Photographs & Butter

Since we needed to get in shape this spring, I signed myself and my husband up for a half marathon (13.1 miles) on June 1st.  This means that we must train.   Our training schedule involves running various distances at various times.  Yesterday we were scheduled to run 4 miles.

When we were kids my father was always trying to teach us something.  You know, like most dads, when he was around.  He taught me how to make an excellent omelet.  I can ride a bike.  I can mix an excellent gin and tonic.  I can sail.  He was also a super boy scout.  Not only was he an Eagle Scout as a teen, he grew into the Scout Master as an adult (with various crazy awards etc).  So we were always camping and sometimes hiking.  Participation in these scout like activities are where I learned the valuable skill I utilized on our run yesterday.

I know (after running high school track) that I can’t eat too soon before I run.  However yesterday I figured that a few bites of a PB&J sandwich would do more good than harm (I was afraid of running out of energy). 

Oh how I was wrong.

About midway through our run I realized that my belly was all googly (read: not happy with it’s contents).  As I have a history of “googly belly” incidents, I have learned to be in tune with what my bowels are singing.  In this case it was “sister, you’re not going to make it to a bathroom…haha” (sung to the tune of Garbage’s “Shut Your Mouth”…try not to panic)

With this knowledge firmly in mind, I decide it’s time to spend a few minutes of quality time in that bunch of pine trees.  With my husband as the lookout, I fought my way into a fairly dense patch of evergreen trees to take the opportunity that semi-rural living brings…public bathrooms anywhere that you can hide.

My apologies to the residents on Lyford Road whose yard I enjoyed.  I’ve been eating a more vegetarian diet, so perhaps it will act as a natural fertilizer for those kind trees.

You might be asking at this point, what did you Dad teach you?

Well, I emerged from that patch of trees clean and remnant free.  This is a valuable skill, not just an accident.  After my first draft of this post, my husband suggested a diagram to illustrate the technique.  Enjoy.

So thank you Dad!  Isn’t it great to know that after all these years I am vigorously applying the knowledge that you have shared with us?!

They say that hind sight is 20/20.  I think it’s closer to 20/15.
As I look at all my photos and think back about our experiences over the past year, I realize that we have been very lucky.  No major mishaps, nice apartments/neighborhoods, wonderful people, and above all: each other.
I just want everyone to know (including the powers that be) that I realize how lucky we’ve been.

Part of the reason I’ve been looking back on my photos (other than organizing them for more blog posts…be patient with me) is because it’s Friday.  One of the e-groups I belong to is called Photo Friday.  Each Friday they deliver an email that includes a concept. Last Friday the concept was “The Good Life”.  We’re supposed to submit a link to a photo that we feel expresses this concept. I think I have several photos that could illustrate this, but I can only choose one to submit.
As I look through my photos taken over the last year, the photos that ping my heart  the most are the ones that document the little things.  The kitchen in our apartment in Milan with (empty) wine bottles lined up.  The kitties laying in the sun on the balcony. The bike path behind our apartment building in Brussels.  Again, so many photos of the little things that made our lives good.

The photo I’ve chosen was taken the first day I arrived in Milan.  It was my first cappuccino in Italy.  I remember finding it strange that I had to stand at the counter and drink it. I also know that it was the last time I had a cappuccino after 11AM.  Soon after my arrival, a friend informed us of the cafe etiquette that it’s considered gauche [out of fashion] to drink cappuccinos after lunch.  I really miss my morning cappuccino!

So here it is (sigh), my first cappuccino in Italy…my “The Good Life”.

If you had to pick one photo to express your “The Good Life”, what would it be?

Not including today, I have only five more days left in Europe.  This time has gone by like a trip on the autobahn…a blur.  And I still have things I need to do before I leave.

I’ve had more adventures here that I have not yet blogged about.  So you all get to “enjoy” our European adventures even after I’m back living in the states.

One of the things that’s been setting me into a slight panic before I leave, is what to take with me.  There was less panic each time I left the US, because I knew I’d be back and friends would be visiting (with prizes).  Leaving Italy was another story.  Even though we have a few cities near us with decent areas of authentic Italian restaurants (pizza!), groceries, and pastry shops, it’s never the same as the real thing.  So what to bring home?  I missed a few things even while living here in Belgium.  Luckily I had a chance to go back to Milan last month and pick up a few things I missed.  Now I turn to my time in Belgium and think about what I’ll miss.  What can I bring with me?  Not much.  Most of the things I love here in Belgium are perishable.  Or are extremely heavy (beer!).  But I’m sure there will be at least one box of pralines for us in my baggage.  I can’t take too much, since I’ll also be traveling with the cats.

Traveling with two cats is strange.  It makes me sick to my stomach with stress and worry.  And I’m sure they’re not too happy while traveling either.  I could be guessing this from the constant meowing and the cowering in the back corner of their kennels.  Keep your fingers crossed for us on the return to Boston!  I’ll be documenting the trip so that I can blog about our experience.  A lot of good information came from people who wrote about their harrowing pet travels on blogs and websites.  I am going to do my best to pay it forward.  Plus it will keep me busy, which will easy the worry a bit.

Chris probably won’t start missing things for a while since he will probably have to come back to Europe a few times this year (and he’ll be in Italy two weeks after I leave).  And he’s associated this year with a lot of hard work, where it’s just been one big adventure (and housework) for me. 

When you travel, do you always bring something with you that you can’t do without?  Food, books, music, clothing, etc?  Add a comment about it, or answer one of the following (click on “comment” to bring you to the comment section):

• If you were leaving the US to live in a foreign country, what would you need to take with you (that you didn’t think you could get in the new country)?
• What do you think you’d bring back from Italy (even if you’ve never been there)?
• What would you bring home from Belgium?

I’m curious to hear about what others think about the comforts of home, and of course souveniers from life. 

I’m most certain that this is my last blog until I get home next week.  Like I said, I got a ton of stuff to do still.  Until then (and since there are no photos in this post) please feel free to enjoy the photos in my flickr…photos usually make it there before I blog about them.

A bientot and ciao!