cooperated with the teacher.  He gave us the thumbs up several times.

Ben's sleep schedule has been a bit on and off since Las Fallas.  I have never been a big stickler for schedules but their benefits are clear to me now - especially with Ben.  We are now on Spring break and this morning was a rough one for Ben.  Up at 7:00 (too early for the country where Sesame Street is on from 9-10PM!)  Ben and I were going to walk down to the beach and take pictures of the processions but we had to put our screaming delight down for a nap at 10:30 am.  Perhaps a bit later while Mitch wraps up his work week. 

The weather has turned a bit chilly which is unexpected after this warm winter. And the America's Cup has officially begun.  And speaking of sailing, check out this crazy article.  You will see that there are more of us DC crazies who head over to Iberia for a break!

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/09/0919_020919_corkboat.html