Ok, I admit I've been really bad about blogging. When I logged in this morning (after receiving a harsh reprimand from my sister for not writing), I was ashamed to see my last post was in August! To all my faithful fans, I apologize. I promise I'll be better.
A lot has happened in the past few utterly sober months. Nonni passed away in early October. She had been in the hospital or rehab since August and just wasn't getting any better. She lived a good life though, and her funeral was beautiful, a lot of her friends and frenemies showed up to the viewing (yes, I said frenemies).
My job was to tell Italy. Let's just say telling Italy wasn't fun. I actually had to yell it to my Great Aunt because she couldn't hear me. It went like this:
Zia Carla: "IS EVERYTHING OK?!"
Me: "NO!"
Zia Carla: "NO?!"
Me: "NO, SHE DIED!"
Zia Carla: "SHE'S DEAD?!"
Me: "YES!"
I think Kurt was trying to keep a straight face while I screamed in Italian on the phone. Later, I tried to give my aunt my address. Since she does not speak English and my address is pretty much in English, I had to spell it letter by letter in Italian. There were many problems with this. The first is that the traditional Italian alphabet does not include the letters J, K, X, and Y and both J and X are included in my address. Second, Carlina can't see, hear, or write well at all. Third, my Italian isn't perfect. Fourth, Carlina's phone reception is grainy all the time (even though it's a landline). It was a nightmare. It took a full hour, interrupted by my pleadings to just let me send her a card with my address written on it (which I did anyway). I still don't think she got it right since I haven't received the letter and telegram she sent. That's right. A telegram. I have no idea what to expect from that since I didn't even know they existed anymore. I'll update you all on the world of telegrams if I ever receive one.
Moving away from the past and into the present, I just have to say, I love Fall. I always forget that. I was driving home yesterday and there was this beautiful pink tint to everything. I just wanted to stop time and live in that color forever. I think I love Fall more this year than ever because it seems like the leaves are changing slowly and staying on the trees longer than they did in recent years, which means I actually get to notice the beautiful colors. Or perhaps it's because my new job allows me more time to see them. I'm not sure. Either way, I've been loving the colors, the crisp air, the smell of fallen leaves. It makes me want to go back to school, or go to a football game, or a hayride, or curl up under a blanket in front of my nonexistent fireplace and drink tea. Or all of the above.
Needless to say, the landscape (and the fact that I've spent a lot of time indoors due to cold/rainy weather) have inspired me. I still feel like Kurt and I live in a college apartment, devoid of color or design. We need curtains, art on the walls, a bedspread, and seating. This weekend, I went through my study abroad pictures (since those are really the only artsy ones I've ever taken) and got a few printed for the frames I bought years ago. Our newly decorated living room wall looks good and I'm onto the wall behind our bed next. I've also decided to start painting more. I know, I know. I say this constantly, but it's time. I have plenty of time after work now for hobbies, although I usually end up sitting on my bum relaxing, or running around getting ready for the next day. I vow to paint more, if for no other reason than I need art to hang on the walls and I can't afford to buy any.
On my nightstand:
I've been REALLY bad about reading lately. Now that I have no commute, my reading time is gone, or rather, otherwise allocated. I did just finish Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. This is the third book in The Hunger Games trilogy. I had been waiting for this book to publish since the moment I finished Catching Fire. I was a little disappointed by it and didn't love the ending, but it's worth the read to have an ending at all. I found Katniss to be annoying and weak in this book, when she had been so strong and confident in the prior books. The plot felt forced and lacking without the Hunger Games as a character. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed the book very much and I know my expectations were extremely high for this one, so it's not surprising that I was somewhat let down.
The next book on my "to-read list" is The Dive From Clausen's Pier. This is our newest book club pick that I plan to start reading this weekend. Stay tuned.
