Yesterday after school I went into Torino with a friend to see an art exhibition at the GAM, Torino's modern art museum.  It was a Monet exhibition on loan from one of the museums in Paris.  What I love about the Impressionists is that up close, the paintings look like nothing or rather like just a lot of random colors.  But take a few steps back and those dabs of color become people or shadows or buildings.  Either these guys spent a lot of time walking back and forth, to and from their easels or they had some seriously long handled paint brushes.  After we went out for dinner and a walk around the center to see the holiday lights.  Torino is supposed to be a top Italian city when it comes to decorating for Christmas but it's got nuthin' on any small American town this time of year.  The only really outstanding sights are the pastry and chocolate shops.  The windows displays are amazing and very tempting.  We have a four day weekend coming up because the 8th is Immaculate Conception Day.  ( Did you know that when referring to Immaculate Conception they are actually referring to Mary's conception, not Jesus'?   Who knew?)   So Grace and I are going to a Christmas fair in a tiny town with a famous castle out in the wine region.  I have to do something to help us feel more festive in light of all the cheery news we hear every day.  xxoo me