Ahhhhhh!

While working on my trusty, beloved desktop this afternoon, it just turned itself off. Then it wouldn't reboot. Three times. So I am working on Liesl's old laptop (so glad to have it, even though it's 6 years old), but the power cord isn't working, so I'm on borrowed time here.

Maybe Hal will make it all better when he gets home from his 12-hour day at work.....

addendum: When Hal came home, he just turned on my desktop, and it's working fine. However, Liesl's old laptop is now nearly dead.....

Fresh Vegetables

While I wait for the vegetables to grow in my garden, I can always go to the Farmer's Market on Sundays after church. Yesterday I bought tomatoes, zucchini, baby eggplants, and asparagus. I made some homemade pasta sauce with the first three ingredients and put it over cheese tortellini. The asparagus went on the side. It was delicious, and there's enough left over for pasta tonight. It will be fun cooking from my garden AND having Claire at home this summer to work with me!

Unlease Your Inner Pollock

For a little diversion, I sometimes try jacksonpollock.org. Here is one of my creations!

Fencing

Today we are thinking about several panels of privacy fencing between our house and the cottage. I like this kind of "good neighbor" design with the boards on either side. We went to the fence store and talked with the man who builds such things, and are contemplating just exactly what it is we want before we have him build them for us.

Spring Training

Ahhhh....The first softball game of the season! The Carleton Knights have been in So. Cal. this week for spring break/spring training. Their final game was this afternoon against the CMS Athenas, here in Claremont. For some reason, one of my classes and my afternoon lesson were cancelled this afternoon, so I was able to enjoy the sunshine and watch a game.

Claire's Take on Spring Break

Claire has put up new pictures on her site, most from spring break last week. Here is yet another gelato shot - this one from Perugia.

Fighting Photosynthesis, an Uphill Climb

You go away for 10 days, and see what happens in the yard! Here are the before and after pics of my weeding today. I only scratched the surface - so many more weeds in the yard!

Further and Random Thoughts on Italy

• Game shows on TV: We enjoyed watching the Italian versions of Wheel of Fortune and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Especially with Millionaire, we had Claire help us with some of the language, and occasionally we got an answer right!
• Driving in Italy: I was warned that Italians drive like maniacs, but I found the roadways no worse than LA traffic, and probably a little better than Boston driving. With the exception of Rome, we heard very few car horns.
• I must learn how to make really good spaghetti. I never realized how much it can be an art form.
• The most important words you can learn in any language are "please" and "thank you."
• Eat some gelato every day.
• I wonder if all B & Bs are "self-help." After checking in, we never saw our hosts, nor signs that they entered our room. That was fine by me, but surprising.

Easing Back into Life

I'm pretty tired, even though I slept almost 7 hours last night in my own bed. It's just that we had that 32 hour day yesterday. At least I got to finish a book on the long flights. I had picked up Anne Tyler's Ladder of Years at a thrift store before I went. I had especially enjoyed her Accidental Tourist and several others of hers, but this one didn't live up to my expectations. At least it kept me occupied.

Now I have to finish laundry, grocery shop, organize photos and get them on my picture site, make sure I'm ready to teach this afternoon!

Traveling Home

It took us 23 1/2 hours door to door to get home. Our last meal in Rome happened at the Termini train station - breakfast of a pastry and a cappuccino at the Autostrade cafe.

Both flights were on time, but flying in an Airbus 333 is the most crowded and cramped I have been on a flight, and 9 1/2 hours on that one was about all I could take.

We made it home by 10:30, and I was soon in deep sleep.

Ruins

It wasn't much warmer today, but it was certainly sunnier with no chance of rain, so we knew we needed to spend our last day in Rome in the famous ruins. Claire's experience told us that we should go to the Forum first since our tickets there would get us into not only the Forum, but Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. She said the lines at the Colosseum to buy tickets are much longer.

The Forum could take quite a few hours to complete, including a walk up to Palatine Hill. So much to see, so much to wonder about. Before we got too famished, we took a long walk to the Travestere District (Rome's Bohemia) to find a little recommended restaurant. The food was only okay, the service not pleasant. I guess the wandering through that part of town was the highlight of that break.

On the way to the Colosseum, we ran into the museum which is running a special exhibit of Giotto works. Giotto is one of Claire's favorite artists, so handed her museum fare and headed to the Colosseum since she'd already been there in January. We planned to meet up in front of the Parthenon at the given time.

The Colosseum was all that I imagined, and I happily took lots of pictures. We met up with Claire at 5:00, but the Pantheon was closed again, this time for services. So we never got to go in.

Our final night included a bread and cheese picnic in the hotel with our final gelato cones for dessert.

Vatican City

Today the weather turned significantly colder, so we headed for an indoor venue, the Vatican. Claire had not seen the Sistine Chapel during her last visit, so we headed there first. We were not the only people with that in mind, as you can see from this line of people. At this point we had made it up the line and were snaking back. I think we were in line for well over an hour, almost two, in the windy, cloudy, cold weather.

Once inside the museum (your ticket gets you into all the museums), you are completely blown away by all the art there. Hordes of people keep pushing you through as you see rooms and rooms of sculptures, tapestries, art, etc. Signs keep pointing the way to the Sistine Chapel, and we were swept away with the tide of people toward the destination. I'm not sure how long it took, but we finally made it into the chapel, which was not at all what I imagined. It felt more like a vault with an amazingly high ceiling.

Of course, you could see the famous picture of Adam and God reaching towards each other, right in the middle of the ceiling, but every inch of the chapel is covered with art. We were supposed to be quiet and not take pictures, and the guards kept telling us that in about four languages, but people were paying no mind to the orders. I didn't take photos, and besides, they wouldn't have turned out very well, anyway. We must have staying in the crowded room for about 15 minutes before we felt we could move on.

We worked our way back to the hotel for a little nap before we struck out for the most delicious spaghetti dinner I have ever had, and I think it was my favorite meal during the trip.

Roma!

Saying good-bye to Tuscany and our great little B & B in Arezzo, we took off for Rome. We dropped off our little blue Fiat at the Rome Airport and took the Leonard Express into the main train station and walked the few blocks to our little hotel. By 3:00 we were ready for a stroll, so we did all the free things within easy walking distance of The Galatea Hotel. The Spanish Steps (and the church at the top of the steps), Trevi Fountain (with the obligatory throwing of the coins), and the Pantheon (which was having a concert, so we could only peek in the door a little).

We enjoyed a delicious pizza dinner at the recommended restaurant that was on the same block as our hotel.

Florence

Today we spent the day in Florence (Firenza) taking in the art. Most magnificent, of course, is Michelangelo's David, as well as the Duomo. We also enjoyed Claire's guidance through the Uffizzi Gallery - another "must see". We wandered over to the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) and window shopped along the bridge. We weren't in the market for expensive jewelry.

After we wandered the city center, we drove up to Fiesole, a little hill town north of Florence to see the view. The view would have been much better if it wasn't so very hazy. We think that was due to to the burning of the fields throughout Tuscany.

Siena

Today was our day for Siena. Claire has two Goucher friends studying on an art program there this semester, so we met up with them while we explored the town. What's beautiful, to me, about Siena is the medieval architecture. The great Il Campo reminds me of a beach, with all kinds of people strolling around while many others just sit and enjoy the view.

Here we are at the doors of the Duomo.

Day Two in Toscana

Last night we were treated to a huge thunderstorm in the middle of the night. I know this because I couldn't fall asleep for hours, and because the thunder was very loud. So today was an easy day of sightseeing. We drove north to the Casentino region - mountains and forests.

First stop was Poppi, a small hill town with a castle on top. Castle closed on Mondays, but pretty pictures outside. Lots of driving through the National Forest with a lunch stop of leftover pizza in the car. It was a little too chilly to eat outside.

By afternoon we reached La Verne, home of the monestary that St. Francis founded. We didn't make it into the sanctuary because of the service going on, but we could hear the monks (or some group) singing. Plenty of opportunity for picture-taking, though.

Back to Arezzo, we promised Claire to stop at the Ipercoop where she had never been. Apparently, it is the Super Target equivalent. The exciting part of the shopping experience (more exciting than choosing what pasta we'll have tonight for dinner and the chocolate for afternoon treat) was the sensor I set off going into the store. The security guard had to come take me to a room and wand me (no common language for us here). Turns out I had not clipped my sensor in my new sweater, so he took a scissors to it immediately and then set me free to shop! It's frustrating to not speak the language, but we seem to manage, and grazie goes a long way with a smile.

Day One * Hill Towns

It's amazing what 12 hours of sleep will do for you. After our B&B breakfast (everything you need in the room), we took off for Cortona and Perugia. Cortona is the setting for the book and movie Under the Tuscan Sun. After we drove to the hilltop, we found the free parking lot and then continued our walk up steep hills for beautiful views and village charm. Lunch was a picnic of bread and cheese and tangerines overlooking the valley just outside the Etruscan walls of the city.

After lunch was a road trip to Perugia, a veritable city with the town center atop the hill. Wide streets, tony shopping, and, of course, a stop for gelato. Just a piccolo cone (little). I really enjoy listening to Italian being spoken. The language is so musical. I also love to see what the locals are wearing. Most are so fashionable.

Arrival in Italy!

After an uneventful, but most uncomfortable plane ride, we arrived in Rome only 2 hours late (okay, that was a little eventful). Successful in our navigation, we drove the Autostrada to Arezzo. Driving IN Arezzo, however, was a little tricky, but after 20 minutes of being lost in town, the nice gas station man drew us a map, and we found Claire's villa AND Claire!

Took a tour of the villa, a driving tour of Arezzo town center, checked into our very cute B&B, walking tour of Arezzo, stop at the grocery store (really a supermarket), and we were ready to crash. Claire cooked us up some great pasta and green beans, and by 8 p.m. we were snoozing.

Getting Ready...

Today I am finalizing my packing and getting information in order.

Also on today's agenda was talking to another contractor about the cottage. He'll have a week to get his bid for us in order. Like the first guy, this one was easy to talk to. We'll see what happens!

B&B in Arezzo

Here is our room in Arezzo at the Francesco Redi B & B. Hal searched all over the internet and came up with this place. We will call it home base for five nights as we take day excursions from Arezzo. Since they don't take credit cards and they needed an advance, I wired money into their account yesterday. That was an experience!

Book Club book

Tomorrow night the book club comes to my house, and we've read The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz. What must it be like to be married into Japanese Royalty in the 20th Century? Schwartz gives us a glimpse into the struggle to change worlds for one extraordinary young woman.

HMC in the news

Harvey Mudd College's president, Maria Klawe, has just been named to the Microsoft Board of Directors. Read all about it at the HMC website here.

Concert Weekend

The Claremont Concert Orchestra performed a concert of Russian music this weekend. It was one of our better concerts, and the piano soloist was excellent and garnered a standing ovation at both the Saturday night and Sunday afternoon concerts. She played Rachmaninoff's Variations on a Theme by Paganini. Since today was the switch to Daylight Savings, it's a good thing we all made it to the concert on time!

iPod Battery

I've had my 5th generation 30-gig video iPod for almost 3 years now, and this morning when I turned it on, it didn't. The battery had given out, despite the fact that it had been charging in my speakers for several hours at school yesterday. Hal says that 3 years is a good life for a battery. So I ordered one online including tools to open the iPod. The website also offers a how-to video. I will enlist Hal's services to see if he can make my indispensible tool work again!

I use my iPod every day. Not only do I listen to NPR podcasts when I work out or take a walk, but I use it in my music teaching. We often listen to a piece of Classical music. Yesterday in first grade we compared loud and soft sections of the Toreador Song from Carmen. Sometimes we move to Classical music to learn form, or for self-expression, or to tell a story. In beginning strings we listen to the accompaniment to the easy songs to keep a steady beat. In recorders I have lots of accompaniment to maintain a steady tempo, too.

Elevations

This morning the contractor we talked to yesterday dropped off these elevations of the kitchen. The sloping roofline makes the top cabinets on the south elevation short, and makes them kind of funny-looking in the west elevation, but there is room for a small dishwasher next to the sink!

After the Landscaping....

We can't seem to rest....Now that the landscaping is nearly done, we are going to remodel the cottage kitchen and bathroom. This morning Hal and I talked to a contractor, touring the cottage and looking at possibilities. We are probably going to take down the wall between the kitchen and dining room, move another portion of a wall a little bit, and completely gut the kitchen and bathroom. Also, we'd like to replace some of the "beaver board" with drywall, and, in doing so, update the wiring.

Here's the contractor's sketch he dropped by this afternoon.

Thinking ahead to Italy

Next Friday Hal and I take off for Italy - to tour Tuscany and Rome with Claire. Tonight we have been pouring over maps and a guidebook. Since there is no way we can even come close to seeing "everything," our plan is to take it slowly and just savor where we are at the time. I look forward to daily gelato and wine, although not necessarily at the same time of day.

Spring is in the air!

Our peach tree is in beautiful bloom. Our new fruit cocktail tree is also very happy!

Facebook Find

This weekend I found another of my friends (on Facebook) from elementary school days in Chicago, Cynthia. Isn't she cute? We actually chatted on FB for over an hour on Saturday, and we had a great time reliving memories and trying to figure out who all those kids in the class pictures were. Some of them she is still in touch with, so I even saw recent pictures of some of the other kids in my class. What fun!

Book Club Book

Hal and I are off to book club tonight, and I just now finished this month's choice - Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. It is a graphic novel (which used to be called a comic book) that won the Hugo Award in 1985. The Hugo Award is for science fiction. The selection of this book is timely since the movie comes out on Friday. After our meeting tonight, I may say something about our discussion, which could be quite lively. This kind of reading is not really what I enjoy, but I may get more out it if I hear what others say.

On Monday after book club - others in the club delved more deeply into the characters than I did and enjoyed the book on a more sophisticated level. I was not enough convinced to go back and reread the book.