Anywho, I spent quite a bit of time in the States in December, as my dad had some major surgery and then I returned home for the holidays.
I was also able to swing by Cincinnati for a few days with my family and college friends there.
I always wish there was more time.
My aunt treated my cousins and me to dinner at a Cincinnati favorite, Montgomery Inn.
my cousins and my aunt! <3
half slab, quarter chicken and onion straws, with LOTS of sauce!
And a trip to the Queen City isn't complete without a scoop of Graeter's!
mocha chocolate chip. my personal fave.
A few sorority sisters and I gathered for lunch in Columbus.
Laurie, Susan, me, Ellen (my big), and Susie (my little)
And then a group of us also met for dinner.
Tudor, Poprocks, Hogg, me, and Suz
Laurie and Susan stayed in Columbus with me for two nights so that we could catch up. It's always so nice to see them and I hate that our time together is always so short. Perhaps one day we'll manage to change that.
we're still working on our selfie skills.
Once in Savannah, I had lunch with this little cutie!
#i'mstealingher
Gathered with my supper club girls for some Mexican fare at Christy's house. I swear I could eat cheese dip every day and not get tired of it.
Jessica, Lori, me, Christy and Tammy
Sheila had several of us over for a delicious dinner to complement the wine I brought home from Tuscany.
deliciousness and was perfect with that great Tuscan wine
And Janet had me over for a bowl of chili and the Georgia football game. Her chili is amazing!
again, working on our selfie game.
On New Year's Eve, I had some fun trying to record the fireworks in slow motion on my phone. Kind of fun!
Danielle and I painted the ponies my sister jokingly gave me for Christmas. Now they're on her desk!
I once wanted only a horse for Christmas. #theneverendingjoke
It's always nice to be in Savannah with the people I love the most.
And it's always nice to get back to my own space, routine and life when I return to Milan.
School is back in full swing and we are already counting down to our February vacations.
But, first, I want to share a few highlights of my time at home.
There's some beautiful sights to be seen as you fly over the Alps and out of Italy.
Our Christmas tree, Ruby and Elf on tv...a good night all together.
A few rounds of Sequence were played.
My brother in law, Neal, finally sported his calf warmers that I bought him in Germany!
Some great friends passed through Savannah on their way home from Disney World.
I love these ladies! Gettin' our photo pose on!
Bubble lights have been adorning trees in our family for as long as I can remember. My Aunt Joni always had them on her tree when I was growing up. These are at the end of their life so our tree may be without bubble lights for awhile.
With a new camera lens in hand (a nice 18-200 mm zoom lens) I headed out in downtown Savannah.
Savannah's square and lovely live oak trees
I like to photograph people, but haven't worked up the nerve yet to approach them and ask permission
when you're directly in their face. So, you get a few shots from behind!
Across the Savannah River to the Westin and their dock
the fountain in Forsyth Park
It was a nice enough day (in January!) to relax in the park.
Again, shooting from behind!
Cool sunrises and sunsets are frequent when you make transatlantic flights!
It's always so nice to spend time with my family and friends over the holidays. I'm blessed to be able to fly home every year. As always, thanks to everyone who made time in their busy holiday schedule to get together and include me in their lives.
The next time I'm home Melissa is getting married!
How is this possible? (I can't possibly be old enough to have a niece getting married!)
Advent marks the beginning of the Christmas season for Christian churches. In Latin, the word advent means arrival or coming and refers to the anticipation of Christ's birth. Germans began lighting candles each night in anticipation of Advent, and the tradition translated into various forms, including calendars to mark the days leading up to Christmas. (source)
the Duomo and the city's tree
Milan has a unique way of celebrating this holiday season by creating a musical Advent calendar in Piazza Duomo.
Beginning December 1, each night at 6 pm, a musician stands at the window of municipal offices. Every night an additional musician stands at a window. They play Christmas music for 30 minutes for the crowds in Piazza Duomo to enjoy.
I went on December 12th, so there were 12 musicians to enjoy.
The windows are numbered from 1-24, for each day in December leading up to Christmas.
Greetings hang in many languages.
Here's a little taste of what you can go and experience.
I've been to Florence a couple of times now, and I've noticed various street art signs there and throughout Europe. But, this trip spotting the redesigned street signs became a bit of an obsession for Caitlin and me.
Most of these signs are "hacked" by street artist Clet Abraham, a French artist based in Italy.
Here is some of what we found, just in Florence. I'm on the lookout for others!
And, what would Florence in December be without a picture of the Duomo and a beautiful Christmas tree.
You have to multiply that by 10-- and then you might have the right idea.
The Fiera is held just outside of Milan in Rho for 10 days right at the beginning of December. It's convenient that you can take the red Metro line straight out there. But, beware, a regular urban ticket won't cut it! You must buy the ticket for Rho, and it's €2.50 each way.
This year I was able to go twice. Caitlin and I went once mainly to eat and snack on delicious foods that are difficult to find here on a regular basis. We had a dinner of German pretzels and beer and snacked on English cheddar cheese. Mmmmmmmm....
Yum!
Cheddar cheese: does not exist in Italy.
I went again on Saturday with the intent of doing a little shopping. The venue gets so crowded that you really have to map out a plan and strategy to avoid being overwhelmed. The last two years I've learned that the European and Italian sections have the best stuff. There is a US section, which seems to indicate that every American is a cowboy and most of the Asian and African stuff is cheap and doesn't feel well made.
But there is good food to be had and fun presents to be bought. Many people come with a suitcase or trolley cart to load up all their purchases. And this year they sold a trolley for €3. It's really unbelievable. There's also live music in different halls.
Anywho, I spent quite a bit of time in the States in December, as my dad had some major surgery and then I returned home for the holidays.
I was also able to swing by Cincinnati for a few days with my family and college friends there.
I always wish there was more time.
My aunt treated my cousins and me to dinner at a Cincinnati favorite, Montgomery Inn.
my cousins and my aunt! <3
half slab, quarter chicken and onion straws, with LOTS of sauce!
And a trip to the Queen City isn't complete without a scoop of Graeter's!
mocha chocolate chip. my personal fave.
A few sorority sisters and I gathered for lunch in Columbus.
Laurie, Susan, me, Ellen (my big), and Susie (my little)
And then a group of us also met for dinner.
Tudor, Poprocks, Hogg, me, and Suz
Laurie and Susan stayed in Columbus with me for two nights so that we could catch up. It's always so nice to see them and I hate that our time together is always so short. Perhaps one day we'll manage to change that.
we're still working on our selfie skills.
Once in Savannah, I had lunch with this little cutie!
#i'mstealingher
Gathered with my supper club girls for some Mexican fare at Christy's house. I swear I could eat cheese dip every day and not get tired of it.
Jessica, Lori, me, Christy and Tammy
Sheila had several of us over for a delicious dinner to complement the wine I brought home from Tuscany.
deliciousness and was perfect with that great Tuscan wine
And Janet had me over for a bowl of chili and the Georgia football game. Her chili is amazing!
again, working on our selfie game.
On New Year's Eve, I had some fun trying to record the fireworks in slow motion on my phone. Kind of fun!
Danielle and I painted the ponies my sister jokingly gave me for Christmas. Now they're on her desk!
I once wanted only a horse for Christmas. #theneverendingjoke
It's always nice to be in Savannah with the people I love the most.
And it's always nice to get back to my own space, routine and life when I return to Milan.
School is back in full swing and we are already counting down to our February vacations.
But, first, I want to share a few highlights of my time at home.
There's some beautiful sights to be seen as you fly over the Alps and out of Italy.
Our Christmas tree, Ruby and Elf on tv...a good night all together.
A few rounds of Sequence were played.
My brother in law, Neal, finally sported his calf warmers that I bought him in Germany!
Some great friends passed through Savannah on their way home from Disney World.
I love these ladies! Gettin' our photo pose on!
Bubble lights have been adorning trees in our family for as long as I can remember. My Aunt Joni always had them on her tree when I was growing up. These are at the end of their life so our tree may be without bubble lights for awhile.
With a new camera lens in hand (a nice 18-200 mm zoom lens) I headed out in downtown Savannah.
Savannah's square and lovely live oak trees
I like to photograph people, but haven't worked up the nerve yet to approach them and ask permission
when you're directly in their face. So, you get a few shots from behind!
Across the Savannah River to the Westin and their dock
the fountain in Forsyth Park
It was a nice enough day (in January!) to relax in the park.
Again, shooting from behind!
Cool sunrises and sunsets are frequent when you make transatlantic flights!
It's always so nice to spend time with my family and friends over the holidays. I'm blessed to be able to fly home every year. As always, thanks to everyone who made time in their busy holiday schedule to get together and include me in their lives.
The next time I'm home Melissa is getting married!
How is this possible? (I can't possibly be old enough to have a niece getting married!)
Advent marks the beginning of the Christmas season for Christian churches. In Latin, the word advent means arrival or coming and refers to the anticipation of Christ's birth. Germans began lighting candles each night in anticipation of Advent, and the tradition translated into various forms, including calendars to mark the days leading up to Christmas. (source)
the Duomo and the city's tree
Milan has a unique way of celebrating this holiday season by creating a musical Advent calendar in Piazza Duomo.
Beginning December 1, each night at 6 pm, a musician stands at the window of municipal offices. Every night an additional musician stands at a window. They play Christmas music for 30 minutes for the crowds in Piazza Duomo to enjoy.
I went on December 12th, so there were 12 musicians to enjoy.
The windows are numbered from 1-24, for each day in December leading up to Christmas.
Greetings hang in many languages.
Here's a little taste of what you can go and experience.
I've been to Florence a couple of times now, and I've noticed various street art signs there and throughout Europe. But, this trip spotting the redesigned street signs became a bit of an obsession for Caitlin and me.
Most of these signs are "hacked" by street artist Clet Abraham, a French artist based in Italy.
Here is some of what we found, just in Florence. I'm on the lookout for others!
And, what would Florence in December be without a picture of the Duomo and a beautiful Christmas tree.
You have to multiply that by 10-- and then you might have the right idea.
The Fiera is held just outside of Milan in Rho for 10 days right at the beginning of December. It's convenient that you can take the red Metro line straight out there. But, beware, a regular urban ticket won't cut it! You must buy the ticket for Rho, and it's €2.50 each way.
This year I was able to go twice. Caitlin and I went once mainly to eat and snack on delicious foods that are difficult to find here on a regular basis. We had a dinner of German pretzels and beer and snacked on English cheddar cheese. Mmmmmmmm....
Yum!
Cheddar cheese: does not exist in Italy.
I went again on Saturday with the intent of doing a little shopping. The venue gets so crowded that you really have to map out a plan and strategy to avoid being overwhelmed. The last two years I've learned that the European and Italian sections have the best stuff. There is a US section, which seems to indicate that every American is a cowboy and most of the Asian and African stuff is cheap and doesn't feel well made.
But there is good food to be had and fun presents to be bought. Many people come with a suitcase or trolley cart to load up all their purchases. And this year they sold a trolley for €3. It's really unbelievable. There's also live music in different halls.
Enjoyed the additional perspectives and theories posed here that were left out of Serial. Some additional info is included about tangential stories that I found unnecessary.
