DAY 56: You'll shoot yer eye out!

The 8th of March marks International Women's Day- celebrating political, economic and social achievements of women all of the world... as if Mother's Day and Valentine's Day aren't enough. I suppose if National Ferris Wheel Day exists, why not have one dedicated strictly to chicks? Primarily in Italia, men give yellow mimosa flowers and chocolates to the important women in their lives... I received a socialist propaganda bouquet from "Stefano" the lobbyist. Deeply touched... Aleolus, the God of wind decided to grace us with his presence today when we "learned how to ride the bus!" (I swear I feel like I'm in 4th grade sometimes...) The sad part is that some people really wouldn't know what to do or where to go... Lord knows I was a public transportation wizard in Dublin, but we are out in the boondocks here. So, after 2 hours of waiting in the wind and rain for a ride, the wolf pack arrived in Perugia, a University town of 36,000 students and the National Gallery of Umbria that is FULL of GUESS WHO!!  I like to think of Jesus wearin' a Tuxedo T-shirt because it says "I want to be formal, but I like to party."  You all know how I feel about Mar-Mar and JC right now... I was kicking and screaming like Ralphie when he wouldn't go down the slide because he had to tell Santa he REALLY wanted the Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle... "I REALLY want Venti Soy Caramel Latte and the last 3 backissues of InStyle!" as my nails grip around a column like a scratching post.  Mar, JC... I love you guys, but I think we need a break. Rosella and "The Harv" talked about a lot of art (that all looked the same... don't tell him I said that) as I contemplated the "affair of sorts" between Mags and JC... no one ever touches on the soapy drama of the "holy heros"... they were humans too... I want the dirt! 


After we toured the museum, Rosella made reservations at Ristorante Ferrari, a great pizzeria that sat all 20 of us at a long table... I really wanted a fatty salad, but they made a deal with us that for 10 Euros, we could get a drink and a pizza... and since I'm the oldest, I need not be difficult (!@#$%^&*), so Prima Vera pie for me- as close to veggies I could get. I sat at the end of the table with Rosella and discussed how art is our medium in expressing ourselves and the ability we as artists have to communicate visually with the world. Speaking without words... what a concept. We also discussed interpreting our dreams... specifically a dream where you see rooms inside of yourself... exploring what you hold inside each room, determining if you need to close certain doors and open others... concluding that your body is a house, a temple and the importance of taking care in what you let in and out. A wonderful metaphor and inspiration for new artwork! After lunch we were assigned to trudge back into the gallery and sketch for an hour... time flies when your drawing- seriously. It felt like 5 minutes... I know when I've taken time away from a medium when I want to throw my sketchbook through a display case... Holy rusty, no pun intended. Through the bummer weather, we made our way to a little art store for supplies and loaded the bus back to Corciano. Rosella had homemade hot chocolate waiting for us in the "yellow room," upstairs in the villa" upon return... I warmed up and caught up on some writing (what I find myself doing any free chance I get) until dinner time. 


There were a few extra guests that joined us for dinner tonight, including a journalist friend of Rosella's that teaches in New York, Felipo Vasta- Rosella's brother and Roberto- Rosella's assistant. Bebe (Rosella's mother) has been cooking us some fine Italian cuisine these last few days, but her Tuscan Bean Soup took the cake tonight. Marinated chicken drummies and potatoes baked with onions left everyone beyond full, pants unzipped. In a few conversations Rosella has mentioned that of all the Universities the Pieve School hosts (about 5 others), Montana State kids are her favorite. She exclaimed that she loves how we laugh and our respect for open spaces... city kids don't always know how to handle themselves or others in rural settings, so she loves it when we arrive because we all feel and act like we're home. And with that, I'll leave you with a quote I stumbled across the other day...

"I am in love with Montana... for other states I have admiration, respect, 

recognition, even some affection; but with Montana it is love and it's 

difficult to analyze love when you are in it."  

-John Steinbeck

I think that sums it up right there... well said Johnny, well said. More tomorrow, Ciao ciao!