Help with Jane

Went to dinner tonight and she left a message on my home phone...I am terrified she will barge in the house. Help me with suggestions.

This makes me laugh each time...

If Travis was more internet savvy - he could do crap like this...really

Star Wars Kid

Click on me and enjoy the examples of social darwinism.

OK - more good posts.

This is Travis' favorite...Abby thinks its great also.

#1 Video Clip of all time

If you've seen this, count yourself lucky. If you haven't be prepared for my all time video clip. I finally found it online again. You must have the volume up.

I made it through discussion today, thanks for the condolences. I throw some more of my pity party next week I'm sure.

How are you guys riding up here, together, separate? Email me if you need directions so I don't post my exact address on a blog for everyone to see surfing the web. You know the number. Say we meet at my house at 5:30-6? Or at Berry (where I figured we'd play tennis)? You guys let me know that. I heard you were leaving earlier than 5. If you want to meet earlier than 5:30-6 I can do that too. Just figuring it'd be about the time you get here anyway (with traffic and with my good time estimations if you remember from Italy). I would suggest leaving Katie's by 3:30 which barring really bad traffic should get you here by 5ish or afterwards. If you want much past that- then it'll be closer to 2 hours with traffic.

Enjoy the video and feel free to watch it again and again ;)

katie is losing her mind and MEP is not far behind

I have included some recent photos of the family including new tyler - apparently he looks like his dad...not sure if that is good and of course some pictures of abby...

I know that I do not post as much as other people, but the historical topics and the scary pictures are well...scary. No really the blog is great - a great way to vent if you need to or to share the strange and inane things we are currently enduring...kudos to katie and mep for the resurrection of the blog.„

I have another interview tomorrow...the guy nearly talked my head off...anyhow I am not even acting like i want this one...because we all know that i am the real circus freak whose trick it is to show up for the interview, do my dog and pony show and then poof! disappear like it never happened...really I am very neutral about all this shit anymore.

As for katie's new boss...hey I work for a shop teacher...although the circus is more glamourous I work for someone who used to get paid by the government to teach people how to not get their limbs cut off at school...its a wonder we don't have shop anymore in our ever changing global society.…

what's the deal for Friday? Should I plan on bringing some food items - I would like for us to cook, drink, etc. at the casa pethel and not have to run all over...let me know what you all want to do.O

oh and travis is out of town...which means I have a lot of free time...of course he left me some of his grad school stuff to help out with since he is 24/7 BB right now...he is so sweet to make sure I stay busy.

I have to run up to the school and retrieve my crap before they wax the floors again and I can't walk through the building.

peace out.­­­ =peace out

hello...

Hey kids, make sure you check out the latest links. I think I've written so many posts, that you guys aren't even going to scroll down that far. And yes, I'm blowing up the blog! I think I need sleep now and to step away from the computer! You'd think I'd be tired of it having sat at one for 9 hours already!!!
Enjoy

theory

I just wanted to give you the list of theories and subtheories I've been writing down that I'll need to talk about tomorrow:

border thinking
colonial difference
double critique
subalternization
other thinking
post-coloniality v. post-colonialism
internal colonialism
countermodernity
countercolonial
gelatorian inflationary response
geohistorical location
creolization
subjugated knowledge
occidentalist metanarative
gnosis knowledge including doxa and episteme

That's all I have for now. But I did find Katie's last posting interesting, it's just like you said it was with Tom huh? Not that I didn't believe you. I'm looking forward to you guys coming, bring anything you want, you know I mostly have condiments to serve. Just kidding, I'm going to take my ass to the ghetto pig (the piggly wiggly grocery store in the housing projects that I like to go to). I'm also nursing a wasp wound, damn thing came right at me. PS- Did any of you catch the term gelatorian inflationary response in my list. It is one I innocently added to see if you're paying attention. It means a extreme increase in you desire to buy gelato. I think we all suffer. Alright- peace out.

the latest link...

...is hilarious, katie! i laughed out loud! you've been blowing up the blog! where's mary ellen and heather? just to let yall know... i am really feeling like an old woman. i've had to do workouts with the cheerleaders every morning this week for 2 hours. needless to say, the only exercise i've done all summer was walking around italy, which is nothing compared to what i've been doing in 2 mornings! i am as sore as one person can get! it's the type of soreness that causes sitting down on the toilet to be excruciating! climbing stairs isn't a bed of roses either! hopefully i will get over it by friday's big tennis open!
do we need to make plans or are we just going to see where the wind takes us? i am going to bring some stuff to make monkey bread (my favorite) either as a late night snack or breakfast! yipeee!

Tom and Katie...and Rob Thomas ????

Good Stuff Folks!!!
(check this email below!!!)
>A friend of mine just got back from LA and heard this scoop about Tom
>& Katie from someone who works at Universal. The source said that they
>(Tom & Katie) have a 5-year contract and he's paying her $8 million.
>The engagement happened so fast because Rob Thomas' (Matchbox 20) wife
>caught Rob and and Tom in bed together and they rushed the engagement
>so that it would overshadow that scandal. Obv., take it with a grain
>of salt.
>
>Read below. This was just published.
>
>Independent Sources
>
>Bureaucrats?Independent Sources Confirms Existence of Tom Cruise/Rob
>Thomas Rumor Independent Sources announced today that it has uncovered
>a new, previously undiscovered Tom Cruise rumor:
>
>Tom Cruise and Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas are lovers!
>
>Independent Sources has hesitated writing about Tom Cruise/Katie
>Holmes for many reasons. First, there are other things going on in the
>world that, believe it or not, rank higher on the importance scale.
>Second, pretty much everything that can be said is being said.
>
>However, someone (I'll call her Mistress of the Hollywood Rumor) just
>walked into Insider's office with the following dish that I feel
>compelled to pass on. I did a quick check of Technorati and it wasn't
>there. So even if it is not true, it is at least original.
>
>No doubt that anyone with an Internet connection has read about Tom
>Cruise being gay. According to rumor lore, he has had a long-time
>boyfriend in Chicago who is an Asian pilot for American Airlines. This
>is an accusation that Cruise and more importantly Cruise's many
>attorneys vehemently deny.
>
>There have been many stories that supposedly corroborate his sexuality
>but never a smoking gun. Rumor mongers attribute this to the fact that
>Cruise goes to great lengths to cover his tracks. We are told that
>everyone around him signs extensive confidentiality contracts with
>enormous penalties for indiscretion. (Exhibit A: the 8-page
>confidentiality contract Cruise's housekeeper was forced to sign).
>
>Such stories have been around for years and Cruise has evidently
>attempted to counter them with a series of high-profile
>heteronormative relationships. First, Nicole Kidman, then Penelope
>Cruz, and most recently Katie Holmes. In each instance, the
>"relationship" is actually a contract that gives the women a boost to
>their careers, a lot of money, and an elegant lifestyle.
>
>Here is where this particular rumor gets interesting. Not long ago,
>Marisol, the wife of Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas (who has had to
>contend with his own rumors of bi-sexuality) found her husband in bed
>with Tom Cruise causing Cruise's people to shift into high gear.
>
>First, Mrs. Rob Thomas was bought off for an undetermined sum. Second,
>Cruise and his handlers set out to immediately find Cruise a
>girlfriend. Second-tier actresses were targeted. A list was drawn up
>with Jessica Alba (#1 pick) and three other girls who fell out for
>various reasons. Originally targeted (#3 I think) but later rejected
>as "undesirable" was rumor queen Lindsay Lohan. Way down at #5 on the
>list was Katie Holmes, but that was the one with whom they were able
>to strike a deal.
>
>Once the contact was signed, photo ops were set up, leaks were made to
>the right places, and we've had celebrity relationship on steroids
>ever since.
>
>One thing I will credit this rumor for is how it nicely explains Tom's
>behavior this past few months-including the couch jumping episode on
>Oprah. Cruise simply didn't have time for the Holmes rumors to
>circulate at its normal speed and he couldn't allow it to be second
>page news while the tabloids focused on Brad, Jennifer and Angelina.
>No, this relationship had to immediately become the "it" topic.
>
>Well, that's how we hear it.
>
>[A reminder to those of you reading this who have trouble
>differentiating truth from unsubstantiated rumor: at this point this
>is all conjecture. All we are doing is confirming the existence of a
>rumor that the Mistress tells us is all over Hollywood.] We should
>also add that this story is a bit of a departure for us. If you are
>interested in keeping up to date on it and other celebrity gossip, we
>suggest Defamer.
www.defamer.com

Yet Another Early Morning Post..ps where are you guys?

For some reason I chose to have curly hair again today. That translates to - I have ample time to screw around on-line. This morning is like every other curly hair morning, I search for random crap. I was successful. I have added two more links to the page. Scroll down and you'll see them...Google News, Free Katie, and the two latest ones: a link to the new Harry Potter Goblet of Fire home page and You Can't Make It Up. The latter is another blog I came across that's just too funny NOT to include. I have a feeling that this girl could provide endless hours of fun. Click on the link and scroll down until you get to the Tom Cruise section. She has a new take on the transcripts from Friday's Today Show interview. Am I the only one obsessed with this? The guy has to be the biggest moron to ever walk the planet. And should we even discuss Scientology? But I digress. The Harry Potter link is great as you can check out the first trailer to be released. I'm 29 going on 12. At least I feel young, right?

So, there's something I completely forgot to tell you all about my new manager. I hope you're all sitting for this one...and will try to control yourselves....my new manager used to be in THE FREAKING CIRCUS! Do I make this crap up? Oh no...this guy used to be a juggler, walk the high wire...oh good GOD this is who I am working for? He's freaking carny folk! Shoot me, shoot me now. No wonder I feel like I'm the smartest one in the room at times. What am I going to do? I cannot continue to do this day in and day out. I wish I had the transcripts from our sales meeting yesterday. You would all be absolutely dumbfounded. I'll try to give you a brief synopsis...

"The perception on the floor is that you guys are never out there...at happy hours...."
"Make me look good!!!!!"
"Sell the frickin station!"
"Sell the frickin station!"
"Make me look good!!!!!!"
"I know you guys have kids and other lives outside of the office, but I don't, so I'll be representing our team at happy hours."
"You guys need to make an effort to be at happy hours."

I am not making this shit up. We were reprimanded for NOT going to happy hours. Since when did being an alcoholic become a pre-requisite for this job? I never had this problem at HRP, why should it be a problem now? I'm paid for the work I do, not the face time I put in at happy hours. Hey, if they want to pay me for that, then maybe I'll reconsider, but at this time, they don't...so I won't. If anyone wasn't sure about the hell that I work in, I hope this post clears it up for you.

links

Good morning everyone. I've just spent the last 30 minutes working on adding a link section to our blog. I was finally successful! I only added two links, but if you have a permanent one to add, email it to me and I'll figure out how to get it on there.

Enjoy ladies!
Have a great Monday.
k

just a few photos from our trip:

slipping down the stairs..it's the new trip.

I never said I was graceful, but I've kicked up the tripping to an all new level. I slipped tonight in my ever so graceful attempt to walk down the stairs. I probably slid down 2-3 stairs. In my slickness, I managed to wrench my shoulder (I was grabbing onto the railing for dear life.) I am the king. Tripping? That's nothing!
Just picture me, in my clean socks, sliding down the stairs. Okay, I'm laughing as I'm writing this. Of course when it happened, I was freaked out because I just saw myself busting all the way down the stairs and hitting my head or something a little more morbid. But now that I'm at the computer relaxing, just picturing me sliding down the stairs is actually quite funny. I hope I have cheered up everyone on this gloomy Sunday.

Ps.I am so joining the gelato club. And again, broken collarbone? Must have been a very excruciating birth! Poor girl. Good night ladies.

rainy sunday

it couldn't have been a more misrable, dreary day...i hate mist...i wish it would either rain or clear up - what good comes from mist? ok, sorry mary ellen...had to complain a little bit! so, in order to cheer up my poopy mood, i went to get gelato for the first time since back home! it was great! i had donatello...mmm,mmm, good! i am now a member of the la scoop club and after 10 gelatos, i get the next one free! yipee! maybe tomorrow will be prettier! only a couple of days till friday.

katie - i found a funny picture that i am going to cut out of a magazine and bring to you so that you can put it on your desk and hopefully it will make you laugh every time you look at it!

heather - how's the baby? broken collarbone? ouch!

windy city

All is well here, yesterday we pretty much drank our way through the city. Had a martini at the top of Sears. We went to the art institute, it was nice, Ann got too close to something and the alarm went off. We went out last night with McQueen and company. Today is Sally's birthday, we're going down to 'taste of chicago' today. You should check it out on the web, it's a big deal. Chicago is a really nice city, I forgot how much I liked it. Downtown is beautiful, unlike Atlanta, and public transportation actually takes you places you want to go. Gotta run.

Word up

The trip to the windy city begins in like.. oh 4 hours. But since the blog is on fire, I feel compelled to post. It was a nice night- hung with Katie, and hung with my Snellville/Lawerenceville girls. I am still reeling from the swordfish on the wall. Very good to see you both. I was telling Katie tonight, it's always a test to hang out with people that you spent a very specific time with (like people you met in a bubble- an Italian bubble for that matter) once back in the everyday real world. It's like making sure you can be friends with people in normal circumstances, with you as you- and them as them. So Heather, you are already a regular, but Leigh Ann, it's good to know that the friendship is not just limited to Italia. Besides after next weekend, we'll all have some tennis stories to tell. I plan to have a ball in Chicago, and then I'll be off to Nashiville to see the new babe. Krissie delivered a healthy baby girl at 8:30 eastern time tonight. I hate I wasn't there but I'll see them all next week. I know she (Reagan) is beautiful, her mom and dad are both precious. But I'll be home in time to discuss a few books and then see you guys in Rome on Friday. Katie said she gets off work at 1. What do you say you guys shoot to be in Rome by 6? We can either play tennis then eat or vice versa. I have tennis courts about 200 yards from my house. PS we are playing buzz (the game), better get your math skils on, can you handle it? Sweet dreams.

coke zero?

ok, so this is a fabulous new phenomenon! it tastes like coke but has zero calories! gotta love that! i have heard no advertisement for it, but my dad walked in with one the other day! try it! it's great!

weird....

Okay, I was suffering from a bit of dyslexia and typed in the link above.
click on it...
does anyone else find this remotely funny??

job search

Apparently even though everything the guy told me said he would want me for the job...I did not get it - he was very nice and left a msg. on the answering machine...I wish I could just go sit out back and smoke and drink until I passed out...but of course I can't...too much to do around here...and really just feeling low. Thanks for asking about my interview...it just isn't my turn yet...but God I wish it were.

Free time

Ok, warning, this is only if you have some free time and about 30 minutes to spare. Click on the linked title to take an i.q. test. It has like 60 questions. Like I said I warned you. But I'm a sucker. I'm always waiting to get my results and for them to say, "You are the smartest person we've ever tested." Kidding. So if you do take it, just to compare, it said I was a linguistic architect. No clue what that means, except I think it means I'm better at words than numbers. I've finished reading for the day, yeah it's like 11 p.m., but Miller Lite tells me I should call it quits. Hope you guys have a hell of a day. PS- I dreamt like night I kicked some ass on the tennis courts, I even had go-go gadget capabilities, watch out kids.

feeling better..

yes miss leigh ann i am feeling much better. however, my voice has not yet fully returned. i sound like i should be working for one of those late night phone chat lines (if you know what i mean). It's very, very deep and raspy right now. I'm hoping it comes back soon because I can't sing Kelly Clarkson!!! It's killing me!

and gelato heather? you suck! i had sorbet today. and all the while i was eating it, i was itching for some stracciatella!
however, i did have the following to eat today:
blue pointe: shrimp potstickers, super crunchee, and sea bass with sticky rice and tons of soy sauce....sorbet.
snack- bite of ice cream cake.
dinner at lobster bar: wedge salad with bacon and blue cheese, lobster - steamed and cracked...oh my god!!!!

hope you're all jealous! ha ha. (totally kidding!)
love you girls!
katie

Gelato

Yeah - that's right...little old Lily White Gwinnett County has GELATO! They even import those little spoons and cups so you feel like you are there...what's better...its in a Chevron gas station strip mall...but really the strachiatella is great, the nutella is called donatella and I love the lemoncello...I will bring of their gelato cakes to our reunion...

As for the rodeo...no thanks...can't do it.

Spent all day at the doctor with my grandmother...she doesn't know who she is so taking her to the doctor is particually scary for her. Anyhow I came home and took a nap after nearly 6 hours getting her squared away.

Did I mention my brother is being a pain in the ass?

On that note...I am off for some gelato.

reading day

I read myself right into a serious nap this afternoon. A person can only take so many times of rereading the same paragraph before hitting the snooze button. I won't be around for the rodeo, but I will admit Luke Perry is hot, he was always my favorite on 90210 (and yes, I cried when his wife was shot on the show). Speaking of admitting, I did something else today I've never done. I turned on the t.v. while eating lunch, and 30 minutes later I realized that I was really getting into the Bold and the Beautiful. I ended up watching the whole thing. I've always been anti-soap shows (except when I watched Guiding Light with my grandmother back in the day), but what if I have the urge to tune in tomorrow? Heather, hope you get the job, glad you figured the blog out after a year ;) So are we on for weekend after next? And where?

rodeo?

do you think you can hang on for 8 seconds? ok, so i just found out the rodeo is in town at the gwinnett county fair grounds (heather's favorite place on earth)....little known fact about me - i love the rodeo! we grew up with cows and horses and i think it is so much fun! such a redneck sport. it is here on friday and saturday night...i was thinking about going friday night! if anyone wants to go...let me know! i am sure all of lawrenceville's finest will be there!

ps - 8 seconds is my all-time favorite movie - if you haven't seen it, you should! if you need to borrow it, i have it on vhs and dvd! luke perry is hot! :)

Cool Shades

Check these out...I think that they are me.

Sad to admit - but I just figured out our blog

See...I am dumb...but I just figured out how to read the blog - in date order, etc. I have been just clicking around, etc...anyhow my screen does not show the posts unless you scroll down...so I am a dummy.

Leigh Ann said something about July 1 - is that for sure? Where? What time? Sleep over?

Just let me know...plus my bank account will have recovered from Italy, etc. by then so I won't be worried about the dinaro.

I think that we should all sign up for Italian lessons at Emory in the Fall...just an idea.

I heard that Jonathan emailed something - has anyone heard from Ronathon.

I also heard that Brother Rob is headed to Greece to work with gypsies? What a good fit for him and somewhere else cool to visit...

Take care -
Your dumb friend
Heather

the last of the pictures...

http://www.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=23791632/t_=4179555

you can either click above on the dots, or right here on the link to view the entire group of photos from the trip. cannot believe i finally have them all on line. and to think, there are only 156 photos! Leigh Ann, I think I'm rivaling you.

Good night ladies.

ps

Heather, how did your interview go???????

oh some tennis

okay, tennis is on! leigh ann, we're so gonna kick their arses! i'll be back taking some lessons within the next two weeks so kids, watch out. AND yesterday, i watched some insanely good tennis matches. a bunch of 16 year olds were killing the ball. hitting harder, faster, and with more consistency and aim than i have ever hit, or will hit in my life!

so, i have a goal now. that means, watch out ladies! it's so over. ; )

hope everyone is having a great day. i just finished helping plant two rose bushes, sweeping the deck, and watering plants. now i'm off to work on wedding stuff. hope everyone likes bermuda. = )

bye bye kids!
katie.

tennis anyone?

hey, don't forget we are suppose to have a match up! i am looking forward to it! i need to get to practicing if i am going to play with you pros! happy sunday!

leigh ann is our latest member

Just received confirmation that Leigh Ann is on board as a blogging kid.
Welcome to our little online chatfest.

I hope you had a wonderful time on your cruise and that your MTG skills were in tip top shape!

Can't wait to hear all about it...and we're all waiting patiently to see your pictures from Italy!

Welcome aboard!
katie

the doctor

Well, I thought I could make it through at least a half day of work before succumbing to whatever it is I have, but I was mistaken. By 930a I was dead to the world. So, yes Mary Ellen, I went to the doctor. Guess what? They don't know what I have! Oh joy. Actually, all he could tell me was that I have some sort of viral infection which means, antibiotics won't work. So, for some strange reason, he proceeded to give 2 prescriptions for antibiotics. Here's the kicker, these things are HORSE PILLS. Heather, please refresh everyone's memory as to my inability to swallow pills. Ugh, not fun. But at least I'm at home getting ready to lay down for the rest of the day. Hey, the doc said to rest.

Ps. When I went into my new manager's office to tell him I had to go to the doctor BECAUSE I was sick, he looked at me and asked.."Are you sick?" Then proceeded to ask me if I get sick often. He went even further by making me feel guilty about leaving for the day. But the icing on the cake came when he told me to call the Help Desk in New York to get full access to the systems from HOME! Are you kidding me? If I'm sick...I'm sick...I am not doing your god foresaken work. Oh boy, I work for Idiots On Parade!

k.

IT WORKED!

What a tricky way to join up, using my Floyd account. Worked like a charm. Go to the Doctor Katie.

***The Top 10 Ways To Be Happy***

So I just went through some other blogs and happened to come across this one. Thought it was fitting - at least for me...

***The Top 10 Ways To Be Happy***
Happiness is a choice. Make the choice to be happy, and while you will face challenging times, you WILL be happier.


1. Be grateful.
This is vital to happiness - be happy with what you've got - not what you want. Appreciate what you have. Case in point - stop obsessing about wanting thinner thighs and be grateful you can walk!


2. Be with positve happy people.
Negativity, complaining, and self pity are draining and contagious. Surround yourself with positve energy, that's contagious, too!


3. Limit negative input.
In addition to the people you surround yourself with, the media can have a huge impact on your happiness level. Stay well informed, but watching news reports over and over again about things you can do nothing about will drain and depress you.


4. Exercise.
I know I know - just what you need, one more person telling you to exercise, you know why? It works!! Research shows that exercise raises seratonin levels in the brain, and it DOES make you feel better. So, find something you like to do and move!


5. Do something for someone else.
Giving of yourself is one of the best highs you can get. When you're doing something that has no gain for you other than the feeling of giving is wonderful.


6. Realize you are in control of your life.
Stop giving away the power in your life, realize that you are the boss of your life. Take responsibility for your own happiness, don't wait for someone else to make you happy, own your life.


7. Spend time outside.
I walk every morning at about 6:30. The half hour I spend outside is invigorating, renewing and helps calm me. If you have any tendancy toward Seasonal Affective Disorder, spending time in the light can help raise your mood. Also, there's nothing like hearing birds, smelling the earth and taking a deep breath to center you.


8. Take time to do things you love.
Are the watercolors you always loved gathering dust in the closet? Do you find time to read all the work related items you have but can't remember the last book you read for fun? Make sure you take time every day to nourish yourself.


9. Smile.
Sounds simple, but try this - today when you go out, smile at everyone you see, you'll be surprised what comes back to you.


10. Believe in something bigger than you.
Having some spiritual faith is enriching and reassuring. When you believe in a spiritual force in life it helps get you through the challenging times and be grateful for the happy times. Whether you pray to God, Universe, Spirit, the Earth,whatever feels best to you, find something to look to for support and peace.

italy.

Need I say more. First off, I don't think we could talk about the trip enough. Secondly, I think Ashley is tired of hearing about it. Oh well. Too bad for him.

I have another album to send you guys...this time it's just us in pictures. Thought I would make it a little more personal.

I can't wait for us all to get together again. I'll make the pasta! Or we really could try a nice pizza margherita. OH! I had one the other night! I had to order it. Of course it was not true Italian style, but it was close. Man, speaking of, I'm hungry.

Alright ladies - gotta run. Can't keep boring you guys with the same emails.

much love-
k.

Katie's pictures

You can either click on the title (which is linked) or if that doesn't work, cut and paste the following into your web browser. Katie thanks for all you hours of hard work, the pictures are awesome.

http://www.snapfish.com/share/p=59101118455418322/l=50564853/cobrandOid=1000111/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

rainy saturday

Leigh Ann you're not driving us/me crazy, I just didn't have much time to email yesterday. I was too busy moving out of my room. My friend Lena thinks I'm not sad enough, I am a little, but I bet it won't hit me until the year begins and I don't have all my teacher friends to hang out with.

We wouldn't dream of having a picture party without you. Heather's planning on Italian Job surround sound, we'll be part of our own Italia action movie. Heather, did you do an online album on Snapfish or Shutterfly or something like that? If so, send me the link I was to get a copy of the Shriner picture in front of the Pantheon for proof.

I can't believe you were forced to eat non-Italian pizza so soon. Greasy American pizza is something that you have to ease yourself back into, or else the dissatisfaction is too overwhelming. I am sorry you had to learn that the hard way. PS- Thin crust dominoes you can still fold and eat, doesn't taste the same but it's a small redemption.

Have fun on your trip (I mean your family's and you own graceful nature). Maybe the hotel will have some internet. Then again, you'll be tanning I suppose. Drink lots for me, ok.. drink at least something for me. Ok ok, one glass of wine, you can handle that right?

Alright, a rainy Saturday. I just checked the extended forecast and it's supposed to rain all week. I want my sunny Italia (is that a bitch, moan, or whine?).

Katie I hope your throat feels better asap. Do you need the address of the nearest Urgent Care?

Loves.
Always,
mep

3:45 a.m. departure

Leigh Ann- I'm taking the liberty of starting you out as our first post, hope you don't mind.

ok, so it is now 11pm on Friday night and my dad is requiring that we are out of the house tomorrow morning at 3:45 AM...yes you read that correctly...he must be crazy! or maybe i am crazy because i am still awake! i just finished putting captions with my pictures...i didn't get a cd made, so yall will just have to see them by hard copy!
yall will be glad to know that i made it through birmingham without having a clue as to where i was suppose to go! i met up with my roommate from college and her husband...they just moved to b'ham and bought their first house. they were dying to take me to their favorite pizza place down the road and i couldn't burst their bubble and tell them that pizza in the US just isn't the same anymore! i didn't say anything and just smiled and told them how great it was while inside i was dying for a pizza margarita...just like the first one in Venice. i was also disappointed because the slices were cut thin so that i couldn't implement the new folding technique that i learned. i guess i am complaining...i will stop now!
happy week! i'll let you know about all my adventures (and the trip count) when i get home! as far as getting together....(don't do it without me)...i am free for a while after june 18! let's do it!!!!!!!!
miss yall alot....i think everyone is tired of hearing my stories from italy (i need some commaraderie)

much love, lal