Wednesday, July 25, 2007

things I love about Mullet Hall...

...sleeping late...

...a rustic country house...

...boiled peanuts...

...good fishing...

...peace and quiet...

...the hammock...

...hanging out with family...

...shopping Freshfields...

...warm chocolate chip cookies...

...scrapbooking...

...watching bad TV...

...picking peaches and eating them warm...

...wildflowers...

...hydrangea bouquets...

...going to the beach...

...last-night fish fry and red rice...

...the porch swing...

...open fields to run in...

...the chow hall...

...homemade chicken salad...

...huge spanish-moss covered oak trees...

...egrets and herons in the marsh out your back door...

...happy, care-free, dirty kids...

Monday, July 16, 2007

When in Rome...

...eat all the pizza and pasta you want. It's wonderful, fresh, and real.

...be sure to walk about ten miles a day. This obviously is because of the first statement I made.

...shop.

...use a moped or a Smart car, or you won't be able to park. Or just walk instead.

...be sure to "buffalo" yourself on the metro or bus (our code word for secure yourself and your surroundings). Or just walk instead.

...shop.

...use some basic Italian words, like ciao and si and buon giorno and grazie and scusi and quante costa. It's polite and impressive.

...drink wine if you can. It's WAY cheaper than soda. Don't ask for tap water. They only serve bottled.

...shop. Did I say that already?

...wear good shoes. Nice shoes. They take shoes very seriously.

...shop for shoes.

...expect to wait awhile at restaurants. Service is very slow. Italians take their time. And no tips are neccessary, they actually get paid.

...eat lots of tomatoes. They are sooooo bueno!

...eat a gelato every day. Maybe twice. Especially if you're walking. Try as many flavors as possible. Pineapple, melon, peach...I miss it already.

...don't use large Euros, ie anything over 10. They don't like making change.

...visit a coffee bar and I guarantee that you will leave Rome loving coffee. Order a cafe macchiato (expresso w/ milk), latte macchiato (milk w/ expresso) or a caffe latte (half and half). A great morning, afternoon, or evening pick-me-up, especially when jet lag hits.

...cross the street like you mean it.

...be prepared to experience claustrophobia. There are people EVERYwhere.

...don't let the beauty of all that you see overtake your senses and make you forget where you are. Don't take it for granted. Look around you. Daily.

Do as the Romans do.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Catching up...

Wow.

WOW.

Rome was beyond awesome. It took my breath away. I'm going back. Someday.

I got a job teaching first grade at the school where my husband and children are. Incredible.

We had Carolina Work Camp at church last week. We have VBS this week. Larry has jury duty all week and I have Open Court training for school in Columbia Thursday and Friday. We go to Mullet Hall on Saturday for a week.

b*r*e*a*t*h*e.....

God is so good. God is SO REAL. God is just plain awesome. He's seen us through all this and will see us through what's to come.

More later. Hopefully photos!