3...2...1...Buon Anno Nuovo!

Less than 24 hours remain in 2012. More than enough goals remain unchecked from 1 January. Actually, if I'm honest, a few still remain unchecked from 1 January 2011! (Damn pullups.)

Rather than wallow in defeat, I'm going to celebrate my 50% completion of my 12 for '12.

I....wrote my adorable girls (Caroline, Kiery, & Catherine) monthly, visited 3 new countries, completed level 4 of Italian, volunteered over 50 hours, ran a marathon, and learned to cook 3 new Italian dishes.

Not quite as satisfying as a few of my 2011 goals (flee Monterey & get a cat come to mind) but accomplishments none the less. Best part? In no way do these 6 completed goals (or the ones left waiting to be accomplished) even begin to define my year, let alone sum it up.

So, on the eve of another year...the one in which I turn 3-0...here are my goals partially to motivate, but mostly to keep me honest once the next 365 days have past. 

1. Obtain and maintain a weight in (classified) range.
2. Streamline rent payments
3. Running of the bulls
4. Monthly trip (3+ hours away)
5. Finish bedroom decorating by 31 January
6. Be social once a month
7. Blog more
8. Run a sub 2 hour half marathon
9. Learn to drive manual transmission (roll over from 2012)
10. Not ignore Ravi's illuminated dashboard lights
11. Write the CI girls monthly
12. 3 Unassisted pullups (3rd year on the list)
13. *Classified*

Yeah, this has gotten a little more sophisticated from the night Lindsay and I sat at the Brit writing our 10 for '10 goals on Sierra Nevada coasters! Same rules apply though- some of my goals are "classified" but rather than blocking them out I'm counting on the fact that our brains are not wired the same way and you can't decipher the visual I've picked for the goal.

Wishing you a fabulous sparkly 2013!

<3 Katie & Neeks

Week 2: Completed!

I, Sea Biscuit (SB) would like to announce to the known world that Speed Racer (SR) and I have completed week two of seventeen long weeks of training on our path to a 4 hour Paris Marathon time.

You did read that right- I said 4 hours. Why 4 hours? Well, most simply, if Oprah could do it, so can we. And yes, I did fess up to my SB nickname dubbed many years back in Monterey (some days I just miss my GWB and OG so much that if I refer to myself as SB to take me back to those times).

Week 2, that's right- we did move on to the next week, ended with a 9 mile run. Or you know, a 10K that had a 5K tacked on to it. All of our runs were outside this week in fabulously cool weather and our marathon day leggings made their debuts. For those that saw us, well, you really couldn't miss us with our purple and pink neon-ish awesome pants---right?

So far we're still on track and even though one of our cross training days rendered us near useless for lifting anything more than 5lbs the next day, our bodies are actually being good sports about being beaten back into submission.

The biggest challenge so far?

Actually staying in our 10:40 to 11:10 pace per mile. Do you have any idea just how slow a 10:40 mile is? SR asked at one point if we were supposed to be speed walking instead of running today. Hmm. I just realized that she may not appreciate being called S-R, so back to Speed Racer it is.

At any rate, week 2 of training is D-O-N-E and I'm ready for a shower, snack, and nap.

Paris Marathon Week 1A

Well, we did it! Week 1A of training is complete towards our next marathon: Paris in April 2013!

Why 1A? Well, we were so eager to start training again that we started a week early to either repeat a week mid training (to accommodate a 1/2 marathon) or have a mulligan week.

We called MULLIGAN loud and clear and officially kicked off this past week. Best part about our re-do? The workouts were so much easier! Sprints? No big deal. Timed runs? We covered more distance. Long run? Actually completed. And that's impressive considering it's been months (like our last race) since either of us had ran over 5 miles and we did 7 at a decent clip. 

Yay us! Yay for 16 more weeks of training until the main event :)

Go Figure

In the days leading up to my half way done with living in Naples, things got a little crazy. Not horrible crazy, more like the of course this is happening right now. Long story short- my car window got smashed in hours before I left for Munich this past weekend. I think the phone call to my extended family celebrating Thanksgiving in Napa went something like:

Hey mom! Happy Thanksgiving. Things are good, but my car was broken into. They grabbed my GPS and keys. The GPS doens't work most days so good riddance, but yeah, they have my keys. My gate clicker, the pedestrian door, my alarm sensor, and yeah, both keys to my house. Call someone? It's 4am out here. 

No dad, my home address isn't listed as home in the GPS and I'm pretty sure nothing had my address written on it...I don't even know my physical address most days. Already called my landlord in NJ to have him relay the message to his parents since I'll be on on plane when it's a decent hour to call. And yeah, my house is about 20 miles away from here. 

All I know is I now have another check in the box for my Naples check list. It's sad, but true, that pretty much we all head over here knowing that at some point we're going to get robbed. Guess it was my time. Poor Ravi has had a rough year, but in the scheme of things it wasn't bad. My car was still there. My purse wasn't snatched. I still have all my IDs (as in the various forms I have, not different names). And perhaps most important- all my locks were changed within 24 hours and my neighbors all took the time to watch (even more closely) who was coming/going from our "compound."

Another thing that I know without doubt is that my Naples family is absolutely (!!!!) amazing. From my first responders checking out the damage and driving me to the airport at o'dark-thirty, coworkers tracking down phone numbers for me while I'm in Germany, discussing repair options, offering transportation and lodging while it got resolved, changing out locks without even being asked, vacuuming all that glass out of my car (talk about giving blood), to my landlady giving me a hug as soon as she saw me. They have all kept the tears from spilling multiple times and never even hesitated to provide the help I reluctantly asked for.

Even today after meeting the famous Bulion, fabulous because he tracked down my window and replaced it in less than 24 hours, I still had issues. Go figure-right? The main driveway gate didn't want to open. After realizing that it was going to be an issued, I circled the block to try again. Lucky for me two guys were standing on the corner (same 2 guys I gave a look to on round 1 because a) I didn't recognize them and b)they were sort of blocking the space I need to get into the driveway) so when I tried again and failed, they realized I needed help. One went over to the door to "encourage" the slacker door. Several honking cars, my car partially in the "gate" and a stubborn door later, his buddy starts directing traffic through. I kid you not, I'm sure I'm known as la americana in these parts because at this point everyone has a story about me trying to get in my freaking driveway.

So (yeah, we're so not done yet) it's about this time that two neighbors that live downstairs are trying to walk out. Ha. Not happening with my car blocking the exit, and street. Then my landlady has a guest or 2 leaving her house. I kid you not, they say something about the door and then le americane...which last time I checked it's just me, but maybe I heard wrong because at this time I was just laughing at the situation, you know 5 Italians trying to help me and none of them spoke English and I'm an Italian level 4 drop out. So I follow the hand motions and back my car out and wait for the signal to get back into the garage. For those of you who know my drive way, you know that the t-intersection there is anything but fun and it needs to be approached just right. But you know, with full visibility back it's amazing how easy it can be after all these months of practice!

As I drove through the gate, the guy who had been so patient with me passed off my telecomando and I gave him my best grazie and sorriso.

Uffa. As frustrating as these things can be I love the fact that when in Italy, you always know you're going to have an audience and if you're lucky enough they just may be willing to help. Okay, maybe if you're rocking the skirt and boots your chances increase and a smile can never hurt, but what I'm saying is for as much commentary/teasing/whatever you want to call it us Americans have about the Italians, I have yet to meet an Italian that I just don't like. Well, should I ever meet the person(s) who crushed Ravi's window  I may not care for them but we all know I had a hate/hate relationship with that GPS...I probably would have just handed it over if given that option and spared the nightmare of Ravi's repairs. Oh well, guess I have to have a few challenges for all the amazing adventures?

Who wants to bet that I won't have gate troubles tomorrow when I'm leaving for work???


 

100% Real

Over the summer one of my coworkers picked up this really annoying saying that he felt the need to bring back it Italy with him:

Hey, I've got a question. (Long pause) Are you for real?

As annoying as it is to be asked multiple times  a week if "I'm real" or not when I speak words that he often doesn't want to hear, I've found myself asking myself on multiple occasions if this life of mine is real. The funny part about it, I know it is. This is my life and it's all REAL.

Well, today was another "is this really my life" sort of days. It started off by me actually watching the sunrise in my bed (nope, still woke up at 0400 but refused to get up). Ask anyone who has actually be on my patio, the pictures have nothing on the real deal of my view. Over 365 days of watching the sunrise, I'm still caught in awe in the mornings on just how fabulous the sky lights up; especially those mornings when I can watch the stars fade. Totally worth being a minute or two late for work!

Next stop I was headed to the main train station with the Minions' mom to get her back to the minions. As I chose to ignore the GPS for the signs, and then went back to listening to the GPS I realized that I have some trust issues. Well...maybe more like control issues? Seriously. How many times I have written about me and the latest battle with my GPS? Luckily I wasn't solo during this adventure, but with the time crunch to get her to the station in time for the train....we may have flown through Chinatown. Like I told her...I only have one speed here in Italy. It's a tad slow for the autostrade, but in towns it's just fine. Yes. She made it and when I listened to the GPS on the way out, I even recognized where I was. I mean, prision in the middle of town is my landmark for SHOE ALLEY.  But that's tomorrow's adventure.

The final destination of the day was the Cuma ruins. A place I've been wanting to go for about 6 months but due to crummy weather or sheer laziness on the weekends it hasn't happened. For a while we even talked about going after work over the summer, but never made it. But that's okay, because we made it today and couldn't have planned a better fall day to go check out this part of my backyard.

Literally. I drive by this ancient city every day on my way to work. (Pretty cool that I can say that- right?) At any rate, we finally showed up and conquered the city. It was rather amazing to see all that was back there- tunnels, towers, steps all holding the history of this area from a long (long) time ago. Even while playing "use your imagination" to recreate the temples and towers that once stood tall, covered in marble and other stone where only rubble now exists.

As far as the history of the city and everyone who lived/built there is still lost on me and I'll probably pay more attention next time around. Yep. Next time around. With admission being so cheap and giving you enterance to other monuments and ruins in my area of the peninusula, I think I found my new "time to get away and think" place. It's for sure made it to my "we've gotta go check this place out when you're in town" list.

I Still Prefer the Destination

I love to travel. The exploration, adventure, & learning that comes from being plopped down in a new location is something I can only describe as one of my passions. The buildings, colors, smells, food, people, geography, flora, landmarks, and just the "feel" of the city beckon me to look up various airfare prices at least once a week so I can pick a new place to explore.

Growing up destinations were mostly domestic and travel was often completed by car. With the family van loaded up we'd trek out for summer camping trips in the National Parks, visit Colorado to see the aspen leaves quiver in the October wind, drive to Disney Land, or head north to Oregon to visit relatives. The travel days were part of the adventure as we would stop in cities along the way. Visit the quirky roadside touristy stops. Pick up fresh produce from the stand on the side of the road. Although the time spent in the car was often frustrating with 3 kids often bickering about something, a) it was always the fault of my brother or sister and b) it's part of the things that (now) make each of those trips special. The trips that required airplanes; Indiana/Ohio trip to visit family and friends, Cancun for Fanta e pan, Florida to catch the cruise ship after time spent at Disney World were not only exciting because of their destination but because of the airplane ride! Of course when back on the ground and loaded into the back seat of a car you either get 3 cranky kids or some of the best radio talk shows the world will never hear coming out of the Fanta bottle...but don't let me digress into family vacation stories.

But, oh airplane rides! They were different. How is that plane rides with your family or friends are always a million times better than a complete stranger? Is it because you're not afraid to spill over into their seat and use that shoulder as a pillow? Is it because you can agree on "time shares" for the window vs aisle seat? Because you're comfortable with passing out if you really are tired? Have someone to chat with when all the movies are lame? Someone decides that it's time to drink and your row single finishes all the red wine on board? Or you know, my personal favorite- playing truth or dare with the entire group your traveling with (all recent 8th grade grads) and get the "this is a reminder for those in economy class, that the service buttons should only be pressed if something is needed" announcement and then bursting into laughter as the other passengers try to settle in for sleep on a 16+ hour flight to Osaka, Japan.

Problem is, I'm becoming not so much a fan of the actual travel part...as in the traveling from your residence to your destination and don't even get me started on the return trip. As I sit here in the Munich airport waiting for my last connection flight of the day you can bet that it's really just these long transatlantic flights I'm talking about. Travel solo has it's perks- better chance of moving seats, not having to worry about someone else's eating schedule, but it gets boring. No Dad, this doesn't mean you should have driven up to SFO to keep me company while I sat there forever. First of all- I'm thankful that my return trip wasn't impacted at all by this week's storm. Second- I'm shocked that we've actually been early on both arrivals today. Third- I really do want to head home and I think that's what kills me. And if that fact isn't enough...I have to work in the morning. Yeah, not one of my more brilliant planning moves.

When traveling by train or car you really don't have the stop and wait torture. If you've stopped it's for the night, fuel, food, or a I-80E road closure (that was a fun road trip day). Well, when you're on a layover you're just there. There in the airport terminal with normally my luck the partial construction These over night flights are particularly the worse for me cause I'm ready for sleep when we are boarding (which is why I napped), then I'm being served food,  and just when I think I'm passed out for good... it's time for more food? I'm so confused and definitely not in need of airport food, not even a beer. Why did they serve me breakfast at 4pm local time? How come it was so hot on the plane I couldn't sleep? And why is it so dark? And why am I so grouchy? And tell me again why I agreed to book tickets with a 2.5 hour layover in Munich? The flight is less than 2 hours!

Ironic part? I already know I'll be looking for a new travel destination by the end of the weekend. BUT flights within Europe are so much less painful than this one. And don't let this talk you out from visiting me...it really isn't that bad I'm just super tired, anxious to get to Naples, & beginning to wonder if I can wait another 24 hours to pick-up Signore Nico.

CA Girl Gone Italian

No doubt about it- I'm leaving California knowing without a doubt that I'm not the same person I was when I made the original trek in May 2011 or even in January of this year. Funny thing about it? While in Italy I didn't see this change was taking place, but throw me back in my "natural habitat" and suddenly it doesn't seem so natural anymore.

And yes, we're talking more than the culture shock.

I'm still trying to figure it all out and although it's driving me crazy...this is one of those things that I'm okay with the outcome so, if I can't put my finger on exactly what has changed I think I'm going to be alright.