Things that I'm Learning (besides I'm a Numbskull)

Note: Roc and G look like cousins and Mattie gets sweeter every year; no bias as godmother!



Things that I'm learning of late:

• G is a terrific ham, as evidenced in our pics from Mattie's 1st communion



• I continue to be an emotional cornball as I was ready to blubber my eyes out, seeing all 96 kids at Mattie's communion, especially the girls, dressed in white dresses with their veils (like brides)



• Ireland is not what it used to be, according to Michael and Jenny, 2 travellers we met in Haute De Cagne -- Dublin has Thai food and Filipinos! and North Africans now comprise a growing majority of the population

On politics, life and religion:

• Blair is not as well liked back home, not only because of the Iraq war but he has been seen as gutting Socialist benefits like free health care and education (UK folks have it better than we do, excluding real estate)



• Real estate in the UK is far worse than here: a flat goes for $800K compared to what I paid for my condo (kids live with their parents longer)



• Italians are not the most charming people in the world, as evidenced by our experiences outside Milan and in Venice (they are 50/50; NYC folk and the French continue to be the nicest -- and there will never be a pass for the cretin who cut in front of me in the bathroom line at McD's)



• Italians are entertaining though: waiters that offered us 'dessert' (frothy cream? with vodka and champagne) regifted our drinks when we turned them down -- did they even wipe my lipstick away from the glass

The Irish, Catholics and the U.K.:

• The Irish (who doesn't like them) continue to rock as Michael and Jenny were the most fun travellers we met on our trip



• Catholic church is not what it used to be: two scandals that I didn't even hear about re: 2 hypocritical bishops that had relations with women (1 with kids)



• U.S.and French relations are so bad, it didn't even occur to me that Chirac didn't bother visiting the U.S., I don't think Bush had comments on Chirac's departure -- I only hope Sarkozy improves relations



• I've been reading that U.S. and U.K. relations will cool due to U.K. resentment over the Iraq war, which will depress me (after 2 years working with U.K., how can you not love the U.K.)

Language, college, directions and pregnancy:

• After being told repeatedly that Tagolog has no structure, Rick Sakamoto has assured me its structure is similar to Germanic languages and Indonesian!



• I'm dismayed by what I hear about colleges -- they seem so unaffordable now and overly competitive



• A and I are better off NOT driving in foreign countries (unless its English speaking) since he loves asking for directions and I emphatically do not (not more than once, maybe twice)



• In Spain, maps are optional when you rent a car (hello? wtf?)



• Pregnancy's not better or worse the 2nd time around, but it is funny trying to shave the legs, with the belly

Restraint:

• My self-restraint isn't what it used to be -- must write shorter blogs!