Two posts today.  This first I've been pondering whether or not to write.  As I really need to vent, here I go.  I am not proud to be an American today.  In fact I am downright sickened.  As much as I complain about Italy, with it's disorganization, the break-ins that have us living in a safe, the fact that there is a 90% chance that my car, bag, phone will be stolen, I know that there is a 0% chance of my child being shot in her school.  Italians ask what the Hell is wrong with us.  Good question.  It's not a complicated matter of changing society, dealing with the mentally ill, stopping bullying.  It's a simple matter of changing the law and NOT ALLOWING PEOPLE TO BUY WEAPONS.  If the government used half the effort they have put into anti terrorism, and put it into gun laws in our own country these things wouldn't happen.  A man in China walked into a school the other day with a machete and attacked the students.  It took a while for him to be subdued.  20 kids injured but not one dead.  Crazies are everywhere and that we can't control, but the amount of damage they can inflict we can control.  What I want to know is where is all that outrage that fueled the marches for civil rights, for the Vietnam war.  Where is a Moms Against Guns group?  Can't we stand up against the NRA and everyone in the government who is in the pocket of the arms makers?  Did you hear what the NRA's comment was?  The shooter could have been stopped if the teachers had been armed.  Are we flipping kidding?  In the school in the States we had "lock down" practice.  Every time there is another of these horrible crimes we toughen the security in our schools.  Wouldn't it make more sense to make the crimes impossible to commit.  We can't fly with a bottle of shampoo in our carry-on but we can go to Walmart and buy an automatic weapon.  The government reads our e-mails and traces our overseas travels but does nothing about the fact that someone collects an armory full of weapons.  These incongruities beat Italy's anytime.  I'm horrified and sadly ashamed.  me

I do believe Italy is trying to kill me.  First, I've had a terrible cough, red itchy eyes and a stuffy nose for weeks.  I'm convinced it's city air but may well just be some bug.  Then, I've had a few incidents of what I think may be gallbladder attacks.  I have been sort of over doing it in the cheese department.  I love cheese.  Every region in Italy has their own artisanal cheeses.  There are soft, creamy, almost sweet cheeses and hard, crumbly, sharp cheeses and cheeses for melting and cheeses for grating....I could go on.  Anyhow, I have been having uncomfortable nights after too much rich food so I have to cool it for a while.  Of course tonight we are going to dinner at the home of friends from Germany and we're having Raclette.  That's a big ole chunk of yummy melted cheese that you eat with vegetable and bread.  Sort of a more solid and less elaborated fondue.  Argh. 

We're preparing for our trip home next Thursday.  Grace and I are very excited.  On Sunday we'll be doing an early Christmas with the Grandparents which will be an all day groany affair.  I'll be asleep on their sofa by 4pm.  The school is revving up for it's holiday concerts that start with the little ones on Monday morning.  There will also be a production of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  I love hearing all the kids with their diverse accents up on stage.  The school is decorated and Christmas music plays in the background every morning and afternoon but it is never referred to as Christmas holiday because being and international school means non denominational.  Our concerts are holiday concerts, our fair was a winter fair, the break coming up is the winter break etc.  All that aside, probably 90% of the students are from Christian backgrounds as most are Europeans or North Americans. 

Off to the doctor, (taking a book for the probable wait),  to check to see if this stupid cough is bronchitis.  xxoo me

keeping warm

look how tall!

Snow!  Not here.  In the mountains.  Grace and I were missing the white stuff in this holiday season so we nagged GP into going up, up, up high enough to touch it for the day.  We went to Pragelato, a small town that grew thanks to the Olympics.  It's where they held the ski jumping events.  Those are some seriously steep slopes.  Just looking at them from ground level made me a little queasy.  The jumps are right in town, or at least in full view from town.  A little farther up from the center is a lovely ski area that caters mostly to cross country and snow shoeing.  There is one lift for downhill as well.  We didn't really go prepared but next time I'll find someone to go snowshoeing with me.  It's gorgeous and only about an hour and a half drive from the city.  Of course all the fresh air made us hungry so we had to stop and buy some fresh bread and cheese and have a little snack.  When we came home I took a nap.  All in all a good day.  xxoo me