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Hello world. I can't believe that I am writing something for my own web site. You know it's a sad world when someone like me can have their very own web site. I don't think that I live an interesting enough life to have my own site, but hey, it's free so why not try it. At least it will give me something to do when I'm feeling bored, which is about every day here in Ghedi, so be prepared for lots of journaling! I warned my husband that he shouldn't let me have free reign on this because I tend to babble a lot. I figured that it wouldn't be fair to the unsuspecting public who venture onto our site by accident. I can talk about absolutely nothing for a very long period of time. I just thought that I would tell you now before you read anymore entries. Okay, consider yourself warned. You can't blame me if you decide to read on. I tried to tell you! :-)
I am going to keep this, my first entry short. Once I get warmed up though, I'm not going easy on you anymore! Thanks Jess for the web site idea. I hope that this helps you, and all of our friends and family, to feel a little closer to us while we are so far away. Hopefully as the days go on I will do something interesting so that I actually have something worth while to write about. Until that point though, I'll say good-bye!
August 26, 2002
I was hoping that something insanely interesting would happen today so that I would have something deep, meaningful and profound to write about. Of course that didn't happen, so I've decided to enlighten you on the secrets I have learned about living in Europe. (For those of you who don't know me very well, this is a taste of my sad and warped sense of humor!) :-)
First of all, Italian food tastes nothing like the Olive Garden and whatever they serve at Pizza Hut does not even remotely resemble pizza over here.
In order to drive safely in Italy you must go at least 20 mph over the speed limit, realize that drivers will turn two lane roads into three lanes, and remember that just because it doesn't say it's a one way road doesn't mean that there is enough room for two lanes of traffic. Also, one should never, I repeat, never drive in Paris. Driving in Paris is like splitting a hair with an axe, it's just not safe! :-)
It would appear that all Italians are excellent gardeners and if you have an Italian for a neighbor you will never have to visit the produce section in the grocery store again. They are more than happy to share their bounty with you.
American drivers can get away with almost any driving infraction, short of an accident, because the Italian police see your American license plate and just wave you on because they don't want to deal with your "blank stare". I've got the blank stare down pat! I have also learned that, although it may be easier, smiling and nodding when you don't understand what an Italian is saying is not always the best thing to do. You never know what you are agreeing to. :-)
Never take children or your husband to the beach. Topless is the norm and don't believe anyone who tells you that the only women who go topless are old, overweight and toothless. I can guarentee you that is not the case!
And finally, never ever turn on the Italian TV channels after 9:00 at night. It's not a good idea. The beaches will seem like no problem at all in comparison! :-)
Now you have survived Europe 101. ;-)
August 27, 2002
Useless fact for the day:
The first auto to travel across the US took 52 days in 1903, traveling from San Francisco to New York.
Today had been a pretty uneventful day. I did get to go to work though so that helped the hours go a little faster. It feels very foreign to me to actually look forward to going to work. That's not the norm for me. However, work is the only place that I get to be in an environment where everyone speaks English, so all of a sudden work is a very cool place to be! The job is kind of fun too. It's pretty easy, but fun. I went from working full time as an Assistant Manager of a bank to working 6 to 9 hours a week stocking soda coolers, cleaning the slushy machine and selling Pringles! :-) I really am thankful for the job though and I enjoy the work and the people that I work with. The BX is also a great place to work in order to meet people. Since the base is so small I see almost everyone on base at some point during my 9 hours a week. I guess that gives you an idea of just how small our base is. We may be missing some of the conveniences of home, but I wouldn't trade this opportunity for anything.
The Lord really is doing some amazing things here in Ghedi and I am so excited to be a part of them. I truly believe that Will and I are here for a reason and I look forward to seeing what the Lord has in store. I pray that we continue to keep our hearts open to Him and His leading. It's so easy to get caught in the trap of "doing good" and find that our path has veered from the Lord's. I pray that we will stay faithful to God's leading and not our own.
Quote for the day that has nothing to do with what I just wrote: :-)
"Failure is the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently."
Henry Ford
August 28, 2002
Useless Fact for the day:
In Tibet, it is considered polite to stick out your tongue at your guests.
Notice that the country listed above was Tibet so no, you can't blame me if you try it at your own dinner party and your guests are offended!
I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to do with myself today. Anybody have any ideas? Sure, I could do something productive like mow the lawn or iron my growing stack of clothes, but who wants to do that right? I'd much rather waste most of the hours of my day bumming around, and then, just before Will comes home, run around like a chicken with its head cut off trying to finish all the things that I should have been doing all day long. I've always said that I work better under pressure. I guess I'm just trying to prove that to myself. See just how much I can get done in the hour before my hubby arrives! By the way, I wouldn't suggest this as a good time managment technique! William has his Italian class tonight so at least I'll have lots of time to get around to doing my list of chores for the day! Did I ever mention that procrastination is my hobby? I have spent many, many hours perfecting the craft! If anyone needs any pointers I would be more than happy to fill you in! :-)
Well, I had better go get started on doing nothing!
Ta-ta!
Quote for the day:
"It's OK to lend a helping hand- the challenge is getting people to let go of it."
John C. Maxwell
August 30, 2002
Useless Fact for the day:
President Warren G. Harding had 5 nervous breakdowns before he became president.
Now there is a scary thought eh? Can't figure out why he would want that job when he was obvioulsy having a hard time coping. Seems to me that being the President of the United States may have a stressful moment or two!
Yesterday I went to Vicenza to go to Customer Service Training. That was one thrill after another. We learned cutting edge techniques like, smile, know your customers name, thank them, etc... The most important thing I learned was that we are supposed to help the customer with their needs. That's one I couldn't have figured out for myself. Generally I just let the customer check out by themselves. I have't had any complaints yet. Course, my drawer always comes up short at the end of the day. I can never figure that out! :-)
Write this day down in history. It is probably the first and last time that I, Amy Lee Catts, will every write a short journal entry. It's just not heard of. In fact, I'm a little scared myself. There must be something wrong with me. This just can't be right! I'm leaving now. I have to go call a doctor. Must be sick...help...not right...
August 31, 2002
Useless Fact for the day:
The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Fl. has the largest pool in the continental US. It covers a half acre and holds 600,000 gallons of water!
Today is my adorable nephew's 1st birthday. I can't believe that he is getting so big already. Doesn't he know that he is supposed to stay little so that I don't miss all of the new things he's learning to do. He is supposed to stay a baby until I can get back to the States to watch him grow up. I think somebody forgot to tell him that though because he just keeps getting bigger and bigger everyday. It's amazing to me how much can change in just a week when your talking about little tykes. It seems like he learns some new trick everytime I talk to his mama and grandma. According to my mother, he is now walking all the time. Just last week he was walking from time to time when he remembered that he knew how. Now, he's everywhere. Andi's really got to watch out now! He's going to be all over that house. I'm sure that pretty soon she will be wishing that he never learned how to walk. It sure is a lot easier to keep them out of mischief when they can't move out of the last spot you put them! :-)
Today has been a pretty boring day. I had to go to work today while my husband, and everyone else from his shop, got to go to a picnic at his boss's house. He's not home yet, but I'm sure they had a great time. How could you not when there's lots of free food. That's a pretty good incentive for me anyway. :-) His boss asked that everyone bring a dessert and a salad of some sort. My mind still tends to be in "single" mode when I see requests like that. I always want to go to the store and buy a bag of chips and some dip and call it good. However, I think that only works when your single or in college. So, my idea now of making a dessert is buying a box, adding my own eggs, stiring and saying voila. Of course, the scene isn't complete until I've dusted myself with flour and flicked a little water from the fish bowl on my face! Some day maybe I'll grow up, but until then, always expect Duncan Heinz cakes and Suddenly Salads whenever you invite us over! :-)