Since When does a LOCAL PHONE CALL cost 50 Cents??

I can't complain about prices in Trieste without at least doing the same in America. That's where I was the last couple of weeks. It is the reason for my silence, my absence on Daily Mile (not so many miles on the feet, you see), and for my expanding waist band. Good thing I found the fat pants right underneath the ones I can no longer zip. Phyoo! 

Here is my Stateside complaint (don't want Racine, Wisconsin to feel left out). 

I have switched to the simplest Nokia Phone on earth, which means that I can talk on the phone in Trieste without my brain overheating after one minute. This is good news. The down side is that it is not Tri Band so I can't use it in America. Pazienza. Sweety became my secretary (I could get used to that!) in the meantime and I decided to use the public phone to tell my mom to come and get me at the gas station that the Wisconsin Coach Lines luxury cruising bus left me at not long after my smooth arrival at Chicago's lovely O'Hare airport. 

It was a local phone call. I know times have changed, but didn't those things used to cost a Quarter? Now it costs two. And the phone doesn't even have the decency to display the price like it used to on the front. 

What's that all about? I mean, who is using public phones anymore and now that I know how much it costs, WHY WOULD THEY? I paid (like an idiot) once and left a message that my mom got the next day. The second time, I called her cell phone. Before doing that, though, I looked around like a damsel in distress until a very kind, but strange man let me use his cell phone because he had unlimited minutes. 

So, here is my USA update. People: still nice. Public phones: Still exist, hose you. 

Since When is Coffee a Whole Euro??

This week I've gotten charged an entire euro for coffee TWICE (one lousy, one good). When did the price go up? Is this some kind of New Year's thing?? I don't want to sound like my mother: "When cigarettes go up to 70 cents, I'm quitting!!" but a euro for a tiny espresso seems a bit much. Maybe in Trieste we've been spoiled for too long. But I don't think so!

If you're not from here, though, you should know that if you choose to have a coffee standing up in a caffè rather than sitting down at a table, you always pay a fixed price for it, which, up until something like YESTERDAY, was 90 cents! If you sit down, you pay for service (someone bringing it to the table) and the price can go up to 2-4 euros (see, I can't even be sure because I NEVER sit down). So, the Italians, they're not crazy people who prefer standing up to enjoy their coffee, they're just cheap (and I mean that in a good way).

But a 10% increase, SNAP, just like that?? Must be nice to be a cup of coffee!
Bah! I'm making my coffee at home (bah humbug!)...

Happy Befana!

Did the little old witch come and fill your stocking with coal (if you were bad) or candy (if you were good)? She skipped my house, unfortunately-- my stocking is still hanging there in my living room, empty. Hmmpf! But in Trieste, whether the Befana comes to your house or not, January 6 means it's time to put away all that Christmas stuff (the miniature fake tree with lights that stay on it, the Christmas mugs we seem to receive every year from various family members, the ornaments, etc) and move on with Life. I like this tradition. It gives you a few days after New Years to catch your breath before having to take it all down, pack it up and put it away. That being said, the stuff goes up here much later. I think we waited until about a week before Christmas before we did anything festive to the house. In America I remember everything happening the day after Thanksgiving.

Oh yeah, I have to remember to change my computer's screen saver, too, no more Grinch. Time to go.

I will not let the crappy weather win!

It has been raining here for what seems like months! And just when I think it's over, it's still there, fine enough to go undetected from the window before venturing out post-New Year's hibernation to soak me, my umbrella, and any unfortunate clothing I happen to be wearing.

My mother-in-law just called to tell me that there's Bora now, too, which she sees as positive: should keep the rain away. But we all know what Bora really means: COLD!

Damn.

But I'm not going to let the weather win. No ma'am. I am going to get my running clothes on WITHOUT looking out the window. I am going to pile on the layers, put on my rain pants, and get out there. And when I finish, I plan on being quite pleased with myself. The big question is whether to go long or short. If I do 4 miles today, then I have to do 13 miles tomorrow. Which will it be?

Ok. If it's rain, I'll do short. If it's Bora I'll do long. And that will just have to be a surprise for when I get outside. I already feel cold and wet. Wish me luck.