Please Scooch Over

OPEN LETTER TO PEOPLE ON THE BUS WHO SIT IN THE AISLE SEAT EVEN IF THERE IS AN EMPTY SPOT NEXT TO THEM:


Yes, that's right. I want to sit down and I WILL climb over you.

That is how I know I have lived in Trieste for a REALLY LONG TIME.

Andy Rooney was a soldier in Trieste?

That's what they're telling me... We're putting together the America in Trieste walking tour and lots of interesting facts like this have been coming up. There was some other famous American too but now I can't remember who. My memory fails me.

Will let you know when I remember again. Here is some info on TRUST.

PS Sure, Henry James can count. He was born in the US.

Yeah, I'm Mediocre!

What other sport can give you THIS much satisfaction?? Here is a phone conversation I overheard this week:

"Yeah, uh huh, I was in the Barcolana last weekend."

PAUSE

"Mmmm Hmmm, yup. Finished it. and GUESS WHAT!!! We arrived, my CREW and I, in 644th place! Yes, an EXCELLENT result. Exactly in the middle of the rankings."

Sailing is one of the few sports (running is also like this) where you can compete with THE BEST of THE BEST and be PSYCHED to finish in the middle.

Barcolana Weekend

Finally some air around here! I can sweat for a reason rather than just because I exist!

We have gotten through another Barcolana weekend. This was my 9th. I didn't participate or anything. I normally don't, but it is a milestone every year, and one of two occasions for Trieste to wake up for a weekend before laying down its sleepy head for another season. (The Bavisela marathon is the spring counterpart to the Barcolana regatta in October). The Barcolana gets all the Triestini to dig in their winter clothes boxes (we do a change of season here where your summer clothes get put away for winter and vice versa) for their SLAM sailing jackets so they can put them on with their jeans and put the collar up (so cold! Must protect neck from unwanted drafts!!) so the reflective brand name shows.

The real sailors, of course, have their fancy team jackets on and matching pants. They have the added advantage of looking great for free! How the rest of us long to be one of them (without having to do any work-- unless you call hanging off the side of the boat to create weight work)!

Anyhoo, I went down to check out the action (sweet wind-stopper jacket, not slam, but just as conspicuous, a present from my mom, bless her!) and the dog was sniffing everything in sight and she was pulling pulling pulling and I was tugging back and people were tripping on her, and I was tripping on them, and the baby was sleeping in the marsupial on her papa's chest, oblivious to most of the goings on.

A radio station was broadcasting live with a few beautiful women dancing with short sleeves and tummies showing and mini skirts but no one was too worried about their catching a draft (foreign girls, myself included, don't catch drafts, but these girls were freezing with smiles on their faces). That scene made the place seem a little depressing. You just can't enjoy girls dancing when they're outside like you are and you're freezing and you're all covered up and they're definitely not dancing hard enough to get warm, and it's all just to make the radio station look sexy? Didn't get that.

Going downtown during Barcolana weekend makes you feel like you're living the city, though, and that's definitely worth doing.

Dear Summer,

You can go now. Um, there's the door!

Did you hear me?

Come on, put a fire under it (well, on second thought...)

See you next year!

Love, Karoline

Feeling Homesick?

A friend passed me THIS LINK. You can practice your Italian and get Oreos at the same time. But, can I just say something? If you're missing any of these items AT ALL, I think you and me need to have a talk.

Happy Eating!

All Clear- Stalkers on Holiday

Just an update. One of our stalkers was caught and the other seems to be on holiday. :)