Vida En El Valle Blogs: The Latin voice of the central valley.

Things I’m loving right now:

Have you read any books by Julia Alvarez? I’m currently reading ‘In the Time of the Butterflies,’ a 1994 novel about four sisters living under the dictatorship of former Dominican Republic leader Rafael Trujillo. Like many books that I love (‘The Invisible Mountain,’ by Carolina de Robertis, and ‘The Inhabited Woman,’ by Gioconda Belli,) ‘In the Time of the Butterflies’ weaves together family, love, and revolutionaries.

Salsa dancing! This summer, I wrote a business story about Rowan Hernandez, who coordinates the Starline Salsa Club every Thursday night in Fresno’s Tower District. I finally went salsa dancing there last night, and had a blast, even though I can’t count music or move my hips naturally. For now, I’m OK being the gringa who likes to be twirled until she’s giddy and dizzy.

Reports of powdery snow! If it’s been raining in the Valley all week, that means the skies have been DUMPING snow in the mountains. Between today’s Fresno Bee’s story about playing in fresh power, and Sierra Summit snow reports via Twitter (Example: TWO FEET of snow again last night. Weather is calling for more snow today and a possible clearing this weekend. Powderfest 2010) – I’m dying to hit the slopes. Lucky for me, I’m going tomorrow!!  

I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I’ve taken a liking to VIA, Starbucks’ instant coffee. I mean, when it’s cold and rainy outside, and you stay up late reading great books and salsa dancing, you need something to get you going in the early morning, right?!?

Images from Vida en el Valle and Starbucks