Today marks the day Peppe and I chose as our dating anniversary. Four years ago he was in Texas on that first exploratory visit. He had been there two days, but neither of us had mentioned anything serious like “feelings” or “emotions”. It was on this day he initiated the conversation and we decided to...Read More

….these are the words Italians say when they want to send you “wishes” for something, such as your birthday, a graduation, or a holiday. So, today, as one of the proudest Americans living overseas, I tell you all – TANTI AUGURI! Now, don’t go running to check your calendars and see what you have missed....Read More

  For the last four months Peppe has been telling me he had a surprise for me. I love surprises, and I bugged him constantly for hints and ideas as to what it could be. We have friends going to Egypt in September, so I thought maybe he bought us tickets to go with them....Read More

Looking back over the last few blog entries I’ve made, I realize how preoccupied I have been with insignificant details … events in my life which, no matter how hard I may try, I can’t control the outcome. Sophia Lauren is happily, and for now, safely at home and the PdP is no longer in...Read More

So, I joined this online forum for people who are Expats in Italy. I have mentioned the site on here a few times and I have a link to it on the side of this page. Well, I would read about the Italian Bureaucracy, and people talking about getting a visa or a pdiS, or...Read More

This is a big “Thank You” to everyone who has been following Sophia’s Saga. I am proud to report that since I “stole” her back from the PdP, things have been great. Sophia is definitely happy here with us, and she does cute things every day that make us laugh. She does, however, get into...Read More

Here is a fun quiz you can take to see What Kind of American English You Speak. I took the quiz and I scored 50% General American English, 40% Dixie (now there is a surprise!), and 5% YANKEE (now THAT is a surprise!) I realize this only adds up to 95%, but … I dunno...Read More

When I left you, the PdP had (first) said she was going to give Sophia (my dog) away, and (secondly) said she was going to sell her, but did I ever hear anything about the word STEAL? Nope – not until today! I heard her shrieky, ‘fingernails-down-the-chalkboard’-like voice and, for the first time in my...Read More

As much as I’d like to resist negativity around here, I feel obligated to share with you the story of a young neighbor of mine …. This isn’t a good story, and it isn’t for the faint of heart … so proceed with caution. I met this lady (the word “lady” is being used loosely...Read More

I have never really been an “animal” person. True, I always did prefer dogs over cats, but I was just as happy looking at them from afar as I was owning one. But, recently I have been adopted. Notice I say “I” was adopted? A few days ago the most precious little puppy dog ever...Read More