Behold: Wondering Woman!

Dear readers,

I just wanted to let you know that my posting may be a little spotty for a while.  I'll try my best to post every day, but if I don't, it's only because I absolutely can't.  Life has been a whirlwind as of late, and I just can't do it all.

I'm not Wonder Woman.  I'm not even Wonder Teen.  I'm just... Wondering how the heck I'm going to get all of my school work done whilst also going to several scheduled things for the NATO Defense College.

So, in short, my lovely readers, I'm afraid the blog may get the backseat for a few weeks.  Then again, if I find time, I'll try to keep you updated about the goings-on.

Until next time,

It would make me feel better if you would imagine this post in a British accent. It'll be much more effective.

So I saw the Pope today.

No really! I did!

We got up really early, got all nicely dressed up, and drove over to the NATO college.  Once there, we grabbed  some quick cappuccinos, and then we got on a ginormous green bus with a police escort.

It's a swanky life I live.

Ha.

It's now very late in the evening, and so I'm going to make this post a list because I'm drop-dead-tired.

1. Once at the Vatican (I know!  And can you believe it's its own country?  I left Italy today... very odd.) we walked a ways, getting lots of curious looks from bystanders.  Around 20,000 of them, to be a bit more precise.  "Who are these people? With name tags?  And seats close to the front?"  It really is a great opportunity and I felt so very blessed.  We were literally as close as we could get to the Pope without being... well, really, really famous.  
2. Note:  This was a very safe event.  Everyone coming through to the papal audience went through security, so there was no real threat.  
3. Note:  I am not actually Catholic, but I do happen to believe that the Catholics certainly impacted, a long time ago, what I am so blessed to believe now.  I do not necessarily agree with the idea of having a Pope, but he's such an important figure; this was an opportunity that we just couldn't miss!
4. Nary a cloud was in the sky, and it was absolutely gorgeous and surreal.  Unfortunately, no clouds in Italy means utterly relentless sunshine.  Unless you are in the shade, you are most likely uncomfortable.  This was an open-air audience, in the big area with the obelisk. (I'm sorry, I'm blanking.  It's not quite a courtyard...) We were sitting facing the window outside of the Popes's bedroom, from where new Popes are announced and the Pope often stands and waves to the people.
5. He was a rather little man, I must say.  But he's clearly an intellectual, and was able to speak several languages very well.  Except English... I almost understood the Italian better than the English! ;)
6. There were blessings given in Italian, English, German, Spanish, Polish, and Portuguese.  He also gave a sermon (I think??) but I didn't understand a word. 
7. After the audience ('twas a very long audience), we went to lunch with a couple from our committee.  They're British, and it was great fun.  British humor (I'm sorry, "humour") is my favorite kind, and I had fun using their accent.  In fact, all my thoughts sound British in my head, which is really very strange.  But I have a problem that's actually really embarrassing.  When I hear people speaking with another accent, I accidentally start using it.  It's a struggle to keep my own!  I hope no one notices...
8. After lunch, we headed to the Vatican Museum and got a tour.  We didn't have to wait in the queue (See, British again) and after gathering everyone together, we went right in.  It was a guided tour, and very interesting.  I would love to go back one day when my legs are fresh and I'm not already tired, because I feel like I wasn't able to retain much.  But honestly, that's a constant feeling in Rome.  It's so overwhelming, and you just get this sense that there's no WAY you're ever going to know it all.  I've resigned myself to that, but I'm trying to learn as much as I can.
9. It's very late, so I don't have anything deep or interesting to say about anything else, really.  I was going to write this post tomorrow, but I realized I just haven't got the time.  I'm quite a busy bee lately.  
10. Oh, and a quick message for my Uncle Marshall... I got my parents to like brussels sprouts! Victory is ours!
11. To the rest of you: Uncle Marshall made a delicious recipe (which I will share with you sometime) for brussels sprouts that actually isn't vomit-inducing, and in fact quite delicious.  I made it for myself and my mum (British: YES) and it was so, so, so good.  I made it a wee too spicy for her tastes, but I liked it a lot.  If I include less pepper, she'd love it.  And Dad liked it too.  Our family has been converted... except Will.  That's right, buddy.  You're next.

So, everyone, I bid you adieu.

Or should I say, "Cheerio."

Random Dozen, number 3!

Hey there!  Today is another meme.  I really like to do zee Random Dozen... they're fun and I don't have to think nearly as hard.  And, well, that's always nice.


1. If you had a theme song that played whenever you walked into a room full of people, what would it be?


Unwell, by Matchbox 20.  Read the lyrics, then come back here.  This whole entire blog thing?  It will make much more sense to you.  Because I promise! I'm not crazy! Just a little.... unwell!
2. Which of your shoes are your absolute favorite, and which are of the object of your most painful shoe-buyer's remorse?


Well, my favorite shoes are my slippers.  Because my toes don't like to be confined.  But I will say, I like cute shoes.  Based on comfort, it's the slippers... Based on cuteness?  My wedge espadrilles.  They look a lot better on (and they are a bit higher of a heel than they look on the site), and mine are more flesh-toned.  They look great with jeans.  I'm a high heel girl, all the way.  Buyer's remorse... well... I don't really get that much.  I mean, I'll get blisters once in a while, but it's never to a point of "I wish I didn't buy those."  Now that I think about it, I take cuteness over comfort.  
3. Tell about your favorite birthday celebration that you've personally experienced.


My birthday parties are generally with extended family on the mainland, USA, because we usually visit in the summer and I'm a July baby.  But my eleventh birthday party was my first party with just friends, and it was a spa party.  It was such a fun time!  

4.If you were a flavor of ice cream, which would you be?


Coffee.  Because I'm pretty sure, by now, that that stuff has probably leaked into my veins.
5. Have you ever had a crush on a movie star? Who was it, and are you still crushing?


Me?  NEVER!


Ha.  No, seriously, yes.  And a million times yes.  First it was Aaron Carter, a very popular singer when I was a kiddo.  (Oh come on, you know I'm not the only one.  His version of I Want Candy?!  It was worth a swoon or two back then. )  Then it was... well, the oldest one I can remember is Chris Pine from Princess Diaries 2, and that one still holds because the new Star Trek?  Loved it.  Also, I'm currently obsessed with Joseph Gordon-Levitt from Inception.  


Now that I've completely embarrassed myself, let's move on!
6. Glasses or braces--if you had to wear one, which would it be?


Speaking as a girl who just got her braces off a few months ago, GLASSES.

7.If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?


I miss Hawaii.  I love Rome, but if I could move back there once this tour is over, I would.  And that's not to say I'm not excited about moving to Brussels.  But Hawaii is home, home is Hawaii.  

8. If money were no obstacle, what would be the perfect birthday gift to receive?

A Macbook.  My Dell?  I love her, but sorry, toots, you'd be out the window if I got a Mac.

9. What is your favorite birthday meal?


CAKE!


I'm sorry what?  Meal?  Oh.  Eh... steak and potatoes?  I don't know.


CAKE!
10. Do you still send hand-written thank you notes?


Yes, I do.  Not only would my mother be frustrated if I didn't, but I like to do that.  I didn't used to like it, but I appreciate letters now.  I love to get them, so I love to send them.
11. What is something you've done that you never thought you'd do?


Um, live in Hawaii?


Um, live in Rome?


'Nuff said.

12. Mount Rushmore honors four US Presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. If you could add any person to Mount Rushmore, who would you add and why?


Any person?  Well, if you're asking for another president up there, I'd say President Reagan.  I like that guy!  But if any person?  Hmm.... I really can't answer that.  If I said a single family member, it would alienate the other family members, and I really can't think of a person outside of my family right now because, well, I'm not very imaginative at this juncture.  Sorry.  So, yeah, let's stick with Reagan for now.  




Th-th-th-th-th-thaaaat's all, folks!!

I'm going off the rails on a crazy train

Well, hello there, readers!

It's been a few days.  Life in this house lately has been... a unique experience.

First off, let me just say, I am happy. My parents are home!  "What?" you ask.  "Your parents were gone?"  Why yes, yes they were.  But I wasn't about to tell the internet that my parents left!  And all those posts about my Uncle Marshall?  He was here teen-sitting me!  

Ha, ha, fooled you.

The NATO college where my dad is working brought on a "field study."  This is where the students and their spouses go to different countries and... do things.  I know the spouses get tours and get to see the sights, but honestly I have no idea what the guys are doing.  Lectures and things?

I'm clearly very perceptive.

Unfortunately, children can't go because it's expensive and blah, blah, blah.  I am very upset about this.  I'd like to give the ol' "neener, neener" in my online classes and tell everyone "Oh yes, today I'm in a cafe in PARIS... oh would you look at that! The Eiffel Tower!"  But no.

Oh, I'm kidding.  I did want to go, but with the amount of schoolwork I have, it wasn't nearly plausible.  So, I stayed home.  Bought a leather jacket. Baked some weirdo cake.  You know, the usual.

And now, my life is back to a good old crazy.  The college has things scheduled every. single. day. quite often, so I have to figure a way to stick my school in funny places in my day.  I nearly fell asleep trying to read a book on vikings directly after waking up.  Don't get me wrong, vikings are interesting, but I don't do mornings.  And that's that.  I need at the very least a good 45 minutes before my brain functions at a relatively normal speed.

Today, the spouses club, myself, and a few cute little kids strolled around the city on a FOOD TOUR.  A CULINARY WALK.  Also known as, the stuff of dreams.  There was some delightful pizza to be eaten, cheese to be inhaled, and espresso and cappucinos abounding.  Now I'm going to go run eighteen miles.

Ha.  Who am I kidding?  The blisters from my poor choice of footwear are a nice excuse to stay home.  But I did have a fun time, and I got to cuddle and push around (in strollers, not literally push them around.) a bunch of cuties.

Let me tell you... strollers and cobblestones?  Do not mix.

Neither do freshly straightened hair and wind.

Or new ballet flats and long walks.

But I wouldn't know anything about those things, would I?

I guess that makes me... I don't know.... 0.062% Megan Fox?

Hey everyone.... so, I am a minority.

Only 2% of America is like me.  TWO PERCENT!

What makes me so different?

Well...........

I have toe thumbs.

Evidence:

See?  No joke, it is not my toe.  It is my right thumb.

And did you know? Megan Fox has toe thumbs too!  She had to use a hand double in her phone commercial.  I know.  'Cause that totally makes me feel better about myself.  Or not.

Now you know.

And I'm really fast at texting.  Who knew?

October First, or, a Happy Day

It's October, everyone!

I am very excited.  Though, admittedly, a wee bit depressed that there will be no trick-or-treating this year.  (And if you're wondering, yes, in Hawaii people keep getting costumed for Halloween until... well forever.  It's not just for the little ones.)  And I had so many great ideas for costumes!!!  I can't believe that none of them will come to fruition.

Here, Italians over-prepare for cold.  No joke, I went to the market in a cardigan and jeans and was a little chilly, but the rest of the Italians were wearing leather jackets and coats.  It's unbelievable.  And I love it.

Now that I think my knee is healed, I'm going to start going to the gym.  Why am I telling you this?  For accountability.  Every time I go to the gym,  I'll tell you.  So that I feel really bad if I don't go.

So please, starting, eh, Monday, if I don't post that I've been going to the gym, yell at me in the comments.  I beg you.  Guilt works for me.

Also, I'm very excited about something else that's going to happen today, but I can't tell you until tomorrow.  Sorry.

Pins and needles.  I am sure you are on them.

Now, enjoy your October, my friends .

My name is Marshell... oh no.. that's not the first time I've done that...

I think I just died laughing.

This YouTube video, I think, requires a very... different sense of humor.



Hehe.  Hang gliding on a dorito.  Pfft.

I'm going to go watch it again.

New: Ground Beef Hand Moisturizer!

Hey y'all.

I'm here today with another food post.  Please don't shoot me.

I made SLIDERS!  The cutest little buggers in the food industry.

I started out with some thawed ground beef, and proceeded to knead some Worcestershire (JUST A TOUCH) some heavy cream and some salt and pepper into the beef.  (You can thank Pioneer Woman for the majority of this recipe, by the by.  It took me approximately 4 or 89 minutes to wash the grease off my hands.  But now they.. feel... freakishly smooth....

After forming them into patties, I chopped up one clove of garlic and put it in a pan (my idea! my idea!) with some butter and oil.  I let that get nice and hot, and then I dropped the patties in there.  At this point, I was very excited.  I cooked those up for a couple minutes on each side (medium heat) and VOILA!

I didn't have any biscuits or buns, so I cut end pieces from a bread loaf into four pieces.  Yeah, they're that tiny.  And I wanted you to see how cute, but I still haven't found my camera cord, so I took a few quick pictures using my terrible lovely webcam.

This is me being very excited to taste, and frightened that it will be awful (I always feel this way when I cook something new):

This is me chewing, tasting, wondering, exploring, and taking it all in:

And this is me after seeing how flippin' delicious these things are:

I exploded. They killed me dead.