Hello Ladies!

So the last few weeks in Chicago have been filled with some rather big decisions. Well I guess only really two big decisions, but still…they are pretty big.
The first one is that I have decided (or atleast 99.99% decided) to go into Pediatrics. Now I know that many of you probably already thought I had made that decision already but I really didn’t know exactly what kind of doctor I wanted to be and it was kinda stressing me out.. I started my peds rotation a month ago and I am really enjoying it and I think I can get a pretty good residency in it so I am going to do it…now I just have to figure out how I go about getting that residency (I don’t apply till the fall)…but after all these years in school it is kinda wierd to be thinking about getting a job..i forgot what a pay check is like!

My other big decision is that I think I have a wedding date! Drum roll please….May 19th 2007 (or maybe May 12th)..i can’t settle on a date for some reason…it’s really wierd to actually pick a date and say it out loud…i guess i just figured the day would never come….or maybe I am just dreading having to plan things for real 🙂 So let me know if anyone knows for sure that one of the dates can’t work for them…cuz then I will pick the other…but mark those days on your calendars…and I am 95% sure it will be a destination wedding somewhere.. so make sure you all have cute beach dresses! more details when we figure it out..unless any of you want to plan our wedding …shira was always good at theme parties (hint hint)

I guess that is about it for me…I hope you are all doing well and I miss you all so much! Now that I have a date you girls have to plan some sort of “everyone buys Caitlin a drink” party!

Seeing as how it’s two months after Christmas, I figured we better get rid of the holiday theme. Good lord. I feel like I have been absolutely buried under a pile of rocks for the last three months! Sorry I haven’t posted in so long!

Things in Italy are going GREAT! At the beginning of February I switched jobs–not at all happy at the last place I was working. I now run a nine room B&B (agriturismo in Italian) in the same town where I live. It’s wonderful. I love the family I’m working with, they’re a much better fit for me than my last employers. And now that I walk to work, I’m saving 200 euro a month on gas! Ding! The Burlotto family also has a world-renowned winery–that’s their main business, the agriturismo is the secondary. So I’ll be expanding my wine education as well. I’m working on an english version of our website that will be available before the end of the month–so keep your eyes open if want to hear more!

Luca and I are still happily together and have decided to move in together this summer. He’s building an apartment behind where I’m living now. It’s pretty hot, I have to say. There’s a wrought-iron spiral staircase that goes up three floors. The kitchen (which we picked out together) is on the second floor with our new pellet stove.

I know, what you’re thinking: “pellet stove?” Wood here is not as abundant as it is in the US. Because of this, firewood is ridiculously expensive and a little difficult to come by. So we decided to take the more economical route and get a pellet stove instead of a wood burning stove. The pellet stove uses little bits of compressed wood and burns them one at a time. You still see a big flame and it heats very efficiently! I’m a little disappointed that it’s not a real fireplace, but money-wise a fireplace just doesn’t make sense–at least we’ve got the next best thing!

The pellet stove will go in the kitchen, which is also extremely hot. The cabinets are half panna (the color of cream) and half aluminum (the top cabinets are one color and the bottom another, but I can’t remember which is which right now…) I convinced Luca to spend a little extra money on the domestic appliances so I’m excited about cooking in the new cucina! The place I’m in now (Luca’s grandma’s old apartment) doesn’t have a working oven and two of the burners on the stove don’t work. Not exactly optimal conditions for someone as interested as I am in cooking.

So the dining room and kitchen are combined in one room on the second floor. On this floor there’s also our bedroom and a bathroom (with fire engine red tiles!). The ceilings are all wooden beams. The narrowing spiral staircase continues up to a loft–also all in wood with slanting ceilings and a skylight. I think we’re going to make this a living room – office type of space with lots of cabinets for storage.

I have to say, this is one move I’m actually looking forward to. (Now that I’ve successfully managed to consolidate my worldly belongings–everything I own fits into three and a half suitcases–Yeah baby yeah!)

On the personal front, my goal this month is to seriously start exercising again as I am ridiculously out of shape. Blech. Sometimes when I stop and think about what I’ve done this year it baffles me. I freaking moved to another country, learned the language on the fly, found a great new boyfriend who has a wonderful family (they’ve been so helpful, I don’t know what I would do without them!), moved twice, wrote a resume in a foreign language that landed me a great job, and bought a car!

The things I miss the most about living in the United States are you guys and my family. I seriously haven’t found any girlfriends here yet at all. Yeah, when we go out together, I talk to Luca’s friends who are girls, but I haven’t yet really related with an Italian female. The guys are great in terms of starting new friendships. A lot of them are still very connected to the old chauvanistic ways of their fathers and grandfathers. But at least they’re not haughty and bitchy like the girls! Oh well. I’m trying to keep an open mind and not be too stereotypical. Hopefully in the next entry I’ll be able to report that I have a new great girlfriend!

I’m starting a private research project that involves getting familiar with the history of the area. There are so many castles and interesting places to visit. I’m determined to go see them all and really understand what happened in these places’ pasts. Also reviewing nearby restaurants and writing some short stories.

I miss you all desperately!! When are you coming to visit??!! The next time I’m planning a trip home is for Christmas. But I’m hoping to stay in the states for at least a month if not two, so I should have a little time to come visit some of you. Hope you’re all doing well! Hugs and kisses!

Hi everyone who I have or have not spoken to recently!!! I miss you all so much! I’m sorry I have been a blog pooper. So what have I been up to recently? Working a lot, still working at barnes and noble. Sometimes i love it and sometimes i’m ready to retire. For those who have not heard, I am also recently single. Tom and I broke up about a week before christmas, so I am currently enjoying the single life and time to myself. I’ve been on only two very bad dates so far but it’s kind of cool to be part of the “dating scene” even if it’s the lower part :). The day after the break up I decided to fall (in a rather boring and stupid way) and break my foot. I think I only have to wear the cast for two more weeks. Yay! I went to california a couple weeks ago to visit my sister and I was got to see Dawn and Carrie. We had a great time! So I think that’s all that’s going on with me. I will try to be better and write more. By the way, Shira, i’m so jealous that you’re in italy. I’m watching Under the Tuscan Sun and you are totally her. Anyway, please be well everyone. I miss you all!

Howdy gals! How the heck are you all? I’ve been getting bits and pieces of information here and there about all of you. I’ve been doing the traveling nurse thing for almost a year now. I drove from NY to California last March to work in Orange County… yes, the “O.C” itself. I really really loved it there. The hospital was great, I made tons of friends, I was able to hang out with Dawn, and the weather was absolutly amazing everyday! I was sad to leave but as a travler I cannot really stay in once place more than a year. So, after 10 months I applied elsewhere and ended up in San Francisco. It’s an amazing city. So different from where I just was. Tons to see and do – that’s what I love! If all goes well with the hospital I may extend here until July I think. Besides that I hate packing and moving! Ha! What a silly job for me to get involved with! So, as you can see, I’m hanging in there. No BF as usual. Decided I’ll be a young old maid. Hahaha… Hey, this is a big city – who knows what can happen. Hope you are doing well. I’ll try to check the entries more often. Drop a line or give me a call anytime. Miss you all!!!
~Laura 🙂

Buon Anno a tutte! Has anyone heard from Jen lately? Jen are you out there?!?! What’s new?! I miss you all desperately! Italian women just don’t compare to the Binghamton Ladies. I am so sick of the all-too-familiar haughty, glazed-over, fish-eye stare. All the girls our age and the next generation older are scarily similar: most have them have dyed their already dark hair black and straightened it flatter than flat, seem to be ridiculously preoccupied with their cell phones, and full of unintellectual, uninteresting conversation. I know that’s a grave generalization. It is what I have found to be true thus far however. I have not met a single girl here that I relate with or can even talk to!! I’m hoping that you all decide to move here soon.

I had a wonderful Christmas and New Year’s Eve! It would have been nice to spend some time with friends, but when you see your family for one week a year, you have to prioritize. Luca and I went to LeRoy for about 10 days and bonded with the fam (WHAT an experience that was!) and then headed to Los Angeles for another 10 days. Originally we had planned on being in CA for 3 but then good old Uncle Gerry & Aunt Brenda extended our tickets. (Can I get any more spoiled?)

I was interested to see how my family would receive Luca, seeing as how all the other guys I’d ever brought home had never been great successes. Luca was a totally different experience. I swear to God that he fits into the family almost better than I do!! It was great, everyone loved him, and we had a wonderful time! I was afraid too that it would be tiresome for me translating all the time (Luca speaks literally 3 words of English: Hello & You are Welcome). He kept assuring me that communicating wouldn’t be a problem. (His explanation along the lines of “I’m like the Pope. People will understand me no matter what language I speak.”)

So we made the trip home and it turned out to be true–my mom and brothers and he spoke Spanish while he and my Dad developed a new language of their own (i.e. they both invented English words that vaguely resembled Italian/Spanish and used a lot of hand gestures).

This year, my parents got the biggest Christmas tree you’ve ever seen inside a house. I am not even kidding. It took up half of the living room! I am Not exaggerating. It was beautifully humungous. We spent lots of time drinking nice wine in front of the fireplace and laughing. I took the Italian stallion on a five minute tour of my home town. (Every tour of LeRoy takes about five minutes because that’s all you need to see everything there is to see). The highlight of the tour was our stop at S&S Limousines where we pretended we were getting married and got to go inside Humzilla.

In addition, we went to Rochester a couple of times, but mostly to the mall. Towards the end of our stay I started to feel guilty for not showing him around the city more and so we visited the George Eastman House and went for an apperitivo (before-dinner drink) at Two Vine.

Then off to California for New Year’s. We had dinner at Melissè on New Year’s– where I did a stage (worked for free) couple of years ago. Yummers!! We also ate at several other great restaurants:
Josie’s
Takao (Sushi!!)
The Biltmore Hotel
Patina
Valentino

We did a bunch of other things too, including going to a LA Philharmonic Orchestra concert at the new Disney Concert Hall. Hotness! Hope you all had wonderful winter breaks!

Happy New Year Ladies!
I hope you all had a great holiday season…did anyone get any exciting presents? I didn’t really get anything too exotic..unless you count penguin socks as exotic. I was home for a week around xmas (shira you should have let me know you were in town..ugh!!! we were so close!!)..then I came back here for New years…got nice and drunk…oh and i guess the wierdest thing to happen over break was that Sam’s parents asked if I would call them “mom and dad”…it was so wierd and unnatural…i mean we aren’t married yet…so we will see how often I whip that phrase out…

speaking of wedding…we are still thinking destination wedding…probably next may/june…so all you girls start saving your pennies and picking out bathing suits 🙂

not too much else happening..i am excited to hear new news about francis’s boytoy…did you two exchange gifts or go out for new years? and i can’t wait to hear how shira’s boy did without english in leroy..hope all is well with all of you and i hear that chicago is the best place to visit in 2006 😉

Happy Holidays, Ladies!! What are you all up to? What are the exciting New Year’s Eve Plans this year? Where will everyone be for the holidays? I’m heading home for Christmas and then going to visit Uncle G and Auntie B in Santa Monica for New Year’s. Do I even need to tell you how excited I am? SO excited. Luca’s coming with me too, so that will be extra fun! (For us at least, seeing as how he doesn’t speak a word of English, I’m not sure how fun it’s going to be for him. lol. I’m hoping he’s going to pick up the language quickly!). I miss you all tons–it feels like we’re all so far away!! Hope you’re having fun getting ready for the holidays and making party plans! P.S. I’ve posted some new pictures on HotShots. Hugs and Kisses,

hey ladies,

so i have got some good news…..i finally met an awesome guy! we met through the powers of JDATE. he is 31, persian, jewish, radiologist resident and enjoys my sense of humor!! he is 6’2″, brown hair and gorgeous brown eyes. his name is arash. we have been on 4 amazing dates and both feel like we have known the other person for years! on our 1st date we went to this mexican restaurant and my food was a little too spicy. he actually volunteered to switch his dinner with me. on our 2nd date we went to a comedy club and then out dancing. our 3rd date we had dinner, saw the show AVE Q, and headed to this wine/cheese/chocolate fondue bar, then we ended up back at his apt. (such a good kisser!! 0:-) ). our 4th date we hung out at his apt, watched movies, ordered a pizza, got ice cream, milk and cookies. yesterday he left for the caribean and california for 2 weeks. (he is originially from los angeles). he actually called me from the caribbean, just to say he had a great time the night before and that he wished i was there wit him. he has also told his mother about me. (his mother has a phd in clinical psychology and is a marriage counselor). we have only known each other for like 3 weeks and its just absolutely amazing.

so yea…thats what i have been up to. finally i meet a decent guy!! and the fact that he is persian AND jewish is even better. 🙂 suprisingly the age thing is not an issue at all. i call him grandpa all the time.

will keep everyone updated!
~frances

I was on my way to school yesterday, and this older guy let my car into his lane when I was getting off the highway. I waved a thank you when he first motioned, and again when I got in front of him, and then the light changed so I was sitting in front of him. I looked in my rear view mirror and he was getting out of the car! I rolled down my window as he was coming towards me thinking, what the heck is going on? He clearly motioned for me to come in, and I know we didn’t hit each other… when he got to my car, he smiled and said, “I went to Binghamton too! A couple of years before you did, but still! I had no idea when I let you in, but I just had to tell you!” I agreed that it was a funny coincidence, and that Binghamton was a great school. Then the light changed and we went our seperate ways.

very bizarre, especially after having read caitlin’s entry early that day and having Bingo on the brain. hope you ladies are doing well, what’s new with everyone? Holiday Season Approaches!

Hey ladies – what is everyone so busy being fabulous that they have no time to update me?! So I’m posting not only because its been too long, but because I went to the Binghamton alumni website and right there at the top is a picture of Dawn and Laura!! In their cap and gown!! Check it out – our famous ladies! Nothing new with me. Applying to business schools soon and will be taking the GMAT – cross your fingers!