so, i've been home for almost a week, but it seems like a lot longer. not that that's a bad thing. here's what i've been doing:

- saturday, we went down to charlottesville for a family wedding. it was very cute, and i got to catch up with some family members (aka tina). it further convinced me that i need to make a documentary about our family (my grandpa and his brothers, who are all journalists, are totally for the idea), once i get, you know, money or something.
- manuel's back! of course, in six months, he completely forgot me and keeps calling me mia, since my name is too difficult (he can't say Ts or Vs). he's so adorable now, talking up a storm and repeating everything that everyone says. he's also really smart, and can identify things easily, in english and in german. now his favorite thing to do is drag me downstairs to play pool (which he used to just call "balls"). and after he's done knocking the balls around and drooling all over the table, he immediately starts chanting, "memo, memo!" and i have to put on "finding nemo" to make him stop. you would think he would get bored with going through this ritual three times a day, but he hasn't yet. we finally finished the movie this morning, so maybe he'll be done with it. he does go through some bad phases (this morning i couldn't sleep because he was whining incessantly), but on the whole, he's a very good kid. let's just hope that he behaves himself when i babysit him again tonight.

ok, i have to run and do stuff now, but let me know how your summers are going! i'll be lonely here with no friends to keep me company!