Halloween Romano

Such fun out on the rainy streets of Rome. I met my girls Amy & Audra at Pepato's a quaint pub. Thanks to my girls I was able to complete my costume with a touch of RED! After a glass of wine, a couple Cubanos and a lil Sambuca, we took off to Gilda's for some dancing. Unfortunately, I only have pics of the start of the night.

Saying Arriverderci

I was just thinking about all the goodbyes/see you laters that I have to do and I instantly got the Boys2Men version of 'Yesterday' in my head.."It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday"

I swear my life plays out in song. What would be my song this week? Um...I'll get back on that one.

So I just wanted to put a little note to let everyone know that I am doing ok. For those that don't know already, I'm moving back to Houston in December. It's time!

I've cherished and appreciated the past 5 years living in Rome. It's been amazing. Many friends that I have made here are lifelong. I've truly felt the love in the past week as many have been there supporting me in this transitional and emotional time. I thank you again guys! Grazie mille.

It's rainy in Rome right now and although the sky is grey and gloomy, I can't help myself and stare at everything. I'm gonna put together a slideshow of my favorite things in Rome. I'll try to get new pics also so that I can revisit those places. I'm thinking about taking a couple trips in the next few weeks. Thank goodness for cheap trains!!!

I'm so grateful to have had this time and experience. I lived La Bella Vita for a short while.

Now I think about my return to Houston and the work that I also get to jump back into. Am I a dork? I'm dreaming about work. I'm excited! I love nursing and can't wait to get back into it again full time. I'm even thinking about travel nursing again. It's time. I first thought about it in nursing school. Then I thought of it as an escape and then it was an idea to share and offer opportunity for creative growth. Now it's all about me again. It's time to think of myself again. I'm worth it! The world is a big beautiful place. Europe has given me many blessings and it's time soon to see what the US holds for me.

Wish me luck!

In bocca al lupo! ....Crepi.

Unafraid

I am an open book. I've never shied away from life, feelings or love. I am proud to admit that I need people. I express myself openly! I am not afraid.

Life has thrown me a surprise and one that I must accept and continue on. My experiences, my knowledge & education, family and friends are my pathway. I live in the now and acknowledge the past for it is what makes us who we are.

Nothing is perfect. I know that I am a beautiful person inside and out, I am loved, blessed, intelligent, and kind. I am strong. I know that whatever comes my way that I can process it and proceed ahead. I have faith. I believe in a higher power.

I will get through this.

Vance will be back tomorrow!!!!

I've started to forget what he looks like! Too long! Libya and Houston. I know he's gonna end up leaving again for work next month but he hasn't verbalized that yet! I'm kinda psychic like that! Nah, not really, it makes logical sense thats all.

He's bringing lots of goodies back. Poor angel is being treated like a pack mule! And it's not all for me!!

I have a couple surprises waiting for him! Hehehehe!

***Miss you amore! Have a safe flight home!***

Found Magazine

While in Dublin, Amy and I were persuaded off the street into a church where a small group from Michigan where holding a literary reading! Sounds intriguing, right? You wouldn't believe that when we entered, a guy was swallowing swords! Then he did the same with a long screwdriver and a jagged medieval sword and finally he ATE a long balloon!!!! That'll be an interesting deposit in the morning!!! So anyway, back to the literary event. This guy Davy was reading from his magazine and recently published book of the same material. It is called Found. Basically for years this guy, friends and family and now strangers from all over are finding scraps of paper/pictures whatever and collecting them. Davy changes the names of some and then posts/publishes them. His talented (... & handsome) brother Peter even used these findings as inspiration for songs. So far "Bus or Beer" and "Booty dont stop" are my favorites.

I'm not sure that I agree with this concept 100%, but its very touching,humorous and sweet more often than not. I would think that some people recognize these misplaced/tossed aside/throw away items. Makes you think again what you put down on paper and throw away! you never know where it might end up!!!

We're on YouTube

We are the Amazing Grace Gospel Choir!

We performed Oct 5,6 & 10 at Santa Croce dellla Gerusalemme in Rome for the event of 'Bibbia Girno e Notte (Bible Day And Night).

Veronica is 23!!!

Veronica Batt, one of my dear friends in Rome had her birthday this past friday. I helped organize her evening which brought us from Gilda's club to the Spanish steps. It's so deserted at 430am!!! Best time! Thanks to William, Elise, Madeline and the sicilian ladies Geni & Giovanna for making the evening even better!



Happy Birthday V! I'm glad you had a great night and got your groove on!

got my haircut

I love the 'I just got a haircut' look. It's a new stylist too..so I always take a pic. We'll have to wait and see on Tuesday to see if Court and I have the same great minds once again!

You can't really tell its 17 C degrees outside.

Confession Time

I have a confession to make....

I'm in love with Josh Groban





There's just something about him....most likely his voice. I'm in love!

Foster Parents

Vance's photoshoot of Lil girl and Lil boy

Bedtime Invasion

Vance and I have been foster parents to a couple of black cats that were abandoned at Torre Argentina. It is now time for their last vaccination and their departure from our home. Fortunately, my dear friend Heather is able to adopt one, Lil girl. I'm gonna miss their playfulness and affection. Lil boy usually helps me fall asleep by constantly purring up against my neck. Very soothing sound. Now the early am chase across my head and territorial piss war I will not miss so much. As much as I'd love to keep him, it's not the best idea. I look forward to being able to offer other abandoned kittens a foster home. It's like always being able to experience the kitten phase!

Mama Idra and Lil boy

I'm grateful that I've had an opportunity to love something that someone didn't want to take the time to love. My hopes are that when Lil boy returns to the sanctuary, there will be someone who wants to love him more and take him home. Until that day, I can continue to see him as I volunteer during the week.

Clean Laundry is never safe

While Vance is away...

I do all sorts of things like travel, have girls night out, dance til dawn, play with the 4 cats in the house and stay up until the sun comes up on multiple occasions.

But now it's time to get serious. Choir has started back up again after having off the month of August and I will begin to teach yoga again next week. It's time to get crackin!!!

2008 Beijing Olympics and our friend Sherraine

Sherraine Schalm is competing in this year's Olympic Games in Beijing China. It is only a matter of days before she competes in the division of Women's Epee Fencing representing Canada. August 13, I will be glued to the tube waiting to see our girl in action.



Sherraine is a force to reckon with on and off the piste. She's an amazing woman! Her sense of humor alone would make you fall in love with her. And yeah, she's currently ranked 5 th in the world for epee fencing.

Vance and she went to high school together in Brooks, Alberta. She has trained in Paris and Budapest. Vance and I were fortunate enough to hang out with Sherraine in Budapest and visit her training center which was an old Catholic church. We have also watched her compete several times in the World Cup Championships along with the Canadian Women's Fencing Team in Rome Italy and St Petersburg Russia.

You can follow her on her journey at the following links.

The Official Beijing Olympics website


Her blog for the Canadian women's magazine 'Chatelaine'


And the Canadian Broadcast Centre



Sherraine, we wish you good luck and a wonderful experience. I hope to see you in Budapest soon.

Summer Wave part 2

After the camp was over, I had to go with the Amazing Grace Gospel Choir on a retreat to Pentolina, a small town near Siena. Visiting Professor Ramon Rebird came from New York. We practiced everyday for 8 hours and at the end of the week we performed for the guests at the Happimag resort. It was a beautiful place where we learned beautiful music. I was able to assist Debbie Ross with the daily Astanga Yoga class after we completely our own personal yoga practice. It was a great week!



July 18th I became another year older. My last year of my 20s. I plan on enjoying it! Vance and I went to dinner and went to the beach the next day! Perfect! Thank you Marcy for the ITunes cards! August came with the heat! The fans are going in attempt to move the hot air! I have a constant shining complexion. 3 liters of water a day is the minimum! Vance and I entertained a few guests few days and then he was off traveling for work. This month it is Cairo Egypt and Tripoli Libya. I'm looking forward to Lisa's return from the States and Misty's visit to Rome at the end of the month!

I'll end this with another video of our sweet Cicciona playing with her favorite toy, a Qtip.

Summer Heat Wave

It's been so long. Between Facebook and Myspace, I've neglected my blog. Sorry! I have to remind myself to put things in perspective. Since the last post in May, I've done a few jobs, adopted a kitty, traveled, retreated and enjoyed life.

Our newest addition is Idra. She is a great friend for Cicciona, especially after the death of Timido. I adopted her from the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary. She was rescued and found to have had a hernia in her diaphragm. After major surgery, I have to wait a week for her to finish her antibiotics before taking her home. Cicciona loved her instantly and wanted to play. Idra healed up quite well. The only thing was that beacuse of the intense nature of the surgery and her condition at the time she could not be spaded. Unfortunately she was in heat for a good portion of the time. Finally we spaded her and are now learning her true personality. She was so affectionate and lovable when she was a horn biscuit! Now she's a typical cat. Only comes around when she wants and is a bit of a biter! She also likes to pee in our shower! Hey I can't complain...it's not of the walls nor the furniture! We hope it passes! Isn't she precious?!



Marcy and Chris came to Rome and we took the ferry from Bari to Korcula Croatia. Words cannot express how much I love Croatia! We stayed in Vela Luka and the city of Korcula. Pics speak louder than words.





Mid June I met my dear friend Lisa at the train station and we went south to Formia. I small city just north of Naples. We were a part of small group of English mothertongue speakers that taught at a local school of 7-11years old. I found myself speaking 60%English and 40% Italian. The kids loved me, of course! I worked with a great group of ladies. Nicola and Alex of London and Lisa, a Cincinatti girl transplanted to Florence. We stayed at the Nocca family home and had a wonderful experience. We even got to experience the wonderment of a voyeur! Mr. Wanky across the street. The overall trip was such an opportunity and we left with a new appreciation and new friendships. Little Italians can be a handful! Nicola and I were even able to make a trip down to Naples. Surprisely it wasn't as filled with trash as we expected. (There has been a trash issue over the past year. Trash is overflowing into the streets, not enough space at the dumps and is being barged over to Germany).





Cicciona was feeling left out of the conversation...

Touching base

Ciao all. Just wanted to touch base with those who I haven't spoken to and to those who are just curious and feel like reading other blogs.

All has been well in Rome. Summer is coming. I think if it will just stop raining then the sun will shine and shine some more. I'm craving the sun and yet when it is I'm not going out to get any either. I've come to like the inside with my kitties and yoga mat. I'd love to do more yoga outside but the bugs are horrendous. I swear they sneak onto the mat in a nanosecond...faster maybe.

I've had a few sad days where I just wanna stay in bed and cuddle with the kiddies...those are my america-sick days. I wouldn't say homesick cuz I really don't consider it my home, more 'where my family and many friends live' and I miss them.

This is also my in between time. I'm not teaching yoga right now nor has my summer volunteer programs started so I'm free to do whatever. Very liberating I know, but I tend to waste time. Mainly on the computer. Then I wonder why I'm so tight when I start my yoga practice...umm miss 'i've been siting at the computer for the past couple of hours without moving'!!! At least the cats come visit me and cuddle on my lap for a few seconds! I don't have to chase them for attention (like vance does! eheheh)

I'm excited that Marcy and Chris are coming at the end of the month and we're going to Croatia! Beach!!! Sunny days!

Hope everyone has a nice day, week, month! Take care.