in a spirit of adventure

Listen up! (family in particular - you will understand the remarkable nature of this statement):

I ate squid. And anchovies with zucchini flowers. And some other unidentified sea creatures. It was all fried, which of course helps.

But yes, I was faced with squid tentacles and ate them. And anchovies, which totally get a bad rap in America. They weren't something I'd eat again, but I feel that way about all seafood. I actually had two more hunks o squid though. I still preferred the plate of cheeses, which were... stunningly delicious.

And I burned myself cooking sausage today.

And I don't feel like studying.

And I realized today that I eat Italian sausage. In Italy. [I know, simply stunning revelation]

Often to say we are making "generalizations" has negative connotations - implying we are lumping a whole slew of people into a category that would be perhaps a less accurate description for some. Well, I'd like to say that Italians appear to me to be worthy of at least one stereotype: pasta eating. They DO eat pasta routinely. And salami, prosciutto, and sausage are the preferred meats. They don't do a lot of steak or chicken. And they'll put these items on the same pizza: hard boiled egg, artichoke, black olives, prosciutto, mushrooms, tomato sauce, and cheese. It is surprisingly tasty.

Lastly, I went to Mass in English today. It was lovely. One of my classmates preached a most excellent and inspiring homily. I might become a homily groupie. Then I went and saw the Papa and got his blessing and prayed with him. I'm trying to be better about attending the Angelus as often as possible on Sundays, because I have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pray with and get blessed by the Pope EVERY WEEK. It would be stupid not to go. I live in the same town as the POPE! It was sunny and warm and beautiful in Rome today and standing in the Square looking up at him waving at all of us was.... inspiring. He's so cute. I love him.

And I love you! Ciao ciao!