Buon Viaggio

Toothbrush- Check!

Book for airplane- Check!

Ambien- Check!

Flight itinerary- Check!

I hope I'm not forgetting anything...

See you in 2009 my three lovely readers!

Love,

Me

Organized

When you've got only fourteen days days at home, you must plan ahead. Being organized is key on any trip, whether you are a tourist or not. Luckily I don't classify as a tourist as I'm visiting family in two cities I already know fairly well.

So here is an official list (I love lists) of just a few of the MUST'S for when I am home, in no particular order:

Drive with the windows down while playing fun hip hop and/or rap (a cool rock song might work too)- Driving is something to look forward to because here we mainly ride our bikes and take trains, as we don't have cars.

Drink a Starbuck's coffee. One might question such a thing since Italian coffee is so friggin' good. And while I'll admit any day that I love sipping on a milky Italian cappuccino, there's still something about the idea of the long drip, American coffee on-the-run that is nostalgic.

Eat authentic Mexican food. Okay, so even if it's not necessarily authentic authentic Mexican food, to me it's much better than what we can get here. Period. I plan to eat at El Potrillo de la Sandia at the Harbor in Rockwall and we can't forget about the famous nachos at the Blue Goose in Dallas.

Eat an authentic cheesburger. I plan to eat at either Jo Willy's and/or Boot's Burgers in Rockwall and of course the famous In & Out when I'm in California.

Eat some yummy, affordable Japanese- In San Francisco we might to go Tsunami and in Dallas to Shinsei. I also like to go to Blue Fish on Greenville Avenue in Dallas for their tasty Summer Rolls.

Spend quality time with family and friends- I only see them twice a year so it's crunch time when I'm at home! Let the bonding begin...

Okay so I didn't mean for this post to sound like a t.v ad for restaurants. That wasn't my plan; I promise. I just got a little carried away when I started thinking about specific places to eat and had to organize my thoughts. :) Anyway, you get my drift. In all, I'm going to eat well when I'm at home and catch up with some of my favorite people. See you soon!

Que Nifty!

While doing what I do best, which is search/shop/browse online from the comfort of my cozy bed, I came across these nifty lil' finds on Outblush. Outblush is a classically fun and quirky site where you can find just about anything (if you are a chica). They have a sister site for men (or brother site?) but the name escapes me. I included the descriptions of these fun finds below. I know many people who would highly benefit from the first item. These people are the ones who constantly have their cameras with them and who don't mind cropping out their hand in photos. :) (He-Hem, MC). And it even fits in your purse!

The last item is of some h.o.t shoes that are at Payless. Who would have known?





XShot
Imagine actually being in your pictures for a change—and that's without the funky arm extension move you're so fond of. With the XShot ($30), you can attach your camera to a sturdy metal extension rod, hold the contraption away from you at 37-inches and snap away. The best part is, the XShot folds up to a mere nine inches, so you can keep it in your purse in preparation for every photo op.

Lela Rose for Payless Carmelita Peep Pump
Soooooo retro, and in the very best way. We love the Carmelita Peep Pump ($38), designed by Lela Rose for Payless. This shoe boasts a satin fabric upper lined in a contrasting color and topped with a sweet bow to balance the vampy peep toe. In green/brown, black/black and black and white checked.

Zucchini & Potatoes

Last night I was in the mood for something to munch on. So thanks to a website I found out about earlier in the day on JGL's blog, I made these scrumptious zucchini fritters . (Did you know zucchini is an Italian word?) The easy and straightforward recipe was from The Pioneer Woman Cooks, who apparently is "plowing through life in the country...one calf nut at a time." Ha ha, I love it. Anyway, whoever she is she's got great recipes. In fact, next week for my big family's Christmas I plan to make her Creamy Herbed Potatoes. It looks like a heavy dish but oh soo yummy and who cares anyway, it's the holidays! Oh and I totally stole the photo of the fritters from the website. Mine were delicious but of course didn't look as good as hers.

New Year's Eve dress #2

I think I might like this dress better than my first NYE dress purchase! (You can see a picture of the first dress on this post). I really wanted something with sleeves since it will be cold in San Francisco. Plus, I love this bold shade of blue! I'm going to try on both when I get home and return whichever one I don't choose for the 2009 bash. Ah, Thank God for good ol' American return policies. I found this great buy on Express. I hadn't shopped there in a really long time and was surprised by how many cute, festive dresses they had! Which dress do you like better? The red or the blue one?

This and That

I decided to take advantage of the slow day at work and go through random photos on my computer. Here's what I found:
These are my three phones. Anyone who knows me here always makes fun of the fact that I have three cell phones. So let me introduce them, in order from left to right: The orangie is my personal. The middle one is for work only. And the blue one is for student emergencies only. The emergency phone has the most appropriate.ring. ever. as it suggests danger and suspense and usually leads to an emergency room visit (or worse-yikes.)
These are some artichokes I made. They're called carciofi alle giudea (Jewish artichokes) and are by far one of my favorite Roman dishes. They are basically fried upside down in olive oil (no batter) twice. The first time you do it for approximately fifteen minutes on low heat and then you take them out and wait a bit. The second time you do it for maybe ten minutes, but on high. They are so.delish. I'm drooling at my desk and I write this.
This is the sweet gift that my Italian friends Veronica, Stefania, and Daniela gave me. It was a late birthday present that they gave me a few weeks ago. I'm never here in August for my birthday (and neither are they, or any Italians for that matter. They are all at the beach for August vacation!). I was quite touched by this- they are the sweetest girls! It's filled with shower gel, lotions, creams, soaps, and all sorts of other fun girly things.
Chris made this pasta from scratch. Doesn't it look delicious? This is what real, home-made pasta looks like people! And believe me, it tasted even better than it looks. I can't remember what he did for a sauce (awful, I know), but I remember that it was delightful. I crave pasta on a weekly basis and we usually do pasta out of the box. So when I get to eat real, fresh pasta, it's definitely a treat. I'm salivating as I write this by the way....

Lucky Seven & More

In just seven days I'll be aboard British Airways flight #### (never know what psychos read this) on my way home. One would think that I really can't stand living in Florence, given that I have been counting down the days until I go home for at least three weeks. I promise that's not the case! I just love seeing my family and friends, especially at Christmas. I also love the whole experience of flying. I look forward to sliding my toes into my comfy slippers, flipping through the movie channels, and of course, sleeping. :) It's also fun to stare and make up imaginary lives in my mind about fellow passengers, too. I admit this is a hobby of mine. :0

Tonight, C, TH and I are all going to out to eat. It seems like we haven't been out to eat at an Italian restaurant in forever. Lately when we've gone out to eat it's always been either Indian or Japanese. And since C is a chef, we do a lot of Italian at home. I'm really looking forward to checking out La Pentola d'Oro, one of Florence's best (supposedly) Tuscan cuisine restaurants. I'll let you know what I order on tomorrow's blog.

I had an interesting experience today at the Office of Immigration. I was supposed to pick up my very-much-anticipated permesso di soggiorno (permit of stay). It's what you have to apply for as a foreigner after you already have a visa in the first place. The whole process is absurd and frustrating because it takes forever to get one in the first place. For example, I applied for my permit of stay in January of this year and it is just now ready in DECEMBER. The government is more or less a year behind on these things. Not only that, but it expires in four weeks from now. So I will have what is worth a large piece of gold to most foreigners/immigrants for a total of four weeks before I have start the whole process over again in 2009. Ridic!

The only positive part of this experience is that every time I go to this office where I wait in line with hundreds of other immigrants and foreigners, I always leave with a a little more perspective on my life. Today I was keenly aware I was the only native English speaker as I waited in line with others from China, Somalia, Morocco, Chad, Sudan, Algeria....I realize that these people are fleeing something so much bigger than I could ever imagine. They are from war-torn and communist countries, trying to make a better life for themselves in Italy. This is their freedom. This is their chance to make it. They work in factories, clean people's homes, and do whatever else they can do get by here. My question is do they ever "make it?" It's so hard here for foreigners and the "system" doesn't make it any easier. Italy's battle with immigration is fairly new and they still have a long road ahead of them. There are still so many Italians who are scared of immigrants. It reminded me of the IHT article I read yesterday that discussed the immigration in Spain. Anyway, it makes me feel so lucky to be from the U.S and as cliche' as that sounds, I really do mean it. So many people escape so much more than I'll ever understand and it makes me feel so thankful to be where I'm from. :)

Okay, so going back to The Wait. In the flourecent light-filled room where everyone was waiting for their permit, someone had tacked a piece of paper on the wall that said "La wc non funziona. Questo e' una grande vergogna italiana." (The toilet doesn't work. This is a big Italian embarassment). It might seem like this person was exaggerating the fact that the one public toilet in the whole establishment was broken. But the meaning was deeper than that. I believe that the person who posted the sign was personally offended because it was as if someone spat in the face of The Immigrant. If The Official Government Building for Foreigners couldn't even have a working toilet, then what gives, Italy?

Does this sound like a fun New Year's Eve party or what?!!! I can't wait. This is the inviation from the Evite.

"Average price for an all-inclusive dinner and drinks on New Year's Eve at a downtown hotspot: $120pp
Average wait at the bar for a drink: 20 minutes
Average wait for the bathroom: 20 minutes

All you can eat and drink as you bring in the New year at our place: Priceless!

Please join us for a night of good friends, good food, lots of drinks and loads of fun as we celebrate the New Year!!"

Can't wait KK and SA!!

Holler!

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Unfortunately I won't be able to partake in the prior mentioned blog next Thursday because I will be flying that day. I can't exactly shop online while I'm in the air, can I? :(

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This Friday a big transportation strike will be held in Italy. I love how the Italians plan and organize their strikes. Hilarious. If you go to the Ministry of Transportation website, you can see the exact times that the Italians are organizing their strikes for all sectors: air, train, and public buses.

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My friend MZ was interviewed by the Washingtonian for her personal blog, Dekan (Naked spelled backwards). I didn't even know that that was possible. How do newspapers even find people's blogs? I think it's so cool and when I see her now I'm totally going to treat her like a celebrity. Check out the link because she also mentions some good shopping websites that I had never heard of before.

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Tonight C and I are having date night. He's making leek soup.

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If you're interested in buying imported Italian extra virgin olive oil, check out my friend's website. She's having a Christmas sale.

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I have a few things to do before my flight next week. They include:
* buy train ticket to Rome
* pack
* buy a last-minute stocking stuffer
* I know I need to do a lot more than this but have to go.

Free Shipping Day

This is pretty sweet. Next Thursday, December 18th (the day I'm flying home), you can order from any of these websites and have free shipping! The lists includes Amazon, The Apple Store, Macy's, Target, Endless, and Zappos. Check out www.freeshippingday.com for more info. Happy Shopping!

Read this book!

Read this book! I especially recommend it for Hispano-philes and anyone who loves or is curious about the Dominican Republic. Read more about the author here. The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao won this year's Pulitzer Prize and is one of the best books I've read all year. Get it!

Around this time last year..

At this time last year we were with friends. First in Dallas, then...

... with other friends, strolling through the streets of beloved San Francisco..

.. and doing the Beyonce dance with friends..


..we were also filling our stomachs with yummy holiday food..

..including In & Out, my favorite burger EVER (you can't really tell but this is a really long line of Japanese tourists going there to chow down)

..don't forget the annual boxing match between Toby and Samson, my parents' and sisters' cats...they hate getting together for the holidays each year!

This is Chris's sexy "holiday" look..

Samson the kitty on my suitcase with my sister regulating..

We can't forget when both families got together in Monterey!

I heart Bird Rock in PB.

And last but not least, G and I are pretending to kiss our friends R & G who never made it to SF for NYE last year. :( I'll never forgive United for what they did to you guys! :(


I hope we can eat sushi again at Tsunami in San Francisco!

Blah

I'm relaxing and enjoying my Sunday night at home. C went to watch Miami football play at a pub. I was going to go with him but I am pooped after this weekend. Plus I have a teener headache and just felt like staying in.

@ Given that tomorrow is a holiday here (Immaculate Conception) and next week is a short week for me, I've got only six full days of work ahead of me and ten days total before I bail. I'm flying on my favorite airlines, British Airways and am flying Rome-London-Dallas. The only bad thing is that next Wednesday night I have to stay at a hotel in Rome because my flight out is at 5 something a.m. Ouch.

@ Before I leave, I am going to get my bangs cut. They are long and out of control. I kind of like this chick's (see above) bangs.

@ My Mammacita has planned a surprise *something*. It will be family outing of sorts for when we are in town. All I know is that it's on the 23rd and that it begins at 10 a.m. I love surprises! What could it be? Hmmmm.

@ I finished watching the movie Into the Wild. What a tear jerker! Now I'm going to read the book. Someone told me to watch the film first before reading the book so that will be my airplane book for the triz-ip home.

Ceramica de mi hermana

If you love these pieces as much as I do, check out my sister's complete ceramic collection here.
The girl's got talent!! :) Right, Yoren?

Love vs. Hate

I love the Ponte Vecchio. I love that this is what I get to feast my eyes upon every time I stroll through Florence. Bello.

I hate that every time it is pouring raining and I'm trying to walk on a sidewalk that fits exactly one person (approx 12 inches wide) that I always have to move my umbrella out of the way so that the jerk Italian person walking towards me can get by. If I didnt do this, I would a. get poked in the eye from the jerk's umbrella and b. my feet would inevitably get wet by moving on to the street with the water that is flooding the street!! Ohh... but the strongest survive in Italy. So I will.not.ever.move.by.umbrella.ever.again.

That's all.

Check out the vacation days comparison sheet that I stole from another blog I stalk. (No, I'm not telling you who because they don't know I read their blog. I will say that I found them on Expat Blogs though).

I'll just let the chart be a little food for thought for ya....
Italy's not on there but they fall somewhere right in between Spain and France.

Randomnesss

**I've had a headache all day long and it wont go away. I already took one Advil Liquigel and two Aspirin and they haven't worked. :(

**I'm craving cheese and lots of it! Yummmm.

**I also can't wait to go to have some authentic Mexican food when I'm home! Nachos, tortillas, fajitas, guacamole, quesadillas, queso... it's all callin' my name. 16 more days.

**Tonight C and I are going to be lazy and watch Weeds and hopefully a new Office if it's finished downloading.

**We have no plans yet this weekend but I want to fill up our social calendars with something!

**The Heidelberg German market opened up today in our local piazza (square). It's my all-time favorite Christmas market and C and I ate there for lunch. We had pork and wurstel with sauerkraut and hearty potatoes. YUM.

**I just realized I probably blog too much about food and count down too frequently to things!

**We just booked our apartment for Dublin for mid January. Thanks MicKai for finding a great place for us. ;)

**I think Skype has the best icons, hands down. Has anyone seen the icon of the guy that sweeps his hair from one side to the next? He has black sweepy hair? I love him. Much better than Yahoo or Gmail icons.

**Urggh I need to go the gym. It's been ten days since I've been. Ughh.

Holiday Cheer

Saturday morning, before we went to MC's for Thanksgiving, C and I "decorated" our tree while listening to Christmas music for the first time this holiday season. (I put quotation marks around decorate because all we really have to do is adjust the ornaments and branches. We remove the plastic bag over our 12 inch tree and wa-la!!.. our tree is ready! We left the ornaments and everything on from last year so it's super easy).
On the Christmas music note, C finally caved in to "letting" me play Christmas music. He still thought that playing it on November 29th was too early but I disagreed. I love that in Italy they don't start playing Christmas music on the radios in OCTOBER! They respectfully wait to play the music and start decorating the streets, windows, etc, until around the last week of November. How it should be!
After we organized our tree, I made chocolate chip cookies that we took over for to MC's. I of course made enough to have for later. Yumm! If you want to see a photo of our little Christmas tree, just read last December's post and you'll find it there. :)

Rain, rain, and more rain..

The weather reports say it's supposed to rain for six more days. After raining and hailing since last Thursday, I don't know if I can take it anymore. As much as I enjoy curling up with a good book while it's raining, I'm going to need a lot of new books to keep me entertained for another week!

Time to vent-- I hate the Italian post office

Attenzione: Get ready for a lot of negative energy in this post. Watch out, because fumes might come off the screen, into your office or home!

Here's how my little conversation (in Italian) went at the post office today:

Me: Ciao, buongiorno. Could you please track these two packages that I sent to the U.S. in July? They both still haven't arrived and I'd like to see if you could look for them here. I think they might have been returned to Italy, or they never made it past Customs. They are very important wedding gifts and I've been trying to track them for months.

Rude lady behind counter: Si, signoria, ma I can't help you with this. You have to call the 800 number and they can tell you.

Me: Yes, but I've already called that number twice and they told me they can't find them. Can you at least give me the phone number for Customs?

Rude lady: I don't have that phone number. You can fill out these forms though. (She then hands me what looks like an application for a million dollar loan).

Me: Oh, and then what?

Rude lady: Then you can turn the form in in here.

Me: And then what?

Rude lady: Then, magari (maybe, possibly) someone will find it and contact you..


Yeah right. Those gifts are gone! I'm really surprised she didn't ask me to fax her the form because Italians LOVE faxing things. Want to make a hotel reservation? Doonn't even think about e-mailing them- you'll never hear back from them. Fax them! Want to change where you want your newspaper delivered? Fax.it.good. Ughhhh why is EVERYTHING so difficult here? Everything is made complicated. Oh well.. you'd think that after more than three years of living here that I'd be used to this but um..these things still make me angry.

While I rant, this all reminds me of my recent conversations with five different Italians regarding purchasing items online. All five Italians (all around my age) said they didn't trust paying with their credit card online. They couldn't believe that I had done about 85 % of my Christmas shopping all online. They couldn't fathom buying airline tickets online, either. They continued to ask me questions like "what if you don't receive the item?" or "how does the airlines know it's really you traveling?" and "how do you take it back?" It's really quite interesting and I find it apalling but they do not trust the whole World Wide Web shopping bit at all! They'd rather go to a travel agency (do those even still exist in the U.S by the way?) in person and make a personal transaction or go to the store and see and feel the item. I can understand this at times but the beauty of online purchasing is that you CAN take it back, even in Italy. They just don't get it and prefer to stay old-fashioned/archaic. Hey, whatever suits you..

Going back to the original post office story, the moral of the story is: Next time use Fed Ex!