tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48249896850342680882024-02-19T16:03:57.730-08:00Browns AbroadKeep up with our travels and the things we enjoybrownsabroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989693453669934977noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824989685034268088.post-59685770585313381922012-10-01T15:30:00.002-07:002012-10-01T15:30:14.459-07:00Is it October Already!?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls at the always beautiful Cinque Terre :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Beth and Melissa were both here and we visited Sienna!</td></tr>
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I am obviously not very good about timely postings on this blog. My last posting was in June. If you're counting that was 3 months/90 days ago. A lot has happened since then but there is NO way I'm going to write it all down here. Let me summarize in a few sentences and leave it at that. We had a lot of house guests lol Steve went back to the states for a month and I stayed here in Italy. It was just me and Lyra for most of July. I went to Paris with LeeAnna for a week ( we missed our return flight and that's a story unto itself!). I learned to successfully can jelly and jam! Mary Beth and Hannah came and visited for 10 days :-) It got very, very hot for one week! The beaches in Italy are quite nice in the summer. The Italian countryside scenery is even nicer. I went stateside for 3 weeks in September where I had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends and ate my way through NW Alabama. There, that about sums up the 3 months!<br />
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I am now back in Italy enjoying cooler weather, the beautiful fall scenery and anticipating Alabama house guests arriving tomorrow and my Dad to arrive in mid October :-) Steve and I have spent most of this weekend just getting the house in shape for a month of guests, stocking up on groceries and allowing me to get over jet lag. I think we are not as young as we used to be! I have somehow managed to injure my right shoulder (rotary cuff tear) over the summer and he has been nursing a lower back strain for several weeks. We've gotta up our game around here LOL<br />
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So rather than lots of details in this blog I'm going to post some pictures I took this summer..... in a walk on the dirt roads right back behind our house :-) as well as a few in our travels this spring and summer. It's a beautiful walk and it is always changing with the crops and the scenery. We went last night and it looks even different now than what these pictures show :-)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive Trees-We are going to get to help harvest them and take them to press at the end of October!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening Shadows</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grapes in August-Harvested in October</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple Orchard behind our House looking toward the Mountains</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Grapes-These were picked when I got back late September</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lyra makes sure she walks through every mud puddle!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking on the country roads behind our house-Lyra loves it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Beth and Hannah looking over the wall in Cortona</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunflower fields were everywhere all summer!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nancy, Reid, Niki and I in Cinque Terre</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dave and Mary Beth on their visit :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jyUKnygk9DWXJJXdE1_Zpo7PSjpTvs5XEkd9SJSma0P7FesW9SHggfFEBAxOk5dDYiL5vtEprs0QL7bY5xFyfGmnX07jJn7bVzxku1JgPb9aePHGs56ZNuKx8cEFXTxFuz7T8YUVwG0/s1600/IMG_1659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jyUKnygk9DWXJJXdE1_Zpo7PSjpTvs5XEkd9SJSma0P7FesW9SHggfFEBAxOk5dDYiL5vtEprs0QL7bY5xFyfGmnX07jJn7bVzxku1JgPb9aePHGs56ZNuKx8cEFXTxFuz7T8YUVwG0/s400/IMG_1659.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My very first Plum Jelly!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kathy and Dale in San Gimignano-A beautiful place!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve and Melissa-looking very Italian.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">July in Paris-LeeAnna and Delisa-The Louvre</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFR8N_Te-Y7LHcEYYDHo1KQx3hWDzwsy-hc1EpjXFtyyy8CAXJUcq3L3HFtXyNm-NX_mz_XHRBJirsTlCWFin5Yje1ekv7jDloMUoYLFMHw_2_zyyRKvNzplv1_6G3izQ-DnLWU3c0bM/s1600/IMG_1686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFR8N_Te-Y7LHcEYYDHo1KQx3hWDzwsy-hc1EpjXFtyyy8CAXJUcq3L3HFtXyNm-NX_mz_XHRBJirsTlCWFin5Yje1ekv7jDloMUoYLFMHw_2_zyyRKvNzplv1_6G3izQ-DnLWU3c0bM/s400/IMG_1686.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Straw Market in Florence-The famous Pig,if you rub his nose legend has it that you will return to Florence</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQ5Q5UwGwuHX8Wlfs8Q0DGxX3GCkhLIR_NOGL5gwQTMUlk-fPCGw4DOWTWpZEvS4rO7shLGeca_zb24B9MLzSZIVzVEPf5W-oSJiP0TlNIteZcTl87JLjWHrwGrNKV9WDjt7VRrUsFzE/s1600/IMG_1181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUQ5Q5UwGwuHX8Wlfs8Q0DGxX3GCkhLIR_NOGL5gwQTMUlk-fPCGw4DOWTWpZEvS4rO7shLGeca_zb24B9MLzSZIVzVEPf5W-oSJiP0TlNIteZcTl87JLjWHrwGrNKV9WDjt7VRrUsFzE/s400/IMG_1181.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Verona with Melissa-Home of Romeo and Juliet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BdwOqyMY-0QzDpzGOiQNX2q6NXv4BlYzMnjTpX26GtcF-8uigMUOk3l4W4G0Hw58kboHFWEvmjVCAKnsdgbYEc3Ok9odFBStjcFJau4ePYFG8BFQijya2SWPilFdUV2dmhr9RFB46bQ/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2BdwOqyMY-0QzDpzGOiQNX2q6NXv4BlYzMnjTpX26GtcF-8uigMUOk3l4W4G0Hw58kboHFWEvmjVCAKnsdgbYEc3Ok9odFBStjcFJau4ePYFG8BFQijya2SWPilFdUV2dmhr9RFB46bQ/s400/IMG_0127.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning stained glass chapel! St. Chappelle-Paris</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsdItB8KvYtPvw2cdLpXXkflUl1vSD_YQdq7rtx-vjk7GgXi56VaP27Qh5FikOOhGMpMIEJKjBEAKLQyj1SDgRnYqcPPqZsI9J4RXXiRC2iT9SB_b8OXAFYSjADPMa0B8eNIwIjkOQF8/s1600/Don%2527t+Rock+the+Boat+Babies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsdItB8KvYtPvw2cdLpXXkflUl1vSD_YQdq7rtx-vjk7GgXi56VaP27Qh5FikOOhGMpMIEJKjBEAKLQyj1SDgRnYqcPPqZsI9J4RXXiRC2iT9SB_b8OXAFYSjADPMa0B8eNIwIjkOQF8/s400/Don%2527t+Rock+the+Boat+Babies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is actually an old picture from 2004 inVenice :-) It was taken during Carnevale in February. Mary Beth is celebrating her 16th b'day and Melissa isn't quite 13. She has just gotten a "mask" painted on her face. Wonderful memories :-)</td></tr>
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<br />brownsabroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989693453669934977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824989685034268088.post-4821242497230322802012-06-18T13:11:00.000-07:002012-06-18T13:16:19.508-07:00Our Home in Italy-ColignolaI must confess that when I created this blog I thought I would be better about writing short, concise blogs to help family and friends get a sense of what our life is like in Italy. Alas, that is just not the case. Days and weeks go by and more and more happens and I just don't manage to get it down in to words. It's like all those photos you take and they keep amassing and multiplying until finally it is just overwhelming because you don't know where to begin organizing them all. I don't even want to hear from all of you have have volumes of scrapbooks neatly labeled and on the shelves :-) <br />
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So, I am starting a simply posting here showing and explaining where we live. We live right outside of Pisa in a small little Italian village called Colignola. It is right outside of Pisa but you would never know it from walking down the main street. I will post pictures of some of the shops on main street soon ( pesceria/fish shop, pizzeria, salemeria/salami shop, fruit and vegetable shop and of course the normal shops like hardware, etc.). When we drive home we turn off the main street on to a one way street right by the only Pizzeria in town. If we meet another car we have to pull over or they have to pull over to let the other car pass. Sometimes we have to reach outside our window to tuck in the side mirrors :-) This road quickly turns in to a pot holed dirt road for about 1/3 mile before we turn left and then we are at our drive way. <br />
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We lease our house from Mr. Franco and his family. Mr. Franco is 80 years old and from what I can gather has always lived in this area. He lives with his son, Marco and his wife and their 5 children in a two story home. It is surrounded by their olive orchard and fruit trees. Mr. Franco has a HUGE garden where he raises artichokes, zucchini, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, strawberries, all sorts of fresh lettuces and a variety of other vegetables. We are fortunate to enjoy the abundance of this garden too!! He also raises chickens and we enjoy fresh eggs frequently. At least every day or too he calls over the fence or rings the bell at the gate and is bringing over a basket of goodies to me. It is wonderful! Mr. Franco does not speak English and I speak little to no Italian but we manage to carry on a rudimentary conversation with a lot of gesturing, pointing and good will. He has taught me the Italian names for most of the vegetables, taught me how to prune my fruit trees, how to dig for potatoes, how to trim off the lettuce as soon as it is cut from the garden and I'm sure there will much more to learn this year. I have a lot to learn. I looked yesterday and there must be hundreds of tomatoes green and going to be ready on the vine within the next 2-3 weeks. I'm thinking I'm going to have to learn how to put up tomatoes, maybe? There are a LOT of tomatoes in that garden!<br />
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Marco his son speaks English very well and is the one we go to for our questions about Italy. If we need to know where to go to get something repaired, where to go for something, why Italians do something a certain way, an explanation for anything....Marco is who we ask. Although his Italian is very good he still has to frequently ask us about slang words we use or to repeat what we've said. Our Southern accent gives him some difficulty, imagine that LOL! He repeated a word after me a few weeks after we moved in and he spoke with a perfect Southern accent complete with about 10 syllables (it was quite funny) and I told him he could NOT learn to speak English from me :-) The Profetti family has been just wonderful to live next door to and we could not have asked for a better landlord or neighbors. It has made living in Italy a more enriching experience than we would have had if we just lived without having daily contact with an Italian family.<br />
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Our house is very modern and nice by most Italian standards. They built it to lease to American families at Camp Darby however they likely will have their own family living in the house at some point in the future (they have 5 children ages 21 and under). Most Italian children live at home until they marry which is usually close to 30. Our house while not having that old Italian charm has many of the amenities you would not find in a typical Italian home.....i.e. we have air conditioning, showers with good water pressure, a kitchen with built in cabinets, etc. Those things would not be in a typical Italian home that you go to rent. We also have a solar hot water heating system on the roof as well as a fire place with hot water heating. Excellent windows and shutters (to keep out the heat and let in the cool breezes) without using that VERY expensive AC. Utility costs in Europe are extremely expensive so anything to keep from using gas, electricity, etc. are used as much as possible by the Italians AND by the Browns too lol We gladly use our clothesline to hang out our clothes rather than the clothes dryer every chance we get or we would have a 500 Euro electricity bill (about $600-$700).<br />
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Mr. Franco and Marco built us a new patio right after we moved in complete with lights. We have really enjoyed spending cool Italian evenings outside, grilling out and watching the sun set. The sun doesn't usually go down here until around 9 p.m. Unlike in Alabama, around 7 -8 the temperature begins to get noticeably cooler here and once the sun drops it is sweater cool outside and very pleasant to eat outside, sit and talk. There is a cherry orchard right behind our house that I enjoyed watching the cherries come to fruition. About a month ago they covered the whole orchard in netting (it must be 7-10 acres at least) to keep the birds from eating the cherries. They began to pick the cherries in early June. I posted a picture earlier of the bright red cherries. They are delicious and you see them everywhere now, in the markets, grocery stores and being sold almost everywhere we go. I don't see them over in our orchard now so I think the cherry season must be about over.<br />
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Right beside our house and in our yard we have our own fruit trees! Mr. Franco has tried to tutor me in how to take care of them (in Italian, yikes!) and they are now all getting ripe. We have peaches, apricot, nectarines, plums, prunes (yep, that's what he said), figs, and a couple of things I'm not sure what he said they were. It's really been fun to watch the trees leaf out, the fruit bud and grow and now we can begin to pick an eat it. Lyra, our English Springer Spaniel has great fun going around picking up the fruit on the ground and eating it. How she keeps from getting sick from all the fruit she eats I do not know, but so far she's good. Steve went out today and picked all the nectarines because they are ripe and needed picking so tonight we eat peeled nectarines with our grilled vegetables for dinner :-)<br />
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I am going to post some pictures and will attempt to put descriptions with each picture. We'll see how that goes :-)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSiVnDMpNaT0FOaPwCQqoB8DCsLte53MRYQjl_YdxS7LiEiWbg0eP89uzNP4YW7GJre_Gtnr-Pg1CihVQBfkg5TalQLOjQ4DoM06byWqpk8oV_QBK2TyxHaYK8B4IlMObmbGLmCPEk3E/s1600/IMG_0857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSiVnDMpNaT0FOaPwCQqoB8DCsLte53MRYQjl_YdxS7LiEiWbg0eP89uzNP4YW7GJre_Gtnr-Pg1CihVQBfkg5TalQLOjQ4DoM06byWqpk8oV_QBK2TyxHaYK8B4IlMObmbGLmCPEk3E/s400/IMG_0857.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Franco is explaining to me back in the spring about his herbs. He speaks no English and I speak little to no Italian. We do a lot of gesturing and smiling but we manage to communicate and have a good time :-) His garden now is lush and just full of so many beautiful vegetables!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprqQeS5Xrqt54RbhoHQm6YZf2n3nBfwOONNm5TmKItxy8BG5WEC3LcYpKzE240eoUpkTtKUlGmDPIuLmPMgOUkfUqGQkppwPD6uey_cglBDGLhBmnN777-lO_cx6AEEIHrxn974WYgnc/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprqQeS5Xrqt54RbhoHQm6YZf2n3nBfwOONNm5TmKItxy8BG5WEC3LcYpKzE240eoUpkTtKUlGmDPIuLmPMgOUkfUqGQkppwPD6uey_cglBDGLhBmnN777-lO_cx6AEEIHrxn974WYgnc/s640/IMG_1508.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the front of our house. The tiled roof and stucco is very typical of most Italian homes. All the windows except the 3 small ones you see have shutters that can be opened and closed, for privacy and for letting in the cool breezes. The fruit trees are on the right side of the house.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7Lue_AudA_ZbPIx318xlblb3dAJB7LI9CnB9DVxDmtQ9bmpjo9w0cJXmBdsWEG4CgqLSXahpqKlmUX6c07X8HrW2bjTy8XhoEeQowfrWhs1ZtnoH1Pp-_aWx6pHeSgffN5xIvcrdboE/s1600/IMG_1509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7Lue_AudA_ZbPIx318xlblb3dAJB7LI9CnB9DVxDmtQ9bmpjo9w0cJXmBdsWEG4CgqLSXahpqKlmUX6c07X8HrW2bjTy8XhoEeQowfrWhs1ZtnoH1Pp-_aWx6pHeSgffN5xIvcrdboE/s400/IMG_1509.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the side entrance to the house, walking in from the parking and covered carport area. The little pine tree pictured is very unusual and beautiful with gold and red foliage. The solar heating panel is on the roof and my clothes line is on the left :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdr5pjKdtmQxW-x6n3wJaY3mtoPrTck5aZaQbNLeOZpk73uMNxwYTz-zCajoSnZrefS34s2UKc2SVTVrsVwJOPWlySq8nIncJ1kiC4TmIGPzsdbpWwy-peG5GJZ1-Rk_w0rEuUO_TAc8/s1600/IMG_1510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdr5pjKdtmQxW-x6n3wJaY3mtoPrTck5aZaQbNLeOZpk73uMNxwYTz-zCajoSnZrefS34s2UKc2SVTVrsVwJOPWlySq8nIncJ1kiC4TmIGPzsdbpWwy-peG5GJZ1-Rk_w0rEuUO_TAc8/s400/IMG_1510.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bushy vine on the left is a grape arbor and is full of tiny clusters of grapes. Grapes are harvested in the fall. In the rear you can see the net covered cherry orchard. 8-10 acres completely covered in netting to keep the birds off of the red, red cherries. They are delicious! We spend most nights eating on the patio since it doesn't get dark until about 9 p.m. and gets much cooler after about 7 p.m.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRRI9Aml6r20eDADYFdfVdoPj-dHlpOZB_xZh5ESe_taKQ1ABu5hTnWVWhT2jVtp-likUDJL6MtACktUKjWdN6a6hqK9VgEye4R6pQaVmXjcG9Qeh56JIfM6SMac6mSwrYKRJXyVnL0U/s1600/IMG_1498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRRI9Aml6r20eDADYFdfVdoPj-dHlpOZB_xZh5ESe_taKQ1ABu5hTnWVWhT2jVtp-likUDJL6MtACktUKjWdN6a6hqK9VgEye4R6pQaVmXjcG9Qeh56JIfM6SMac6mSwrYKRJXyVnL0U/s400/IMG_1498.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve is picking the nectarines which are ripe now. Peaches are on the tree to the left and are almost ripe. There are peach orchards about 200 yards in front of our house that were picked last week . Lyra, the dog loves to eat the fruit that falls on the ground. That habit is left over from her years in England and eating the apples off the tree :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-9HPf3gyZc_xE3-4Sclyr05TzBuMyu2R2vEBclpYHF49XMNwEoY3sPN5PmS99bejn4q-qgk1DzCHBu52KjiUuyk3YpN6_rWsl9sGSRUAUPdE0MlbyTK7Fuc1oRjWo89qXMcBl7BDecU/s1600/IMG_1511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-9HPf3gyZc_xE3-4Sclyr05TzBuMyu2R2vEBclpYHF49XMNwEoY3sPN5PmS99bejn4q-qgk1DzCHBu52KjiUuyk3YpN6_rWsl9sGSRUAUPdE0MlbyTK7Fuc1oRjWo89qXMcBl7BDecU/s400/IMG_1511.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first picking of the peaches. The trees are heavy with the peaches and we will have many peaches in the next 2-3 weeks. I'm thinking peach pie, peach shortening cakes, peach ?? Alas, no homemade peach ice cream, since we did not bring our freezer :-(</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6PGZaNxcQP5Zhjsbg-bxi2plyvdzBj6KdrVNFDwLIwcqG_oULXS864b6LLO_TWWliiu6lLfRvHiSdIj1ohAl2CcZG3N3Q5m9auVmFHU2D8fCVq2VaJ6Gc7B0wzNkWpTt6G_XnBSqymM/s1600/IMG_1513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6PGZaNxcQP5Zhjsbg-bxi2plyvdzBj6KdrVNFDwLIwcqG_oULXS864b6LLO_TWWliiu6lLfRvHiSdIj1ohAl2CcZG3N3Q5m9auVmFHU2D8fCVq2VaJ6Gc7B0wzNkWpTt6G_XnBSqymM/s400/IMG_1513.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My geraniums and basil....along with Lyra coming out of the backdoor of the house. The doors also have shuttered doors that let the breezes in but keep the bugs and the sun out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8PZIAYHjW_-5g0c_GNLMAGZetel2HJf9B09Ow3sRRCb-UKnYciOyz6jMRUuKJK02cE0CxSNdg8k_fYI-cFOEWMMOrf-qVgymNimWNlQYRATUeqOEyur63bsY3K2uMRiX1V9lyfALusI/s1600/IMG_1515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8PZIAYHjW_-5g0c_GNLMAGZetel2HJf9B09Ow3sRRCb-UKnYciOyz6jMRUuKJK02cE0CxSNdg8k_fYI-cFOEWMMOrf-qVgymNimWNlQYRATUeqOEyur63bsY3K2uMRiX1V9lyfALusI/s400/IMG_1515.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peaches hanging on the tree!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YnR0VZTv3tK7v1ZeRswD8D-30wAuxqnmJjQjyWgVUH2SldeHlyfiN2AHv2teoQoTYbe6hN0FeCxE4PhPWaHHaMl2vEacp_5ehAyC3gZf9d-CxoZqkdEbJESCpEmMW9JqeJw7saYPRNk/s1600/IMG_1500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YnR0VZTv3tK7v1ZeRswD8D-30wAuxqnmJjQjyWgVUH2SldeHlyfiN2AHv2teoQoTYbe6hN0FeCxE4PhPWaHHaMl2vEacp_5ehAyC3gZf9d-CxoZqkdEbJESCpEmMW9JqeJw7saYPRNk/s400/IMG_1500.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Lyra eating her fruit. She is a happy dog!</td></tr>
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<br />brownsabroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989693453669934977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824989685034268088.post-5978957801499233362012-06-10T13:24:00.000-07:002012-06-19T01:53:10.597-07:00Verona and Cinque Terre Pictures-May 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCMT7q4NjsnzKNX0z6m7V_YGhYvm6dCRxtIv8XUFYYXDIlGazG9HfxUplhF3xSeuXGVt-Cw23izRPcb3ZoYK5AXsOCxukarkar4nqX03XZjwl_Lufdh5EHf0AotkWu39FizDUz-pPHHw/s1600/IMG_1181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCMT7q4NjsnzKNX0z6m7V_YGhYvm6dCRxtIv8XUFYYXDIlGazG9HfxUplhF3xSeuXGVt-Cw23izRPcb3ZoYK5AXsOCxukarkar4nqX03XZjwl_Lufdh5EHf0AotkWu39FizDUz-pPHHw/s320/IMG_1181.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melissa and I having lunch in front of Teatro Olmpia in Verona<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTyyo5V4qGnr6yDMWNa3aHMJtgqOT4rokPQRlyvSnB5LNMXIqSX5sNXDKH8K3k1Bsk7-Vmthnbso05V1kSLXXg9zx7hUGEp2bj1DffsVI9YOG82SiWdbh01aCpU8jVs2G07CyAXmTDWY/s1600/IMG_1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTyyo5V4qGnr6yDMWNa3aHMJtgqOT4rokPQRlyvSnB5LNMXIqSX5sNXDKH8K3k1Bsk7-Vmthnbso05V1kSLXXg9zx7hUGEp2bj1DffsVI9YOG82SiWdbh01aCpU8jVs2G07CyAXmTDWY/s400/IMG_1180.JPG" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The balcony from "Romeo an Juliet" :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5esiyE4Kf70soRi_EeNk32AURUuDYXlCvFbqGsXH_6HL0Ko1B2t5J-gP5K6lxQrJuFUyYoPMlr5YSx9HeCq6m7ucPDcahWqCQ04IEBaxPR6mMY1tvJCj5B8FYrE4UA9X0yzxKef0AIo/s1600/IMG_1189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5esiyE4Kf70soRi_EeNk32AURUuDYXlCvFbqGsXH_6HL0Ko1B2t5J-gP5K6lxQrJuFUyYoPMlr5YSx9HeCq6m7ucPDcahWqCQ04IEBaxPR6mMY1tvJCj5B8FYrE4UA9X0yzxKef0AIo/s400/IMG_1189.JPG" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bell tower in Verona. It is going to ring in about 5 minutes and there are signs to warn everyone of how very loud is is going to be</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1v56aAl3fgvIKW03vyd6zPWqR8GlaQ8dADMV8_ovci5Y7yMDOcT3g8dF7J6HcBWQCxEvmJaxZG6HkzG1NTXyMnObLTmBODEHuP0HIJLwBxQbSexe_7OKZq4wMtbszs7-Pexi3bmd4v0/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1v56aAl3fgvIKW03vyd6zPWqR8GlaQ8dADMV8_ovci5Y7yMDOcT3g8dF7J6HcBWQCxEvmJaxZG6HkzG1NTXyMnObLTmBODEHuP0HIJLwBxQbSexe_7OKZq4wMtbszs7-Pexi3bmd4v0/s400/IMG_1202.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the bridge in Verono, a beautiful city!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Z6P9zGjEPF8Lk7MLyJ_07JfRJBUlyf_ZeStKMsv1FBZz1lJ0EkLGiED-qqEcRBJZmmje5V-9vDBfNi17qJ4R0wlGvyRnIJJVhr1QciY1-NaBZsqXz7yGXTL3j28Qt2e_BgUY1psKLAk/s1600/IMG_1205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Z6P9zGjEPF8Lk7MLyJ_07JfRJBUlyf_ZeStKMsv1FBZz1lJ0EkLGiED-qqEcRBJZmmje5V-9vDBfNi17qJ4R0wlGvyRnIJJVhr1QciY1-NaBZsqXz7yGXTL3j28Qt2e_BgUY1psKLAk/s320/IMG_1205.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgw6z90-cggVoL22MviXasDhLwSMkZtnrwBvjUgJ_BDM2ir86BG6QGVcKTNNnMlELfr91vNSy5lajJLSJbR4NsnXWXga9NGAVu_E3u-h0iuKbc0fpIUndsiVwbjFF7ApohJFqRhNz9Sc/s1600/IMG_1210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgw6z90-cggVoL22MviXasDhLwSMkZtnrwBvjUgJ_BDM2ir86BG6QGVcKTNNnMlELfr91vNSy5lajJLSJbR4NsnXWXga9NGAVu_E3u-h0iuKbc0fpIUndsiVwbjFF7ApohJFqRhNz9Sc/s400/IMG_1210.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinque Terre</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch cliffside at Cinque Terre</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIAV7PHmfk3m_NuwB3imsOY1w3fg2fEAq7zFWxfHzrggiSjH9HM30RvHERZjnSK-pAsuLxKkKSjaBvwcY5SzgfElpPM-THd5WsIIjENHcar-sLwcjhyphenhyphenZKdU7bTHl9oZAJOXa5319PvYI/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIAV7PHmfk3m_NuwB3imsOY1w3fg2fEAq7zFWxfHzrggiSjH9HM30RvHERZjnSK-pAsuLxKkKSjaBvwcY5SzgfElpPM-THd5WsIIjENHcar-sLwcjhyphenhyphenZKdU7bTHl9oZAJOXa5319PvYI/s400/IMG_1214.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinque Terre</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2N54O17MZMvnrhvIKyCLzuEmSwPpAwCcCKlVugdxokmdUiyeyurxvkolUi5jecYHrf2jRBTSW9A4hP9FJJrrJCYJhTTiJrlh9au0s6j67gQZ4SSkEYqr1vLMAvLYdExJ3XlHEC136OSU/s1600/IMG_1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2N54O17MZMvnrhvIKyCLzuEmSwPpAwCcCKlVugdxokmdUiyeyurxvkolUi5jecYHrf2jRBTSW9A4hP9FJJrrJCYJhTTiJrlh9au0s6j67gQZ4SSkEYqr1vLMAvLYdExJ3XlHEC136OSU/s400/IMG_1222.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melissa and I at Cinque Terre walking between two villages.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gciDl6KKhm7s6aefS4sZuOvHpM7y5Q2y8qioEz-B1ANy6QIVSnfHZG00niN_8SuCSZWBaTcspx1YTO9f6OwBGUPSLwnJiGYmACGU6rKoimVCN5LkN0cdOvrmLz244xL1nGr2rYVQC7E/s1600/IMG_1225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gciDl6KKhm7s6aefS4sZuOvHpM7y5Q2y8qioEz-B1ANy6QIVSnfHZG00niN_8SuCSZWBaTcspx1YTO9f6OwBGUPSLwnJiGYmACGU6rKoimVCN5LkN0cdOvrmLz244xL1nGr2rYVQC7E/s400/IMG_1225.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Beth and Melissa look down at the Mediterranean</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AH90XXZF_edbwavxxibS6SVeT6_jUD7BkXPHIsJ10Qm3bNQ3dQtmI4QF3XYnCQGQTDpnUTwAC7NQDLukrbVFnmPOqE8w0bVuxMYUWQhnraG60CUypTWvHfXyjmhWAHc3AvOXbAspCvc/s1600/IMG_1226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AH90XXZF_edbwavxxibS6SVeT6_jUD7BkXPHIsJ10Qm3bNQ3dQtmI4QF3XYnCQGQTDpnUTwAC7NQDLukrbVFnmPOqE8w0bVuxMYUWQhnraG60CUypTWvHfXyjmhWAHc3AvOXbAspCvc/s400/IMG_1226.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinque Terre</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbjgkOhhRryXy4sovjP3JwB55OiA_FadFb6dXRGVMDsSBJaxwP6_S6tiMLhQ8cOoFCcR0nUxIQfgFqxuEKXhF9LeODhnGugOwOdNQFpGBt4C5quPu7TZYICzf2dUxKFHAH4pqm8Lrw2U/s1600/IMG_1228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbjgkOhhRryXy4sovjP3JwB55OiA_FadFb6dXRGVMDsSBJaxwP6_S6tiMLhQ8cOoFCcR0nUxIQfgFqxuEKXhF9LeODhnGugOwOdNQFpGBt4C5quPu7TZYICzf2dUxKFHAH4pqm8Lrw2U/s400/IMG_1228.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinque Terre</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38xMOFhqGIcwJ1CyNK08djh8LaBCZkLsXk4grNkyONdvtZ4b191q0Wfw7YYxjq1GBGwdiXuthyphenhyphenhLGDZiXKoDwzPInnmKZJzoGydqX2_YlMMDz3LQC5tuDT659ajBh0MHhl6yIvVZgR88/s1600/IMG_1271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38xMOFhqGIcwJ1CyNK08djh8LaBCZkLsXk4grNkyONdvtZ4b191q0Wfw7YYxjq1GBGwdiXuthyphenhyphenhLGDZiXKoDwzPInnmKZJzoGydqX2_YlMMDz3LQC5tuDT659ajBh0MHhl6yIvVZgR88/s400/IMG_1271.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinque Terre!!</td></tr>
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<br />brownsabroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989693453669934977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824989685034268088.post-12713020349969432412012-04-25T05:57:00.001-07:002012-04-30T12:17:23.170-07:00Italian Liberation Day-April 25 1945There is a busy road about 1 mile behind our house named "April 25" which we found a rather strange name for a road. Steve's secretary was telling him a few weeks ago that there were many roads in Italy named "April 25" because this was the day that the Allies helped to liberate Italy during WWII. It is a National Holiday and everything closes down across the country. There are parades, festivals, political speeches and other celebrations to commemorate this significant event in Italian history.<br />
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What I find especially moving is that the Americans played a major role in helping to liberate Italy at that time. I wish I knew more about Italian history in particular and I plan to read more during the coming months. In the meantime I ask Steve a many questions :-) He knows a lot about history!<br />
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About 45 minutes from us and just South of Florence is a large American cemetery where 4000 Americans servicemen are buried because they died fighting in WWII. We often forget the sacrifices that have been made for the freedoms we enjoy now. That is said so often I know. Maybe it is because it is so true. I believe it important that our children be taught history, taken to historical sites, explained the significance of historical events that have happened and that are happening now. Our girls can certainly tell you that they were dragged to places they did not want to go to but now appreciate the exposure they have had :-) I'm willing to bet they will be dragging their own children to some of those same spots.<br />
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When we lived in England we had a young housekeeper who worked for us. She was probably in her 30's or so. It was during the time that we invaded Iraq and the war and our invasion there was DEEPLY unpopular. There were marches in London. It was all over the news daily. Tony Blair was taking huge political heat from his support of the Iraq war and of George Bush. I remember asking her about her opinion on it all and her families position, just because I was interested in what a British family thought....not because I was trying to sway her opinion one way or another. After a little discussion, she stopped and said, My g'mother said...."I remember the war (referring to WWII), if it hadn't been for the Americans we would have been lost, and I will forever be grateful". Her statement brought tears to my eyes. Not because we were right or wrong, but just because there was some recognition that at one time we did something that was still remembered by this family and they appreciated it :-)<br />
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I have attached a few links here if you are interested in reading a little more about Liberation Day in Italy. I wish I had the time to go out and make some pictures in the towns close around but maybe next year. Today I'm getting ready for house guests from Alabama tomorrow :-) Plus I have my 2nd Italian class tonight. I had to practice counting to 10 today and learning my days of the month LOL It's kind of like being in Kindergarten except we don't get snacks or get to take a nap.<br />
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http://italymag.co.uk/italy-featured/guarda/liberation-day<br />
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http://italymag.co.uk/italy-featured/guarda/liberation-day<br />
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Here is a link to the Florence American cemetery:<br />
http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/fl.php<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liberation Day-Italian Colors</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="US_Navy_100721-N-1722W-231_Sailors_assigned_to_the_submarine_tender_USS_Frank_Cable_(AS_40)_render_honors_to_the_commanders_of_Guam's_military_forces_during_Guam's_66th_annual_Liberation_Day_celebration_parade.jpg" height="285" src="webkit-fake-url://2356056E-B9B8-4EAF-ABDC-0E5C434CB8A2/US_Navy_100721-N-1722W-231_Sailors_assigned_to_the_submarine_tender_USS_Frank_Cable_(AS_40)_render_honors_to_the_commanders_of_Guam's_military_forces_during_Guam's_66th_annual_Liberation_Day_celebration_parade.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the Americans join in the Liberation Day Parades :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liberation Day-April 25, 1945</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="I0000D2TglzOsk.g.jpg" src="webkit-fake-url://550615F8-CA27-41D4-B8A5-BA200D490BEB/I0000D2TglzOsk.g.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am guessing this g'mother was a little girl during Liberation Day 1945?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Luccaitaly1944.png" height="254" src="webkit-fake-url://95ED7E6F-02F0-4FE3-8929-4D061B8601E4/Luccaitaly1944.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow! Just found this picture. African American platoon takes this position just a few miles North of Lucca in the foremost point occupied byAmerican troops. Lucca is about 45 minutes from where we live. It is a beautiful walled city and a wonderful place to visit. Amazing that only a few decades ago WWII was going on all around us!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City Festivities</td></tr>
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</div>brownsabroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989693453669934977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824989685034268088.post-45241892572657934682012-04-17T23:47:00.002-07:002012-04-17T23:47:45.578-07:00Keeping it Real Here!I don't want friends and family to think that we are on one long vacation in Italy here. That is why I always try to blog about real life here in Italy. Yesterday life got a little bit too real for me. Here is a disclaimer to say that the following blog may be a little "TMI" (too much information) for some people and that those under 50 may not find this blog interesting at all and will certainly not find it anywhere as humorous as those over 50 will, but I want to KEEP IT REAL here and yesterday was definitely real. So here goes......<br />
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Getting our prescription drugs filled has always been a real challenge when we lived in Japan, England and now Italy. It has been more of a challenge here in Italy because the mail is not as reliable. Most of the time we have my Dad, Melissa or a friend to pick up our filled prescriptions and mail them to us. With health insurance the way it is now that is always a challenge because insurance sometimes won't fill some prescriptions but every 30 days or until a certain time and when you throw in 7-10 days mailing time, well, we have a problem. PEEHIP (our insurance) made the stupid decision NOT to have a mail order option so brick and mortar pharmacy is our only option at this time.<br />
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Over a week ago I asked Melissa to call our pharmacy that shall remain unnamed here to re fill my Prempro. If you don't know what this is I need to explain here. It is an HRT (hormone replacement therapy). I started taking a low dose about 6 months ago so I wouldn't accidentally kill someone who said something to irritate me at the wrong time ( all you middle aged menopausal women know exactly what I mean!). If you are female and not there yet you will be someday, trust me. After menopause it's amazing how irritating some things and people can be :-) So Melissa called our pharmacy on a Monday, asked them to fill my prescription and mail it to me. They said they would. End of story.<br />
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I knew I was going to run out on Friday but I thought, well the Prempro would be here on Monday or Tuesday (hopefully!). So on Monday I decided I better called unnamed pharmacy to ensure they DID mail it out to me. I get on Skype to make the phone call ....having to wait until 4 pm my time until they opened at 9 a.m. THEIR time. Skype cut me off 3X. Remember I'm off my meds here. Steve finally calls for me on his Skype account and gets through. I can tell from his end of the conversation it's not going well. Let's just say they did not fill OR mail my Prempro. Fortunately, I don't think they could hear what I said from the other side of the room. I am not happy with the drugstore!<br />
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So there I am, off this medication for 3 days now which medically I'm not supposed to just quit taking. My pharmacy has NOT sent it to me. What do I do now? I call my good friend that I always call in a bind that I will let remain anonymous here who calls my Dr.'s nurse. We attempt to get a prescription emailed to me (can't do this, it's not allowed), It's the end of the day on Monday, I'm without meds another day.<br />
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Tuesday morning I wake up with an email with all my Dr's contact information and head to the base clinic to try to get my prescription filled. The nice pharmacist there is very, very helpful but cannot fill the prescription without a copy of it from Alabama (we are 7 hours ahead of Alabama). PLUS they don't carry what I take, I would need to take 2 different types of meds. Remember I am off of my Prempro for 5 days now and my patience on a scale of 1-10 is about a 1. She finally suggests I try the Italian pharmacy since they are more relaxed about dispensing drugs and might can help me. If this doesn't work we agree I will come back on Wed. and ask for an appointment and a new prescription (which I will have to pay for an file on my insurance myself). Did I mention I am NOT happy with the Alabama drugstore! Soooooooo.......<br />
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I have to wait for 3 hours because the Italian pharmacies close from 1-4 pm every day. Hey, it's Italy! At 4 pm I manage to find the Italian pharmacy on my own, park, get out of the car with everything I need....hand written what I'm taking (from the base pharmacist), my empty blister pack of Prempro, my email from my Alabama Dr.'s nurse, etc. I am praying someone speaks some English! I go up to the door and it won't open even though I can see people inside. So I am turning around looking puzzled and then the man sitting in the car watching me with his own puzzled look just points toward another door (that is standing WIDE OPEN) and I look at the door, look at him ......and give him the thumbs up. I walk through the front door :-).<br />
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There are two pharmacists on duty. Fortunately I get the woman pharmacist who appears to be mid 30's or so. I ask if she speaks English and she says "a little". I slowly and simply begin to explain what the problem is and ask if I can get this and give her the empty Prempro package. She takes it and begins to look in the computer seeing if they have it. She's looking puzzled, calls the other pharmacist over, they are talking in Italian, looking at the package, looking at what the base pharmacy wrote down and I am thinking.....if I can't get this today I'm going to go berserk. I can see the headlines now. Small American woman goes crazy in Italian pharmacy. She finally begins to explain that she can get it in a smaller dosage but in Italy they don't carry that exact dosage. I tell her "Well, something is better than nothing" and I tell her that I need to get back on it before I choke someone.....and I make a motion like I'm doing that. She smiles big and nods her head. I hope the humor came across and she didn't think I was a danger to anyone LOL<br />
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At the end of the day, she gave me a blister pack of Prempro, not at my exact dosage and it cost me 25 Euro which I happily, happily paid with a big smile on my face. I could tell she was amused. I told her "Grazia" several times and she smiled big and nodded her head. After paying and gathering up my things I headed for the door (that I came in by). It would not open for me. So I am standing there trying to get out. My nice lady pharmacist comes out from behind the counter, directs me to the OTHER door with a smile on her face and I tell her......"Grazia, Grazia"! I guarantee you that whole place laughed once I was gone and my pharmacist will tell friends about the crazy American lady that so desperately needed her hormones she couldn't even find her way out the door! <br />
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PS I took the first dose as soon as I got in the car.<br />
PSS And now I am headed out this morning to shop with friends at some Italian thrift stores. <br />
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Don't say I didn't warn you that this was probably too much information for some of you LOL Keeping it real here!brownsabroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989693453669934977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824989685034268088.post-90884214106272626742012-04-16T06:59:00.001-07:002012-04-16T06:59:46.296-07:00TQSA, CONUS, TLA, OHA, LQA, HHG,...OH MY!If you know what the acronyms in my title mean you have either been in the military, have worked with the military or been somehow affiliated with the govt. in some way :-) I took my title from the children's book "Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!" After 2 weeks we are somewhat settled in to our house, have working appliances delivered, internet is hooked up and working (after two weeks without it), we have our 8 channels of AFN TV ( I can hear you military/govt folks laughing from here!) and generally have survived the move intact. <br />
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Since we have been through several international moves we knew what to expect and what to anticipate might be a problem. Our first international move to Japan in 1999 was a HUGE learning curve! We quickly learned then that the Government and the military love acronyms :-) A move is not a "move", it is a PCS. Your furniture, clothes, kitchen supplies,...well, that is your HHG (household goods). The 1,000 lb. shipment they send early because you will need it BEFORE your HHG gets there (but it never arrives early) is called Unaccompanied Baggage. I can't remember the acronym right now for that.<br />
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One of my funniest stories and very true is a conversation that took place during one of the numerous phone calls with DC when I first got hired in '99 to go to Japan. They were sending me volumes of paperwork to complete, a great deal of which I didn't understand, we were trying to get ready to make an international move, our friends and family thought we had lost our minds and I was still working my job at Winfield Elementary School.....in between wondering whether we HAD lost our minds. During this particular phone call the detailer in DC (who was working with me on my paperwork) in preparation to go to Japan was barking question to me, taking down my answers, etc. In the midst of all of this he announced we would be leaving from CONUS. I had already asked soooooo many questions in the past few weeks I didn't want to interrupt him and tell him I did NOT know where CONUS was located. So when I got off the phone I wrote my future new friend in Japan (the librarian who was my contact there) and told her I did not know where CONUS was and we were supposed to leave from there! She immediately emailed me back and I could tell was highly amused at my question. She told me that CONUS was the acronym for "Continental United States". We were leaving from the United States!! Well, why didn't they just SAY SO!! :-)<br />
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We have been dealing lately with TQSA, TLA, OHA, HHG, UTEP and lots of other fun acronyms I won't even go in to. All offices on base are usually marked with acronyms and referred to with these acronyms. This week we are working on LQA and COLA, getting that set up for the year. Anyone familiar with DFAS? :-) Even if you don't you do know the IRS don't you?<br />
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Just thought of another funny story from my "didn't know a thing about working for the U.S Govt overseas" days. During the afore mentioned numerous phone calls before we went to Japan, the detailer one day was once again barking questions at me and one day he barked out "social?".....and I thought "well, I like people as well as the the next person but I'm going out every weekend to parties and what does this have to do with me working in Japan??" Actually he wanted my social security # LOL<br />
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I am headed to the Esselunga, which is a nice upscale Italian grocery store. I will post some pictures and a report of that experience in the near future. I have only been twice and it's like an adult field trip every time I go! Although this time may not be as much fun. After two months of eating lots of pasta, cheese, salami, gelato and all the Italian food I wanted to (see TQSA above)...I have been on an old-fashioned American diet the last week or so. It will be hard to go in an Italian grocery store with their delicious cheeses, breads and treats and not walk out with all the things I really want to eat. I'm sticking with the diet for the next two weeks though. Summer is coming and I've got to get back in my summer clothes. Also we have visitors coming in two weeks and I know we'll be eating like the Italians during their visit!!<br />
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Ciao<br />
Delisa<br />
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<br />brownsabroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989693453669934977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824989685034268088.post-74502539720950885922012-03-21T07:08:00.000-07:002012-03-21T07:08:29.057-07:00Establishing an Italian Bank Account-you should have been thereSince Steve is the only employed adult on this tour of duty and I am the (happily!) retired adult, I am tasked with dealing with all the logistics of taking care of settling us into our new life here. I really cannot fully explain on paper what all that entails. If you have made an international move you will understand. If you have not had that lovely experience you will not understand. I do try to share some of our experiences with this blog...the good, the bad, the funny, the unbelievable, etc. A lot of what happens is lost in translation, sort of "you really had to be there" :-)<br />
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We move into our new house next week. In order to make that move happen we have had several meetings with the base housing office, visits to the house, one meeting with the Italian landlord and his son at the base housing office (with the meeting conducted almost entirely in Italian), etc. I still have to meet with another office in order to have loaner appliances signed for and delivery scheduled. Another office is working to have utilities set up and transferred in to our name. Keep in mind all of this is taking place in Italian, with Italian utility companies and with their laws and billing.....all of which we do not understand. There is a lot of simple trust that goes on and an understanding that there will be some things that don't work out smoothly and issues that will have to be straightened out after the fact. I am channeling my years in England "Stay calm and carry on" :-)<br />
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So for the last week or so I have been attempting to set up an Italian bank account which we have to do in order to automatically transfer our rent from our bank account to our Italian landlord's account. So easy, right? Go in, give them my information, put in some $$ and you've got an account, voila. No! The Italian bank is only open from 10-2 pm and closed from lunch at some point during that time.<br />
I went in last week and the teller does not speak English so he send me to talk with the Manager who does speak English fairly well. Remember I do NOT speak Italian at all lol. He is very helpful and nice and begins to explain the whole system to me as best he can about various accounts, what information we will need to provide, how we can get OUR $$ into this account, etc. I finally get the basics in to the system and he checks for Stephen Brown in the BNL system and there are already 4 in the system (2 from England and 2 in Oman). Glad none are from U.S. so that hopefully limits the chances for confusion! I find out that the banking routing system for the U.S. will not allow us to rout dollars into the Italian banking system. I do not even want to attempt to explain that to you here, it makes my head hurt. Just trust me, it can't be done. We have to either go to the ATM and withdraw cash, walk across the street and deposit it into the Italian bank OR write a check and deposit it into the Italian bank....both which will likely mean we "lose money" in the exchange rate from Dollar to Euro depending on the exchange rate that day. Anyway, I understand that is what we are going to have to do. It is what it is.<br />
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So today I go back to the bank during their "bankers hours" of 10-2 p.m. haha. My guy is there and ready to work with me. I have all my information and he begins to enter it in to his computer and he's talking 90 to nothing to me and the computer the whole time. One of the words the Italians use a LOT is the word "allora" which is sort of like a filler word we use in English, like "Ok, um, alright". He must have said "allora" 100 times today! So he's typing away, there are two landlines on his desk, and 3 cell phones,.....all 5 phones rung at least 2-3 times each, at various times he would pick them up, shout something in to them in Italian, hang up, say "Mamma Mia!" ....and resume typing and saying "allora". It was all I could do to keep from bursting out laughing!! If I had the whole transaction on video it would be priceless! Every once in a while he would stop, ask me a question, go back to madly typing and then say "Mamma mia" and throw up his hands. He did say this computer system was terrible and didn't work right and he hoped it worked right today or he would be there all day. Finally after many stops and starts, he begins to print out some paperwork and turns to me and says " Nowa Ia printa outa soma papa fora yoa. I killa many, many treesa. Ita noa gooda fora yoa. Ita alla ina Italia, buta Ia giva toa youa anywaya" He was so nice and helpful that I didn't laugh but I did smile at his joke especially when he handed me about 50 printed pages......all in Italian!<br />
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So he begins to staple, all the while still answering his phones, talking to himself (Mamma Mia!), trying to explain the basics of the account to me, fees, what we can do, how we can put money in to it, pay our landlord and utilities, setting up automatic payments, checking the account on the internet, etc. And I'm thinking there is NO WAY this is going to work smoothly but I have no choice so let's just hope they don't lose any of our $$ and we'll be happy with any small glitches along the way. It's all in your<br />
perspective, see :-) He sends me with paperwork across the street to get Steve to sign and to get a copy of his ID card. I come back with this done in about 10 minutes. And then the fun really begins.....<br />
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He grabs a key and goes to the safe. He comes back with an envelope he gives me with our account card, he then rustles around in a drawer in his desk where he pulls out another envelope and gives me with our Pin # on it. He gives me two MORE for me. After he explains to me how to use these he starts pulling out ANOTHER envelope from another drawer, a 4th pin number and this little device that looks like a pedometer in a box and begins to explain this to me. This "pedometer" is used to access the account with a special pin # but will only give us this special Pin # for 30 SECONDS and then the # disappears forever. We are supposed to enter this pedometer Pin # on the BNL (Italian bank) website. Keep in mind that this Italian website is all in Italian......no English. He showed me the Italian website to me and began to try to teach me where deposits, withdrawals, etc. were located on the website. No, I did not get all of that. I ended up smiling sweetly and telling him that Steve would be in next week to take care of all of that with him :-)<br />
I might or might not have said a "Mamma Mia" before it was over with. I thought he should have treated me to a whole bottle of wine by this time!<br />
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A couple of last observations to share in this rather long blog. Earlier in the transitions, he assigned us an account #. This was quite simple. It was a 2 digit #. I have no idea how he came up with it. But he pulled out dog-eared book from his desk, held together with some duct tape at the binding, wrote our name down on the line and put the 2 digit number beside our name. We are official now!<br />
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I ended by signing my name on numerous Italian papers.....and then having Steve to sign right beside mine. I have no idea what I signed. I can only hope that I did not sign giving permission for shady characters to come to my home to collect for protection money (as they pay for in Southern Italy), that I didn't agree to any fees I didn't know about, that someone is not now cleaning out all of my bank accounts in the U.S., that when I leave Italy they will not hold me in customs with an "Aha, Mrs. Brown, did you not know you signed for ___________ (you fill in the blank)"<br />
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In all seriousness, he was a very nice, helpful man who went out of his way to help me. He spent probably 90 minutes today and tried very hard to explain and help me to understand what my options were and minimize my expenses since he knew we were only going to use the Italian account to pay rent and Italian utilities. Living in a foreign country means that you have to sometimes use your gut and just trust that you will be treated fairly. Because as a guest in their country you are dependent upon their generosity, their willingness to help and assist you with the language, with your questions and with understanding so much of what you don't understand. It is a humbling experience and also a chance to just really laugh at how funny the whole situation really is :-) It is why I almost always stop and help people in the U.S. that I see struggling with the language or with not understanding how or why something is done a certain way. It is because I have been in their shoes....in Japan, in England and now in Italy. Helpfulness and kindness goes such a long way. <br />
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Ciao....again!brownsabroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989693453669934977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824989685034268088.post-43582541999561428782012-03-10T13:39:00.000-08:002012-06-19T02:16:35.843-07:00Italia-#3 Experiences and Observations AbroadIt has been a week since I've posted and I've had some interesting experiences since that time. I would like to report that I am well on my way to learning Italian and have my drivers license in my pocket but alas neither of those are checked off my list. I have procrastinated and not studied for my DL test so it will be another week before I can take the test. I think I am enjoying just being driven around by Steve when we are off base :-) When we are on base I can drive the little bit I need to. As far as the house goes, we are waiting for the house we want to be posted on the Housing website. At that point I will need to be "Pronto!" and be over there to be the first to see it and say that we want it. We have actually already seen it when the previous Americans were moving out in preparation for their move back to the U.S. (they were very sad to be leaving Italy and the house). I can understand why.<br />
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1. I managed to upload a link here all myself, yippee! The picture above is of a little hill town about 80 minutes away. We spent Saturday enjoying the drive there as well as wondering the streets and having lunch. San Gimignano is a town that is hundreds of years old with a very interesting history. http://www.sangimignano.com/sghomei.htm<br />
SG managed to avoid the bombings of WWII and the buildings and streets are still intact and are just beautiful. The views from the hilltop streets are also amazing with the olive trees and grapes below as well as other crops! The area is well known for their Pici Noodles http://dobianchi.com/tag/pici/ <br />
as well as their famous Vernaccia di San Gimignano white wine.<br />
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2. My experience on Friday afternoon was not as pleasant. One of Steve's teachers had graciously offered to take me to the upscale Italian grocery store http://www.esselunga.it We arrived, placed a Euro in to the cart rental (yes, we had to pay to rent a cart, our 1 Euro coin would be returned when WE returned the cart at the end of our shopping excursion). We approached the front counter of the store which is just outside the main entrance (inside a small shopping mall) so she could help me obtain a frequent shopper card. We both placed our purses on the counter in front of us, conducted our business, etc. To make a long story short, after going in to the store, going through and picking up a little bit of produce she realized her small purse was missing (it had been about 5 minutes at that point). She immediately began to backtrack and then we both quickly realized it had been stolen. Despite the language barrier we managed to get the store Mgr. and the store security involved, they looked at 3 different video cameras and finally determined that a "short, blonde girl" took the purse when we were standing at the counter. Since we both were RIGHT THERE beside each other the whole time we feel fairly certain it was a small gypsy child. Stealing is a common problem and I am always aware of it (that is why I had my purse over my shoulder and head and in front of me). She kept saying, "after all these years living over seas I knew better" I felt so bad for her, especially since she was there helping me at the counter when it was stolen. She only lost a little bit of $$ but lost her Govt. ID (BIG deal), credit card, driver license, and the only car key she had. Steve came and got us, took her to the MP office to file the claim about her stolen Govt ID. In all honesty, there likely won't be much attempt by the Carabielli to catch anybody for the theft. It just makes us...and others more aware of how very quickly it can happen when you least expect it.<br />
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3. On Sunday Steve and I enjoyed driving over to San Giuliano, a small town close to where we will live. They have one of the larger Antique Street Markets in Italy. It re-opened March 4 for the season. http://www.tuscanypass.com/events_tuscany/25874_antiqua-market-in-san-giuliano-terme-pisa.html<br />
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4. We have a house! The one we wanted! I am not exactly sure when we will be moving in since it takes time to complete the volumes of paperwork required on the US end and the Italian end but I would think at least within 3-4 weeks. Our HHG (household goods) have been sitting in a warehouse in Ramstein Germany for several weeks now.....just waiting to be delivered. More on the house in a later blog.<br />
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5. Buying gas in Italy is a very interesting experience. In England and Japan we bought gas on base, usually at prices comparable to U.S. prices. If we were going to venture so far away from base that we couldn't get gas we could buy "gas coupons" at US prices and use on the local economy there. In Italy we cannot buy gas on base, however we buy gas coupon booklets. These coupons are generally bought at US prices, but are for litres of gas. Right now a litre of gas costs about 1.74 on the economy in Italy. These coupons are then good at the gas station Agip in Italy. We Americans are used to gas stations being open and available anytime we want to buy gas, right? Wrong! Gas stations are generally open 8-12 and then 3-7. They open on Sat 8-noon and then are closed the rest of Saturday and all of Sunday. You better plan to get your gas during the hours they are open or plan on staying put LOL. I plan on never letting my tank get below 1/4 tank at the very least!<br />
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6. Let me end this blog with one of my favorite subjects, food. Today we went in to Pisa and walked around the Leaning Tower as well as along the Arno River. Stopped in a market and bought two types of homemade bread from a local vender, who graciously let me taste both of them before selling it to me and then also bought some Pecorino cheese from two older women who I believe have their own cheese making business. They spoke no English so I couldn't ask my usual questions but the cheese and bread are delicious. We just ate a snack of both with our gift of olives from the farm we are moving to. Most of the restaurants here serve Schiacciata. This is almost like a thin pizza dough with olive oil and sometime salt and herbs on top of it. It is usually served as an appetizer soon after you sit down in a restaurant. It is delicious, especially when served hot directly out of the pizza oven! Here is a recipe for it : http://www.tuscanrecipes.com/recipes/schiacciata-olio.html<br />
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7. One more observation about dining in Italy. The food is delicious but one major adjustment that Steve and I are still having to make is that the restaurants do not even open until 7-7:30 at night. When we go at this time usually no one else is there except us OR there may be another table or two of Americans :-) The Italians typically begin to come in around 8:30 - 9 o'clock. We Southerners have had a very hard time getting used to eating so very late. I can handle it better than Steve because I can sleep late in the next morning. I'm sure we are going to get in the swing of things. We have a favorite restaurant here close to base. They know we like to come there now so the owners and staff are always very welcoming to us.<br />
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Here are some pictures we have made the last few weeks. My first time to upload, yikes!<br />
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San Giuliano. The Antique Market is in the background. The large building in the background is a hot springs and upscale hotel. <br />
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Steve at San Giuliano with the same background :-)<br />
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San Giuliano again, this is the same spot as above, just the water side view.<br />
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Gelato from the Gelateria that is very close to our soon to be home. Delicious! Strawberry for me and Orange for Steve. We have already been twice (they recognize us now too).<br />
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We the this afternoon wandering around Pisa. Saw the Leaning Tower and walked along the Arno River. I especially enjoyed just seeing the old buildings, the little narrow streets and the street markets.brownsabroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989693453669934977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824989685034268088.post-43288053964580188272012-02-27T05:29:00.000-08:002012-02-27T05:29:14.105-08:00Italia-#2 What I've learned the last 10 daysI have been in Italy 10 days now. The weather is now warmer and sunny most days. I have also recovered from jet lag but still enjoying not having that alarm clock each morning. I'm going to borrow an idea from Mary Beth's blog and make a list of a few things that I have learned or been particularly impressed by since I have arrived in Italy only a short time ago.<br />
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1. It will be important that I learn the language. This time we will be living off base and in the Italian community. I am going to need to speak some Italian and quickly. It would have been much easier to learn Italian about 20 years ago since these days more information seems to be leaving my brain than staying in.<br />
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2. I expected the Italian food to be very good. I have not been disappointed yet. Delicious! Note to remember though is that we should always know what we are ordering if the menu is not in English. Steve forgot that pomodoro was tomatoes and not cheese last night so he was served a nice big bowl of sliced tomatoes (he doesn't really like tomatoes much at all). He was a trooper though and ate quite a few :-)<br />
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3. We were told the train system wasn't very efficient, wasn't reliable and couldn't be counted on. Listen when people who know tell you things. Or just have a lot of patience and look on it all as an experience. We chose the later yesterday on our trip to Florence :-)<br />
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4. There are a lot of naked people in Italy, i.e. statues, DVD's in the snack store, magazines openly displayed, etc. I knew that from previous European travels but forgot until it's all at eye level lol<br />
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5. Heated towel racks are very nice. I plan to implement them into my next U.S. home in retirement.<br />
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6. If you have things to accomplish with an Italian office gird yourself with ALL of your patience and assume it will take 3X longer than you anticipate. Forget your sense of American efficiency and sense of the "customer is always" right. You are in Italy now. "When in Rome do as the Romans".....and you will if you want to get anything done! <br />
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7. Looking at houses is interesting, whether it is online or in person. Should we live in a city, a small town or in the country side? Should we live closer to base or further away? Do we want a smaller Italian home with "character" (and all that entails :-) ) or a "new built" (with the perks that come along). House or apt.? Do they take pets (a deal breaker for us)? Most have little or no closets/storage. The kitchens may be non-existent or have no cabinets. Security has to be considered. Finding the right house will make a huge difference as to how satisfied we are while living and working in Italy.<br />
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8. The price of gas here is 1.67 a litre. Without quoting all the math that translate to about $8.00 a gallon. No, I didn't do the math wrong or mis quote anything. Italians and Europeans in general drive very small and energy efficient cars and have for years. They've been paying high gas prices for years. I think there's something we might can learn here, maybe?? If we try?<br />
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9. The countryside is just beautiful in this area. They grow olives, grapes and lots of vegetables in this area (Tuscany). I can't wait to see what happens in the months to come as everything begins to bloom!<br />
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10. Italian children are so very cute when eating out with their parents and generally have good manners. Steve and I are particularly smitten with little dark haired curly headed girls. We have good memories of two of our own!<br />
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11. Living in a hotel on base makes you familiar with: cereal on a frequent basis, convincing yourself that Ramen noodles really are what you wanted for lunch today, someone else to clean your room (yes sir), AFN commercials over and over and over again, Italian TV shows that you can't understand but can't quit watching because they are so fascinating, a tub full of hot water up to the brim if you<br />
want it :-), someone walking in high heels very loudly down the hall way too early in the morning, free internet, convenience to most everything I need within a 10 minute walk. Life is good.<br />
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12. After one trip to Florence yesterday I think I can make a prediction that it is going to be one of my favorite cities to continue to return to and peel back the layers on. So much history there! So beautiful! There is still an operating farmacia (pharmacy) that is 500 years old! That is just amazing to me. It has been in that same spot for 500 years! They have prescriptions posted for famous people. I am going back and just walk around with my mouth hanging open I am sure lol The building and architecture itself is just amazing.<br />
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I will end with an even dozen observations today. My intentions are to publish some photos in my next entry since I know that I like to see pictures in blogs I read. So my to do list this week includes:<br />
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1. Study and pass my drivers test.<br />
2. Continue to work with the Housing Office to go out and look at houses<br />
3. Go sit on GEICO's front step when they open tomorrow a.m. and don't leave until we have the right to drive our car (that's been sitting outside for 3 weeks now)!<br />
4. Take care of some business with some things back stateside, always interesting with the time difference and making the phone calls :-)<br />
5. Maybe make a trip alone back to Florence on Thursday or Friday and explore on my own.<br />
6. Keep going to the gym every day and the fitness classes they offer. Get in some good habits NOW!<br />
7. Figure out the best method to begin learning Italian and establish a plan to spend a part of each day learning a little bit...seriously....really. Gotta do it :-)<br />
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Ciao!brownsabroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989693453669934977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824989685034268088.post-72614413331008452122012-02-22T05:29:00.000-08:002012-02-22T05:29:57.927-08:00Italia- #1 Post Traveling to ItalyI have arrived in Italy. Actually I arrived a week ago. My intention to keep family and (interested) friends supplied with timely updates hasn't worked out smoothly yet :-) I'll get there in my own good (retired and lazy) time though!<br />
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I spent about six weeks staying with my Dad in Fayette, taking care of odds and ends with the house in Winfield, visiting with family and friends and just generally tying up as many loose ends as I could before leaving the country. It was good to have that much time to just relax and see people. I almost became a regular at the lunchtime Charlie's crowd with my Dad, fried chicken fingers, turnip greens and macaroni and cheese. They just handed me a sweet tea without me even asking every day lol! I only had to set the alarm clock about 4-5 times the the whole six weeks, it was LOVELY! Lyra, the sweet, old English Springer Spaniel stayed with me some of the time and she was a good buddy....although she did insist about 8 a.m. that she absolutely MUST go outside so that usually rousted me up and out. She's such a sweetheart that I usually didn't mind too much.<br />
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I was planning to fly to Italy around Feb. 6 or so but because of the unusual snow fall in Europe Steve and I decided it would be best if I waited a week or so. Italy has had more snow this month than they've had in 30 years. Even Rome had significant snowfall. I will try to post some pictures of Rome with snow. It was just beautiful in all the pictures! We decided not to risk me being stuck in a European airport for a day or two when there wasn't any reason for me to be in a hurry.<br />
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I ended up having the Army Travel Office out of Ft. Benning book my ticket for Feb. 14 and asked them to route me through Rome (as far south as possible to avoid the cold weather and snow). So on Feb. 14 I flew from B'ham-Atlanta-Rome and then in to Pisa. After all of our years of international travel I was psyched up for the long hours in the airport and in the plane. I had my magazines, my Kindle Fire with downloaded books, my neck pillow, my snacks, my computer...my tourist passport and my official government passport. I also had my government orders, all my medications, my jewelry, cosmetics, two changes of clothing and a few other things in a carry on bag. I have had my checked bags lost TOO many times to ever, ever travel again without taking a change of clothes, make up, meds, etc. carry on! I was dressed in my black knit suit with long sleeve T shirt with slip on shoes. It is like my "travel uniform" haha. Black= doesn't show any stains. Knit=stretches and gives if you have to twist up and sleep in a chair or airline seat. Slip on shoes=clearing security quickly. The one habit I cannot break is that I still constantly have to re-check my purse to make sure my passport is still in there :-) When we all traveled together as a family Steve carried all the passports with him and we all just took them from him as we passed through customs and then handed them back. I also had to keep up with my boarding passes for Atlanta and Rome. <br />
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Fortunately all my flights were on time so there were no wild runs down the terminal trying to make connections. I have been there, done that! I am now too old to make those runs now. When I arrived in Atlanta I immediately went up to the Atlanta check in desk and used some Southern charm and asked to change to a window seat and then sat down to quickly eat my Panda Express lunch before boarding. In a few minutes they called my name and "Voila, I had a nice window seat". It makes sleeping so much easier if I have something to lean on....and Steve wasn't going to be there so I needed a wall :-) Once on the plane I again had to use some more Southern charm since I am too short to hoist my check in bag (i.e. see above post about what all is in that bag, it is also very HEAVY) into the overhead rack so a nice gentlemen helped me get it in to the overhead rack. At this point I sit down and make my nest. Steve, Mary Beth and Melissa will understand what this consists of. I will spare the rest of you those details.<br />
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As we prepare for take off I realize that probably more than half of the plane is speaking Italian. Real Italian, the kind I do not understand. Point to self, get serious about learning Italian when you arrive in country. It is such a beautiful spoken language! The rest of the flight was like all long flights... movies, reading, try to sleep (I can't sleep sitting up, never could, never will), eat what they feed me, toward the end feel grungy, sleep deprived and a little disoriented. I turn on the Monitor that follows our flight which shows we are flying over Ireland and then almost directly over London, I want to wave out the window to Mary Beth below :-). We then fly over Belgium, very close to Mons where Steve was principal for two years and then head south toward Northern Italy where they tell us we are beginning our descent. As we break through the clouds I can see the Mediterranean out the window on my right. Little did I know that we were literally flying directly over Camp Darby as we descend in to the Rome Airport. If I parachuted I guess I could have just dropped out at Steve's school and surprised him lol! We land in Rome, I gather up my things and go through customs. I have a U.S Govt. passport with has an official Italian VISA in it allowing me to be in the country long term. I was unsure if they would ask me questions about this, like where I was staying, etc. Fortunately, no questions, just a stamp and a wave through. <br />
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I then go to connecting flights and have about an hour to get something to eat. Despite our four years in England and travel throughout Europe I sometimes forget all the different cultural ways of doing things in different countries, especially when I am jet lagged. Fortunately I have absolutely no shame and just don't care whether people look at me funny or not ...a very valuable attitude when traveling abroad :-)<br />
I figure I don't know them and will never see them again in my life so what do I care what they think of me lol So I go into a coffee shop to get a chocolate croissant and a diet coke. On one side are the people who are standing at the bar eating standing up in the coffee shop. On the other side is the place you pay and get your take away items. They are NOT THE SAME and should not be confused! Fortunately, the nice Italian guy behind the counter recognized the confused, jet lagged American lady needed further directions....as well as the caffeine in her Diet Coke right now! Plus I did not yet have Euro so if they didn't take Dollars I was going to have to use some more Southern charm to work out a swap with someone or find an currency exchange place (which I didn't have time to do before my flight to Pisa). P.S. The Southern charm was wearing very, very thin at this point in time. I had been up for almost 24 hours with no sleep. Anyway, as I am standing in line to pay an American young woman asked if I had just gotten in and when I said yes, she said she lived in Pisa and I said 'Oh, I'm going to be living close to there" She asked if it was "Camp Darby" and when I said "Yes". We introduced ourselves. Turns our she's originally from B'ham, AL and was flying back that day to see family in NC. Small world indeed, coffee shop in Rome airport. Nothing like a Southern accent to break the ice :-)<br />
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Soooo, I catch the Pisa flight, it lasts all of 25 minutes. Get off plane in Pisa and it is VERY cold and windy. We all go to baggage claim and they start spitting out the luggage fairly quickly......all the luggage except mine. I go to the office and make my claim. The nice Italian lady puts a track on it and tells me they will deliver it to the base gate once they find it. At this point I don't even care, I just want a shower and a bed. I am worried that Steve thinks I'm not on the flight and is going to leave the airport (my cell phone won't work in Italy). I finally emerge and he's waiting on me patiently :-) We make the short drive of about 15 minutes from the Pisa airport back to Camp Darby where we attempt to get an ID for me. Since I can't do much of anything without an official identification card it is important I get this made pronto. The office is closed for lunch and I'm too tired to wait for them to re-open. Take a shower and then collapse for 4 hours. Delta has located my luggage and delivered it to the base gate around 8 p.m. that night and it appears that everything is there. I knew not to pack anything valuable in there to begin with. I figure if they wanted to steal socks or sweaters they could have it but they wouldn't have a chance at my jewelry. Steve had 300 Euro stolen out of his suitcase several years ago from a checked bag in Italy. Lesson learned. That pretty much sums up my travel experience for this trip.<br />
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Most of my time since arriving has been getting over jet lag and taking care of business on base. Steve has been sick with whatever seems to be going around everywhere. He went to the base clinic last Thursday and got some antibiotics and has just now started feeling better. I have kept the Chlorox wipes and Lysol out so that I hopefully won't get it too. We have been going out for nice dinner's every night. I will post some pictures in the next day or two. The weather has been overcast and very cold until today. It is sunny and very pretty today which I hear is more typical this time of year.<br />
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Ciao!brownsabroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989693453669934977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824989685034268088.post-82162136579537737132012-01-19T17:33:00.000-08:002012-01-19T18:17:02.265-08:00My First Blog-lolAs many of you know Steve and I are headed off to Italy in the future. He left last Sunday and is now there living and working. He will continue to work as an administrator with the Dept. of Defense Schools while I am starting this tour with retired behind my name :-) We are excited as usual about the new adventures to come! <br />
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In an attempt to keep family and friends somewhat updated about what we are doing and what's going on in our lives I am going to write a blog. Big smile here! I know NOTHING about writing a blog as you can tell from this sad little site here. But I am proud because I got on and created this all by myself just now and will continue to make it a little more interesting (hopefully with some input from some of you blogsters out there, please). Send me an email at brownsabroad@gmail.com if you have any advice.</div>
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I have regretted not keeping some type of journal of the years we lived in Japan and England. Steve, Mary Beth, Melissa and I all have some of the same memories but each of us also have our own individual memories of those years. It would be nice to have them all down in a blog complete with pictures but unfortunately we don't. We have a mish mash of emails, pictures, videos and our memories.....which are still very enjoyable. I'm going to try to document this adventure a little bit more. Maybe our grandchildren might like to read it someday. If nothing else, this blog might serve as hard documentation and keep Steve and I from arguing about the details of something as we get older (and he can't remember anymore) :-)</div>
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Melissa will be keeping our little spoiled English Springer spaniel, Lyra at U.A. with her until we can arrange to get her some type of pet Visa. We're not sure what that entails but it's not simple and requires lots of vet documentation and translation of paperwork into Italian. Lyra is already deaf, with health problems and has made one International move from the UK to Alabama, I don't think she's looking forward to another one! Melissa is a Jr. at U.A. and will stay behind. Steve and I appreciate the numerous family and friends who have offered her a place to stay while we are gone, their phone number to call "at any time for anything", and other generous offers to help take care of her in our absence. It means a lot! She has started a new internship with al.com and has had two stories published online this week. Please check out the Tuscaloosa al.com online. She will be writing for them regulary, she has her own byline and everything! Last Saturday she's covering the BCS crystal championship trophy viewing :-) She also writes for the Crimson White 2-3 a week if you love reading the news check out their online website too.</div>
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Mary Beth has been in London since last August. She graduated from Auburn, spent the summer working at a resort in Wyoming and then accepted a banking internship with United Bank of Switzerland. Yes, she IS an English major and had no business background but she's managed to figure it out as she goes (as usual) :-) She's working in their Prime Brokerage Department and I don't understand when she tries to explain to me what she does. She is enjoying being back in London, renewing old friendships, making new friends, discovering all the special places she likes to find and traveling around. Ryanair, a wonderful discount airline has a direct flight from London to Pisa, so we hope she will be visiting us at least every 2-3 months and maybe we can make a trip to London before her internship ends in August. She auditioned for and was invited to join a Choir in London called Electic Voices www.eclecticvoices.org.uk </div>
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As for the two of us, we will spend the next 2-3 months living in a small town called Livorno. We will be living out of our suitcases in a hotel on the military base. Our household goods were packed up last week and will likely not get to Italy for 2-3 months. This will give us that amount of time to look for and find either a small house or an apt. I understand that housing is very limited and I have already looked online at what's available. Hopefully we can find something that we can be comfortable in and that visitors can come and stay with us for short stays. I'm not too worried about it though, Italy is right outside my front door! There will be much to see, and do, and eat and explore! </div>
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I will work on making this blog look better. Help please :-)</div>
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Delisa</div>
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<br /></div>brownsabroadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04989693453669934977noreply@blogger.com0