{ italia uno! }

brig and I were gchatting about travels and it dawned on me that I hadn't finished my ITALY post...he told me I need to show Italy that I loved it...so ITALY, here you go...

I love you and miss you
and I promise I'll be back to see you SOON!

day

I

rome

The trip started off right....after a smooth flight, we ran into Clinton at the airport...perfect timing. We were a bit jet lagged and in need of a shower but we made it through the day sans-nap time...and braved the nasty Roman heat! It was hot and dusty but we didn't let that stop us. We toured the FORUM, COLLISSEUM (ran into my friends little sister...such a small small world...hours before I was wondering who I would run into), PALENTINE HILL and spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around TRASTAVERE. We found the greatest little quaint spot on a side street for an early dinner. It's so much better to wander and find the perfect spot instead of jumping at the first place we saw, like everyone else. After dinner we took the usual picture at the famed TREVI FOUNTAIN and went to see what the talk was about the SPANISH STEPS. They are beautiful but nothing special. It's always so funny to me how certain places get such mystic. Mostly from someone saying they were cool and then everyone had to go and follow suit. Sometimes I wish people
would stop listening to each other and find their own loves.

{ heart of america }

when I think of what I call the heart of america

I think of country music, summer bbq's and the suburbs.

this Christmas, that's truly where the heart was. Walking on the streets of NYC, especially Fifth Avenue, it's hard to believe there's a recession but it's a different story for many other parts of the country. I'm sure you all know people who are still looking for work and in my childhood suburban Colorado neighborhood that's still very much the case. My mom told me about our neighbors across the street and how they had taken another family in from our neighborhood when the father had lost his job and they couldn't afford their home anymore. Very cool. I was lucky enough to have dinner with both of these families and it couldn't have been a better evening. I walked into my neighbors home and there were boxes piled high, belongings from the other families prior home, the treadmill served as a coatrack and things were a bit cluttered but it felt so good there. I can't imagine taking in another couple and their 3 kids, but that's what my neighbors did. They actually moved into their basement

and let the family take over the rest of their home.

and the GREATEST thing ever...

after 13 months of being unemployed,

the father found a job 2 weeks ago.

merry christmas!

CHEERS to the heart of america.

{ a walk in the burbs }

all taken on my iphone. love it.

{ carols for juli }

When I first think of JULI I think of Pop Tarts...she used to keep her pantry fully stocked in high school for me since my mom wouldn't buy them...and the nights we went cruising down county line looking for boys. JULI has always been one of the coolest moms that I know but more importantly, JULI is one of the strongest people I know...she's been fighting cancer now for 10+ years and continues to fight. This Christmas we showed our love for her by bringing the masses out to their home to sing a few carols. It was one of the coldest, wintery nights that I've been out in a long time but well worth the rosy cheeks. I know all 150+ of us that were there feel the same way that I do about JULI.

She's amazing and we love her.

{ a promise }

I made a promise to my good friend nathan once...

back in the day when we lived on an island,

ate pineapple

and always had the ocean in view...

that I would write him a song.

It's been 10+ years but a promise is a promise

so it's about time he gets his song.

nathan, remember that time that you and mounce

called me from maui and you were listening to my song?

that might have been the one of the greatest days ever

because I thought you hated each other

and I was so happy that you were friends

and because you liked my sappy songs.

well, this one's not perfect, but few things are.

I usually would never ever let anyone listen

to anything I've written that I thought

was a bit cheesy or not finished

or that I didn't like for some reason

but I don't care anymore.

maybe I'm tired and need to pack for my trip

and don't want to stay up until 3am

or maybe I really just don't care what people

think anymore and that is a very good thing

so here goes nothing

whatever the case, it's nathan's birthday

I wrote him this song

and he's cool,

even when he uses too many napkins and wastes trees.

{ happy birthday and thanks for never giving up on me }