TuNiSiA

Ciao tutti! Hope everyone is doing well. I've been pretty busy and haven't blogged. So here I am! Well the past couple weeks have flown and so have I! Hehe! Actually last weekend I flew to Tunis, Tunisia and spent time with Vance over Easter. I brought him a typical Italian cake that comes out only round Easter....that's about as Easter as we got in the Muslim country. Even the Catholic church was closed on the Easter weekend. Weird!!!

So since I came back I have been a paper writing fiend! And I'm off again this weekend to Russia! St. Petersburg and Moscow...watch out...here we come!!! About 25 AUR students are going. It's an 'open' trip...we travel to the cities as a group, but we are free to roam all we want. I'm excited! I wish my honey could have gone with me, but he's working in Tunisia! :(

Side note....Kristy, Ansley S. says hello! She found me on myspace. It's such a neat thing. I lost track of her during the first university years, but it was nothing to "jump right back in" to our friendship. Very cool!

Have a great weekend! I'll get some pics loaded of our trip when I get back!! Bacio!

MSA meeting

Hi! Ciao! Salve! My name is Cherisse and I am a MySpace Addict. It's been only 2 hours since my last login. I will do my best not to dream of messages or people to search for. Psst. Bull! I'm on a mission to find ole high school friends and Baylor pals! It's too much fun. I've already found my 2 best childhood guyfriends and high school friends! It's amazing what technology does for you!

Tina, Glad your trip to Dallas was a blast. Vicky, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY. 21 at last! Kristy, Miss you babe! Vance, See you Thursday! Tunisia here I come. Will I have access to internet though? I'm not sure how I'll do without MySpace.

Lots of love! Bacione!

SuDoKu

OK! I'm addicted! Grazie mille Martina! See what happens! Now I'm up til 1am doing these things. My eyes are going cross and I can't count higher than 9 anymore in English or Italian.

This game is nifty and you should try it. Provalo! It occupies much of the time spent on buses and trains while sitting next to smelly people!

For those who may be interested. You have to fill in the numbers 1-9 in the 3x3 box, across 1-9 and down 1-9. The same number cannot be the same 3x3 box or row. You can play it on MSN Games and online. Do a google search! Have fun!

Total Eclipse of the Heart...I mean Sun

For those who didn't know, there was a total eclipse today. I didn't get to see it personally, but I saw some really neat video clips with some over-eccentric science teachers. Very cool what nature does! Have a good day everyone! Ciao Ciao.

Whatcha lookin' at?

Hey all! It's been a crazy week! With all the papers that are due, napolitano musical, choir practices, classes and work, I've been pretty busy. The best part of the week was the musical C'era una volta...Scugnizzi. I loved it! It's funny when you're learning a language and think that you're catching on and then you go to a musical performed in a southern Italian dialect and it feels like you're at the drawing board again. I didn't feel too bad when some of the people around me were saying that they didn't understand everything either! The music was amazing and very catchy.

This weekend Vance, my Ghanaian friend Yawa and I went to see The Constant Gardner, the only movie out in English this week. It was a good flick overall. The time sequence jumped around a bunch , but it wasn't too hard to follow. Rachel W. is not too shabby of an actress and Ralph Fiennes, I could listen to his accent all the time. What is so fabulous about accents?? I drool over them! And deep voices....aahhhh!!!

Anyway, I hope all of my family are doing well. I miss you all so much. My great friends, I miss you too. Kristy...my thoughts and prayers are with you and the Esslinger family. Have a good weekend. For my friends in Europe...remember that we sprung ahead this morning! Buona domenica!

Scherma con Sherraine

Saturday Vance and I went to Ostia (outskirts of Rome) to see Vance's school friend, Sherraine Mackay. She is currently ranked #1 in the world (not to brag or anything) in women's epee fencing. Her competition was very exciting to watch. They did a remarkable job. 3 of the 'old girls' made it into the top 64. Here is a pic of her competing in the semifinals in which she placed third for the bronze medal. Afterwards the Canadian team ( a bunch of great gals), their coach and judge joined Vance and I in Trastevere for a good meal and delicious gelati. We had a blast and Sherraine wrote her second novel in the inside of our copy of her first book. Did I confuse you there? GO BUY HER BOOK!!! Running with Swords! It's absolutely hilarious! She was a joy to have around and hopefully Vance and I will be able to watch her compete again in Torino in October 2006 for the World Championships! In bocca al lupo Sherraine!!!!

Spring "Sleep" Break

This has pretty much been my position for the past week. Although I have arisen for some activity. For example, Vance and I went for a bike ride last weekend. Monday I finished reading Memoirs of a Geisha and did some Pilates. Tuesday I invited a friend from Ghana, Yawa, over for lunch ( I cooked some kickass pesto pasta) and we watched Rent. Wednesday I spent the morning on trains (Boy do I love them!!! Not really!) to arrive for lunch at my friend Dani's house. Her mom and dad are completely adorable. She'd let me steal them if I wanted! Oh, Congrats Dani! (She's our valedictorian.) We watched Crash which I had not seen and lounged. I do NOT agree with the Academy Awards on giving it the Oscar! Brokeback was duped! Then I enjoyed yet another train ride home. I can't complain though cuz I was laughing my butt off reading Sherraine Mackay's book Running with Swords. Today I went on a workout frenzy..Pilates..Power Yoga...Body Sculpting...and then what the hell, some more ab work. Maybe it was from the overall lack of activity for the week, but I had some serious energy. Now I'm limping around from too many squats, lunges and crunches. Oh how I love the pain. Yes, I'm a nut and a tad bit freaky! Tomorrow I will be going to makeup some hours at work, since I will be going to Russia in April! Then Vance and I are meeting Sherraine for dinner while she is in town competing in the fencing World Cup...which she is currently ranked #1. And Saturday Vance and I will go walk her compete here in Rome. I'm pretty excited! It'll be my first fencing competition viewing. I'll let you know how she does...til then...Ciao Ciao!!!

Weekdays...Weekends...It all flys by!

The week has flown by and so much is going on. I've joined an ensemble at my university. Yet another thing to fill up my week. I love it! It feels good to sing with a group again! Boy I miss those good ole times with Mr. Nance. Remember Kristy! The sections grouped up in their corners or bathrooms in some cases. Memories.... There will be a little bit of performance since we are doing a melody from the musical A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum. In April, we, a small group of 8, will perform for the university! Possibly! Who knows!

Saturday was the best!!!! I've joined the Amazing Grace Gospel Choir!!!! The group is amazing! Ha.... Amazing Grace...Get it!!! I don't think anyone's name is Grace though...maybe Graziela! They are mostly Italians singing gospel music in English. Italians haven't picked up the gospel music genre and started to create their own...so we are using the good ole fashioned Southern Gospel Music! OOHHHH!!! I'm having a blast. I look forward to next weekend! Oh This is my teacher....




The poohy thing of my week is that it is midterms. So I'm hitting the books for the next few days. Fun times! Now, can someone tell me again why I went back to school????.....oh to be with il mio amore, Vance! Ti amo Vance, ma devi farmi una grande cosa!!!!! :)

Well i'm off to study,,do laundry and cook dinner! Women know how to multi-task! Ciao tutti! Un baccione!

FEB 28th HaPpY bIrThDaY DaD!!!

Wish you a Happy Day! New Orleans was so glad you had a birthday, they even threw a few parades for you. They said it was for Mardi Gras, but don't beleive it! It's all for you Daddio!

The Wolf

Ciao. My university has a new mascot The Wolf. He's a cutie! Since the Wolves and the Shewolves are kicking ass, The Wolf has been busy bustin' a move on the soccer field! GO WOLVES!!! GO SHEWOLVES!!!!!

Ricordami

Quanto freddo fa su questa spiaggia che
è una pagina strappata senza te
e' inverno già e amore non ce n'é
da vivere...
non c'è un'anima
si è spenta l'allegria
resta un mare che va
e ha già spazzato via
la tua, la mia
perduta eternità
che ormai non è che sabbia a raffiche
ricordami nel freddo di milano
nei sandali di corse libere
ricordami
se non ti sembra strano
rivivere quegli attimi
con me
e ritorno naufraga
nella stessa camera
e dormo qui
senza di te
come una stupida
e la vita va
testarda più di noi
e non ha pietà
se adesso non mi vuoi
ma tu, che fai
di questa libertà
che ormai per me
è un vuoto inutile
ricordami
nel freddo di milano
fra i mandorli di un paradiso blu
ricordami
non senti che ti chiamo
non chiedermi
di non amarti più
e mi sveglio naufraga
nella stessa camera
e scappo via
lasciando qui quest’alba splendida
ricordami
ricordami
ricorda da lontano
ricorda chi
non vuole perderti
mentre il tempo corre via
flash di una fotografia
ho un regalo
se mi vuoi
la vita che verrà
per noi

Can one have too many spaces???

I've created yet another place for me to share all my thoughts, pictures and such. If you're interested...check it! http://spaces.msn.com/bellacherisse/

Buon Viaggio

Ciao Vincenzo! Buon Viaggio. Una settimana senza te, che faro'? Ti diverti a Houston. Mi salute tutti i amici e la famiglia. Ci vediamo fra alcuni giorni. Ciao amore.

OK, for the non italian speakers... Hi. I'm working and not really doing much. Hell, it's Friday! I found this site thanks to my friend Heather. Check it out! zefrank.com! (see link to the right-->) That's pretty much what I've been doing. Maybe I should be more productive. I do have 3 papers to write for next week.

Va bene! Ciao ciao tutti. Fino al prossimo tempo! Until the next time......

RIGOLETTO

Vance and I went to the opera Wednesday night. Very nice! The costumes, set and singing was beautiful. I was very proud to pop Vance's opera cherry! Such a lucky girl I am! He enjoyed it! The music was fabulous. What can I say?! I'm a lover of opera! Madame Butterfly is coming later this spring. I hope I can go! For those who haven't been to an opera, GO! At least once! If you visit me in Rome, I might demand it! Stai Attento!

FEB 15th - HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TINA & CARL

CaRnEvAlE! It's Carnival Time

Poesia di Venezia

andiamo a letto
che fra poco si spegne
la luna,
noi sotto le coperte
e il quadro di vetri
si fa buio e allora
iniziamo a parlare.

le parole suonanofino al soffitto
come quello di una torre
sventrata
e un grande vuoto
sovrasta noi nel letto,
conviviamo.

HaPpY BiRtHdAy MaMa !!!!

Did you see your shadow? HeeHee! Love ya Mama! Have a great day. Go out and raise some hell.

Happy Birthday!

PRAYER LINE

Ok guys! Need your prayers! Just got news that my Aunt Debbie Kincade (Papa Dan's daughter) has been diagnosed with that bad *C* word. If you are involved in church groups or just daily chats with the Big Guy, please say a prayer for Aunt Deb. Thanks.

School Days

Isn't this a cool pic to put on a blog post.

I thought so.

Anyway. I've begun my first couple days of classes and I'm enthused. It's all about Italian and Italian life. 3 of the 5 classes are taught in Italian. Not too shabby I must say! Now I begin to not have a social life once again since I work and go to school all day and spend my weekends doing homework. Fun! I really do enjoy my classes. After May, I'll have to find something to do with my time.

I just wanted to say hi to my friends, CIAO! Hope everyone has a good week. Happy January, it's almost over! Who'da thunk it!