STOP THE WAR ON MYRACK! BOOBASH 2009

My life is full of amazing people. From family to friends, I am blessed with good, uplifting peeps. As many people know, this September I celebrated my 5 year mark. 5 years represents, in the breast cancer world, the end of cancer as I knew it! I am considered cancer free. No more too regular doctor's check ups, no more tamoxefin, no more hot flashes, and a hope for weight loss :)

Many months ago, my friends and I discussed celebrating this wonderful occasion. And we did... Sandra style! Pink tables, pink capes, pink shirts, pink candy, pink cookies and treats, pink drinks, pink games, pink center pieces... you get the picture. She and Ali went all out for this party, for me.

I'm not too good with a lot of attention and I diverted most of it to the boys with the cones tied to their chests.

Unknown Anthem, my very own band (I am a groupie), played over a half an hour. Thanks to Ali, who knows many famous people. I sat back and enjoyed the music, then took some time to dance. Especially when they played "I'm a survivor" first, because I love the song and then eventually I realized it was because I am a survivor (duh), then I enjoyed it even more and laughed a little to myself.

My brothers, John and Matt came with their families, despite the fact BYU had a football game and who invited all these Utes during their football game?! ... talk about true steph fans :) To be honest, we've been celebrating this 5th year all year and I'm kind of glad to be done with it. I cut off my LIVESTRONG bracelet with a knife and threw it at Sandra (Jenn gave the bracelets to my family when I was diagnosed - 2004 - and I've worn it everyday since). People may stop buying my book, but I'm okay with that... I hope the copies that are out there will reach the people that need it and the rest are used to get me a husband who thinks I'm hilarious (and a hot baldy).

Gangrene Film Festival!

One of my favorite experiences is the Gangrene Film Festival in Layton.  (I think my brother Matt needs to enter a film some day).  Some of my favorite movies in the past were "The Help Desk" and "The Mole and the Weirdo".  Both well done and hilarious.  This year I had a few favorites and had a difficult time voting for my audience favorite, "I'm a...Cuban", "The Nemesis", and an animated one, "Skylight".   They can be found on Comcast something...

Al Gladiatore and other specialties

June 22, 2009      The Longest Day Ever!

Enzo drove us Italian style into Rome.  He stopped in the middle of the street and we ran for our lives.  We met our guide, Paula, at the base of the Colosseum.  Her heavy accent made it difficult for us to follow all the details of the day through our Whispers.  The Coliseum took only 8 years to build in 80 A.D. by Roman slaves.  We explored the 2^nd level, without a guide, on our free time, we had to imagine the seating and the floors, but it must have been enormous. 

 

We next walked to the Roman Forum, a magnificent valley of ruins.  There were original buildings that were still in use and some of the stone streets were original as well.  It was fascinating to imagine the civilization that once ruled here before 50 B.C.   Paula spouted facts and figures that no one understood, so we stood around taking pictures, pretending to know of what we shot.  The sun bore down on us and we sweated out our daily intake of water.  Luckily we found those water fountains, all over town, to refill our water bottles (Amanda was so happy).

 

Piazza Campidoglio, originally designed by Michelangelo, became the new center of political power for Roman politics.  It started in1535 and took a century to complete.  The ginormous statues at the top of the Cordonata steps stood naked and proud, but we ladies turned our heads.  Today we spent much of our time walking.  Enzo picked us up across the street from the piazza and drove us through the crazy city, to the Vatican.  Well, two blocks away.

While waiting to cross the street, Amber got the famous bum grab from an Italian.  She shrieked.  We laughed. And now it’s a great story.  We saw a fancy lady, dressed up with heels, put her helmet on then drive off on a scooter.  Italians make everything seem so much more chic.  Finally we made our way to the outer wall of the Vatican City.  We waited, along with tourists worldwide, in the security line to enter the city.  We waited for our tickets in the lobby of the museum which was more modern and westernized than we expected.  Tanya wanted to go back and get searched by one of the security guys checking bags.  “I should have left something in my pocket!”

Lunch was downstairs, cafeteria style.  We bought Tanya sandwiches and half of our Utah group went upstairs while we waited for our Panini’s to cook.  As Tanya, steph , and Sandra mounted the stairs to join the other girls the security guard sent them back to the cafeteria to eat.  They finished their lunch standing at a table while the other girls wondered what happened to them.  We all ended up sitting under a nice tree, relaxing our feet and eating hot tamales.  Amanda filled up her water bottle.

 

Like cattle we shuffled toe to heel through a museum of amazing paintings, mosaics, and sculptures over thousands of years old listening to a million facts in rapid Italian accented English.  Paula walked quickly, weaving in and out of the people, with her guide umbrella high in the air.  At one point that umbrella was but a speck of blue in the distance.  With the Sistine Chapel next on the agenda, the group waited for everyone to rejoin before continuing down the stairs. Whew.  After lunch we had a quick overview of the artwork of Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel.  The heat made many of us sleepy, so I’m not sure we all got the full extent of information that was available to us, but we knew the basics.  Upon entering the Chapel, we were herded to the center and left to mull around with millions of other people.  We all commented on the fact that if the Catholics ran this place like a Mormon Temple Open House, it would be better for everyone.  What they’re doing now is simply inefficient and under appreciative of the marvelous works that lie in that place.  We looked up… for a long time.

“NO PHOTO!  NO PHOTO!  SHHHH!”  yelled security guards to disrespectful tourists snapping pictures and talking loudly.  It was far from peaceful.  The room was smaller than movies and photos make it look.  The Finger of God blended into the ceiling’s other paintings and didn’t stand out like it seemed to in our minds.  We exited the chapel through the back right door and entered St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest cathedral in the world.

 

Michelangelo’s Pieta stood to our right, upon our entering the cathedral.  Truly awesome.  It now stands behind bulletproof glass, having been attacked by a hammer in the past.  Most scenes were made from glass, approximately 1cm, creating beautiful mosaics throughout.  They look like paintings until you look close up.  Michelangelo designed the church using centuries of architectural geniuses prior and created a masterful plan combining several of their ideas into one.  The dome is the third largest in the world, behind those of Florence and the Pantheon.

 

We took our pictures in front of the Swiss guards, dressed in their silly costumes (aka uniforms).  We walked right out onto St. Peter’s square.  Unlike everything else, this looked just like the movies.  Steph kept saying, “…in Angels and Demons that’s where…” pointing out key points of the movie and where they were in the square.  By this point our patience was exhausted, but we ate gelato and it all worked out.  Amanda left Sandra alone in the gift shop (where you could have your souvenirs blessed by the Pope and sent to your hotel) and was reprimanded by steph, “where’s your buddy, no one leaves their buddy?!”  Amanda obediently found her buddy before we left.  We met Texas and Chelan under the obelisk, in the shade, and waited for our ride.

Our free time consisted of about an hour and half to fit in every other Roman tourist spot.  We talked Vera into guiding us (as a friend, not a guide) to Trevi Fountain, where you are to turn your back to Neptune put the coin in your right hand and throw it over your left shoulder in hopes to return to Rome (or make a wish…still waiting on that one).  The group could go anywhere, but they all followed Utah to the fountain.  Yeah, we are THAT cool!  Every tourist in the world packed into that place, we had but a few seconds to take our pictures throwing our coins one at a time.  Ali tossed her coin and almost fell in, which made us laugh.  

We would have liked to have sat around and enjoyed our surroundings, but off to the next attraction, walking/running to the Pantheon.

 

After 2000 years the building still stands strong.  The dome is one of the largest domes in the world.  The light inside the Pantheon is provided by one hole in the middle of the dome, called the oculus whose diameter is about 29.5 ft.  The hole is always open and the drainage system is the same today as used by the Romans.  118 A.D. was when the construction began, in 1608 is was transformed from a temple into a church.

 

We huffed ourselves back to meet the group at the Piazza Venezia, nicknamed the Wedding Cake for its white exterior and stacked looking façade.  Vera allowed us to arrive late to dinner at Al Gladiatorre, where we had the best potatoes ever.  The restaurant, located directly across from the Colosseum, has been open since 1903.  We ate with the patio doors open to the Colosseum and were served the best food on the tour!

 

DJ Jazzy Brisa put her ipod to the microphone for a fun ride home.  We sang our hearts out.  At one point Enzo put the bus in park, in the middle of traffic, and searched for a portable microphone.  The traffic moves on, but Enzo is in no hurry.  He hands the microphone to Ali, who is singing the loudest, and invites her to put on a show.  Which she did.  Ali danced up and down the aisle.  She used her best dance moves and threw in some jazz hands.  This wild show, which may one day end up on YouTube, ended with Ali laying across the “emergencies only” bus bathroom.  She’s always wanted to sing on a throne!  We sat in awe, not knowing what to think about this show.  This dance/sing party bonded our different groups with performances from Will and Brogan from Chelan, Amanda, and two shakes from Tanya.  Apparently, Maryland put the show on mute and did not participate in any way.  They did not want to bond.  Enzo stopped and started the bus at will, not paying any attention to traffic or our safety, but we did let him play his “Mambo #5” several times.

 

We met at the top of the hotel, overlooking the city, to do our By Fars and quotes for the day.  The sun set over the distant mountains, leaving a deep red and orange sheet of color over the buildings and trees.  Anna and Joann joined us for the beautiful view and stories of the day.  The longest day, by far, but also the funnest.  

Quotes:

They didn't let you cross the border? - Theresa to Tanya

It's like making love right here on the 2nd row - steph 

I can have a baby now, I know what real pain feels like - Brisa

Hurry Ali...oh wait - sandra

I should have left something in my pocket - tanya (at the Vatican security)

I need a little sugar to offset the alcohol - sandra

Is God wearing glasses? - lindsey (in the sistine chapel)

A kick in the face?! - steph (keeping the faith)

Salad seems like you're just passing time - doyle

I'm all... that's and ugly sound - sandra (Z trying to get us to stop saying I'm all...)

I think she ate it - Vera (whisper microphone)

You can't stop this - Brent (about country music - Achy Breaky Heart)

How many ladies... ONE?!... shhhhhh Enzo's on the phone - DJ jazzy Brisa

She got two shakes - Amanda (tanya's dancing)

You gotta be like me... wait for the whole group - tanya

She's no longer grandma Ali, she's COUGAR Ali - sandra (Ali dancing with the boys)

...mine was to sing on a throne - ali (kareoke on the bus bathroom)

Come to my room, I show you how to use gel - Enzo to steph

And then we drive to Nappy Valley?!  - ali

Whats her face and what's his face - tanya (claire and brent)

I just drew on my boob - Sandra

 

BY FARS:

Towel warmer.  Enzo fixing steph's hair.  Dinner - potatoes, dessert, lasagna.  Hot Vatican security.  Hot Italians in suits, scooters...anything.  Colosseum.  Ali almost falling in the fountain.  Singing on the bus.  DJ Jazzy Brisa.  Ali on top of the bathroom.  Learning about the Sistine Chapel.  Bathroom door hitting steph in the face.  Toilet seats.  Polka clarinet in the street.  Enzo's secret microphone.  Enzo out of his seat six or seven times while driving.  steph's gondolier shirt.  This (the sunset on the patio).  Tanya and Ali's palace.  Fresh water fountains...again.  Tanya's booty shake (2 shakes).  steph imitating Ali.  steph's asian hair (the guy at the Vatican with big hair).  Amber's but grab by an old Italian man.  Being muted by Maryland.

Crazy bus ride to ROMA (rome to americans)

June 21, 2009 - Sunday  HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

            Today is Roma - a 7 hour trip.  We happily left our rundown hotel for a better one in Rome.  Bathroom break woke up much of a sleeping bus.  We tried to liven it up with some travel charades and yog-oing (yoga on a moving bus).  Sandra won with a 9 second tree pose.  We passed through many miles of vineyards in the Tuscany region and ended up at another Autogrille for lunch.  Now we are closer to Rome, thus passing through ugly suburbs.  It is difficult to imagine Italy with all the modern buildings.  Enzo honked at all the tiny corners as we weaved through the back country to our hotel.  Steph switched up the order the rooms were to be assigned in, since Ali and Tanya seemed to get the raw end of the deal each time.  As we pulled up to the hotel on the hill, we knew right away that this was no Lido di Jusolo. 

the palacesteph and johanna's roomSandra and Amanda's view The Szymanski's bathroom

            The Grand Hotel, Helio Cabala encompassed all we imagined about Italy.  On top of the hill stands the main hotel while we stayed in the small villas on the mountain side.  Tanya and  Ali scored the biggest room with a loft, we nicknamed it “The Palace”.  They hosted our “by fars” and quotes as well as our church meetings, since it was the Sabbath.  

Our meeting began an opening hymn of “I am a Child of God” and then a short lesson from the Ensign by Sandra.  We each shared our thoughts and closed with a benediction in French from Amber.  Sandra and Amanda’s room had no power so they were moved into the main hotel which felt less like Italy, much more Americanized.  The sunset over the Tuscany valley took our breath away, we finally arrived in the Italy we imagined! 

            Enzo drove into town where we ate at I Belloni.  We ate pasta Carbonara with Scollopini (veal) and a weird but good cabbage salad.  For dessert we ate cake!  Sandra and steph with the Chilan boys and Brisa.   We made them laugh because we are hilarious.  The rest of Utah ate with Texas and the Kelleys. 

 

On our ride home the whole bus tried to convince Enzo to take us bowling, but to no avail.  We started to do our usual car singing on the bus, Enzo tried changing the channel by clicking an imaginary channel changer at us, rude.  He then stopped the bus mid-turn on a round about and searched for a cd he wanted to share with us.  These Italians live by their own rules.  Everyone met at The Palace for a dance party.  Tanya and steph shared their African dance with the girls, then Lindsay and Brisa came over to play games.  We learned to play Monopoly, the card game.  Bonding. 

 

QUOTES:

I feel so 2^nd class back here - steph

My tray has a hole in it!! - steph

Gondolier... gone to bed - pat

I’m yo-going - ali

You’re like teenage boy - ali

I don’t think this (arm out to the side - soccer mom stop) wil save you - ali

Come on car, the bike did it - vera

Oh my gosh, I would just push you down - steph

A railrow... a railrow... (-ali) ...”Duhh”... a railroa”duhh” car? - Sandra

Hey my mother packed for me... -tanya

Its okay, I’m fine - Sandra to Amanda (about blankets)

Grandma doesn’t match up with her - ali  you mean racially? - Sandra

I was like (grab, grab, grab) - ali (bum reference)

I’m sandra’s main man - steph

I’m click clacking in Africa - ali   ...When you were living on the railrow? -steph

He needs a chiropractor, he’s carrying his whole team on his back -schuyler

Is that a harry potter thing? - Brogan

I’m not in italy ordering moose piss! - ian

That was a cheap crappy one, I’ve been working real hard on these - pat (jokes)

He doesn’t want you blowin his woofer - pat

CHANGE! CHANGE! CHANGE! - Enzo (our singing- he tries to switch stations)

Enzo’s trying to change the channel - Amanda

He was sad, he lost Amanda - steph

No its an airplane - Theresa

Sometimes rich people die anyway -steph

 

BY FARS:

Making Enzo laugh-our goal for the day.  Pizza at lunch.  Yog-oing on the bus.  good mad-libs.  Arriving in real Italy.  Biker through the puddle.  Ali and Tanya’s room.  African dance.  Amanda’s ink marks on the ceiling.  Enzo dancing on the bus.  Enzo stopping mid road to find a CD.  Amanda carrying an ant to the hallway.  Monopoly.  Hot Tamales.

            

June 20, 2009

Last night it started raining and never let up.  The storm relentlessly shook our hotel, which didn’t seem that stable to begin with, and kept many of us up for much of the night.  The caffeine in steph’s dessert, left her with insomnia for the next 35 hours and made for a whole lot of silliness.  Sandra did her hair in pin curls to see how curly hair would do in the humidity.  Wow was that a mistake!  Her hair was saved by a well placed scarf.  We headed to the dock for our water taxi to Venice, in wet air and a slight breeze.  We all sported the rain gear, jackets and umbrellas, for this wet day on the 128 islands they call Venice. 

            It covers 4 square miles in total.  Venice is built on large logs that are petrified under water with the lack of oxygen.  The population has dropped from 160,000 to only 60,000 and continues to shrink.  They live on tourism.  The waterways are the draw to Venice.  The bridges are charming and individual.  Without landmarks we got turned around in the tiny walkways.  Each island has its own church, 148 churches in this small area not because they were pious, but because they were lazy.  Our tour guide, Manuella, explained the history and stories of Venice with American humor and sarcasm.  She was a “by far” for the trip. 

            St. Marcos Square:  Piazza, the most recognizable place in Venice.  St. Marcos church, Doge’s Palace, State buildings, and a target for pigeons to dive bomb Amy’s head.  Our tour included a glass blowing demonstration.  We sat fascinated by the speed for which they made a beautiful pitcher with a smancy handle and an arched cat.  Lunchtime came quickly and we found a nice sandwich place with Caprese Sandwiches, which we now call “The Tanya Sandwich” because she ordered everywhere we ate.  Tanya made us memorize the path to this shop so that we could make it back for sandwiches later.  She brought it up several times.  (We made it back without an issue).

            Next our tickets got us into the palace where we walked up and down and through, checking out artifacts and taking pictures where they were allowed.  Steph used her bendy tripod to take a group shot, then we took a picture of the camera because it looked like an insect.  We left gimpy Ali behind to rest while we checked out the next floor.  Tanya, Amber, Sandra, and steph got lost in the dungeons while on a time limit.  While backtracking against traffic steph spoke in French so the other tourists didn’t think we were stupid Americans. 

            After several views of the outside world without access, we found one we could exit.  Whew.  Utah reunited outside the palace, some upset, some grateful to be out, and all ready for their gondola ride with Texas.  Our group split, Tanya, Amy, Ali, Amber, and Amanda went on the first gondola while steph and Sandra joined Texas.  We spent most of the ride on the small waterways, but did take a trip on the Grand Canal.  We walked through the streets and the noise levels were high, but the canals were peaceful and unusually quiet.  Our gondoliers, Angelo, kept to himself except when Theresa asked if one of the buildings was important, “all of our buildings are important in Venice” was his reply. 

            Tanya, steph, and Sandra took a trip through the museum while the other girls spent their free time shopping.  Our meeting place was by the yellow and red chairs in the piazza.  We met up after an hour to head to Tanya’s sandwich place, and it did not disappoint.  Of course we found some gelato and rested our feet on the stairs of a church.  Ali took a photo shoot of steph and of the each of our profiles, some good and some not so flattering.

            The weather cleared up and made for a perfect day.  We met the tour group and rode the water taxi back.  We passed a pirate ship with sails, but we were not attacked.  Back at the hotel we met in Sandra and steph’s room for “by fars” and quotes because the wind made going to the beach unappealing.  The girls lounged in the lobby until dinner time.  Dinner:  pasta with ham and tomato sauce, pork cutlets with mashed potatoes and bread.  Sandra stealthily snuck the oil and vinegar for to dip our bread, though we ended up sharing it with the other ladies of our group.  Dessert in Italy is a fruit cup, so we enjoyed it.  Tanya, steph, and Amanda spent the next hour on the beach stretching in yoga class.  The kids ran past and disappeared into the blackness of the sea.  We kept an eye on them as they played in the darkness and ended up several yards down the coast. 

 

QUOTES:

Blinkers going out left and right - steph

Get all up in there Sandra - steph

Did you say nipples? - amanda

What's the forecast tomorrow:  cold today, hot tamale - pat

Enzone - Ali

I'll let your imaginations work on that one - Manuella

Don't touch me!!!  (bird attack) - Tanya (lasanya)

Hook me up, I want one - Amy Z

I drink water like you eat meat - steph to lasanya

It feels like a lump in your boob - amanda

(its like when you squeeze in a fart) - amanda

mmmm...you should listen - sandra to ali

BY FARS:

Hot chocolate/croissants at breakfast.  Tanya’s bird friend.  Enzo’s soccer arm.  Enzo’s ta-da bow.  Peaceful gondola ride.  Today’s weather: thunder rain sun wind.  Manuella’s wit and wisdom and big finish (st. Marcos square).  Getting lost in the dungeons.  Bird boy.  Tanya’s sandwich and shop.  Steph’s hair, post boat ride.  Glass blowing demo and sales pitch.  Tanya and steph’s boat ride home.  Steph’s tripod trial photo shoot.  Spring coil in Sandra’s pillow.  Oil and vinegar.  Yoga on the beach.  Steph’s “perfect pillow”.  Ali’s bambino.  

Calculus is for poopy brains.

I returned from my European trip with a renewed energy to finish my Calculus class.  I thought I had until the end of August and I planned accordingly.  Well, day two of working hard (I really did), I received a letter from BYU notifying me that I had until the 28 of July (this being the first week of July) to accomplish all 13 chapters and the final.  I called to get the 3 month extension.  Denied!  Something about the class no longer existing etc.  

I was on chapter 5.  I have since finished chapter 5 and taken my first mid-term (which I had to take at the UofU - I almost died inside, as if calculus wasn't bad enough!).  I have since finished chapter 6 and begun chapter 7 (thanks to my sister, Angie, who allowed me to sit at her kitchen table for 8 hours today!).  Last week I spent babysitting and girls camp while this week is cheer camp.  This couldn't have happened at a worse time for me.  I will take a midterm on Saturday and another on Monday, all the while spending 8 hours on each chapter for homework.  Sheesh.  This is like a full time job and is ruining my summer.  

I wish I could learn life lessons the easy way (and less expensive), since I'll probably be taking this class again... and its my own fault!

Life's a beach.

June 19, 2009

We had a feeling Maryland wanted our front row seats, so we packed early and made it to the bus first, again.  Amanda, already returning from her water bottle run, met us with “I just got asked out!”  Apparently 36 yr old Enzo had a little crush on Amanda.  She politely refused his offer for drinks and dancing.  This little tour was off to a great start!

The breath-taking landscape could not be captured on film, though that did not stop us from trying.  We dove in and out of tunnels all along the lakefront.  The fog and clouds coated the mountains and made for surreal scenery.  The water is a bright turquoise contrasting the green walls and sheer rock cliffs.   We passed through the longest tunnel (10 miles or 17km).  steph took a picture in the tunnel and momentarily blinded the driver.

Today is steph’s first day of mad-libbing.  She walked around and asked for verbs, nouns, and body parts from random bus members.  Vera happily relinquished the microphone to her to read the finished stories to the bus.  “BONJOUR BUS!”, the birth of the daily greeting.  The mad-lib, about penguins, ended, “They dress for all occasions, especially sit-down screws.” Oh dear!  Laughter erupted and steph blushed before laughing (Maryland probably didn’t laugh).  Luckily Ali had come home to her luggage last night as is now back to her old crazy self.  Welcome back Ali, we missed you.  She busied herself making friends with everyone, of course.

Welcome to Italy!  George Clooney has a villa in the town we passed through and we all looked for him as we ate lunch at our first rest stop break.  No George.  L Tanya panicked as her turn came to order her, what we now call the “Tanya Sandwich”.  She practiced the pronunciation, but we stayed by just in case.  The cashier, flirting with flustered Tanya, pretended he didn’t understand her and asked her to repeat it, then asked her to spell it.  I thought she just might faint right there, but he laughed and rung her up, speaking in English.  Those Italians are so funny.

Enzo yelled incoherently, as we approached the bus.  steph repeatedly asked him “What?!” until she realized he was on his blue-tooth.  Just then he, with arms in the air, called out, “it’s jean-franco, my colleague”  Why that was so funny to us, I’m not sure, but we still laugh about it.  He then proceeded to make steph talk to jean-franco.  “I don’t speak Italian Enzo...oh oh um, hello, hello...hi jean-franco... good yeah....oh...bye”  That was the beginning of the true Enzo-Utah relationship on the bus. 

First Italian stop, Verona.  Verona’s focal point, an arena (meaning sand) used in 30 A.D.  It is one of four still standing today and is used for concerts to this day.  We took an EF group photo infront of the arena, joined by a roman guard from this roman colony.  He later chastised steph for 20 years of bad manners because she didn’t ask nicely to take his photo with Amanda and Sandra.  She apologized to the toothless man and left without a photo.

Onto Juliet’s balcony, from Romeo and Juliet, for more luck and another photoshoot.  We learned that Shakespeare stole his play from a hundred year old Italian legend.  The Capulets and Montigues were real families in Verona, though it is unclear if the facts are truly how their lives unfolded.  “I thought he was a total genius, but now I know he’s just a thief” was steph’s reaction to the news.  Juliet’s right breast is shinier than the rest or her body because it is rumored that rubbing it brings luck, thus we rubbed.  The walkway to her balcony is dedicated to LOVE.  Everyone is invited to leave notes or tagging dedicated to love.  We wrote our individual love notes, “I love lamp” or “I love you, I love you, I love you, where the H are you?!” 

We were enthralled with the embroidery machine at the shop on the Juliet courtyard corner.  The cute Italian boy offered steph a free bookmark, he embroidered her name with a flower in 15 seconds, she sported the Traveling Pants today so things were automatically going to go well for her (he later gave her a 10% discount, just ‘cause).  After that demonstration each of us purchased at least one item embroidered because we felt they earned it.  Aprons, bags, hats, slippers, you name it!  Sandra’s apron says queen of the kitchen in Italian, so Ali got her sous-chef apron to match.  The Szymanskis got an apron for their mom and “Master Z” put on a satchel bag.  Tanya put Escobar on a work apron for school.  steph chose a risqué apron for her missionary mom (in Geneva).  Love in the kitchen, but in the bedroom, compassion.  Luckily it’s in Italian and no one will understand it.

Amanda already missed Switzerland, though she and Sandra enjoyed a moment soaking their feet in the fountain.  Today the sun unrelentingly beat down on our worn-out bodies, sucking our energy like a vacuum.  The gelati called to us and saved our lives again.  We needed cash, so we found a bank/ATM near the fountain.  Amanda went inside, through a 2 small doors that only opens one at a time, leaving you between them for a claustrophobic moment before the second one opens.  We thought we’d lost her forever. 

The time passed and the sun smothered us until time to meet the group in front of the arena.  Sandra and  Amanda bolted straight for the WCs, with all that water drinking it’s no wonder.  It cost $.50 and had a row of regular toilets, urinals and a row of holes in the ground...hmmm... tough decision.  As Amanda posed infront of a urinal, it sprayed her.  She screamed and the bathroom attendant came to the rescue.  Too bad they were overcome with laughter.

Hotel 2 is located in Lido di Lusolo.  We don’t believe it is a real hotel, it used to be but we think we’re actually just squatting here because it’s pretty...mmm..stinky.  Everyone’s balcony looks out over the beach vista, the hotel’s one redeeming quality.  The shower is just a shower head on a hose in the corner of the bathroom.  We refused to shower without shoes on.  You really had to focus on not soaking the toilet paper or your towel, but having access to the sink and mirror was kind of nice.  None of us have been brave enough to use any of the bidets yet.  Amanda stayed with Jo Ann here, the Szymanskis were reunited and everyone else stayed the same.  Tanya and Ali did not appreciate the disgusting smell and mold in their room.  Two tragedy rooms in a row, oops. 

The beach.  The water is warm and beautiful.  The sand is downy soft (no exaggeration) and cool to the touch.  Too bad we won’t be here during daylight hours to appreciate all it has to offer.  We dressed for dinner and waited with Texas in the lobby.  They are our tour soul mates. 

Italian food is to die for, but their bread is iffy.  They begin with pasta then the meal.  We started with a lasagna and bread, which we oohed and aaahhed over, then chicken and beans.  Yum.  It melts in your mouth.  Our table out louded the other tables, but we had some funny things to say and good stories to share, as we did every night.  Dinner ended with a delicious tiramisu ice cream, which steph claims kept her awake for 30 straight hours.  That made for crazy funny steph.

Yoga on the beach over looking the Adriatic Sea - picture perfect.  Amanda led us in some yoga on the beach.  The crashing waves and the soft sand lulled us into breathing and stretching, centering us with the universe.  The Chelan WA boys (Brogan, Will, Ian, Schyler) joined us in yoga as Enzo watched while smoking... creepy!   The boys entertained us with their efforts to do anything Amanda would give them, while the WA girls stood by wishing they were as cool as Utah.  Ha ha.

We met in steph and Sandra’s room for quotes and by fars.  These nightly meetings were some of the highlights of this trip, as it also highlighted the trip.  We each collapsed in our rooms, exhausted.  A few minutes after by fars, steph and Sandra hear some noise coming down the hall, Tanya crashes into the room.  She falls to the floor in hysterics and uncontrollable laughter.  She waves her hand in the air, “I have a by far!! I have a by far!!” then collapses again.  Soon after her comes Ali gasping for air.  She crumbles into a chair and convulses with laughter, neither of them able to talk.  steph and Sandra wait in amazement for the news.  The Szymanskis heard a little commotion and came down the hall to see what was up.  By this time they had relaxed a bit and were able to talk.  Apparently Enzo’s balcony is connected with theirs.  Tanya went out to the balcony looking for something with she came face to face with Enzo in his undies smoking not 2 feet away!  She smiled politely, though completely unraveling inside, taken by surprise that way, and exited the balcony quickly.  We still laugh. steph, unable to sleep, stayed up all night playing tetris at the end of the bed, reading in the bathroom, and watching the waves crash from the balcony. 

 

Quotes:  “hoooo-Ray for nicknames”  - Z

“Pick a number between 10 and 20”  - Pat  “7” - ali

“Where were you?” - Sandra (“the fox”)

“Keep your horns to yourself, lets have tea” - steph

“Lille means bitch?  What?!”  - steph

“Tomato, tomatoe, crepe, crap...whatever”  - Amanda

“I love you, I love you, I love you, where the H are you?!” - Sandra

“I thought he was a total genius, now I know he’s just a thief” - steph

 By Fars:  Embroidery men.  Bank doors and Amanda.  20 years of bad manners.  Thrown journal down stairs at Enzo.  Ali being friends with everyone.  Full bathroom shower.  Yoga on the beach.  Boys joining yoga.  Creepy Enzo.  Lasagna!  Gelato.  Feet in the fountain.  Touching juliet’s boob.  Nice boy from Dallas.  Wading in the Adriatic Sea.  Italian singing “Living in America” = Rocky.  Tanya on the floor - “I have a by far, I have a by far!”  Enzo smoking on the balcony in his undies.  Amanda’s hair getting stuck to the Velcro on the bus seats.