U.S.A.

After 4 1/2 months overseas, we have arrived back in America! We flew from London to the Washington D.C. area, where we were picked up from the airport by my parents.

I grew up in the Baltimore suburbs. My parents have since moved to a more rural area of Maryland near the Pennsylvania border. It seems like their street has more tractors than cars driving on it.



We've been staying busy swimming in their pool, lounging in the backyard hammock, exchanging presents, visiting relatives, playing with Noodle the Labradoodle (she's a mix between a poodle and a labrador retriever) and shopping at some of our favorite stores, like REI and Trader Joe's.

Last night, we enjoyed America's favorite pastime -- more specifically, a baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals. We went to Camden Yards in downtown Baltimore with my parents, Richard and Debbie, and my youngest brother, Matt, who plays minor league baseball in Texas.


Ediza Rose received a special certificate because it was her first official baseball game. She must have been a good luck charm as the Orioles won 7-5.