Answering a Request From the Crowd

I have had several requests to update my blog. The problem is that I really have not done anything super exciting since last Sunday when I went skiing so I didn't think that anyone would really seem to read it...but for those of you (Tracy) who are interested in what I have been up to the past few days here goes.

I was successful in exchanging my necklace that broke. I purchased a simple beaded necklace and when I went to open it beads went flying. I was able to explain (in very choppy Italian) that it broke and was able to exchange it. Success!

My Italian lessons this week were on items in the store and fruits (two different lessons not fruit in the store). I have a lot of trouble with when you use some articles. I am also learning all about feminine and masculine. "That" or "the" has seven different forms based on singular/plural and masculine/feminine. Also, it is so hard to remember that each adjective has four conjugations based on the noun it describes. Seriously, adjectives like "red" have four different pronunciations/spellings based on what "red" is describing: rossa fragola (red strawberry), rosse fragole (red strawberries), rosso divano (red couch), rossi divani (red couches). I have cursed Rosetta Stone so many times! Frankly I do not believe that our Department of Defense would send someone into a foreign land with only the use of Rosetta Stone. Frankly "the cat jumped on the bed" is just not useful!

I ate some great sushi for lunch yesterday at a place called Japs. The salmon mix was out of this world. Last night I also made an amazing piadine (I think I have described them before...between a tortilla and a pita) with salami, fresh grated Parmesan cheese and a little balsamic vinegar. Fantastic!

Oh, another thing that I figured out (although this was last week) is that not all of the red post office boxes accept mail. Some seem to be similar to the green mail boxes we have the US which you can not deposit mail as they are only for the post office to store mail in for routes so postal workers do not have to carry all their mail instead they can pick it up along the way. I must say the system of blue and green to distinguish between the two is a little easier. Although I guess it isn't that hard to see when you walk by it that it does not have a spot to deposit mail like the other ones do.

So there you have it. I am sure it will come as no surprise to most of you that I can write (or talk) for a long time on just about anything. I hope this gives you a Tara Story Fix! I promise to have more entertaining stuff to write after my Finger Foods cooking class tonight!