I Don't Have Tourette's, I Have A Three Tear Old

     I had to call my doctors office and my insurance company today about a bill that got denied due to incorrect billing codes.  Ethan was sleeping and Collin was coloring next to me while I made a grocery list and waited in hold. 

     The woman from the insurance company left for a full 30 seconds when she abruptly heard, "Collin, we are not watching TV because you pooped your pants while we watched Curious George!"  I had to wait for her to calm down before we could resume out discussing if the claim. 

     The guy from the billing department of the doctors office heard, "Collin!  If you spit on the couch once more, you are going to time out!"  He stopped, chuckled, and said he'd been there. Then we had a chat about the good ol' days where kids "spanked" with a leather belt for misbehaving; before resuming my request to re-code and re-bill that claim. 

     If the "quality assurance" people listen to my call, they had better out extra emphasis on my request for entertainment value. Or they'll deny it to see what I'll say when I call back next time. 

     This was after we spent 45 wasted minutes at the chiropractor this morning. Collin had a doctor's appointment, thus didn't go to school, and I was trying to make good use of the morning. I even woke Ethan up early, only for Collin to refuse to be seen!  Thank goodness he was better at the dentist, though it took some coercion. 

     This has been my public service for the day.  Somebody wish me luck as we embark upon the grocery store. 

Positano

05/14/2015

     (I got confused; we we to Positano on Thursday and Capri on Friday.  I case a reference doesn't make sense.)

     We started our day at the Hotel Margherita, which has a nice breakfast spread. I cooked at "home" and took a walk there for some espresso. They knew we weren't guests they, and still they didn't even charge us.  Free coffee is great!

     Positano is a beautiful little town right in the saddle of two mountains on the Costa D'Amalfi. It is very dense and has lots of stairs, just not as steep as Praiano.

I haven't seen that goatee in a long time!  This was a roadside photo from the stairs leading to the pizzaria.  The food was okay, but the view was great!

     We had considered staying here, but it's pretty well known, and therefore, also Tourist-y. Praiano is a 15-20 minute drive from Positano.  Assuming you can find a place to park.

     We found a little pizzeria to stop at for lunch when we got there, and then wandered around for some shopping.  We began our love of gelato here.  I'm hesitate to buy some in the States because this stuff is sooooo good; I might never stop eating it!

     We actually didn't do terribly much there. The shopping was obnoxiously expensive!  Granted, I think most of the clothing is made by hand in the back of the store, but still.  I did, however, buy some limoncello.  Turns out it was from Sorrento, the next town over.  The Costa D'Amalfi is known for their lemons, and there are lemon-everything souvenirs.  The beach in Positano is a lot like Pebble Beach in California, and I always forget how much the pebbles hurt the arch of your feet when you walk on them.  I did procure some sea glass, though.  A surprising amount of green sea glass, which I attribute to all the green beer bottles there.

     We came back to Praiano decently early and had dinner at Kasai where Canadian Tony had made us a reservation.  It's only been open for two weeks, the food was amazing!  We waited an hour before being seated, but they brought us all two glasses of Prosecco (Italian Champagne) and some appetizers. We were well taken care of.  I would definitely go back there if we have time.

I'll Wait

     It's no secret that Collin has been quite difficult, and has frequent tantrums (seemingly only at home).  One of my reactions is to tell him "I'll wait until you're done" and pretend to ignore him. 

     Tonight was a bit of a fight getting ready for bed, and he didn't want to get changed into pajamas. I was sitting in the floor out stubborn-ing him and told him, again, that it was time to get changed. 

     He began to have a big temper, then suddenly stopped, slid down the cupboard under the counter, sat with his legs straight, hands in his lap, head down and said "I'll wait."

     I couldn't control myself!  laughed out loud and asked him what we were waiting for.  He refused to look at me, maintained his position, and repeated "I'll wait."

     That's exactly how I handle his tantrums and now he's turning it back in me when we have a disagreement. It's almost as hysterically awesome as when he tells me he's mad because of something I've done. It cracks me up the things he tells me. 

Sorrento

05/17/2015

     Praiano is a primarily residential neighborhood, and Positano was exhorbitantly expensive, so we decided to head to Sorrento for some shopping in Sunday. The day we spent in Sorrento is one of my favorites, tied with Capri. Not because Sorrento was amazing, but because we had rented scooters and the ride was fabulous!

     Alana was probably the smart one, she wouldn't get in the scooter with Josh.  I took the bus with her 1) so she wouldn't be alone, and 2) I wanted Tony to have some time to get used to driving before acquiring a passenger.

    So here I am, the American tourist with my phone up against the window (minimizes the glare and reflection potential) taking pictures and hoping to get something more than trees and telephone poles. 

     I got a few good shots in.  When we got to Sorrento on the bus, we really had no idea where we were. I tried to call Tony, but that expensive international plan we paid for really didn't seem to want to work for his phone.  After a half a dozen calls, and a tons of unanswered texts, they finally stopped driving parked about 30 yards from where we were fueling up on some amazing coconut and chocolate gelato.  I've discovered a dangerous love of gelato, in case you can't tell. 

     We walked around and did some shopping before getting Alana back to the bus stop and jumping on the scooters.  After we dropped her off, we had to go back to the gas station.  While touring about trying to find us, the boys had stopped for gas for Tony's scooter.  The pump didn't take sany cards, Tony didn't have cash, and Josh only had a 50€ note.  The bill went into the matching, and 10€ worth of gas was pumped.  The receipt printed out says (in Italian) present receipt for change.  Present where?  There was nobody around.  By chance, somebody else came up and I went to use my broken Italian to ask what to do.  In my frustration I ended up switching to Spanish. And she spoke Spanish!!!! The receipt needs to be presented to the owner of the pump, who is only around in the morning.

     If there's ever a long lost relative who leaves me property, I want a parking lot/garage in San Francisco or a gas pump in Italy. Not that I'm picky or anything.  I seriously wonder how much extra that guy makes in the change that people never bother to claim.

     The drive back was absolutely beautiful. There really is something to being able to be touched by nature while traveling. Like a hike, but at high speeds.  And by high speeds, I mean 50 kph (30 mph) while squeezing passed clogged rush hour traffic, around turns that make a "hairpin" look wide, and being seriously passed up by other people on scooters.  Like the woman  in a business suit and 5" heels with a briefcase between her calves.  She passed us like we were walking.  But, still, so much fun!

     When we got home and unpacked our treasures, I realized a shirt I had bought still had that magnetic lock on it.  No wonder I set off the alarm, but they paid me no mind.  We had to go back the next day to have it removed. Darn!!!

"Staying Local" in Praiano

05/18/2015

     And by staying local, mean that we headed back to Sorrento right after breakfast to get Josh's change from the guy at the gas station and have the tag removed from my shirt.

     Getting the change was no big deal, and we were soon on our way.  About a millisecond after making a super difficult left turn across traffic, I realized I wasn't wearing a helmet.  I left it on the seat of the scooter next to ours when I was looking for a trash can for my tissue.  Josh was ahead of us and taking off like a rocket.  (Italian driving didn't take long to rub off on him.)  tony pulled over and I jumped off telling him to catch Josh and come back for me, I'd walk to the helmet.  He came back a bit later, but he hadn't found Josh. As soon as we got back through that left turn, Josh came down the street, he'd noticed we had disappeared.  We pulled over to wait for him to make yet another pain in the butt left turn, except he didn't see us and thought we'd kept going; and zoomed right passed us again.

     We tried to catch up, but we lost him.  And with him, our directions.  We didn't know where the store was exactly, so we just kept going around and around.  I could have pulled out my phone and looked up directions (I knew exactly where we needed to go), but my phone was securely locked in my bag under the seat, and Tony didn't stop.  After much meandering, we finally saw a familiar looking statue and landed where we needed to be.  Just in time to see Josh pop out of a cafe with some gelato.  I'm serious... love affair with the gelato!

     We fixed the shirt, got a snack, and headed off for "home".  We managed to return he scooter with five minutes to spare.

(We passed these statues in our walk home in a "parking lot"; read: a patio where they park a car or two. I thought they were real for a half second!). The detail is incredible, and anatomically correct, so the other pics aren't going to show up here.)

     Canadian Tony had said that I should look in the electronics store for the espresso pot I wanted.  It was nearby, although going away from town on a narrow two lane road with no shoulder.  So, of course, we walked!  Alas, the electronics store only sells electronics.  She says there is "a shop" if we walk back the way we came and take a left.  I thought I knew which left she meant, we didn't. The left we took was the route to our apartment, and there was nary a "shop" to be found.  after that, I promised Tony there would be no more excursions for the coffee pot, as we were leaving for home at four the next morning and still had to pack.  Home we went, a little lunch, and some packing, before we went down to the beach to be lazy with Josh and Alana.  Up the 93 stairs, and down the 300; followed by 300 steep, deep, craggy stairs back up and another 93 down to get home.  I must admit, I was a little glad this would be our last trip there and back.

     We went for last last meal at Armandino's, and said goodbye to Armandino's.  I should have gotten a picture with him, but I didn't.  We layer out some blankets and took a nap on the beach.  Do y know how relaxing it is to fall asleep to the sounds and smell of the ocean?  It's heaven!  But then I woke up thinking about something I could no longer remember, and couldn't fall back asleep again.  In y boredom I was digging through the pebbles and discovered that there was pieces of tile that had been worn smooth in the ocean.  Like sea glass, but sea tiles.  Naturally, I collected some and brought it home.  I might put them in one of my fish tanks or something.

     On the chairs next to mine are a bunch of English speakers with a baby.  I tried not to make faces at him.  I tried not to hear their conversation.  But when they started discussing their plans for the night, and the response was "what's nearby?"; I simply could not help myself any longer.  I asked if they wanted some of the knowledge I had been collecting over the last few days, and they did.  Not in that "get the creepy woman to stop talking to us" way, either.  I told them about ouf favorite restaurants for dinner, the hotel that serves breakfast, the boat tour to Capri, scooters, Positano and Sorrento, Tutto per Tutti, and anything else important I could think of.  They were from Canada, and very nice.  After a few rounds I peek-a-boo with Baby Liam, "mum" let me hold him and we played.  He was so squishy, and I missed my boys something awful!  I gave him back before things got weird and let them get on with their vacation.

     After a relaxing afternoon, we headed back up... for the very last time!  We stopped at Tutto per Tutti (the market) for dinner things and some wine to bring home.  The Italian's turned Tony into a wine drinker; how could we not bring some home?  While we checked out, I asked Pascuale about the "shop" we had been unable to find earlier.  He said it was only 10-15 minutes away on foot.  Not only did he give us direction, but he drew a post it note map.  I was debating on whether to ask Tony if he was u to the trip, when an American couple followed us out and asked where they too could find the amazing espresso pot I sought.  Off we went!

     We followed the map that started at the Piazza Moressa, the small square just above the market the we pass through any time we left or returned to the apartment.  Take the road leaving the Piazza, up for a bit, go through the arch, walk through the square in front of San Luca's Church, and the hardware store is the "shop" with all the stuff piled out front. You can't miss it!  You already know we missed it, right?  Because you should.

     We took the road and walked for a ways, until it became obvious that this was a residential "road" and that it had been unused for some time.  The return trip took us back to the top of the steps to the apartment, where Tony went to put away all our groceries and I decided to continue on the quest for the coffee pot.  Back at the Paizza Moressa, we found another "road" that we had never noticed before in all our comings and goings.  A "via" is more like a nondescript pathway between buildings.

     Up the pathway, the via continued to be a stairway to heaven by way of hell. And then the Boston couple (who hate their accents and cover them up) realized they only had a half hour to return their scooter and head back down.  Not without some lamenting about leaving me alone without Tony.  Because Italian strangers are so much worse than Bostonian strangers?  I send Tony a text, "If you get this before I get back, I'm fine, just walking a million stairs?"  He got it the next day.

     There's a fork in the road, both paths end in the same place, and both have stairs, so I take the fork to the right.  I'm heading up, huffing and puffing, and stop to take a break.  I've been going uphill for two hours since leaving the beach.  A German couple I passed a few minutes ago passes me again from in front of me.  How did this happen?  As I'm sitting there, she asks if I'm all right.  English!  I asked them if I was in the vicinity of the hardware store.  They look at me like I'm a little crazy, explain that I'm close, but had I taken the other fork it would have been faster and with significantly less stairs.  All I can think is that I can now drink my wine with negative guilt when I get back.  If I even find my way back.  Google Maps might be amazing, even in Italy, but this darn international plan is unreliable.  Next time, I'll just buy a local SIM card at a newsstand in the airport when we land.  It's actually cheaper that way!

     I follow these directions, and I'm at San Luca's in 3 minutes!

(It turns out San Luca's in an evangelical church, which j find a little ironic in Italy.)

(The piazza in front of San Luca has an amazing view.)

     I am so busy admiring the scene, I actually walked past the store, and had to come back a bit.  I walk in, and there are three guys talking at the register, it looks like two are haggling.  I meander about.... and finally find my espresso pot!  Hooray!  I go back to the counter, and proceed to try and catch my breath while the men glance at me like I'm losing it.  I was too tired to listen and attempt to translate.  Now it's my turn and I open my wallet to find a single, solitary, five euro note and some coins.  Do they take a card?  Of course not!  Tony had all the cash, which wasn't a problem until right now.  I've come this close, only to fail now?  Much talking amongst them men in rapid Italian, quick perusal trough a small book filled with handwritten notations in pencil.  A phone call.  Another phone call and a quick conversation.  The proprietor says "Kasai?"  I say "ristorante?"  He says, "Si!" and smiles.  He says I can go to Kasai and pay there.  Wonderful, but I don't know how to get there from here.  He gives me directions and I hope in my head that I can get Google to work.  Then I thought, I have to come back up that darn mountain?  I debate how much I want the coffee pot.  The man hands me the coffee pot!  "Pay, Kasai."  You've got to be kidding me!  Nothing like that would happen here!  I might be moving to Italy.  If I go missing, search Praiano for the super pale woman with the the Irish last name.  That's where I'll be.  Also, I'm almost thirty and it's odd to refer to myself as a woman, which in itself is on.  On with the story...

     I'm heading out the door, probably looking dazed and confused, when one of the men's says to come with him.  A guide?  Sure!  Then he gets in his car.  Um, no, thank you.  I probably totally offended the nice man.  He says "is okay!", and I respond "I walk!"  And, then, by some miracle, I run into the Canadians from the beach, who were just leaving their apartment!  I'm saved!  I hurriedly "Grazie!  Buona sera!" to the probably offended Italian and dashed off.  Then I begged the "mum" to use their restroom.  Seriously, espresso, stairs, and long hikes don't mix.  Their apartment was at the top of another four flights of stairs.  I've kinda given up caring.

     Google is now working and says I need to go to the end of the street, and actually street that could fit a whole super compact car in it, and go left.  At the corner i see it.  The mistake I made this morning after the electronics shop and this road that I'd walked passed more times that I care to admit to or even were aware of.  It was right here the whole time!  I'm saddened for myself and my lack of direction.  At least it was tempered by the only sunset photo I took, which happens to be amazing.  The woman with the curly hair is Michelle from Canada, Baby Liam's aunt.

     Down the road we land at Kasai, from which they'd ordered take out pizzas and hadn't known the name of the place.  They say goodbye, and I continue in.  It's 7:45, but still a little early for dinner, so the place is pretty empty.  I find a waiter and explain that I'm the one with the the coffee pot, in case carrying around the pot wasn't clear enough.  He ask if I'd like some cold water?  What?  Like I'm breathing hard, red faced, and sweating profusely?  I don't mind if I do!  And he didn't even charge me for it.  Moving to Italy?  More likely at this point.  I down the water, and the refill, pay for my adventure, and am on my way another ten minutes back to the apartment.

     When I finally arrive, I hear the guys' voices in the balcony:

      Not only are they drinking without me, but they had no idea what time it was or how long is been gone, alone, all over the mountainside.  If I go missing, please, somebody look for me.  I mean it!  Tony trusts me too much that I'll find my way back, apparently.

     To illustrate, look at the above photo. Do you see the title White House that sticks out about one third of the way up the mountain from the left side of the frame?  That's the Canadian's place. To the right (and above the cluster) is a two story white/beige building. That's the hardware store. To the right of the is a yellow building with a terra cotta roof. That's San Luca's.  Do you see the tree and white building that pop up from the horizon?  Directly below that is a big pink building, the Hotel Margherita where we would go for espresso. The keep moving right to the end he of the mountain, white building is where Kasai is. 

     Does that give you an idea of my adventure?  I hope so. I'm actually surprised I can still pick out these place from the photo, two weeks later!  I'm shocked at how much I've forgotten already.

     Josh and Alana took off to Kasia for dinner, Tony and I cooked some pasta and asparagus and whatever food was leftover, since we were leaving at four am for the airport.  We finished packing, dishes, collected dirty towels, and cleaned the apartment. There was another group arriving tomorrow afternoon, and Canadian Tony and Eddie had to do the cleaning as they couldn't get a service here soon enough. We tried to make it guest ready, short of laundry.

     It really was a great day. It was late (10:30), we were exhausted, and the 2:50 alarm came way too soon!  I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Fine!  (The End!)

(Vacation adventure to be continued in about two years when we likely go to Paris.)

Capri

05/15/2015

     I didn't read much from the travel books Josh gave me, but I did catch the part about Capri. Ruins of Ceasar Agustus' palace, celebrities, and super expensive everything. That doesn't include the fact that the boat tour to get to Capri is 60€ ($65-70) per person. At this point, I didn't want to go. A little research revealed that the tours take you all around the island, show you the Blue Grotto, the Green Grotto, and swimming in one of them (I can't remember which). Josh and Alana we're going, Tony wanted to go, and I was indifferent with no ther plans; so off we went.

     The boat was big enough for the ten of us to fit very comfortably, and it had a nice couch-like spot built into the bow. We got splashed and wind blown, but I liked the ride from up there. The driver took us past all the little islands, explaining about them as we went. 

     Hotels that only hold 4-6 guests and cost 25,000 euro a week? No thanks!  I'll stay in the mainland.

     He drove us into all of the caves with their aquamarine colored water, so close we could touch the rock roofs and we were worried we'd have to push ourselves out. Didn't need to, that man was a master at the helm.

     The Grotto for swimming was super busy, he estimated a two hour wait, so we skipped it and went on. We saw the little marina on one side, and got off the boat at the marina grande on the other side.  So many tourists!  Alana and I stopped at this little boutique where I saw an adorable dress. Only 15 euro!  It was mine. Cute purse for Alana?  20 euro in clearance. A double stand of cultured pearls?  20 euro!  Where was the expensive stuff?  It was the handmade super cute sandals, 60 euro. I left with a dress, a fedora, and the pearls. As we shopped the boys saw this giant ferry pull up and let hundreds, if not a thousand, people off; so we hurried up the mountain before the walkways got clogged. 

     I thought I was getting used to stairs, but I was wrong!  I don't even know how far we walked, or how many steps, but we eventually got high enough on the "saddle" of the island to look down on the little island!  Somewhere near the top we found this great little restaurant away from the main square called Buco de Bacco. It has only one window, with the most amazing view; and it was empty except for two other people!  I had the best ravioli there!  We wandered around where I almost bought a metal espresso maker (but I didn't want to lug it around) a really expensive vintage boutique, and a surprising amount of baby stores. In the way back down we got some chocolate and lemon gelato (a surprisingly great pairing) and went back to the boat.

      The driver took us to an amazing little cove so we could swim.  I did a quick dive and the water was so salty, my sinuses were burning for the next hour.  It was the perfect temperature, though.  Just cool enough to be refreshing, but not freezing cold.  Then we took an hour long, choppy ride back as the wind kicked up and the weather started to turn a bit.

Josh and I on the way out to Capri; Tony was taking pictures.   I procured that hat in Positano the day before and wore it all over Italy with my 15 layers of sunscreen.  I managed not to burn and actually came back with some color!

Can you believe how bright that water is?  It's not a trick of the camera!

Getting seriously up-close-and-personal with a cave. I was nervous we'd have to push the boat out, but this guys could turn the whole boat around in the cave without backing out. Even Tony was impressed. 

Lighthouse and a view. These pictures don't do it any justice, it's almost disappointing to look at them knowing what it was really like. 

Marina Grande on one side of Capri. 

     By the time we got back to Praiano we were hungry again.  The other thing about to many stairs?  We were always hungry!  Armandino's was open so we sat and perused the menu, and were surprised at the breadth and depth of possibilities.  I don't even remember what we ate, just that it was delicious.

     Capri was actually one of the highlights of the trip, I am so glad we went!

I Feel Sick

05/15/2015 (05/16 at 4:30 am in Praiano)

     As Italy is nine hours ahead of California, I was awakened at four in the morning (7:00 pm California time) because the Bar results had just come out and my friends were dying to know if I had made it or not.  The voice in the background is my friend Josh from school, he and his fiancée traveled to Italy with us. I already knew he had passed from reading through all the text messages that woken me up.

We Made It To Praiano

     A short two hour flight from Paris and we landed in Naples Italy.  Our luggage, however, was still in Paris!  Which is ridiculous for many reasons.  But most of all, we saw our luggage on the carousel in Paris, and a guy was taking it off to be put on the plane to Naples.  The airline ticket lady assured us that we had not actually seen our luggage on the carousel: you mean the three bags that look identical and have our names and addresses on the tags in our handwriting?  Those bags that we didn't see?  Then as we walked away, the guy walked past and told me again that they were going to the plane bound for Naples.  Jack wagons!  (If you don't know this reference, find the Geico commercial where R. Lee Ermy is playing a psychiatrist).  We tracked down our bags, they'd arrive on a plane the next day at noon.

     We crashed at a hotel for the night (part of the original plan), where the bartender apologized that the pizza was a frozen reheat.  I thought it was funny.  We didn't trust the airport to make the two hour drive and find our apartment in a timely manner (and having no change of clothes) so we waited back at the airport to claim our bags.  The delay cost us six or seven hours of time in Praiano.  Jack wagons!

     The car rental place pulled a total bait and switch "we have a car....."  Wait.  What happened to the car I reserved and have already paid for?  "Oh.  You want that car?  Its a manual.  This one is automatic and has GPS."  Turns out, automatic shifting and GPS were totally worth it!  Poor Tony drove two hours through hairpin turns and narrow two lane streets where the bus barreling down the opposite side came around a corner looking like it was going to smash us and passed within inches of us.  I was a nervous wreck and had to read a book to prevent the imminent freak out.

     Our apartment is amazing!  For around 150 euro a night we have a two bed, two bath apartment with ocean views from both balconies and our bedrooms.  Unfortunately, the pictures never donut justice.  I couldn't sleep after the adrenaline if Bar results, so I spent and hour waitin for the sun to come up over the mountain at Capo Conco. Wouldn't it figure that it clouded up just as the sun was about to appear?

     We finally arrived in Praiano mid afternoon on Wednesday, where the guy with our keys managed to find us. Super sweet guy, Tony (an Italian guy from Canada) made us several reservations and made tons of recommendations for the best places in the area. Like our own personal Trip Advisor!

     The market nearby is called Tutti per Tutto, which means everything for everybody. Meat, veggies, cleaning supplies, munchies, and a serious wine cellar!  Canadian Tony sent us to meet Pasquale the market owner's son and wine maker, who gave us a couple of impromptu tastings when he was there. So amazing!  Even my Tony liked the wine (I've been trying to turn him for years)!  We made ourselves a nice simple dinner and started to get the lay of the town. 

So many stairs!  To get out of our place we have to up climb 93 stairs; and to get to the bottom of the mountain to the beach is down 300 with some serious inclined straightaways.  I don't mind the the down so much, but the up is horrible!  Tony disagrees with me, he likes the up part better.

     It's got to get easier, right?

First Stop, Paris

05/14/2015

      It started with a conversation with a couple of friends while we weren't paying attention in class.  iDevices make it too easy to "pass notes", teachers don't stand a chance.  My friends had been taking trips and asked where I had traveled to. Answer: nowhere. My friend Josh pops up and says his fiancée Alana is running in the Paris marathon; and what had started as a family trip had turned into a big friends and family trip, and that we should join them!  In the end, the marathon plans fell through and we decided to go to Italy instead.  Surprise benefit: we had an eight hour layover in Paris and make a side excursion of it!

     Paris was amazing!  As if it wouldn't be, right?  We took the train (think BART) from the airport to the heart of Paris, and jumped off at Notre Dame.  I couldn't believe the detail of the stonework and all the stained glass windows. The doesn't even account for the breathtaking paintings twice as tall as I am. Truly incredible, and the pictures cannot remotely compare.

     After Notre Dame we had some lunch where we tried escargot. Yes, you heard me, we ate snails!  They were actually quite good.  I always thought they were regular garden snails that eat my flowers, but they are sea snails and they are a lot like eating a clam. Not everything can be like chicken, you know.   Somehow I ended up with deep fried salmon and french fries... all the way to France and I'm eating American food?  I skipped those and had mousse without guilt.  Chocolate makes everything better!

     The Seine runs right through the heart of Paris and has many pretty bridges that span it. At Point Neuf we followed tradition: Tony and I put a padlock on the mesh of the bridge and tossed the key into the water.  I like a little romance ;)

(Can you see the Eiffel Tower in the background on the left?)

     We also found many wonderful artists displaying their work, and I brought home a wonderful drawing/painting of the bridge where our lock is at. Call me a cheesy tourist, but I really liked it. And for 15€ I can afford to be a little cheesy!

     After lunch we walked to the Louvre Museum.  I knew it was big, but I didn't know how big.  This place looks like a palace!  It is three stories high, goes three stories below ground, and he underground continues for quite a ways for art to be stored underground.  Sadly, we didn't have three days to get lost inside, so we walked through the courtyard and shot a photo at the pyramid entrance and kept touring. 

(This is a panoramic of The Louvre from inside the courtyard)

     I wanted to make it all the way to the Arc de Triomphe, but it was further than I thought and we were suuuuper tired, (we'd been traveling 18 hours 

by then) and in need of a snack and some coffee.  We walked through this incredibly long park and eventually made it to a cafe for some espresso and water with no gas.  After that, we went back to the Notre Dame to shop at a store Alana and I had seen.  It was the very next train stop, so we walked instead.  Close, my foot!  It felt like we were walking forever!  After a little shopping we jumped back on the train to the airport, with just enough time for some dinner and board the plane. It was perfect!  Great food and great company and a wonderful time.  This was before we learned that our luggage was not in the plane, but I'll write about that in the next blog. 

     At the moment, I'm sitting in the living room of our apartment in Praiano, taking a break before we head out for dinner.  I had a nap in the patio (read: passed out while reading a book) and am now drinking coffee at seven in the evening. How different the culture over here!  I will delay posting since I don't want the world knowing that we aren't home, even though we have a house sitte. It's still creepy. 

    Au revoir!

When It Rains, It Monsoons!

     Without the actual rain, this is California, after all.  The water situation is seriously ridiculous.

     I am specifically to referring to the recent propensity of my children to become ill.  The day Colling went back to school last week, one of his classmates got sent home with Hand Foot and Mouth Disease.  And again the next day.  And a possible third, but I don't remember.  Collin is fine, of course, but darned if Ethan didn't catch it!  And then share with Daddy, too!

     It started Saturday as clapping on his face and what looked like chapping associated acne.  I've been giving him his binkie during naps and at night, and he's been drooling a lot with all the incoming teeth; the chapping wasn't a surprise.  Sunday the chapping and spots were worse.  Then he got a bad diaper rash on Monday.  By Tuesday, I literally watched it worsen throughout the day!  He has blisters and rash all over his diaper area, around his mouth and nose, and patches on both knees.  He does not however, have anything on the palms of his hands, the soles of his feet, or in his mouth (that he would let me see).  Leave it to Ethan to get it super bad and in and an unconventional manner.

     Then Tony came home from work saying a weird sore throat started and hour ago: cue the blisters on his tonsils!  If I get sick, too, I might have a mental breakdown!  We just can't win for losing!

Preschool Days

     Collin has a love/hate relationship with school.  He begs to go to Nana and Papa's house very morning, because he recognizes the roads and it's the same as the route to school.  When we get to school he begs for me to carry him to class, but I'm carrying Ethan and usually half dragging Collin across two parking lots.  I've decided that the worst drivers aren't men, or women, or young people, the older people, or any particular car type: it's people dropping their small children off at elementary school.  Seriously, I have a near miss, or two, every day!

     Collin likes to sit on my knee while we wait for the teachers to come collect the kids, as he starts looking it as soon as he sees the head teacher.  Except for today; Daddy dropped him off and there was no crying whatsoever.  I imagine that the separation anxiety temper will resume when I drop him off tomorrow.  His teacher swears he's done by the time they get to the classroom, and that it's getting better every day.

     As much as he dislikes being dropped off at school, he LOVES taking the bus home!   When I ask him about his day, he only mentions the school bus, with the biggest smile on his face.

     That being said, I'm noticing a huge amount of improvement in him!  I don't recall if I said in the original preschool post, that Collin is in an Autistic class.  He is not autistic, but he has serious delays in his speech and social skills; which is what is emphasized in the class for those with autism.  He started school, made it less than two weeks before he got sick, went to Indiana, and was still sick. He's been back for a week and a half, and even with all this upheaval he is improving metes and bounds!  Three word sentences are becoming the norm, his interaction with his brother is much improved, and he has independence enough for all four of us.  Sometimes this is a problem, but overall it's a good thing.  As the language increases, e tempers are decreasing.  Along with the on-purposes.

     I'm so glad we went this route and didn't let the possible stigmatizing title thwart this progress!