January 2013 highlights included a ride on the Roue de Paris at the Place de la Concord; a visit to a local art exhibition held in the Basilica Palladiana; the purchase of a first "real" guitar for Young One & much progress for her on the piano; a birthday celebration for Richard; an evening in the theater to see Momix's newest, Alchemy; and success in the kitchen with a king cake. And, oh, we finally discovered Downton Abbeyand have quickly become addicted, thanks, in part, to the convenience of Apple TV.
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For the last couple of years I have tried desperately to participate in 365 projects; last year I even tried a 52 (weeks) project with a lovely group of photographers on Flickr. I failed miserably each year.
I am trying again.
This time, I'm using an iPhone and Instagram, and I think I've found my niche.
Quick and easy...and lots of fliters to hide the flaws.
Actually, I've embraced the imperfection.
A giant leap for me.
Admittedly, a leap made possible by an upgrade to the iPhone.
The class mom organized an end-of-year gift for the teacher weeks ago. I was duly scolded on Monday for not getting Young One's drawing to her in a timely manner. Oh, the shame!
She completed the entire project Wednesday after school. It took her nearly 3 hours. I watched as she carefully first drew everything very lightly with her graphite pencil and then meticulously retraced with her colored pencils.
Each child was given a huge piece of paper to create a drawing for the teacher. Somehow they'll be bound together, and the resulting book will be presented to her at the upcoming class dinner. Considering that this class mom is rumored to have presented the teacher (a nun, too) in the asilo with a Cartier planner last year, this is a stellar idea.
I gave her the idea of dividing the page into quadrants, and the rest is all her choice. Interesting. My favorite part is the drawing in the bottom left of Young One and her teacher; we've never seen the teacher in any clothes other than a black or white habit. Never. Yet, she depicts her in a bright pink dress, flowing red hair, surrounded by birds under a radiant sun, arms outstretched in anticipation of an embrace with our dear Young One ... all in the name of amore.
It's a good thing when a child has these feelings about her teacher.
And then there is the letter, which translates roughly to ...
Teacher, thank you for having taught us many things. In this world there are more things to learn, but I don't know them and neither do my classmates.
I think that you are the most beautiful and the best teacher in the world.
Love, M
Like I said. It's been a good year. I have a feeling that she is expecting to begin learning all of these things in the world beginning next September, when she'll have the same teacher.
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Happy Friday & Have a Great Weekend!
We've got a busy weekend planned, including a sleepover with three other first graders. (Wise idea? Stupid idea? I'll let you know.)
Feel free to read the rambles, or you could skip down to "The Trailer." Happy New Year! (in case you skip!)
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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!
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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):
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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.
