Wordless Wednesday

This was taken in a small church in Manrola (Cinque Terre)

On Living in Italy

So today Sean and I had an interesting experience at the Italian hospital. We had been there once before for a consultation, but were back today for him to get a shot into his back.

Can I just say that Italian hospitals scare me? I'd never want to have to go to them if I didn't have to. For one, the wheel sickly looking people through the main lobby, I'm talking in wheelchairs and in beds. I also saw several people sporting SARS looking masks. Um...creepy much?

As we are waiting, they are piping disco music into the waiting room. I don't think I've ever heard music in a hospital, much less disco music.

Then as they are giving shots in Sean's back (actually into his spine) they give him a local anthestic. He said there was no wait time between the local anesthetic and the actual shot. Guess that's an Italian thing?

Oh and completely unrelated, but still cool, check out this Taco Bell sauce packet that I picked up last night. I wonder how many taco lovers out there actually use these to propose?

Oh My Eye!

Thanks for all the responses to my Mac post yesterday. I knew you ladies would come through for me!

My main news at the moment is that something is wrong with my left eye. It's only that way when I wear contacts, so I thought maybe changing my contact would work. It did for a few days and now my eye is as bad as ever. I'm stuck wearing my glasses until I get in to see the optometrist, which I'm hoping is soon.

I think Sean and I are planning a trip to Slovenia soon. More specifically, the Lake Bled area. I've heard the area is beautiful and I'm really excited to go. I've even found a pet-friendly hotel for Boomer. Can I just say though that the European hotels are so much better about pets then American hotels? For starters a European hotel generally only charges from 5 to 10 euro for a dog staying the night. American hotels often charge $50 to $100 and a ridiculous pet deposit. I do wish America would catch on like the Europeans have.

Sean and I were all set to go eat at an Ethiopian restaurant in town tonight and when I called to make reservations I was informed the Ethiopian restaurant was now an Italian restaurant. I was so disappointed. I mean, don't get me wrong, I like Italian food, but after being here for 9 months I like to be able to eat something else. You know? Ah...such is life!

Mac Users: I Need You!

I need all the pros and cons of owning a Mac. We are thinking of letting Sean take our current laptop with him on deployment and me getting a Mac. It's a bit more pricey though and I'll have to get another version of Photoshop so it's compatible with it, so I'd like to know if it's worth it before I buy it.

Very Special Day

Today is a very special day in our household, it's Boomer's 2nd birthday.

Yes...I am one of those people who celebrate my dog's birthday. I mean why not? I don't have children and Boomer is a special member of our family.

Our tradition is that Boomer gets a new toy (stuffed raccoon this year) and a kid's hamburger meal.

Here are a few pictures.



He delicately takes the fries one by one out of the bag.



Towards the end though he got the bag stuck on his nose.




Sean bought me this tiger at Oktoberfest. (Don't ask...I blame it on the booze) Anyway...Boomer LOVES it and insisited on chewing on it the other day. He played nice for a minute though and let me snap a pic.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

I love Fridays, I really do. I'm working today, but it's ok because there isn't really much to do.

In honor of my good mood I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite things.

I was at the thrift store the other day and found a few of the Little House Books. I would have bought them, but I already own them. They just happen not to be with me in Italy. My mom used to read these books to me and I LOVED them. Farmer Boy and On the Banks of Plum Creek are my two faves.



I found this dress at Old Navy and I can't wait to buy it. Just have to wait to until the next payday.



My dear husband is cooking pot roast this weekend. I am very excited about this. Last time he made roast I ate a huge amount of it. Tonight we are having mushroom burgers and fried potatoes.



This is one of three pairs of shoes I got in from Target yesterday. The reviews for these shoes were good and they were on clearance, so I figured why not. Can I just say they are awesome? For such high heels they are very cushy and comfortable. I'm kind of regretting not ordering them in different colors!

Yeah...You Don't Really Know My Educational Background

First of all I'd just like to say this is a small vent so please be prepared.

In general I really enjoy being a military spouse. I like the benefits, I like the experiences for travel and meeting new people.

I do not like it when people assume that you have little to no education because you are a military spouse.

As some background to this vent, we hired two new people at the USO. One is the director who I really get along with and the other was the operations manager or basically an assistant manager. Both are women and the latter was someone who talks all the time and really won't stop and you kind of just have to fake laugh or agree and hope she leaves. You've met people like that right? Anyway...after a disasturous first week the assistant manager gets fired on Tuesday. The manager had asked me to be a witness so that later the girl being fired couldn't alledge anything wrong had been done during the firing. It was extremely uncomfortable to say the least.

Anyway...yesterday an email comes in from the girl who was fired and she goes on and on about how she was more qualified for the director's job than the woman who got it and she was angry about how I, a subordinate, was witness to her firing. Then she got on her high horse about how she was taking Masters classes and blah blah blah.

Ok...first of all, you don't know my or anyone else who works there's educational background and for you to assume you were above cleaning the USO because of the fact you've taken Masters classes lets me know truly how stupid you really are. Lastly do NOT assume that because I'm working a part-time job that it means I have no education. I have a Bachelors thankyouverymuch and when I'm good and ready will work on my Masters. I highly doubt after speaking with you that you are more intelligent than me. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Geeze people....me working a part-time job is part of being a military spouse. We make sacrafices and I would think someone who is a military spouse herself would get that.

Rant over!

This Is My Life

Today I did my first Crossfit workout, I needed to switch up my workout routine a bit and so I called on my good friend Sara for her advice. At the time I really felt like my time was slow and I pretty much sucked at Crossfit, but I really felt good after it and for such a short time of working out..it felt really intense. I think Crossfit and I are going to start a new relationship.

Last week I painted my nails red and liked it so much that I told Sean I was going to make red nails my signature. Yeah....I'm already tired of them. Call me fickle.

I was browsing over at Old Navy today and they have the cutest outfit combos on there. Some of the items I posted a few weeks ago, but I didn't come up with the combos like they have.

Observe

I've been reading Bill Bryson's Walk In The Woods. If you haven't read it you should. I have laughed so hard reading it. Basically it's about the author hiking the Applachian Trail. One of these days I'd actually like to hike the Appalachian Trail, I'm not sure when that's going to happen though.

Oktoberfest Details

I promised more pictures and details so here you go!

We got into Munich around 1:00 p.m., checked into our hotel and then headed towards the grounds where Oktoberfest is held. It was already pretty crowded, but nothing compared to what it was like on Sunday.



(The entrance to Oktoberfest)

Basically we took in the sights first...looked at the tents, the food stands and the rides. We did have some trouble with the tents, after entering two and finding no seats and unable to figure out how to actually to get beer we found a carousel towards the back of the park that served beer and got our fix there. I will also mention I found a wine stand and found it incredibly delicious as well.



(One of the beer silos)



(Some of the rides at Oktoberfest)



(Dana and I and our beers)

After a few hours at Oktoberfest we headed over to the Lowenbrau Biergarten which was about 15 minutes from Oktoberfest. We had tickets for dinner and drinks there and I was glad that we did. It wasn't as crowded, the food was good and the beer was decent too. Beer at Oktoberfest is universally around 8 euro. To let you know how potent the beer was, let me just say that after two I found myself standing on a bench singing a John Denver song. Yeah...take from that what you will.



(Pig roasting outside of the Lowenbrau Biergarten)



(I think this was a group of guys at a Bachelor Party..they were hilarious)

On Sunday we stopped at a German cafe where I had delish frankfurters, potato salad and the best apple strudel of my life. It was warm with fresh cream and I think I died a little eating it. HEAVENLY!



(My frankfurters and potato salad)



(Best apple strudel of my LIFE)

We tried to get into Oktoberfest with Boomer, but the guards stopped me and said he wasn't allowed, although Sean and a friend of ours went inside and said a ton of dogs were in there. Boomer and I hung out in a park by the gate where I had three or four people stop to pet him and two people ask me if they coudl take his picture. He had his camo hoodie on and I'm guessing the Germans don't dress their dogs, because there were fascinated with him.



(The gingerbread cookies that everyone wore around their neck)



(Love at Oktoberfest)

Oktoberfest 2009

One picture says it all:



I'll be back tomorrow with stories and pics. We've designated today as eat and recovery day.

Halloween Costumes

Any of you given any thought as to what you are going to be for Halloween?

To be honest I haven't dressed up in the last few years, we've had no parties to go to so there was really no point. I've been trying to get Sean to dress as Hugh Hefner so I can be a Playboy bunny, but that doesn't look like it's going to happen.

The new director of the USO has said we can all dress up for Halloween, but I'm trying to find something to wear.

I'd like to wear something like this:



But it's not something I find appropriate or would even want to wear to the USO....so the search continues.

I've Got Nothing

Sorry for the brief hiatus. Sean is home (yay!) so when I'm not hanging out with him then I'm at work. I've worked every night this week and I'm so sick of it.

After tonight though, I don't work again until Tuesday and El Asshat is leaving on Sunday so I don't have to see him again. Double yay!

The last couple of days I've been hanging out on post until I go to work since Sean and I share a car.

In those days I've noticed:

That the front of the PX smells like someone dumped year old trash and spread it all around. It makes me gag everytime I walk there.

Sampling different perfumes, I've fallen in love with a Burberry scent. It's heavenly!

That men are intrigued by women's magazines. I bought a Glamour the other day and sat with Sean and a few guys from his company while they were waiting for haircuts. I didn't even get a chance to look at the magazine cause the guys nabbed it and flipped through it like it was the secret to women.

Sorry for the lack of a good post. I've seriously got nothing, but I'm hoping on my day off tomorrow I can come up with something to amuse you guys.

Tuesday Tidbits

Sean will be home this evening. I'm planning my welcome home outfit as we speak..er...type.

I was walking to the gym today and witnessed something that made my day. A mom was pushing her daughter in a stroller going one way, while another mother was pushing her son in the other direction. As they passed, the little boy leaned towards the little girl and screeched in a menacing way. I laughed so hard. The mom saw me laughing and just shook her head at her son. I told her watching that made my morning.

Parking on post is a nightmare. I honestly wish sometimes that soldiers that lived in the barracks either

A. Had access to a parking garage.
B. Weren't allowed to bring their vehicles.

I mean..is it really necessary for you to drive from your barracks to the PX for lunch? I think not. It's like a half a mile walk at most.

Another rainy looking day here, although it has yet to rain. I've added needing a trenchcoat to my rainy day attire list.

I finally found two rooms for us and another couple for Oktoberfest. It's a ridiculous amount of money and I can't believe we are paying it for one night. As God as my witness this lack of planning will NEVER happen again.

I got some pictures in that I ordered from some of my sorority date parties. HILARIOUS. One is Woodstock themed and one is a paint party. Maybe one of these days I can scan a pic so you can share in the hilariousness.

Rainy Day

I woke up this morning to a rainy, cool day here in Italy. So cool in fact that Boomer was shivering and willingly let me put his hoodie on him.

Yes my dog has a hoodie. Don't hate.

I had a productive first part of the day with cleaning and working out then before I went to work Boomer and I decided to take like a two hour nap. Rainy days always make me sleepy.

It's time for me to buy galoshes. My pant hems got wet today just walking into the PX. Obviously this needs to be rectified and soon. Since it's payday today, I don't see a better time then the present.

Word on the street that El Asshat is leaving the USO by this Sunday. I think I'll celebrate that day. He's been as douchey as ever and I actually had to restrain myself from today from telling him what a jackass he is. I swear I've never met someone that I've disliked quite so much in my entire life.

Oh and did I mention that when all of us were making our Oktoberfest plans that the boys insisted we were going to camp out? I, being the sane one, asked if everyone really wanted to camp when it was probably going to be cold in Germany in September. People brushed my question off. Now that I've talked to Sean everyone has abandoned the idea and wants a hotel room. The week OF Oktobefest. So....for the last two hours I've been frantically searching every site imaginable and pulling out my trusty Rick Steves guide to see if I can find a hotel for a decent price. It's not looking good.

See..this is why I like planning ahead of time. So I don't end up running around at the last minute like a chicken with my head cut off.

I Can't Believe I'm Admitting This

Last night I was in total veg mode and made the mistake of watching this:



Yes...The Notebook.

I've never watched it all the way through. In fact, I really don't like sappy, love movies like this. I much prefer comedies. However, there was nothing better on AFN and because it was that time of the month I watched it. Big mistake. By the end of the movie I was crying. Ok..not just crying, I was sobbing.

Completely unlike me and thank goodness noone else was around to witness my sobfest. Well, except Boomer and I have the feeling he won't be telling anyone.

I'm so ready for this week to get here. Sean should be home Tuesday or Wednesday and then this next weekend we are headed to Oktoberfest. Should be an adventure, that's for sure!

We Have Communication!

All day I've been staring at my phone and waiting for some sort of contact from Sean. Finally as I'm getting home from work I notice a text message from him. I was so excited it's not even funny. We talked for a few minutes on the phone and now we are texting. This has totally made my day!

Now..to answer a question from yesterday.

If you are looking for the recipe for mozzarella dip, look no further. You can find it here.

Also I have found two pairs of boots I really like. One pair is $100 cheaper than the other, but both have their merits. Unfortunately the website I found them at will not let me save the picture, so if you would be so kind, would you mind looking at this link and then this link and telling me which you like best?

Last, but not least....some of you know I also blog on shejustgotmarried.com. Well, they are currently having a giveaway and I thought I'd share it with you guys.

Basically it's a book on how to deal with your in-laws, so if any of you out there feel like pulling your hair out when you deal with them, then this book is for you.

Check it out here.

Lazy Day

I have the day off today and it's been wonderful.

I worked out, paid a bill, cleaned on the house a bit and tanned. Other than that? I've done nothing. Including doing my hair or make-up. I'm currently watching a Ryan Reynolds movie now because well.... I *heart* Ryan Reynolds.

I'm in a shopping zone right now. It's all I can do not to browse my favorite websites and order a bunch of stuff. Must. Resist. Temptation. My biggest concern right now is a pair of boots for the winter. I know what I want and what I want to spend, now I just have to find it. Suggestions?

I'm really hoping that I'll get to talk to Sean tomorrow. I believe tomorrow is Banner Day and I'm thinking they might let them have their cellphones back. I have so many things I want to tell him and this no communication drives me nuts!

I'm making mozzarella dip this weekend. Be jealous.

Things Are Looking Up

I have some good news regarding my job. I still haven't gotten to talk to Sean about it, BUT the new director is now here and she can't stand the guy that is here as much as the rest of us. She and I have already talked about my schedule and me wanting to quit because my schedule was changed and other things...and she told me she had no problem working weekends and she and the other new person working would do their best to support me and my schedule needs for this deployment.

However...I have yet to discuss with her me wanting to go home for Christmas or needing time of during the summer, so I'll just say I'm staying here at the USO....for now.

In other news and not the good kind...I've messed up my right foot. I think I did it when I walked in flip-flops three days straight while I was in Naples. I'm thinking it's a tendon and it's so bad at times that I limp. If it doesn't get better in a few days I have a feeling I'm going to have to pay a visit to the doctor. So let's all keep our fingers crossed that it gets better, shall we?

Thank you everyone who stuck around for three days of pictures. I appreciate it. If you are interested in seeing more just let me know and I'll email the link you when I get them all edited.

Enjoy your Thursday!

Day 3: Royal Palace of Caserta

Before this trip I'd never even heard of the Royal Palace of Caserta. Obviously I haven't really studied my Italian history to know that the Spanish used to rule in the southern part of Italy. The palace is in the Baroque style and was started in 1752.

It was very impressive and my favorite part were the mile long gardens at the back of the palace.

I literally took tons of pictures of the inside, but I'll spare you and only pick a few.



The outside of Caserta



The inside of the palace



One of the beautiful chandeliers



One of the many ornate decorations



This was one side of a massive nativity scene. If you look closely you can see the manger scene.



One of the awesomely cool statues in the gardens



Looking back at the castle. Can you imagine having these gardens in your backyard?



The statues at the very top of the gardens.



The waterfalls at the top of the gardens.




Me! After the long hike to the top.