Hat Trick

Just realized tonight that this is the third World Cup in a row during which I've been in Europe. A recap of vivid snippets I remember from each of the last three tourneys...

2002

Sitting in a park in Geneva, Switzerland with several of my high school French classmates watching World Cup games on a huge screen that had been erected in the middle of a public square area.

2006

Sitting in an alley in the streets of Rome outside a bar that had set up two 32" tv's out onto the road so more people could see. Italy won this year, so I remember things being INSANE!

2010

Tonight...whilst enjoying a brew and watching Uruguay (unfortunately) beat South Africa in an Irish Pub of sorts in Antibes, France I made my realization of how Europe calls me to its continent during World Cup years.

That is all. More realizations to come, I'm sure...

Revelation

While talking to Dan tonight using an international calling card from my favorite beachside phone booth - I had a revelation. We realized that I would be home in exactly 3 weeks (21 days) meaning that I have been here for 40 days thus far - since I am here a total of 61 days. Yes, I counted before I left.

Anyway, it dawned on me that 40 days is the same amount of time as Lent... which THEN got me thinking even further. During Lent this year I gave up bread & cheese, but had Dan with me by my side throughout that time. Now, though, during this pseudo-Lent (40 days as of today), I have unlimited bread & cheese, but I don't have Dan.

How come I can't have BREAD & CHEESE & DAN all at the same time?! These are only 3 of my favorite things!! Oh well. Just thought that was interesting.

USA! USA! USA!

(via www.someecards.com)

Luckily, this doesn't apply to me - as I'll be watching it in real time at a much more reasonable hour (live on tv @ 8:30PM over here in France).

Also, I'm strongly considering / pretty much most definitely going to wear my American flag t-shirt tonight...and probably every other time the U.S. plays this World Cup. I packed and brought it with me solely for the purpose of wearing it on my flight home to the U.S. after 9 weeks abroad since it falls on the 4th of July --- only the most patriotic day to return home to the states. However, now that World Cup fever is beginning to hit - I may have to whip out the stars and stripes slightly sooner than expected.

This is what my shirt looks like.

(via www.urbanoutfitters.com)

L-I-V-I-N

Still sorry for all the delays posting updates. Been too busy l-i-v-i-n.

Cannes Lions students checking in today and tomorrow, so should have time to add some stuff this weekend --- minus the few hours when I'll be cheering on USA v. England this evening!

Happy Birthday to "BJ the DJ"!!

It's Dan's mom's birthday today - whooopeeee!

If I had the power I'd steal this cake from Matt's 4th birthday party and give it to you today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Firenze

aka- Florence... is where I am now and where I will be for the next 2 days. Not originally a part of my plan - although I didn't really have a plan - but alas this is where I am and I like it.

We left Cinque Terre early this morning after a good day and a half of eating, hiking, swimming, and lounging on rocks at the water's edge. Noticing that our train to Florence connected in Pisa, I suggested we stop there for a touristy and snapshot-heavy pitstop at the famous tower. Beaucoups of pictures to follow...

After Pisa we had a slight mis-step in all catching the same train, but we YOLO'd our way through it and found each other at the hotel lobby in Florence just fine.

...which brings us to the present momen. We arrived to the hotel in Florence - knowing that three girls (half of our group) had a reservation scheduled here. The Hodge Twins and I had no reservations anywhere in Florence. Our mis-steps turned into mini-miracles as the guy working the front desk of the hotel (which was ENTIRELY BOOKED, mind you) somehow arranged to switch our rooms so that ALL SIX OF US can room together in mac-daddy Florence suite. We have a king bed, a double bed, and two twin beds AND our own bathroom. Not to mention enough extra space with which we could accomodate a middle school dance. There's also a chandelier. Oh la la. So, needless to say, I have sidelined my plans of arriving earlier in Rome and will now be in Florence for a couple of days. Hard to pass this deal up.

Well, I'm off to find some gelato. Ciao.

For Carl

Our love is international, Carl.

(And according to this graffiti art, it has been since August of '09. Accurate much?)

Via dell'Amore - Duffeaver Style

Took tons of gorgeous graffiti pics on the Via dell'Amore between the cities of Riomaggiore and Manarola while hiking the rocky, coastal trail in Cinque Terre, Italy. These just happened to pertain to me and Dan (aka: 'Danna', aka: 'Duffeaver').

Bittersweet

- Checked all the students out this morning

- Packing for my week off in between programs

- Going to Italy tomorrow (without Dan, as originally planned)

- etc etc etc

There's lots of happy things going on right now, so I'm keeping my eyes fixed on that without forgetting about what could've been / what was SUPPOSED to be... Grrrr...

Anyway, off to Italy in the morning to relax during my week off. Cinque Terre first followed by Rome. Reminds me of my post-Cannes travel back when I was a student on the trip. Ah, memories.

It Always Happens in Threes

Dennis Hopper then Gary Coleman.....just wish it didn't have to be her as the third.

Thank you for being a friend, Rue!

Happy Birthday, DAN!!!

(via www.someecards.com)