Uptown

Sto notando una mia tendenza di auto censurare il racconto delle solite storielle quotidiane, chiaramente legata alla mia recente scoperta che questo blog viene letto da gente di cui proprio non me l'aspettavo...

Comunque sia, questa storia mi fa troppo ridere e quindi la racconto. Quando prendiamo la metropolitana con Ele spesso ci tocca aspettare a lungo (dal punto di vista di una bimba piccina) e quindi ci inventiamo vari giochi. Quello preferito di Ele e' di fissare i binari con gli occhi finche' vediamo un ratto. Ora ogni volta che scendiamo in metro, Ele chiede tutta agitata: "Dov'e' il ratto?" Ah i piccoli piaceri della vita newyorchese.

We're back from our trip to Switzerland, Austria, and Spain. I took Ele with me to a conference in Vienna, made possible by the incredible Kitzmantel-Banhidi clan, who provided room, board, transportation, and childcare! Of course we went to see Bisnonna several times. From there we headed to the Costa Brava, where we met up with Fabian and stayed in a beautiful villa with Nonna, Nonno, and Renata's family. Then on to Olot for another 4 glorious days in the heart of Catalonia. Switzerland was just a stop-over on both ways, but we managed to squeeze in a visit with Grossi and Grossaetti.

Ele was a real trooper, tagging along as we took 6 planes, were delayed 6 times, slept in 5 different beds, rented and returned 2 cars, made innumerable lengthy trips in them, and partied until 3am at Joerg and Marta's unforgettable wedding. She even learned a little Spanish (hola, adios, salud - gets you pretty far...), and the names of most of our numerous family members. Exhausting trip, but great fun!

I'm in Cambridge for three days, and life is good. Wow, I didn't realize how much I've missed this place! Apart from the kick I get out of collaborating face to face with David and Ines (and the nice side effect that work gets done), I just love to wander around and revisit all my favorite spots. Although the face of the Square is rapidly changing (what's with those antiseptic glass buildings replacing brownstones??), I feel like set back in time. Yup, same guy asking for change in front of CVS, same complex system to get your coffee at Peet's, and same good Weissbier at Grendel's. Last night it got *pretty* late there (and, I believe, the House of Blues at some point, Liz?), so today I'm taking it slow, hanging out at the Coop and enjoying every minute of it. It all just made me think...oh well.

Siamo in partenza per le Bahamas! Un sogno per noi da tanto tempo, lo realizzeremo come prima vacanza in tre. Staremo al Port Lucaya Resort and Yacht Club. Non vedo l'ora! L'unico problema sara' un' attesa di varie ore ad Atlanta - speriamo che Ele non si annoiera' troppo.

Nun bin ich wieder zurueck aus Atlanta. 5 Tage waren eine lange Zeit ohne Ele; ich muss sagen, ich habe sie sehr vermisst! Ele scheint die Trennung besser als ich ueberstanden zu haben; ein weiterer Schritt in Richtung Unabhaengigkeit...Allerdings bin ich froh, dass sie nicht mitgekommen ist, denn die Fliegerei war kein Spass nach den Londoner (Fast-)Anschlaegen. Man darf ja nun nichts Fluessiges, Gel-artiges, Cremiges etc. mehr mit ins Flugzeug nehmen, was fuer die meisten hauptsaechlich bedeutet, dass sie ihr Handgepaeck einchecken muessen. Ich habe selten solche Schlangen an der Gepaeckausgabe gesehen (und selten so trockene Lippen gehabt, aber das ist nicht so schlimm. Ich hoffe nur, dass niemand auf die Idee kommt, sich einen Sprengkoerper irgendwo einzufuehren, damit wir uns dann nicht in Zukunft am Flughafen einer Leibesvisitation unterziehen muessen).