Day 28 : Spring Fever!

Yesterday was my first day of spring. Yes, I have been rejoicing with the weather change for about two or three weeks now, but yesterday I actually lived it! It was a perfect day.

It started off with me waking up early (on a Saturday--shocker!), about 9 am. I ran some errands and found that the BX finally had the steam cleaner in stock that I've been wanting! Done deal. I came home and cleaned my ENTIRE house (except one small bathroom, but hey), and steam cleaned our carpets. They look so much better now and the house smells amazing! Didn't know that much dirt could come out of our little industrial carpets.

I then met up with Breanna, Stephanie, and some friends at Lake Barcis, which is beautiful in the spring and summer. Hell, it's beautiful all year round, but it's too damn cold to be there in the winter! We BBQ'd and soaked up the sun.

 We kept remarking how crazy it was that we were sitting there in our bathing suits, and we could look up and see the snow-covered Alps.

This is our "table" with the meat, and of course a bottle of Patron and a water bottle chilling for later use. :)

After Barcis, I came home to get ready for dinner with the Tauscheks and company. They informed me we were going to a place called Cellini's in Sacile, which I had never heard of. It was AMAZING! We even sat outside, with perfect weather, under a greenery canopy overlooking the river. They had perfect pizza, amazing house wine (what restaurant in Italy doesn't?), and dessert to die for. I was (somewhat) of a good girl and opted for the strawberry mousse instead of the chocolate. A guy at our table took a bite of his chocolate mousse and proclaimed, "This is like sex in my mouth and everyone's invited!" By that time, of course, we had already gone through two liters of wine at the table, with Tessa and I drinking most of it. ;) We topped it off with a half liter of Moscato and went on our merry ways.

We then toured Sacile by foot, which was so beautiful. I am constantly amazed by Italians, because they have little hideaways that some people might never know are there. For example, we stumbled (literally) upon this little gazebo.

The light behind it makes it a little hard to see, but it was still beautiful--and deserted.

We then traipsed into a little bar for the men to get cappuccinos. There were these huge demi-johns full of wine corks--must have been at least three in the bar!

That's my ultimate dream, right there.

So anyway, yesterday was just amazing. Good friends, good food, good wine, beautiful country--what more could a girl ask for?

Ciao!

Day 26: Baby Fever

It's official: I have baby fever! I've told Arron several times in the past couple weeks that I'm glad he's gone, because I would be really wanting a baby, and I have to finish college first. However, that doesn't mean that I can't stare and dream whenever I see a baby in public. :)

On a funny note, I was talking to Pops the other day about how I needed to buy a onesie for a cousin's newborn baby, and I said, "God only knows that as soon as I walk into the baby department at the BX, rumors are going to start flying!" He laughed, but we both know it's true. So, this is for anyone who saw me picking out a onesie--I am not pregnant!

Onto other news: I had to be at work at 5 am this morning. Today was supposed to be a family day for our base, so the kids were out of school, but with current events, they canceled the family day and made it a regular work day. That means we had a full day with the kids, which is always interesting. However, work went by so fast that I didn't mind being there so early at all! Of course, I'm drained now, especially after running on the track after work. I really want to go bike riding, but I might just save that for tomorrow since I'm not sure if I can pick myself up off this couch! (Read: SO tired!)

The good news is that I have absolutely NOTHING scheduled for this weekend. I don't think I've had a free weekend since Arron left! I can't wait to sleep in and laze around for two days. Okay, okay, I know that lazing around isn't going to happen. I need to grocery shop and clean up the house, but I can dream, right?

Anyway, that's all for now. :) Ciao ciao!

Day 25 : Officially a Brunette!

So the blonde in my hair started turning orange from the whack job I did on it a couple weeks ago. My friend Kaelee talked me into becoming a brunette. :) I officially became a brunette on Tuesday night, but haven't had a chance to take a picture and update here.

Ignore the messy hair; I styled it yesterday and just threw it up in a half pony for today. However, I do have a great quote from one of my kinders:
Her: "What happened to your face?"
Me : "I dyed my hair brown."
Her: "It sure is messy! It used to be yellow."

Made me laugh inside. :)

Day 23 : Guilty Listening Pleasure

Anyone who has known me for several years knows that I used to be in love with the Backstreet Boys--namely, Brian. Yes, I know their golden years are far behind us, but I still love to listen to them every once in awhile. I think it's because it takes me back to a more innocent time--my friends and I would spend all recess singing Backstreet Boys songs in elementary school. I went to two of their concerts, one of them which was the first I went to without an adult (at 10! I can't believe I was so young!). They remind me of a truly happy time in my life, when the biggest problem I had was not being able to sit next to my best friend in class.

BSB is now touring with New Kids on the Block, who were a little before my time. However, it KILLS me that I won't be home this summer to catch their stop in Houston. :(

I think everyone has that singer or band they listen to to remind them of younger days. What's your guilty listening pleasure?

Day 22 : Singing the Blues

The past 24 hours has not been good for me. I'm feeling lonely, mostly. A smidgen of feeling left out. Workplace stress isn't helping.

"Even the man in the moon is singing the blues. I hope you still love me baby; I'm missing me some you." - Toby Keith

I want to go upstairs and take a bubble bath and go to bed. I'd also like to drink a couple margaritas to make myself feel better--although I know better, since alcohol only increases whatever feeling I'm already in presently. But I can't seem to peel myself off of this couch for anything.

I wish I knew the cure for bad day syndrome. I'd be a millionaire.

On a slightly brighter note, I had a little girl ask me how my day was today. I honestly think that was the first time any of our kids asked me, instead of the other way around. It made me want to cry. :)

Also, it's been three weeks. Only 20-something left to go. 

Day 20 : From the Archives

I have been meaning to post a conversation I had with a kinder about a month ago. At work, we have a spiral notebook that says on the front, "Kids Say the Funniest Things." And it is SO true. Anytime a child says something outrageous or hilarious, we write it in the book.

The following conversation occurred between myself and a boy kinder on the playground. For privacy's sake, I'll call him K.

Me: Hey, K, sit on this ladder really quickly so I can tie your shoe.
K: But it's going to hurt my butt!!
Me: Well, we use the word "bottom" here, but it won't take long.
K: (sits down) Some people like to call it their privates.
Me: Yes, you can call it that if you like.
K: I like the word "penis" better.
Me: (trying not to laugh) Okay, but let's use the word "privates" while you're here, okay?
K: Okay. (thinks) But only boys have penises. What do girls have?
Me: Well, they have privates too, just different. (thinking, "I am not giving sex ed to this kinder!!")
K: (thinking harder) Hmmm... I think girls just suck their penises in!! (quickly runs off)

Needless to say, that completely made my day. Kids seriously can say the funniest (and damnedest) things!! 

Day 19 : Done with finals! And other school-relating things.

Today was my last final for my first spring semester. I am stoked! While I don't get a Spring Break, it is still nice to know that I have two more classes done and out of the way.

Most of you probably don't know how my college works. In a normal semester, there are two mini-semesters. Each class I take is between 8-10 weeks long, so I take two or three classes at a once, which ends up being 12-18 hours a semester. I don't get a Thanksgiving break, or a Spring Break, and we only get a week for Christmas. But it's worth it to get this degree done!!

What somewhat confuses me about this college is the fact that the online classes' schedule and the face-to-face classes' schedule overlap. We just finished our second week of my Italian class, and just took finals for my online classes. However that works, this spring semester I will have taken 16 hours. I'll be taking two classes over the summer break, one of which didn't transfer from the University of Houston. So here I am, a PolySci major, taking an introduction course to PolySci after I've already taken several upper-level courses here.  Which is why I'm taking it in the summer, since I should know the material already pretty well.

Today is April 1st, a.k.a. April Fool's Day. I played a few jokes on my kindergarteners, and got them good. I told them for snack today we were having bell pepper slices, and that was it. They looked at me in bewilderment until I told them, "April Fools! We're having sugar cookies with fresh fruit!" (Sugar cookies are probably their favorite snack, and the most sugar-packed thing we offer.) After that, I told them we'd be staying inside all day, even though it was a beautiful day, and we'd be doing nothing but reading all day. I saw a few tears well up in their eyes before I told them again, "April Fools!" They laughed and acted like I didn't get them. ;)

Along with April Fool's Day, today kicks off the Month of the Military Child. We're doing a big BBQ tomorrow with plenty of games and crafts and such to keep the kids occupied for a couple hours. :) It should be fun, as it's supposed to be another beautiful day in Italia!

Ciao ciao!