things that strike me as unusual

ciao ciao,
i wish i had something terribly fascinating to tell you, but the truth is, i don't. i have settled into my work-a-day (does that have dashes? workaday?) routine here in my adopted hometown, and nothing i could tell you would be much different from what you have heard many times before. there are a few things that may make you smile though...

number one. italians are required to purchase and carry with them at all times a set of reflective clothing to put on in the event you are ever stranded on the side of the road. i have seen these little vests, still wrapped in plastic, lying in the backs of friends' cars. you are also required to carry a pair of glasses in the car with you at all times if you wear contacts. i ask you - if you are ever so badly injured that you can no longer see with your contacts, are you really going to be able to take them out, replace them with your glasses, and then drive on down the road? i sort of think not.

number two. just so you know, you don't get sick when the cold wind blows and comes into contact with your exposed (ah!) throat. i don't know how many of you were still under that impression, but there is an entire nation over here that is clinging that belief with desperate tenacity. A similar belief held here is that if you are sweating, a fan blowing on you to cool you off is not a good idea. The mere suggestion of the idea is met with stern disapproval, an almost "how stupid are you?" kind of look. humph.

number three. italians call a fanny pack a "marsupio," which, if you think about it, makes a heck of a lot more sense than a fanny pack.

our show at the garden underground may be off for the time being, but we are trying to organize another one in its place. there are some "political issues" arising from being in a small town that are making it difficult for us to do the show. we still have one scheduled nearby for the 26th, if anyone wants to hop a plane to catch our debut. we are still trying out names as well....i am open to suggestions, though i think i have settled on one in my head already.

the next post, as promised for some time now, will deal in depth with the fall tour and the upcoming album...hold on tight, as i am sure you are beside yourselves with anticipation and butterfly tummy.
lots of love,
vanessa

ps - did you like the pasta? i have another super simple recipe brewing in my mind, just waiting to be typed out...