April Showers Bring May Fl- ....Waaaiiiiiiit....

First major thunderstorm/afternoon shower today. It POURED and Almir and I got caught outside in it, me without so much as a jacket. It was a bit weird to feel raindrops like that -- they were quite large and I can't remember the last time I've really gotten rained on. Back home in Seattle it usually 'drizzles' more than it flat-out pours like that, and of course in Arizona when it rains people prefer not to risk their lives by going outside on those torrential, monsoon downpours.

I ordered yet another book on American foreign policy at the bookstore today, bringing my total number of books on the subject to 5. Wooo! I love books. This one is entitled "Of Paradise and Power: America and Europe in the New World Order." Should be quite the read. I like what I've seen from its author (Robert Kagan) so far. Unlike most authors today, who hold up the EU as some sort of utopia and assert the U.S. is the greatest threat to world peace, Kagan takes the realist approach: Yes, Europe has enjoyed over 50 years of peace since the end of World War II and the integration of the continent -- but only because the U.S. foots its defense bill through NATO. He also points out that it is exactly America's power - and its willingness to exercise that power in defense of OTHER nations besides itself - that make it the primary target. Preach it, Kagan!

I am going to have quite the summer reading list for our annual vacation to the ocean and the 2 weeks I have in Seattle before I strike south for ASU. Excited!