Masthead (39k image)
Saturday, October 29th

Crazy Drunk Lady

Jon
10.29.05 @ 01:37 AM CST
listening to: NUMB3RS
feeling: Fine.

My wife is wonderful because she is non-judgemental, friendly, and personable...unlike myself. We compliment each other well in that respect.

It is because of this fact that the drunken crazy person (who has been living with/dating the next-door neighbor, Joe) thought that our house was a perfect refuge from the argument she was having with her boyfriend this afternoon.

I was trying to get ready to go meet my trainer when she started banging on the door, demanded that she be let into our house, and cried and wailed about how Joe didn't love her, never had time for her, and her family has turned against her.

Well, I tell you what. I don't even know her and I am against her. I can't imagine being one of her kids, or brothers or sisters, or friends. I would cut her drunk, crazy ass off a long time ago. I've never seen her when she was not drunk. And, I don't want her in my house again.

Thursday, October 27th

Tasty Morning...

Jon
10.27.05 @ 09:51 AM CST
listening to: LoveLine
feeling: Sleepy

gro_tazo_chlatte_p (46k image) So, as some of you may know, I've been doing the slim-fast thing in the morning because, well, I really should eat breakfast, but I hate to eat breakfast. I heard this story on the radio about how Sumo wrestlers skip breakfast when they want to gain weight. Anyway. I've been experimenting with the SlimFast to see what makes it more tasty.

Not that it isn't tasty all on its own, but I got a little bored with the vanilla.
The first experiment was pouring brewed coffee into pre-made SlimFast. That worked okay, but it was kind of lame because the coffee had to be cold, and it had already been sweetened, so it was too sweet in the end.

2nd experiment was instant coffee. I initially used way too much. A tablespoon. Turns out, a teaspoon was sufficient. Overall effect? Very nice. I used Folger's Crystals, because I wanted the caffiene. Maybe next time I will try Sanka.

3rd experiment: Tazo Chai Latte. This is the BOMB ASS SHIZZY, y'all. Seriously. It made me say Shizzy. I mixed the slimFast as normal, then topped off my blender with 4 ounces (that's half a serving) of Tazo Chai Latte. Boy howdy. That's some tasty stuff.

 

All packed

Nicole
10.27.05 @ 08:36 AM CST
feeling: waiting

So I am all packed up and ready to go. I have my clothes in my carry on wheely piece of luggage and my weekend bag is filled with food. I also have my reservations all printed out with maps so that we can get to all of the hotels that we are staying at, now I just have to not explode with excitement before it is time to leave. I will write to you when I get back, well I will probably write on Sunday instead of when I get back on Saturday night but you know. Talk to you soon. LOL

Wednesday, October 26th

I love New Software...

Jon
10.26.05 @ 03:04 PM CST
listening to: Pugs & Kelly
feeling: Decent. Two-day Headache is kicking my ass.

I've had a headache for two days. It sucks. I never get headaches. F#ck.

On the upside...I got Adobe Creative Suite 2 last week, and I installed it this weekend. It kicks ASS!

I've already learned inDesign CS2 (for the most part). Although, I don't know how to do some of my favorite 2-color tricks yet. (Like coloring a bitmapped tiff with a spot color in the layout, like you know what the hell that even is.)

Anyway. inDesign is badass. It's like Quark without all the irritating crap that made me hate quark. You can even choose all the quark keystrokes if you want, making switching super-easy.

Better than all that is this new app Bridge, which is a little program that keeps track of all the work you're doing in all the adobe apps. It also has a little component called Version Cue that tracks all of the changes that you make to your files. You can now save VERSIONS of files named the same and it will let you go back and use them! Badass!

It's totally already changed the way I am working.
Between that and OS X.4's smart folders, spotlight, and dashboard, using my computer is a much different experience than it was a year ago.

 

agenda

Nicole
10.26.05 @ 02:33 AM CST
feeling: ready to go

I decided not to make my agenda public so if you want a copy just email me.

I don't think that I will be able to call or blog while I am away, but I could be wrong. Kevin and I are staying at hotels instead of hostels, because we could in our budget. But I will find a way to let you know that I am okay. Mom and Dad I will be sending you a list of my exact locations for each night.

Monday, October 24th

Today...

Jon
10.24.05 @ 08:17 PM CST
listening to: the teacher rambling on...
feeling: Fine. Hungry. Bored.

So, just to keep you all up to date, I picked up a new client today.

She's an alpaca farmer, and an occupational therapist, and I am doing a logo for her non-therapy business.
I am thinking of doing a parody of the Cotton: The fabric of our lives logo...but with Alpacas.

The business is called "Parker's Alpacas." I am thinking of turning the P into the Alpaca's head with its neck twisted around, and the A into the Andes mountains...which is where Alpacas come from. (That's in Peru, y'all.)

Also - I am working on a Logo (and cover) for the American College of Emergency Physicians, for their first annual State of Emergency Medicine Report Card. The idea that I have is to illustrate an X-Ray film of a "First Aid" cross which is shattered like a broken bone. I'll post it in a little while. I am in class right now.

 

Halloween Party

Jocelyn
10.24.05 @ 12:09 PM CST
feeling: Cold

This weekend we had a halloween party to attend. It was at our neighbors, and the theme was "white trash/red neck". Surprise Surprise, we found our outfits in Walmart. I went as a cop, he went as the guy I arrest. He had a mullet, hunters ball cap, and wore the strip club tshirt he got at the bachelor party. I don't think he had worn in since. smile It was a great time although we didn't win the costume contest...we did put our best effort in winning and acted out an arrest. This upcoming weekend, I'll be in Philly for a wedding and Jon will be at home, alone. I'm getting back on Monday just in time for the trick or treators. I can't wait for that. smile

Sunday, October 23rd

big few weeks

Nicole
10.23.05 @ 11:36 AM CST
feeling: good

So these next few weeks are going to be big, this week is midterms (starting tomorrow with Drama), then after that I have the week of relaxation around Europe- Kevin and I will be going out and about, and when we get back we go to the International Worshop, with Pompeii that weekend, and Pompeii means that Mom and Dad will be here. And then after that I have to wrap up all my papers and pre for finals, before you all know it I will be back and it will feel like I never even left.

Saturday, October 22nd

booked

Nicole
10.22.05 @ 05:48 AM CST
feeling: yeah

I finally finished booking fall break, expect there to be charges on the visa because I am going to Paris, London and Berlin. LOL

Friday, October 21st

Christmas

Jocelyn
10.21.05 @ 11:49 AM CST

We're booked. We'll be coming in Wednesday the 21 and staying until Wednesday the 28th! Yay!

Wednesday, October 19th

questions

Bernie
10.19.05 @ 07:04 PM CST

Nicole, Does Rome have daylight savings time coming up? Is it getting darker earlier.....more important what time does it get dark in the evening? We need to make a final decision about the trip from Naples to Rome. I would like to arrive when it is still light out.

Jon & Jocelyn, have you bought tickets yet? Don is hoping to get additional days off.

 

roommates

Nicole
10.19.05 @ 03:22 AM CST
feeling: okay dokay

Trying out this whole picture thing to introduce you to mine and kevin's roommates.

Jackie, Allison, and Vicki

So I would like you to meet Jackie, Allison, and Vicki, in that order across the image.
And now...

the boys and their absenth

This is Adam, Kevin and Jason, in that order, we are missing Matt, Bryan, and Brian. There is a picture with Matt in it on Flickr, it's the shots all around picture but the Bryans are harder to come by. Anyway I hope that this worked and enjoy.

Tuesday, October 18th

no more pics

Nicole
10.18.05 @ 02:49 PM CST
feeling: boo

so I went to flickr to finish uploading the pictures of late and I have used up all my free space for this month, so that means that there will be no more new pictures until November. Sorry people. But I still love you.

 

crazy family

Nicole
10.18.05 @ 02:44 PM CST
feeling: bene

So today was interesting. I got up and I read the blog, then added my own blog. Later I added pictures to my flickr site and checked the blog, which there was already a response to my entry and new entries. Then after I posted my new pics, thanks to Allison, and a few hours later there was an email from Joc about my pics. I just have to say that this instant connection is wonderful. It is almost as good as being with you guys.

 

Wine!

Jocelyn
10.18.05 @ 02:38 PM CST

Don and Bernie, Thank you for the wine from Cross Timbers! It's such a thoughtful gift. As we drink it, we'll be thinking of the wedding and texas reception!

 

How to Post Images from Flickr...

Jon
10.18.05 @ 10:18 AM CST
listening to: LoveLine
feeling: Good. Tasty coffee.

Okay, this is a tutorial post. In it, I will cover some basic HTML stuff, and some basic image manipulation stuff, and some basic Flickr stuff. So, if you want to know how to post pictures to the 'blog and manipulate them as masterfully as I do, read on.

 

New Jackets

Nicole
10.18.05 @ 01:38 AM CST
feeling: no

KevinandNicole (22k image)
so here you go mom, this is my new leather jacket. And that is Kevin's new Italy jacket. If you think this picture is funny wait till you see the other pictures of Kevin in that jacket. LOL

Monday, October 17th

I hate...

Jon
10.17.05 @ 11:26 PM CST
listening to: Medium in the background
feeling: Fine, I guess.

I hate the word "professional."

I've said it before, I'll say it again. I hate it. It is the opposite of passionate, crazy, risky, insane, masterful, genius. It is the opposite of everything that I strive to become.

 

Bored in Programming Class...contemplating the universe

Jon
10.17.05 @ 08:46 PM CST
listening to: the teacher rambling on...
feeling: Fine.

Okay, so, I am not a programmer. I don't pretend to be. I find most of the concepts we are getting into now utterly mind-numbing.

Hang on, something fun might be about to happen...nope. Nevermind.

Of course, it could be that programming is taught absolutely ass-backwards for people who have reasonable deductive logic skills. Anyway, I am bored.

Lately I have been contemplating my place in the universe. I've long felt that I was destined to be the creative director of a powerful, forward thinking, innovative creative firm. Perhaps I am not. Lately I have been more than content to simply do my work for my clients. The problem with that is that there are not enough hours in the day to to that and get rich, without charging an arm and a leg. To do that, one would need assistants. I will need an assistant to do HTML/PHP/CSS production, and an assitant to do inDesign production. I will need an assistant to get me coffee and talk with me about my ideas, and I will need an assistant to mow my lawn. Shit. I should probably have on to do image production/retouching too, so that I can be free to take photos, and take meetings, dream stuff up, and do all the fun stuff.

 

Come on Now

Jocelyn
10.17.05 @ 08:29 PM CST
feeling: Frustrated

I've had it. It's been a string of mishaps for the last week and I'm tired of it. Last week I had a root canal. THe procedure went smoothly. It was the healing process that kicked my butt. I couldn't chew anything, I was exceeding the medication limits for Advil or drugged up on Hydrocodone. I felt dumb for having a tooth ache that made me so cranky and tired. So...Friday I was miserable and ended up sleeping from 5-7:15 and then back in bed by 10:00. Saturday morning I felt alot better. Thank goodness. This morning, another filling and the two temporary crowns were put in. Crowns that aretoo tall and I can't close my mouth all the way and yet again can not eat solid food. Here is the icing on the cake, one of the first nights I feel ok to do something at night, I go outside to mulch the flower beds and was attached by fire ants. Fire ants suck. One bite makes my foot swell for days. What I think was a slight itch from a dried leaf turns into a full blown attach. I have bites all over my right ankle, left foot and up the shins and a few bites on my lower back. I took a oatmeal bath and took some benedryl...so we all know what that means, another night, drugged up, drowsy with my feet raised up. Let's hope tomorrow night is better.

 

no class this morning

Nicole
10.17.05 @ 03:00 AM CST
feeling: duh I don't have class-I'm good

Well I am sorry to disappoint people with my lack of journaling recently, and I'll tell you why I haven't. On Mondays I have class at 8:30 in Rome, so I have to leave by 7:30 and that's just to much in the morning to squeeze in blogging and then on Fridays, if I'm going away I am leaving at 6:30 in the morning and that is way to early so there is definately not time. Then I am away which nocks out Saturday and most of Sunday, especially since I have to come back and finish homework and get to bed. So that leaves Tuesday, Wed., and Thurs and it might get boring if I just blog those three days all week so that is why I have been reduced to when the mood, or good timing hits me.

Now, why do I have time right now? Because today is our midterm review, so I only have to be on campus for 10 minutes at 11:10, instead of downtown with the vendors. So that means that I can ketch everyone up on what I've been doing.

In case you aren't interested in everything these are the main topics:
my weekend in naples (and capri),
sketchbook class (the good, the bad, and the ugly),
food (from pizza differences to trying a canolli),
and jewlry damn do prices fluxuate.
and now to here about them all . . .

Sunday, October 16th

Journaling

Bernie
10.16.05 @ 05:29 PM CST
feeling: thoughtful

Although I am not one of them, many people find journaling about their experiences therapeutic, enriching, restful, stimulating, thought-provoking....Sometimes, folks journal just for themselves while others share their thoughts and adventures with the world. Nicole, I know you don't have as much time for writing as you originally expected, but I truly enjoy hearing about your experiences.....both the ordinary and bizarre. When you get a chance, where all have you been with the drawing class? and please describe the leather coat!

Friday, October 14th

Completely Random stuff...

Jon
10.14.05 @ 07:15 PM CST
listening to: CSI in the background...
feeling: Good. Tired, but good.

Bowling: I bowled for Nancy last night. I hurt my finger in the process. It's given me a hard time pretty much all day. It's my third finger...the ring ringer. I pulled something in it when I was trying to spin my ball too aggresively. It was in warm-up too, which sucks, because I had to bowl 3 games with a busted finger. It's really hard to bowl with just your thumb and second finger.

This did mark the inagural outing of the new bowling shoes though. They are nice. Thank you, Mom and dad. It was like bowling in bedroom slippers compared to the rentals. I bowled a 131, a 112, and a 97. The scores are evidence that my finger really started kicking my butt in the middle of the second game. Actually, it went down hill fast in the end of the first...but I held it together until frame 6 of game two.

Weight Loss: Yesterday I weighed in at 304.5. Progress. Slow, but steady progress. At this rate, I could lose 100 lbs in the next 50 weeks...but I am skeptical.

I think that's it for now. I am pretty sleepy.
Nicole hasn't posted in a few days. I hope it means that she's settling into the life in Italy, and spending less time thinking about us back here. It also seems to mark the return of my posts' ability to stay at the top of the page for more than 14 minutes.
wink

 

Anniversary

Jocelyn
10.14.05 @ 09:37 AM CST
listening to: None
feeling: I hurt

In attempts not to get too mushy, our anniversary is this weekend. Not a we've been dating anniversary, or a monthly anniversary...our 1 year anniversary. Our first ever wedding anniversary. In recent years, I take a look back and am amazed at how much I can accomplish in a year or how much my life can change in a year. This year is no exception. Not only did we get married, we became home owners, I became a Realtor, Jon a self employed graphic designer with paying work! as well as the chef of the family. We've made our house our home, learned how to do home maintenance, and continue to grow and support each other through all of the changes and risks. Being married, working as a team and believing in each other is so rewarding. I'll save the rest of the mush for a sappy love note.

Wednesday, October 12th

It's been a good week...but a tough one.

Jon
10.12.05 @ 11:56 PM CST
listening to: TV in the background.
feeling: Good.

The Good: I've had a series of, what I would call, good meetings lately.
It seems that there is a place for me and my work in this market after all. Granted, it's not some of the totally progressive work that I would like to be doing, but it is work, and the clients seem very appreciative of the work I am doing.

Mostly I think these meetings are going well because I am LIGHTENING THE F#CK UP. For a while there (truthfully, my whole life) I have been taking myself WAY too seriously. It's off-putting. Noone wants to work with, hire, or otherwise sit in a meeting with a guy who takes himself too seriously.

The Bad: I am hungry all the damn time because I am trying to get my rampant eating under wraps. It's frustrating. It makes me cranky. It makes me easily frustrated with things that would not otherwise frustrate me. I didn't do my computer programming homework because I got pissed at it. It would not have, ordinarily, gotten me so angry.

The Ugly: Jocelyn and I took "before" pictures of ourselves and I had them developed this week. Good God, I am a gigantic fatass. I've lost 20 lbs since this summer, and I am still a disgusting fat bucket of guts. It's depressing, and frustrating, and it makes me cranky.

And, of course, you know what I want to do when I am depressed, frustrated, and cranky. (If you don't know me all that well, I'll give you a tip. I WANT TO EAT AN ENTIRE BOX OF TACOS WITH 64ozs of MOUNTAIN DEW AND A CHURRO. Because I EAT WHEN I AM DEPRESSED ABOUT HOW FAT I AM.)

Boy, this entry took a serious downturn, didn't it? Well, that's what you get when I get tired on top of frustrated, cranky, depressed, and hungry.

 

Flights

Bernie
10.12.05 @ 06:31 PM CST

AirTran has $89 on Jan. 4, but $141 on Dec. 28. American Airlines looks like it may also be running a special. Happy hunting.

Tuesday, October 11th

Christmas

Jocelyn
10.11.05 @ 11:31 AM CST
listening to: None
feeling: Nice

Hello ya'll,

In attempts to avoid the mishaps of last year, Jon and I have talked about Christmas plans for this year. We discussed coming up for a week staying from Wednesday to Wednesday. Christmas is on a Sunday. Does this sound good to you? Do you recomment coming in or leaving any other days?


Monday, October 10th

normal surprises ?!

Nicole
10.10.05 @ 10:48 AM CST
feeling: still lovely

So as far as non-bathroom related surprises goes.

1)We only have had trouble once with people trying to mug the group. To make a long story short. . . This guy was acting drunk and tried to knock Adam over to get the money from his front pocket, luckly it didn't work and the man went away.

2)While my roommates were walking around Florence at night they took a detour through a garden, that was well lite, and came along a man masterbating in public. They ran the other way and have since been horrified of encountering old men in public.

3)Street venders. I thought that street venders were bad in the states but no Rome tacks the cake. Now this story is more detailed but worth it. Last night kevin and I went to Trevi Fountain and we were having a romantic evening. We got some pictures taken, telling the street vender we didn't want him to take our picture for money, we found some cheap leather shoes, we saw a couple having their wedding photos done, and all the while we had to fight off venders. At one point kevin and I kissed and this guy walked over and starting pushing us with his roses until we looked at him and said no, non grazie. There are terrible. Luckly Venice has no street venders that approach you, they are much more laid back.

4)Teen clothes, this is mostly a note to mom, but when you get here you will hate what the girls wear. If you thought Americans wear their jeans low you ain't seen nothing yet. Jason said he saw one girl and you could see pubic hair her jeans were so low. And the wear underwear with them, mostly thungs that then stick out over the top, it is so gross.

5)Icecream all day! Enough said, I love this country.

6)Stores closed on Mondays, while I expected stores to be closed on Sunday, which most of them are, there are lots of store and shops that are closed on Mondays as well, other Tuesdays and the market below us closes early on Thursday. I don't know but I guess they all have different family nights, even though they almost all get together with their families on Sunday.

7)Did you know only 15% of the catholics in Italy go to church on Sunday, me neither, I've been in more churches since I've been here then some of these people over the past 5 years.

Well that's enough for now. I'll scare you all later with more tales of surprising adventures.

 

bathroom surprises

Nicole
10.10.05 @ 10:33 AM CST
feeling: lovely

So I was thinking about things that would surprise people when they are abroad, well atleast in Italy (since I haven't left the country yet). And this is my list so far:

1- don't depend on being regular- there is not a normal pooping schedule, be ready because of the unique diet there will be many days when there is nothing and some days when it seems like you can't stop

2- only other comment about poop- the bedae, there will be one in most bathrooms you go into, expect for bars or the public bathrooms (which you have to pay 1 euro to use)

3- because plumbing was added later to most of these buildings be ware of the location of water heaters, they are hung from the wall (ours is actually right over the tub in the shower with you, but we also have a furnace in our shower so . . . )

4- the last bathroom surprise is the toilet tank, it is not located directly above the toilet off the gound but instead is hanging off of the wall up and out of the way, don't ask I don't know why.

toilets are also shaped differently within the bowl portion and toilet paper is not big over here, I mean that you need to take some with you because most bars don't have any. But the water pressure is much stronger because they use gravity to help flush the toilet, it's kind of cool but gros all at the same time.

 

Congrats Greggins; And New Feature...

Jon
10.10.05 @ 09:44 AM CST
listening to: Loveline
feeling: Sleepy, but good.

Okay, first, congratulations Greg.

Secondly, I just added Nicole's Flickr badge to the sidebar of the site, and I changed mine to show random photos, instead of the latest in sequence. Nicole, if you want me to make yours random, I can do that too. If you want to look at the photos, you just click on one of them, or on our name at the bottom.

Thirdly, I got my poster from Timur on Saturday. I don't want to sound conceited, but it's a good poster, and seeing it full-sized and in living color for the first time was an impressive thing. I could have bought my own (and you can buy them too, if you'd like one) but there is something great about getting a poster tube in the mail from California.

satisfied

Sunday, October 9th

update

Greg
10.09.05 @ 09:04 PM CST
listening to: BEP
feeling: tres bien

Hey everybody! I am a senior tech, and also a temporary, likely long term assistant managerish in house dude with my own big office...we'll see how it all works out. I've only been with the company for less than three months. I kick butt in the butt! Balls. Be well all. monkey. hehe

Saturday, October 8th

photos

Bernie
10.08.05 @ 02:01 PM CST

Nicole, the photos of Venice are great. I am sorry that Dad and I are not going there. sadYou only can see so much in 11 days.

 

alive and well

Nicole
10.08.05 @ 07:08 AM CST
listening to: foo fighters
feeling: doing well

So there has been a message that states that I do not blog enough. Well I am sorry mom, I will stop running around to see the Italian country side and stay home to blog, by the by in case anyone is interested Tuscany is beautiful.
So yes I went to Tuscany, through school, for a wine tasting event and it was wonderful. We had a four course meal with two wines. If you want to know more about the food I'll tell you but you might get jealous because it was so good. We toured the family house and the barn, were some of the wine is kept to age (the large barrels were at a different locations). Kevin and I had a blast. We went with my roommate Vicki, our friend Jenny, and Kim, who is also in architecture and goes to Philly U. (but I didn't really know her before this trip). We also learned how to make pasta, the Tuscan way, which only uses one egg for 1lb of flour instead of 10, so the noodles don't expand the same way. The entire trip took all day, yesterday, and cost 30 euros (before the wine people bought as gifts and such). The best part is that the owner markets good wine for less money, she sees overpriced wine as a waste, it was only about 10 euros over the price that it costs to make the wine. It is also available in the states so that means that when I'm missing Rome I can just go buy a nicer bottle of wine from this vineyard that we visited.
I've also been keeping busy by cooking with Kevin. We made his roommates dinner the other night, yeah Sloppy Joes. Kevin and I made our own sauce and browned a huge thing of meat and just cooked up a storm. Jason is going to cook us dinner tonight to pay us back. Now I will never have to buy Manwich again.
So don't worry mom I'm fine and I'll call you later today.

Friday, October 7th

My mom, the Spaz...

Jon
10.07.05 @ 08:44 PM CST
listening to: CSI in the background...
feeling: Fine.

Hi everyone on the internet, my Mom is a spaz, as is evidenced by the above post.

Yes, Mom, I got my birthday present. Thank you very much. I haven't had a chance to use them yet.

For everyone who doesn't know, my birthday was last weekend. My parents got me bowling shoes. They are badass bowling shoes too, some of the best on the market. I like them a lot...although I haven't had a chance to break them in yet.

Mom - The system doesn't notify Nicole that you commented on her entry. If you want information badly, you would be better served to post it on the front page or e-mail Nicole directly.

 

Nicole where are you?

Bernie
10.07.05 @ 07:28 PM CST

Nicole, I know I told you not to worry so much about contacting us, but I thought you would still blog...what is up? Where are you this weekend?....Read my comments under the more you know.....How was your test on Tuesday? And Venice, you haven't told us anything about Venice!

Jon, did your birthday gift arrive? Have you finished reading the math history book?

 

Another Post About the Weather...

Jon
10.07.05 @ 11:42 AM CST
listening to: Loveline
feeling: Good

The weather right now is great.

It's one of those things where it makes me think about that apartment I had in Shepherdstown, and the nights that I fell asleep with a knit cap on, with my electric blanket, a vellux blanket, and my big comforter on top of that, listenning to Paul Reiser audiobooks on the speakers I jammed into my pillows.

I had a lot more pillows then. Where the hell did they go, anyway? I used to have like 6 pillows on my bed. Now, I have five pillows, and three of them are Jocelyn's. WTF?

Anyway. It's nice. I like this temperature and overcastness. I know there are some people who get depressed when its like this...seasonal dissafective disorder or something like that...but I love it. I can look into the sky without squinting. I can smell something other than F'ing Hot Asphalt. The dense, cold air revives me. I think it's because it carries more oxygen.

I went for a 2 mile bike ride yesterday, and it felt good; the cool air flowing up my sleeves, picking the shirt up off my back, so that when I slowed down my near frozen sweat slaps me on the back, spurring me on.

I think that temperature swings of more than 20/25° is completely unreasonable...and if I could live anywhere that would swing from 60/65° to 80/85°, that'd be awesome. Is there anywhere that does that? Is it cheap?

satisfied

 

Texas Weather

Jocelyn
10.07.05 @ 10:18 AM CST
listening to: None
feeling: Nice

We started out this week with weather in the high 90's and muggy. Yesterday it was high 60s. Today, high 60s again. It's awesome. The sun is away, it spits rain every so often, the sky is one big blanket of a cloud. I wore a long sleeve tshirt yesterday and was still cold. Today I'm in a sweater! Last night we kept all the windows open. The chilly breeze would come in the house and someone was having a fire so the nice wood burning smell wafted in. Jon mentioned he felt like we were on Deep Creek Lake. I went to bed with socks on and we we're too excited and hungry to eat so we had a midnight snack of tomato soup and ate it in bed, all cozy and gently feel asleep. This is the last of the days in the 60s and well be heading towards the 70s and 80s by the end of the weekend. I think and hope that the days of 90 degrees are over. Yay!

Wednesday, October 5th

the more I know, the more you know

Nicole
10.05.05 @ 01:13 AM CST
listening to: humming of the computer
feeling: not bad

So my teacher finally got more info on the workshop. There are two weeks that Phila U. students are elligiable to go, the first is the week of Oct. 17th(ish), which is the week before midterms, and the second is the week of Nov. 7th(ish), which is the week after fall break and the week before mom and dad come to Italy.

Kevin, Allison, and myself have opt.ed to do the week in November. But that means that we won't be able to leave for naples until after 6pm on Friday, but we will already be at the train station practically so we can catch a train by 6:30 at the latest, and we'll have all week to buy tickets.

*Mental note: Mom and Dad don't get a train that comes into Rome past 8pm because my teacher said its not a nice area to be in at night. I mean right by the train station is okay but two blocks away is not so try to come in between 6pm and 8pm so I can meet you at the station.

Anyway, some people actually decided not to participate because they have already planned, and booked, trips for the weekends after. While the one weekend is through the school and would be hard to change the ones that they planned themselves would be easy to change, especially because the website garentees a flexible policy as long as you do it far enough in advance. But it's not my problem I'm going. And it won't interfere with midterms.

Monday, October 3rd

A successful endeavor...

Jon
10.03.05 @ 03:28 PM CST
listening to: Don & Mike
feeling: Good. A little hung over.

We had a party at our house last night. It was my birthday (as you all know).

The guest list was as such:
Ed, Nancy & Keith;
Nan & Milosh;
Sylvia & Morgan (her boyToy);
& (last but not least) our buddy Clark.

So, if you count them all up, plus me an Jocelyn, that's ten people. We made Kabobs in a bunch of flavors. Beef, Chicken (with a Garlic, Honey, Oregano, and Olive Oil), Shrimp, Sausage, Potato and Sweet Potato. Yep, that's lots.

Jocie made a really killer carrot cake, which I am not allowed to eat. (Self-Imposed, mind you.) It's only surpassed in its sneaky delivery of unnecessary calories by Mom's Zuccini Bread from my childhood...because at least it has the word Cake in its name. wink

It was a successful party. Everyone had a good time. Our friends got along. And, Jocelyn thinks, that we did a good job of running the show with relatively little means, and relatively little stress.

Of course, big ups goes out ot Ed n' Nancy for showing up early and helping us out, and to Keith for coming over around noon to help...and for giving me a badass birthday present. satisfied

Sunday, October 2nd

Back to the grid iron

Nicole
10.02.05 @ 01:45 PM CST
feeling: good

So this past weekend we took our first trip, to Venice. It was beautiful. But now we are back and with a test on Tuesday and lots of homework do tomorrow I have to keep this short. But there will be alot of pictures later and then I will find more time to write. I miss you all.

M & D - I'm not going to stay up to call after 7pm your time so I will talk to you later.