The ibex is me. I am the ibex.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.  Because you see?  The ibex is me when woken up before I'm good and ready.




This video got me very tickled.

WAAAUUGHHHHHH, to you and yours.

Call me Sneller. Tory Sneller.

*DISCLAIMER:  I am not responsible for any tears of boredom, sleepy eyes, and inactive brain cells that may or may not follow the reading of this post.  Side effects of reading this post may include frustration, confusion, annoyance, headaches, nausea, and serious illness/and or death.*

Today, I shall write a list.  No, not coherent paragraphs, just a list.

1.  I'm writing a list because I have serious writer's block.

2.  I have writer's block because I've been typing non-stop at a self-imposed project I'm working on, and it's sucking the story-teller out of me.  In fact, it's sucking the very brain out of me because I almost just typed 'tory-sneller" instead of story-teller.

3.  Sadly, that is not a joke.

4.  Yesterday was not a very busy day, which was nice.  It was my last official day of summer, I think!  Today I have my first orientation for an online class.

5.  I'm very excited.  I have decorated organized the majority of my binders.  One to go.

6.  I just made some espresso.  I think I could sure use it, don't you?

7.  I stayed up really late last night.  REALLY late.  I was working on my project.

8   Because of number 7, I slept in till 11 today. Mom said she did a bunch of stuff in my room, opened my shade (which opens very loudly), hung clothes on my balcony, and did laundry in the laundry room adjacent to my room and I never. moved.

9.  That's awesome.

10.  Wish I could give you a number 10, but... I'm not that interesting.

Good-bye for now!  

It didn't bite my hand off, or else I wouldn't be typing this

I had a spectacular day.  My cold is gone (I guess it was a 24 hour thing) and I got up around 9 this morning.  I rolled out of bed, ate some cinnamon toast crunch, read some of my book, and my mom gave me some folders, tabbed dividers, some markers, and a binder.  I organized my binder for "Tapestry of Grace," which is sort of like a Bible, History, and Literature curriculum rolled up into one.  It's real purty.

After that, I ate lunch and my mom and I figured out when my online classes start and I looked around on the website to see who is going to be in my classes.  I think it'll be so much fun!  I'm actually excited.

Now ask me how excited I am in, eh, four months.

Or don't.

Moving on... Dad got home from his first day of school around 12:45-ish, and we went on a journey! We took the bus to the train station, hopped a metro, and went to 'Circo Massimo' or "Circus Maximus," but there wasn't a lot to see.  Except, and we saw this over seven times today I'm sure, it's not a stereotype when people say Italians are very into PDA.  It's... gross. Especially when the couple is directly in front of some lovely bit of ancient history that you're trying to look at.  Or right in front of you on the bus. Or right in front of you in line for something. Or... you get the picture.  They're everywhere.

You know, we've actually found that none of the stereotypes of Italians are unfounded.  And I kind of love it! I mean, I don't love the pda, but I love the passionate flailing of arms while speaking, the upturned noses of the Italian women, the fact that "Mamas" are the most important person in the family and are looked up to supremely, the love for real living, the love for really good food, etc.  It's charming... for the most part!

After Circo Massimo, we walked to the Tiber river, and on the way, we stumbled upon the MOUTH OF TRUTH!  Yes, for you fellow Audrey Hepburn fans, this is the exact place where the darling girl almost put her hand in the movie 'Roman Holiday.'  I was so excited!  But strangely, there was no line to go up to it in the movie.

Hmm.

We then walked along the Tiber.  It was actually really beautiful!  Some parts where gross, but most of it was pretty, and it amazes me that the Italians think absolutely NOTHING of it.  It's really unfortunate.  After that, we walked along a really quaint, charming, adorable, and somewhat Bohemian area.  We all decided we want to live there. ;)  It all led up to the Piazza Santa Maria, where we got refreshments.  We walked for a while and got some gelato in front of the Colosseum.

It was such a pleasant trip, and the weather was actually cool!  I think my complaining actually worked!

Well probably not.

But I'd like to think it was me. :)

My Sunday has been positively RIVETING

Yesterday was fantastic!  I slept in, ate some eggs and bacon prepared by Chef Padre, did some tidying of yon bedchamber, and then proceeded to fret over my clothing.  I'm so tired of summer clothes... I really just want to wear boots and jeans and sweaters and UGH I AM SO TIRED OF SHORTS AND TANK TOPS BUT IT IS SO SO HOT.

*ahem*

After I threw on a skirt and a tee, RF and her parents picked me up and we made the two-hour trip to Napoli in their fabulous silver Prius.  It's groovy, baby.  We listened to her iPod, I made fun of her adoration for the band "My Chemical Romance" and she made fun of the fact that I think Justin Bieber is adorable.  Luckily the teasing stopped when I found one of his songs on her iPod.  

Apparently it was "free" and that's the "only" reason she "grudgingly" owns it.

Ha.

We got a snack when we got to Naples, and then walked around the Exchange and looked at clothes and shoes and school supplies.  I wanted one of the Jansport backpacks; this season they have really cute patterns on their bags.  

On to Eat Pray Love.  Blah.

Blah!

It was so... slow.  I liked the part in Italy because most of the time RF and I could point out places we've been.  (OOH! OOH! I'VE TOUCHED THAT!! I'VE SEEEEN THATTTT!!!  OH MY GOSH WE'RE IN NAPLES RIGHT NOW!!!  JUST LIKE JULIA ROBERTS!!)  But the rest of the movie was... not very exciting.  I don't know.  I'd give it a... 1 1/2 out of 10.  I so wanted to like it.

This morning, Sunday, I woke up at 8 and got a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.  I realized something was the matter when I didn't really feel like finishing it, my head was pounding, and I couldn't really breathe or swallow because of the soreness of my throat.

Hmm.

Methinks I have a cold.

My mom had a sore throat too, so we stayed in today.  My dad and I are watching tv, and my mom is napping.  And that's about it for today, I'm not up for a Roman adventure, though I think it may be a tad bit cooler out, based on the thermometer on my computer.  Not that I've actually been outside.  

Ciao!

Love, Love, Love

I'm feeling a bit homesick at the moment.

It comes in waves; I never know when it'll pop up.  But I was reading some posts on the blogs of some friends of mine, and looking at pictures of my beloved little island and my beloved little friends, and this flood of sadness washed over my heart.  I'm thrilled to be in Rome, and I love it so much, but it's a hard sell to replace Hawaii in my heart. I miss the sweet faces of my old friends, I miss the laughter that was ever-present among these friends, I miss the bonds that had built up over the time I spent in Hawaii.  Most of all, I miss my church, Trinity.  It was my real home, no matter what my house was.  A constant in my life, my church I knew like the back of my hand: the people, the building, the grounds, and the love.  Everyone loved each other.  I'm not saying we were perfect, and I'm not saying everyone always got along perfectly, because we are still, in fact, humans.  But, I recall the first day I ever went there.  I was a little nervous, being a seven year old girl in a new, really new, place, and I was being a little shy.  But at the end of the service, everyone got up and started introducing themselves to us.  Within minutes, a sweet family invited us to their house for lunch, and ever since I have never been the same.

In that church, I grew up.  Not just physically, but it is where I really grew up.  I had always been a Christian, in my own childish way, because I grew up in a Christian home.  Trinity was where I began really understanding the concepts of God's love and promises, it was where I professed my faith, it was where I had my first communion, and it was where I got my first "grown-up" bible, with my name on the cover in gold-lettering.  I was never without a friend, and I was never without someone to help me with something.  Trinity is where I really began to sing and find my voice, and Trinity was where I discovered my love for acting, thanks to Vacation Bible School skits. :)  The people at Trinity love you, and they will do anything to help you grow.  Everyone helps everyone, and no one is left in the dust.  I've had a countless number of wonderful teachers and friends, and I am so grateful for the impact this church had, and still has, on my life.

Trinity was my home in so many ways, and I think in my heart, it always will hold a very, very special place.  To me, it wasn't just four walls and some chairs to visit every Sunday and hear some words.  It was a tangible, loving, beautiful, magnificent home. 

And it just doesn't get any better than that.

Colossians 3:14-16   14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

How you feeling? Hot! Hot! Hot!

Today was.... Scalding.

The sun really beats down in dear ol' Roma.  If you can find some shade, you're ok, but wowza, it's HOT.  

We got up and left the apartment around 8:30, and then we headed by metro with some of my dad's fellow students at NATO to the Embassy.  We did some walking around there (I felt wonderfully official)  and then we walked a bit with RF and her family and went to eat at Hard Rock Cafe.  Had a "Legendary Burger."  It pretty much lived up to it's name, but I'm not a huge fan of cheddar cheese on my burger and I forgot to ask for no cheese.  Nothing compares to the Yardhouse.  (Google it, find one near you, and then eat there.  This minute.  I'll wait.)

But, through all this, I was a melty mess.  I mean it was so ridiculously hot, I'm surprised I didn't die of heat stroke.  And I was wearing white jeans and heels.  It wasn't so terribly bad (luckily my shoes were comfy and there's lots of shade near the embassy) but it was still enough to make me literally start praying for some cool weather.  I can't wait to break out the boots and the trench coats!  I haven't done that in... over eight years.  I'm pretty much over the moon about having actual seasons.

After lunch, we took the train to a place that supposedly had a bus to take us home, found out that was not in fact the place, walked a bit (a lot), found a place with a bus that would take us to the mall.  Mom and I went in the mall, Dad walked home from the mall in the heat (he's a sweet, sweet Dad)  to pick up the car at our house, and then drove back to the mall to pick us up.  We came home, I put on my pajamas (at 3 pm, no less) and chilled out.  Because I am exhausted. 

Checked my email, had a request for a last-minute babysitting job, accepted, and am about to leave the apartment.  Hence the quick, choppy sentences.

Buona sera, mi amici.

Two for Two

Hmm.

I'm thinking projects aren't for me.  First I was going to do Friday memes, which flopped.  Then I was going to do a photo project.  That flopped.

Granted, the second one was purely accidental in it's flop-age.  I swear, I meant to.  But I still haven't found that silly camera cord....

See that poll on the right?  Two people think I should stick to plain ol' posts.  And seeing as that's probably about 50% of my viewer-ship, I tend to agree.  So posting it is!

Where to begin?  My mom's home!  We're very happy to have her back.  But I really, really miss my brother Will.  (In my heart, he shall always be Willie.)  I wish he was here with us, but I know he's having a great experience in college, and he'll be just fine.  My brother is an adult, you guys!

It boggles the mind.

Yesterday, my new friend came over to sleepover!  It was so, so much fun.  Because I haven't yet asked her if I can use her real name on my blog, I'll just give her a nickname... RF (Roman Friend.  Even though she's from Colorado.)

So, RF and I had a blast.  A blast.  We first hung out and walked around my neighborhood, and then we came home.  She can make birdcalls super well, so we sat on my balcony and whenever anyone would walk by below us, she would make an owl sound.  Some didn't notice, and some looked really confused.  It was pure gold.

We woke up at 10:30 (I know!) and had a slow start.  This week, it's about eleventy-four degrees.  Not ideal.  So we walked for a bit, got tired, and my dad was very sweet and drove us to the mall.  It was delightful; she got a cute new pair of shoes.  RF and I are going to see each other tomorrow when we go to the Embassy with our families, and on Friday we are going to Naples to see 'Eat, Pray, Love.'  I'm excited!  4 days of RF and Caroline.  Rome will never be the same.

Buona Sera!

Day 3? - Photo Project: In which I lose the means by which to take actual photos

It's very hard to do a photo project when one has misplaced his/her camera cord.

I promise I'm not ignoring you!  I just have been doing a lot of laundry while my mother's away, I went to the gym, I've been doing summer reading assignments, and the like.  So I apologize.

I'm going to do something wild and crazy and skip day 2 of the photo project since I can't find my cord, though I do have a picture. (I didn't like that assignment anyway) So we're on to day 3!

What did I do today?





Cleaned!  My room is actually tidy and my bathroom is spotless.  I'm still working on laundry.  And guess what? It's only 10 am,  all thanks to me getting up early to go somewhere and finding out in the middle of putting on my makeup that the trip was cancelled. And no one had told us. Naturally, I started cleaning.

Mom, when you finally come home this evening, your house will be nice and prim for ya.  :)

Um, and may I just mention, my brother is in COLLEGE now?  This is weird.  I don't even... I can't... I mean... weren't we just in elementary school?

Oh childhood, where hast thou gone?  You have been borne away on the wings of responsibility!  Nary a day goes by when I do not wonder how you steal so silently away leaving us to ponder when and how you left! Thou shall ne'er be forgotten!

Not to be dramatic or anything.