Buon Giorno

Hello to my readers (all 3 of you!). Anyway, we had no internet service, then we did, then we didn't, then we did and now we don't and I had to trudge my way over to the Internet Cafe' and leave Bill alone with the ragazzi (kids). Oh, did I use the word "trudge?" I think I meant something like "skip with delight." Our family togetherness has gotten very, let's say, "very together." While Bill and I really enjoyed hanging out with each other, the kids are desperate for whadda ya know, other kids. I am working on the finding other kids thing and school starts in just 2 weeks, so I'm sure it will all be fine very soon. I think we will be taking a little trip over to a water park next week and we move on Tuesday or Wednesday into our "permanent" apartment.

On a brighter note, we are now "passing" and just last week we went out for a snack/light dinner and were NOT charged the ubiquitous, confusing and ever-present "cover charge" which is something like a combination tip-tourist charge-you don't speak Italian penalty-your shoes are ugly charge. (In defense of the cover charge, I actually think everyone pays sometimes at some restaurants, not just tourists.) Of course it was at the little cafe a couple doors down where Bill gets coffee every morning and the boys have charmed the ladies into making them special little breakfast brioche. Maybe it was just the spirit of Ferragosta, the big Italian holiday on
August 15.

I'm off and I will check in again in early September.