Italian Capers

I still harbored the hope of being "productive." I digress, for a moment, to consider that desire. I really enjoy accomplishing things. I recognize the list of things "to do" is ever-changing and ever-growing, but I still like to get things done. I have been known to add an already-accomplished task to the list, only so I can check it off. I mean, it "counts." There have been times when I have been a slave to the list. Children and living in Italy have taught me a powerful, shocking and slightly painful lesson. NOTHING bad happens if I just ignore the list! There are some days, I wake up to face a long list of things to do. As I sip my coffee, my mind starts to clear and, slowly, a realization dawns on me. I really don't want to do any of my list tasks. Next comes both a feeling of relief and despair, as I realize I don't actually HAVE to do anything today! It's freeing and scarey at the same time. Such is the life of the casalinga! Ha...

The first installment in a day in the life of an Americana living in Italy... This particular day is a bit blurry in my mind. I don't remember exactly the order in which the events occurred. I don't think it matters much. Every once in a while, I get all "American" and I try to be efficient. This never goes well. I try to "run errands." This is definitely not part of the Italian lifestyle. It's not that I don't know this, it's just that I forget. Let's just start, shall we? There are several passes, forms, and visas involved in living in Italy. I have been negligent about pursuing said documents. Part of me wonders what would really happen if I just didn't get the forms done? But, having unfinished business as we approach our 2-year mark, makes me uneasy, so, we went to the Housing Office, where we waited 45 minutes to see a "counselor." The children were in good spirits at this point- it was early, and there's a play area ...

but not to this castle. Don't we wish this were our new place! It really didn't suit little Z- the princess was not happy whilst touring the King's bedchamber. So unhappy was she at the moment, that she was on the verge of pitching a holy fit- I am sure it would have been king-sized. I knelt down next to her, and through my clenched teeth informed her that it was simply inappropriate to have a fit in the castle. I let her know that all the people with us on the tour had paid money to hear about the castle and not to hear her antics. She stomped, she fumed, but she stopped. Sigh- thank goodness. I think that's a real turning point in a parent's life, when you can talk them back from the edge. It's great. We moved, our computer crashed. (Now realize, what I mean when I say crashed- I mean there are items that were saved on the desktop that are no longer retrievable, and the computer wouldn't so much as start up.) That, my friends, is a crash. But, be...