Panfrodoski

After many months of excitement and anticipation we are pleased to announce the new addition to our family. He is a healthy 10 oz., 13 inches [not including his tail] and is already a hand full. He has Maria's shiny dark hair and Andrew's fast reflexes. Yes our new kitten, Pan Twardowski ( pronounced Panfrodoski) is a little wonder.

The name was inspired by a story Andrew's dad used to tell growing up. Pan Twardowski, was a polish noble man who made a deal with the devil to sell his soul in exchange for fame and fortune. Trying to outsmart the devil, Pan Twardowski pledged the devil could take his soul if he was ever found in Rome, a city he never intended to visit. Years later Pan Twardowski was in a polish bar, named "Rome", when the devil decided to make good on their deal and take him to purgatory. After praying to the Virgin Mary for help, Pan Trardowski was let go and fell to the moon where he remains today as the polish man on the moon.

Home

It's been a while since I've been up with the garbage man. I got up at 4:45 this morning. My body is still on Italy time and thinks it's about 11am. I'm sitting here downloading about a GIG's worth of images from the trip and can hardly believe how much ground we covered and how funny time is when you travel. While I was there, it felt like I was there for months, finally getting down enough language to order food and ask where to find this or that. Now, at home, it feels like a dream...like I never left.

Veridian

I have always ignored the Veridian green tube in my paintbox. I had no use for it. Too bright for trees, not enough yellow for grass. It took all this time and a twist of fate to see that it is the exact color I need to paint the sea in Sorrento.

Encore

So, here I am in Italy for a few more days. Through a series of mishaps we missed our flight from Naples to JFK. So, thinking, oh, we can just get another flight, we are surpised to find out ...after a labyrinth of running back and forth to every desk there...that the only option to leave that night was to buy a new ticket for $2000 euros EACH, fly to London at 11pm, switch airports in London via bus, wait 8 hours in the new London aiport and then fly to JFK. Thankfully we got through to our airline in the US...the Italian offices didnt speak english and kept hanging up on me...and they finally agreed to put us on another flight with only nominal fees. So, we are here in Sorrento, just outside of Naples in this beautiful town jammed into the sides of mountains and plunging cliffs. Beats sleeping in Heathrow. Home tomorrow...i hope...with better stories from the trip.

Italy Wins!

Internet access has been spotty at best but I have to at least give an overview of what traspired here when Italy won the World Cup after double overtime. They went completely apeshit. Every goal consisted of the entire crowd jumping out of their chairs and the win...that meant fireworks, honking, screaming, jumping in the ocean, driving around on their motobikes and tiny cars with flags...all night long. The entire coastline of Naples [we are on an island off of naples called ischia] was lined with fireworks. It was like winning the superbowl, the world series, the olympics and having a homecoming parade all wrapped into one, a thousand fold. More when I get back...

Crea un Nuovo Post

Even blogger is in Italian. Florence was amazing, Tuscany is beautiful. Surrounded by sunflowers, lavender, acient cities and churches. Artwork is everywhere...on the walls, the floors, the ceiling, the food. So much to tell and only 2 minutes left on my internet card. People are so nice, trying my best to speak italian as I can. Behind me are the hotel employees watching soccer rooting for Italy to beat the pants off of Germany. Siena was amazing. More soon. Ciao ciao....