I just returned from a wonderful weekend down on the Umbria-Tuscany border with Mary, Casey, Kathy, Mey, Mike, Chris, and Will. This is the huge 18th century, fully-stocked, country house we rented, and it was amazing.
This is the valley it overlooked on Thanksgiving morning. Breathtaking.
The eight of us took two cars down, leaving after work on Wednesday evening. We woke up Thursday morning and immediately began preparations for our Thanksgiving meal that afternoon.
Everyone contributed, and luckily, Mey knew how to cook a turkey. I made the macaroni and cheese and a pumpkin cheesecake.
And after dinner, we all contributed to the clean-up effort, which was probably on scale with Katrina.
That evening, we sat around the fire and played games. It was cozy and terrific.
Friday, we all drug ourselves out of bed, laid around all morning, and finally decided to make an early-afternoon trip to the medieval hill town of Montepulciano. It was a little chilly, but the town was amazing.
The girls decided to do aerobics to keep warm.
After we left Montepulciano, we decided to try and hit up a winery or two, which wasn't difficult as you can't swing a dead cat around there without hitting a winery. We all brought back several bottles of Chianti, Nobile, and even olive oil.
Saturday, we all went to Siena, one of the most famous towns in central Italy. It was sunny and warmer, which made the whole sightseeing experience a little better.
We gathered in the piazza for pizza and gelato, and it was great just watching all the locals hang out and enjoy their afternoon.
We spent all afternoon walking the streets, shopping, stopping for caffe, and checking out the home of St. Catherine.
Siena is definitely a place I'd like to visit again, perhaps in the summer when they have their big horse races in the piazza.
Sunday, we woke up and headed back to Aviano. The great thing about the weekend was how relaxing it was. Nobody was in a hurry to do anything, and the sense of fun-loving fellowship was everywhere.
The whole photostream is available here. By the way, have I mentioned how impressed I am with the photography capabilities of the iPhone 4. There are tons of applications the camera utilises, particularly the Hipstamatic, that just blow me away. Highly recommended.
Oh, and one more thing... Project: FETUS was the code name for our mission. Fantastically Excellent Tuscany Umbria Safari. Don't judge us.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Danny Boy
Dan moved in with me on Tuesday so he wouldn't have to stay in lodging, and this morning, I took him to the airport. He's leaving Italy and on his way to New Mexico. He'll be dearly missed by everyone here, but I know someday, somehow, our paths will cross again. Good luck, Danny!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Over My Head
I won't lie. These two classes are kicking my butt. Actually, neither class is very difficult, and one of them is a breeze. But the other one is very time consuming and a bit overwhelming. Since Thursday was Veteran's Day, I decided to take Friday off and make it a four-day weekend. The goal was to catch up on all my homework and papers, and it was definitely the right decision. I feel well-rested and ready for this week. I just hope I can keep up through the rest of the term.
Monday, November 08, 2010
Back to Bologna
Eric and I went to Bologna this weekend with the intention of attending a festival, hitting up bars and clubs, and dancing all night. We took the train down and arrived Saturday afternoon, checked into our hotel, and then trekked around the city just to see the sights.
Bologna is one of those cities that blends the old and the new seamlessly. There are medieval towers alongside boutiques and cafes. We saw this street performer riding a unicycle and juggling fire sticks. Impressive.
The longer we walked, the hungrier we got. So, we stopped for dinner and gorged ourselves on pasta. Did I mention there was wine, too? Like, lots of wine.
After dinner we stumbled back to our hotel for what was supposed to be an hour-long nap before hitting the bars. Well, that hour-long nap turned into a five-hour nap, meaning we missed pretty much everything we went down there to do. Still, it was nice to get away for a couple days and see something different.
While waiting for our train back home, we decided to take some cool pictures with the Hipstamatic App on my iPhone. It's by far my favourite photography app, and the images it creates are spectacular. It takes some experimentation, but it's definitely worth the effort.
Eric decided we should splurge for first class train tickets on the way back, so we rode in style with free wine and snacks.
Even though we didn't get to go dancing or anything, it was still a fun trip. Short weekend excursions are one of the great things about living in Italy, and I can't wait until the next one.
Bologna is one of those cities that blends the old and the new seamlessly. There are medieval towers alongside boutiques and cafes. We saw this street performer riding a unicycle and juggling fire sticks. Impressive.
The longer we walked, the hungrier we got. So, we stopped for dinner and gorged ourselves on pasta. Did I mention there was wine, too? Like, lots of wine.
After dinner we stumbled back to our hotel for what was supposed to be an hour-long nap before hitting the bars. Well, that hour-long nap turned into a five-hour nap, meaning we missed pretty much everything we went down there to do. Still, it was nice to get away for a couple days and see something different.
While waiting for our train back home, we decided to take some cool pictures with the Hipstamatic App on my iPhone. It's by far my favourite photography app, and the images it creates are spectacular. It takes some experimentation, but it's definitely worth the effort.
Eric decided we should splurge for first class train tickets on the way back, so we rode in style with free wine and snacks.
Even though we didn't get to go dancing or anything, it was still a fun trip. Short weekend excursions are one of the great things about living in Italy, and I can't wait until the next one.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Calling Me Back
When my alarm goes off in the morning, I usually lay in bed a little while longer, savouring the warmth, mentally planning my day, and playing with my phone. After a few minutes, I drag myself out onto the cold floor and begin preparations for my day. It was particularly chilly this morning, making it extra hard to get up. I couldn't find my slippers and my feet were freezing. After going downstairs to start some espresso and make my breakfast, I went back upstairs to make my bed. I reached in between the covers and it was still all warm inside, but I somehow resisted the urge to get back in. That, my friends, is what they call "will power."
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Fruits of My Labour
Today was the fourth Saturday in a row I went winery-hopping. Lately, I've felt the need to stock up on as much wine as possible, both in quantity and variety. Also, I had this new wine rack custom made, and it was finally delivered this week. It looks great, and it's fully stocked. However, since I've bought so much wine this month, I could easily fill another three or four racks. I'm not sure where I'm going to keep it all, but if Italy ever goes on lock-down, I'm totally prepared.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Getting Medieval On Your Pumpkin
Yesterday, Eric and I drove to Venzone for their annual Festa della Zucca (Pumpkin Festival). Venzone has an old-town around which its ancient walls still stand, so they celebrate their medieval roots as much as they do the pumpkins. Seeing all the locals in medieval garb was a hoot, and the theatrics of the whole day were priceless, especially the part where they name "The Archduke of Pumpkins." Seriously.
Venzone is a small town cradled by the Alps on all sides, and it's easy to see why so many people flock there for the festival every year. Eric and I tried pumpkin beer and pumpkin frico. I skipped the pumpkin pizza because it had bacon on it, but Eric said it was divine.
While walking around through the crowds, we saw a 290 kilogram pumpkin (638 pounds). We saw mummies. We saw a mannequin made completely out of lavendar. And we ran into several of our friends eager to take group pictures.
Festivals in Italy don't always have a lot to offer, but they're always fun just because so many people come out for them. As the weather gets colder, the festivals will become less frequent, but next year, I plan on hitting even more, especially ones to which I've never been.
Venzone is a small town cradled by the Alps on all sides, and it's easy to see why so many people flock there for the festival every year. Eric and I tried pumpkin beer and pumpkin frico. I skipped the pumpkin pizza because it had bacon on it, but Eric said it was divine.
While walking around through the crowds, we saw a 290 kilogram pumpkin (638 pounds). We saw mummies. We saw a mannequin made completely out of lavendar. And we ran into several of our friends eager to take group pictures.
Festivals in Italy don't always have a lot to offer, but they're always fun just because so many people come out for them. As the weather gets colder, the festivals will become less frequent, but next year, I plan on hitting even more, especially ones to which I've never been.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Heavy Breather
The Air Force has adopted new, stricter PT standards this year, and today, I had my first PT test under these new standards. I have to admit I was a little nervous I'd even pass at all. I wasn't concerned about my waist measurement or my run, but there are now minimum requirements for push-ups and sit-ups, and strength has never been my, um, strength.
I've been doing push-ups and sit-ups on my own for the past couple months, trying to get my numbers up. And today, when I went to the assessment cell, not only did I meet the standards, I exceeded them.
My run time was 10:59--by far my fastest run time ever. My final score was an 89.7--also my best ever. The frustrating thing is, we have Italian civilians administering our tests, for some reason, and they're really harsh on push-up form. As I was doing my push-ups, there were a few I think he should have counted that he didn't count, and if I'd have gotten just one more push-up, I would have scored above a 90, which would mean that I wouldn't have to PT test again for another year. Scores below a 90 re-test in six months. Still, I'm thrilled with how I did, and it's definitely something I won't worry about as much in the future.
I've been doing push-ups and sit-ups on my own for the past couple months, trying to get my numbers up. And today, when I went to the assessment cell, not only did I meet the standards, I exceeded them.
My run time was 10:59--by far my fastest run time ever. My final score was an 89.7--also my best ever. The frustrating thing is, we have Italian civilians administering our tests, for some reason, and they're really harsh on push-up form. As I was doing my push-ups, there were a few I think he should have counted that he didn't count, and if I'd have gotten just one more push-up, I would have scored above a 90, which would mean that I wouldn't have to PT test again for another year. Scores below a 90 re-test in six months. Still, I'm thrilled with how I did, and it's definitely something I won't worry about as much in the future.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Head of the Class
I'm slowly starting to take college courses again. Since the University of Maryland has a satellite campus on base, I've been going through them. This time around, I'm going for a business degree, which shouldn't take me too long, hopefully.
Last term, I took Library Science, which basically teaches one how to Google something. But, it's a basic requirement for a degree, so I gotta take it. This term, I'm taking Writing 101 and a basic computer class. The writing class is another basic requirement, which is ridiculous since I had upper level writing classes the first time I was in school. And the computer class shouldn't be too difficult. Both classes are hybrids in that half the time I'll be in a classroom, and the rest of the class is online, so I'll only have class two nights a week. I start on November 1st and will finish just in time to head home for Christmas. It's gonna be a busy six weeks, but I'm looking forward to it.
Last term, I took Library Science, which basically teaches one how to Google something. But, it's a basic requirement for a degree, so I gotta take it. This term, I'm taking Writing 101 and a basic computer class. The writing class is another basic requirement, which is ridiculous since I had upper level writing classes the first time I was in school. And the computer class shouldn't be too difficult. Both classes are hybrids in that half the time I'll be in a classroom, and the rest of the class is online, so I'll only have class two nights a week. I start on November 1st and will finish just in time to head home for Christmas. It's gonna be a busy six weeks, but I'm looking forward to it.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Knee High
We had a water break today. Actually, we knew about it last week, but it wasn't too bad, and today was the first day we could get a Dirt Boy out there to dig for us. It was just bubbling up out of the ground a little bit, and we were hoping it wouldn't be too severe; but after we dug it up, it ended up being a lot worse. To compound our frustration, the nearest shut-off valve was over a fence inside an Italian military compound. This meant we would have to deal with the Carabinieri AND the Italian military, and it could literally take days to get the valve shut off.
So Rick, being the hero he is, decided that he wanted to fix it live. Part of it looked like this:
Eventually, he needed a little help lining up the pipes, so I hopped down in the hole. Despite temperatures in the upper 50s, it didn't seem that cold. We finished the job by 2 PM--much sooner than anticipated--then after taking our tools back to the shop, we went home. We felt we deserved it. A big high-five to Rick and his sense of adventure.
So Rick, being the hero he is, decided that he wanted to fix it live. Part of it looked like this:
Eventually, he needed a little help lining up the pipes, so I hopped down in the hole. Despite temperatures in the upper 50s, it didn't seem that cold. We finished the job by 2 PM--much sooner than anticipated--then after taking our tools back to the shop, we went home. We felt we deserved it. A big high-five to Rick and his sense of adventure.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Keep On Movin'
I know my posts have been increasingly sporadic lately, and I apologise. But really, there hasn't been anything going on blog-worthy the past few weeks. Work is going smooth, and my social life is pretty temperate. I'm pretty much over the cold I had earlier this week. I could write stuff on a daily basis, but it would only bore everyone and possibly burn me out on the whole blogging thing, which is the last thing I want to do.
Back in Utah, I was posting on a near-daily basis, and it became almost an obligation. Now I feel good if I write three times in a week. It's still a priority, and if anything of note happens, it will definitely be posted. Thanks for continuing to read.
Back in Utah, I was posting on a near-daily basis, and it became almost an obligation. Now I feel good if I write three times in a week. It's still a priority, and if anything of note happens, it will definitely be posted. Thanks for continuing to read.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Under the Weather
I'm typing this from my couch, from which I haven't moved since Sunday morning. I was feeling kinda nasty Saturday night, and yesterday morning, I woke up unable to breathe with a sore throat. I've been horizontal on my couch non-stop, reading, playing iPhone games, and watching Modern Family to keep myself occupied. I'm feeling better today, so work tomorrow shouldn't be too much of a struggle. Well, any more than usual.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Viva il Vino
Yesterday, Dan and I got up really early and drove east, past Udine, deep into Friuli wine country. Our destination was a town called Buttrio, which has half a dozen wineries within a stone's throw of each other. It was kind of a gamble, as finding family-owned businesses open on the weekend is hit-and-miss. Luckily, we caught three with open doors...
...including one housed in a castle that dated all the way back to 1218. We're already considering another trip back to that area in a couple weeks to hit up some of the places we missed. This is just one of the many amazing things I love about Italia.
...including one housed in a castle that dated all the way back to 1218. We're already considering another trip back to that area in a couple weeks to hit up some of the places we missed. This is just one of the many amazing things I love about Italia.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Return of Saturn
About a month before I came back from my deployment, Dan left for Iraq. He made his triumphant return to Italy on Monday, and there has been much rejoicing since. This rejoicing is mostly in the form of food and wine and laying around watching movies.
Monday, October 04, 2010
Himmel der Bayer (Heaven for Bavarians)
After the insanity of last year's Oktoberfest, the expectations were high for this, the 200th Anniversary of the giant Bavarian festival. Mark and I left Friday evening, and arrived in Munich Saturday morning, just in time to line up for the tents.
We wandered around the fairgrounds and somehow found ourselves in line for the Hacker-Pschorr tent. There were tons of people, and once the doors opened at 8, it was a mad dash to get a table. Mark and I found an empty one, and as people continued to flood in, some very nice Germans asked if they could share our table. We happily accepted.
They started serving beer at 9, and we were joined by even more people, most of whose names I actually remembered. All the guys wore lederhosen, and the ladies wore those dresses with their cleavage all out there. It was great.
Speaking of cleavage, this was our waitress. We didn't know her name, so Mark and I just referred to her as "Tits." She knew we needed another beer even before we did.
Last year, we were in the Hofbrau tent, which was great, but there were tons of Americans, Canadians, Australians, and other English-speaking people. But this year, I think we were the only Americans around. I asked Kai why he chose the Hacker-Pschorr tent every year, and he said, "It's the best!" It was definitely a young crowd, but everyone was just there to have a good time.
Every so often, the whole tent would join in drinking songs with lines like, "Ein Prosit der Gemut Lich-cait," which loosely translates to "We're drinking and everyone's comfortable."
Around 4 PM, Mark and I decided we needed to slow down, so we said "Auf wiedersehen" to our new friends and strolled around the fairgrounds for a bit before heading into the city of Munich for dinner and sight-seeing. It was a great ending to a great day. This was my second Oktoberfest, and I can't imagine missing it next year, either.
Also, the full photostream is available here if you'd like to see more blurry pictures of Germans handling their beer better than any American ever could.
We wandered around the fairgrounds and somehow found ourselves in line for the Hacker-Pschorr tent. There were tons of people, and once the doors opened at 8, it was a mad dash to get a table. Mark and I found an empty one, and as people continued to flood in, some very nice Germans asked if they could share our table. We happily accepted.
They started serving beer at 9, and we were joined by even more people, most of whose names I actually remembered. All the guys wore lederhosen, and the ladies wore those dresses with their cleavage all out there. It was great.
Speaking of cleavage, this was our waitress. We didn't know her name, so Mark and I just referred to her as "Tits." She knew we needed another beer even before we did.
Last year, we were in the Hofbrau tent, which was great, but there were tons of Americans, Canadians, Australians, and other English-speaking people. But this year, I think we were the only Americans around. I asked Kai why he chose the Hacker-Pschorr tent every year, and he said, "It's the best!" It was definitely a young crowd, but everyone was just there to have a good time.
Every so often, the whole tent would join in drinking songs with lines like, "Ein Prosit der Gemut Lich-cait," which loosely translates to "We're drinking and everyone's comfortable."
Around 4 PM, Mark and I decided we needed to slow down, so we said "Auf wiedersehen" to our new friends and strolled around the fairgrounds for a bit before heading into the city of Munich for dinner and sight-seeing. It was a great ending to a great day. This was my second Oktoberfest, and I can't imagine missing it next year, either.
Also, the full photostream is available here if you'd like to see more blurry pictures of Germans handling their beer better than any American ever could.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Oil Slick
The merging of the utilities and fuels career fields has been pretty smooth, as far as our shop is concerned. Since there are a lot more utilities jobs than fuels jobs, I haven't had to branch out much. But today, I was riding around with Diaz, and we happened upon a malfunctioning fuel valve with Mike.
It wasn't terribly difficult, as I had Mike telling me what to do the whole time. Just a bunch of turning wrenches and moving lines around.
When we left, I told Diaz that I lost my fuels job virginity, but he said that since I didn't get totally drenched, I only got to third base. Still, I managed to douse my right shoulder pretty good, and now, even after showering, scrubbing, and changing clothes, I can't seem to get the smell of diesel fuel off of me.
It wasn't terribly difficult, as I had Mike telling me what to do the whole time. Just a bunch of turning wrenches and moving lines around.
When we left, I told Diaz that I lost my fuels job virginity, but he said that since I didn't get totally drenched, I only got to third base. Still, I managed to douse my right shoulder pretty good, and now, even after showering, scrubbing, and changing clothes, I can't seem to get the smell of diesel fuel off of me.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Red Wine Recovery
About ten days ago, Mark had his wisdom teeth removed, and in three days, his face had swollen to the size of a volleyball. Pam took him to the ER Saturday afternoon, and he finally went home Thursday. He was in a lot of pain, and I spent a few evenings this week visiting him, bringing him stuff, and trying to cheer him up.
He came over last night, looking much better, so we tossed back a couple bottles of wine and fell asleep watching movies. It wasn't a rowdy Friday night, by any means, but it was great fun, nonetheless.
He came over last night, looking much better, so we tossed back a couple bottles of wine and fell asleep watching movies. It wasn't a rowdy Friday night, by any means, but it was great fun, nonetheless.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
All the better for hearing the Church bells chime
We had a really mild summer this year. The only time I ever turn on my air conditioning is if it's a really hot night and I can't sleep; and this year, I only used it twice. There's just something about sleeping with my windows open and a breeze blowing through.
Even though it's getting a little cooler in the evenings, I don't want to give up the night air just yet, so I've already put an extra blanket on my bed, with another close by in case it gets particularly chilly. It makes it even harder to get up in the morning when my bed is so soft and warm, but it's worth it.
Even though it's getting a little cooler in the evenings, I don't want to give up the night air just yet, so I've already put an extra blanket on my bed, with another close by in case it gets particularly chilly. It makes it even harder to get up in the morning when my bed is so soft and warm, but it's worth it.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Photosynthesis Prohibited
This weekend was Budoia's annual Festa dei Funghi (Mushroom Festival), so several of us took the afternoon to walk around the town, checking out the booths selling crafts, wine, sweets, and, of course, mushrooms. It's just a small town festival, but people come from all over Italy, even Sicily, to check it out.
This was my third time, and it seems to get bigger every year. We spent a long time checking out a set up of old Vespas, possibly because it was right next to a booth giving out free samples of wine.
Autumn is a great time to be in northern Italy. The weather is perfect, the foliage is beautiful, and every weekend, there's another festival in some hidden little village. I'm never leaving this place.
This was my third time, and it seems to get bigger every year. We spent a long time checking out a set up of old Vespas, possibly because it was right next to a booth giving out free samples of wine.
Autumn is a great time to be in northern Italy. The weather is perfect, the foliage is beautiful, and every weekend, there's another festival in some hidden little village. I'm never leaving this place.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
The Race Marked Out For Me
This morning was the 4th annual Aviano Marathon, and while I still have no desire to run 26 miles, I enjoy competing in the shorter treks, such as the 10K. JoAnn, Corey, Johnny, and I did it a couple years ago, and I kinda skipped last year, despite my original intention to run the 1/2 marathon. I couldn't convince any of my friends to run with me this year, but figured I'd give it a shot anyway. This year, the path was through a bunch of fields, and since it's been raining the past few days, most of the trail was through muddy gravel. By the time I crossed the finish line, the back of my legs was covered in mud. My time was 55:09, and I finished third in my age bracket and fifth overall.
My friend Mary has been training for the Dublin Marathon in October, and opted to run the 1/2 marathon today. For some reason, the 10K seemed really easy to run, and went by really fast. It made me wish I'd signed up for the 1/2 marathon instead. I know I've said this before, but maybe next year...?
My friend Mary has been training for the Dublin Marathon in October, and opted to run the 1/2 marathon today. For some reason, the 10K seemed really easy to run, and went by really fast. It made me wish I'd signed up for the 1/2 marathon instead. I know I've said this before, but maybe next year...?
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Upgrade
I couldn't just stop with the couch, you know? I had to go the whole nine yards, and revamp my whole living room. So I got rid of my stone age television and purchased a Panasonic 50" Plasma Television. Unfortunately, I had to take down my Picasso because I wanted it mounted on the wall, and there wasn't any place left. Regardless, this will make the aforementioned movie nights even better.
Ironically, the first movie I watched on my new TV was Giant starring Rock Hudson, Elisabeth Taylor, and James Dean. (I've been on a James Dean kick lately, even though he only made three films.) Even though it was made in the 50s, it looked amazing in my living room. Also, I believe this is my Grandma's favourite film ever, and I can see why.
By the way, I'm still looking for a place to hang that Picasso.
Ironically, the first movie I watched on my new TV was Giant starring Rock Hudson, Elisabeth Taylor, and James Dean. (I've been on a James Dean kick lately, even though he only made three films.) Even though it was made in the 50s, it looked amazing in my living room. Also, I believe this is my Grandma's favourite film ever, and I can see why.
By the way, I'm still looking for a place to hang that Picasso.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Sofa Status
After two months of waiting, my new sofa was finally delivered today. My old couch was possibly the best napping place on the planet; however, it was pretty old and I wanted to get something new that I can have for a long time.
Italians custom make their furniture, and luckily for me, my landlord also owns a furniture store, so he totally cut me a deal. Normally, it only takes a month to get furniture, but all the Italians take vacation the whole month of August, so there was a bit of a delay.
It's super-comfortable and will be great for movie nights and reading and, of course, napping. Feel free to come try it out anytime.
Italians custom make their furniture, and luckily for me, my landlord also owns a furniture store, so he totally cut me a deal. Normally, it only takes a month to get furniture, but all the Italians take vacation the whole month of August, so there was a bit of a delay.
It's super-comfortable and will be great for movie nights and reading and, of course, napping. Feel free to come try it out anytime.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Picking Up The Slack
After the fun of the dig last week, it seems my next few weeks will be stuck at a desk. I was in the middle of a performance report today when a second one was dropped in my lap. I can usually get a head start for the troops I write on, as I know when they're due. However, today's report was unexpected because it's for a guy whose supervisor is deployed. I can only stare at the computer before too long before I start to go crazy, which means I might have to store my flask of bourbon in my desk instead of my glove compartment. Just kidding! They'll find it in my desk.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Big Dig
The water break that happened last week was a huge deal, affecting a good portion of the base. Excavating was the hardest part, as the entire line was encased in concrete, so even after we located it, we had to chisel it out. We managed to isolate the break and restore pressure last week, but completing the entire repair has been an odyssey, mostly because of hard-to-find parts and bad weather. Finally, today, we finished fusing the pipe and turning on all the valves. It's definitely been one of those "sense of accomplishment" jobs.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Regional Recreation
Last week, during our hike, Mike and I saw a trail map that included a lake called Lago di Santa Croce. It looked big and not too far away, so we decided over the long weekend, we'd go check it out. Yesterday morning, Andrea, Mike, and I punched our destination into the GPS and took the most scenic route, through green, curvy mountain passes, until we arrived. Unfortunately, it was overcast, cold, and windy, and there didn't seem to be much activity going on at all. The lake itself was nice, but I think our timing was off. We hung out on the beach for a while, then drove around the area, circling the lake, deciding it would be better to come back in the fall when the leaves were changing.
However, we didn't want to go back home just yet, so we travelled northwest to Belluno, a decent-sized city hugged by the Alps. One of the great things about Italy is you can always see something cool in every town you visit, and Belluno was no different. We strolled through the streets, window shopping, eating, dipping into cathedrals, and taking pictures.
It would have been easy for us to drive back home from the lake and have a lazy afternoon, but we made the best of our outting. Mike is one of those guys with an endless amount of energy, and I'm glad it's contagious.
However, we didn't want to go back home just yet, so we travelled northwest to Belluno, a decent-sized city hugged by the Alps. One of the great things about Italy is you can always see something cool in every town you visit, and Belluno was no different. We strolled through the streets, window shopping, eating, dipping into cathedrals, and taking pictures.
It would have been easy for us to drive back home from the lake and have a lazy afternoon, but we made the best of our outting. Mike is one of those guys with an endless amount of energy, and I'm glad it's contagious.
Monday, September 06, 2010
Let's Bounce
It's been forever since I played beer pong, and when Travis invited me over for a cookout last night, I didn't know what was in store.
After Aaron, Steven, and Berg showed up, the party eventually moved into the basement where the set-up awaited. Like I said, I hadn't played in a while, and my first match was pretty rusty, but once I got the hang of it again, I pretty much kicked butt. I participated in three matches, winning two. Not bad for a rusty old-timer.
I took a few videos with my iPhone (in HD!), but never seemed to catch the best shots, including the one where Aaron raised his fist in victory and accidentally punched out a light bulb. Though in a slightly drunken state, I somehow managed to upload one video onto YouTube, which is probably the only one not involving Steven and Aaron screaming curse words at each other. Enjoy!
After Aaron, Steven, and Berg showed up, the party eventually moved into the basement where the set-up awaited. Like I said, I hadn't played in a while, and my first match was pretty rusty, but once I got the hang of it again, I pretty much kicked butt. I participated in three matches, winning two. Not bad for a rusty old-timer.
I took a few videos with my iPhone (in HD!), but never seemed to catch the best shots, including the one where Aaron raised his fist in victory and accidentally punched out a light bulb. Though in a slightly drunken state, I somehow managed to upload one video onto YouTube, which is probably the only one not involving Steven and Aaron screaming curse words at each other. Enjoy!
Saturday, September 04, 2010
From The Sea To The Suburbs
As of this month, it's been three years since I saw Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire back in Utah, only not at the same time. I've been a Modest Mouse fan for ages, and seeing Arcade Fire live made me into a fan. So there was no way I was going to pass up a festival where they were dual headliners, especially in a city as close as Bologna, which was only three hours away by train.
I got to the festival grounds late in the afternoon, just in time to see Fanfarlo, a British indie-pop band with whom I wasn't familiar, but had quite an Italian following. What they lacked in originality, they made up in talent and catchy tunes. They blended well, and I'm considering buying their album.
By the end of Fanfarlo, I had established a great spot in the crowd--close enough to where I could see the band clearly, but far enough for me to take in the whole stage, which was ideal as Modest Mouse is such a wonderful ensemble. Isaac Brock has such a unique voice that perfectly complements the band's sound. When they walked on stage and began with "Dashboard," I was transported back to 2007 when that song was my anthem. They played for 90 minutes, concentrating on material from their last two LPs, but strangely omitted everything from their 2009 EP "No One's First And You're Next." Their extra-long version of "Spitting Venom" was spectacular, and the whole crowd sang along with "Float On."
When Arcade Fire finally emerged, the stage was decorated with highways and billboards, setting the mood for their newest album "The Suburbs," a record about the alienation of growing up in such an environment. They began with "Ready To Start" with everyone in the crowd singing along with every word.
The first time I saw them, I didn't really know what to expect, and was totally blown away. This time, I was expecting greatness, and was still blown away. It must be exhausting for such a huge band to perform on stage every night with such passion. You can hear the pain in Win Butler's voice as he talks about fleeting youth and lost dreams. And I swear I could see tears in Regine Chassagne's eyes as she sang about her homeland on "Haiti."
Obviously, the bulk of the setlist was from the new record, with songs like "Suburban War" and "We Used To Wait" even getting me a little choked up. But it wouldn't be an Arcade Fire show without the rousing chorus of "Wake Up" or the uplifting "No Cars Go," and they didn't disappoint. So many of their songs are very personal to me, not only because of what they talk about or represent, but also because in the past few years, they've been the soundtrack to some very difficult times in my life, and if they would have played "Ocean Of Noise," I would have totally lost it. Still, I was hoping for longer than a 90 minute set, and "City With No Children" would have capped of the evening nicely.
Regardless, Arcade Fire is, no doubt, one of the best bands working today, and arguably the best live act around right now. Each member is a talented multi-instrumentalist, and what they stand for really comes through in their performance. If you ever get the chance to see them, don't miss it.
I got to the festival grounds late in the afternoon, just in time to see Fanfarlo, a British indie-pop band with whom I wasn't familiar, but had quite an Italian following. What they lacked in originality, they made up in talent and catchy tunes. They blended well, and I'm considering buying their album.
By the end of Fanfarlo, I had established a great spot in the crowd--close enough to where I could see the band clearly, but far enough for me to take in the whole stage, which was ideal as Modest Mouse is such a wonderful ensemble. Isaac Brock has such a unique voice that perfectly complements the band's sound. When they walked on stage and began with "Dashboard," I was transported back to 2007 when that song was my anthem. They played for 90 minutes, concentrating on material from their last two LPs, but strangely omitted everything from their 2009 EP "No One's First And You're Next." Their extra-long version of "Spitting Venom" was spectacular, and the whole crowd sang along with "Float On."
When Arcade Fire finally emerged, the stage was decorated with highways and billboards, setting the mood for their newest album "The Suburbs," a record about the alienation of growing up in such an environment. They began with "Ready To Start" with everyone in the crowd singing along with every word.
The first time I saw them, I didn't really know what to expect, and was totally blown away. This time, I was expecting greatness, and was still blown away. It must be exhausting for such a huge band to perform on stage every night with such passion. You can hear the pain in Win Butler's voice as he talks about fleeting youth and lost dreams. And I swear I could see tears in Regine Chassagne's eyes as she sang about her homeland on "Haiti."
Obviously, the bulk of the setlist was from the new record, with songs like "Suburban War" and "We Used To Wait" even getting me a little choked up. But it wouldn't be an Arcade Fire show without the rousing chorus of "Wake Up" or the uplifting "No Cars Go," and they didn't disappoint. So many of their songs are very personal to me, not only because of what they talk about or represent, but also because in the past few years, they've been the soundtrack to some very difficult times in my life, and if they would have played "Ocean Of Noise," I would have totally lost it. Still, I was hoping for longer than a 90 minute set, and "City With No Children" would have capped of the evening nicely.
Regardless, Arcade Fire is, no doubt, one of the best bands working today, and arguably the best live act around right now. Each member is a talented multi-instrumentalist, and what they stand for really comes through in their performance. If you ever get the chance to see them, don't miss it.
Friday, September 03, 2010
La Dotta, La Grassa, La Rossa
I took the train to Bologna yesterday for a concert last night (which will be reviewed soon). The main reason I went was for the show, but I've been wanting to check out Bologna for a long time. It has a reputation as one of Italy's more beautiful cities with a rich history and the oldest university in the world.
I took the early train down to give myself time to walk around the city, and I wasn't disappointed. There were tons of pedestrian areas with covered sidewalks, little boutiques and cafes, friendly university students, and some gorgeous architecture. For such an old city, it certainly had a young feel to it.
I strolled through countless parks filled with sculptures, like this one which I believe is called "Hot Lesbian Mermaid Action."
I woke up early this morning to hit some places I missed yesterday, and ended up finding ruins of the old city wall. I had a typical Italian breakfast (cappuccino and croissant) with some students from Sicily who used me to practice their English. They were fascinated that I was American, but a little disappointed when I told them I'd never been to New York City.
Bologna was a great city, and I hope to go back again soon to indulge in the cuisine and nightlife a little more. Who's coming with me?
I took the early train down to give myself time to walk around the city, and I wasn't disappointed. There were tons of pedestrian areas with covered sidewalks, little boutiques and cafes, friendly university students, and some gorgeous architecture. For such an old city, it certainly had a young feel to it.
I strolled through countless parks filled with sculptures, like this one which I believe is called "Hot Lesbian Mermaid Action."
I woke up early this morning to hit some places I missed yesterday, and ended up finding ruins of the old city wall. I had a typical Italian breakfast (cappuccino and croissant) with some students from Sicily who used me to practice their English. They were fascinated that I was American, but a little disappointed when I told them I'd never been to New York City.
Bologna was a great city, and I hope to go back again soon to indulge in the cuisine and nightlife a little more. Who's coming with me?
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Blues From The Blues
The post-cruise depression hasn't lifted. I just want to be back on the boat, relaxing, dancing, gambling, drinking, and laughing with everyone. Everyone I've e-mailed feels the same way. The cruise line should seriously spring for therapy.
Luckily, this is going to be a good week at work. There was a big water break over the weekend, so I've got something to keep me busy all week. Or at least for the first half of the week. On Thursday, I'm going down to Bologna for a concert, and since next Monday is Labour Day, I'll have a five-day weekend. That's like therapy in itself.
Luckily, this is going to be a good week at work. There was a big water break over the weekend, so I've got something to keep me busy all week. Or at least for the first half of the week. On Thursday, I'm going down to Bologna for a concert, and since next Monday is Labour Day, I'll have a five-day weekend. That's like therapy in itself.
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