Italian Capers

While I do like the idea of using scooters to get around, I am not a fan of the sound or the smell. My Man talks about how great it would be if more follks rode them in the U.S., but I have a few hesitations, amely the enormous cars we drive! I suppose it doesn't make too difference if you ride a scooter and you're hit by a deux chevaux as opposed to a monstrous SUV (no brands/types need be mentioned)- but it seems somehow less lethal. One day we'll use this picture to prove they have been to an ancient coliseum. So, after the lumpy bed for a couple nights, the time had come to move on. We hit the road sans reservation or hesitation! And we drove to Tuscany. People, there's a reason there is a "mystique" about Tuscany. It is beautiful! All you have to do is look out the window- the landscape changes and the colors change and it's breathtaking. No matter where you look- there's miles and miles (or klicks and klicks)of beauty. But where shall we stay? ...

So, where did I leave off? We drove to Sorrento and used that as our "home away from home." The room wasn't all that fabulous. It feels like heresy, but I am going to say it....Rick Steves' choice of hotels can sometimes be a little shabby for a family! My Mom, and dear Auntie Na and The Crunch all seem to enjoy this aspect. In fact, I think she should start her own tour company and bill herself as "The Shabby Traveler." It would work! There's always an adventure to be had, but with little folks, that "adventure" can seem like a pain in the keester! As an example, apart from the UBER lumpy bed, the light in the bathroom was on a TIMER! Yep, it turned off after a certain amount of time had lapsed- really? When you are trying to get 2 kids in and out of a shower without having someone fall and land on the toilet- it's a small space folks! ANNOYING! I can't even tell you how many times I heard Z shout, "Mommy-o there's no light a...

The tallest of the small is 6.5 years old. We had the usual half-birthday fun. At school, on her half-birthday, one of her friends told her that half birthdays aren't real. She mentioned this to me when she got off the bus. Then she asked me if half birthdays are "real." Hmmmmm. "What do you think?" I asked her (love that parenting technique). Well, she explained that lots of people don't celebrate their half birthdays, most people probably. But since we do, they are real for us. Sounds good to me : ) You get to celebrate their lives twice as many times- how can I resist, besides, it involves CAKE people! Happy half-birthday!

Not even a week before spring break, I had a conversation with a good friend during which I mentioned we used to take vacations without reservations. We would just "hit the road." Of course, the other mother and I agreed, we would never do that with children. It wouldn't be prudent. Then we did : ) We had a vague notion where we wanted to go and worked out a rough plan the night before our departure. I did secure our first few nights stay and away we went. We headed south to Sorrento . The kids did great with the travelling- our fun started long before we arrived at our destination. They loved the adventure! It's a nice city on the coast- I thought it was very congested with cars and vans full of tourists. We were there during the off-season, and I cannot imagine the droves of people who must visit during peak season. The wooden motorcycle was a big hit. There were beautiful views around every corner. Fun! I think the only hitch we hit on the way down was an accident ...

We were walking along at the festival in Slovenia, when I noticed the girls were eating something. When I asked what they had, they said, "Nothing," and quickly hid their snack behind their backs. Panicked, I ran over to them and grabbed for their hands, only to see they held partially eaten bright pink mushroom with green spots. "Ahhhh!" I shrieked, but it was too late. Something was happening to the kids....they were getting smaller and smaller! Luckily they returned to their normal size a little bit later : )

We went to a tulip festival My Man wanted to visit- he loves tulips (little-known fact) and he really LOVES Slovenia! Really. When we are there he makes comments like, "These are my people." Hilarious. Of course there were rows and rows of flowers, but it was in a lovely park with walking trails and activities for children. The cultural differences between Italy and Slovenia are obvious. The children WAITED in line for a turn to play on the dinosaur. Oh, and before that, there were people in the parking lot helping festival-goers park in an orderly fashion.

I am the self-proclaimed queen of inappropriate laughter. Really. While it has been several months since my last spell of such laughter, it's been a life-long struggle. Yesterday, I went to the dentist here in Italy. It has taken me over a year to work up the courage- both due to my mild dental phobia, schedule conflicts (not really) and general inexplicable inertia. The office is clean and modern. Being who I am, I checked for signs of sterilization and am pleased to report all appears to be clean. (Note the use of the word appears.) So far, so good, then the dentist walked in.....he is handsome, has a nice smile (of course)and a kind demeanor. Then, my mind did a terrible thing- it jumped to the idea that he looks like George Oscar Bluth (GOB from Arrested Development)! At first I giggle, then all out laughter ensues, clearly inappropriate behavior at the dentist office. I sit down in the chair and get a sip of water....no change. He and his assistant start to work on replacing a...