A little chapel at a refuge that we passed

Last Sunday we took a beautiful and exhausting 3 plus hour up hike.  At a certain point I couldn't go any further so I threw myself down on the ground and refused to budge.  I had a dog that used to do that.  GP went the last bit on his own.  First time in the mountains in over two months combined with lack of energy from the stupid diet, (I get my strength from red wine and chocolate), and I was pooped.  I was also sitting in poop.  The cows had started their migration down from mountain pastures to the farms below, and I chose one of the Cow Rest Stops as a stopping point.  These are old buildings scattered all over the mountains where the cow herders spend their summers.  There are usually old bath tubs filled with water for the cows and often covered sheds for rainy nights.  It was literally carpeted in manure.  I had a damned hard time finding a clean spot to wait.  But wait I did.  And joy oh joy, I can now choose to drag my lazy ass outta bed and go hiking or not because GP has convinced a buddy that hiking is the next best thing and has joined an Alpine hiking club that goes weekly.  I'm free!  So this afternoon while they are off scaling heights I am going to stay home and do housework and read and maybe take a walk.  Tomorrow I'll go up with them but I'm taking a book.  That way when the heart gives out I can find a spot out of the wind and say, "Go on without me!  Save yourselves!"  Tee hee.  xxoo me

Cow rest stop

Bacchus has provided.  We'll be stomping any day now.  This plus our 2 lemons, our herbs, and a few figs from the neighbor's tree should keep us fed for the next week or so considering the diet GP has me on.  I hate dieting!  I hate it, I hate it!  xxoo me

Last night GP and I went out for dinner at a beautiful place in the country.  We were celebrating 25 years of wedded bliss.  Dinner was wonderful.  Especially after dieting all week.   I've lost my ability to drink wine.  Only half a bottle last night and this morning I have a mother of a headache.  What a wuss.  At the next table was a very young couple.  She was American and he was Italian.  I didn't know whether to be all sentimental or to warn her to "Run! Run for your life!"  Whether I'm here or he's there, someone has always gotta give up a lot in marriage to a foreigner. 

So yesterday there was another bombing in London.  The Mother God must have been looking down on me because Grace and her roomie were closed up in their apartment when the door lock broke and their landlord had to get them out.  It took some time so they couldn't go anywhere.  I was pleased.  Why is it children cannot stay safely tucked under our wings until they are 40 or so?  Is that so unreasonable? 

I'm off to eat a grape or something for breakfast.  Have to make up for last night.  Crap.  xxoo me

 

A week of cleaning and I have a garden back

Another year abroad has started.  We came back a week ago and am just getting time to write.  Flew in on Saturday and was at work bright and early Monday morning where someone had decided to use my Library as a depository of all things homeless.  I still haven't cleared everything out.  In fact school hasn't exactly started out on the best note.  I arrived 3 days late, (missed all of the workshop days), and was called to the principals office.  My excuse was that I messed up dates and my "Oh well" attitude didn't go over well.  This, by the way, is the first time I'd met him as he is our brand-spanking new Head Master.  I'm good at this first impression thing.  Oops.  Then, at the end of last year I agreed to take over as SAT Coordinator as the last guy was leaving.  I've been invigilating so know how it works and I thought the extra money would come in handy and that it wouldn't be that much of a big deal.  I just got the dates for this year's exams and I'll be in London for the first exam and Istanbul for the second!  F***!  So called the gal who invigilates with me and she'll cover, Bless her, but REALLY.  I should never have agreed to do it... I can't be trusted with people's futures!!!

The daughter flew back to London yesterday and has just moved into an apartment she will share with two friends.  She's very excited.  Parting was much less dramatic then last year as I am now used to her coming and going, (plus I just booked a flight for the first weekend in October-see above!).  

MIL is well though losing a bit of "clarity", shall we say.  GP says she going nuts but she's just getting old.  We should all be so lucky to be independent and in our own homes at 85.

Last bit of news is that I'm on a diet which makes me very grumpy.  GP had the B'Jesus scared out of him by our new doctor back in June who convinced him he'd soon be on death's door if he didn't drop 30 pounds and get his cholesterol and blood pressure down.  He started dieting and exercising the next day and has lost 15 pounds and has the other two down to healthy levels.  So now I've joined him to lose the other 15.  This is not altruistic.  I can't get in any of my pants.  I'm in Italy.  On a diet.  This stinks.

xxoo me