hey ladies,

this weekend marks the 2 year anniversary of us graduating!! (can we say holy s***?!) i am sooooooo proud of each and everyone of us! what i am not proud of is my non-existent love life. i have been doing some research online and can you believe there are NO JEWISH NUNS?!?! so i was thinking….(and please feel free to provide any input) that maybe i should forget this Phd thing and apply to a convenant. since i am not meeting any hotties, i might as well provide help to the needy and less fortunate!!

so yea……please feel free to provide your opinons on my plan. also, given that i dont really know much about catholicism, i would appreciate some helpful facts which would help make my applications look better.

xoxoxo

Ciao, Amice (girlfriends)! Well, things are getting interesting here in Piemonte…not that they weren’t before, but let’s just say things on the social scene have escalated quite a bit of late. I’ve been to a couple of discotece (nightclubs) with Cristiana and Luciano (the chicken farmers I talk about all the time), another couple who are friends of theirs, and this group of guys who are about our age…well 28ish. I can’t wait till you come visit, b/c we seriously are going to be professional level dancers here. I don’t know how to explain it without making broad generalizations, but you’ll see (when you come) that our style of dancing is in an entirely different league!

So, I’m developing a group of guy friends that are a hell of a lot closer to my age than anyone else I’ve met thus far, so that’s very exciting–as you can imagine. And, Carmela, the woman who runs the circolo and who I’ve been volunteering my Sundays to as a waitress/pastry chef, bought me a cell phone yesterday. So, between the friends and the phone I feel a little more human now.

In other news, I rode a motorcycle for the first time on Sunday and had my first date with a full-blooded Italian! Whoa, Nelly. And that’s both at the same time. So, the date. His name is Luca, he’s an electrician, about the same height as me with dark hair, tan from working outside a lot (that part kind of sucks–lol—joking!!), and (surprise, surprise!) he’s older than me, though I’m not exactly sure exactly how old b/c I didn’t understand every word of that conversation, and his birthday was May 6th, so he may have just turned 31 or 32, but I’m not really sure.

He’s been working on the castello with his dad, who is the master electrician for the castle (family trade). That’s how we met. Then one day we were talking about the weather (one of the few topics my limited vocabulary allows me to converse about), and he mentioned he had gone for a giro on his moto the day before. (In Italian, when you go for a drive, or go somewhere to do something they say literally that “you make a turn” or fai un giro). I mentioned that I had never ridden a motorcycle before and he was astounded! Baffled! Just could not believe it, so he invited me to go for a ride (on his custom, silvery-green Harley Davidson).

Now, I’m not sure how many of you have ridden motorcycles before, but having never ridden one myself, you can imagine I was a little anxious. Especially considering the fact that traffic laws in Italy seem to be optional and speed limits don’t really pertain. Then Denise gave me some pointers on how not to fall off. I’ll share these with you now in case you have an opportunity to ride sometime in the near future:

1. Scoot up as close to the driver as possible and hang on.
2. Use your legs to hang on too–riding on the back of a moto doubles as your inner thigh workout for the day–ding!
3. Perhaps the most important rule is to relax and try to be one with the bike’s motor.
4. Lean INTO the turns, not away from them. It’s difficult for the driver to steer with the added weight on the back, but you can help by leaning and copying the driver’s movements.
5. Put vaseline on your lips before you go, drink a glass of water, and wear goggles or glasses underneath your helmet. P.S. Make sure your helmet is on tight. (Be prepared to swallow at least 5 bugs). Buon Divertamento!

Anyways, the ride was incredibly fun!! And hardly scary at all! Luca made a point of driving carefully and not passing too many people. He showed me a beautiful park on the top of a hillside and took me out for gelato.

We’re going out again on Friday–this time to Saluzzo for dinner. I’m not sure if we’re taking the moto or not…

Ladies!! I discovered the most wonderful spa the other day!!! You all have to come visit at the same time so we can have a spa day together. It’s not even that expensive and is at a five star hotel in the middle of Italian wine country. Hellow!! More pics and details soon…

So guess who got to meet Oprah?! Not only meet her, but eat lunch with her while discussing her new “book of the month”!?! She is much prettier in person and her diamonds on her ears and fingers are amazing! We really hit it off and I got some tickets to go see the show whenever i have the chance. And the book wasn’t that bad either!
What else have I been up to..hmm…oh I was shopping downtown and decided i would give a bum some extra change. So i plopped a few coins in his cup and instead of just saying thank-you, he stood up and said “i am not actually a bum, but a Ph.D student running an experiment. You just participated in it so here is $100 for being so nice”. So then i went and bought some more clothes!

So did you believe any of that? well if you didn’t believe that then perhaps what i have really been up to is nothing very exciting execept studying (last day of class tomorrow, then two weeks of finals!)…me and sam did get an apartment downtown. Its on the 12th floor, we have a doorman and a gym, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops! so you will all have to come and see it! Maybe if you come I’ll invite Oprah over so you can meet her! I found out that i start sugery on July 4th! UGH!!! so that will be all of july and august…i have to be there by 5 am!! I can’t imagine me in surgery!!

I hope you are all doing well. Please post about your trips and new jobs and all the exciting things you ladies are up to! I miss you tons!

The last day of the semester is May 3rd. The last day of the semester is May 3rd. That has become my mantra lately. I think of all you brilliant ladies, and I am so impressed (careers, med school, doctorate degrees, good heavens). I am still suffering from my undergrad tendancies to procrastinate beyond all reason, and I now have three research papers and a book critique due in a week! (to make matters worse for myself, I wanted to hand the research in early so that the prof. could get it back to me for corrections; I don’t know how that is going to work out.) in fact, I am supposed to be writing, or at least reading the articles right now, but I have become paralyzed by my fear, just sit there staring because there is so much I can’t find a place to begin, and end up doing something completely unrelated! The last day of the semester is May 3rd…

On a non-school related note, Josh has asked me to move in with him! I’m excited and nervous and to be honest, not sure how to make it all work out. My roommate jenny and I are not nearly as close as it seemed when we moved in together, so I’m not really concerned about the loss of friendship there, but I do feel obligated to her a little since we only moved in October and I kind of convinced her that she should moved out of her parents house and in with me. But after much discussion with my sister, josh, and friends at the bank, I think I have a plan. Jenny is planning on an internship this summer, and one not in the area. Although she always seems to have money (soo frustrating) I can’t imagine her wanting to pay two rents. In addition, with her gone, I would have to cover all the utilities and cable (seeing as she wouldn’t be using them or even know what half would be) and quite frankly, I can’t do that. SO, the plan is to sit down with her and discuss this all, hopefully coming to the conclusion that I am moving out and she is welcome to take over the lease here (it’s month to month in my name) or move out too. I’m just really nervous to talk to her about it. it will probably work out fine, but there’s a chance it won’t, and that’s what makes me nervous. plus, we practically never see each other, so I don’t know when to even have the conversation. aahh!!

so, I feel like everything will be resolved and I will only have ONE class and two jobs to be juggling this summer, and I can’t wait. it’s a bit of a bummer since spring is my favorite season, but this year, it is entirely too stressful. hope all is well with you guys, I’m guessing everyone is busy, but I can’t wait for updates!!

Hello Ladies!
I was reading all your entries and thought that if Shira managed to post something that I should too! I don’t have anything much exciting to report. Me and Sam have started looking for a new apartment in the city for June. So that is very exciting! For those of you who might not have realized, I have been living in a really boring suburb of Chicago that is like an hour away from downtown. So I can’t wait to move downtown!!! I am excited that me and sam are going to sign a lease together and all that. I mean he has been living here all year but it’s still exciting to find a place together and furnish it and all that (esp cuz he is making money so maybe we can get non-salvation army furniture!)…just think…after over 6.5 years i might be living officially with my fiance!
Not much else going on …i did have to go to an autopsy yesterday (it was required for a class)…and that was the grossest most disturbing thing i have ever had to watch! and that is saying something after my anatomy class and doing butt exams! Oh the life of a med student! Ugh!
I miss you all tons!

Hello everyone!! So I’m off to Spain on Friday for 10 days! I’m going to visit Luis, drink sangria and eat lots of tapas!! I need to get out of New York and away from the job for at least a little bit. Has anyone heard from Shira? I was hoping to visit her little piece of Italian paradise for a night…. Even an address? Let me know!! Oh and news – Craig is moving in with me!! Erin is moving back to Buffalo (why, oh please why) to start a store. She’s taking the leather couches her boss gave her as well . I am going to be bitter about it even if I would do the same thing, cause, dammit! Thems is nice couches. So anyways Craig and I are going to be the fearsome Brooklyn duo now!
I also would like to know who socrates is and how I can kick his faceless, cowardly ass! You know who you are and you suck. We should seriously look into having to sign in to comment. Oy. Hope you are all doing well my darlings!! Shout outs!!!

hey ladies,

its been great reading everyones entries. i am sooooooo proud of us! as for myself……….i recently received my acceptance letter to City College Graduate Center’s Phd Program in Developmental Psychology. I could not stop laughing when I first read the email and then there were some tears and then more laughter. The school is basically a few blocks away from where I live. I can take classes at any university in nyc at city collge price. The program is 5-10 years depending on how many credits you take at once. I am still shocked and hoping it will all digest soon. Just as I had gotten used to being a working woman………i am back off to school. things really have a way of happening.

hugs and kisses to everyone!

boy, there sure is a lot of snow and cold today for the fifth day of spring. =) I hope everyone is doing well! Things here are busy but good. I love my job at the bank, and I think that I will be dropping off an application to work at my gym instead of Eastern Mountain Sports. They just haven’t been able to give me any hours. I applied to work at Motherwear where my sister works, but they had no hours to give me either. So, the gym is my new idea and I’m hoping it works out.
My birthday was fantastic! I went out to the Olive Garden for dinner with my sister, brother-in-law, and josh. I had my all-time favorite dish (seafood portifino, mmmm, and there is nothing I have to pick out!) and we laughed, were very silly, and just had a ball. We went pretty late so that all of us were done with work, so Josh and I went to the movies the next night, which was fun too. My big present from him though was we went to Vermont on St. Patrick’s day and I went snowboarding!! It was a blast! I think I’m hooked, although I was wicked sore the next day from spending so much time on my butt. =)
Josh’s birthday is Saturday, and then my sister’s in-laws invited me to come to Easter dinner with them so I won’t be lonely. Next weekend I’m heading back to new york to celebrate my little brother’s twenty-first birhday (I can’t believe it!!) and show josh the Adirondacks, which I’m really looking forward too.
Caitlin, good luck with the studying! Jen, congrats on the new job! Shira, hope things are fabulous in Europe! Frances, hope things are still rockin’ in NYC, you too Caitlin L! Dawn-the-girl, where are you?!?! I miss you all tons, we NEED to have a reunion soon (I know we always say it, but I’m serious, I haven’t seen you since graduation)! love you all bunches and bunches, I think of you constantly!

HEY EVERYONE!!! I haven’t read anyone’s entry’s yet so excuse me for not responding to anything i should. I just wanted to update everyone quick. I have really exciting work news. I got another promotion. I’m now going to be working in Manhasset as a department manager. So i’m switching stores and i will have a much longer ride to work, but it’s worth it. The district manager specifically asked if i wanted to interview for this job and the manager of the store hired me on the spot…and it’s the store that the district manager’s office is in so i’m on an ego trip right now :). Oh, and i’ll probably see famouse people. It’s a really REALLY rich town on long island and LL Cool Jay lives right down the street. Apparently he comes into the store a lot, goes to the poetry section, starts reading a book, and then looks around to see who’s watching him. I think a lot of other famous people live around there too. The down side is, snoody customers, but that’s ok. I can take it. It’s a really good opportunity because of the location too. So yay. Anyway, you can tell i’m really excited about it. Besides that there’s really nothing else going on. I”m going to go read everyone’s entry’snow. I’ll talk to you all soon!!!