I have not disappeared

I realize I haven't posted in forever.  As my husband says sarcastically, "You're disappointing your readers."  To which I respond, "My grandmother and mother-in-law are waiting for this post (you punk)."  I don't really know who reads this blog aside from a couple girls who emailed me about teaching abroad.  (Congrats on the jobs ladies!)  But I figure it's time to get back to the blog.  Sorry for the furlough.  Here is what has been happening on the other side of the world...

The Danube River flooded.

It was quite a site.  The biggest tourist attraction in Budapest for a week.  I must say I was so impressed with the way Budapest has been built to accommodate the flooding river.  After 1000 years of floods, Budapestians have it figured out.  No real damage in B-town but a record flood that was actually fun to watch.

School ended and summer came!

We are enjoying every minute of it... Family, guests, my terrace garden, travel, new countries, revisiting countries, sleeping in, the pool, getting a sun tan, reading books for pleasure.  Ahhh... Some much deserved R&R.

Some of you roll your eyes and make snide remarks about the life of a teacher.  But let me tell you why I deserve two months of freedom...

So all you teachers out there... Enjoy it while it lasts!  More adventures to come, and I promise I won't be absent from the blogging world for the summer.  Bring on the travel season!

Southern Summer

It's been a busy couple weeks traveling through several Southern states visiting family and friends.  We haven't melted yet in the heat and humidity, but I have froze in the AC.  Having to put on a sweater when I go indoors makes no sense to me!  Some of my Southern Summer Highlights include:

My first Porter family vacation,
Fishing with my nephew,
Seeing Clayton (a good friend from Kenya),
Tubing with the fam,
Cuddling and wrestling with my nephews,
Family dinners,
Lazy afternoons,
Conversation,
Time with family.

Thank you Porters for a great time!

Now it's time to do some laundry to go see my West Coast family and friends.

Signs of Summer

Summer is here.  It arrived around the first of May, when Budapest broke its record high temperature at 32 degrees C (90F).  But its not just sunny days that show signs of summer...

Tourists walking around the city with their maps,

Asking for directions in English.

Cruise ships coming up the Danube,

Waving up at you on the bridge.

Cotton from poplar trees flying everywhere,

into our living room,

our bedroom,

even downstairs where no windows are open.

Windows open in the day

And the night.

The fan blowing on the bed.

Lighter blankets on us as we sleep.

That ring around my tub getting a little darker.

Men on bikes, 

Women on bikes,

Kids on bikes.

Runners with no shirts on Margaret Island.

Sunbathers in the grass.

Kids playing in city fountains.

Allergies.

Flowers.

Green leaves.

Teachers reminding each other, "Five more weeks!"