Montorroso was a tourist trap of a town. It had similar old shops and restaurants as the other towns, yet added a bit of Americanism with a Rick Steves’ advertisement on one restaurant. Although we read his books thoroughly and even bought travel gear from his webpage it was kind of disgusting (Rick Steves’ commercialism).

The town though was beautiful, and spread out. It had a small beach, and then a large beach over the next cliff. We had our eye on a big basket of bread and pasta from a restaurant right by the small beach, but after laying out till 3:00 P.M. it was shut down. So we tried five or six others uptown and all were cleaning up, ignoring us, or just flat out closed down for the day?

A restaurant called DaBavim was a Rick Steves’ mention and it was actually open, so we went there. It was fair at best, overpriced, with little service. Let’s not mention that it was siesta time and their team Italia was starting a game in the world cup at that exact moment! End of Montorroso: we got on the train for 1.05 Euros to head back for the night (5:00 P.M.).

Hopping off the train at Vernazza, we thought we’d check for rooms that we needed for Friday and Saturday. This turned out to be a whirlwind of events and spiritual awakenings!

We stopped at several “come here” places, some to no avail, some to just an Italian lady leaning out over her window railing, some to just plain old Ingrid! This lady Ingrid actually showed us a room. A room, without a view, that was very clean with euro streamlined design but…no view, NO WAY!

After all that room research we gave up and went to the train station to wait for what we thought would be about thirty minutes. Unfortunately the train track was damaged (with rumors of train worker strikes) and we got delayed an hour or two which turned out to be very beneficial to our character building.

Wandering into a shop we bought an awesome bottle of limonetta with two cute shot glasses bow tied to it. A couple limonetta tries later, and we waited anxiously at the train station. Lots of people were backed up in their goings of places, and we were picturing a mad euro push and shove to board whenever a train would show up (like we had endured at the airports).

We ended up hanging out with our limonetta between the station and the cove beach; it was a lengthy hundred yards of sidewalk between. We spent the time musing about life, patience, spiritual matters, and how hard it is with things out of our control, as well as worrying about how our night might go if no train shows up.

All of the sudden we saw a train going our way towards Riomaggiore. We both turned and looked at each other, yelled in glee, and I took off running with Tracey to follow (she most likely having to grab our limonetta set up).

We ran as fast as we possibly could with that hiking exhaustion under our belt from the morning, sun beaten and with our light gear. It felt like a sloppy, blobby run; arms, legs, and head fwailing all over the place like running in a dream.

Getting to the station, hundreds were trying to catch this one short train, as who knew when the next one would be coming through. It was indeed a mad euro push and shove, but with almost everyone in a ecstatic mood. In slow motion I glanced up at a sardine-packed train car with many chit-chatty, giggly German teens and their backpacks and chaperones. Tracey had already hopped up into the car and gave me an encouraging look of “Come on, Mare, we made it!”

To my surprise I somehow whisked myself up into the train with what seemed like twenty other German teens shoved in behind me even. How could this many people be in one car?

And then there was the singing! The German crew was so happy to have made it that they started singing some grand drinking jig type song.

Everyone couldn’t help but smile broadly and even sway (with them) as we sardinely couldn’t help. Tracey and I were right in the thick of the large clan and we joined in mockily and happily giddy. It was an awesome exchange in the universal language of musical joy!

…to be continued…

(Side bar: I would love to post pictures with these entries, but “Camera Obscura” took place in Rome - a story to be told at a later date.)

June 21 - a Wednesday in Italy

Stepping off the train Tracey and I were relieved and overwhelmed by the majestic sea view! We immediately took to the trail right off the train because it was so early we knew the train depot was probably asleep (5 A.M.). After checking the train station to make sure, we hung out on that little trail reading, resting, and writing amongst the Mediterranean expanse below us.

Chocolate croissants! Mmmmmm…..

(What an oasis to have arrived after a train debacle and such a thing called “Naples, Italy”.)

After checking in with our temporary landlord Ugo, we got into our olde worlde flat that was humongous and had a great marina/sea view. We both settled in, then cleaned up. After a shower, Tracey konked out in a deep sleep - never really waking till 7 P.M. And I followed suit after hesistantly worrying about wasting a good day of sun and C.T.! Eleven A.M. to seven P.M.! We must have needed a big rest after a pig feet night of turmoil (TBD if “pig feet” shall be elaborated).

We woke up shocked at the time frame of elongated sleep, and collectively decided to get gelato after a little market time and dinner purchasing. We prepared our own pesto pasta dinner, ate on our terrace while people watching, then konked out for the night.

Thursday

Our 2nd day in CT we got up early and got our hiking ticket to hike adventurously through the 5 towns, for the 5 hours. (You can hike the vineyard filled cliffs 1 mile between each of the five lands!) The hiking went fast, really considering the craggy rocks and steep inclines as well as declines (equally as imposing). The terrain was one of pure dust and large rocks proving to be quite a dirtying experience to our ankles, not to mention joint-busting stomps.

I myself was over-strenufied on the hike, huffing and puffing and enjoying many pit stops! The views were spectacular and unbelievably serene. With a skinny trail often times we had to scoot over and wait for passersby or be excused by visa versa. Needless to say (to my mind) it was very hot and tiring!

However, all was made perfect by Jesus’ blood as well as the eventual splish splash of the cool Mediterranean sea! Sparkling deep midnight blue! As the sun blazed our arms and faces into tan, we kept our eyes on Monterosso (al Mare), the final town. (you could see each town as you are hiking) Each town was cute and as fun as Riomaggiore (where we stayed), yet less charming simply because we weren’t intimately staying within their city walls. Our town is so small and quaint, and homey feeling. The only drawback is no beach. (so we thought!)

Vernazza is where we spent lots of our time, both by passing through and by *default. On the way there we hiked right down into the center of town, and found our way to the little beach. It was cute and busy with sunbathers. Our first impression ended abruptly with a steep hike out of town through grapevines. Accompanying the departure was the rhythm of local restaurant music over a loud speaker. We could hear it almost a mile up and over on our way to Monterosso. (the music is engrained in my memory)

Our second impression of Vernazza by entertaining *default was to follow a short time in the other towns.

(more to come)

This year was for this, that year was that, those were those, others became as such…

2010

…for me, was for enjoying, as all years should be. Yet, this year of Sanford Family Times was especially delightful!

Delightful:
It marked a commencement into full-time motherhood, which thus far has been uninterruptedly successful. Opportunities, although well meant, tried to make chaos, or pull us this way and that, but we guarded our home.

We stayed put. We hermitaged as hermits, and it was good.

At home, we kept to a routine that bred enjoyment: sleep, eat, play, table time activities, video, more play, more table time, lunch, books, nap, and repeat for the afternoon and every day! HA! Keeps me the mom sane, keeps Sebo excited knowing what’s next!

Alaskan Motherhood

Sebastian has really been blossoming into his own little man with gabbings, likings, travels, and rambunctiousness. He has a fun little personality and sense of humor. He loves the dogs, super heroes, wrestling, puzzles, books, sports, and playing “men” (action figures – mostly Buzzies).

He accounts for most of the delightfulness in the days of our lives!

Productivity:
This year we indeed pursued the life of a hermit family, save 3 trips!!!!!!! In May, we all went to Ohio along with Mom Sanford and Alisa who helped Sebo-us through the end of the school year. Then, Sebo and I went back for an Edwards Family Reunion in July!

We enjoyed catching Grampa’s new apartment, a bit of lower 48 shopping, and running around with the Edwards, as well as Sanford, fams. Back in Alaska for most of the summer, we were able to get lots of salmon and berries. Our garden was subpar, but we’ll try again this coming season!

Sebo’s first camping trip!

All this fun was topped off with a grand finale “Sebo no longer flies free” trip to San Diego! Oh the Emmy time, the sunshine, the surprise of Dad being there! Thanks for being great hosts Matt and Tracey!

Other avenues of productivity involved: letter writing, scrapbooking, dvd making, house settling, health pursuits, and kitchen time!

Enlightenment:
This year I ‘Martha or Mary’ed’ it? Which one though? Do you know which one sat before Jesus, and which one would not let go the bustling of the house & dinner preparations?! I was both @ times, more so-a-bustling. But I have also been paying attention!

Oh woe is me to such societal single focus on seventy tasks tendencies! So driven as a pseudo-single mindset to do seventy things at once! Saying no to ‘multi-tasking’ may be my theme for 2011!

Springboarding from the Lord, there was fuel for the writing, scrapbooking, media,…all in rich, full, colorful fanned enlightenment!

Farewell to 2010!

In summary, thankfulness abounded this segment of life, and wouldn’t you know it, delightfulness ensued! With that foundation now lain, we plan to open up (our home even) & reach out in all facets this coming year!

I truly enjoyed 2010. Hope yours was delightful, productive, and enlightening as well. Cheers to the lists of 2010, and cheers to your 2011!

Music:
Jenny & Johnny
Fanfarlo
Audrey Assad
Ra Ra Riot
Mumford & Sons
Michael Edwards

Movies:
Iron Man 2 – B, fast dialogue! Enjoyable!
Toy Story 3 – A, quality kiddie time
Marmaduke - No
Toy Story 3 – B, longer, quality kiddie time
Inception – A, complex, enjoyable night out with the fam in BG
Social Network – B, fast blabby, pretentiousy people

Media:
Laptop dying, losing so much – Nooooooo!
iPhone 4, yes!
iPad, quadruple yes!

Visitors during different months of 2010:
January: Alisa
March: Mom & Dad Edwards
May: Mom Sanford
August: Dad Sanford
November: Mom & Dad Edwards for Thanksgiving

Greetings all who have lost hope in viewing words from this page ever again! I do miss writing, I do miss reading, especially my families’, but admittedly Twitter has filled in the instant gaps!

HERE WE ARE at the end of 2009! Most of the year included just trying to stay afloat amongst Sebastian the Sebo, full time jobs, all of our belongings, and finishing this fun little cabin in the Alaskan woods!

And here I have my year in review: quick detail style.

1.Sebastian is a curious sweet potatoe-faced boy, a wonderment daily and all I can think of is 4 more months of teaching till we get to be with him every day! We’ll let next school year decide for next school year.

At the age of one year he enjoys practicing different laughs in voice and body movement, practicing how to feed us (not himself), tackling a large Pooh with his sidekick(s) Tigger(s), using his hands to signal for more food, tickling our feet, pointing at and turning pages of books, giggling with the dogs and trying to rub his face in their fur, eating crayons, and carrying around bags and bins of items in transport across the living room.

2. 2009 Music: Ornaments, A Fine Frenzy (Bomb in a Birdcage and Christmas ep), Fantastic Mr. Fox Sdtrk, U2, Dolores O’Riordan, Regina Spektor, Mike’s Grumpy Dave’s Show (live cuts), Justin’s Bridging the Gap Sdtrk, Mates of State, Monkey Boy (Sebo’s album), a bit of Stellastarr’s Civilized, Neko Case’s Middle Cyclone, Munchausen By Proxy (Yes Man Sdtrk).

Last, but not least: Plumb’s “Blink” album has been A STRONGHOLD! AND: Phoenix’s “1901″ is my year in review theme song!

4. 2009 Movies: Did I see any (in theater)? FANTASTIC MR. FOX is all I recall, and all that should be recalled! Sebastian’s first movie! Wonderful, bewildered, hilarious, enchanting, and a top ten of all time for me.

Elsewhere: 500 Days of Summer was quality, lots of HGTV, and the rest of 2009 media is a blur!

5. 2009 Hobbies: Moving stuff from one part of the house to another, until it seemed to have a proper home, for at least a few days until it was moved again.

6. 2009 Visitors: It’s own category, YES!
January: Amanda (Sanford) Jarrett, blurry back to school, newborn times!
February: Mom Sanford, days were getting better!
March: Mom Edwards and Dad joined us! Sebo starts to play!
April: Alisa Cross, Alaska friend, “wha….happen?” this month….? finished working I presume.
May-August: Josh Andrews, to help us build, RELAXING! We got a porch!
August:Grandpa and Grandpa Edwards, fishing and fun!
August-October: Mom Sanford, Jessie, and a dog named Patches. Peaceful and enjoyable.
October-November: Mom Edwards and Dad joined us! Precious moments.
December: Alisa Cross, Alaska friend, the holidays!

We have had the house to ourselves in sprinkles of weekends! This Christmas break is the longest by ourselves to date! So peaceful, so wonderful! Thank you to all who have been helping take care of Sebo and our house!

Thus, on Christmas Eve, I say farewell to 2009 already, but perhaps there is a lingering thought to placehold this blog yet?

Sorry Dad wanted to honor your bday a bit longer, but feelin’ the quick nudge to write on the fair and Labor Day weekend!

We did a lot of relaxing, movie watching, resting, and house cleaning, but also went to the Alaska State Fair and threw ourselves a bonfire party tonight with marshmallows!

At the fair my favorite highlights were eating 2 elephant ears and still paying for it 3 days later… AND the rat race betting booth. They unveil a rat to go into a hole and if it’s your color you can win 5 for 1, 10 for 1, 15 for 1, etc. for the quarters you put down. I actually got 2 one dollar coins back from some random purchase during the day, and bet one one time on 5 for 1. I WON 5 BUCKS! Hahahhaha!

Other than that we saw the usual giant vegetables except this year they also had giant livestock. There was a 6 foot giant goat there climbing some rocks, and a very, very (almost Robo-coppish) pink pig. The cloning and biogenetics are getting out of hand I’d say.

We spent about 10 hours at the fair and Sebo had a great time taking in all the sights and sounds, and the smells of the 1 and 1/2 huge turkey legs that I ate! He took a good nap in the sling and was very happy the whole time!

As for the movies we took watched this weekend:
Twilight - was really good, but left you hanging. I feel like I am more of a complete “American Pop Culture” partaker after seeing it, yet still not sure if I want to be a part of it. It was also very choppy for my non-book reading viewing. B

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist - eh, take it or leave it. Funny mannerisms of main girl character with some laugh out loud (and grimy gross) parts. C

Slumdog Millionaire - was way better (but intense) than I thought. Didn’t want to like it as much as I did just to get away from oscar nom. cliches. Touching true love. B+

Adventureland - “Lisa P. is back, Lisa P. is back, Lisa P. is back, hey Lisa P. is back”. Not that good, but ok, and I still keep thinking of funny lines from it, so I say it was good after the fact. B

Well I must hit the hay! I leave with a quote from Jessie, my sister-in-law:
“I can take or leave the (no) bowls, but bins for night stands is where I’ll take a stand.” She’s alright with this slander. Our house is not civilized yet to what most would call settled, but HEY! we’re gettin’ there people. Come up and see for yourself!

He inspires, encourages, and enthuses his coworkers, his admirers, his family, and me his daughter!

Bruce Edwards, Jr. is the innovator of the birthday blog and none can compare, but the pale in comparison should be and must be attempted!

This birthday guy loves robots, rt.66, Brian Wilson, Green Lantern, Swenson’s, Defenders, baseball, music, media, macs, he loves Jesus, he loves his beautiful adventuring side-kick wife Joan Lungstrum, his kids - that’s one of me - I got to be his daughter, he loves his grandchildren!

How cool can a guy be? Extreme intelligence, down to earth, bountiful grace and communication, the encourager of all encouragers. Friend to all!

My favorite memory is when we were little he would get on the floor and crawl around like a monster, mostly with us on his back! He played records of the Star Wars soundtrack and Amy Grant and tapes of Suzanne Vega and Rich Mullins. He took us on adventures across the country and across the world. My Dad taught us how to play wiffle ball and how to use a pitchback. He’s amazing!

Akron to Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Bowling Green, Australia, D.C., Africa, California, and Alaska! He has shared the Lord through vast venues of the far corners of the world. Inspiring and multifaceted! He’s a super hero, like Him! But in Him and for Him!

Have a happy, happy, birthday from us in Alaska! Thanks for being our Dad!

Life was wonderful for summer! Then school happened a couple weeks ago! It’s going well enough, but we’d rather be with Sebo.

That good guy is doing well! Climbing, standing, leaning, speed crawling, and getting into everything! He’s a piggie too at 10 months and I think he wants a leggo train set for his birthday! HAHAHAHA! Or…his parents…..okay….his mom does! Can’t you just picture it going around the Christmas tree?

This summer we got a lot done and had some fun too! The wrap around decks, pine ceilings inside, lots of drywall, yard cleanup, garden, and more littles here and there.

In sad news, our dog Grizzly got hit by a car two weeks ago and passed away. He was an adventurous, loyal, and protecting dog. Sebastian and I found him still alive while walking down our long driveway, and I thought maybe a porcupine or bear were the culprit so I went inside with Sebo. Upon returning by myself ten minutes later, he was gone.

Ironically here he is with Scout running behind him, and they are right by the highway.

In other news, later in the summer Dad and Grampa flew in, fished for a week, and hung out with Sebo and us! Gramps caught some nice silver salmon!

Much of the summer was Sebo and I while Casey and Josh (cousin) worked on the house!

And lastly, Casey’s mom and sister Jessie are currently here for 2 months taking care of Sebo and it’s been very nice. They are helping us get our house in order and have been taking in a lot of movies (our dvds).

Here’s their new album cover with Mckinley in the background!

They also brought their dog Patches who is getting along quiet well with our dogs.

This fall we are looking forward to my mom visiting for a month, hopefully with dad for a bit too!

Welp, it’s a school night so I’m outta here! Maybe I’ll be back here more often. I’m feeling the writing itch and I’m looking to get something out there more officially! SO I SAY!??! Can I get paid for something though?! Bye bye for now all!

Hope you are all doing well! We’ll end with a great pic of a wonderful grampa!

p.s. happy bday Shelby and Sebo is an Indians fan! Dad your bday next week!

Sebo got a laptop!

So this May date happening on Friday is epic in my attempt to slough out school for good! 16 days of school left and much of it is fluffy pointlessness.

For instance, today: I had to go (50 miles round trip) to a very long school district meeting analyzing “novels to teach”. Nevermind, this complaint, that I am not the English Dept. head and my admins. are too afraid to even ask the head of the dept. to go….politics asside….

I got a great breakfast, smoothie, and lunch at Alaska Bagels and had a great oasis of peaceful (hyperactivity cheesy photography) in the 67 degree sun over in Palmer. Matanuska River!

In other comprehensive thoughts, Sebastian is in quite a growing fest of super activity and alertness and chunky legs and eating, eating, eating. He is into rice cereal now and I guess SWEET POTATOES! (Grandpa S. served him some for a late afternoon snack!).

Right now, this second, I am looking forward to greeting Sebastian after his early evening nap he’s been taking lately - and we wonder why he doesn’t sleep through the night……hmm…..and he’ll eat dinner (at 10 pm?) and take a bath.

Still nice to have a break while I’m awake this evening to communicate with you all at least. And also right this second, not that last second, now this second I am looking forward to - BELIEVE IT OR NOT - going outside with my P.E. class tomorrow. It is suppose to be gorgeous again and for the rest of the week.

Still another second of thought, I am looking forward to complete health in conjunction with a trip home for a wonderful wedding!

And I think I need to wrap this up with a good recap of Casey’s bday from last weekend! It was fun picking his dad up at the airport and hitting Costco for some fridge bulking up (ha,ha,bulk….get it). We had tacos and then key lime pie before his fun presents of a mini-boss chainsaw, a Swiss Army watch, and some Alaska books and wall art!

Farewell to Arms (the novel that made it on the 9th grade curriculum option)! I mean to say, FAREWELL TO YOU!

Showed M. Night’s Village this morning in cinema class and just can’t get over the scene I always think of for days and weeks after viewing:

Lucious grabs Ivy’s hand during the first monster invasion of the movie. Superb music during the slow motion. To me, it has unbelievable spiritual depth and unexplainable Reverence enveloped! And never fail, every year, I make these 17 year olds watch it and it is mesmerizingly silent before, during, and after the scene.

Watch just that scene sometime and tell me you don’t see Him too!

And so this Monday of only 4 Monday’s left as of 1:45 p.m. today, we (the Alaskan family) are battling the winter sickness(es). Ongoing, odd, mysterious, perterbing, and getting old.

Refreshed today, though. Trusting, letting go, determined, focused.

You could say set like flint.

Besides my dear brother Mike’s wonderous song lyrics like such of his many wonderous songs, there is even a simplistic website on that flint theme? www.setlikeflint.com

Borrow a quote from it even? Sure

Nothing is more natural and beautiful and blessed than to become nothing, that God may be all. ~Andrew Murray

Thanks Andrew Murray, whoever you are!

And just for blog entry title namesake, I shall remember 11 years of age at 1040 Village after being baptized and refreshedly unstoppable in spirit, trust, and force. Ahhh, old age, it gets you in downtroddeness perhaps….

Here are four (and a .5) random songs on my mind and in my head this morning:
PFR’s You Lord
Sunnyday Real Estate’s Faces in Disguise
Covenant Church congregation of Bowling Green, Ohio, For the Lord is Good
Michael Edwards’ Glory to the Lord
Coldplay’s Life in Technicolor

So today, thank you to the One. Farewell for now all! Have a nice week and happy Easter! HOORAY! He has risen!

p.s. the little dude

Reading this entry title…..so I thought I’d put Sebo in a snow suit! HA!

Let’s see, here’s a quick update on life lately:

School has been a snail.
Got strep throat in my elbow, not my throat! Freak!
Sebo had his first cold and some other issues all last month. Doing great now!
Sunshine and warmth is teasing our minds out of focus.
House is messy pretty much all the time (construction you know), but got great floors and almost the kitchen settled.
Puppies play outside all day while their parents are leashed.
Not enough time for some hobbies, but really enjoying Sebastian time.

CAN’T WAIT TO GO HOME FOR A FEW WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!