Lately my cats have shown a weird tendency to group. One will be sitting up on the desk and soon after another one will follow. Or staring romantically out of windows. I don’t know if, unbeknownst to us, they have signed modeling contracts and are now practicing their picture perfect, if a bit cliché, poses. Or if they just feel the need to huddle up because of the Arctic temperatures in this apartment. We have decided to keep the inside litterbox free, but the price is having to live with the computer room balcony window open. A small price to pay most days, but on some particularly wintery days it just makes nipples everywhere stand up to attention. And don’t get me started about the whining coming from a t-shirt wearing inhabitant of this abode…

I had another nightmare two nights ago which bothered my entire day. It went something like this: I had witnessed some mafia crime and, in my efforts to save the world, I had decided to testify against the mafia. That meant that, on a daily basis, I’d have to fight off contract killers sent with the intent to kill me. Truth be told, I was kicking asses left and right, à la Buffy, but the constant worry of being killed was getting to me. I discovered I could never endure that stress, not for a night, definitely not a lifetime. Last night, however, thanks to some intense The Office watching before going to bed, I had no bad dreams. I can’t remember dreaming at all, so that’s a plus.

We had to take Stevie to the vet to get unknotted. We thought he’d shave Stevie, but he decided to go a different route: the vigorous brushing. There seems to be less of Stevie than there ever was. They removed so many knots, along with fur. And now we’re left with the task of brushing him daily. He was fine with it day 1, which made me all proud and warm inside. We’re on day 3 and I will have to submit photographic evidence of how opposed to it he is now. Not even the bribing with treats or the one hand brushing/one hand petting seem to appease him. (and it doesn’t even look as bad as it is. I blame Ben and the camera.)

Ben has made some awesome fettuccine al ragù which is the perfect excuse to end this post.

And it wasn’t pretty. I don’t know why, but I have been having the most horrible dreams ever since I moved back. I get to bed, roll around a bit and finally collapse happily into a deep slumber, only to be greeted by very awful dreams. They’re not nightmares per se, but more of a hate fest towards myself. It’s like I’m my worst enemy and the sole participant in a very powerful Carla smear campaign. I think only Britney Spears can truly understand what I mean. And when the only person you can seem to relate to is Britney Spears, you know you’re in some deep doo doo. Maybe it’s all because of my positive outlook in life. I can’t seem to fool the subconscious. It’s sad, because my attitude has really changed, but it does me little good when I spend my nights spitting at myself.

We have sent the in-laws on a tour of Italy and have been enjoying going back to our routine of scratching our butts and doing nothing constructive. Whew! For a second there I thought we might actually learn something or get involved into experiencing some culture. Close call! I lie, though. I have started learning French (Est-ce que la voiture est jaune? Non, la voiture est bleue). I can understand French quite well, but I am horrific at second guessing myself and I don’t think I have even the slightest idea on how to write it. Rosetta Stone supposedly is the best way to learn a language, but I do ask myself how many occasions there will be to point at the garcon sous l’avion. I have also started up knitting more efficiently. Unfortunately, my neck pains make it a bit difficult. And now we’re about to head to bed and watch something. I am just looking forward to the crisp new sheets (not so crispy now I have a dryer!).

*insert yelps of pleasure*

This is the second time in 3 days in which I’ve been left home alone. The first time I only got 3 hours and proceeded to spend 2 of them sleeping. Somehow excitement always translates into the best naps of my life. Or maybe the building up to the possibility of being home alone, led me to an adrenaline rush and consequent crash. Either way, I’m not going to let anything like that happen today.

The in-laws have been raving about Rome. They love the sights, they love the food, they love the apartment and how clean we are. Methinks someone has been sniffing glue. I’ll take all this love, though. I’m actually enjoying them, except for the constant Courtney praising we’re subjected to (I am particularly vulnerable to that, since I find it so ridiculously annoying) and the constant worry of not being entertaining enough (that’s my fault entirely, since they seem to be pretty content taking it easy). We went to Spaziani in Riano and it was excellent. Angela took us there (and beyond) and was awesome all throughout the evening. Today we’re headed to my mom’s ultra early and spending Xmas eve there. I haven’t bought any gifts and this doesn’t feel much like Xmas, but I still can’t wait to go over and spend time with her (let the xmas knitting commence!). We did buy ourselves an anniversary long weekend in Paris, so we’re not completely empty handed. Pas de tout, in fact. I cannot cannot cannot wait to go. I just hope to have a job by then, so we can actually afford all the delicious French food. Tarte aux framboises, here I come!

I cannot wait for this seasonal crap to be over, so people can go back to being introverted in their homes and I can roam the streets freely, going from knit group to knit group. I am making new friends thanks to the knitting (a life saver in so many ways) and I couldn’t be happier. I just have to spend more time knitting and less time thinking of knitting. I finally finished the second round of the hat test pattern and am about to start testing the lobster pattern any minute now. Whee!

I better get out of this chair and onto enjoying my time alone. Many adventures await and some of them don’t require pants!

When I moved over to the US, my past life, my mom came with me for the trip over. We were carrying my many many suitcases and my psycho cat Kokko. Every time we passed a security check at the airport, I’d have to take out the cat (which had, by then, woken up from its tranquilizers) and put the carrier in the x-ray machine. Taken by the whole procedure, I’d leave my mom to dwell with English speaking security guards that, without fail, would ask her if she had a laptop in her carry-on. My mom, without fail, would answer yes. And that is when I found out that my mom, when unsure about what people are telling her, will always answer yes, with a big smile and a vigorous nod of the head. This is especially funny when you consider the type of questionnaire you have to fill out on the plane, with questions that range from "Are you a habitual drunkard?" to "Are you a terrorist?". I don’t know why I thought of this, but it makes me laugh so much.

It’s 2pm and in 3 and a half hours I have to go to the hospital, then come back and go to bed (not only do Ben’s parents arrive tomorrow *panic stricken face*, but they land at 7.25am *grief stricken face*). I should clean, I should make this apartment shine and make them eat dirt (or not!) for all the grief they’ve given us throughout the years for being messy. As it happens, I just want to go fantasize about that, in bed, right before taking a long, toasty nap. There’s obviously a conflict of interest. Between my interests and something that doesn’t interest me at all: cleaning. This morning I took care of my new scooter which is already failing me. Yesterday I was supposed to bring some documents to my accountant (penniless I may be, but I need an accountant… I’m that cool!) - the city is claiming I owe them money in back taxes. Fools! - but when I went to turn the beast on, it didn’t make a peep. My battery was so drained even the clock wasn’t working. Fortunately it’s still under warranty, so they sent a dude with a tow truck that got my entire tiny street backed up. He juiced up my battery and sent me on my merry way to the repair shop. Turns out there is a problem (double duh!) and I hope they fix it soon, because I need my scooter. I had to hike back home from the repair shop, which wasn’t too traumatic. And then I took the car out and went to the accountant, leaving Ben double parked. He can’t speak Italian and he can’t drive. I don’t know what I was thinking. Yesterday I saw Fabrizia’s puppies and oh. So delicious. I really need to go clean. I can’t delay this any longer.

We’re in clear and present danger and we still haven’t cleaned the bathroom! The inlaws are arriving tomorrow and I don’t know who is more shocked at the idea. Considering Ben has retreated to 14 hour sleep-ins, I’ll award him the medal. In fact, I am quite amused. I cannot wait to find out what they will think of Rome. How they will cope with its striking beauty and horrifying ugliness, with the smell of pee and roasting chestnuts. I can’t get enough of it, but I know Waynesville, Ohio and I know how different it is from here. They’re staying three (3) weeks (I still see the horror in Ben’s eyes every time he says that) and we’re hoping to send them on many mini-vacations during that time. I can’t help being amused, it’s almost silly. My mom and I keep wondering what will happen (she’s in a hospital, we have a very limited amount of fun resources).

And so the excitement goes on. And on. Today’s excitement is all about the cleaning. LOTS of excitement awaits.

I feel a bit out of sorts today. Lately, really. I find it more and more difficult to relate to my friends. Angela, for one. I guess four and a half years are a LONG time even for us. I’ve just grown more introverted as the Ohio time went by and now I just don’t feel like opening up. Especially not to some people. And it really gets my rusty brain cranky, but I can’t seem to make the first step. Maybe the answer is, as always, to lube it up.

I think I am getting used to this weather. The shift from driving to swimming is not as traumatic as it was the first time. I had another interview and I think I just suck at the entire process. I manage to flip around the interview and ask them more questions than they asked me. That would make me the perfect defense lawyer, but it doesn’t really help my unemployed butt.

I got my package of yarn from Germany and if it were up to me, I’d be ordering 15 more skeins of this cotton wonder. Why oh why must it be so soft and cheap?

Today a bus driver (public bus) asked me for directions and my heart broke. It was possibly the most romantic thing to happen all year. Unfortunately, I might have misguided him because my sense of direction has to get used to Rome again. I got lost in the center last night, in the rain, for 30 minutes and could not find my way out. I did pass the Pantheon (3 times) and cheer myself up a little.

And now I have vertigo and I feel like curling up into a ball. Except that would probably feel worse. I hope Ben finds those pills. Pretty please!

First of all, let me share with you a secret: I’m a late morning sleeper (and a hard sleeper at that). And yet, the past week, at the mere buzz of the intercom, I’ve catapulted myself out of bed and "run" to the door. I’ve let in anyone who has buzzed, but not the person I most wanted to let in: the postman. This morning had a different feel to it. I even ran to the door and answered, only to find out from my bedmate that no one had rung. And then it came, buzz and then buzz buzz. A friendly voice from afar, telling me there is a package for me and to run downstairs. I got dressed at record speed and ran, unwashed face and crazy hair, downstairs. I did a little dance and held back a little yelp. There it was!!
And now I share this beautiful package from Portugal with all of you.
Let me point out that, in my haste and frenzy, I still took time to appreciate Portugal’s beautiful stamps:

And then after ripping out the industrial strength scotch-tape, here is what greeted my eye:

I will admit that for a minute yarn was not on my mind. At all. I ruffled through the pink paper and found candy. I love candy!

And then I dove in and pulled out the following yarn. Let me just say that yarn wrapped in a bow is the equivalent of George Clooney wrapped in a bow for my non-knitting part of the brain: it rocks.
This skein is a beautiful strawberry pink and I think it will make a kicking hat.

This is the softest yarn I have ever felt and I am still not sure what will be of it. Whatever it is, it will be a pleasure to wear.

And last, but definitely not least, let’s talk about Paula’s mind-reading abilities. I have been knitting and crocheting flowers as Xmas presents with some Noro yarn that quickly ran out. What does she present me with if not basically the awesomer (I am making up words like a pro today) and way less scratchy equivalent?

Thank you so much for making jumping out of bed so early so much fun, Paula. I cannot wait for the next swap!!

Despite being an unemployed bum who sleeps until noon and has no use in society, I sure feel tired. I have been driving (or stuck in traffic, since this is Rome) alot. I have also been carrying stuff alot. In an attempt to make my mom’s hospital stay more entertaining, I have improvised myself something of a fun mobile unit. What with the tv and yarn and freshly dried clothes and headphones and CDs. Some things are more successful than others (somehow having 3 cats means whatever I wash is clean and matted in soft furry hair. Cat hair is a no no if you breathe through a hole in your throat). In 8 days they will remove the tracheal tube and see if she can eat by herself. Once she accomplishes that, she can wash her own clothes! (Ha!) I’ve been in a really good mood (- the traffic induced nervous breakdowns). Positive thinking is hard to shake when you get it going. + tomorrow I am going to visit Fabrizia and her 9 puppies. That is bound to be another happy rush, another puff from the cheerio joint.

Tomorrow my mom goes to the hospital and she’s getting her surgery on Tuesday. We spent a really pleasant afternoon, packing her up and chatting. It was a surreal afternoon, as if she’s about to go to a beauty farm and we’re all excited for her. Her mood is chipper and resolute and it gives me so much confidence that all will be well.

I drove her car back to our place and I was so nervous I was sweating. Methinks someone has transposed all the stress onto the driving. I have an interview @ 12.40 tomorrow and then off to the hospital we go. I have so many thoughts twirling through my demented brain that they bounce into each other and explode, leaving me a confused mess. I cannot thank the universe enough for having Ben. Although, the universe has thrown enough crap this way, that Ben is my reparation. In spades. My mom told me she’s tired and that she wants to have fun now. I could not second her motion more. All this waiting on crap has left us both tired and drained and it’s only fair that we should get to have some fun. My dream was always for both of us to die simultaneously, at age 110+, in a Bacchanalian feast. And I intend to start working towards it! No more of this cancer crap and more of this feasting stuff. I’ll bring the wine.