So, we're back home and so happy to be reunited with H,F and of course the dog faced boy. I am struggling getting back into the swing of things, mentally and physically but today is better than yesterday.  Yesterday sssuuuuuuccckkkked.

I just found this website called 29gifts.org, and was immediately inspired. It challenges you to give something away every day for 29 days. It doesn't even have to be anything big. I thought "What a beautiful idea!" and then thought "I should do that sometime" thinking of course, that I couldn't do it now because I have so much going on... blah blah blah.

I will ALWAYS have so much going on. That's the point. To get outside of yourself and focus on someone else.

Today is Day 1. I've already decided that I want to put money in the container at Finn's school for his teacher who was in a horrible car accident.

This will be fun!

I love Europe for too many reasons to list. It is my thought that every American should have to spend at least 2 weeks in Europe in their lifetime. I think that would help a lot of the stupid ones. I also think that everyone should have to wait tables and bartend for at least 2 weeks in their lifetime. Same reason. Help the stupid ones.

I can't even describe fully what an amazing time we are having. This. Is. Living. And it's absolutely thrilling to have fallen more deeply in love with Peter. He rules.

I way overdid it yesterday with all of my Gaudi excitement and am tired and achy but it was worth it. To witness Peter's astonishment at Sagrada Familia was exhilarating. I kept trying to pretend I'd never seen it before. In many ways, I had not, as seeing something with Peter is different every time you see it because of the things he notices. And of course, Parc Guell never ever disappoints. I closed my eyes and thought of you, KBDK. 

Peter keeps taking random pictures of fancy Euro scooters for AXM.

I am glad I packed lots of leggings as my waist is expanding daily. However, I recoil at stuff like "Exquisite fatty and meaty Iberian hog meat". Oh yes. And those of you who know Peter, know that he ordered it. (It ended up not coming. A fact he did not notice until after we had left the restaurant, thank god.)

We're here! We're here!

Man, this place rules.

As soon as we stepped off the plane, I smiled broadly. I love it here. The sights. The sounds. The smells. The people. The culture. I wish I knew Spanish. Strangely, I find myself thinking in French.

Here we are grabbing a coffee. And by "grabbing a coffee", I mean sitting down in a kick ass little cafe. (PS- I am hearting my husband. We have been laughing non-stop.)

We're staying at the AC Barcelona, which is in the Convention District so it's all businessy with a mall across the street. We're on the water though, which is gorgeous. Here's a pic from our room. (funny sidenote: Peter and I just bought a new bed at home. It's the Westin Heavenly Bed and it rules. We previously had a hard Euro futony type of mattress that we THOUGHT was fantastic. Um, no. So, we just get used to our luscious new bed, and then come here to....you guessed it...a hard Euro futony mattress. Oy.)

The weather is amazing. Even though it is November, I haven't been cold. This climate is perfect for me.

We cabbed it over to La Rambla today after waking up at 11, so we could check out the touristy hotspot. It's a cool area, full of freaky street buskers.

I've already started playing two games. 1. Spot the Hammer pants. Sorry no pictures, but I've seen 3 women so far wearing MC Hammer pants. I know they were hot on the runway this year? or last year? and they are just as quizzical in real life. Seriously, WTF? Game #2 is "spot the V ".  Again, no pictures but I swear, tons of guys look like my brother in law, even though he's an Italian kid from New York. (I think it's the stylish/handsome thing) I'm really good at it. Peter, not so much.

Food is delish, natch. Wine too, of course, which is cool because normally I'm not a big wine drinker. You can't go wrong here. You just can't.

Also, how fab is this?

These are everywhere. You pay a fee and grab a bike. Love it. I remember 12 years ago when I was living in Europe, this was the normal in Amsterdam but they were free. Love the Dutch.

Must eat some chocolate in bed now, while I rest. This old girl is beat. Exhausted but elated.

EVM, been thinking about you non stop today. I had a salad with mango & goat cheese drizzled with honey  for lunch and wished you were here to have a bite.  XO

I also told Peter, I'm standing a little taller as an American here just knowing that Obama is our new President. It's a great feeling.

So many things I am excited about. I feel giddy. My heart is fluttery. Obama WON! C&B have a new daughter! We are finally settling into our new house! I have amazing husband and children! Our trip to Barcelona!

We leave tomorrow so I'm in the middle of doing a hundred things in order to make sure we can leave and that my mom will be prepared, as she is staying with the kids. (One of the things to do is get a new toaster as Finn ruined ours this morning by putting legos in it while it was on.)

I have zero expectations for this trip and I couldn't be happier about it. I can't wait to show Peter the things that I love about Barcelona but other than that there is going to be a lot of lounging and just enjoying each other's company without the distractions of everyday life.

Momentarily distracting me this morning was a comment I received yesterday that didn't have anything to do with the post, by the way.

Don't you just love how the Internet allows people to anonymously act like asshats?

"My #1 fan" (the name this person used) says:

Oh shut the hell up already with the whining! Oh I am so tired, oh I have lupus, oh somebody call a waaaambulance. I feel so sorry for your husband. Sounds like the poor guy married a furniture. What a blast you must be to live with. And when you do feel well...instead of contributing you walk around Barnes and Nobles sipping coffee....Oh brother!

Mkay.

I read this and laughed. A lot. For a long time. And then I read it to Peter. And we laughed again. "Waaaambulance?" That's awesome. "Oh brother!"  Who says that? I love it. She's like a Kristen Wiig character from Saturday Night Live.

First of all, "my #1 fan", why are you anonymous?  I can guarantee that you would never say any of this to my face. How do I know this?  Because you are a pathetic coward. I can pretty  much guarantee that your life is miserable as well.  

After reading your ridiculous comment I thought about how fantastic my life is and how  lucky I feel every day. Life is really really good. So, thanks.

Now excuse me, I have to finish packing for my most excellent trip to Spain.

CTM had the most perfect little girl, Camille Frances, on November 5th. The way I reacted you would have thought that no one in the world had ever had a baby before. I was just so overcome. And so so happy. She's beautiful.

Hadley and I are obsessed with all things Kate DiCamillo. We read The Adventures of Edward Tulane, The Tale of Despereux and we have Because of Winn Dixie to start next after we finish The Penderwicks. I cried through much of Edward Tulane as Hadley and I read each night in my bed. It is a really beautiful book. Same with Despereux, although I didn't read it in its entirety (Peter and I switched off during that one) so I have holes in the story.

Her writing is captivating and I'm a fan of any author who doesn't talk down to her readers, children or otherwise. Especially children though. There is a constant desire for me to build vocabulary and introduce both H&F to the thrills of language. We are "Word Nerds" up in here. There is nothing like a good word. (Here are some of my favorites lately: vitriol, Schadenfreude, resplendent.)

HJ & I watched the movie "Because of the Winn Dixie" yesterday because she was home sick with a stomach bug. Poor dear. I had seen the movie and loved it again. So did Hadley. It appealed to every fiber of my little rare bird. In fact, she piped up during the movie and said "Does that girl remind you of me?" Funny.

Hadley rides the bus for the first time ever this morning. She's so excited. I'm nervous for her but trying to be very nonchalant about the whole thing. I hope she believes the act.

I'm aware of the void in the picture category. Will try to pull my head out of a box and take some pics soon...

Ok, so my Interesting Tidbit post got this woman Anne all fired up and she felt the need to attack me personally. Classy lady. The comment below is the 5th time she commented on this post. Meanwhile I hadn't even commented back yet to say where I stood. She just started spewing hate all over the place.

Anne says:

Here's the point you and the other ladies dont seem to be getting just yet; Emily would never, under any circumstances support a woman having an abortion over a gay baby.

But if the woman merely didnt feel it was the right time in her life? Well, Emily would support that in a hearbeat.

Do you see the bigoted hypocricy at work here? I have followed this blog intermitently for the past few months to find this woman, Emily, is very left wing and quite happy to bloviate about it here. But challenge her? Nobody apparently ever does that here or in her life. The mere fact that she thinks its hilarious to call random people assholes speaks volumes.

I realize Emily never backs up any of her insipid opinions - but for once I thought I would challenge her to do so. I see she wasnt up to dragging herself out of her Hollywood adoring stupor to engage her brain after she threw out the first little piece of red meat.

Ah well, such is life. I knew Emily wouldnt like playing in this particular sandbox. It's not 'hip' or 'cool' to actually have to back up an argument one makes. It's hipper to have all your bobbleheaded friends just agree and she can remain safe in her little leftie bubble.

Too bad Emily. I thought you might stretch yourself there for a minute.

Don't make assumptions about me, jackass. You don't know me.  I would absolutely support the mothers' right to terminate a pregnancy regardless of the reasoning. When you get into trying to deem what is morally appropriate, you begin to muddy the waters of choice. You are either pro choice or you are not, regardless of reason. I am pro choice.

If my blog is so insipid then why are you reading it?  Bored in Washington? Oh, and if you have been reading my blog as you say, you would know that I much prefer to call people douchebags.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my Hollywood adoring stupor...

I hastily published my last post and I should have known better. People come out of the woodwork to freak out. I don't think they even read my blog. No more political talk. I'll keep that shizz to myself to avoid the comments. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, people. I'm just too tired to listen to it. And this is my blog, so suck it.

I do however, wish I could siphon out some of the energy they possess. The things I could accomplish....like not having to nap half way through every day.

Instead, I will tell you how and why my day has ruled thus far:

• When dropping off Finn at school this morning he sauntered into his class singing "I kissed a girl and I liked it. Taste of her cherry chapstick." (Katy Perry's I Kissed A Girl). That sent me into a giggling tailspin as I kissed him goodbye, still laughing. You have never heard that song until you've heard it come from my precious 4 year old boy's mouth.
• Peter and I had a delicious discussion about Ayn Rand's The Voice of Reason: Essays in Objectivist Thought on the way over to the new house. Interesting indeed.
• I ate the other half of my Jimmy John's veggie sandwich from yesterday. If you haven't been to this place, go now. Run.
• Yet another cool person from my past popped up on facebook. Love when that happens.
• When I picked Finn up from school, my most favorite classmate of his, Emma, asked if she could come over to Finn's house.  She asks every day. I said not today, per usual and Finn said "Listen Emma, how about you tell me what you dream about and I'll get it for you."

What?

Awesome. Then 7 or 8 girls proceeded to say goodbye to him in unison. I was once again, laughing. He's a total ladies man. We get in the hallway and he turns around and says "They like me."

I hastily published my last post and I should have known better. People come out of the woodwork to freak out. I don't think they even read my blog. No more political talk. I'll keep that shizz to myself to avoid the comments. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, people. I'm just too tired to listen to it. And this is my blog, so suck it.

I do however, wish I could siphon out some of the energy they possess. The things I could accomplish....like not having to nap half way through every day.

Instead, I will tell you how and why my day has ruled thus far:

• When dropping off Finn at school this morning he sauntered into his class singing "I kissed a girl and I liked it. Taste of her cherry chapstick." (Katy Perry's I Kissed A Girl). That sent me into a giggling tailspin as I kissed him goodbye, still laughing. You have never heard that song until you've heard it come from my precious 4 year old boy's mouth.
• Peter and I had a delicious discussion about Ayn Rand's The Voice of Reason: Essays in Objectivist Thought on the way over to the new house. Interesting indeed.
• I ate the other half of my Jimmy John's veggie sandwich from yesterday. If you haven't been to this place, go now. Run.
• Yet another cool person from my past popped up on facebook. Love when that happens.
• When I picked Finn up from school, my most favorite classmate of his, Emma, asked if she could come over to Finn's house.  She asks every day. I said not today, per usual and Finn said "Listen Emma, how about you tell me what you dream about and I'll get it for you."

What?

Awesome. Then 7 or 8 girls proceeded to say goodbye to him in unison. I was once again, laughing. He's a total ladies man. We get in the hallway and he turns around and says "They like me."

Here you go Pro-Lifers. Chew on this: "If the fetus you save is born gay, will you continue to fight for its rights?"