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Published: September 25th 2012
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Ah bella, beautiful on the outside, beautiful on the inside."
- Favorite compliment of the week
A bit of home: I've been going to the American church here called Santa Susanna. I met the pastor Fr. Greg who I believe is from California. He's a really great homalist and has a sense of humor. I'd like to get involved more at the church so I'll either be a lector and/or do some volunteer work in their English library.
Something you probably don't care to know: I'm pretty sure I (I? My bed? My bed.) has bed bugs. Theodoric said I'm not allowed to come to Canada anymore because bed bugs are contagious. RUDE.
My new skill: I am LOVING riding my bike everywhere but it's difficult to navigate when there's a lot of foot traffic. Thus the emergence of my new skill...Still Riding, Float Riding, Suspended Pedaling, Dormant Cycling, Illusion Pedaling, Static Riding. I have gotten so good at pacing a fanny packed, gelato stacked, 300 pound, red necked Alabama tourist that I can pretty much balance on the bike, feet on pedals, completely stopped. Skills people, skills.
Site seeing...fail: There always seem to be one or two
Piazza Navona
So typical, I'm sitting in front of this random fountain while immediately to my left is the very famous Bernini fountain. sight seeing fails when I'm involved. I made the 40 minute bike ride to the St. John Lateran (San Giovanni Laterano) basilica arriving at 11:30am only to find out it doesn't open until 1pm.
I marveled at the massive statues outside but I couldn't go in.
And THEN I took pictures of what I thought could be the Scala Sancta. I got home and Googled the steps...what I had photographed was a homeless rest stop. But they looked so impressive! Everything in Rome looks like it should be "something". It's difficult to navigate!
Accidental Success: On my way to Saint John Lateran yesterday I finally peeled my eyes away from the skinny Italian in front of me and as I looked upward, in that instant, a choir of heavenly kittens began to mew....there before me was the colosseum. It is MAGNIFICENT!! Breathtaking really. It came out of nowhere, just hit me in the face! I believe the words that audibly rolled out of my mouth were, "holy shit". I couldn't help it! Coolest bike ride ever.
Hey dad, bike ride?
What the hell this sucks: Magic Mike
Giant
Pull my finger is still in theatres.
Why I'm the luckiest girl in the world: In THREE DAYS time there will be a celebration taking place which will be the envy of every Roman in the city. It will be a celebration so magnificent, so scronchtastic and so mumbled that people will stop, stare and shake their heads in defeat knowing full well that they could never be part of a reunion so wonderful. SISTA SISTA UNITE! I am beyond excited to see Angelica and E. Who knows what kind of adventures will find us!
Second reason why I am the luckiest girl in the milky way...my hot n holy Canadian Theodoric Boyfriend could not resist his hot n holy American Chanelle Girlfriend and is coming to Rome on Oct 29!! What the heck! Pinch me. I can't believe that the second time we are together it will be in Rome. How amazingly cool is that?! I am so blessed. Thank you God! And thank you Theodoric for drinking several glasses of wine that night which made it easier to purchase the flight 😉.
Kid update: They're still here. Schedule is in
3 euro pizza
It doesn't look awesome, but oh it is full swing with school, gymnastics, judo and piano lessons.
Social life: To all the foreign au pairs, I'm sorry but I will always compare you to my bestie Jules. Of course those are impossible standards to live up to so I'm setting myself up for friend failure. It's fun to hear about where these girls come from and to compare all our cultural differences but I haven't met anyone who screams quality to me. Heck, no ones even whispered or mouthed quality. But I'll keep searching! At least I'm being introduced to good/cheap pizza places (3 euro for a HUGE pizza).
Aladdin: Sunday morning flea market shopping followed by lunch is the alternative to going away for the weekend. From October to June Rome opens it's streets to the deodorant deprived vendors.
This past Sunday I went to Porto Portese, Europe's largest flea market. It took about 2 hours to walk the length of the main street but there were many side streets that I didn't explore.
All you hear are the vendors yelling, "prègo prègo prègo prègo prègo" translation "Look! My junk is way better than his
junk!" You might also hear the same thing if you wander down Castro in SF late at night...
The tables of jewelry made me wish Aladdin was real. I desperately wanted Aboo to jump down from a rooftop and tickle one of the Arab vendors with his tail while Aladdin makes off with a jewel stash.
Better you than me: One of the au pairs got her wallet stolen while we were at Porto Portese. Totes got Gypsied.
I hope you are all happy and healthy! Please email me with updates on your lives 😊
hugs
xo
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Theodoric
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Prègo, write more! My girlfriend cracks me up! And drives me wild. And makes me the happiest Canadian Theodoric in Canada! My presumption is you purchased that Canadian flag phone cover. You call that junk? A precious jewel for my samsung...? Though maybe your sister can entice me to revert - the O'Connell ladies are persuasive to say the least. Write more girlfriend. You really are a phenomenal writer.