Lunchtime entertainment in Florence

I know there's a way to put this video straight onto this blog, but until I figure it out, here's something I snapped in Florence, Italy and just stuck up on YouTube. He was the cutest man and I hope he's making other bleary eyed Americans smile like he did us.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=39Lsj9F-jnE

My precious

This is my precious boy, Hunter (or simply, oot). He's an old guy now whose favorite things are cookies, scratches and his doggie bed positioned just in front of his mini- osciliating fan. He has a big bark and no bite but does not like the cleaning ladies or the vacuum.

Italia

Back in May, my friend Diane called me to tell me someone had backed out on a trip to Italy she was planning to go on at the end of June. She asked me if I wanted in. I thougth about it for about 30 seconds and said yes. I had never been overseas and so a spontaneous trip to Europe, not to mention Italy (or the motherland as I refer to it) was a no-brainer. I quickly wrote a check for my part of the villa (see pic below) which included a chef the first night and opera tickets to Rigaletto in Florence. Then, at the wise suggestion of my brother, called AMEX to see if I had enough points to get to Italy. I was 10,000 short so I bought them which came to about $300. That sure beat the $2200 plane tickets I had been scouting before AMEX came to play. Within a couple of hours of Diane's call, I was all set.

I left on June 27th and getting there was NOT fun. My flight from DC-Reagan to JFK was cancelled and therefore I missed my flight to Rome. So I made a big stink at the Delta counter and the nice guy got me on a flight out of Dulles on Air France that night, flying through Paris then onto Rome. I was able to get to Dulles with hours to spare and settled into the Air France lounge, which I was allowed in since I was in business class. (I had a choice, I could fly coach and get some miles back or fly business class and use all of the miles. Was that a serious question, I asked?)

I boarded the plane and sat on the runway for 2 hours. So I knew before I even left the states that I missed my first connection out of Paris. I barely slept on the flight over, even though I had a sleeping capsule. I was too wound up. We landed in Paris and the flight attendant said my terminal was right next door so it wouldn't be a problem getting there. 45 minutes, 2 buses and an immigration checkpoint later, I was in Terminal F. My cell phone didn't work so I couldn't call home to let them know where in the world I was. I had to stand in line for an hour to try and get on the next flight, which I missed just by standing in line. I finally got up to the counter and was put on a flight out at 4:30. I ran to buy a calling card, and then to the security line. I got through and went to a phone booth. I quickly realized that 15 euros I paid for this calling card was a waste becaue it didn't work. I was trying not to melt down, but thinking that I had no contact with the outside world, hadn't showered in over a day (or slept), was hungry, tired and forgot all of the French I knew the day before (from the 5 years of studying the language) put me at the breaking point.

I found the Air France lounge and learned the flight was delayed until further notice. I got to a phone and after cursing and banging the phone for a while, thinking my calling card would magically work, I pulled out a credit card and tried to get an outside line. That finally worked. So I got through to work and had them immediately put international service on my blackberry/phone. Then I called home and called Diane who was at the hotel in Rome waiting for me. At that point I broke down from exhaustion. All I wanted to do was get to Italy. Finally they called our flight and I soon found myself flying over the breathtaking French (or was it Italian) Alps. What a sight. I got to FCO airport and found my bags which had clearly gone on a flight before me. But I had them and that was all that mattered. After spending 50 euros to get to the hotel I was FINALLY there. I found Diane and ran to the shower. All of a sudden, I was ready to go.

We went to dinner at Piazza Narvona that evening and I felt like I was in a movie just watching the scenery. The next day, more people on the trip started coming in. We went and did a lot of the tourist things (Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Colleseum) and then that night I met up w/family who live in Rome. I'll save that whole experience for another posting because it was the coolest thing. (See first photo on my blog). Day 3 we were off to our villa in Tuscany and from that point, we went to Arezzo, Lucca, Florence and Siena. Florence was my favorite followed by Siena. Italy is gorgeous and I could easily live there if I could find a job that would allow me to keep up the bad shopping habits I had while I was there! I'm ready to go back and I can't wait for the next trip. I definitely have the European bug.

Hotel room at the St. Regis in Rome



Trevi Fountain in Rome

Spanish Steps

Our villa in Tuscany -- Radda in Chianti was the town

Duomo in Florence. It's beyond words.

Candles I lit for my grandmom Tess (the two in the middle) inside the Duomo

Some pretty Tuscan countryside


Tuscan sunset from our villa

Bomber Benny

My nephew Benny is fearless in the pool, as you can see in this photo from August. He's also turned into a tried and true Philadelphia sports fan at the tender age of 6. How do I know? He referred to Phillies' Ryan Howard as a "bum" when describing to me his so-so year. I think 'bum' like 'yo' is a word indiginous to Philadelphia only! (My sense is that my brother had a hand in that vocabulary lesson..)

Before & After

Earlier this year and sort of on a whim, I decided to gut my kitchen. It was originally going to be just replacing the major appliances and painting the awful green to a neutral color. But then I figured, after a little convincing from my dad that it was like putting lipstick on a pig. So I decided to go the full monty with a little help from Home Depot. I spent almost every weekend in town for the first three months at the store picking out cabinets, countertops, knobs, flooring, etc. I suffered through the contracting period where my little condo was turned upside down and finally it was over in June. Actually, the paint went up when I was in Europe. So for those of you who knew about my home improvement project but have yet to see the final product, check out these before and after photos.

Dewey

This past weekend was one of my best friend's bachelorette party weekend and we went to Dewey Beach to celebrate. Inspite of a little too much sun, we had a great time. This photo is proof of that. Seen here is Tracy, me and Chrissy.

Sighting..

Tonight I went to a new restaurant/bar called Proof and got some drinks with a couple of girlfriends. Jenna Bush (1/2 of the Bush twins) walked in to meet some friends at the bar as well. Clearly they were celebrating since she just got engaged last week. I've never seen her in person although she's a pretty solid fixture on the DC circuit. She's even cuter in person and she had a beautiful ring! My friend Todd said I should tip off the gossip columnist at the Politico so I sent her a little email. We'll see if it makes it into her column...

First photo

So here is my first photo. It is from this summer when I went to Italy with a group of friends. While I was in Rome, I had the chance to meet some of my Italian family. Seen here with me (I'm in green) is my cousin, (everyone's a cousin when you're Italian) Antonella. She barely spoke English just like I barely spoke Italian. But somehow we knew what the other was saying.

Where to begin..

So this is my very first post on my new blog. I have been wanting to do this and have been urged by so many people because they think I'm a funny gal and like reading what I write. We'll see about that. While I write this, I'm watching the reality show "Singing Bee" hosted by Joey Fatone (who's kinda cute) and am absolutely certain that if I was on that show, I'd win the jackpot. I think in a parallel universe I am a singer (probably country, but don't tell my Philly friends/family that).

I chose the title "aspiring aimee" because I always have my hand in a new invention, recipe, business, idea, plan -- you name it. One day I'll actually follow through on that candy company, the novel or the comedy script I keep saying I'll do. Until then, I'll just keep thinking an awful lot about it all.

I know there is an "about me" section that I haven't quite found yet so I'll add some brief stats about myself here. I am (gulp) 32 -- for another 2 1/2 weeks anyway. I live in northern Virginia and have been in DC for over 11 years following college at Shippensburg University where I was a communications major and in Theta Kappa sorority. I am originally from the Philly suburbs where my family still mostly remain. I went to Upper Dublin high school (class of 92) and played softball mostly, among other sports like field hockey and a few years of soccer.

Some how I ended up in PR (well, it's not that far of a cry from what I studied in school). I always wanted to be on TV or even the radio and I still wonder what it would have been like but I got a job working on Capitol Hill which brought me to DC in the first place. I never looked back.

I'm not really sure where to start here so I'll probably post some recent pictures and tell some stories to go along with them.

Well, I think that's all for now. I hope you enjoy my absurd thoughts, posts and pictures. I'll try to make it all as lively as possible :)