Hello!

Wow, it's been a while. Life has been a whirlwind since graduation. I just submitted the draft proposal for my book, Images of America: Mountain View to my editor a few minutes ago. So with that largely out of the way for the moment, I can finally update this blog.

Too much to write really, so I won't even try to cover it all. Let's just do Q&A session:

Q: How was Portugal?

A: It was great! I had an amazing time. The studio was a lot of work, but the Portuguese students were a lot of fun. The Berkeley grad students I went with 8 women in their late 20s/early 30s and 2 guys..one a former Cal band drum major...were great too. Once my dad got there, I was ready for a vacation though...and boy did we see a lot! Madeira island is absolutely beautiful.

Q: What were some of the high lights of trip?

A: Let's see. There are plenty:

-Drinking Sangrias during sunset on a restaurant on the beach in Cascais the night I arrived in Portugal, still trying to process that I had finally traveled off the North American continent. and was in the land of my ancient ancestors.

-Visiting the town of Sintra for the first time, and being floored by the setting and architecture of the Palacio de Pena.

-Eating Sardines, octopus, and whole bunch of other strange-for-me foods throughout the trip.

-Kicking ass on the presentation of my research project the Friday after I arrived, after worrying myself sick about it the day before.

-Escaping the studio one night with a few of the Berkeley students to enjoy a dinner on the waterfront in Belem.

-Singing the Cal drinking song with the ex-Cal drum major for the Portuguese and Berkeley students in the middle of a street PACKED with people in the Bairro Alto, downtown Lisbon's most popular night life district (where we celebrated after finishing our group presentations).

-Taking a walk by myself around the old town of Oeiras (where I stayed during the class) the next morning while everyone slept off their hangovers. I fell in love with Portugal on that morning, as I strolled through palace gardens, cobble stone streets, and the town's festa as its vendors were gearing up for another day of festivities.

-Listening to live Portuguese folk music sung by an occordian player while the studio shared a meal in the farm of the Portuguese professor's huge cork oak plantation two hours outside of Lisbon.

-Walking around an empty Alfama district with my dad on the morning he arrived from California, really enjoying the funny smile that he just couldn't wipe off his face because he was living a dream that he never really though would happen.

-Stepping on to the tarmac at Madeira Island airport, and getting a little emotional as I realized that , in a way, this was a homecoming for me and my dad.

-Madeira Island. Everything about it. Just amazing.

-The Oieras festa with my dad, blending in with the locals while enjoying fresh Lingucia sandwiches and watching the Bombiero (fireman) band.

-Our last full day in Portugal, where my dad and I saw two palaces, a famous monastery, two castles, and two tower monuments in the span of 12 hours! And somehow...never feeling rushed or in a hurry.

...whew that was more than I expected to type. But once I started, couldn't stop...moving on:

Q: How was your graduation party?

A: It was really nice. More than sixty people came to celebrate, mostly family. But by far the highlight was.....now get ready....when a new car pulled into West Dana Street. As I saw it, I wondered..."Hmmm who's that person in the new dark blue 2005 corolla?" When my mom said, "Mark, it's here!" I wondered...."hmm, what's that person in the new dark blue 2005 corolla bringing me?" And then I was floored as it slowly sunk in that the car itself was for me...a graduation gift from my parents. Holy freakin cow. I have a car. I never ever expected something like that. My parents are amazing.

Q: How was Batman?

A: Great, go see it!

Q: What's this book your working on?

A: Arcadia Publishing has been trying to do one of its Images of America books for Mountain View for a couple years now, but they couldn't find anyone interested in writing in. For a good deal of the semester I've been talking with the editor at the SF office about being the author of the book. I finally had time to submit my proposal today, and tomorrow I'll be meeting with my editor and representatives from the Historical Association to iron out the details...then it's a go! A viola, I have a summer job....and semester job...wish me luck.

Q: Where will you be living next year?

A: I'll be moving into Steph's room once she leaves in July, with Dan on Regent Street near Parker. It's a nice four bedroom on the first floor of a house designed by Julia Morgan. All though its on Southside, the neighborhood seems pleasant and is right near a nice park. Should be cool, and I'll finally have my own room!

Well, that should do it for now!