Happy Something Day!

I found time to drop in today!  I just finished one big test and am taking a break before my next one.  I think in a few minutes I may go start packing, since we fly out tomorrow!  If you'd like to pray for our safe trip, it'd be so greatly appreciated.  I'm so excited I can barely stand it.

So excited, in fact, that I sort of need a nap.

And would you look at the time!  It's February 14th!  Isn't that something or something?  Isn't the 14th of February some sort of holiday or.... umm... something?

Oh yeah.  Valentine's.

I'm going to be brutally honest here.  This girl?  Is not big on Valentine's day.  I used to think it was so cute and so sweet, and I honestly still think it has cuteness and sweetness potential.

But.  I just think it's sort of a silly holiday.  I guess when I'm older and love someone in a cupid-shot-me kind of way, it'll be great to get cards and flowers and chocolate (in fact, y'all are welcome to send me chocolate at any given time) but for now, I'm just not quite an advocate of Valentine's day.

If you are, that's great.  I do like pink and red and white, and it's one of the prettier holidays, in terms of decorations.  I've been known to cut out a paper heart or two in my life time.  Nay, even glue some dry macaroni to one!  All I'm trying to say is, it's not really my thing.

With all that said, though, I wish you all a happy Valentine's day.  And I would just like to point out that yes... someone did ask me to be their Valentine.  I hemmed and hawed and FINALLY caved to.... Lauren's demands.

Got you there, didn't I?  You really thought... ha.

I love you, Lauren.  As I say all the time, you're one of my favoritest people in the whole world.

I think best friends make great Valentines.

Christmas Vacation

I'm back!  I've, so far, have had a fantastic holiday.  I go back to school on Monday, and I'm going to spend my last few days of break resting, hanging out with my family, writing thank-you-notes, and eating.  Because it's not a holiday if you're not eating, I always say.  My mama is making baked mac and cheese on New Year's Eve, per the request of Will and me, along with some hotdogs.

Will and I have extraordinarily elegant tastes, no?

Wow, this post is so easy to type.  My fingers are just flying.... everything's so natural... why would that be?  Oh yes.  Because guess what Santa left under the tree for little old me?  A new laptop.  You've heard me moan about the mostly-broken nature of my Dell, and I am now a proud owner of a 13 inch MacBook Pro.  I strongly recommend this exact computer to, well, anyone.  And I'm lucky to have my big brother here to help me set it all up.  He's a computer whiz, that fellow.

Our stay in Tuscany was bellissima.  The most beautiful place I've ever seen!  It was a villa on an olive farm, and we got to see an olive oil factory.

Now that I know how they make supermarket olive oil compared to the real stuff, I don't think I will ever want to use Bertolli ever, ever again.

I'll have some pictures of the whole shebang for you later, but for now I must go to sleep.  The villa was a little dusty, and Pasta and Waffles is highly allergic to dust mites.  Because of this, I've been snuffling, sneezing, and coughing all week, and it will probably take a few days to get all of this out of my lungs and for my skin to quit itching.  But I don't really care, because, overall, the trip was amazing.

I hope you all had a great Christmas as well, and I'll get back to you soon.

Love,

Happy Christmas

Merry Christmas, dear readers!  I hope your day is merry and bright, I hope your fellowship with family and friends is rich and fulfilling, and that you set your heart on the miraculous truth of the coming of our Savior as a real, humble, and yet perfect baby boy who was fully man and yet fully God.

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 (Isaiah 9:6 ESV)

            

And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 

 

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

 (Luke 2:9-14 ESV)

Christmas in Italy

Twinkling lights like golden embers

I always look forward to Decembers

Shimmers strung all down the lane

Blooming, burning like a flame

Cheeks aglow and heart on fire

Step by step, my soul lifts higher

Skillful street-players playing their music

My footsteps match the beat, be it slow or quick

Painters and dancers and singers and more

Window-shopping is never a chore

Staring into shops while a violinist plays

"La Vie en Rose" and my whole body sways

The streets in Italy are flooded with people

Around every corner rises a steeple

Walk in any church and you will find a scene

A scene of Nativity, surrounded with green

Christmas in Italy is pleasant and sweet

Getting broad smiles from storekeepers you meet

Bright lights and people, cold air in the street

Christmas in Italy is magic, so sweet.

'Ello, old chaps

Well, y'all, I had a lovely Thanksgiving.  Non-traditional, yes.  Bad?  No.  It was an utter delight.

Mummy and Daddy and I went out to an Argentinian (Argentish?  Argentineian??) restaurant with the members of Daddy's committee at work.  The food wasn't amazing, but the company was delightful.  Sheerly delightful.  I think it was a good idea, because I imagine it would have been a little bit lonely at the dinner table with just us while Will is in another country.

Friday, we went out to dinner with the British and Scottish members of the NATO defense college, and they are truly wonderful.  People from the UK have the best senses of humor ever.  I was rolling all night.

But do you know what made me happiest about Friday and Thursday?  I got to practice my British accent, and the actual British people said it was very good.  One young lady from Scotland said I sound like Hermione from Harry Potter, which, y'all, made my day.  My WHOLE day.  I've decided I'm going to speak like a Brit for the rest of my existence, thank you.

Today, we decorated for Christmas.  It was a glorious day, folks.  I got up at 10 or somewhere thereabouts, and I noticed there were dirty pans in the kitchen.  I was terribly depressed, because that means I missed out on my dad's yummy breakfast.  But, fear not!  I went over to hug him good morning and asked if he would wake me up next time he was making breakfast, and he stopped me.  "No, I left these dishes out so I could make your breakfast later.  I wanted to let you sleep."

Best Dad ever?  Yes.  As I noshed on my food, I read on my Kindle.  I put down the Kindle after a while and we set up the small tree and our few Christmas decorations.  I then read my Kindle some more.  Then I cleaned my room, since my friend is flying in tomorrow.  Then I read my Kindle some more.  Then I realized it was 3 o'clock and I was still in my pajamas.

If you're still in your pajamas at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, odds are there is no point in putting on any semblance of regular clothing.  So I resigned myself to my fate, pulled my hair into a ponytail, and read my Kindle.  In my pajamas.

So later, I was video chatting with my best friend forever and she wouldn't put her video up because she was still in her pajamas.  And I looked at myself, having put up my video already, and said, "Well, golly.  You've got nothing on me.  I've had my pajamas on since I went to bed last night.  It is now nine at night. I win."

Is this what my life has become?  Is my entire existence merely a contest of who can wear their pajamas the longest whilst using a British accent for twenty-four hours whilst also consuming mass quantities of mediocre Argentinian (Argentan?  Argentineananean?) cuisine?

I think I should go to bed.

Give Thanks!

Things for which I'm thankful this Thanksgiving:

My lovely parents, and the fact that after all these (almost 21!!) years, they still love each other deeply.

My brother.  Even though he's far away, he's happy, and he's the best brother I could ever dream of having.

My best friend.  Of course!  She's an utter delight.

My little apartment.  It keeps us warm (for the most part) and dry.

The grace of God.  I am continually amazed by everything he's given me.

My first cold Thanksgiving that I remember.  It makes the season feel more real!  (And today, it's *this* close to snow!!)

Hot tea.  I'm so enjoying this to ward off any chills.

EVERYTHING!!!

In which I struggle not to say "The Google." It's a bad habit. You can call me Memaw.

Howdy.

Just a bit of business before I go back to my studying....

1. Yesterday's post with all the pictures?  Turns out that was my one hundredth post.  Time flies!  I'm not famous, though, so I don't have any contest-items to give away, unfortunately.  So please, internet companies of the world, email me.  I'd love to give away your products.
2. Oh Google, how you... completely weird me out.  I get the strangest Google searches leading to my blog. There's "stuff people put on waffles" (Gee, I don't know, syrup?), "I know she's sweet but please don't bite your sister" (No joke.  Four people have found my blog using this one.  I mean... what in the world?), and lots of "pasta waffles blog."  The fact that someone just happened to be looking for a pasta waffles blog is just beyond me.
3. Speaking of Google, I get a lot of Google image searches heading to my blog as well.  Which frustrates me because I KNOW people are stealing my pictures, even though I have a polite little sign over on my sidebar.  Oh, people I do not know, please don't take my pictures.
4. I'm currently working on (and by that I mean sort of thinking about) a girl-oriented hair/makeup review series on my reviews blog, and I'll let you know over here on this blog when I get that rolling.  I've already started formulating some thoughts on some products.  (And by that I mean I've tried them out numerous times and might sort of maybe have a relative opinion. Possibly.)
5. I am a little bit sad because I don't think we're doing Thanksgiving this year.  It's hard to get that kind of food here (we'd have to drive two hours) and it would just be Mom, Dad, and I.  Of course, we can still be thankful, but I'm a little down about the fact that we don't have all of our usual fall decorations up.  I'm feeling a little "displaced" today, being so far from what's familiar without our usual decor and tradition and coming up on the holiday season.  Pray for me on this one, please.
6. I can't really be too upset about Thanksgiving, though, because I don't have any online classes the whole week. :)

Have a nice day, everyone!