In my blog, I will be talking about energy efficiency, renewable energy, conservation, recycling, etc. Until the next time.

After graduating from the University of Washington, Seattle, in Spanish, I couldn't hold a conversation in Spanish. I was too timid to speak it and many of my classes were in English. The big question facing me was "How do I learn to speak conversational Spanish?" Although I could read and write Spanish fairly well, I couldn't speak it nor understand it well at all.

In order to become proficient, I decided to visit Spain three times for a total of almost two years. Plus I also visited Mexico a number of times. Strangely, whenever I'd utter a few words of Spanish, the gracious listener assumed that I could speak fluently, thus he/she took off speaking Spanish 100 miles an hour! I remember in those early years that I'd be very brain tired at night because I'd listened to so many Spanish suitors uttering sweet nothings to me. (I was in my 20s!)

Now, of course, I practice speaking Spanish every opportunity I have, including chatting over the lettuce counter, talking about children, discussing current events, or whatever. Since I really love the culture and the people, I normally experience a welcome reception when I engage in conversation. In fact, most don't seem to mind my reaching out to them to share a little of the America that eludes many of them...the kinder, gentler America. So if you see me chatting over a head of lettuce in a foreign tongue, just come on over and say, "Buenos dias" and join in the fun!

Little did Susan know that she'd be taking Gladys home every night and feeding her small amounts of sunflower seeds, watching her carefully to see if she'd make it. Yesterday when I attempted to pick up Gladys at the end of the day, the staff told me that Susan had already carted her home. So now we're waiting expectantly for Gladys to climb up our pear tree again. What is Gladys?