Life....Italian Style!

This post is dedicated to what we loved about life in Italy. A lot of it focuses on the driving because we were so absolutely stunned by the way they drive over there! Yesterday on the way to pick up Chip at the vet's we had to wait behind a car and I found myself telling Jeff to just pass the guy--even with an oncoming car! Guess I got used to assuming people would move out of our way like the Italians do!

Just a view down a street. Any place can be blocked off so a restaurant can put out tables and pedestrians can walk through--just watch for the signs!

Grafitti was EVERYWHERE in the big cities--Rome, Naples, Venice--and we even saw some in the city of Pompeii--the ancient city...not the one they live in now! We couldn't believe how much there is and even though it's on these centuries-old buildings, nothing is done to get rid of it.

Political ads are everywhere right now. What is interesting is where they put them. We kind of figured out that the yellow numbered places are ones you can buy and paste your poster on. There is a slot on the back too. Can you see how thick the posters are? They don't take down the old ones when they put the new ones up.

LOVE the way they park! The Smart Car is advertised as "being able to fit in any small spot" and that's exactly how it's used over here in Italy! It's so funny to see it parked like this, but very typical!

Didn't find a good spot on the street? Go ahead...make your own spot on the sidewalk--no problem!

Gas station. We only saw 2 the entire drive around Rome, and we wondered where they filled up before we saw this. It's so tiny and has no advertising to let you know it's there, so I guess you just have to know where they are!

THIS is totally normal for Italian drivers! This is a view from my seat on the top section of our tour bus looking down at the car next to us. This is how close they get to each other. It is nothing to have 3 lanes of traffic with 5 actual lanes of cars with everyone going in and out of everywhere. Motorcycles/mopeds zoomed in and out in order to get to the front of the stoplight and it was allowed--very interesting!

Italy--Part 1

Day 1--travel: slept about 2 (maybe 3) hours on the 10 hour flight, so the fun begins here.....this is all we took--3 backpacks!

Day 2--travel: got into Venice at 5:30PM Italy time and had until 11:30PM to hang out in Venice. (Side note: didn't plan this trip well, so we lose a lot of time with traveling around Italy) Took a bus from the airport to the mainland Venice train station (Mestre), and then to the island of Venice itself (Santa Lucia station). Fog was starting to settle in (VERY Venice-like) and at the moment, our main goal was to get food! Started walking around Venice (got lost JUST a few times---JUST a few---thanks to grafitti artists who put new arrows on the yellow Venice signs that I remembered from 2001 telling us how to get to the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Square). After walking all the way to St. Mark's Square from the train station, we didn't think we could get back to the train station on time, so we took a water taxi (freaky foggy ride) back to the train station. Sat there FREEZING before we boarded our overnight train to Rome. Overnight train to Rome: private sleeping berth with 3 bunks and a wash basin--where our tootsies got their 1st bath in 24 hours! Slept about 4.5-5 hours of the 7 hour trip to Rome.

the picture's not blurry--that's the fog! Jeff was only about 20 feet away from me at this point waiting for the vaporetto (water taxi)/on the vaporetto and this is how foggy it was! We walked to St. Mark's Square because I wanted to see it lit up at night. It was SO foggy that we couldn't even tell which way we came into the square, much less see the Doges Palace or anything at the square!

A street in Venice--some had names, some didn't. They all looked alike, so it's just amazing that people find their way around this city!

Picture of the Rialto Bridge--on the vaporetto ride back to the train station from St. Mark's Square (you know...since it took an hour and a half to get there and it was getting foggier!)

Day 3: Arrive Rome/Tour Rome: EXHAUSTED!!! Checked into Hotel Borromeo at about 8:15 AM (perfectly between the main Rome train station (Termini) and the Colosseum. Wonderful hotel by the way...clean, great location, friendly/helpful staff and good breakfast to boot!) Walked down the street to find breakfast/our hop-on/hop-off tour bus and got our day started. (Side note: don't let RailEurope book your hop-on/hop-off: Rome City Sightseeing Tour had the FEWEST busses and longest wait time for touring.) Found bus, went to Vatican City, saw long line, took a few pics and got back on the bus (don't worry--went back on Day 4) to tour a church and the Spanish Steps, walk around a lot, etc. Went back to hotel to officially get into our room, have a nice, unpaid for bathroom break, and then get back on the bus to see the city. At this time, we decided we were in love with the way the Italians drive! By love...I mean be absolutely amazed with and talk in shock/awe each time we see it! Great pics will follow with what Italian drivers look like! Ate at a great little restaurant near our hotel and crashed by 9PM--and by crashed, I mean fell asleep with my book perfectly still held in the air!

Orange juice--Italian style. They use blood-red oranges to get this juice. Tasted good, but it was the first major food shock for us! This was at our "American Breakfast" of eggs, bacon, and toast at a Korean restaurant--:)

It was a beautiful day for touring Rome. Picture of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Went back to actually tour the next day.

Went inside several churches in Rome and this is one of them. The marble and detail work is beautiful and it's amazing what they did so many years ago with the technology/tools that they had!

CREPES!!! To say I LOVE crepes is an understatement! As thin as a pancake and filled with gooey goodness, what's NOT to love??? This is my friend making my Nutella crepe. Fell back in love with Nutella on this trip (a hazelnut/chocolate spread), so I'm happy they sell it in the states and I don't have to ship any back to myself!


Spanish Steps--great meeting point/tourist area in Rome

Don't remember the name of this building and since I shipped all our travel materials back with the pottery I bought, I can't tell you what building this is---but it's pretty! Also...notice the scaffolding on the building? There is literally work being done on tons of buildings to repair them since they are so old. We tear things down....they just keep fixing them!

The Roman Forum--for reasons I'll explain in another post....we didn't actually walk through them, but have a lot of great pictures and this is just one! The Colosseum--once again...for reasons I'll explain later...didn't go in. But...just to see it is amazing in itself. Once again....the ability they had to create things back then is amazing!

Circus Maximus

Side note from Italy--obviously now updated: (I will upload pics as soon as I can to FB--I've got them on Shutterfly, but it takes a long time to upload, so we'll see what I can do! We really have had a great time so far and as of today are on Day 6 and just got to Court and Evan's house in Sacile, Italy after a day of travel. We have had a great time, seen a lot of amazing architecture/history, and taken almost 500 pics in our 3 main days of sight-seeing! Stay tuned....more to come!)

Creative Memories--Product Spotlight: PicFolio

I don't think I've updated the blogging world with the fact that, yes, I did decide to sell Creative Memories products (for scrapbooking)! I'm so glad I did! I have the most wonderful, informative upline (person I signed on underneath), and it is so much fun to be able to earn money and help others with my HOBBY!!! Needless to say, I'm in love!

I want to highlight one of our products here each month (you know if I say once a week that it won't get done, so I'm setting the bar low!!). In the "spotlight" blog, I will describe just how fabulous one of our products is and explain how I used it. I am one of the most basic scrapbookers, so if you like starting ideas, mine would be great to use (not to brag of course!)!

Today I am going to spotlight the PicFolio album--the 11 x 14 version. There are other sizes to choose from too--just check out my website listed below. The PicFolio album is basically designed to be a very fast, yet creative way of scrapbooking. Remember those old albums that had slots for your pictures? Well, this is the granddaddy of them all version! In fact, I say it wins an Olympic GOLD medal for it's ease and quickness! Works well with the Olympics going on now! Here's the lowdown:

1. Buy the PicFolio album in your choice of colors (or even the Disney version!)
2. If you buy the coverset, buy the pages to go in it; if you buy the album, no new pages are needed since it comes with them
3. Buy the PicFolio Milestones product in your choice of reversible pattern--these are these pre-cut scrapbook papers to put in your album to decorate it--SO easy! (These come in plain decorated papers and decorated journal boxes)
4. Order your pictures
5. Put together your album by sliding in the pictures--no cutting required, sliding in the pre-cut Milestones papers wherever you'd like them, and journal wherever you'd like as well!
6. Voila! You're done!

Here's the reason I call it the GOLD medal Olympic winner: I put together my album while watching the Olympics last week (hence the name) and finished it in less than 2 1/2 hours!!! This is start to finish--taking the pictures out of the Walgreen's folder, taking the plastic off all my supplies, getting tape so I could mat some of the pictures to the Milestones papers, etc---AND watch Lindsay Vonn win her gold medal in Alpine Skiing! The next day I did all my journaling, added decorative touches, etc---but it still only took about another hour!

So...that's approximately 3 1/2 hours from start to finish for an entire album! This is why the PicFolio album deserves all the bragging rights to this month's Creative Memories Spotlight!

Since I forgot to take pictures of Dad's album before I gave it to him this weekend, check out my website for a look at the album: www.mycmsite.com/stephaniedickens

1. Go to products -> Traditional Scrapbooking ->Albums ->PicFolio Albums OR....
2. Go to products -> Traditonal Scrapbooking ->Kits ->Milestone Kits (to see the paper choices)

Happy scrapping!

Venting

I am struggling to stay positive at work these days. I stayed at my current job for 2 reasons:

1. I didn't want to take the "possibly great job" that was an hour away (both ways) from home
2. I didn't get a better possibility in Katy ISD

In doing this, I made the decision to stick it out another year at WMJH. I had hopes (not high--but hopes) that things would change at my school this year from what they were last year. They haven't. I still have no administrator response to any emails I send--whether it be regarding a student behavior issue or an invitation to the mentor/mentee breakfast we had last week (and they missed out on my yummy quiche!). The students are more disrespectful than ever because they know the administrators won't do anything to them except tell them, "Get it together"---even after I've wasted too much precious class time trying to get them to see why we have rules to follow.

And etc. Sad to say, I'm so discouraged that I don't even have the energy to write out my complaints right now. I actually sat down in class today and wrote out a list of why I liked teaching. (Don't worry--all my students were either at computers or the reading center and were on task--I wasn't slacking off). I only came up with 4 reasons--one being the vacation we get!

So...I'm looking for other options. Not actively yet, but I'm putting feelers out for possibilities in other districts and other things as well, like teaching at a community college. I just want to like what I do again!

On the positive side...I did start tutoring for a 3rd grade boy, and he is the best! I love Wednesdays when I get to visit little Nate and help him with reading/writing skills! He makes me realize I can go on to finish the week out, even when my students make me think otherwise! Thank you, precious Nate! I owe you a lot!

Thank you for letting me vent, oh blogging world. I'm tired of saying these same things and I know people are tired of hearing them. Thank you for letting me write it down!

Unsure

I love scrapbooking! Now, I'm aware this is not news to most of you, so just stay with me here. I am not a salesperson. When I was in junior high and had to sell stuff for band fundraisers I only sold to my family and one or two old ladies down the street from me 'cause I hated it so much. Here's where my problem lies:

I am thinking I may want to become a Creative Memories consultant. CM is a line of scrapbooking stuff that I started out using, have gotten away from, and now gone back to. I absolutely LOVE a few of their products and when I went over to my saleslady's house today, they've started selling a lot of new, fun embellishments that I'd love to use. I've also toyed with this idea for a year or so, but just haven't done anything about it. So now I am. I'm still unsure, but really think this is something I want to do. Hmmmm......decisions, decisions.

A Hunting We Will Go

While we were in Cuero for Christmas, Jeff had a chance to go hunting. He went bird hunting (dove? quail?--whichever's in season!!) on Saturday with dad and then Sunday after being prodded by the Luster boys, he went deer hunting. He even slung good 'ol Chip across his shoulders and loaded him into the deer blind with him! There's nothing Jeff won't do to get Chip to be with him!

Right as mom, dad, and I were leaving Cuero to go eat at Nordheim, I got a text about a deer. Here's how we roll:

J: Have a deer in sight. Should I shoot? (This is only his 2nd deer, and he wasn't sure of the quals)

S: (after getting dad's advice) Only if the antlers are outside the ears

S: and if you want to clean it

J: k

S: (furiously texting back before he shoots it) remember, you're in my car and we're in the suburban

J: shit. Just shot it. Guess we'll come back tomorrow

S: don't you have to work tomorrow?

J: Guess we'll leave after we get it processed

The other funny part was when dad asked me if Jeff had a knife or anything to gut the deer with 'cause I knew the only thing he had was a teeny tiny pocket knife (in the pic below). What I didn't know is that he'd printed out directions to field dress a deer and had those in his back pocket (pic below too)!!! At least my man was prepared!! :)

Yes--this is how we roll! It's not as funny reading it, but when you realize that my car was our brand new Sequoia and there was no way I was laying down the seats for a dead deer, that might put it a little in perspective! Anyway...took it the next morning to get processed and we were one our way!

Here are some of the pics: Ronnie, Dad, Jeff, dead deer

Pray...

...that I get through this week. We have known since we moved into the house 2 1/2 years ago that we were going to need to paint the trim, doors, baseboards, etc. since we only painted the walls before we moved (which I still highly recommend). However, we thought we'd get around to the trim and stuff--and we haven't. So...Jeff FINALLY told me about 2 months ago that maybe we needed to hire someone to do the dirty work and I was thrilled! However...now that it's here and I have to pack up stuff, vacuum the baseboards (so no dog hair sticks around), etc. I'm not as thrilled.

The good news: we've both been busy cleaning out and organizing and our house WILL look good in a few weeks. The bad news: I will be living in a tornado zone for the next week.

So a prayer would be good---for me not to blow up at junk everywhere and for Jeff patience in dealing with me!