I was just reading some of our old entries (and fixing broken picture links) when I stumbled upon the entry in which Caitlin L. admits that she started writing a romance novel.  HELLO?!?!  I think we need excerpts here!!!

 Can we just say I’m practicing housewifery this month. And it blows.  Okay, I can see how some people would think that not having to go to work and being able to stay home and do whatever you want all day would be the best thing in the world.   And to an extent, I am enjoying it.  But on the other hand, I seriously never leave the house, and I feel that’s not exactly a healthy situation.  I’m starting to get rather bored, though I am pursuing some special projects that I’ve been wanting to purse for a long time.  I hate not making money, no question about that.  Mostly, I just feel like I’m wasting my talents–the world NEEDS me!!!  I feel like I’m not a contributing member of society!!  HELP!

*Deep breath* I have an interview tomorrow morning with the president/principal (I’m not exactly sure which because in Italian I think they sort of mean the same thing…) of some kind of a school.  Vague, right?  I think it’s a sort of professional/technical school that also helps people find jobs…or something like that.  I’ve been to this “school” several times already, but it just doesn’t feel like a school to me, I guess that’s why this is sort of confusing.

 Anyways, the president/principal is apparently organizing some sort of project in which American chefs come to Italy for 6 months (for the next three years) and Italian chefs go to America for six months.  And they might need someone to help organize the program who speaks English and knows about the kitchen. 

I think it’s obvious to the whole world that they need ME.  Hopefully I can convince this Prez. of the same thing tomorrow morning, in Italian. 

Yeah, thanks for the good luck cards.  Eeeeeeeeeeeee.

Actually, I’ve gotten to the point where I’m not even that scared to go on these interviews anymore.  My language skills are what they are, and there’s no point belabouring the point, right?

The other project I’m pursuing is sort of a wine education/marketing/import/export thing.  It’s insane.  Basically, two guys (in their 30s) who have doctorates in enology have been working as wine consultants for the past two years.  (They go to winemakers who need help making better wines and guide them, showing them new techniques and practices, machinery, etc. that will help them make better wines).  They’ve decided that the winemakers they are consulting for need help marketing and selling their wines, in Italy, Europe, Asia and the US.  So, I’m sort of half-helping them start this new branch of their “business”.  But, it’s not what I really want to be doing, especially not in the illegal and backhanded way they’re going about it.

 I bought Luca and I one of those big excercise balls for Christmas.  Fun!  Does anyone know a good ball workout video?

We went to Luca’s house by the sea this weekend and it was a lot of fun.  (Good to get out of the house!)  The weather was beautiful–we hit the open market on Saturday morning, had fresh pineapple and ham sandwhiches for lunch, went for a long walk on the boardwalk, and then Luca made a great pasta sauce with sundried tomatoes and Ligurian basil for dinner.  Yummerz.  On Sunday his cousin and her boyfriend came up for the day and we gourged ourselves with fried fish (well, I mostly ate the french fries b/c I’m not a big fan of fish lately).

This morning I walked down the street to our little grocery store to get some breakfast supplies.  There were three choices of cereal: Cocoa-Puffs, Chocolate Rice Krispies, and an extremely shady brand of corn flakes.  I got chocolate rice krispies, but realize that I may have to go out to the real grocery store soon.  I feel so isolated here!  Like, what is my problem, am I not capable of making the 5 minute drive to a real grocery store?!  I have my own car (which is now sporting new rear brakes-augh).

So, anyways, I guess things are pretty alright.  I’m looking forward to Caitlin’s wedding and catching up with you all!!