The Little Prince

So you know, I was torn when creating this blog whether I would reference "Le Petit Prince" or Winnie-the-Pooh. Both are quite close to my heart, and I quote from each liberally. I thought it might help/focus my writing a bit, and it would give me a theme.

Visiting the BFF this week, as always we find ourselves watching old episodes of "Sex and the City." That Carrie, I have to admit she is a bit of a muse for me. I have always loved the way they set up her writing revolving questions about life and love and such.

At any rate, since I have found myself dating a bear (story to follow), I decided to become a little bear rather than a diva...especially since I found him by leaving my corner of the forest.

So, I now begin a new adventure with a new blog.

New beginnings

So I had to kill my last blog because of a freaky stalker. I have no idea of whom she is or what she wants, but I know that life's too short to mess with the crazies of the world.

That left me trying to figure out what my next blog incarnation would be like. I have always been a lover of Winnie-the-Pooh, and since I find myself dating a bear of my own, it seemed like the right thing.

So, I shall take from the wisdom of Winnie-the-Pooh as I find myself facing life's challenges and joys. And what better way to start than with the idea that we must go out into the world leaving our own corner of the forest upon occasion.

So, welcome to my corner of the forest.

Rome Day 3

Hell, I don't even know where day 2 went. If you want the blow by blow, go to skips website. This is much more random. Ok, so today we went to the coliseum. However, we have a student that came late because she was sick, so the rest of the group went to the Tivoli Garden's, and I stayed here to greet Maddie. She chose to stay in the hotel and rest, so it has been a relaxing afternoon.

It's a shame I didn't need another nap because it is a rainy day and perfect weather for the nap. Of course, that potentially makes the Tivoli Garden's (a primarily outdoor activity) a good thing to have missed today. I haven't heard yet whether it rained there too. I did manage to find a light sweater to replace my fleece which will allow me to return Kelly's sweater to her.

I'm actually enjoying afternoon tea in the hotel lobby...not the same as an old fashioned English tea, my food consists of "biscuits" I think it is some kind of fruit bread of sorts. It's ok, but it is also making my stomach hurt. Would have gone for a cosmo but he had no cranberry juice. Sigh.

Now that I've had a little tea though, I am feeling slightly sleepy.

The kids have been great. No problems there. We have to get up super early tomorrow to head to Naples and then Sorrento. Hoping we aren't having to walk too far to dinner tonight...

Rome Day 1

I can't get the pictures to do right: so let me just tell you. Travis corrected me when I told him he was an idiot. He is missing the embarrassment gene. He certainly does make the trip fun.

The couple kissing? Really my favorite. They start kissing and the guy grabs his camera and turns it around so that it is facing them and he could take 360 kissing shots. Not kidding. Weirdo

Last night Skip posted on his trip sight and dropped all the pictures in. We had to review the fact that I have a tendancy to take very strange pictures and perhaps the parents don't want to see some ladies' ass hanging out at the pantheon. Maybe.

Yesterday we got to see small children having total meltdowns. The photos don't do any of it justice, so I didn't include them.

For instance, what's up with the bikes this year? It would be group after group riding through the street where we were eating lunch. Best part not seen in the photo? Very large women wearing very tight pants. Such a mistake on so many levels.

Today we go to the Vatican which you might think would slow down the "what were these people thinking" photos. But actually, not so much. And yes, we did go drop coins in the Trevi Fountain...here's to wishes coming true!!

Wow. As far as diaries go

I am not doing very well, now am I? Yikes. Well, obviously back from Africa. It was good. Not sure how a relationship is going to work since they don't even really have internet, but it was an interesting trip and I'm glad I went. My basic summary is that it was hot (about like Texas in the summer, the bathrooms are GODAWFUL, literally I have never walked into so many restrooms and just not known what to do, and the people are incredibly nice. Yup. That sums it up.

The end of school was fine. Not too many complaints, just a little bit of crazy, not too much. We set up and passed out from the small auditorium which was awesome. We had room, they were organized, definitely want to try to do that again!! The yearbook looks amazing, and we got almost all of them passed out, so that is awesome. It was a weird end of school, but that is for a different post.

Buddy is happily staying with his grandparents. Not sure his grandparents are as happy, but what the heck.

I am now on a plane with 28 graduated seniors headed to Italy for two weeks. Other than the fact that I already seemed to have pulled my fleece out of my backpack and left it somewhere in DFW airport, and the plane was totally delayed due to some malfunction, and we are traveling for about 18 hours today, all is well. It should be a great trip, and I am hoping to keep up with the blogging either here or on skips blog. I'll paste the address at some point.

http://morans.ontheroad.to/europe2011/

My suggestion is to cross your legs

Today, I shall write about my bathroom adventures. Trust me when I tell you I am using the term "bathroom" quite loosely. First, the key is to use the restroom in the hotel and then do NOT drink fluids. Tricky, cause it is hotter than the hinges of hell, and sweat runs in rivers down the back. Smell isn't all that great either.

So, after lunch I found myself in need of the facilities. They were out back...yes, very similar to an outhouse. In fact, it was pointed out to me through a window. I asked which door is the girls...and they said either. Turns out left door was for pee, right door for poo... Luckily Andrea had already gone, so she was able to guide me through the process. It looked like a shower, but one stands on the "edge" of the shower and squats to pee. There were pipes that get turned on to flush out the pee. Turns out, unlike Andrea who was able to pee perfectly into a two inch square hole, I can't make pee in a shower stall.

The day progresses. By late afternoon I have to potty again. I'm obviously drinking way too much water because I've pretty much been peeing once day up until now. So, back at the admin building (where I know there is at least a toilet) I've accepted the fact that the toilet paper gets thrown in the trash and that this is the land of squatting, but at least it is a toilet.

I am ready to pull my pants down, but I have sweat so much that I don't actually have to unzip. Suckers just come down. Then I get my Charmin and the stuff sticks to my hands cause I am dripping. In the meantime my skivvies are all sticking to me. It was a total Charlie Foxtrot.

But, I am back at the hotel, freshly showered and thanking the good Lord for American restrooms.

Couldn't forget this

So tonight we FINALLY get the internet. Skype is our friend and calls are made. I'm ready for bed, getting snuggled down when Andrea, on skype, talking to Michelle starts telling of some of our adventures. I really need to video her telling our adventures. It brought tears to my eyes to hear them aloud.

The next time anything good happens, I'm making her tell the story and then I'll just upload it.