Argh!  I must detract my words.  I hate detracting my words.  It is openly admitting that I was wrong.  The new president is not a bad guy.  Yes, he is from the south and yes, he is a judge but he is a supreme court judge, based in Rome, (not that Rome isn't corrupt), and his brother was head of some anti-mafia group and was assassinated for his efforts.  So we'll see what comes of it.  I've said I don't follow politics here.  Politics are much too complicated and there are way too many players.  Any country that allows Berlusconi to wander around free, (house arrest, ya right), and still participate in politics, (he is still a big party leader), doesn't deserve that huge effort it would take me to understand the whole process.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Has Berlusconi shown up on the news there lately?  My God he gets less human-like each time I see him.  He looks like a Madam Tussaud's wax figure of himself.  With his fake tan, make-up, various lifts and spray painted hair, he's downright scary.

Something has been niggling at my little brain and I have finally figured it out.   Propolis, the drops I am taking for my cold, is the same stuff mom used to give me to dab on mouth ulcers (cankers).  I've been trying to place the familiar vile taste for days and that's it!  It's also in car wax and used for genital herpes.  I don't care.  As far as I'm concerned it's a miracle medicine.  xxoo me