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It’s been a while since I’ve blogged. That’s what happens when I go without a desktop from the end of May until mid-August. Here’s what’s been up, and what’s coming up. This isn’t a particularly wordy post, but there are a lot of pictures from Europe and the US…
WHAT’S COMING UP
#Repatproject travel – Repatriation Project-related travels will include Philly and other parts of PA, the DC area, South Carolina, Florida, the national parks, Route 66, and more! And Oktoberfest in Frederick, MD!
That’s right–a Route 66 road trip next summer. (Whaaaat?! Yup.)
We’re getting two puppies in October: miniature schnauzers. If you think Flash can’t even now, just wait… I’m thinking his facebook page will be seeing a lot more photos.
Waaaay more meals at our new favorite restaurant, Surf House, in Urbana, MD.
Shows at the Kennedy Center. Coming soon: the symphony playing along to a viewing of E.T. I cannot.wait.
And, of course, blogging about past European travels that haven’t yet made it onto the site. Spoiler alert: there’s a lot. The first few European posts will include Tivoli, a small amusement park in Copenhagen; Ecomusée d’Alsace, an Alsatian outdoor heritage museum near Colmar, France; Polish pottery shopping in Boleslawiec, Poland; and more!
WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON since May
Polish pottery shopping in Boleslawiec, Poland.
A trip to Prague with a return through Cheb (a worthwhile, uncrowded taste of the Czech Republic), and a stop to buy a garden gnome from a dude on the side of the road.
A weekend in Oberammergau for our last taste of beautiful Bavaria, including a visit to Linderhof, Ettal, our last Rodelbahn, and every woodcarver we saw.
A final pitstop at my absolute favorite rest stop in all of Europe.
Stayed at an amazing African-themed lodge in Gross Umstadt, Germany.
A final farewell to Dieburg and our favorite weekly Schnitzel restaurant, Stoawaejer Stubb.
Finally stayed at the “blimp hotel” as we were headed out of Germany: a Hilton within a Hindenburg-shaped glass building attached to FRAport.
Flew HOME to the US after four years of expat life in Germany.
Spent the morning of Memorial Day at DC’s memorials.
Bought an old farmhouse in Maryland (yeah…some of the conveniences I couldn’t wait to return to in the US? They don’t exist in a farmhouse built from the mid-1800’s through the mid-1900’s.)
The movers delivered our first load of furniture, which had been in storage the entire time we were in Germany (things we didn’t need for four years and forgot we had, but thank god one of them was a table to eat on).
Flew to Utah to visit family. Took a day trip to Antelope State Park. We were fortunate to visit before a large fire swept through the island.
Headed down to South Carolina to visit family. Lost my prescription sunglasses in the Atlantic. Because Me.
Continued on down to Florida to visit family. Collected shells and sharks’ teeth.
Maryland German Festival. Spoiler alert: it ain’t Germany.
The movers brought our second load of furniture, which included items stored with my mother, and a baby grand piano.
Enjoyed our first Kennedy Center event since returning: Phantom of the Opera. My husband thought there was a bit too much singing. *sigh*
The movers brought our third load of furniture, which took two days to unload from the truck. I had the pleasure of seeing the recycle truck dude’s face on the third pickup of so.many.boxes.
Returned to Utah to visit family. Took a day trip to the Bonneville Salt Flats, and a walk around Silver Lake.
My daughter got her free National Parks pass, as a part of the Every Kid in a Park program, and we (including Flash) took a nice little hike in Shenandoah National Park. It involved getting lost, but that’s no surprise, eh?
CURRENT WRITING PROJECTS
The novel June’s Hat (#juneshat), based on the adventures of #SomeGuysHat as well as the #3GenRT, is the fictional story of 4 generations of women. When one retires to follow the trail of a such a hat, the two younger generations reluctantly join her. While retracing history, they learn much more than they’d intended–about family, war, marriage, and one another. This manuscript is in progress.
And, of course, the children’s book series #FlashCantEven. The Flash series, written by Kari Martindale (that’s me) and illustrated by Aaron Parrott, is based on a real Jack Russell who has had his fair share of adventures. In the first book, The Day Flash Couldn’t Even, we’re reminded that there is always tomorrow. In The Time Flash Had the Best Day Ever, children are introduced to the idea that their feelings are not the only feelings at play. In honor of Book 1, “The Day Flash Couldn’t Even”, we’ll be posting pictures of times when Flash just couldn’t even, on his facebook page.
My office is coming together, so I can comfortably write. It has a ways to go, but most of what I need around me is in place. What kinds of things do I need in my line of sight to be able to write effectively? A bulletin board covered in visuals related to writing projects, a map of the National Parks System, a canvas of photos from #3GenRT, some of my favorite drawings and notes from Sequoia, two antique telephones, and a photo of me holding a lens cap up in Cannon Beach, Oregon, as if it’s a Goonies doubloon. Surrounded by crap is when I do my best work.
P.S.
If you have a fourth grader, don’t forget the Every Kid in a Park program. Fourth grade is young enough to really make an impression and instill a love for the parks, but old enough to understand what they’re learning at the visitor’s centers.
