Lycanthropy

The moon’s awake now with eyes wide open

It is requires much more courage and wisdom to live for one's purpose rather than acheive short/long term success.

Cowardice is an epidemic and I haven't proposed anything analagous to baby halving in a while.

When you are lucky enough to know the answer, there's no excuse.

2/3 full tonight

Excues My French, Emotion In My Passion/But I Wear My Heart On My Sleeve Like It's The New Fashion

Yesterday may have been the best day of my life

The culmination experienced at the peak of a hill
sometime around twilight
as a vineyard with a rolled up, sleeping bag looking spiral of hay came into view on my left
about 45 minutes into a 1 hour run
with Shakira in my ears

Rocky doesn't have shit on this

FELEZ FIESTAS PATRIAS PERUANAS!!!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiestas_Patrias_(Peru)

It's Perù's Independence Day! I would preform some seriously astonishing acts of bravery/pay a lot of money for some Lima ceviche right now (hands down, my favorite food of all time).

I have some good friends that are travelling in Perù right now....I hope they are safe, happy, and celebrating with some pisco...I really am tickled to be in Tuscany right now, but I can't wait to go back....

I am getting serious about learning Italian; this includes forcing myself into uncomfortable speaking situations, using the Rosetta's stone I lugged across the atlantic, reading the Italian biography of Saint Francis that I recently pur-chased, and lessons during the commute every morning (today's was especially entertaining as there were two Italian speakers in the car and much heated debate over simple words ensued).

I was tempted to sign up for classes at the Unversity in Perugia (Aboca would cover some of the cost), but I would like to have my weekends, etc., free for gallivanting.

In other news; the real reason for this blog? The most efficient/effective way of letting my Dad know what's on my mind (and that I am alive and well) - since phone calls are nere impossible for a plethora of reasons and as much as I try to coax, email is still not a ally. But he reads this, so its all good.

So...hi Dad. I love you. I hear that its your type of weather over there, so be a turtle for me and stockpile that delicious Vitamin D.

The Weekend You Ask? Cimbue & The Adriatic

I always forget my toothbrush - had to buy one upon my return to San Sepolcro after noticing its absence. In this year alone, I must have given very short lives to ten different sets of bristles. This does not take into consideration my trusty sonicare, which is experiencing a lonely summer in my storage unit.

I was going to extrapolate with a succint, self-deprecating metaphor involving personal relationships, but I am in Italy, and quite frankly there are better things to do.

Ha niente per i punti neri?

Milestone:
I learned my first bad joke in Italian today

As you know, I am a HUGE fan of bad jokes ("have you heard about the new courdory pillowcases?" "what do you call 2 lesbians in a closet?" and many, many others). This one is not only in Italian, but was also found on my afternoon ice cream that my boss bought for me....classic.

The question is posed by an assumed teenage ladybug to its doctor, who happens to be a cow.

What a fabulous product; ice cream and a bad joke being told between animals. The only thing better would be a very attractive man made out of ice cream who told bad jokes upon request and continually poured me Amarone. Ah, but he would melt...there's always that twist...

The first person to get the joke wins a highly coveted, yet to be determined prize - I will permit the use of google translator (doesn't mean you'll get it).

45min left in my one day work week, better go....

Just Friends

In case you were wondering.

Last few hours here in Denmark...the ARoS museum has been its highlight.

First real time Warhol experience.

Great use of mirrors.

I love the concept of allowing the museum space itself to dance its own little art jig.

I just finished talking to my Dad for the first time since I left and as I filled the transcontinental space with highlights and plain ol' first-things-that-came-to-my-mind it was the most disturbing piece that of course made it past cutting (literally) room floor;

Jars of parts - I immediately recognize the unique coiling of a small intestine and the excellent posture of striated muscle (yes medical school does change you).

It of course can't be human, right? Tufts of thick, still auburn hair confirm bestial origins (one would hope)....

A video from 1970 plays on a very small screen of to the side of this display case, depicting men killing the now immortalized horse. This is, as I mentioned to my father, done in the name of protesting (or as a statement about, or a product of, or whatever) the ongoing Vietnam War.

All four of my uncles were in the military of one country or another during the Vietnam War.

My grandfather, fought in the WWI (not a typo) as a teenager.

Who's name do I get to read on a wall for paying 75 kroner?

I wonder how many days these artists shaved off the war.

I wonder how many of us are producing equivalent bullshit in the wake of the overwhelming mistakes made in Iraq, Afghanistan, New Orleans, etc.

As for now, you can check me off under the Goliath sized thinker column.

I may traverse across European countries, but the David sized doer column is a scary place that I seldom shimmy to.

Playing hookie

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2455644&id=10730136&l=d80556ca38

Hamburg was surprisingly delightful....in Denmark until Wednesday

The Danes for the most part are beautiful people and going out on Saturday night was really fun...you know Seattle has a poor nightlife when a small Danish college town kicks its ass...

23 years, 1 month

Headed to Pisa tonight, then Hamburg, Germany in the morning, a couple of other places before I return to Italy on Wednesday....need to make sure I get some work done while I am gone so that I have something to show for myself when I get back....it's never a good idea to bite the hand that feeds you....

Why not? It's like having a birthday 12 times a year...you can never have too much of a good thing (yes you can, hence the art and practice of moderation, but sush now...I just tend to ignore the necessity of that which I am not good at, like calculus, ironing, juggling, being patient, etc.).

Moving on....

I am so excited for tomorrow afternoon that the fact that Ryan air will some how find a way to charge me for something only bothers me a teeny tiny bit.

Summary of Working in Italy Thus Far

Scenario 1:
You would like to tack 3 days on to the weekend to take a trip? No probelm, who knows when you will be back in Europe?

Scenario 2:
Trilisa!! You DO NOT put pasta and your meat course on the same plate! They are different courses!!! So American, that's a crime! I will check on you tomorrow to make sure this does not happen again...

Buon Giorno!

Embarking on my second day work @ Aboca...great weekend...

I dont even know where to start.

Saturday was my sightseeing day. Museo Civico & probably 5 of Sansepolcros 20 churches (a rough estimate, but not outrageous). Notte Bianca = Insomnia

Yesterday (Sunday) I took my coworker up on an invite to an agriturismo farm/B&B that she and her husband run. Beautiful day with her family & neighbors in the Tuscan country side.

Up to 45min on my run this morning. Nice.

I have a meeting at half past noon in which what exactly I will be doing will be discussed...let you know how it goes.

For some reason TS Elliot kept popping into my mind as a brief thunder storm interuppted my church marathon on Saturday and sent the whole town back indoors with heads covered.

like a patient etherized upon a table

Wonder what that means. Anyways, I hope to post pictures on facebook soon as I have already taken more than a hundred...keep your fingers crossed people.

Have a beautiful day, ciao

Notte Bianca

Stopping into the little tourist info place to say hello during "Notte Bianca" (my sisters name is everywhere), a music/art festival in Sansepolcro that goes until 5am...its so loud I might as well take part in the festivities.

First gelato of the trip tonight...the addiction has been resurrected (an ode to the Piero della Francesca masterpiece I also enjoyed today).

Ciao for now...

Lil blogging from work

It is now 11am during my first day of work and I have already been urged twice to take it easy so here I am.

Oh my, where to begin. Yesterday...

After 2 trains and 4 hours from Rome I was fetched from the Sansepolcro train station by Massimillio from Aboca. We go straight to Abocas (excuse me, I cant find the apostrophe on this here Italian laptop) storefront, grab a set of keys, and I am then taken to my apartment, which is literally feet away. The giant medival wooden door opens....

I LIVE IN A MUSEUM. SERIOUSLY. A museum under renovation granted, but a museum nontheless. Painted vaulted ceilings, glass display cases, and random boxes of Riedel wine glasses make up the antrum. It is a building owned by Aboca which (I think) will one day be an extesion of the already functioning musuem of theirs.

I am the first door on the right. Two bedroom apartment with everything I need. Beautiful. There is even an adorable little teeny tiny washing machine in the kitchen. Perfeto.

After the walk through, I meet some of the stores staff (this is all in Italian, no English speakers to be found). First things first: to PAM, the grocery store less than a block away to quech my first that has been a good 5 hours in the making (Italians dont drink water and it is therefore not very available...you think I am joking).

Some aimless wandering then ensues as I am in a severe state of sleep deprevation (not a wink to be had the night before) - hit the the stereotypical visitors center, meet the staff of the restaurant down the street that I am to be a regular at, etc.

Then it is nap time. mmmmmm

I make myself get up 2 or 3 hours later and saunter over to il ristorante.

Beer
Carpaccio
Pasta
Happy

Interlude: I was just given a "key" for the companys coffee machine. No water, the office just lives on multiple espressi, all day long.

Interlude Number 2: I brought my own water in the Cinnomoroll bottle that Riz gave me to work. Nothing says competent and professional like Sanrio products.

Back to whatever was happening earlier....
got my first night of sleep in days woke, popped out of bed at 530am, went for a run (always causing a scene), enjoyed a shower and cup of Scientific Botanicals own loose leaf green tea (for home just add hot water).

Davide was in front of the Aboca museum as promised this morning at 830am. I can already tell he is a great guy, I look forward to working with him. Abocas office building is a maybe a 15 minute drive away and modernly beautiful. Introductions all around, some espresso, and a powerpoint presentation to look over.

On the drive up, Davide explaned what I would be doing over the next few months. Primarily, I will be working to update their product literature an website for the US. Davide explained that I had two very vauable things for the job: a background in biology and English as my native langauge.

I also finally met Antonio, my human resources guru. Minature and impeccably dressed, he reiterates that I should ask if I need anything (a housekeeper, english speakers to hang out with, etc) and mentions that I am their first intern from the US.

Trailblazer, right here.

The presidents secretary, Roberta, is a swetheart. You shall be hearing more about her.

As I was unpacking last night, I realized that I will be living alone for the first time ever. If I am not even a little more grown up by the time I get home, shoot, nothings going to do it.

Enjoying this as much as possible for all of you....

Alive & Well

I am currently sitting in the spare bedroom of Mauro, my couch-surfing host (I know, the irony). After a fabulous night of pasta, wine, Romans, and one fellow American, my head will drop on a pillow for the first time in 36 hours. 

Tomorrow, 755am to Sansepolcro....that's when it really starts.