I read an article in the local paper today about a tourist who was in line to see the Shroud of Turin.  Visitors have to pass through metal detectors and screenings in order to enter the church where the Shroud is on display.  This woman was stopped and searched because the guards saw a suspicious item in her bag.  It looked like a retractable club.  It was a large dildo.  If I were to go to see one of the most iconic religious artifacts in the world, I too would carry a dildo.  I'd love to know her nationality.  xxoo me

There is a black mood in our little household this weekend!  Grace is loaded down with school work, GP has been put on a diet by our doctor and I'm still recovering from my surgery.  I very much doubt my stitches will come out tomorrow, the leg still hurts, the diet isn't working and the school work gets more intense, and for Chrissakes the Italian weather service got it wrong AGAIN!  They said it would rain all weekend and we haven't had a drop.  Not one single drop.  In fact I've had to water the garden.  Honestly why don't they just give up?

I just read an article about Liberland, a tiny country that has just been established in an area of no-man's-land between Croatia  and Serbia. They are currently taking applications for citizenship and say they will accept 35,000.  No Nazi, Communists or extremists need apply.  It was founded just a week ago and already has a Wikipedia entry!  I want my own country!  xxoo me

I went back to the surgeon today for a check up and I had hoped my stitches out but no such luck.  For that I have to go back again on Monday.  He was surprised at the huge amount of bruising I have.  My thigh is black almost down to my knee.  He and the nurse were saying "wow" and "that's unusual" and I felt like saying, "Are you kidding me?  It's like you were wrestling a bear down there!"  He told me to spend the weekend resting and to wrap my thigh tightly in something.  That's easy.  It's the end of winter in Italy.  EVERYTHING is tight on my thigh.

Today was the last day of classes for the seniors.  Their IB exams start in a week and they graduate in a month.  The school holds an outside ceremony every year for the seniors that also celebrates Earth Day.  Two students from the Garden Club plant a tree in the graduating class's honor.  It's very nice as the entire population turns out with the Nursery children, the youngest in the school, unrolling a banner that they made with the names of all the upcoming graduates.  I can't believe that a year from now it will be Grace.  Where has the time gone?  Sniff.  I'm off to drown my sorrows.  xxoo me