Snowy, snowy night

So, it's the most snowfall in SC since 1973. That's before I was born! But did it stop us from going outside to enjoy the beauty? No way! I'm glad that I got to spend the time with Cheese and B-rex. They loved it! Today, not so much. That's okay.

It started snowing around 4:00 PM, as we were leaving Food Lion. I know, I know. Who goes to the grocery store in SC when there's talk of snow? There were long lines, but people were nice.

When we got home, Cheese wanted to play outside, so I bundled them up! Don't they look adorable!?!

This is the boys making snowballs. It was about 5:30 PM. They were practicing so that they could have a snowball fight when their dad got home.

This is what it looked like outside this morning. There's about 5-6 inches out there. Wow! I felt like a little girl again, back in Illinois!

Compare this shot to the one at the beginning. Wow!

If you use your imagination, and look really closely, you can see Hubs' snow angel. It will have to do!I hope to take some more pictures later. And Hubs has some on his camera as well. Yay, Snow Day! (Of course, it had to be a Saturday, and not a school day...)

Life improvements

Things are not so bad here now. I have been in contact with a debt consolidation company, who is helping us to get out of the deep hole. Also, we had an unexpected help from my sweet, wonderful in-laws. (Who also bought us dinner one night!) Thanks!! For the help, and for my husband! So, I am not as stressed out about $$ as I was before. It feels nice. I'm still watching our accounts closely - don't think that I've gone crazy shopping or something. I'm just not contemplating robbing a bank anymore.

I went back to work offically today. We had in-service this morning. For those not in the school world, an in-service is when we get taught "new" things. We learned about bullying, inquiry (Good job Dana!), writing across the curriculum, and the differences between the sexes. Like we needed an in-service in that! I'm married, for goodness sake. I totally get that boys and girls (or men and women) are different. Also, I'm writing my Masters thesis on that, so I had been over all the research and such already. That's okay. Nancy and Kyle still did a good job.

Also, this afternoon, I got to sit down with a reporter from WLTX. I've been part of the beta group on a new website: SC Teacher Village. It's a social network, like FB, for teachers. A group of us has been using the site all summer, getting the "bugs" out. It is supposed to roll out this fall sometime. Anyway, one of the reporters came out to the STate Department and interviewed some folks. One of whom was ME!! So, I'm going to be watching the news tonight, instead of the Disney channel. I'm quite excited! As soon as I get a link to the story online, I'll share. I'd like everyone to be able to see my tv debut!

So, I'm going to go read some more of my book, Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty. I'd like to finish it sometime today...

What I wouldn't give...

...to have some money. I would sell my soul. I just don't understand how this keeps happening. It seems like we just can't get it together. The bills are piling up. The money just isn't there. If only we were a charitable cause, and people could just send us checks and keep us afloat.

I'm sad today. We are flat as a pancake broke. Again. Shit.

Long time!!

So, I haven't been updating this blog like I should. I don't think I even realized that I still had this! I've been so caught up in school and work, that I haven't had a spare moment to think about anything else.

This summer, which is what this blog is all about, is a lazy one compared to last year. I'm not traveling at all. Well, maybe to the in-laws lake house on Hartwell, but nowhere else. There's no trip to Italy. No trip to Mexico. No trip anywhere! I feel strange being home all the time, but I'm managing to keep busy.

B-rex was enrolled in a summer speech camp. The camp used masters candidates from USC to work with the kids on their speech. B-rex had a good time. It was funny, though, because he resisted me every day. "I don't want to go to speech camp!" But once he got there, he was fine. In fact, most days he ran over to Miss Julie and gave her a hug! He got to make a craft every day, just like at school. Some days, he went to daycare in the morning. But most days he just stayed home with me and Cheese.

Cheese has had a boring summer. I feel kind of bad about that. But we've been scheduling our lives around speech camp! And it was in the middle of the afternoon, which really cut into fun time. We have gone swimming with my sis and Mad-dog, but not as much as he would like. He also begs every day to go over to the Ryan's house. I just can't seem to explain to him that you can't just invite yourself over to someone's house! That's rude!

As for me, I'm taking my usual Wednesday class. Right now, it's professional leadership. I also have 2 electives to take this summer. One this week, one next week. I'll be done with grad school in September! Only 13 more weeks!

I'll try to keep this more updated, in case anyone actually reads it. I'm not doing anything but class this week, though. And the boys are in Alabama with Grandpa and Gigi! Vacation for me!!!

Lemons

Okay, so I know that the cars were used when we bought them. I understand that they are not perfect and new. No problem. But I expect that they will last more than 4 months after buying. Such frustration!!

Weston couldn't get his car to start this morning. It was early, he was leaving for church. He said that it sometimes has trouble getting going when it's cold. No problem. So he took my car instead. At 9:30, I went out to try again, so the boys and I could go to Sunday School. Nothing. I went out again at 10:30. Nothing. So, no church for the 2nd week in a row.

Tomorrow, the plan is for us to get the kids up extra-early so that they can all drive me to work. Luckily, I don't have morning duty this week, so I don't have to be there until 7:20. BUT, I do have class tomorrow afternoon. Starting at 4:00. It is NOT at my school. Hmmm. What to do? Guess I'll hitch a ride or walk or something.

What could be wrong with the Santa Fe? I have no idea. I just hope it can be fixed. Soon. Cheaply. Otherwise, we are in trouble!

In other news, I really enjoyed the Phineas and Ferb marathon on ToonDisney. That is my new favorite show. Other than Grey's, House, Dancing with the Stars, Criminal Minds, and Numb3rs. But for a kids' show, P & F is really catchy. They had a marathon all weekend. So it's been on constantly! But I think I have now officially seen every single episode of it. I hope they make some new ones soon!

TGIF!

There are some days when you just cannot even fathom that you have to be awake. Today was one of those days for me. I just feel so drained! There are a lot of days that I'm tired. It's just the nature of what I do for a living. I teach. I give of myself every day to these kids. It can be very draining. And I'm tired most every day. Not that I'm complaining, okay, well a little. But today it just seemed even worse. Those last couple of classes are so hard. The information is harder to process, and the kids are a little more obnoxious. A lot more, actually.

So I got a visit after school, while I was still pretty tired and just wanted to go home, from two of my former students. Sweet girls, now sophomores in high school. It was really reaffirming to talk to them. They are 3rd year language students now, and actually like it. It makes me feel like all the headaches I endured were worth it. If even two kids "got it" and stuck with it, then it's all worth it. Right?

I just get so frustrated. My final class is very disrespectful. I was talking to another teacher yesterday, and I just could not even fathom their behavior. When I was in 8th grade, I would never have acted the way they do in my class. I would certainly not have turned around in my seat, when my teacher was clearly trying to give me instructions for homework, and talked to the person behind me. Multiple times. Utterly ridiculous. I would have shut the heck up and been done with it.

Enough! It is late. I am tired. Psych is on. Adios!

Been Missing?

Wow! I don't think I realized that I've been gone so long. I'm all into that Facebook thing now, so I've been neglecting my blog! Oops! I also have just plain been busy. But I want to do this, this writing thing. I remember that I love to write, so I need to take some time for me and do it!

Cheese is doing so great! The doc has lowered his status to just coming in every three months. It is truly a blessing from God. There has been the occasional accident, but overall he's been doing really well. If only his behavior in school was that good. We've been getting notes from his teacher about his bad behavior. Well, not really BAD, exactly, just moderately disruptive. He's a "natural leader" who is not using his power for good. We've threatened him with taking away his toys, but that doesn't seem to be helping much. I even offered to buy him a toy at the end of the month, if he will just be good! I know that we're not supposed to do that, bribing him, but we really don't know what else to do.

B-rex had a big fall. He's been in speech classes again, and those are going so well. He's talking up a storm now! Once we got Cheese all squared away physically, we decided to focus on B-rex. So in December, he had his tonsils and adenoids removed. It was a fun week with him. So pitiful all the time: "My fwoat huwts, Mommy." Broke my heart. We knew it was bad when he actually asked for his Tylenol with codeine. The good news is: he's fully recovered! And now that he doesn't snore anymore, he's sleeping much better. AND, the boy has finally gotten an appetite. He's like a bottomless pit now! Sheesh!

I started my Masters program last summer, at the end of July. So far, I'm 3 classes in, and it is going really well. I have a 4.0 in two classes, and a 3.96 overall. So proud of myself. I'm feeling pretty darn smart. Praise God!

Hubs is doing well. Well, okay. We're working through some stuff.

I'll try to keep this updated. Really. Just not during Grey's Anatomy. Tootles!

Normal?

Well, Cheese had his surgery last week. It's been 7 days, and he's doing great! The surgery was Friday. He was up and moving on Saturday. Started clear liquids on Sunday. Solid food on Monday. Home on Tuesday!

He's been pooping like a champ as well! He has not had an accident yet. And he can feel when he has to go, which is also good. We have been praying so hard for this. So many people, in so many places. It seems like God is really granting the prayers this time. We've been here before, though, so I'm trying not to get too excited. Twice before, we've thought that everything was okay. Then something went wrong, and the colostomy had to come back.

But it feels so different this time. I hope it is different this time.

Good morning!

Here we are, back in the hospital. So far, so good. Cheese had the surgery on Friday, and the doc said it all looked good.

Well, the nurse came in this morning and removed the gauze from Cheese's bottom. That's good. Now if he would just pass some gas. Once he does that, he will be allowed to have some liquids, then maybe some actual food! I know he would be glad for that. He's been a real trooper today. They just came in and weighed him: 41.5 pounds. That means he's lost 3.5 pounds since last week. Could it have something to do with the fact that he hasn't eaten real food since last Wednesday?

I finished (sort of) one of my papers last night! On my teaching philosophy. I still need to clean it up, and write my conclusion. But it's the right number of words, and just long enough. Yay! One down, two more to go. One is a reflection paper: Teaching is like... Hmmm... torture? J/K! I was thinking about doing a poster or a PPT instead of writing something. If I write, it has to be 500-700 words. If I do the other, there is no requirement. I hate this stuff.

Now, my bestest little sister is on her way over with some Zaxbys for me. She's awesome!

Those were the days

Oh for the days when B-rex would sleep late. I'm afraid we have him so conditioned to getting up early for school, that he now will wake up early on the weekends too! NOOOOOOOO! I loved that I could always count on B-rex to be a good LATE sleeper. Even as late as last weekend, he slept late. I was really looking forward to having some rest today. Oh well. Just more time to do the laundry.

Hubs and Cheese are still at the hospital. Cheese had his colostomy reversed and his colon reconnected to his rectum. Third time's the charm, right? I went to visit last night, and he seems okay so far. The doc said that his rectum was not quite as dialated as he had hoped, so they left some gauze in there to "stretch" things out. Hubs said that it would come out on Sunday. I'm not sure how that will work, but I'm not the doctor.

Cheese looked alright. Pretty good for someone who had major surgery 10 hours before. He had a dose of morphine while I was there, and that seemed to help. I know he is still in a bit of pain. Poor little guy. What a tough kid! Cheese is my hero!

The week at work was okay. I have had to contact 2 parents so far this year. One was early in the week, and the girl has been much better since then. Mom apparently threatened to take away her cell phone. Why an 8th grader needs a cell phone is beyond me! But I guess when you have as much money as this family, even the dog can have a cell phone.

Cheese also has a loose tooth. His first. The tooth fairy has been to the bank, or so I hear. I heard that she picked up some silver dollars and some gold dollars. Something special for when the tooth comes out. :-) I surveyed my students, and the going rate for a tooth is anywhere from $1 to $20! Wow! What would a tooth have to do to be worth $20? Some people just have more money than sense. Hubs and I decided that $1 is plenty for the fairy to leave. Especially since there's another brother on the horizon to losing teeth. We don't want her to set an expectation too high. Ya know?

Must. Go. Switch. Laundry.

need more hours and less shouting

So, the boys are in the other room. Playing some game that requires them to throw toys into a trash can. And then fight about whose turn it is. There is much shouting. And I'm pretty sure that Cheese is cheating. Or at least not taking turns properly. Because B-rex is yelling a lot. In anger and despair.

What a week! I should really be reading my JOhn Dewey book for class, but I just can't bring myself to pick it up. It's just so wicked boring! And I should also read chapter 4, but again: BORING. Ugh! Grad school is not fun. It is a lot of work.

On top of that, school started this week. Which is not too bad. I've got pretty good classes, it seems so far. It's hard to tell, since we only had 2 days. But they seem alright.

1st period: good. There are a few I'm going to have to come down hard on. Soon. But I can handle that.

2nd period: super! They have been great so far.

3rd period: OMG! Try 29 (yes, 29) sixth graders in one room. With only 27 desks. And I may end up with more, because of scheduling mix-ups. Oh, boy! I am not looking forward to this one!

4th period: 13. Because of the same scheduling probs, I only have 13 in this class. Seem wrong to anyone else? How important is it exactly that these kids all have lunch together? I mean, seriously! Wouldn't their parents rather them get a quality education?

5th period: awesome! Great kids. Mostly my 2nd period from last year.

6th period: is going to be tricky. I've got my "mean girls" from 1st per. last year. All in the same class again. How do they do that? Anyway, I need to figure out how to separate them again. So they will sit down and shut up!

And on top of all that, Cheese started kindergarten. I'll admit it. I cried. But just a little! Really! Not even enought to mess up my makeup. But it was hard. I can't even believe that he's that old. Where has all the time gone?

Well, that's my week. I could really use some motivation. Like the fact that the masters will bring in a LOT more money!!!!! Must read now. Must. Read. Now.

Ouch!

My throat hurts! B-rex has been back in daycare for a week now, and I think he brought home a little something to share with the family. His nose started running Friday night, and today my throat hurts. Cheese also has a runny nose.

I suppose I could have picked it up at work, but my students aren't back yet, so that seems more unlikely to me.

It has been a busy week for me. Getting ready for back-to-school is never easy. I had Latin meetings on Monday and Tuesday, then met again with the other myth teacher on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday were official school work days.

Friday we also had orientation for 6th graders. A time for them to pick up schedules, meet their teachers, try to figure out their lockers. Which evidently is much harder now than back in the day when I was in school. I don't remember having a hard time with my locker. Yours truly got to be one of the official greeters at the orientation. Yes, me! I am actually really good at fake smiling and being pleasant to people. It must be from all those church greetings! (I just knew that being a pastor's wife would come in handy one day!)

In other news, we are looking more closely at Cheese's last surgery! So close! He went to the doc on Friday and the prognosis looks good! Can you tell I'm excited!? Finally, he is going to be "normal" in the booty area. Please, God.

Hubs is sailing along. Still driving out to work every day. Wish we could find some way so that he doesn't have to drive so far, but right now I guess that's how it has to be. Either that, or I have to drive over an hour to work. And since we can't afford for me to quit, this is it!

Anyhoo, I'm going to find some drugs to help my throat. I hope this clears up by Thursday. I'll need my voice when the kiddos come back to school!

Easier day

So today was my 2nd Sunday at the new churches. Last week was rough. I met all these new people, and had to listen to Hubs 3 times! Yikes! Today, though, I took the boys to Sunday school at the last church and hung out. I actually stayed in their class, and watched the fun unfold.

I obviously have not spent enough quality time with younger children. They were so funny! Or maybe it was the teacher. At the outset, she told me "I am not a teacher. That is not my profession." I guess so that I wouldn't judge her abilities. Then, she got out paint. Oh, yes. Paint.

And it was watercolor. So that meant that little cups of water were needed. And large t-shirts to go over the clothes of the children. And something to cover the table as well. It took about 10 minutes before they were even able to get started!

But they loved it! They painted robots, cars, and mermaids. Very Biblical, I know. But the teacher was talking to them about "young Jesus." You know, the part of the story where Jesus gets left behind in Jerusalem. And is not missed for 3 days. And does not seem to be concerned, since he is just hanging out at the Temple. It's amazing how much of that the kids actually internalized. I was pretty sure they weren't paying attention at all, but Cheese could answer all my questions at lunch today. Impressive.

It's back to work again tomorrow. Latin meetings. Then Thursday starts the actual back-to-school fun!

home again, home again

So, I've been home now for just over a week. Can I just say that there are not words to describe how I felt and continue to feel? When I walked down the escalator in the Charlotte airport, and saw Hubs, I just wanted to cry. I think I did actually cry a bit. Emotionally, it was overwhelming. Since then, we have been like newlyweds again. Mostly.

I saw the boys that evening, since they spent the day with their Nana. We went out to dinner with them and my sister's family. It was great! I got to have Mexican food and see my boys! I swear, both of them had grown like 2 feet! B-rex is talking much better. And Cheese! He can do math now! Not complex math, but still! I can't believe how smart he is.

Last Wednesday, I began working on my Masters degree. It's an accelerated program, only 15 months. So, if all goes as planned - and when does it ever? but I can hope - I will be finished at the end of next September. Wow! Fast track! It's exciting, but a little overwhelming as well. We have class one night a week and a study group one night a week. Each class is 6 weeks long. That's it. Crazy!

I go back to work on Monday. I have some Latin meetings early in the week, then all-school stuff at the end of the week. Fun, fun, fun! In fact, I really should be looking over the curriculum, but I don't have it here. It's at the parsonage, where we've been living for a week.

Okay, gotta go! I'll try to have more interesting things to update about. My life, as it is, is not very exciting. Sorry.

Picture update again

These are pictures from this week's adventures. I thought I had them in the right order, but turns out I was wrong. Oh, well. I'm getting older, I can't remember things properly anymore.

We begin our journey at the Villa of Hadrian. It is located outside of the city of Rome, in a town called Tivoli. Hadrian liked to have a little down time just like the rest of us. This is one of his reflecting pools, and no, that is not ancient Roman water:
This is also a picture from the Villa. This used to also be filled with water. It contained fish, we think. There are also rooms underneath, with passageways for people to move around:

This is from one of the many guest rooms in the Villa. I counted about 10 rooms, each with its own distinctive mosaic. I know how hard it is to make one of these things, on a much smaller scale. These were absolutely amazing!

And finally, a last look at the 2nd reflecting pool at the Villa. That man sure did like his water! In the background, I believe, are the baths. But I could be wrong there.

Below you will find a picture of an ancient road in Ostia. Ostia was built at the mouth of the Tiber River to provide a port for Rome, which was inland. This is the Decumanus Maximus, one of the main roads:

This is from the top of a column in the synagogue in Ostia. Notice the menorah. The synagogue sat way out towards the sea. It was quite a hike to get there.

After Ostia, I went to the beach with some friends. These are not my friends, just random Italians. But I wanted to show what the beach looked like. It was beautiful! And the water was freakishly cold.

This is a picture of a garden that we passed by after we visited Horace's Sabine farm. Italians have such pretty gardens!

This is me, standing in front of a waterfall/fountain near Horace's Sabine farm. It was really pretty and LOUD! Horace liked it so much, he immortalized it in a poem.

I took this picture from atop Hadrian's mausoleum, otherwise known as Castel San'Angelo. That's the Tiber River. I have many pictures of the great views, but not enough room to show them all here.

As you can tell, it was really windy up there! I was trying to get a picture with St. Peter's Basilica in the background, but I think I stood in front of it instead. Oops! I was too busy making sure my skirt didn't fly up.

I took this picture inside St. Peter's Basilica. That is the altar, the dark brown structure in the middle. Sorry, it's not the best quality picture. But it's dark in there, and the flash really doesn't help any.

And so concludes the saga of my adventures. As of tomorrow, I will be going home! I hope that you have enjoyed the journey with me. I know I have loved being here.

Please leave a comment so that I know who's been looking around here! Thanks, and have a great day!

the lazy days of summer

Finally, a day that actually feels like a vacation! As you might have heard, our official tour ended yesterday in Rome. We have the whole weekend free to see anything we might have missed, or just other things we want to do.

Personally, if I see another museum anytime in the next year, I may go crazy. Seriously.

I got to sleep in today. Then I went and dropped off my laundry at the local launderette. It's a great concept, paying someone else to wash your dirty clothes. Wish that happened at home!

Then I wandered. I took the Metro to Spagna (near the Spanish Steps). I walked over to the Borghese Gardens again. I decided, as I was wandering, to go to the zoo. Or the Bioparc as they call it.

I saw a lion, two tigers, and two bears! (oh my!) I also saw a seal, some lemurs, a zebra, an ostrich, an elephant, a camel, some antelope, many kinds of birds, and various other animals. It was a nice little park. Honestly, I was a little let down. I expected, since Rome is such a huge city, that it would have a really impressive zoo. I found that it wasn't any better than our one at home. In fact, we had most of the same animals, just more of them! But it was nice to see it, and very restful.

I wandered back over near the Spanish steps, then down the Via del Corso a bit. That's one of the main shopping areas in Rome. I didn't buy anything! I veered off the main road for a bit, and took some of the smaller "viales". Those are like little roads. The larger roads in Rome are via. The smaller ones are viale. I found some viale.

I feel like I got to know the city a bit better today. I ended up over by the Campo dei Fiori, which I have mentioned several times. It's one of my favorite places in the city. Then I walked back over to Largo Argentina and caught the bus home.

I did take a nap this afternoon after I returned. It felt good!

Chanda, Jason, and I went out to dinner at a local place. We got to create our own pasta. Basically, you pick the sauce and the type of pasta you want. We each got something different, so we shared. It was good. And I have to say that Jason's tortellini with pesto was the best.

Now we're home, and I'm feeling a bit tired again. I don't really have any plans for tomorrow. I would like to find some silver sandals and a pair of jeans. But if not, I'm okay with that.

Officially Done

This was it. The last day of our trip. The culmination of five weeks (years) of work.

We met in the morning for a few hours. Translated a letter that Pliny the Younger wrote about his villa. Of course! I had the 2nd sentence, which was the hardest one in the whole letter. No, really. it was!

Then we each shared something that we learned from the trip. Or how it will effect our teaching next year. We all pretty much agreed that it was great to actually dialogue with other Latin teachers. Some people are so isolated out there. I feel blessed that I actually have so many other Latin teachers to communicate with whenever I want to.

When we were done, I came upstairs and took a nap. I was tired after staying up late last night, working on my translation. Then Jason, Kate, and I went "chopping." (that is shopping) I didn't find anything, but we found 2 shirts and a tie for Jason! Yay! Now he has something to wear with his nice, new Italian suit. Sweet!

A bunch of us met to talk pedagogy with reference to Cambridge. That's our new textbook. There were about 8 of us. We sat in the back of a wine bar, had a glass or two, and a nice discussion. We were supposed to talk about the textbook, and some ideas on teaching with it. But it kind of evolved into a bitch session about how students don't know any English grammar. And some other stuff. But I did get a couple of good ideas to try out next year.

Then it was time for our final meal all together. Everyone but Allison went, because she had plans with a friend. It was fun, but really expensive. It was a very touristy restaurant. The food was okay. Not the best I've had, for the money.

Afterward, Chanda, Greg, Jason, Kate, James, Michael and I went walking around the Campo dei Fiori and over to Trastevere. In that part of town, they are celebrating the feast day of Saint Mary something. They dress up their image (statue) of Mary and carry her through the streets to the church. She hangs out there, all dressed up, for a week. Then they'll process her through the streets again, then put her back. There were so many people out! All the cafes and bars were open. People were milling about all over. We all sat on the curb and just watched them all go by. It was so neat to see a real part of Italian culture.

No big plans for the weekend yet. There's a group going to the Forum in the morning, but I think I'm just going to sleep in. I've been there before, and I need the rest. I'm just going to take it easy. I'd like to just wander around and see all the little alleys and such. You know, get to know the city a bit before I have to leave her.

Two more days!

All the Time, Everywhere

I'm no Biblical scholar, but I was doing my daily devotion this morning. The verses really spoke to me today, for reasons that I will not share on the blog because my mom does not need to know everything her daughter does. My friends may understand, since perhaps they will be familiar with the word lemoncello. Enough said.

Psalm 139:1-12
Lord, you have examined me and knkow all about me.
You know when I sit down and when I get up.
You know my thoughts before I think them.
You know where I go and where I lie down
You know thoroughly everything I do.
LORD, even before I say a word, you already know it.
You are all around me - in front and in back - and have put your hand on me.
You knowledge is amazing to me, it is more than I can understand.
Where can I go to get away from your Spirit? Where can I run from you?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I lie down in the grave, you are there.
If I rise with the sun in the east and settle in the west beyound the sea,
even there you would guide me, with your right hand you would hold me.
I could say, "The darkness will hide me. Let the light around me turn into night."
But even the darkness is not dark to you. The night is as light as the day; darkness and light are the same to you.

Refreshing, words I have heard time and again. Seeming to come at a time when I was sure no one knew what I was doing except the people I was with. And no, it wasn't anything bad. Nothing even remotely illegal or harmful to anyone.

Anyway, just something to think about.

The Last Day

Today was our last day of sightseeing. Tomorrow, we just have a session in the morning, then we're done! I can hardly believe that it's almost over. It's bittersweet. That seems to be the consensus.

We began the morning at the Church of Saint Clemen. I think he was a pope, at least according to Church tradition. The current church building was built, I believe, in the 11th century. Under that is another building from the 4th century. And under that is an even older building. The original building was a Roman house, then an insula (apartment). Part of the insula was turned into a Mithraeum. Which we learned about the other day. Remember, it involved sacrificing a bull and was only for men. That was pretty neat.

There was also a room that had water running through it. Part of the wall was cut through, and the water was just gushing under there. It comes into Rome via aqueduct.

Next it was time to go to the Theater/Auditorium of Maecenas. He was a friend of Octavian Augustus. He was also a patronus/amicus of several poets including Virgil, Propertius and Horace. (You can Google them if you want to know more. He basically would give these guys a house or land or something, and they would feel obligated to mention him in something they wrote. Usually it was nice stuff, or at least a mention that was not totally mean. It sounds a lot like buying their work (free advertising!), but it was actually a little more complicated than that.

So Maecenas had this theater where people would go and read poetry and such. From the outside it looked like a nice place. Unfortunately, we couldn't get in. Even though the sign says that it is open every day from 9-1:30. And it was only, like, 11! So someone called, and they said that it wasn't open today (duh), but would be open on Saturday. Oh, well.

We then had some free time for lunch. Chanda, Jason, and I walked over to our next destination the Castel San'Angelo. After what seemed like forever, but was really only 30 minutes, we made it. We ate our "stolen" sandwiches (made at the hotel this morning, not really stolen) and sat in the shade. I also had a cup of watermelon, because that just looked GOOD!

At 2:00, we met the rest of the group. Sr. Therese gave us some background information on the site, which was originally designed by the emperor Hadrian. Remember him? Once his "friend" Antinoos (sp?) died, he got really morbid and decided to build himself a mausoleum. That's a place to be buried. It is pretty big, just like his villa was yesterday. It is also round, which is normal for that sort of thing.

We walked inside of it, all the way up to the top! It was crazy windy. As an aside, my skirt blew up several times, exposing me to the other people up there. Luckily, I don't think anyone was really paying attention, because they were looking at the incredible VIEW!! From up top, you can see most of the city of Rome. You've got a great view of St. Peter's basilica, and can see everything on top of each of the hills. I took lots of pictures, which will perhaps be taken from my camera today.

I left the castle with James, and accompanied him to Vatican City. We made it through the metal detectors and went into St. Peter's. As usual, it was completely immense and beautiful inside. I pretend not to be awed by the place, but in reality it is overwhelming. We wandered around inside for a little bit. Even went and had a look at Pope John Paul II, who is still lying in there, all waxed up. After we were finished, we went out and got to see the changing of the Swiss guard. That was neat. I took pictures.

Then we came back here to the compound, and here I am! Just a few more days, and the dream is over. Back to reality!

At the Big House

So, it's just after 11 in the morning at home, but we're already back at the compound for the day. Tee-hee!

Today's adventures took us to two completely different villae. The first was (supposedly) Horace's Sabine Farm. Horace was a Roman poet. He wrote odes, epodes, and some satires. The ruins were not that impressive. Robyn joked that Horace must only have been about a foot and a half tall. The walls were only about that high off of the ground. And they all had asphalt or something on the tops of them, presumably to keep them from eroding or something. It was all very nicely laid out, with an easy-to-read map. Quite lovely.

But it didn't really seem real. Like, it was too perfectly ruined. I dunno. And we weren't allowed to take pictures there. At all! Greg even had to ask permission to take a picture of the sky! But he did take some on the sly. Shhhh!

Then we went up to a fons. That's a fountain. It was a waterfall! It was a loud waterfall. But it was very pretty. And we were allowed to take pictures of that. I took a couple.

Then we got back on the bus and headed over to Hadrian's Villa. Hadrian was an emperor a while back. Obviously, he had more money than Horace. Well, he built this villa out in a place called Tivoli, out of the city of Rome. You know, even an emperor has to get away sometime!

It was magnificent! The walls were about 3 times the size of normal house walls. And there were so many different parts. It wasn't all one big villa. There was the library area. One library for Latin authors, one for Greek authors. There were TWO bath complexes. And remember that when the Romans took a bath they had three different rooms and lots of stuff involved. (See this previous post.) He also had a stadium, where they could have entertainments and races; TWO large reflecting pools; a winter triclinium (dining room); a summer triclinium; not to mention the private parts of the house. WOW! I took a lot of pictures.

I am planning to load my pictures to my computer today, so I hope to be able to upload some tonight. Get caught up, ya know?

We still have our translation and presentation stuff to do tonight. I'm off the hook, but I think a couple more people still have to go. I hope it doesn't last too long, I'm a bit tired and don't want to be rude and fall asleep!