the last post of the year where I ramble

Feel free to read the rambles, or you could skip down to "The Trailer."  Happy New Year! (in case you skip!)

--------------------------------

Today I put Christmas away.  I wrapped her carefully, weeded out that which I haven't used much in the past few years, and then had Richard stow her all snugly under the stairs until next year, when, hopefully, I'll be in a better place to deal with her.  I usually wait until at least after January 6 . . . not this year.  In fact, if it weren't for the kiddo, the stuff would have stayed under the stairs.

I faked it.

We had a full Christmas season:  lots of parties and concerts and Christmas shows and cocktails and gifts and books and baking and quiet moments.  We even hosted a Christmas Eve party here again this year, but I have to tell you, my heart was not in most of it & I am happy to bid it all farewell. Good riddance. Adios.  Arrivederci.  See you next year.

So . . .

I am looking forward to this new year.  When I think about the changes in my life in this past ten or so years, it just makes me tired. . . . whew:  new country, new job, new man, new kid, new husband, new city, new apartment, new friends, new career, new house in a new neighborhood (in that order).  I am looking forward to a new year of nothing new. (Is that a bad attitude?) I'm signing up for the maintenance plan this year, the one where I coast happily through without major change. I want to just "be."

Of course.  . .

I know that this is impossible . . . but a girl can dream.

Tonight we are headed next door for a New Year's Eve dinner and celebration.  We'll have lenticchie and cotechino (lentils and pork sausage) to insure that we have a prosperous and healthy 2011 fifteen courses of lovingly prepared food. (Just to be doubly sure, we're cooking up a batch here tomorrow, too.)  It's the same place we went last year, when we let our children play with fire as the tispy adults toasted.  Remember?  There's a certain comfort in returning to the same place with many of the same people.  (There's a new family in the mix this year, a young family of three from Naples who have left the South for the more prosperous North -- think of the change they face in the coming decade!) Anywho. . . I'll have a glass of Prosecco for you!

Auguri!

-------------------------------------

Richard gave me this awesome camera and this software,  which I used to document our recent sledding trip. I think I may be on to something new with my blogging for 2011!  Did I say "new"?  Impossible, see!!!

The Trailer:

The Feature Length Film (all 3:25 of it):

-------------------------------------

Thinking of heading to Asiago for a day of sledding fun?  It's only about an hour away from Vicenza and a perfect half-day trip.  This time we hit the hill near the Albergo Orthal, but we've also visited the nearby Albergo Miramonti for a similar experience in the past.  Sleds are available for rental or you can bring your own.   A full day of sledding with two sleds and access for three to the "lift" (lazy man sledding) cost us only 25 Euro.  Ski equipment rental and lessons are also available.

Go! It's fun. Pack a picnic lunch, take your time, invite your friends . . . good times await you.

Happy New Year!