The End of Summer. For Real!

These 3 weeks of summer have been AMAZING.

Last week, Tim and I went to visit one of my dearest friends in Pittsburgh. I meant to write every couple of days, but I didn't. Which is a pity. It was an amazing near-week-long trip. So exciting, so comfortable. Tim and Patrick got on very well. We also visited my sister! She is doing so well. And her roommate rocks. I am very happy.

Notable places in Pittsburgh included: the Strip, 21st Street Coffee, Smithfield Diner, DeLuca's Diner, Presto George Coffee and Tea Shop, FANTASTIC sushi at Penn Avenue Fish Company, tapas and caipirinha at Seviche, beer at Sharp Edge, terrible food and decent beer at Hofbräuhaus, ice cream at The Milk Shake Factory, among many other things. Tim and I  I can honestly say I had the time of my life.

Then I got home and had to catch up with a lot of things at work. No problem. Busy, but not too stressful.

Why is this weekend going to rock?
BECAUSE:
+ Went grocery shopping last night
+ Tonight, Tim and I are going to see World on a Wire, thanks to the wonderful Wexner Center of the Arts
+ Tomorrow, we are going to the Short North Microbrew Festival
+ A good friend just got back from her 6 months in Maine. Reunion will include drink and company
+ Sunday has the potential to include drunk brunch and/or playtime. Though I have a lot of sewing I want to get done.

My second job starts Monday, school starts Wednesday.
Once I get my planner I will be ready to tackle it all. :)

Currently Listening: Little Birds by Neutral Milk Hotel
Currently Readin: The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

Summer Ending?

I love this sense of life I experience as others express their disappointment with the ending summer.
I love how my [albeit brief] summer just started.
I love that I prefer autumn to summer.
I love that winter is my favorite season - the only downside being difficult to ride a bike/more intense upkeep.
I love that I got so much done last night. And half a bottle of wine gone.
And I am absolutely excited for eating so much good food and beer this weekend. I have tentative plans to grab food from Ali Baba then head out to Bob's Bar for a few hours. Then home to my growler of Rogue Dead Guy Ale. YEAH!

Second Summer

Summer is here! For me, at least.
Classes finished last week. I am in week 1 of 4 of summer!
And last night, I bought Aarthi birthday donuts! Because birthday donuts beat birthday shots any day.

To Do:
- Clean Room
- Fix bike
- Lots of mending, sewing, and tailoring, and all general "old lady" activities
- Drink tons of quality beer
- Watch lots of Netflix
- Eat a shitton of local food!
- READREADREAD!

I am making very good progress on these!

+ Yesterday, I completely gutted my dank basement bedroom then swept, mopped, and dusted it, the bathroom, and the kitchen. I gutted my desk, closet, shelves, and dresser. Then began putting things back together--in an organized fashion! This is the slow process, but I am almost finished.
+ I finally received the wonderful tires I had ordered for my bike. They are lovely bright blue in hue. They will go well with my recycled blue bicycle. I'm sure I will be posting photos when I'm finished. Though I will probably continue adding contrasting lime green forever, so it will never be truly finished. But I will, at the very least, upload a photo once I get the new tires on it.
+ I have so much sewing to do! I have a white elastic belt I'm working on. A couple more cloth belts to make. A dress that is almost finished. Two dress shirts and a pair of shorts to tailor. Cute tap pants to construct, so I can ride my bike without flashing everyone. A dress that has yet to be started. Ditto with a corset. A beret to crochet. A floppy-eared winter hat to crochet (or knit, if I'm feeling feisty). And a dinosaur hood (similar to this one) to crochet for Aarthi's birthday. All on top of the cross-stitching and afghan I've been working on for funsies. The verdict: I am the best at being a twenty-something old lady.
+ I love craft beer. This, combined with my love of Portland, OR, have inspired me to purchase a growler of Rogue Dead Guy Ale, on top of all of the beer I habitually splurge on. How lovely. (Though I miss Black Butte. So. Fucking. Much.)
+ I have watched tons of shit. Lots of Breaking Bad (because I am unabashedly obsessed with Bryan Cranston). A bit of series two of Skins. A documentary about Snuff films (which made me think of the Palahniuk book of the same name). And I have 2 films that I must watch before they are unavailable on Netflix InstantPlay at midnight tonight, one of which is foreign, so I have my evening cut out for me!
+ My list of local food is very long, and my progress (largely due to my limited pocketbook) very slow. But I am making progress! How a wonderful turkey burger last week. This week will yield $1 grilled cheese and Young's Double Chocolate Stout drafts on Wednesday and hopefully delicious Ethiopian food this weekend.
+ I finished Catching Fire! I feel like a squeeb reading the Hunger Games series, but I haven't been this excited about a series since the Lord of the Rings! I haven't started Mockingjay yet, though. I've been too busy reading War All The Time, because apparently I believe Bukowski is best read while in that vulnerably, foggy state between consciousness and unconsciousness. And my friend just returned Middlesex to me, so I should probably finish that before I start anything else. Next on my list are The Unbearable Lightness of Being and Damned. (If you're also a book geek, look me up on Goodreads).

Summer has been great, and it is just starting. I can't wait. I am so excited to sew and watch and read and eat and drink. This is truly great.

Also, I am currently obsessing over musical artist St. Vincent. Annie Clark is an angel.
Here's her new video:

St. Vincent - "Cruel"

Hey guess what! THINGS DON'T SUCK RIGHT NOW!

My summer is FINALLY beginning! Well, ignoring the GRE I'm retaking next week. But I'm not worried. I've done most of the studying anyway.

I've been doing really well lately. Summer classes were/are nice and chill, and I greatly prefer doing everything in 5 weeks instead of 10. I would absolutely die if I took classes on a semester schedule. I'm kicking ass in all of my classes, which is good because spring quarter was pretty fucking awful, grade-wise.

My Ishy moved in at uni last night. I wasn't able to be there with her, but we've been texting. Her roommate is baller, and she really likes her digs. She starts classes next week. And so will begin her 3 + 2 program in Occupational Therapy. In the Honors college. With a decent scholarship. I am so proud of her.

I have done all my assignments for the last week of class, so all I have to do is pretty much go to class for the next week. So I have TONS of free time. I ordered a new sewing machine, so I'm hoping I get that today. I have a bunch of patterns and fabric ready to go! I had started a new dress from scratch a couple months ago, but my machine broke, so I couldn't finish it. SOON! :D

I've been doing well mentally, too. It's really nice. Starting up some intense therapy. It'll be yet another thing in my schedule, but it'll definitely be worth it. I'm ready.

I've finalized both of my majors as well as both of my minors. And after this next round of honors contract revisions, I will be sending in my application to graduate. March 2012. Hell. Fucking. Yes.

Anyway, that's about it. [I can't believe I've never done this] But if any of you however few readers have any questions about my life or anything, feel free to ask it in a comment. :)

2 Days

Lots of writing tonight.
Feeling crazy.

Missing everything.
Hating JP.
Missing JP.
Sick.

Summer At Its End

[Very] Quick Update!

School starts in less than a week.
I am freaking out.
My summer has been AMAZING.
I am stressed as fuck.
I just moved last week.
I have so much to do tonight. And tomorrow. And the day after. And the day after.
I am in love.
I hate school.
I've lost 3 pounds this summer, living on mac n cheese and cereal.
Tim's bike got stolen, which is hilarious because it has no brakes so no one would want it.
I wonder if they'll put it back.
I hope I can get everything done before school starts.
I hope I have time for me-time fun.
I hope I get to read a little.
I hope.
This weekend is going to be ridiculous.
K BAI.

Shit! It's September!

I only wrote once in August? Weird!
It was a very interesting, busy, amazing month. So I guess I just didn't care to take the time out of my life to write.

I've been doing lots of working, movie-watching, exploring, photo-taking, and loving life.

Pretty much, things are going really, extremely well. So as long as I ignore the fact that school's coming up quickly.
This weekend is going to be fucking epic as shit, though!

This week has be über stressful so far. I was totally freaking out because we're moving into our new place (and I haaate moving) and I had to figure out internet plans and set that up and set up utilities, and moving means more people will be in Columbus, which means lots of hanging out, which means time will go really fast, which means school will be here, which means I'll be depressed as shit until next summer. And I had other stuff on my plate, too, that was freaking me out because it's a lot! AHHHH!!!!

But I've been doing alright with it! I'm accepting that I can't stop time from progressing; I can only make the best of what time I have. It's just a mini installment of life.

I got all the utilities taken care of (which involved a few issues, which were resolved with long phone calls). I have a lot of stuff to do on my computer that I haven't gotten to yet, but I've gotten it started and there is a plan in place.

And this weekend--Labor Day Weekend--is gonna be busy as sheeyit! But hopefully enjoyable. :)))
Thursday: I am going to work, then leaving 3 hours early (a 5 hour work day isn't bad at all!), then "organizing" things at home, then my dad is coming, we will have dinner, then we will drive back to Hudson, where I will break out my fantastic camera and take photos and see 'lyssa (hopefully!) and just enjoy being alive.
Friday: I will be getting up early (ugh!) to do allll the shit I've gotta get done. Some of this includes a couple of surprises for a couple of amazing people. c:  A lot of this includes shopping for things I need desperately, cleaning out my desk, and preparing things for moving in 10 days. And going to the bank to adjust some stuffs. Then (hopefully!!!) having some time to do some stuff I want to do (which includes working on a mix I'm making) before heading out to Lake for the high school football game so I can watch my Ishy cheer. :3
Saturday: Getting up at a decent hour, finishing the shopping with Mom, then going to the family picnic in Youngstown, then flying solo on a quest to visit Tim's family (I hope they like meeee >.< ).
Sunday: Tim and me driving from his house to mine, having lunch with my family (I think?), then going to Coventry to explore and photograph! Then back to Hudson for playtime in the parks and cemeteries.
Monday: After a "leisurely breakfast", heading back home to Columbus, where I will freak out about work the next day. Oh, the joy of long weekends.

I really don't like visiting my family, in that I hate getting back home and immediately being thrust into another work week. I need time to do my own thing. It's great seeing family and friends (which doesn't really happen much because my numerous family picnics take over), but I like getting things done and being happy and stable. Alas, I will deal with the oddity in my schedule and enjoy the change of scene. :)


Also, sorry I'm taking so long to update my photo blog! I should be able to do that some time this weekend.
Keep an eye out, loves! XO

Near-End of Summer Update

The summer has been very turbulent, but it has all gone in waves. Right now it's rather calm, except for the worrying I'm doing about the upcoming school year. But I've decided that worry about it will do nothing, so yes. I am enjoying myself.

I am very happy right now, and it's great.

I just got a Nikon D5000 so I'm actually getting into photography like I've always wanted.
I've also fallen in love with lomography, so we'll see what happens the next time I get a paycheck. :)

And today, I successfully purchased 2 tickets to see Sufjan Stevens in Chicago in October!!!!
I am sooo lucky, because that shit sells out nearly instantaneously!!!
I'm so excited. :)

Anyway, I've started another blog that is entirely original photography. Like an online portfolio.
So yes. Check it out.

One of the Best Days Ever!

Today has been so epically awesome that I feel I need to blog about it!

Last night, we had a Brinner and Porn night.
That means, we invited some friends over, made pancakes, hashbrowns, and bacon for dinner, got drunk, and watched porn. It was fantastic.

Following that great night was a great day!

Meagan and I have been trying to go thrifting together since January, and something or other always got in the way.
So we FINALLY DID IT!

She picked me up, and we were both really hungry.
So we decided we'd stop to eat somewhere while we were out.
We'd settled on Chipotle when SUDDENLY an epiphany came to us: Indian food!
We just so happened to be passing Indian Kitchen at the time, and so we stopped for their $6.99 lunch buffet.
It was AWESOME. The chicken curry was great!!!!!

So after ingesting a food baby, we went to Goodwill.
And at Goodwill, we ran into her friends Alexis and Eric!
Goodwill was very good to me.
I spent $23 and got: a springform pan, a sheet to tie dye, a sewing box, aida cloth (for crosstitching), a secret item that will be used later, and 3 pairs of shoes!!!!
AND the quiet cashier hit on me! Well, sorta. After I'd checked out and was waiting by the door, said to Meagan. "You can tell your friend that I think she's cute."
WHAT A GREAT DAY! xD

After that, we headed back...  Well, I made a secret stop on the way, which means the surprise will be successful! And even THAT went well! Gotta love it when there's time still left on the meter when you park!

Then, as we were almost at our final destination, Meagan and I decided we were thirsty and wanted lemonade.
So we went to UDF.
Inside, they had 2 half gallons for $2!!! WHAT LUCK!
We bought 1 lemonade and 1 limeade. YUMM!!!

Then we went to Alexis's house. Where we smoked hookah and chilled and were ridiculous.

And now I'm here. It has been a fantastic day. :)))
Time to eat cereal and do some mending and watch Project Runway and some movies.
AND THE WEEKEND IS JUST BEGINNING!
Swimming tomorrow with Robot Sarah and Hang and Tim, then more funs!

Happy Friday :)

The Time is Irrelevant

It's late/early; I'm pensive.

I'm not necessarily going to write a whole lot about what I'm thinking--that's what my journal is for.

I feel like I should keep my few readers updated as per my mental status.

I decided to change my major again.

I've dropped the political science major entirely. I simply do not see myself doing anything with it, and the classes interest me less and less.

I've decided to do what I should have done all along: psychology.

Yes, I know that a lot of the time, it is the cop-out major (along with English), but it's something that's always interested me. I can't believe I waited this long to decide to study it.

Plus, I can see myself doing something psychology- or social work-related, whereas I couldn't see myself doing anything with Arabic or political science.

Don't get me wrong! I'm still finishing my Arabic major, since I'm so close anyway, but I know I won't use it, so why lay my hopes so heavily on it?

Anyway, things are going well.

Since I dropped the poli sci major, I also dropped the class that would give me poli sci credit for my internship with Mondokio International News, LLC. So it's nice to have that extra time.

My psychology class isn't going badly. I'm behind on the work, but I've taken my first exam and now know what to expect. I'm not worried. I'm hoping to be done with all my studying by the end of next week, the week after at the latest. Then I shall have a full month and a half of no learning, just fun (and reading and music and yay!).

There are some ups and some downs, but they seem to be evening themselves out well.

Things are going well with walt, though they are a bit messy, but we're talking it all out, so it's not bad.

Things are going very well with another newer friend named Tim.

At this point in the summer, I'm really hoping to deal with my anxiety a bit better. My mood disorder is always a nuisance, but I've been doing alright with it lately. It hasn't bothered me too much in the past month. Anxiety-wise, I'm trying to stay calm about things that really bother me even though they shouldn't, things like missing the bus or being 5 minutes late to work (where the schedule is ridiculously flexible), dishes not being done, hair in the bathtub and on the sink, stuff like that. I've pretty much come to the conclusion (although there's always a chance of it changing, haha) that I am meant to live alone. I like things done in a certain way, and when it's not, I feel unorganized and mentally cluttered. I just need to chill. I'm trying to take the opportunity of summer and new friends to help me do this, and so far I think it's going alright? But really, what do I know. You'd have to tell me. :-P

Yes, yes. It it Saturday night, and I am watching a Coachella documetary. Don't judge my weekend activities, and I won't judge your frequent alcohol consumption. ;)

Goodnight, loves.

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!