Wish I had my mom's sense of spirit...

V approached me today and told me that she thinks I am "crabby" and was disappointed from my performance on Sunday at her Aunt's house. She thought I could have played tag or ran away with her girls, when they were attached to her hip. Ok yes, I was a bit melancholy but again I hate when she puts this blame on me when she is the one who has a bad attitude at times.

Anyway, that segwayed into my answer to her previous question a few days prior, "speaking of leaving, You can start looking for someone else for September. I have other plans in mind for me."

That sparked the conversation of NYU, and if and when I would start, blah blah blah.

Ok well au pairing isn't for everyone but I am sure I am giving it my all. I do enjoy being with the girls but when they are attached to their mother it is difficult to draw their attention. It so doesn't help to be told on and on again that 'you are disappointing me'. I am going to try to suck it up for 4 more months and have a smile on my face constantly even when being yelled at or scorned. What else can I do? I am who I am, and apparently I need to be happy constantly, like her(sarcastic tone). Which leads me to say, I wish I had my Mom's sense of spirit and love for life. Even when I am down on my luck at home, I have my mom to snap me out of it. Well i still have her but she is speaking thru the computer and/or the phone. It helps, but being around crabby people can not help the situation.

Anyway, so who knows again what will happen. But this weekend I am going to spend it with V and the girls in the country home just to get away from the city and try to be the chipper happy self I can be. No matter what. I am going to push thru these next few months and see where they take me. Like my favorite professor and friend once said:

"I think the royal road to achieving genuine satisfaction in life is going the Bloody hard way."

perche no??

My New Cut

Here I am, a week before my 26th Birthday, I wandered over to the Arno river this morning and found the Jean Louis David Hair Salon. I walked in and met Oliver. Spoke rather good inglese and we were off to back of salon. I sat down let him know what I wanted and he continued to tell me he thinks he should do a hair treatment to make my hair more shiny. Why not?

He washed and massaged my head for what seemed like 45 minutes. He kept coming and going because he had other clients. But he kept saying, "I'll be right back, darling, thank you."

Finally it was my turn. He said, "You don't worry, I will make you beautiful." Ok, I said, smiling, kind of nervous.

We talked a lot and all of a sudden, he was done. "Don't move", he said, "one last touch".

He sprayed some kind of hair spray or shine. He asked, "How do you like it?"

"Well it is different," I said, Touching my soft tresses.

"You came to me for something different, that is why people buy new clothes, to be different." He said, smiling and winking.

He kissed me goodbye, saying how beautiful I looked and glad I stopped in.

While I was waiting on the sink in the back of the salon, familiar songs were playing. Like Juanes, La Camisa Negra, and Tiziano Ferro, I forget the name of that one. Both from my friend Tina. They reminded me of her and sitting there I was thinking, "Change is good, why not".

So there I am, a NEW ME for my 26th coming up on 18th Marzo.

a presto

K is my favorite letter!

Well I told sognatrice that I would find words beginning with K, alas there aren't many words that start with K that I can think of. So I will use C as well. Ok with that?

1. Kindness- I received such a reception during my last week at my job. A co-worker, make me a cake of the Italian Flag and in the middle it said "Buona Fortuna Katie". I received a gift certificate worth way too much. I received so much kindness and support I am speechless. I was given a beautiful purse from a great friend who wanted me to carry her with her while I'm trekking thru Florentine streets. Never expected that reception at all....very memorable.

2.Cats-My cats have been constantly surrounding me lately. I have three in my house. 2 russian blue cats, Tascha(who is 99) and Carson(who weighs 200lbs) and also my mom's siamese kitten, Lilybillies(well that is my nickname for her). I think they know I'm leaving. Funny, the animals always know.

3. Kleenex-Just a friendly fact about me, I always need to have Kleenex with me. I have allergies and get the sniffles all the time and also near my bed at night. I also am obsessed with with moisturizer. Like face moisturizer.

4. Knowledge- It pays to know everything about becoming a citzen of Italy. I went to the consulate on Friday to hand in(one last time) all the documents Mr. Oddo would like to finalize my citizenship. Alas, one more thing Mr. Oddo forgot to mention to me, I need to translate all of the english documents. D'UH! And get the American birth certificates "apostile" by the Secretary of State. D'UH D'UH!!!! Long story short, I am going back next week before I leave.

5. Koala-My favorite animal when I was a child. Same with Kangaroos. Can you take a guess why??

6.Kumquat-A fun word to say.

7.Kudos-I am giving Kudos to my new friend Bec from Australia, who will be arriving in Firenze for the first time on January 5th and will be working as an au pair, just like me. Oh, and she is 19 years old. Very brave girl!! Can't wait to meet ya Bec!

8.Knickers- My knickers have been not fitting me too well these days. I have been doing Pilates for a year now and I feel I have finally lost all the weight from college and my boozing days as a "just 21 year old". So I need to buy some new knickers before I leave or hopefully I get a pair from Santa(crossing my fingers)!!

9. Kismet- This is a great word that means fate, destiny. I feel this represents my journey as a Italophile since 2002. Thank you Saint Mary's University in MN!!!!!!!!

10.Kiss-Oh "A kiss on the hand can be quite continental, but a diamonds are a girl's best friend" yes I love the Moulin Rouge soundtrack and periodically I break out in song. I love to sing! Back to the aforementioned word, I have been getting kiss after kiss after kiss after kiss after kiss after kiss after kiss after kiss from my dear MAMMA!!! I can't seem to get enough of them. As well as from my niece Addy, I come up to kiss her and she opens her mouth and starts sucking on my face as if I was my sisters titino. (as my Nana calls it) She makes me laugh smile, and happy, Addy and my MAMMA!!! I love you MAMMA!!!!!!!!

Well there you go, my list of K's and one C. HA! Yes I looked in the dictionary for the rest. Ok well I am going to get back to packing.

10 days and counting.....