Best Day Yet

Howdy Folks, 

Yesterday was a perfect day. Woke up what felt like really late, but was actually only 10:00. Got up, worked on a new short story for a while, which is coming along really well, I'm pretty excited about it. Then, there was a buzz from the buzzer on the bottom floor. Gerlando said excitedly, "I think your package is here!" I shook with excitement! It was my package finally. Khakis, new Bruce Springsteen cd, a mix from mama, GUM, a jacket, SLIPPERS, and most importantly TEA. I immediately put on the slippers and made myself a cup of green tea. Then I sat out on the balcony (It was the nicest weather I have had yet), writing my short story, sipping tea, looking out over the Mediterranean. Yeah. I did that. 

Then I set off with my camera for about an hour. Snapped some pictures of a cool old Fiat, then started taking lots of video. What I did turned into a pretty funny idea that turned into a pretty funny video I made. I'll post it now. I'm pretty proud of it. 

So came come, edited the video, ate a great lunch, (soup and tortellini), and finished the video after lunch while I digested. Then I put on my sneakers and went for an hour long run, my longest yet. I did two really big hills, and was keeping a good pace, so it felt great. Came home, showered (the light was beautiful), and when I got out of the shower Gerlando said (in italian), "I have great news, Maria is taking us to the beach!" How could this day get any better? 

So we took the beautiful ride to the beach, where Gerlando and I walked around for a while. The light was perfect, so I got some good pictures. Got some gelato, and drove home. Went to the tutor, where we drilled the future tenses and vocabulary. I went next door the home of a friend of my host mother, where we were going to have a banquet. We ate a huge Sicilian meal with a few people. Delicious. Then, Gerlando and I went to a birthday party for two girls in my class. Really fun, but I was confused about whose party it was and said "buon compleano" to the wrong girl. Ehhh. Felt pretty embarrassed about that. So many names to remember and associate with faces. Danced a bunch, hung out with my classmates. Fell asleep at 1:45. Had crazy dreams all night:

1. The night I come home from Italy its really snowy but everyone insists on going and playing on the swing set in the yard. While I was gone we had bought an iron structure that was a tree house but looked really scary and had no windows and doors, only a small hatch on the top.

2. I get forced into going to a weird bluegrass / jazz festival in this huge mud pit. Belle and Sebastian plays, but in the dream they were all Indian, and sang with really heavy Indian accents. Frustrating.

3. Trying to explain to my new class in Italian why I can't crip walk well. Involved me crip walking poorly across the room while they heckled me. This dream frustrated me so much that I had to wake up. Laid in bed annoyed for a while before falling back asleep.

Today I am going to a picnic in the country at the country house of one of my class mates. I think it will be really nice. Carnavale starts tomorrow, that promises to be pretty insane.

Hope all is well back home.

Love,

Zander