Back home in Calgary

Well it's been some time since I have done any writing so Ill give you a quick update. Hubby

lost his job of 20 years so I brought him back to Calgary where there are plenty of jobs. This is our fifth year living in Canada. Even though I miss the beach, we have created a nice quiet life here. I'm in my third semester at Sait and it is changing my life. I feel so much more in control and the future seems even brighter.

Forza Italia

Well in my part of the world, it is football fever. Italia played Czech Republic and won. The entire town was watching the game. I am not a big fan so I went to go iron the sheets and my husband turned on the game. It was the middle of the afternoon so I figured there would not be many people watching the game. Football is adored over here and when there is a national game, everyone stops what they are doing to watch. Anyways while ironing I could hear a few neighbourhood kids cheering along with the tv. Next I know the entire town erupts in chorus. Horns blaring, cars honking, sirens whaling. I think Italy scored a goal. I go to check the tv and yep they did. More screams and hollers as they do the replay. Everyone in my condo was participating in the joy. As the game progressed another score was had. This time church bells accompanied the cheers. The game over at 6pm and fireworks went off. Not that it was night, but that Italy had won another match in the World Cup Soccer. I've never seen such passion for a country's nationalism.

Until the next game.

Volare

I flew. I flew a kite. Up and away. It was a beautiful day. My husband bought me one of those trick kites with two handles. I had forgotten how much fun it is to fly a kite, and even more so when you can control it. I must have flown it for a good 2 hours and I would have flown more had my husband asked if we could go home. The sun was shining, the wind was stiff but cool but that didn't stop the sun bathers. There were a few of them out, soaking up the sun. There were even some of those kiteboarders learning to control their huge kites. If you have never seen the sport, check it out on the internet. Very spectacular. Maybe I will beable to fly again today! I can't wait for another breeze to blow in off the sea.

Well it has been some time since my last entry. If you ever want to experience Nettuno (or Italy for that matter) in its most serene state, wake up early on Easter Sunday. Smell the air. Hear the silence. It is so peaceful and beautiful. I woke up this morning and needed to hang some laundry outside. The air was crisp with just a little humidity. It felt as though everyone was still in bed, as there were no people in the streets, no cars buzzing about and no church bells ringing. It was only 8 a.m., normally there is quite a bustle at that time as people are trying to get to work, or get kids off to school or on Sundays going to church or the store for milk. But this Sunday morning seems so serene. The way Italy should be every day. Back home in Okotoks, it was this way everyday. I really miss the quiet.

Giant Grasshoppers

When I first came to Italy, I expected so many things to be different, like insects for instance. You always hear about exotic animals from all around the world, but insects seem to be the same everywhere. A fly is a fly. The grasshoppers are a different story here. They are not grasshoppers. They are giant, leaping, flying, freak you right out type of grasshopper. Back home they were about 1-2 inches big; here they are about 4-5 inches. Today I had one of those embarrassing moments that I wish no one would have seen. My husband and I were out walking the dog and he had been chasing after the tiny lizards that had been out sunning themselves. He was having great fun but no luck. As we came towards the end of our walk, Yuma (my dog) found a stick like object and decided to pounce on it. To his surprise, these wings opened and it tried to get away. He jumped back and got a little freaked out. I came over to investigate, as my dog doesn't usually shy away from insects and this thing (which I too thought was a stick) flew towards me. I let out a brief but load shriek that turned everyone's heads to look at me. I covered my mouth after I realized that I had let it fly open and tried to walk away without freaking out more because there seemed to be a small colony of them in that corner. Then an older gentleman pointed out that they don't bite. That didn't make me feel any better. I was still embarrassed for letting out a scream in broad daylight for no reason. I had to laugh it off.

Metal Detecting

My husband has been waiting for the big wave. Maybe he should go down to Indonesia, they have been getting some big ones there lately. He has two metal detectors that just don't work the same as they did when he bought them. "More power" as Tim the Tool Man would say. They just weren't given the right amount of juice. So now they are "better" but the beaches are too mineralized and they squack like crazy. After a storm go through town, the beaches curn up stuff and that is the optimal time to go out and look... But we are having great weather and my husband is dancing around like he's got ants in his pants. Oh well, I am sure then next big storm will be coming around soon. Can't be dry forever.
My pup seems to like sitting in my arms while I am at the computer. I must admit that I too like it as he keeps me warm. Today is not a very eventful day as I will be studying for most of it. The sun is strong and warm, and suspect it will be that way until September and even beyond. Winter is definately over.

Nettuno Italia

This is my first post and would like to say hello to everyone out in the world. At this moment I have a sleeping dog in my arms which makes it difficult to type anything, so I will let you know how things are going later on. If anyone has a specific question about life here in Nettuno, go ahead and ask and I will try to answer it as best as possible.
I am a Canadian who uprooted herself to marry a man half way across the world. We met on the internet in a chat room and got to know each other over 5 months. We decided to meet and it was love at first sight. After another 4 months, I organized myself to return to him so that we could marry. A year after meeting we were married and happy. From Calgary to Nettuno my new life began. Nettuno is about 90km south (well relatively south) of Rome along the coast. I live about 400 metres from the water in a condo. My husband (whom is Italian) works at a local factory as an operator and I am a student, studying Business Administration (as well as Italian). We have a dog by the name of Yuma (I found the name on a list of Native Americans. It means "the son of an Indian chief") who is a very energetic Zwergpinscher (min pin). We just recently finished with Easter, and of course that means food, food and more food. Man I love their cooking.