Dové Baffo?

Hey there, how is everybody? I haven’t posted in a while but it feels good. I put some random pictures down below (playing soccer, eating strange foods, etc.) I hope everyone is doing well.

I’ve been granted a little more time here in Mirandola, one month to be exact. So I have 4 weeks now to figure out what I want to do with myself (ahhhhhh, panic abated). I’m looking online consistently, but so far not a lot of response. I hear the markets are crashing; world economy sucks right now, eh? I KNOW American currency sux because I feel it in my bank account! Shit, even UK currency dropped a bit to the Euro.

Nevertheless, haven’t a lot going on to be honest, nothing overly exciting. I’m still teaching English, playing soccer every week with Paltro and the crew, eating too much –but hey, eating well. I think I’m addicted to pizza, man; there are so many kinds and it’s all so light and delicious. I want to get back into exercise, but all I can do is run with this stupid-ass cast. The worst part is- I don’t think it’s healed yet, b/c I tried to do some mock push ups the other day and my wrist told me (very sternly) that it’s not ready. WTF? I have less than two weeks with this crappy cast and it BETTER be healed when it comes off! God, I’m sitting here writing about my cast…. My travels in Italy are SO exciting!!

No. All kidding aside, I love Mirandola. My friend, Antonio, let me drive his BMW-stick the other night and I cruised all over town, speeding like a MF. I was worried at first, but he assured me it’d be alright and I think there’s only like, one cop car in existence around the area here, so... it felt good to drive again, especially on the left side of the car, and, on the right side of the road! Oh and BTW, Miradola also has a place here that makes machine parts for Lamborghini, which, I always forget to mention. It’s pretty cool walking by the one they have up on display, so there ya go.

Ciao, ragazzi

Some Random Pics

Dové Paltro? Kicking ass as goalie, mang!

Been reading Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis. I dig this quote.

Dové Baffo?
Tasty clam...
Good times playing darts. One game in particular, a game called 'Don't Be Angry' is extremely fun.

Decisions-Decisions

I'm strugglin' with what to do and where to go next. I have several possibilities but nothing concrete and these are scary thoughts lately. The end of my term in Mirandola is nigh and I haven't a plan, nor a backup plan.

I'm ready to leave but then at times I want to stay. The friends that I've made here are good people, and I love the family I teach and the people in my classes over at the office. I haven't a lot to write this week, but things'll work out. They have so far...

Flammery Baby!

This is Marco, the owner of Flammery. He's a very cool guy and it's a very cool place... if you wanna check out the photos section of Flammery to get an idea of what it's like here the link is: http://www.mirandolife.it/flammery/

Winter fun!

Here's Freddy and I having a lil too much fun and luckily not getting into too much trouble...

Wintertime and Friends

Yep, it’s broken. I got x-rays last week and my dumb; newb snowboarding-ass fractured my wrist. Now, I gotta have this cast on for awhole friggin’ month.

It snowed for a day last week and I had the most amazing time! For starters, I’ve never been in weather where snow falls ‘n dem little flakes, raining as if from heav’n. I had THE most fun with Freddie throwing snowballs out our apartment window / from the terrace at innocent bystander’s walking/cycling/driving by (see video below :p). We even made huge snowman-sized snowballs and lobbed them at people’s feet.

I’m having a blast playing football (soccer) and partying with ma’ homies Paltro and Diddy, Ricio, Baffo, Chiugia and all the others at Flammery, Teatro, etc. etc. Eugenia (Mamma Benatti or, Mamma Lion as I call her) doesn’t want me to play football due to my wrist, but football requires only the feet and head, eh? So, I’m playing anyway (secretly sneaking away after dinner to be picked up by Paltro).

I met my two really good friends, Paltro & Diddy; through two girls named Francesca & Natasha- I owe my whole social life to these three wonderful girls. They are so sweet. Shit, I am having so much fun… I wish my Italian was better but I’m studying all the more and I often wish I could stay here permanently. But then again, I may come back. Paltro connected me with the boss of Flammery, who said that I could work as a bartender if I ever wanna come back. Talk is cheap, but you never know…

The 6th of January was La Befana ‘The Witch Holiday’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Befana) and the last somewhat Christmas-related holiday in Italy until Passover (so many). For La Befana we went to a bar, le Monelle, where a sexy-witch dressed in lingerie gave out kisses and candy; it was a good day! ;p

Good Times

This is Francesca, she's a babe.
Natasha and Paltro... forgive these bad pics but the lighting sucked.
Diddy...
Some new friends of Paltro and myself, Chiara and Naurika.

Auguri!

Happy New Year’s to everyone and best of luck in 2008. I have to say that ’07 was a pretty good year! This next one is off to a good start so here we go...

Christmas was a blur to say the least, another excuse to drink myself into oblivion! I partied all night (literally), and then picked it back up on Christmas day. I’ve made a nice group of friends through two guys named Paltro and Dido (I call him D. Diddy); they really took me in and made me feel like a part of the crew.

On New Year’s Eve I did much the same, except a little more formal. I ate a nice dinner with a group of about 20 people, did the count down and then went on to the hit club spot or ‘locker’ as they say, which is called ‘Flammery.’ It’s like the local Coyote or Hennessy’s of the tri-city area, definitely no Stingaree, hehe. I danced the night away…

Last week, I played soccer for the first time, or ‘football’ as the rest of the world calls it with Paltro and the guys. We’ll see if they invite me to play again because damn I sucked.

A few days before New Year’s I made my first attempt at snowboarding. I figured it’s time to actually see how similar it is to surfing and just how much ‘the skillz’ apply… not much! Actually, I fell and jacked up my wrist within the first hour after trying a 180 before even learning how to stop. I don’t know if my wrist is broken or not, but it’s been almost a week now and I’m not so sure anymore…

Money is flying out of my pockets now that I have friends who’ve shown me how to spend it! I think I’m gonna start looking for work again because once this gig is finished my budget is gonna be slim! I’ve got plans and more I want to do, can I keep this going? Lady luck must have the hots for me because I don’t know how I’ve gotten this far… If only SOMEONE would get their damn passport in time before poor Clint can’t go anymore…

Blurry Dreams

I feel that this is an adequate representation of my New Year's eve... or was this Christmas? I don't remember...
My homey Paltro and ma'self.
I don't remember this picture but it looks like i'm having fun.

Hehe...