One day we made a special day
for a very special person.

in the flesh

For all you cynics of transubstantiation, proof lies in Lanciano, Italy.
What does your heart tell you?

new year's resolution

For those of you living out in Utah County, or might be passing through, you should go enjoy some tacos at the Pastorero. Like most restaurants that have tried making a claim in Brigham's Landing, it will likely have to close in a couple of years, so the moral is that you should get your tacos now before it's gone.

Talking Heads - Mind

Time won't change you
Money won't change you
I haven't got the faintest idea
Everything seems to be up in the air at this time
I need something you change your mind
Drugs won't change you
Religion won't change you
Science won't change you
Looks like I can't change you
I try to talk to you, to make things clear
but you're not even listening to me...
And it comes directly from my heart to you...

bad news

Last night in the shower I realized not only that I can't name a single player on the Steelers, I can't name a current professional football player on any team.

November, more or less

after the personality test and the mental illness test, i naturally took the dating test

Your dating personality profile: Liberal - Politics matters to you, and you aren't afraid to share your left-leaning views. You would never be caught voting for a conservative candidate. Practical - You are a down-to-earth individual who is not impressed with material excess. You care about the stuff of like that really matters. Big-Hearted - You are a kind and caring person. Your warmth is inviting, and your heart is a wellspring of love.

Your Top Ten Traits 1. Liberal 2. Practical 3. Big-Hearted 4. Adventurous 5. Intellectual 6. Athletic 7. Shy 8. Stylish 9. Sensual 10. Wealthy/Ambitious

Your date match profile: Shy - You are put off by people who are open books. You are drawn to someone who is a bit more mysterious. You want to draw her out of her shell and get to know what she is all about. Practical - You are drawn to people who are sensible and smart. Flashy, materialistic people turn you off. You appreciate the simpler side of living. Intellectual - You seek out intelligence. Idle chit-chat is not what you are after. You prefer your date who can stimulate your mind.

Your Top Ten Match Traits 1. Shy 2. Practical 3. Intellectual 4. Big-Hearted 5. Traditional 6. Adventurous 7. Athletic 8. Stylish 9. Romantic 10. Funny

Take the Dating Profile Quiz at Would I Date You

I just have to say that the two biggest surprises here are: 1) "Liberal" being my number one trait, and 2) "Funny" being the least important trait of whomever I date. By the way I'm an INTJ personality.

a steady part of my current diet

I'll admit that I intentionally side step a lot of what I deem mainstream pop culture. I don't want to be mainstream, as silly as that might sound, but I have to say that the Saturday Night Live election skits have certainly made me giggle.

1st presidential debate

2nd presidential debate

1st vice-presidential debate

Italian friends on the mind

I'm thinking more and more about getting over to Italy for a short visit next summer (hopefully the $ will still be worth something by then). Despite the fact that ever since my last visit I've been pretty set on going down into Southern Italy, I can't help but think about how much I want to see the folks I learned to care so much about up north. I can't really go off about all the people I'd like to visit, but I can show you some of the beauty of the Dolomites that the Marcellins insisted I enjoy when I spent the summer of 2005 in Italy. I also feel like their enthusiasm for treating me as family is fairly representative of all my dear friends I want to visit.

Paolo pointing out a trail he hiked in his youth.

Gorgeous.

Paolo, Giovanna, Susanna and Fillipo

Who knows if I'll actually make it back or where I'll end up if I do. Just the same, here's to hoping.