Ciao, Roma!

We are leaving Roma soon! I am in a happily tipsy state, since we were upgraded to Economy Plus seats (more legroom!) and Dad got a voucher to let us in the lounge, where there was complementary white wine. So I am happy and relaxed. We are seated and classical music plays on the PA as everyone else is scrambling to take their seats.

Amanda and I are both feeling a bit better today. Neither of us slept well, but I know I will do my best to stay awake for the entire flight (and the one from Chicago to Cleveland).

I have quite a bit to do tonight, so falling asleep wouldn't be the end of the world. I hope everything has been going well at home. I've only been gone about two weeks, but I still worry. I'm a worrier; that's what I do.

The next few days are going to be jam-packed. I need to pay my electricity bill ASAP and go to Kohl's to get some stuff I can't get without transportation in Columbus. Oh right. And I need to gather stuff at home to take back to Columbus, not to mention make a pile for my family to bring to me when I move to my permanent apartment in September. My mom wants me to visit before school starts again, but I don't have a car and have already missed 3 weeks of work. So, unless Molly gets a hankerin' for some home cookin', it's not gonna happen.

I need to get my guitar fixed.

And I'd like to play my flute more.

Friday night, we will be watching Hudson's 4th of July fireworks. (It's so hard to think that last 4th of July I was in Lebanon :( ). And Saturday is the family picnic. Then Sunday, back to Columbus. Back to routine, hopefully.

Anyway, we're in taxi for takeoff.

Ciao, Roma. Ciao, Italia.

Day 3 in Roma: The Last Day

Today was an Italian holiday: St. Paul's Day. He is the protector of Rome.

I feel like shit.

Amanda and I are both sick.

All day, I've felt very odd. You know that feeling you get in your stomach when you miss a step on a stair? Well, my legs feel like that and have all day. Occasionally my stomach feels like that, too, as do my arms. I've been constantly lightheaded and weak; sometimes the world looks like its spinning or somehow distorted. I drank lots of water.

It was really hot today, so we thought it was just the heat. We came back to the room after going to the Pantheon, shopping, retuning to the Trevi Fountain for more photos and gelato, and walking to see another fountain. I slept for an hour or so. Just before we took the subway to our room to rest, I was suddenly freezing, goosebumps in 70-80 degree heat. I was still freezing when we got back to the room. I put on my sweatshirt and huddled with the blanked and slept through a horrible headache.

I woke up sweating profusely and extremely hot. I was the only one. I ate a snack.

We then took the Metro to a place called Cinecittà because there's a big mall out there (and we had time to kill), but it was closed due to the holiday. Amanda was extremely disappointed. We took the Metro to another, more familiar (and expensive) shopping place and walked around. We bought a pastry at a grocery store, then took a bus back to the hotel area. I was fine after I first got up but an hour later, I started feeling like shit again. Amanda wasn't feeling too great either, but she was just hungry.

Once back near the hotel, we went to dinner at the same place we went the first night because it was so good. I wasn't hungry, but made myself eat about half of this huge plate of tasty pasta. Then we went to the hotel.

We are currently in the throes of post-packing, pre-showering reading. All except for me; I feel to shitty to shower and am watching the Spain vs. Portugal game. I washed my feet, and that's it. I feel too shitty to even brush my teeth. I really hope I feel better tomorrow, because that 10 hour flight is going to be a bitch if I don't.

Day 2 in Roma: Vatican City

Today, we went to Vatican City. We took a guided tour, which turned out to be a fantastic idea because it saved us 5-8 hours waiting in line to get into the Vatican Museum, not to mention all the fantastic information she gave. I could once again go on forever about how ridiculous religion is (like how the Basilica was built by money for Indulgences*), but I won't; I will simply view it all as purely art.

More things I learned:

The Vatican has Swiss guards because when the Pope was hiring guards, the Swiss were the cheapest. Now it's just tradition. Their uniforms have over a thousand pieces and take 53 fittings before a new uniform is completed.

It is pretty easy to tell Roman and Greek sculptures apart. If the statue is standing on its own, then it is most likely Greek. However, if it is leaning on something, like a long piece of clothing or a tree or another person, then it is most likely Roman. This is because the Greeks were better at math and found it easier to properly balance the statue.

Michelangelo was sort of an asshole. First of all, he and Raphael were active at the same time, and there was Team R and Team M. It is rumored that Michelangelo's enemies convinced the Pope at the time to ask him to paint the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel because Micelangelo was a sculptor and didn't know how to paint. He said no at first, but the Pope insisted, so how was he supposed to disobey the Pope's order? Raphael's supporters were basically hoping that Michelangelo would fuck up the ceiling so that whatever Raphael painted inside the Chapel would be the focal point.**

So Michelangelo needed to learn how to paint and how to reach the ceiling. When he asked someone how he was to reach the ceiling, he wasn't sure if the person who told him was on his team or Raphael's, so he developed his own plans for a scaffolding, and this design is still used today by artists and historians.

When painting the ceiling, Michelangelo began painting too small and with thick, defined lines as one would sculpt. When he looked up from the ground, he realized his error and began painting bigger figures. The highly defined lines continued until nearer the end of his work.

He also did not like anyone else with him while he was working, so when the Pope came, Michelangelo would throw things off his scaffolding (wood, paint, etc.) until the Pope left.

In addition to the ceiling, Michelangelo also painted the wall: The Last Judgement. There are quite a few little trinkets in this piece, which is one of my favorites.

--The souls that did not sin a lot floated up to Jesus' throne of judgment easily, but those who sinned a lot had to be dragged up by the angels.

--Also, one of the souls (St. Bartholomew) is holding a knife and his skin because he was killed for his beliefs -- by being skinned alive, then crucified. This is where Michelangelo painted his self-portrait. We do not know for sure why he chose to paint himself on the bodyless skin, but there is much speculation, such as he was old and expected to die soon (though he ended up living for another 25 years).

--Michelangelo thought that the male human body was the most beautiful creation on earth, so his figures were almost always naked (wherever he had extra room on the ceiling of the Chapel, he painted naked men).

--In the Last Judgement, another artist was later asked to paint cloths over the naked men (the tour guide said she's only found 1 man who remained uncovered).

--Finally, my favorite tidbit about this piece is that, in the bottom right-hand corner, Michelangelo depicted one of his enemies -- who also happened to be a close friend of the Pope. He made this man a demon in hell; he gave him donkey ears and a snake is biting his genitals. When the man when to the Pope to complain, the Pope basically said, "If that's how Michelangelo painted it, then that is how it is."

Michelangelo only signed one work, and this was the Pietà. He did so after he overheard two people talking about this sculpture, and when one asked who created it, the other replied with an incorrect name. So Michelangelo sneaked in one night and carved "Michelangelo from Florence" right across Mary's chest. I could not see this signature from where I was standing, but I figured I'd google it later anyway. This gorgeous statue was carved from one solid block of marble. In 1972, a mentally disturbed geologist named Laszlo Toth attacked this sculpture with a hammer and harmed Mary's face and her left arm. (Wikipedia says that he did so while shouting "I am Jesus Christ -- risen from the dead"). They have since been restored, but now the statue can only be seen from behind a large sheet of acrylic protective glass.

I learned a lot and took a shit-ton of photos! Now I don't care to ever return.

After seeing the city, we ate, then returned to the hotel -- and here we sit. Everyone but me is asleep. I'm about to make some instant espresso and read some Infinite Jest. I have no idea what we're doing tonight. Tomorrow, we are going to the Pantheon (which we heard is unfortunately under construction) and returning to the Trevi Fountain for some light shopping and to stop at a particular gelato stand, then returning to the restaurant where we ate our first night in Roma (surprisingly, a lot of the food here is quite bland and mediocre -- I prefer my canned sauce from home because at least it has flavor!). Then Wednesday, we leave!

We won't get home until around 10pm Wednesday night, but I don't care. I think we're all ready to go home. Mom and Amanda said they would've preferred going to Roma first, then Sicilia, but I feel like either way, at this point, I would be ready to go home. I have a lot to do, though, and really don't want to go back to work, but oh well. It'll be fine.

But it has certainly been a great vacation. I have enjoyed it immensely so far (though my family's about done being together 24/7) and am ready for it to end. I want to return to Sicilia as soon as possible (because of older family), but I don't know if that will be a possibility.

In any case, buona sera!

*At one point in the Catholic church, when you went to confessional, each sin had a required donation associated with it; after paying, you would receive a document stating that you were forgiven for your sins. Similarly, you could buy Indulgences, which would ensure your dead relatives good perks in heaven.†

** Speaking of focal points, the Sistene Chapel is one of the main pickpocketing locations because tourists are all looking up at the ceiling. There are 400 reported cases of pickpocketing in the Vatican City each day.

†You don't have to tell me how ridiculous this is.

Day 1 in Roma: Colosseo and Palatine Hill

Last night, we got in around 9pm. So. Late. We took a cab to the hotel, checked in, then went out for a delicious pasta dinner at a restaurant just down the street. We had barely eaten all day, so it was fantastic. Then we went to bed.

We awoke around 8ish this morning, had our continental breakfast, then took a bus to the Colosseum (or, the Flavian Amphitheatre). We took a tour through that then one over the Palatine Hill. The girl that gave the second tour was adorable and had the coolest accent, which I could not place. After the tour, I found out that she was Russian, but has lived in Sweden as long as she can remember -- and is now a student in Rome! That explains the accent! She's giving a tour (3 hours, €45 each) of the Vatican City tomorrow, so we're going to that. Mom protested because it's so expensive (about 400% increase over the regular entry fee), but I argued that we aren't familiar with the sights nor the main things to see, (plus we got pretty turned around on the Palatine hill after the tour ended), so we need to get up at 7 tomorrow to do that. We'll have time to wander around the city after the tour.

After the touring, we hopped on the subway to Termini, ate a cheesburger from, of course, McDonald's, had some gelato (from elsewhere--do not fear!) and returned to the hotel for a nap.

McDonald's and boobs. Win.

All but Dad have been in a crabby mood today. My crappy mood began at the tail-end of our tours when I was overheated and dehydrated. Then later, it got worse when my family would continuously ignore advice and things I said regarding subways and direction. I feel like they're constantly belittling my experiences. (Not to mention, this afternoon, my mom was trying to convince me to come home for another few days before school starts, which is stupid because 1) I have no transportation and 2) I'm already missing 3 weeks of work and 2 weeks of my internship). Obviously I'm frustrated. I feel like I'm always being told that I should do what I want to do with my life, but constantly being asked to do other things that thoroughly disrupt it!

Anyway, later we will go to see the Trevi fountain before dark, eat dinner, then see it after dark. Then sleep. Here's hoping tomorrow brings better moods than did today.

Spoiler alert! :-P

I'm on a Train

We are on the train. 8 hours. Some train ride. Plus, a mysterious hour and a half stand-still on the track. What a delay. We've been on it all day. The rice balls Amanda and I ate on the ferry from Sicily to Italy were good, though! The train is not full, so we have the whole 6-person compartment to ourselves.

I'm tired after last night and this morning, but don't want to sleep because then I won't be able to sleep later tonight. Last night I barely slept at all. And this morning was nothing but crying. I probably won't ever see these people again. It's horribly sad. Nearly everyone was sobbing. I'm going to miss them. I really treasured my time with them.

We should get to Rome around 8pm. Then we'll take a taxi to our hotel, pee, go out to find dinner and gelato (since we still haven't had any -- can you believe it?!). We haven't peed on the train because it's literally a hole above the tracks. Eeek!

Buona sera!

Random Day 2: The Bitchin' One

This morning, we went into Patti with Zio Tino, and he took us to a gelato shop his sister-in-law owns. We had frangola granita (strawberry ice) with cream and sweet bread, and it was AMAZING! All so fresh and authentic! Amazing! Then we visited Cousin Rosa's sister at her job at a clothing boutique, then her brother at his seaside bar/cafe. Then we spent about half an hour on the beach. It was beautiful and the water was clear blue and warm. Gorgeous. The only thing we did not like was that the beach is not sand, but little rocks. They don't get into everything like sand does, but it's uncomfortable to sit on and hurts to walk. Then we returned home for lunch.

I look drunk and fat, but I'm not. :-P

Zio Tio said that when his son (Maurizio) visits, he goes down to the gelateria every morning for breakfast, haha! We got a tour of the kitchen, too! Naturally, I took pictures.

After lunch, I visited the kittens. All 4 were there! Momma helped me clean the pus out of the eyes of the 2 non-skittish ones--though one that hid can barely open her eyes because of the goop. So sad. The runt is still alive! Barely, but alive. She's stronger than she was yesterday, but not as strong as she was 2 days ago. She almost topples over when she sits still, she's so weak. Her eyes were nearly pussed shut, but Momma squeezed it out and cleaned them. Though the pus filling her nose wouldn't come off. She so skinny. It hurts your heart. The other friendly kitten, however, is an absolute joy! She is so cuddly yet all at once playful! She'll fall asleep in your arms, then get up and chase a string relentlessly until you make to leave and she tries to follow! All of us love her. I wish I could take her home. :3

Ok, rant time.

While walking out to the cows (which we fed fennel from our hands!), I made a comment about my sister's shoulders being red from the sun and wondering aloud how red they'll be after her youth group's missions trip to Alabama next week. (I promise, this is not a religion-based rant [this time], though there are tons of things I could say about youth groups and Jesus camps, mostly from first-hand experience.). My sister assured me that her shoulders would be fine, because they are not allowed to wear tank tops on the trip. My first question was (though I could have asked "boys too?") was "What about swimsuits?" My mother reassuradely replied "Oh, they have to be one-piece." I said "They're still showing their shoulders" and left it there, so as not to make the rest of this vacation bad for me. To account for this, I am going to write my thoughts here. I am not even going into the "girls can't but boys can" portion of it because the process of social development, thus acceptability, is lost on a group of people who believe that some kook who found 12 poor and desperate men to help create the image that he was the son of God is the only thing worth of religious devotion (Yeah! Fuck Nature! She was on crack anyway!) and that it is impossible for the human body to be looked on and appreciated as something beautiful but instead is only capable of enducing lust (thanks again, fundamentalist teachings. That was your fault. See: The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti). My thoughts focused on Who Cares if it's only for one day! You're allowing uncovered bathing suits for the day at the water park. One image is all someone really needs, just one look before the "guys" as we're taught, have formed an image in their imagination. And it's not just the shoulders or a riské view of the nape of a girl's neck *gasp* but her crotch, too! Her VAGINA! -- every curve! Clearly, bare shoulders lead to sex, and unwed sex leads to loss of virginity, and loss of virginity means loss of morality and/or loss of love for God, which all comes to mean one thing - YOU WILL GET PREGNANT! Because condoms don't work and EC (emergency contraception) is actually Pennyroyal Tea in pill form! Clearly, it is assumed that their teachings cause both girls AND boys to hate vaginas, but I'm here to tell them that it only works on girls; the sexually-repressed boys can still think of nothing but the tiny piece of bathing suit fabric separating them from that forbidden vagina.

I don't understand why they are forbidding girls form wearing tank tops on this trip, but not in their tri-weekly youth group meetings. Are they worried about the people in Alabama who might look at them for a couple of days then have to rely on their memories or photographs for their masturbating pleasure? Or are they really wanting to solidify that these youth group girs really belong to the youth group boys, who may gaze on their shoulders (and occasionally vaginas) whenever they want? A service I once attended about purity once told me that boys will imagine what they can't see and low necklines and legs just point them towards what they shouldn't be imagining. OH PLEASE! People are going to do that no matter HOW much fabric is covering your C cups! Better to let them see more so they are exposed to the imperfections than let them keep on imagining their future wife as a Playboy Bunny and being vastly disappointed later on--because we all know people have a tendency to take their frustration out on that which has disappointed them.

For Fuck's Sake! There's a difference between trying to beat the heat and trying to get some cunt to stick his cock in your cooch!

Nevertheless, incongruency is stupid and if there is no solid reason for the rules, then the rules are not justified.

Random Day 1: The Boring One

Today, we went with Zio Tino to a small city called Gioiosa Marea. We walked around a little, took a few pictures, very boring. Then we went to Capo Caraval. We walked by the ocean, took a few pictures, many old men in Speedos, very boring.

Today has been very boring and disappointing, for the most part. Seafood for lunch (and dinner last night), stupid fucking kids that won't shut up, no places that sell the sweatshirts we all want (should've just gotten them at the tourist places), bored and hungry.

The only fun thing that has happened today is Nazio drove us up to the top of the mountain, to Gioiosa Vecchia (the old Gioiosa). It's 800 meters up! There are the ruins of an old city up there. Really cool. Beautiful view. Wild oregano!

The red car is where we started hiking up the mountain.

Other than that, I've napped, visited the kittens (the runt is weak and almost dead, if not already), and wanted to throw the badly behaved kids off a cliff. Maybe their stupid parents, too. Honestly, I'm sick of it here. We've been here over a week and still have not stopped at a sweets shop. These kids are driving me insane, and I'm just getting bored.

Tomorrow is our last day. We're *supposed* to to go to the beach and try to find those sweatshirts, but lots of other stuff has not happened as I was told it would.

Saturday, we'll spend on a train.

Then hopefully Rome won't suck.

LATER:

We just had a huge party. They were so rowdy (and drunk! which made the children tolerable). We had so much fun! They had a cake that said "Benvenuti in Sicilia!" and multiple bottles of booze, including one of champagne that exploded on its own and sent the tipsy group into hysterical laughter.

The ending of the day made up for the shitty beginning. The chicken tonight was to DIE for! It was a few chickens from their own farm. I will never eat a tastier chicken as long as I live!

Today, Amanda had her first shot. And I was there. I have a picture. :-P

Random comment. I've noticed here that they don't use plates or cups. They use plastic. Regular flatware, but plastic otherwise. All over Sicilia! Just a comment. An observation.

Anyway, our celebration is over, and we have one more day here. I definitely have my favorites out of the bunch, but it is going to be heartbreaking to leave everyone. <3

Gotta Love the Fontane Farm

These days have certainly blurred together. I still love it here, but I'm about ready to head home. 2 hours locked in a room with children is killing me! And I can never really figure out if Teresa wants us here. Dad, yes; the rest of us, I don't know. Then again, she is a very loud Sicilian, so maybe I'm just being a sensitive American.

Today, we got up and went to Tindari in Patti, where there is a Greek theatre (and other ruins) and a popular church. The art is so beautiful in cathedrals -- I wish it weren't wasted on things as obsessive as religious cults. Then again, that may be the only way to really preserve it. Anyway, it was beautiful, and the church was next to a fantastic view of the shoreline. (Going back to the religious cult idea: Rumor has it that the Virgin Mary took the Bambino to that particular spot on the Sicilian shore and God made a pool for the baby to play in -- in the middle of the sand! Damn selfish child. It has an entire ocean to play in -- he could have chosen any spot on the shoreline! -- but no, he wants his own pool. Whatever. ANYWAY, they say that if you look down on these little pools on the shore, you can see the outline of the Virgin Mary holding and looking down at the baby. Yes, "religious mumbo jumbo" was my first reaction, too. But I didn't feel like walking all the way home. *sigh* cults.)

After admiring the sights, we walked around the little tourist shops. I bought a spoon-holder with the island painted on it. So, yes. That's awesome. I'm excited.

After Tindari, we came back, ate lunch, had a siesta (which consisted of my mom sleeping, me reading, and Butt and Dad walking around), then explored the farm. So we: found 4 adorable stray kittens, hassled a spotted pig (affectionately called "Cowpig" by Amanda "It's two-thirds bologna!"), touched another pig, milked a cow, and rode a horse! I really didn't like the horse-riding because I didn't know much about the horse and its training--and because the last [and only] time I had ridden a horse, it laid down on me and nearly crushed my leg. (The other one reared up with my friend on it.) I was not very comfortable with it.

* Interjection from Amanda: "I'm a pterodactyl! I'm pterrifying!" *

Those kittens--HOLY SHIT--they were so cute! Momma and I both fell in love with the runt of the litter. It and another let us get near them, and we held and loved them. If we had been in the States, I would've taken them home. :3 They were not cleaned well (crusty eyes and noses -- one couldn't even see because of it!), so we figured the momma was gone. Uncle Vito told me later that she was around. So I'm confused. Poor babies. I wants them. :(

Anyway, after seeing all the animals and feeding them, eating dinner, and relaxing, we are now in bed -- and I am pooped! I'm half-way through A Child Called It (because I finished Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger earlier today), and it's horrily sad, but I guess I just can't get past the title-I do not see "it" as bad! The gender studies part of me is coming through too strongly, I think. Too bad I read the title before I read the book -- the "it" thought won't get out of my head! (If you want to understand more of what I'm talking about, read this story: X: A Fabulous Child's Story)

Regardless, Buona Notte!

Exploring Fontane

Me: "I haven't pooped all day!"

Dad: "It takes awhile..."

This is a cute millipede. :3

Now, that was certainly the loudest dinner I've ever attended. Everyone was there and activities included an uncle-nephew drinking contest and two kids under the age of 5. Damn. They were still running while I was falling asleep!

Today, we went to a place on another part of the mountain with Zio Tino to take photos (and collect porcupine quills -- he said when he was a boy, he would gather them and use them to write!). Then we visited Tino's wife's mother, who will be 90 on July 4th. She's my dad's paternal uncle's mother-in-law. I'll give you a cookie if you can concisely tell me how she and I are related. We also saw where my Nonni [grandmother] use to live. And Tino told us that Poppi used to walk down the mountain (in only 30 minutes!) to go to the shore and help the fishermen. Then walk back up! It's steep as fuck. Holy shit!

The rest of the day we spent wandering around the property. They have 4 dogs (2 nice, 2 guards; 1 of the nice ones is the spoiled indoor pet), tons of chickens (for meat and eggs), a few sheep, and some goats (about 12 total), 6 stray cats that wander around (though they only leave out enough food for 2), 3 pigs (they are so cute!!!), 2 cows (1 milk cow, 1 which will be eaten in 6 months), 3 rabbits (for foodsies) and a mare! She is so beautiful! We learned where everyone in our family used to live on the property/where they grew up. It was a very fun day. All we do is eat and explore (and nap). It was very fun, even though the grunting pig woke us up this morning. :-P

Tomorrow, we will be touring in a city (including a pretty church).

Ciao!

Dreams, Mount Etna, and traveling to Fontane

Had 2 really weird dreams last night. The weirdest: the school board put forth the Pepper Bill, which said that gay people and vegetarians were not real people and would not be considered as such. It was a very stressful dream. Very frustrating, as you could (or couldn't) imagine.

Mom has been sick all day. Her stomach has felt weird for a few days, and last night and today were the worst. But she's doing a little better, now.

Mount Etna was so cool! Mom didn't go because of her stomach, but Dad, Amanda, and I did. Zio Tino came (our navigator!) and stayed in the car. The three of us went in a crater, then climbed to the top of a huge one that was formed in 2001. It was a really long and hard climb, but we made it! Amanda was first, then dad and I got up. We were out of breath a lot, haha. Bad shape + high altitudes = DAYUM.

Afterwards, we bought some souvenirs and had lunch. Then we left for Fontane.

Let me tell you, Fontane is gorgeous! It is really high up in the mountains, and on a family compound. We wake up in the morning and there is a perfect view of the mountains and the blue water! Absolutely breathtaking! Amanda and I are staying in the room where my Poppi [grandfather] and his 7 siblings were born. WOW!

We had dinner with this massive chunk of family: Zia Carmella and her husband Vito, Nazio and his wife Teresa, Nino (Nazio's brother), and Tino. So many names! Nino had meningitis when he was 15 months old, and the fever was so high for so long that it injured his brain, so he's mentally handicapped. But functioning well! They have here TONS of land, 4 dogs, 2 cows (1 for milk, 1 to butcher in December), 3 pigs, lots of chickens, a garden, and many fruit trees (figs, olives, plums, etc.). It's amazing! And at dinner, they were trying to fix me up with Nazio & Teresa's youngest boy Antonio... Umm... Awesome.... Let's hope that doesn't continue. :-\

Now, we are finishing up our showers and going to sleep. We are here for 5 nights, then on to Roma. What a great vacation this has turned out to be! Ciao!

Tomorrow Here, Today There

It's just past midnight, and I still have interwebs, so I figured I'd update about the rest of my day.

This evening (after I took a nap that I never got woken up from), we went to dinner with Maurizio and his sons and wife. We went to this festival downtown somewhere and walked around the shopping booths and ate at a fantastic pizza place.

We didn't get any gelato or ice yet, but I'm sure it's coming. I've heard rumors that one of the people we'll be staying with next owns a gelato shop!

Anyway, I'm off to take a sleeping pill and read for awhile. Up in 8 hours to go see Mount Etna (a VOLCANO!!!)! Then we'll eat lunch and drive to Fontane to stay with the other part of the family. There is internet there, but it's ethernet, so we'll see how accessible it is. Whatever! I'm not horribly worried about staying in touch. This is already more than I expected. But I'm on vacation, so I don't want to be doing my translation and such. I had my vacation approved, so no worries. :-P

My Uncle Tino said that a few years ago when Etna erupted, he would sit on his porch and watch the lava pour down the sides. Reallly cool!

Have a photo of Mount Etna, and I'll be in contact sometime soon! <3

?raB ekidnolK a rof od uoy dluow tahW

I would turn that phrase around! And I'm good at it, too!
What would you do for a Klondike Bar? <---SEE?!?! ^_^

I answer questions and give advice. You won't get a response until at least June 30th, but SUSPENSE IS AWESOME AMIRITE?!

Carbonated water or American water?

American water? Are we such assholes that mineral water has been named after us?

Mineral water, please. It's easier to see the purty of the water. xD

I answer questions and give advice. You won't get a response until at least June 30th, but SUSPENSE IS AWESOME AMIRITE?!

Sicilia!!!

I seem to have stumbled across wireless Internet! I am currently sitting on my [once removed] aunt and uncle's balcony (which has a SPECTACULAR view of Mt. Etna!) while listening to people shout in support as the Italy vs. New Zealand game begins.

I have been keeping a travel journal, so I will type in the entries on here (with corresponding photos!) as I find interwebs/get home. I have SIX PAGES so far! Sooo HERE GOES! xD


June 18-19: The ones that blur together.

I am currently so tired that I am having a bit of vertigo and can barely see straight - so my writing is suffering. Alas, I will do my best!

I had a hard-core breakdown two days before the trip. Lots of yelling and arguing and crying. Tensions were very high, and I was worried that they would carry over to the actual trip. But it turned out ok!



Our first flight went well. On time. We landed in DC around 5pm on the 18th. We were supposed to leave from DC to Munich at 8:15, but the flight was delayed until 10:05. It was disheartening, but we knew we would still make the connection from Munich to Catania, Sicily. So we spent time eating, walking around the terminal, and played cards--

My uncle just asked my sister if she wanted a beer. AND SHOUTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS BECAUSE OF THE ITALY VS NEW ZEALAND GAME THAT IS CURRENTLY GOING ON. AAAANYWHO!

--We certainly enjoyed our time in a non-cramped space.



On the flight, which was an easy 8 hours because we flew at night, there were 2 mostly-well behaved infants and 2 HORRIBLY behaved toddlers. They threw tantrums and just screamed and yelled whenever they didn't get something they wanted. It was awful. I had trouble sleeping during that flight, though I believe I slept quite awhile beacuse when I awoke (TO ONE OF THE AFOREMENTIONED PAIN-IN-THE-ASS TODDLERS SCREAMING "TURN THE LIGHT OFF!!" AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS FOR TWENTY MINUTES WHEN STEWARDESSES WERE BEGINNING TO SERVE BREAKFAST. I told my sister that I was seriously considering silencing the kid myself, and we all know that it wouldn't end well for the kid--but the rest of the plane would probably testify in favor of me in court), we were being served breakfast and had only an hour and a half to go. Still, I have been in need of good sleep ever since.

Once we arrived in Munich, we chilled until our flight to Catania, which left a bit late, but no worries. I slept soundly for a solid hour during the flight, hugging my backpack. I'm fairly certain I looked like the guy in SkyMall.


Anyway, lots of pictures, a landing, and almost losing our luggage later, we met our waiting family outside customs. I am sad to report that we did not get a Sicily/Italy stamp on our passports, as we received a stamp in Germany because both countries are in the EU. I am very sad.

My dad and Maurizio, my cousin, once removed, went to get my dad's renal car while we waited in the outside pick-up area with my once-removed uncle Tino. We were waiting and this adorable stray dog came up! He looked to be part German Shepherd, as his markings matched those of our dog, but he was a little on the skinny side and had burrs in his fur. His nails were clipped, though. He rummaged through trash cans and begged off of people, but he ended up sniffing us then laying down on Amanda's foot to sleep. In all that noise! Also, this is the first dog with balls intact that I have ever seen.



Dad and Maurizio finally returned with their respective cars, and we left for Tino's house, where my aunt Mary was waiting. And they have a HUGE dog! He's 11 years old with nothing wrong with him! Sooo cute! :3



Food, talking, trying to understand excited relatives, baths, more food, and learning new words.

And now -- SLEEP! It's only 9:30pm. I feel like an old fart! :-P


June 20: Taormina

I slept like a rock last night. I woke up a couple times but fell right back to sleep. I had a couple weird dreams, though. One was: a friend from high school and I went to my old church and I just was so upset and my parents were there and I think I was making out with someone (can't remember who--someone I haven't seen in awhile) then people showed up for church and I got out of that situation but started making a scene because "nobody got it" and blah blah blah, I rocked the boat, the Christians hate me, parents drove me home, the end.

And now that I've written the second dream down, I can't remember the first one. It was something to do wtih my last 2 swipes and food. Whatever.

We went up to Taormina today. They don't want lots of people driving up there, so they won't let non-residents park there. We parked in a parking garage then took a bus.



Taormina is really touristy, but we went in the morning, before the tourists got there. My sister and I each bought a Taormina bag--few people are going to have one or even know where it is. Just so you know, it is a city up in the mountains, so it's beautiful and surprisingly hot. It was absolutely gorgeous. We spent more for lunch than we did for 2 bags and an apron! 30 euros! And 24 for the other stuff. It's not horrible, really--and much less than we'll be spending in Rome--but it's ok. It's not like we didn't learn our lesson. Now we're headed back because Aunt Mary made pasta (which dad also didn't think about. Oh well!).



We're just relaxing tonight. Maurizio said there's a fantastic Italian ice stand close to the house, so he might take us all there later. :)

Tomorrow, we're going to Mount Etna. It's going to be really cool! Then we'll go back to the house for lunch, then say goodbye and drive 2 hours to Fontane. Amanda, Mom, and I all want Sicilia hoodies, so we're going to look for them there because it'll be less touristy and cheaper.

I'm understanding a lot more Sicilian than I expected to. There is no English outside my immediate family, so I'm learning a lot through immersion. I was expecting my knowledge of Italian to be better--here's hoping I'm just as good at it as I am with Sicilian! I'm still having the anxiety when peopole speak to me, so I don't understand much then, but my listening (and interpreting for my Ishy and mom) is pretty good! Then again, this is based on me expecting not to understand anything. The French and Latin has helped a lot.

Dad is sharing music with Mauizio. He loves 80's much, like ACDC and Led Zeppelin and Van Halen and such. It's hilarious.


ANYWAY! Goodbye for now! Perhaps you'll hear from me tomorrow afternoon before I leave for Fontane, but who knows!

The Final Hours

So. In 12 hours, I will be in the car on the way to the airport (theoretically).

I am not ready, but I am going.

To those of you who are curious, we are leaving tomorrow and will land in Catania, Sicily at 4:40pm their time. We will be 6 hours ahead.

We're family-hopping for the first week, up in the mountains.
The first few days we'll be staying with family that lives at the foot of Mount Etna. Funsies!

Then an eight hour train ride to Rome.

Then chilling in Rome the 26th-30th when we leave.
However, the hotel we're staying in is within walking distance from the Trevi Fountain!

We return around 9pm on June 30th.

Making the best of things, making the best of things, making the best of things...


But yes, I am definitely stressed as fuck right now. It took me over 5 hours to do my translation today. And I have 2 assignments to do for my poli sci class. Oh shit and I have to rent a textbook. OH FAIL. Anywayy.... HERE WE GO.

IN CLOSING! Please do not text me after 5pm tomorrow and don't start again until 4pm on June 30. I'm sure I will text twitter and facebook when I land. Photos will soon follow!


BOOKS I AM BRINGING WITH ME ON THE PLANE:

• Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace
• A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
• The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
• A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer
• The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom
• Various Italian phrase- and grammarbooks

I can't remember what else was in my suitcase, but that's all the reading I'm bringing for my 24+ hours of traveling!

Will you melt my Big Butter Jesus?

I will melt anything named Jesus.

This is where you ask the questions you want answered. Or to make a random comment. Whatever the fuck you want to say.

Is your favorite movie of all time Norbit? If not then what?

Not a fan of Norbit. I prefer not to be able to predict every second of a movie.

My favorite movie of all time is The Fountain. Absolutely brilliant and emotional. And I LOVE Mayan mythology. Darren Aronofsky is a fucking genius. He's never done anything I don't like. I bawl throughout the entire damn film. So beautiful.

This is where you ask the questions you want answered. Or to make a random comment. Whatever the fuck you want to say.

Do beards makes you lusty?

Oh, always. Especially with some leftovers from last night's midnight snack. Mmm MM!

This is where you ask the questions you want answered. Or to make a random comment. Whatever the fuck you want to say.

Vanilla sex only or are you into more interesting things?

HAHAHA omg what the hell are you talking about? Oh I love formspring!

This is where you ask the questions you want answered. Or to make a random comment. Whatever the fuck you want to say.

A Quick Thought: Cunt

I was thinking this afternoon (while making mac n cheese).

Cunt is one of my favorite words.

You can say it around children because:
1) parents don't teach that one to them and
2) even if they ask "What does that mean?" how many kids will know what you're talking about when you say "Oh, it means 'vagina'"?

That is all. :)

All Over the Place

My mood is all over the place.
Perhaps it's because I haven't taken my pills for days now.
Oh, that reminds me. I've gotta remember to pack those. Well, damn.

I mean, I'm really not looking horribly forward to this vacation, but I talked to my mom on the phone today, and she simply reassured me that she and Amanda and I are all on the same boat. I said something about not knowing how many books to bring, and she was like "Amanda and I were just trying to figure that out, too!"

So yes. That's making me feel much better.

I'm just going to try to look at the "vacation" as an adventure and some quality time with my sister. And with Beckie Cousin and Matt! That'll be swell! :)


I've had a pretty good day. Last night was tough, but today has been better. I've baked 2 cakes in 4 days, so I'm certainly gaining weight. But I figure once the novelty of cooking and actually having a kitchen wears off (and my Easter candy finally runs out!), I'll resume my typical eating habits. :-P

It's so nice to have Molly here. She's an absolute joy and hilarious to live with.

Like I said, today has been fantastic. We just finished watching Boogie Nights, which followed a couple hours of Scrubs and baking/eating a Funfetti cake with chocolate fudge frosting! And before that, Chipotle! (for the first time in QUITE awhile!) And before that, we watched Jesus camp (naturally a beer was necessary to get us through it.) And during the Scrubs episodes, I sewed 2 belts! I just have 1 to go!

So why don't I stop confusing you by going backwards, shall I?

Anyway, I've had a very productive and enjoyable day. Haven't had a chance to touch my guitar or flute yet, but I hope to in July. And I haven't finished the book I'm currently reading, which I wanted to finish before going home Monday, but I probably won't. I'll just be sure to finish it before I leave for Italy.

Tomorrow (today?), I need to pack, tidy up the apartment a little bit, and THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS SHOW IN THE EVENING!!!!
I will probably make myself mac n cheese for breakfast, haha. Love it!

Anyway, I need to go wash my feet, get ready for bed, and do some reading. Hopefully kitten cuddles will follow.

Goodnight, my dear (and few) readers! <3

do you like lady gaga?!

YOU CAN BET LIAM NEESON'S ASS ON IT!

This is where you ask the questions you want answered. Or to make a random comment. Whatever the fuck you want to say.

have ya ever had sex with a lady?

Hahaha all I can think of is "Dude looks like a laaadaaaayyy!"
And no, haha.

This is where you ask the questions you want answered. Or to make a random comment. Whatever the fuck you want to say.

So you like piercings and you like corsets. What about corset piercings?

I think corset piercings are absolutely beautiful.

However, I cannot get past the impracticably of the piercing. Some piercings are only mildly invasive and/or take little adjustment, but I am far too clumsy to be able to wear clothing without tearing them out. Plus, it would hard-core bother me that I cannot see them well enough to take care of them while they heal.

So those who can have them and can take care of them correctly, I respect their dedication. And I love their body art.

I have a documentary called Modify, directed by Jason Gary, on my Netflix, actually. Can't wait to watch it! I watched one called A Jihad for Love last night. It's about the quest for gay Muslims to rectify Islam and their sexual orientation. I definitely recommend it.

Anyway, I hope I answered your question! Feel free to ask me more questions about piercings and body modification! It's a passion of mine, in theory if at not in practice. I wish I could, though!

This is where you ask the questions you want answered. Or to make a random comment. Whatever the fuck you want to say.

Will you be regaling us with play-by-play commentary of your trip?

Alas, I will not. I have little hope for Internet access in Sicily. We're getting to a hotel in Rome on the 26th, and they /will/ have internet, but I'm not sure how much time I will have, since we will all be sharing my dad's computer.

I apologize that I will not be writing updates as exciting as my London trip, but I promise to take shit tons of photos and post a blog entry and answer any questions left here as soon as I get back! :)

This is where you ask the questions you want answered. Or to make a random comment. Whatever the fuck you want to say.

Yay, you found it! Infinite Jest was probably the best book I've ever read, and also the most challenging. It might be enough to keep you occupied for however long your vacation is, but you might be the super-brain kind of person who can just devour it.

Yeah it's definitely difficult. I started reading it during my winter break last December, and just couldn't get through it. I was also dealing with a lot of other stuff, too. It just wasn't the time to read it, I suppose. But I did find it difficult, but I have been encouraged by multiple people that I should continue reading it, so it is my main goal during the trip (and extensive plane rides).

This is where you ask the questions you want answered. Or to make a random comment. Whatever the fuck you want to say.

Summer. Well, fuck.

My hardcover journal and fountain pen are still packed away from the recent move, so you all get to read my rant on here.

Yes, so, remember that happy post about summer?

Well, here is the updated version.

I was so excited. I was going to have time to do stuff, finally getting time to myself, to read, to watch movies, etc.

WELL JUST KIDDING.

[P.S. I can hear the person who lives above us. He is currently snoring. What the fuck.]

So. This is what my summer looks like.

• Work, 30 hrs/wk
• Internship, 2-3 hrs/day, 5 days a week---> 10-15 hrs/wk
• Online class at CSCC
• Class to get credit for the internship, which in and of it self includes 2 weekly assignments, an interview assignment, and two 5 page papers
• Volunteering
• 3 week family time/vacation, which will put me behind on everything before I even start!

I am ridiculously frustrated.

I have been hating college more than little else, because I have absolutely zero time for myself.

I really wanted to read some books. I really wanted to watch movies this summer. I really wanted to be able to go have alone-time. I really wanted to play some music, get back into my flute, learn some more guitar, sing.

WELL TOO BAD!

What's the point of life if you can't enjoy it?

I already have low self-esteem.

I always feel guilty.

I have a lot of OCD tendencies.

I am obsessed with being efficient.

I am a workaholic.

I've been unhappy for years, especially because of school.

Things are going on that I don't want to talk about/feel like I can't talk about with anyone, including my therapist.

I am depressed.

I am too depressed to even allow myself to drink.

I can't remember to take my pills.

I am addicted to sugar.

I am tired of school engulfing my life.

I am tired of being forced into being sociable.

I want time for myself. I want to be alone sometimes. And it just doesn't happen.

I am torn between making myself happy and making others happy.

I am torn between wanting stability and wanting to explore.

I am torn between needing companions and needing to be alone.

I can never find a suitable middle ground.

Fuck you, life. You're a cunt.

Healthy Eating

I judge my day by the kind and amount of food I eat.

Today, I have consumed:

• fettuccine alfredo from the Marketplace (meh)
• a yellow cake with chocolate fudge frosting, which I baked (and ate most of)
• Cherry Coke (yay!)
• And two whopping, huge-ass bows of Target-brand Fruity Pebbles. (ÜBERWIN!)

I must say, it has been a pretty damn good day. :)

Well, DAYUM.

Holy hell it's been FAR TOO LONG since I've whined to the interwebs!

Actually, I've been making good on the bargain I made with the Devil, whom I call my good ol' buddy Lucifer, to give me good grades in exchange for my soul. We'll see how that works later on.

So, yeah. This quarter has been intense. My classes ended up being a lot harder than I thought they would be. And I thought this would be my fun quarter! Well, dayum!

The past week, I've procured the keys to the summer apartment Molly and I will be sharing, and moved all of walt's furniture in. Ohhh yessss, we are stealing his furniture for the summer. Yippee!

Tomorrow, a group of us are scavenging the Short North Yard Sale. HELL YES CHEAP SHEEYIT!

Anyway, my Arabic class is the only class with a final, and it's online! So I'll be doing it at work, naturally. My Language, Sex, and Gender paper (Linguistics 367.01) was easy peasy (thank again to all of you who took the online expletives survey), and my Same-Sex Sexualty in History class (History 526) 10-page paper was ballin'. Transgender Themes in Religious Lore, mothafuckas! And brilliant, at that! No really. My expletive paper was much better. Hopefully I can pull off good grades!

I honestly can't remember what I was gonna say.

Regardless, Raspberry Woodchuck is absolutely fantastic. If you like fruity drinks, that is.

Anyway, this apartment is very nice. Very quiet neighborhood. Fantastic. Yet not too far from work and stuff. I can pretty much grab a city bus anywhere I need to go, and it's only a few blocks to the campus buses. And they're changing the library bus route to be more convenient! Perfecto!

I love Pokemon Pinball.

Random.

Anyways, this summer is gonna be awesome. We have walt's cats for the summer, and I FUCKING LOOOOOVE THEM!!! :3

My summer will include:

• Online psychology prereq class through Columbus State Community College, as approved for my Honors Contract
• Internship with Mondokio, LLC. which I've done before and loved. I'm excited to improve my French again!
• Work at the library in the cataloging department
• Work at the Research Office.
• Netflix
• AND READING BOOKS FOR FUN OMG!

And this is all in addition to the Sicily/Italy trip! Mmm I can't wait for my relatives' restaurant and their homecooked food! Oh right. Rome will be cool, too. :-P

ANYWAY, on June 13, the New Pornographers will be in town! I was supposed to go home, but I have to work Monday the 14th so that I don't lose my library job, so I GET TO GO OMG! I am extremely excited. They are one of the bands that I've been waiting to tour for awhile. (When the Arcade Fire finally tours, HOLY SHIT I WILL DROP ERRYTHING!!!) I'm getting my tickets tomorrow, so anyone who wants to go, let me know! Walt and I will be there!

I also am still too weird about money to pay about $50 a piece to see Muse and Metric in November. I mean, yeah, it's 3 days after my birthday, but I dunno that I can do that. I love Muse, and Metric is awesome, but I dunno. That's pretty damn steep. I wouldn't pay that much for anyone but Lady Gaga (don't judge). So yeah. I dunno. Plus, they'll probably be playing more of their new stuff anyway, and I really just want Absolution. Seriously. Apocalypse Now. NOW.

Also, I do believe my BrownMa will be visiting this exam week? Which means FUNSIES! :)

I am officially too drunk to continue typing. Cue Spaceballs. :)

Have a wonderful summer, my dear few readers! And if you're in Columbus during the summer, look me up!

(As always, ask me random questions on formspring and follow me on twitter!)

Lovesies <3