Wall...Face....Ouch

Hit a bit of a wall yesterday. If you missed my complaining/thought I've been too happy the last three weeks and want to see me in pain, read on, otherwise just skip it to the next paragraph.

It seems the heat sneaked into Florence while I was in Chianti and sleeping before two am is now our of the question. Waking up early due to the construction noise/heat combination, I headed to the library to use the wireless and attempt to upload pictures from Chianti. After a couple hours of frustration on both the blog website and flickr.com, I gave up. My head ached from not having my morning cup of coffee that I had religiously ordered in Chianti. (I don't like being dependent on stimulants...I might turn into my mom, aka 4 espresso joe) [ironically today when I was uploading Elizabeth's piece, there were no problems.....grr]. After this I met Elizabeth in the market, starved I grabbed a sandwich at my favorite spot, but still with a headache, somehow resisted ordering a cappuccino since I was eager to get home and finish my art assignment...I hadn't really started. Lugging around my laptop and veggies I trotted home in the dripping heat. When I got up the tree flights of stairs, I grabbed my notebook and went to Plaza S. Marco to sketch people. Since I am not aloof in any sense, I received awkward stares before I even began. Fusturated I decided to focus my series on objects rather than people and walked back to my street and sat in the door way of a near by apt. I sketched a lamp and a locked bicycle, but lacking the patience for such a technical drawing I grew more fusturated--especially when an Italian man sat next to me and started going on in Italian. I wanted to punch him although I knew he was just trying to pick me up. When he realized my lack of Italian, he ciao bella-ed me and was on his way, and I darted to the Piazza S. Lorenzo to draw more bikes (I needed 5). Here in the sun, I messily drew a few more bikes, got ciao bella-ed again but he had a bit better English. (Sometimes I'm glad I don't know too much Italian....) Then I noticed I had left my large watercolor pad with my floral trifect in it, at the apartment, and so I went back for it. Arriving in my apartment, my head throbed and I felt the beginnings of a migraine. I turned off the lights (or rather just never turned them on) and lied in the hot of my room on my bed, tearing up with pain. Not only did I not want a migraine like the only other one I have ever had, but I also didn't want to admit to myself that I had let my stress levels get so out of wack while I was having this wonderful time in Florence. I let go getting mad at myself, popped some excedrin migraine in and read my insurance information, preparing myself for the worst. (at the same time I worried about my rather pink eye that I have had the last four days). ......then after an hour in my apartment, I dusted myself off and headed down to my art class, not in any mood to draw or paint, especially naked Italian men.

After class got better, Elizabeth and Alyssa were cooking dinner and I relaxed with some wine. I was glad to come home to friendly faces, although I did find myself lingering in the refrigerator a bit. As pictured in Liz's entry, she made delicious risotto with chicken and green beans (she was even impressed with how delicious it was and perfectly cooked).

Don't know if I slept any better last night, but I'm taking it easier today. (don't freak out Mom and Dad, I just thought it would be a little hilarious for those who have lived with me and understand my temperament too well....)

Here are also a few pictures from the Bobali Gardens and the Pitti Palace where Elizabeth I toured on Sunday.

At the top of the Bobali Gardens looking down on the Pitti Palace and Florence


Elizabeth loved these modern sculptures at are everywhere in Florence. Here is one of my favorites of the MANY pictures I took her and her men.


Look I'm in a bathtub!...in the silver museum.....?


Gelato from Perche no? Yummy


Alyssa and Venom, trying to cheer me up.





Ciao (bella)

Jac