Miracle of Venice

I really just love my life. I love this life. I love miracles and they are constantly bombarding my life. I haven't written for a while because things have been a bit difficult and I didn't want to write for fear of the responses. That's the thing about blogs, everybody can read them :).

So, basically, I've had trouble with Venice. (we've been fighting) I really, really wanted to go. But, the only offers i got were on a Sunday. It wasn't just one Sunday and it wasn't just one offer. Saying no so many times was really hard and Bianca's disappointment was the hardest thing. I just knew that I couldn't go on a Sunday. The guilt would ruin everything. I know that keeping the Sabbath holy is largely to our disgression and i had half a feeling that if I told people they might try to convince me to go. I'm not so certain I wouldn't if i was in Utah. However, i underestimated everyone, the support was really great.

It's not like I gave up on Venice easily. I asked everybody i knew, (and several i really didn't) if they would go with me. Nobody really wants to because it's cold right now and they can go any old time. So, after literally chasing random strangers down i finally found a girl, Monica, that said she would go. So, i was really happy and it was safe to go home because i could tell Bianca i found someone. Then when i talked to her again, she said she only had a few hours, not enough to see Venice so we decided to go to Verona. Juliet and Romeo are not half as cool as Venice but, hey, it's not bad.

But, then we got on the wrong train :) Very funny. I didn't need anybodies help getting lost but, we did and even though it went right through Verona, for some reason that is only known to those fluent in Italian, we ended up in Venice.

It was a very quick and for me, an intensely spiritual experience.

It was just that, I really didn't think i was going to go and I was really torn by it. More than anything it was because Bianca was really upset at my decision to not go on Sunday and that it was getting hard to be around her because of the intense animosity. But, it was amazing because I got to go and it was on the Lord's watch.

I did everything i was supposed to and that took almost constant prayer to be strong about. Then, when i got to Venice, it was so much better than i had imagined. While people told me it was over flowing with tourists, i didn't see that, and people said that everyone would try to rob me, I actually was met with intense kindness. People trying to take pictures for me, and when I tried to buy souveniers the people lowered their prices and even gave me things for free. I didn't have a coat, but i wasn't cold and I was witnessing a miracle.

Once we realized we were going to Venice, Monica and I were both way way excited but, there was a lot of time to think since we have trouble communicating. I kept thinking about all the idle worship and how even going to Venice when i felt like i shouldn't was putting Man above God. I thought about in Moses how Satan comes and tells him, after Moses has just seen so many miracles and been surrounded by God's love, "worship me" and I understand Moses' reaction "Where is thy Glory? that i should worship thee?" Moses is right, i just couldn't help thinking how much i knew that my God was the real God. I knew that he was answering my prayers. That he fulfills his promises. That he performs miracles for me faster than i can take them in. His Glory is real. He is real. My Savior, and My redeemer lives!

And I know that. Why do i know that? There are so many philosophers, and kings, and great people that speculate their whole lives on what I was told when i was a child, and have been gaining a testimony line upon line for my whole life! The truth is here. Right here. And it's incredible, mind boggling that I have it. It's like a golden ticket but, it's for everyone. I want everyone to have it! The intensity of the greatness just overpowers me.

I think we can all be greatful that there are people that can explain the emotions i am having so much more eloquently than I. I echo their words.

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me

                Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me

                ……

                And when I think, that God his son not sparing,

                Sent him to die

                I scarce can take it in.

                That on the cross, MY burden gladly bearing,

                He bled and died, to take away my sin.

                Then sings my soul my Savior, God, to Thee

                How great thou art, how great thou art

                ….

                I KNOW that my redeemer lives.

                What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

                HE LIVES AND WHILE HE LIVES I’LL SING

                HE LIVES MY PROPHET PRIEST AND KING

While i was in Venice, i just kept thinking things like "I shall never be unhappy again" "This is better than anything i imagined" and honestly i didn't see that much but, it really was thrilling. More so because I was there despite everything that said it was not going to happen. It was my little miracle. There were so many other miracles this week too.

It was a hard week but, in my D&C class we were reading 121-123 the liberty jail chapters. If you ever feel like life is hard, just go read those. My new favorite verse was the last one. After everything that had happened the final response was

D&C 123:17 "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us ^acheerfully ^bdo all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the ^csalvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

We can't do everything but, we can be cheerful and do everything we can and i think often in our dire circumstances we underestimate everything we can do. I had to figure out a way to make peace with Bianca and that was a blessing. It took lots of prayers and scriptures and my conclusions surprised me but, i was learning so much and close to the spirit because I was trying to make everything alright. In a way i was quite grateful for what was happening because I didn't think Venice would really solve the problems anyway. Venice wasn't the problem, I was. I've been learning to take on the responsibility I don't think i deserve this winter. Mostly from this book i've been reading "Change your Questions, Change your Life" Rather than asking "why is she doing this" I tried asking "what am i doing that makes things hard?" "What can i do to make the situation different?" It's empowering to be able to change things and by the end of the very long week, before Venice, there was peace in the home.

I thought when i told Bianca that i actually did go to Venice she would be more excited then anyone since she was more upset than anyone. She was excited but, it wasn't that, that strengthened our relationship again. There have been so many blessings in what has happened. I have found out that i can still go to Verona on Wednesday with a girl that wanted to go toVenice with me on a Sunday. Monica and I have become friends and we are spending more time together and it's a lot more exciting to go to institute when i can go and be with a friend. i learned more Italian, i went on some epic adventures. Learned some great things about myself.

So, mission accomplished.

churches and temples

Written February 24th

Okay so today was basically awesome. Check out facebook for pictures ;) I was going to put them on here but it takes so long to load them. I spent the entire day exploring Palermo. I put a ton of pictures up but, my camera died halfway through the day so, then i started using the Fici's and i still haven't gotten those pictures off.

I \saw the most beautiful Cathedral. it was huge and the architecture was amazing. It was built by Nomads then they got taken over by Greeks, who added more so, it was really just incredible. Like 5x bigger than a palace. the best way to describe it is Majestic.

We are allowed to go inside and it's just so cool. (We saw lots of churches) All the artwork is so intricate and really cool. I had an urge to start singing "God Help the Outcasts" from Hunchback of Notre Dame but, i refrained.

I couldn't help but walk through the cathedrals and churches and compare them to our temples. Add to that, my D&C assignment this week is on temples. The week is kind of themed temples i guess :) maybe the Lord is trying to teach me something.

Okay, I'm not studying Catholicism or anything so if anyone is, and is reading this feel free to correct my understandings. But, in the churches they have... i guess i'd call them sort of shrines to saints. Dead saints. They have their bones in a cool tomb and gold and silver and usually a picture or a statue. Then there are rows of candles. I asked about them and Piera said that you pay money and then you get to light a candle. Then you pray to the saint. To my understanding, saints are kind of go-betweens with the pray-er and God. You ask them, since they are more righteous, to take your requests to God. Maybe the thought is God likes them a lot, as they're saints, so, if they ask Him, he'll be more willing to grant your request. Kind of like asking your aunt to ask your mom to do something. I don't really know though. Maybe it's something else.

The churches are always dark. I notice this because It's always hard to take pictures. :) yeah they let me take picture of the churches. The artwork is really cool and all very similar. I mean at least of people. In all of these churches and paintings i've seen, they all portray Jesus and saints in the same way. Actually some of them kind of scare me. There was one statue of Mary with a knife. I guess it was supposed to show the pain she felt at seeing Christ on the cross but, it seemed a littled dark to me. To each his own.

And that's the biggest difference to me. In our church it's all about the happily ever after. We don't focus on the cross as much as other churches. As President Hinckley said "For us the cross is a symbol of a dying Christ, while our message is a declaration of the Living Christ"

 There was a spirit of reverence in all the churches but, it just wasn't the same as our temples. Despite all the beauty and cool architecture, i can't find a replacement for the temple. Even though I'm so far away from any temple, I think about them a lot.

For my D&C assignment i made an Italian slideshow explaining the differences between our churches and our temples. They are synominous in the catholic church and that always causes so much confusion. Then i showed the Fici family. this was actually the coolest D&C assignment i've had. It actually worked. Cosimo asked if there were any pictures inside the temple. I began to explain that we can't take pictures inside but, then i remembered that the Salt Lake Temple has a mini thing in one of the visitors centers that shows all the rooms. I found a website that has the same thing. It was so cool. They loved it. I explained how amazing it feels in the celestial room of an undedicated temple and i almost cried which is unusual for me. They really liked it.

 Written Mar 5

Another things i'm working on for the good ol' D&C class is listening and obeying the spirit better. So, this was a priceless Jana arguing with herself moment. On Tuesday, the day i flew back to Bergamo, i was sitting in the living room wondering what to do with myself. It was only a few hours before my flight and i was all packed and everyone was doing their own thing and Lucrezia my shadow was doing homework. So, I sat down and began watching TV with Piera. Kind of pointless in Italian but, as i was sitting there i kept thinking about the Italian book of mormon in my bag. I kept thinking i should pull it out and explain it. This is how the conversation went.

"You should pull it out and show her."
"No way, i'm about to leave, i cant do that now."
"You should pull it out and read it"
"It's way in my bag."

After several minutes of this i groaned outwardly.

"Oh, great, this is the spirit isn't it."
"Yep."
"And i'm supposed to listen..."
"That's the plan."

I just really didn't think that this was going to go well. However, because it was something that i agreed to focus on (obeying promptings)  I went over to my bag and took out the scriptures. I started reading and Piera actually asked me about it. I didn't have to say anything. So, i handed her the book and she looked at it. Then i pulled out my computer so that I could use google translator to explain everything. She asked me (I think, she only speaks italian remember) why i was reading it. I was kind of taken aback by the question. I explained i was learning italian with it. But, she motioned to the english one. Why was i reading it at all. Why do i read this book was her question. So, i explained that it's like the bible. i explained how it makes me feel when i read it. Then i went on to explain that the book has a promise. If you read it, pray about it, really reading to know truth, reading to learn, then you will get an answer. She told me that she has the bible by her bed. Then we had to go but, i told her that i'd leave it with her. It honestly wasn't my plan to leave it with her before that conversation. She asked me where i got it and how much i had to pay for it. I told her she could have that one, there are lots more where it comes from and they were easy for me to get. I dunno how thrilled she was about it but, i guess all these people are going to have to learn that if they let me in a little bit i'm going to try and go farther. The Ficis are like golden investigators, if they were investigating. I really liked the feeling in their home. I hope she reads it and i guess that even if she doesn't and even if they were upset that i wanted to leave that with them, nothing bad can really come from having it around.

Pictures are worth a thousand words but, i still managed to write a thousand words

I was just beginning to get the idea that you guys might want some pictures. Don't know where i got that idea :) These are only pictures of people. I'll put the pictures of the Citties up in another one. I want more of them first. These are only a few.

Lucrezia and Me.

Me, Giuseppe's sister-Piera, Michele, Cosimo, Lucrezia, Maria

Finlay in my new hat :)

Riccardo and Eduardo

Where's the missing twin? (That's what Douglas said i should call this picture)

Scott, Bianca, Douglas, and minnie and pluto.

This was the funniest thing ever. Scott and Finlay were exchanging their pants. It was hillarious. I got a film of it. Of course the films aren't working on here but, this is a picture. It was great I'll give you "ben ten" for two "mr. men" Their bargaining skills were impressive. These guys don't really share anything they just have one for each of them. It's amazing how they tell the difference. So, anyway i captured a rare historic moment in which Finlay actually found something that was worth not one but TWO green pants. (green is his favorite)

Scott with the beloved chew-chew that no baby or toddler can live without. Even when they go to a famous tree in Switzerland just to give them up. :)

These aren't even a part of the pictures i've taken since i got the camera last week. I take so many in Sicily that it seems silly to put them up yet. 

Sicilia

Ciao Everyone,

I made it to Sicily alive. Just so you know, the weather and the sea are beautiful. I'm cheerfully enjoying my warm winter and thinking lovingly of everyone back home :) If it makes you feel any better, while it is a costal city, there are no beaches in Marsala so, I'm not sunbathing or anything.

I was going to do my homework before i wrote but, of course i did make this blog to avoid such things. I'm staying with Giuseppe's sister. Everyone was really worried that she would be "too much" as Bianca puts it, like Giuseppe. No worries. She's not at all. She's a lot how I think my mom would be if we moved to Sicily. She's really nice and she's a fantastic cook. Her husband is a doctor. It was his birthday today. We have pictures. Cosimo is 15 and he knows more grammatical things about english than I do. Lucrezia is the real reason I'm avoiding my homework right now. She's 9 and she's a wonderful girl but, she doesn't leave me alone even when I'm being really boring like reading scriptures or blowdrying my hair or eating carrots. She just stares at me while I do it and it's really hard to concentrate. She didn't go to school today but, she'll go tomorrow so I figure my homework can wait until she is no longer trying to read over my shoulder. Also in the pictures is Giuseppe's mom. I don't know any of  the adults names. You can pick up kids names because they are said so often but, only mama, papa, and nona for the adults so, it's more difficult.

Funny stories from home Bergamo.  When I say prayers at dinner Scott and Finlay can't understand everything I say but, they pick up their names so, I've had to start naming everyone in the prayer. It's really difficult to remember to say something for everyone but, Scott and Finlay get angry if I don't so, I'm learning quickly. On Saturday I left right before lunch and Bianca texted me to tell me that Scott and Finlay said the prayer since I was not there. She told me that they've been doing it at every meal since. I bought a camera about a week ago. Aparently it's are really nice camera. I just bought the cheapest one I could find but, everyone says it's really great so, huzzah to my purchasing skills. Anyway, I've been going crazy making videos of Scott and Finlay. They are so so adorable. Bianca says that me going to sicily for so long will be good for the boys because they can get used to the fact that i'm not always there but, I think I need it more than they do.

The family here is really a ton of fun. Lucrezia is really sweet even though I can't do my homework-hey that's a blessing right? If we all spoke the same language I think we'd all be great friends. I am learning more italian and quickly which is good. I have a dictionary and so does Lucrezia so we try to make things work.

Sicilia is so full of history. It was taken over by everyone. Greeks, Romans, and a ton of people so there is a ton of history and cool monuments in this little town. It's really cool to learn everything. I'm developing a bit of an Italian accent. It's not that i can't speak normal, it's just that i tend to speak the same as them. I think they understand it better when i stress the same vowels they do.

AWE! and Sicilia

Alright so life is about to go at a much faster speed. I don't know what to think about it. I'm really excited and at the same time, when I look at the calendar I think, "Oh no! Where has Italy gone?" I know, I know i'm only halfway throught but, IM HALFWAY THROUGH.

What if I never come back? What if the next time I see Eduardo is when he's 17 and comes to be an exchange student in America? One thing that has seriously changed in me since coming here is the way I view travelling the world. It's not just an idea anymore. It's real. Tomorrow I'm going to post pictures of the reality. Bianca and Douglas live their lives going anywhere and everywhere just because it's there. They took Scott and Finlay to a tree in Sweden where all the babies place their pacifiers as a way of growing up. They are supposed to put them on the tree and then leave them. (It didn't work, Scott and Finlay put their old ones on and grabbed new ones off the tree) The way of life is just incredible. Granted, when you think about it, everything in Europe is about as far away from our house as California, but even still! I don't think I can possibly NOT come back at this point. Maybe I can't every winter but, wow, everyone, seriously, if you get a chance to see the world take it. Stop rationalizing out of it, take a chance. It's amazing.

Anyway, I wasn't planning to go on that spill. I just wanted to get on and say "I'm going to Sicily on Saturday" And it got me thinking. That's so weird to say "I'm going to Sicily on Saturday." I dunno, I'm just constantly in a state of awe at my actually being here. Anyway, I'm never going to get through this simple little blog if I keep talking about how wowed i am about life.

Schedule for the rest of Italy
Feb 14-19 (Happy Valentines Day EVERYONE by the way) La Citta Alta and Bergamo (Pictures for real. Even though it's raining)
Feb 19-Mar 1- Sicilia. I'll be in Marsala. Clear on the western end of Sicilia.
Mar 18-20- Rome
Mar 25-27-London
Mar 31- Going home

Venicia Verona Piza Milano are all somewhere in the middle. Hopefully. Those are a bit difficult since I have to find someone to go with. Still, I'm not leaving Italia without seeing Venice.

Let me tell you what I know about the people I'm staying with in Sicilia. It's Giuseppe's sister's family and they have teenage boys. So, Camilla, for your birthday I'll give you a Sicilian penpal. ;) and then you can get married when you're older. They don't speak very much English.  fun, fun.

Speaking of Birthdays. There are several that are coming up and I'm just wondering whatcha want? In fact if anyone wants to tell me some cool Italian thing they want let me know because you're all getting presents anyway. It may as well be something you actually want. no?

Okay, I just realized that I switch off between Italian names and English names a lot. That's a good sign I suppose. Everyone keep smiling. Life is purely awesome. Love ya lots.

Address to a Haggis

It's not that the last few days have been really eventful, it's just that i've been sick so, I have spent lots of time doing my homework and just lying around so i figure i may as well write.

I had a really high fever yesterday. 39! I had no idea how to respond when Bianca told me. I seriously need to figure out celsius but, aparently it was really bad. The worst thing about it was i think i made the babies at Raffaella's sick. Or they made me sick. Either way we're all sick. But, i'm getting better. I hope the babies do too and that Giuseppe doesn't hate me forever. It wasn't until Friday afternoon that I was really not feeling good but, i spent all of Friday at Raffaella's.

Today is a National Scottish Holiday "Robbie Burns Day." Actually I think that was on the 25th of January but, we're celebrating it today. No, unfortunately Douglas wouldn't go all out and wear his kilt and sing a poem to the haggis. They actually sing a poem to the food. That's because Robbie Burns is a famous poet that wrote a poem to the haggis. Why did he write the address? Douglas thinks it was a joke. I'm with him. If i'm ever a famous poet i'm doing something like that.

Address to a Haggis
1.
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang's my arm.
2.
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hudies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o' need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.
3.
His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An' cut ye up wi' ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reeking, rich!
4.
Then horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
'Bethankit!' hums.
5.
Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi perfect scunner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?
6.
Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As fecl;ess as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Tho' bluidy flood or field to dash,
O how unfit.
7.
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll make it whistle;
An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned
Like taps o' thrissle.
8.
Ye pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware,
That jaups in luggies;
But if ye wish her gratfu' prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!

Anyway, I didn't get to actually hear the poem and Douglas' scottish friends didn't come because, Bianca and I are both not feeling well. I don't have a temperature or anything anymore, it's just recovering I suppose. Next time, they will come though, and i'm going to beg for a performance. :) I was too easy letting Douglas off the hook.

Anyway, do you guys want to know what Haggis is? It actually doesn't taste that bad but, it's disgusting. It's basically meatloaf.

Here's the recipe: Take the liver, lungs, and heart of a sheep and boil. Mince the meats and mix with chopped onions, toasted oatmeal, salt, pepper, and spices. Take one properly cleaned sheep's stomach. Stuff the cleaned stomach with the prepared contents. Sew up the stomach (leaving enough room for expansion to avoid a large messy explosion) and boil. Serve and eat. Lovely!

They didn't tell me what it was until after i ate but, they were so nervous and always saying "now if you don't like it, please don't eat it" Scott and Finlay, like true scotsmen love it. I don't think that is the actual recipe anyway. That's how it was in old times but, now it's just any meat in the cooked in the stomach of a lamb. Okay, fine, it's a disgusting idea. We didn't eat the outside.

Anyway, that's all to report. That, and I'm either going to Sicilia on Wednesday or in March. Times had to change because the family is going on vacation. I just can't decide when to go. March is so busy and February isn't but, next week is midterms for my online classes. Still, I think i'm going to study hard and go on Wednesday. I'll keep you posted.

Persevera e presta attenzione

I know it's been a while since the last post but, everyone kept telling me how much they loved it and i thought 'dang, my next one's gotta be good' So i kept waiting for some inspiration but, we'll see how it goes

Well last week the sister missionaries came over and taught me a lesson. The Marshals weren't here so we were basically just chatting. It was fun though. Then I went with them to teach a lesson, and the person didn't show up so, we went knocking on doors. It was pretty sweet being a missionary. 'cept it's not like i could understand anything. One guy was interested. More in us then the Book of Mormon but, he still took it. There was a baptism Saturday night. i had a meeting for school so i didn't go but, it was pretty cool because i realized that, that was the same day i was baptized.

I spent a lot of time getting lost this week. I had a vow that I  was never going to tell my mom or Douglas that I got lost if I could help it. At least not until I was back home. Because, it's not like i was really lost. Okay, I was on the other side of the city. I wasn't even in the city. BUT there are signs pointing to the Center everywhere and I live by the Center so it was easy enough.

Don't worry about it though, there are plenty of people already worried. Raffaella's husband comes home to make lunch a lot and he told me that he was following me one day. He was following me to make sure that nobody else followed me. I had no idea what to say to him when he told me that. Thank you for stalking me?

When I told Douglas I got lost I was afraid I'd be under house arrest. He took it well. He told me that getting lost was good for me. I hope my mom feels the same way :).

Institute has been getting better. It was getting really annoying the way nobody would talk to me even though they could. And i felt like i was just being annoying because i was just there, needing a translator and a ride home. So, it was a little better this week. there are two people that live kind of by me and they don't speak english but, they're friendly so, it all works.

There is a scottish holiday coming up that we're celebrating. Douglas is going to sing to the food for us. Only if we beg though. Everyone does in Scotland. I'm going to Sicily in two weeks and i'll be there for about 10 days. I'm going with a relative of Raffaella's. Ever since i knew of the existence of Sicily i've really wanted to go and the way Bianca and Douglas talk, its a chance i can't pass up.

Things have been going so fast. I've officially been here just over a month! I only have 7 1/2 weeks left. I heard by family went and bought some Nuttella. I think that's going to have to be something I only eat in Italy. If I eat it back home too, there'll be no hope for me. I've eaten lots of different types of prosciuto this week, and that's only funny because Karolyn warned me not to eat it. It's getting warmer and the Gelato shops are opening longer, which is totally fine with me :)

I have been having a lot of fun with this question book mum bought me for my birthday. It teaches you how to ask questions i guess. It's turning me into an even worse psychologist then i already am but, It's really cool and I've spent a lot of time just reading it outside because I love the way it makes me think. It's too difficult to explain it in a broad perspective but it basically suggests asking questions that make you see life in a different, better  way and I've been playing around with it, and it's so cool! I'm learning a ton about myself and while a major part of that is probably throwing myself into this adventure, it's been really cool having this book. Thanks Mom!

I can't think of anything else. The Italian is coming. I don't know if faster is the right word but, I understand a lot of what Scott and Finlay say. I dont know if that's a good thing because they make up words. So do i speak Italian or the language Scott and Finlay make up?

Eduardo and Riccardo have been lots of fun this week. I was trying to put Riccardo to sleep and I was singing him Primary songs. He was totally out but, every time i stopped singing he cried. Every time i tried to put him down, he cried. That wasn't very fun at the time but, it was really sweet. I was feeding both of the babies sometime in the middle of the week and they started giggling. And i don't know what was so funny, but it was hillarious because they couldn't stop laughing. I also taught them pat-a-cake and they are in love. (I've been trying to teach games to Scott and Finlay, and trust me there have been some great tries. So far the only ones they've got are hide and seek and dead man. I have no idea why they took to dead man so well.) At Raffaellas  There are two walkers now, so that the  babies can race. They also have blocks. Eduardo knocks them down instantly. He's becoming a super fast crawler and so, even if i set them up across the room, it's down in a second. Riccardo is much more calm about them. Leone just barks at them.
I was trying to make a video of Leone this week but, my camera's battery died. This dog is like a cartoon. He picks up things with his front paws and walks on his back legs. He's the smartest dog i've ever met. (no offense bella)

As i've gotten lost i've seen a lot of cool buildings and monuments this week. I love Italian Architecture, it's so beautiful and detailed. There are lots of cool churches right out my front door with bell towers and coolness.

Anyway, I'm being boring to Scott and Finlay so I'm going to go.

ps There are chocolates here that have notes like fortune cookies in them. I don't know what it means but, the title of my blog is what it said in my little chocolate.
I think maybe it says persevere and pay attention but, I didn't feel like checking.