Oh Happy Day!

My first friend in America just found me on Facebook. This may not sound like a big deal to you. But to me, it's incredible! It was February, 1974. I had just been adopted from Vietnam (from the same Province Maya where Maya was born). I was 8 1/2 year old and I weighed 44 pounds. I was smaller than most 5 year olds. I started out in the first grade, since I couldn't speak a word of English. I was scared. Then, the most beautiful girl in first grade made me her friend. Inga Sorenson. She had curly blond hair and blue eyes, she looked just like an angel. She was my angel. The following year I skipped second grade and went to third grade, where I met Kelly. She became my best friend that year. She now lives in Belgium as I blogged about before. Kelly and I have been friends since third grade. But I lost touch with Inga over 30 years ago, until tonight. I can't wait to catch up!

It was also a happy day for Matt and Riley. Can you believe those lucky guys? First their baseball team wins the World Series, then their football team wins the Superbowl. How cool would it be if the Flyers won the Stanley cup? It would be a Pennsylvania sweep! The Triple Crown! Poor Chris is still upset that the Cards didn't win.

I went for long walk with my dog today. It was so beautiful out. Everyone was home watching the Superbowl so it was quiet. The only sound I heard was the crunching of snow beneath my boots. The sun was shining, no wind, not a cloud in the sky, except for the ominous dark blanket of clouds over the volcanoes to the west. We've been on Orange Alert for a week, waiting for Redoubt to blow.

When I got home from my walk, I shoveled the whole deck. We have a huge deck so it took me an hour. There was a foot of snow on the west and east sides of the house, only a few inches on the south side. Still, it took me an hour to shovel the whole deck. As I shoveled I watched this ominous dark cloud moving across the bay towards us at an alarming rate. When it covered the sun it became so dark you'd think we were having an eclipse. I thought maybe the volcano had erupted. But then snow started falling heavily. I came inside and checked the volcano website, no eruption yet. If you would like to see updates of Redoubt, Google the Alaska Volcano Observatory. It's really cool. Oh, and we had a 6.1 earthquake last week, just 40 miles from here. But it was from so deep in the ocean that it doesn't do any damage. Phew!

Waiting for the big game to start. Can you spot the black sheep? Hint: He's wearing a Cardinals World Series Champions shirt.

Maya playing the lap harp. Lilly the Kitty appreciates fine music.

Maya's little pizza (waiting for cheese).

My Mediterranean pizza could have been a Superbowl hit if I'd had black olives!

Fruit bowl still life, by Riley Wise

Fruit bowl in window by Riley Wise

The deck just after I finished shoveling. Right before it started snowing again!