Here Kitty Kitty!

Today I received this e-mail from the University Police in College Park.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND 20742-6011
301-405-3555
EMERGENCY / DIAL 911
http://www.umdps.umd.edu

CAMPUS ALERT

July 31, 2008
There have been several reliable sightings of an animal fitting the description of a cougar on the campus. The description of the sighted cat is: light tan and tawny brown, about 4 feet long with a 4 foot tail, and weighing about 50 pounds. Several sightings have been reported from the area of Cole Field House, near the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, and continuing through the wooded areas to the area of the Comcast Center and Arena Drive Garage. There has been no report of aggressive behavior on the part of the animal, but community members are warned that cougars are a predatory species and that, if seen, the animal should not be approached.
If you see the animal, please contact the university police at 301-405-3555. University police are working with other agencies to
remove the animal from the campus area.

Prepared by:
Captain John Brandt
Crime Prevention Unit
jbrandt@umpd.umd.edu

DOGgone Cute

There aren't nearly enough photos of the furkids on the blog.  Time to pump up the volume. Enjoy these picts of the kiddos as they cheered their dad on at an Adventure Race earlier this spring. Photos of the actual race to come in a future post.

CDW's Portland Marathon

In fall 2007 Chris and Mark ran the Portland Marathon. We just got the photos back so in that respect this post is timely. They had a groovy time, and opted to pony up a few extra bones for the VIP treatment. It included big comfy sofas in their recovery areas, long massages, and prime position at the starting line. Talk about high rollers!!

What is Chris doing with his hands in that picture you ask?? That's a shout out to the Baltimore PaceMakers - can you make out the P and M? We own the road. That's also where we met each other!

And Jody's running?? I'm still battling with my right IT band, but I am able to trot rather slowly around the grass at Ft. McHenry. Jackson and I did a loop just tonite. I'm awaiting new orthotics, and hope to be posting my own race picts sometime soon!

Italia, Day Two

Below: Jody and Chris in front of the Pisa Duomo.  Happy couple enjoys patio dinner overlooking the cliffs in the Cinque Terre town of Corniglia.

This morning we got right on our way to the Cinque Terre. As luck would have it Pisa was on the way. We stopped in Pisa where we had some trouble figuring out where we could park (we may still get a ticket in the mail) - and visited that rather famous landmark. The Campanile (tower) is located on the Campo dei Miracoli, or Field of Miracles, which also houses a Duomo (dome), Baptistry, and Camposanto.

From Pisa we continued driving northwest toward the college and harbor town of La Spezia - from there we connected to the curvy road that brought us into the Cinque Terre. Translated, this name means "The five lands" - and it is the collective name for five distinct villages situated on the cliffs of Liguria and overlooking the Mediterranean sea. The names of the towns are: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso.  If you have trouble remembering them ask Chris to teach you the song he adapted to the tune of the Backstreet Boys "I Want it That Way" ("I never want to hear you say - Riomaggiore.")

We stayed in the town of Corniglia, at the very same inn our friends Charles and Carol stayed in years ago.  Corniglia is the quietest village in the Cinque Terre, and is said to be the one most likely to offer you a glimpse into life in the CQ the way it was until just a few decades ago (this is shamelessly lifted from our Frommer's guide).  The room had a great terrace right outside where we could see and hear all of the activities in the small town square, and we could see the sea from our window.  (We could also hear the local cock a crowin' starting each morning at 5AM.) 

Our first evening in the CQ was celebrated with a delicious dinner at our inn's restaurant. I had the gnocchi with pesto which was outstanding - Liguria is the birthplace of pesto.

Italia

Buon Giorno!! We have returned from Italy. After a 26 hour day in cars, buses, planes, and a sprint through the Cincinnati airport, we arrived at our cozy condo in Charm City around 12:30 last night. All pets have been very enthusiastic about our return, and were very well-cared for - thanks to the pet sitting crew.

I'm going to try to detail each day of our trip in installments - a lofty goal! As you view our photos here and on Snapfish please remember that CDW is the photographer in this family. This is why our travel pictures are filled with a disproportionate number of picts of . . . well, me.

Italia, Day 1

We arrived in Italy this morning around 7:30. We decided that pushing through the day would be the best way to adjust to the 6 hour time change and red-eye flight. We found parking in Roma just outside the walls of The Vatican. We walked down to St. Peter's Square (actually it is more of an oval shape) which was teeming with people! I didn't anticipate that the square would have in it 5 or 6 of the largest televisions I had ever seen. They are used for the Papal Audience. We did not go inside any of the structures, but enjoyed seeing The Vatican, and walked the entire perimeter so that we even glimpsed the Swiss Guard, The Vatican's own militia responsible for protecting the Pope, and his peeps.

Next we embarked on a city tour bus. It's cheesy and touristy, but a great way to see a lot without having to walk everywhere - perfect for these weary travelers. We rode by: the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, termini, quirinale, bocca della verita, piazza venezia, san pietro, piazza cavour, Altar of Peace, via veneto, and we walked by the Spanish Steps. It was a typically hot July day in the city, so we took many opportunities to fill our water bottle at one of the free (and quite beautiful) city fountains.

The manhole covers in the city of Roma all bear the letters SPQR. Because of three years of Latin at CHS with Miss Ryan, I recalled that this abbreviates "The Senate and the People of Rome," a Latin phrase dating back to ancient times. Wikipedia tells us that SPQR is actually the motto of the modern city of Rome.

The photos above are at Trevi Fountain.

Fear the Turtle

Starting this fall I will be in school full time working on an MPH.  Very convenient that I got into the program just down the road in College Park.  Yes Wahoos, I will, temporarily, claim to be a Terp.  Check out the link to visit the site of my program.

Tea Partay

Chris's Cousin Grant introduced us to the Tea Partay.  Here's to our homies in Williamstown! Click on the Tea Partay title to see the Youtube video.

A special visitor

Recently Chris's friend Laura came to visit.  They met in law school, and keep in touch across the country.  Laura does fancy lawyer'in in California.  Pictured is Laura with her baby Ryan.  He sure is cute. And Jackson thought his feet tasted awful good.

Note: Laura's husband/baby daddy, Jeff, is not in this photograph because he was unable to make the trip east.  He was in Thailand filming elephants that paint.  (No joke.)  However, a close look at baby Ryan will reveal a virtually exact duplicate of his father.  We shall call him Mini-Jeff.

Diamond in the Rough

This Saturday was the Diamond in the Rough Triathlon in Perryville, MD, about 40 minutes out of the city.  Chris, Melissa and Brenda competed. They even seemed to have fun despite all of the swimming, biking, and running in super hot and sunny weather. Caele, Jackson and I cheered them on during the bike and at the finish line. Congratulations to the competitors!

We need a name

By the way - I would love ideas for a name for our blog. Charm City Chronicles would be great if we were 14 year-olds starting a newspaper in our basement - but that is not the case. Submissions welcome.

The beginning

Since our friends and families are spread out across the country (and world) it seems like a Chris and Jody blog would be useful. I know - this is a weak showing for a first entry - no picts, no stories. I promise they're coming. First entry will be Chris's great showing at the Diamond in the Rough Triathlon this last weekend. Then lots of shots of Italy. Stay tuned - check back in late July.