Things have slowed down...a little

I've been MIA in the blog world for what seems like a very long time (really, its been only a few weeks).  Usually my absenses are just because life is boring and there isn't anything to write about.  However, recently I've been so busy that I haven't had time to write. I have had more on my plate lately than I have since I moved to Sicily. I've gotten used to such a slow pace of life that when things need to move fast it doesn't take much to feel overwhelmed.  So...a brief recap as to what I've been up to:

• I finished my second to last class for my MBA!!! Only one more to go!  I can't believe I'm almost done.  I'm so excited (and so ready) to be finished.  The grad school equivalent of senioritis has definitely kicked in.  I had a really hard time focusing in this last class.  I got my assignments done, and maintained my grades, but didn't pay nearly as much attention to it as I have in past classes.
• I photographed my first portrait sitting.  A friend had asked me to take her pregnancy pictures months ago when she found out she was pregnant.  Of course I agreed as long as she understood that I had NEVER taken portraits before and that I didn't have the proper lighting equipment.  The pictures turned out AWESOME!  It really helped that she was an awesome model, though. I couldn't have asked for a better first experience at portraiture. To see the rest of the best check out her blog at http://supersheenanigans.blogspot.com/2008/10/pregnancy-pics.html
  

•  I shared a table at the Autumn Festival on base and sold some of my photo and craft cards. When I wasn't studying for class I was making cards and editing pictures like crazy.  The Festival also happened to be the weekend that I was supposed to be working on my final paper for class.  Yeah, that was a hectic weekend.
• Last night I was the presenter for Photography Club.  I talked about white balance, a topic that until I did copious amounts of research I knew very little about. Even though I was nervous (I'm not the best public speaker) the presentation went well and  I understand the subject better now. I hope my fellow photog club members do too.
  
• In between everything else I was trying to have a social life - Stamp Club, Card Swaps, just hanging out with friends, going out to lunch, and trying to find a bit of time to spend with my hubbie. 

Now that things have quieted down a little bit I am still pretty busy. I leave for the states in just a couple of weeks!  I will be gone for nearly six weeks and I can't wait to see my family and set foot on American soil again. It has been two years since we moved to Sicily and this will be my first trip back home.

Before I leave here are a few of the things I have going on:

• This weekend we are going on an Olive Picking trip with the Photography Club
• Next week I do my second portrait sitting, this time for another friend who wants family portraits for her Christmas cards
• Another craft fair the weekend of the 15th
• In between the fun stuff I have tons of errands to run like taking the cat to the vet and picking up any last minute odds and ends before my trip.

Whew...I get exhausted just thinking about everything that I've had going on and everything that is yet to come.  But at least it is mostly fun stuff. Beats sitting at home bored out of my mind.  Now that I'm caught up here I will probably start blogging again a bit more frequently, and will of course have much to share while I am back in the states.  Ciao for now!

Tastes Like Home

A couple of days ago I was ecstatic to find Egg Nog in the commissary!  It is one of my favorite holiday beverages, a special treat that I look forward to enjoying throughout the fall and winter.  One of my favorite preparations is the Egg Nog Latte.  I think it is one of Starbucks' best creations ever (or maybe they didn't create it, but that is where I had it first). Last night I was craving an Egg Nog Latte. I knew coffee at 9pm wasn't a good idea if I planned on sleeping  so it was on my mind all night and called to me as soon as I woke up this morning.

Not long after waking up I pulled out my Bialetti stove-top espresso maker and brewed up some strong coffee. Meanwhile in a glass measuring cup I mixed  about 1/3 cup Egg Nog with a bit of non-fat milk (enough to make a 1/2 cup total). I put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes until it was hot (but not so hot that it burns the mouth).  Then, with my handy milk frother I increased its creamy goodness to almost 2 cups in volume. I poured a couple of ounces of espresso into a tall mug and then poured the frothy egg nog in.  A little sprinkle of freshly ground nutmeg on top and viola! it was done!  So delicious. It tasted like home at the holidays. Sigh....with a big smile on my face.

Jill's Birthday

It seems like every long weekend falls in the middle of a challenging class. That means that Les & I are stuck at home while I study, study, study. Blah. Well, this past weekend wasn't any different, except that I received an invitation to go wine tasting for my friend Jill's birthday. How could I refuse? Friends? Wine? Food? I'm there! I spent Friday feverishly working on a long paper, hoping to get enough done so that I could enjoy myself on Saturday. I was successful and rewarded myself by taking all of Saturday off from school.

Saturday morning eight other girls and I loaded into two cars and set off into the foothills of Mt. Etna. We arrived at the Gambino Winery right on time for our lunch reservation. A lunch and tasting at Gambino consists of fresh bread, marinated vegies, meats and cheese, and of course, wine. We were able to taste five different varieties. All were delicious, but I definitely had my favorites.

After Lunch Jill opened her gifts as "the paparazzi" snapped pictures right and left. Outside of photography club I haven't seen so many DSLRs in such a small group! There were even a couple of girls complaining that they didn't bring theirs! I want to say that around 5 of us had DSLRs (out of 9!). Lots of talent (and nice photo equipment) in a small group.

Jill displaying her gifts

After lunch we took some time to meaner the wine shop and the winery grounds.  It is beautiful up there.  So peaceful. After buying a couple of bottles of wine (the Alicante, a rich delicious red) I took off on my own for a few minutes to snap a few pictures. 

Looking down on the town of Lingualossa

Jill, Thanks for including me in your birthday celebration!  I had a great time!

A really long but really good Saturday

Yesterday Les & I, and a group of friends met up for a day trip to Ragusa and the surrounding area.  After a bit of a late start (we were ready on time...) we hit the road toward Comiso.  In Comiso we met up with a friend, Tony, who owns an auto mechanic shop just outside of base.  He also happens to own the restaurant that Les and I went to in Scoglitti about a month ago.  Tony was excited to show off the area surrounding his home.  Our first stop was the Castello Donnafugata.

Facade of the Castello Donnafugata

Initially we had planned to tour the inside of the castle but a thunder storm earlier that morning had knocked out the power or the water or something and the inside was closed to tourists.  We did however get a tour of the beautiful gardens.

A lion guarding the steps up to the first balcony of the castle

Les and I disagree as to the look on his face.  I say its a snarl or a sneer, definitely not friendly.  He says it is a smile.  What do you think?

A view of the back of the castle

The Stone Labyrinth

We tried to find our way through the labyrith but didn't get far.  The storm that had hit earlier that morning had flooded several of the passages so we were forced to turn around.  Before we left many of us jumped on top of the walls for a better view.  The tour guide told us to.  She wouldn't go in with us, but said we could if we wanted to.  If we got lost just to climb the wall to find our way out.

See any resemblance?

Right as our group was gathering to leave for lunch at a nearby agriturismo the interior of the castle opened for visitors.  Many of our group opted to go see it but Les and I were ravenously hungry at this point and feeling cranky.  I had also had my fill for the moment of group touring.  We rested and had a snack and a glass of wine at a nearby bar and waited for the rest of the group to join us.

Finally, we left for lunch.  The agriturismo wasn't far, thankfully.  We all piled into the small homey dining room and prepared to feast.

One of the many antipasti options...YUM!

After I took that picture of the antipasti we dug in.  I didn't think much of pictures again for awhile...or rather I did but I was too busy eating.  Like all good Italian meals the food just kept coming and coming.  About halfway through I was already feeling full but there was a nice pause between courses for getting up streching legs, and letting the food settle before continuing to the next course.  I love lunches that go until dinner time!

As the lunch was winding down a resident German Shepherd poked his head in the door.  His beautiful sad eyes were just pleading for us to give him some of the leftover sausage that was on the table.

How could you not indulge that face?

He was such a good dog, never ventured farther in than you can see in the picture and just moved as people walked in and out of the door around him.

Our next stop was Ragusa Ibla.  Les and I have been there a couple of times but somehow managed to miss the coolest places on both trips.  Luckily this time we had a tour guide with us to show us all of the cool places.

Chiesa di San Giacomo

I am fascinated by the weeds growing out of the tiled roof.

The Cattedrale di San Giorgio in the distance through evening's haze

 

Detail on the facade of Chiesa di San Giuseppe

Cattedrale di San Giorgio

St. George on Horseback, sculpture inside the Cattedrale di San Giorgio

We finished our tour of Ragusa Ibla with refreshments at a local bar.  I was still full from lunch so I was content with some sparkling water.  As we were leaving Ragusa Ibla I tried taking a few nightime photos.  I'm still trying to figure out the best settings for low light.  This scene caught my eye.  It didn't come out quite as well as I'd hoped but you can still get the idea with the dark blue of the twilight sky and the lights shining on the leaves which were changing colors.

At the entrance to the Giardino Ibleo

1/6th sec at f/8, ISO 800

When we departed we separated from the rest of the group and headed to the mall in Ragusa.  Didn't need anything in particular but always fun to look.  We didn't buy anything but decided to grab a snack on the way out.  Our massive lunch was starting to wear off around 8:30P and we still had an hour to drive to get home. 

We decided to try a tex-mex place in the mall.  Tex-mex in Italy, an adventure for sure.  We grabbed a table, decided what we wanted (there were two menus on each table - a pizza menu and a tex-mex menu), and finally ordered.  Our beverages were brough out promptly and then we waited.  The restaurant got busier and busier.  To make a long story short we waited for over 2 hours.  About halfway through our server brought us a plate of french fries on the house because it was taking so long, at least that was my best guess.  We could tell there was some problem, maybe a bunch of miscommunications with the kitchen.  Finally, they came out and told me (nearly 2 hours after we ordered) that they didn't have what I wanted.  I picked something else.  Soon, Les order arrived.  It wasn't what we expected for a quesadilla but it was actually quite delicious.  We waited some more.  

Finally we decided to leave.  I flagged down the server and explained in my best Italian that we had to leave and we had a long drive home.  I asked how much we owed for our drinks and the bit of food we did receive.  He wouldn't take payment and was so apologetic.  My husband gave him 5 euro anyway.  In a situation like this you couldn't help but walk out with a positive feeling.  Even though they obviously had serious problems the food we did get was good and the staff was so gracious.  We will try it again.  Its not often you can walk out of a restuarant after waiting 2 hour for your food, not getting said food, and still leave with a positive feeling.

We arrived home a lot later than we expected, around 11:30P.  I was hungry (since I never got my dinner) but Les crashed out and went to bed.  I followed shortly after reheating and eating some leftovers in the fridge.  It was a long, long day, but a very good one.

Boxes of Memories

I have never scrapbooked. I just put everything that should go into scrapbooks into boxes. Lots and lots of boxes. I have two of them here with me and the memories go back to my last year or so of college, roughly 8-9 years worth of cards, letters, random pictures that never made it to photo albums, movie stubs, concert tickets, and playbills from various plays and musical I've attended. I have several more boxes of similar content with items dating back to my childhood at my parents' house that my mom would like me to take possession of  :) but so far I've avoided.

I recently decided to do a scrapbook for Les' and my wedding. This is what prompted me to dig through these memory boxes to see what I could find from our wedding. While I was searching I came across a couple of things that I thought I would share here. The first one is an email forward I received from a friend back in 2001. It was good enough to print off and put in my memory box! It still cracks me up so I thought I would post it here and then send another piece of paper to the recycle bin. (I'm so torn between hoarding stuff and hating clutter!)

Expressions for Women on High Stress Days:

1. You - Off my planet.
2. Not the brightest crayon in the box now, are we?
3. Well, this day was a total waste of make-up.
4. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
5. I'm not crazy, I've just been in a very bad mood for 30 years.
6. Allow me to introduce myselves.
7. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
8. Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.
9. I'm just working here until a good fast-food job turns up.
10. I'm trying to imagine you with a personality
11. Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you weren't asleep.
12. I can't remember if I'm the good twin or the evil one.
13. How many times do I have to flush before you go away?
14. You say I'm a bitch like it's a bad thing.
15. Chaos, panic and disorder - my work here is done.
16. Earth is full. Go home.
17. Is it time for your medication or mine?
18. How do I set a laser printer to stun?
19. I'm not tense, just terribly, terribly alert.

Hopefully these made you smile and laugh a bit.  I have another story to share but it is a bit longer and needs to be retyped.  I'll save that for another day.

A different view of Rome

As part of my birthday celebration Les & I spent the weekend in Rome. Since this was my third trip to Rome I wanted to get out of the main touristy areas and explore different parts of the city.  We stayed in Trastevere, an awesome neighborhood on the west side of the Tiber River. My mom and I briefly explored this neighborhood on our last trip and I fell in love with the area.  We found a reasonably priced B&B in the area and were able to walk everywhere.

Our first day in Rome it rained...and rained and rained.  It wasn't too cold so we were still out walking around but I was bummed because I coudln't use my new camera lens in the rain.  I didn't want to damage my baby!

Day two I spent the morning on my own.  Les had a masonic event to attend so my camera and I wandered the streets of Trastevere.

Church of St. Cecilia

Inside the Church of St. Cecilia

I saw a lot of interesting graffiti on my walks...

Mosaic Tile on the floor of The Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere

My wanderings led me to the botanical gardens - Orto Botanico, near the Villa Farnesina.  It was incredibly peaceful and beautiful.

Doesn't the statue look surprised to see a lizard on its forehead?

I loved the colors of the ducks...

While I was wandering the botanical gardens Les called and let me know that he was finished for the morning and to meet him back at the hotel for lunch.  The rest of the day was a whirlwind of lunch, much walking, primping for what was supposed to be a formal evening, and then attending an event that wasn't formal (business dress at most) and outdoors on a lawn, which my stiletto-clad feet weren't happy with.  Still, it turned out to be a fun evening - good food, good wine, and even better company.

Sunday morning Les & I set out to explore Gianicolo Hill and the Jewish Ghetto.

Piazzale Garibaldi

More Lovers' Locks on Ponte Sisto

Turtle Fountain in the Jewish Ghetto - Turtles might be by Bernini

Another view of the Turtle Fountain

Layers and Textures of Rome in the Portico d'Ottavia

More ruins in the Portico d'Ottavia

A closeup of the previous picture...just playing with the awesome zoom on my lens!!

Monday morning we checkout out of our B&B (luckily they were willing to hold on to our suitcase for us for the day - we had the last flight out) and we set off toward the Spanish Steps to get in the requisite bit of touristy sights and do a bit of shopping.

Trastevere Colors

Piazza Navona

Fountains in Piazza Navona...and a resident Pigeon

And those are the highlights from our trip. This vacation - short as it was, probably ranks among the best vacations Les & I have taken together.  We had such a great time.  I think it helped that for the most part we were away from the mobs of tourists.  I was actually able to practice my Italian!!  On my first two trips to Rome I was frustrated because the locals would hear my faltering attempts at their language and just start speaking Engligh to me.  This time, they actually spoke Italian back to me!! I'd like to think that my Italian is better (maybe a bit) but I think it was mostly because we were staying outside of the snooty tourist area.  I loved it!  I enjoyed Rome on my first two visits, but on my third I fell head over feet in love with the Eternal City.