What have I done so far? So much . . .
(1) Read three books - The Virgin's Lover (a fiction on Elizabeth I - excellent), Dewey the Library Cat (she's not a great writer, but the parts about the cat are really cute and heart warming), and Naked (in essence a memoir with a pretty good amount of humor). And I have read one work related book on musical theatre (well, I'm halfway through). I still have lined up for this trip: The Thornbirds, Gorky Park, Plain Truth, Hotel of Saints, and two drama titles - one about drama and education and one about acting. Oh yeah - and two playwriting books I have to read so I can teach a class on musical theatre. My teacher once said, "You only have to be one day ahead of the students." Sound like a lot of reading - yeah, I don't think I'll get it all read either, but it's fun having time to read for fun.
(2) Volunteering at the Pregnancy Resource Center: My mom and I go every Tuesday and sort clothing for expectant mother who can't afford stuff for their babies. It is rewarding to actually get to give things to the mothers (i.e. we aren't only behind the scenes). Each week, we usually see around three moms. Sometimes, they have a million kids and just want to take and take and take. And sometimes (usually the poorer ones) they come in and only want like one thing, and we throw things at them giving them as much as we can. But, it always makes me remember how good I have it!
(3) Learning to draw. I have been reading (and following) a book called, "Drawing with the Right Side of Your Brain (or a title similar to that). I haven't gotten too far into it. But, I have done some of the exercises, and overall I feel really relaxed and take pleasure in doing the exercise - good sign, right? I am hoping that by the end of this book, I will have an IDEA as to how to put something on paper that even RESEMBLES what I am trying to draw!! My friend Jenna has worked with this book, and she says it really has helped her. So, I am excited about that.
(4) Sewing: I have been working on a quilt with my best friend Sandra and my mom. We are actually all three working on three of the exact same quilts (one for each of us), and it is a lot of fun. I am also finishing up a kitty counted cross stitch I made Sandra for Christmas (and on Christmas she got to see the latest progress - a little more than halfway.
(5) Enjoying the snow - it has snowed probably around 5 times since I have been here. It is pretty. And I am soaking it up. Because if last year is what Rhode Island weather is really like, I am going to have crappy wind, rain, ice and freezing temps to look forward too with very little snow. Sigh . . . It's the wind - I hate the wind. So, I am enjoying the time virtually wind free!
(6) Going to the gym. As always I get a gym pass when I come home (when I am in RI, I take a rowing class, I bike in my apartment in front of the tv on my stationary bike, I bike outside when the weather is pretty and I do weight exercises in my house). My mom and I usually go together which keeps me going.
(7) Teaching - yes, indeed - I can't get enough of that, can I? I am teaching one very gifted student right now and picking up some extra cash. And then I am doing trades. Chiropractic care for lessons for the three kids, free massages for free voice lessons - nice, eh?
(8) Shopping - I have hit the outlet malls in Park City once already getting some great deals - a sweater for $10, a leather purse for $15, another sweater for $15, and a shirt for $3!! Also, I have been buying my "Little N" (Dave and Angelina's baby that is due in April) lots of cute clothes. Everywhere I go, I find something that reminds me of that kid! What an auntie I am already!
(9) Spending quality time with friends. So far, I have managed to spend some good times with Sandra, Julie, and Clayton. I am looking forward to seeing my friend Liz on Saturday to celebrate her 30th, and still need to get in touch with at least three other friends.
I left the best one for last:
(10) Spending lots and lots of time with my nonni!! Nonni and I have spent hours shopping, eating, playing cards and talking just like always. I am so happy to be almost thirty and to still have them in my life. And, I can add to this one that I am learning Italian. I have been using the Rosetta Stone for the last six months. Admittedly, if I could spend more time with it, I would learn a lot faster, but I can understand them, and even though it is not as often as they would like (I hate saying things when I can't say them perfectly), I try to blurt out a new sentence in Italian to them every couple of times I see them.
So, that is the last three weeks in a nutshell! I could not ask for a more perfect break thus far, and I know it will continue to be so.
Our Christmas was wonderful. Neither of my brothers were able to make it; however, we had a wonderful time despite (or was it because of? Just kidding!!!) this fact. I received many spectacular gifts, all of which I am truly thankful for. However, the one that deserves mentioning more than all of the other ones was funded by my parents, and created by my brother. They took the wire recordings of my nonni's wedding, and a bunch of relatives on my dad's side (grandparents, aunts and uncles - of dad's) and put photos and sound together to create beautiful DVDs of the voices and pictures of loved ones. Such a special treasure! Without further adieu here are some pictures from Christmas!
I gave mom a mirror she wanted (among other things)
"Shhh . . . I'm reading!" Guess we know where I got that from!
A great shot of mom and her mom!
The kind and queen of the family!
1 comment:
Wow, that is a very ambitious reading list. I'm glad you are having fun on your break. Happy New Year!
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