Assateague Island - trip #1

A spontaneous car trip with Mila yesterday, to give Marie some rest and space to get home projects done on her day off from work, began with me asking Mila if she wanted to go to the Inner Harbor. My first priority was to get Mila down for a nap, so as we approached the harbor area I asked Mila if she wanted to go to Annapolis and see the Chesapeake Bay. Holding her red stuffed crab, she agreed, with the added suggestion that we get something to eat there. Mila fell asleep as we turned onto I-695 and I decided to keep driving toward the ocean and see for how long she would nap. On Sunday I had taught a make-up class at MICA and I still had a few days before I had to teach another class, so I was feeling very free with my schedule for the day. I crossed the Bay Bridge, followed highway 50 eastward, and was nearly to Salisbury before Mila woke up.

I talked to Marie on the phone as we stopped at a grocery store just before the bridge to Assateague Island. She requested that I call when I see some wild horses. We had hardly been driving on the island for a half mile when we encountered three small horses grazing along the side of the road, including what looked like a yearling. Mila wanted to go say hi to the "baby horse", but I had to explain that these were not pets or zoo animals, but wild animals. She eventually got the idea that they "might kick", but was still interested in getting closer. Carrying Mila on my shoulders about five feet away from a horse was as close as we got. It was an incredible experience. I tried my best to describe it to Marie on the phone. (A day pass to the National Seashore turned out to be a 7-day pass as well, so I am hoping to bring the whole family back to Assateague Island next weekend.)

Mila and I spent a long time on the beach, and had the place virtually to ourselves. Mila's favorite activity, aside from digging with a shell, was throwing sand on my back and chasing me with her hands full of it. An outdoors potty adventure turned into quite the lesson for Mila in the use of primitive tools and available resources, such as scooping with shells and washing with water from the ocean. It is still March and a tad chilly in the North Atlantic...

Driving further southward on the island, I navigated the car slowly through a herd of wild horses, stopping once in awhile for a horse to poke its head into the car. This was a hit with Mila, as you might imagine. We parked the car at the head of a trail called "Life Of The Dunes", and hiked in the midst of a Dr. Seuss-like landscape of scrub pine, flowers, and undulating sand. Mila enjoyed walking along what looked like intermittent strips of exposed rock, although it was black and sandy to the touch. Later we found a sign that explained that this had been Baltimore Boulevard, a road built in the 1950's (along with some 900 structures on the island) that had been destroyed by a "northeaster" storm in 1962 before the area had been protected as a National Seashore. At the far end of the loop trail, we spotted two small deer. We looked at the picture on one sign that showed the diversity of animal life on the island, and Mila became determined to find a fox mama and baby. We walked back slowly as the sun set and the stars came out, laughing at the chatter of birds in the bushes.

After finding dinner along the strip of resort hotels north of Ocean City, feeling like a ghost town at this time of year and in the present economy (desperate sign on one bank along the road advertised "Still Strong, Still Lending"), we headed back to Baltimore in the dark. Mila slept while I sipped gas station coffee. Of course I hadn't brought my camera on this day. One day I'll figure out how to get the pictures off my cell phone.

a few more photos from Iowa

Mila and her uncle David had one day of overlap in Iowa City during the spring break. The last time my brother saw Mila was when she was just about 3 months old. Reintroduction of Mila and David while trying to wake up the latter probably wasn't the best idea, but Mila warmed up to her uncle by the time we took an afternoon walk together to the local playground. Mila offered him an imaginary blueberry and all was well.

Having family spread across the far corners of the country, with none around Baltimore, sometimes has its challenges. Our visits are always memorable. With a new baby on the way in late May (!!), we will probably not be so mobile for awhile. After weeks of travelling, it is nice to be home for a long stretch as Marie and I prepare for the upcoming birth.

Mila in Iowa

We are halfway through Mila's longest period of separation from her mama. We wish Marie was here with us, but the love and attention that Mila is getting from her grandparents is getting us through alright. Highlights of Mila's visit to Iowa have included hikes in Hickory Hill Park, playing in her great grandma's yard (and receiving a stuffed pug dog), a preschooler "funky blues jam" at the IC public library, the playground on the pedestrian mall, and Amish horses and hens out near Kalona. I am trying to shield Mila from the potential Animal Kingdom violence of my parents' miniature poodle trying to kill their African Gray parrot. 

Travelin' Man

I arrived home last night at 5 AM after a long drive straight from Toronto to New York to Baltimore, the last leg of a whirlwind mini-tour over the past two weeks that has allowed me to feel like I'm living the dream of rock star DJ life. If only I were actually making any money doing the shows... imagine. The experience of performing in two new countries (Portugal and Canada) and collaborating onstage with amazing musicians has been great. Arriving home is even better. As much fun as touring and performing is, I can't imagine touring regularly, one night after another in a different city with my family far away.

Tomorrow Mila and I depart for Iowa City, this time without turntables. We will be spending 5 days with my parents and my brother. Marie is not able to come with us, due to her work schedule. This will be the longest period of time that Mila and Marie have been apart, and I don't expect that it will be easy for either of them. I don't know what to expect from Mila when she suddenly goes from two weeks without seeing her dad much to suddenly being swept up on an airplane and hanging out with only her dad, uncle, and grandparents for almost a full week. I am looking forward to seeing the blossoming of communication skills that Mila has regularly showed when receiving undivided attention from her relatives.

I am so grateful to Therese, Marie's mom, for flying up from Florida to help take care of Mila during my mini-tour. Family is wonderful. Here's to a calmer April before the Spangler family of Baltimore expands with a new member, later on toward the summer. Yes, I believe that the secret is out. Marie and I look forward to preparing together for something very special.