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!