How I Spent My Summer Vacation (so far)

Well, since we last talked, I have been very busy. In fact, it's been a whirlwind summer. I returned from the European trip and stayed home a total of six days before Scott and I were off to Las Vegas. To be honest, the timing of this trip was not our choice, but we had promised to take our son, Ben, and his girlfriend for their first visit to Sin City and this was the only time frame they had open. (Ben is having to move to find a new job since he is one of the thousands of victims of Rick Perry's "Let's Make Sure None of My Rich Friends Pay More Taxes by Firing Teachers Instead" policy. But that's another story.)

While we were in Vegas I was able to get front row, center tickets to see Barry Manilow at Paris, where we stayed. I have been a Fanilow since 1975 and I make no apologies. I love him. They allowed cameras at the show, just no video, and I took nearly 70 photos during the 90 minute show. 

When we returned home, I stayed put for a grand total of eleven days before I was off to Marble Falls for a weekend at the lake house with a group of my best girlfriends. (OK, I know Marble Falls is just a little more than an hour away, but it still counts as a trip.) The weekend was relaxing and uplifting and I'm glad we finally were able to get together. By mutual agreement, there are no photos of this get-together; none of us wanted to end up on Facebook in our bathing suits!


So now I am home for the rest of the summer and happy to stay put for a while. I wrote one post while I was in Germany, the one about Memorial Day at the Luxembourg Cemetery. Since then I haven't written anything and I'm beginning to get a little itchy. I plan to spend some concentrated time writing during July, mostly because it will be too hot to do anything but swim and stay inside. 


But before I leave you today, I want to give you some of impressions of Germany. We had such a wonderful time and I took so many photographs that I am having trouble deciding what to share. So I'm going to the bottom line -- food. Here are some photos of some of the great food I had on my trip. Enjoy! I'll see you again soon.

Sugar Waffles, Bruges, Belgium

Beautiful bread, everywhere I went

White asparagus, a specialty in Bruges

Profiteroles with chocolate sauce

Apple pancake in Bruges; our favorite!

Raspberry pastry in Trier, Germany

Pretzels, everywhere in Germany

Fresh salad with chicken in Koblenz, waiting for the Rhine River cruise.

White asparagus toast & salad in Trier

Veal cordon bleu and vegetable quiche in Luxembourg.

Travels With My Foot

OK, I know what you're thinking -- "I am about to be treated to a description of Annette's podiatry problems," but you're wrong. This really is about travels with my foot. Let me explain.

About six years ago Scott and I were in Cozumel with our friends Bob and Leah. On this day Leah and I were shopping, drinking margaritas and generally having a great time taking a little break from the beach and sun. We came upon a henna tatoo artist and decided to get little bitty tatoos. I have always wanted a tatoo of a Celtic knot on my ankle and the only thing that has kept me from doing it is thinking about getting old, wrinkled and saggy with that tatoo on my foot. Leah, however, is a nurse and gets very adamant about needles and sanitation, so I don't mention the word around her. But, since this is henna, no needles and only lasts a few weeks, we decide to go for it and each of us gets a little Celtic symbol on her ankle. 

Then the fun begins. Emboldened by the tatoo, my "foot" takes on a separate personality and starts demonstrating outrageous behavior that no self-respecting, un-tatooed foot would ever think of doing. My foot was caught in several compromising circumstances and photographed more than I like. Unfortunately, the photos were in predigital days and the prints are buried somewhere that I haven't been able to find for a while, else I would show you the censored version. 

But that first experience has led to a running gag where my foot gets photographed having fun wherever we go. Take a look. (Side note: My foot is partial to red toes.)

My foot and Barb's foot gambling in Biloxi.

My foot, enjoying Barq's Root Beer in the New Orleans French Market.

My foot, sailing on a catamaran in Aruba.

My foot, breaking into the mini-bar in Vegas.

My foot has lots of fun everywhere we go. I am compiling photos and will put them together one day after I finish my novel. It will be a travel log entitled, "Travels With My Foot." Bestseller, don't you think?