the canvas is set

Insert dramatic music here...I'd put a link but I forgot my headphones today.

We received our projects for the second semester and I am really excited about mine. I've finished the initial examination of the painting, some historical research and now I'm in the process of organizing my report that will take the rest of the semester to complete. I can't show you what I'm working on, all very hush hush ya know, but what I can tell you is that it ROCKS!

I dropped an optional class to have more time to devote to this and possibly another project both in real time mechanics and virtually. Good think Mike let me borrow his gear...

I have a friend from Germany coming to visit this weekend which is very exciting. She is a photographer friend of mine and I'm hoping some of her brilliance will rub off on me. She and I, including some school friends will be attending the ballet. The Croatian ballet is in town doing "Don Quixote" and I think we are going to do dinner before and dancing after. Now I just need to kick this little cold I have going on. I stocked up on cold meds at the pharmacia this morning. Not exactly sure I'm taking the right things but generally speaking it's probably close.

Now back to RGB color monitor research and virtual restoration...

Walk about

Walking the streets of Florence every day is a subtle form of battle especially during "rush hour". The sidewalks are small, the buses are huge and literally get within inches of you, and then add in the vespa zooming by and the cars. It's about activating all your senses so you don't get run over. But I love it! I am so enjoying not having a car, not having to drive or get gas or find a parking space. The only part I miss a little is the music I used to have blasting in the car...other than that I love the battlefield. The sights and sounds, not so much the smells. Let spend a moment on the smells...there is a LOT of dog shit on the street. Apparently that whole pick up after your pet movement hasn't quite made it to mainstream Italian thinking. We have all noticed how much we look down now while walking, which makes you lose sight of the fact you are in Italy...

I wouldn't trade it in...now I am positive that some day I would love to live again in a city where walking is the order of the day and leave the car ownership to someone else. Unless I can get someone to drive me around...that would be great too!

New semester

New Semester just started on Monday...and it's in full swing already. They kept telling us last semester was getting us ready for the "good stuff" and now I to completely believe them. It's only really day 2 of classes for me and I just have to say...My little mind is kinda blown. I'm a little in shock at all the things that we are going to get to do, see and experience in the next 3 months.

I have a virtual restoration project that I'm starting on tonight, research and fiddling and on Friday I get to really take a good look at my full restoration project for the semester. We each get our own painting to work on and I have one that...well...I'm humbled and a little scared for the first time since I've been here. It's kind of a big deal painting...with big deal far reaching applications. It will go on display immediately after I'm done with it...hung...in public...after I've redone it!!! Holy shit...this is real now...

Deep breaths right? So this is me, only a few hours of finding out what I'm going to be working on. A bit...well you decide for yourselves. I can't post any photos of my work until much later but I'm excited and terrified in this moment. I'm sure it will wear off when I finally get to touch it...whoooo hooo...I'm an art restorer!

I think I'll need more than luck...back to the books for me.

Ranch Dressing and such

I had one of my friends Anna bring me back a few packets of Ranch Dressing over the Christmas break from the States. So I mix it up with some yogurt because sour cream doesn't really exist here and I dip a chip in it...and...WHAM...I realize how much I missed the stuff. I actually had forgotten what it tasted like already.
It's not like I ate the stuff every day but I did have on a frequent basis as the kids grew up and enjoyed dipping my pizza in it. I was so shocked at how much I actually missed the taste. I think it also has something to do with the fact that I'm a huge chip and dip fan...

So now I'm rationing my Ranch Dip and have it all figured out to last me at least a couple of months. Sad but true...some things like Ranch Dip and Green Tea just don't have foreign equivalents here in Italy.

So the things I miss slowly fade away and I realize that when I leave here I will have a whole lot more to miss...the cappuccinos here are really fantastic btw.

Visual Journey

Here is my video.

It's been a HUGE learning experience here, about myself and the big world around me. Charlie has been here for almost 3 weeks now and it's going to be sad to see her go. But...I got my new class schedule and I'm excited to get back to work.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic beginning of the New Year and I'll get back to writing this blog soon.