April Showers...

Happy May! 

I'm beginning to think that in Italy the saying goes something like "April showers bring May showers".  It's been nice here, but a little wet on days.  Hopefully we'll get some lovely flowers and delicious tomatoes out of it in the long run!  One perk is that the sunrise over the last few mornings has been b-e-a-u-tiful.  There is just something about the sky after it rains.  I've actually been a little inspired to bust out the watercolors and paint again.  (We'll see what actually comes of that...)  Sometimes the veiw makes me think that more people should wake up early.  It's worth it.  But I kind of like my quiet morning walks with no interruption except for a few annoying pigeons. 

As far as eventful happenings in our lives, we've had several over the last few days. 

We went to Lake Garda with another couple over the weekend.  It's the largest lake in Italy and it's surrounded by huge, snow capped mountains.  The weather was a little hazy, but as the day went on it cleared up and you could see more of the mountains.  It was hot enough for us to brave the bathing suits, but the water was still way too cold for me.  After heating up in the sun, John Ralph and his friend decided they were going to tough it out and go for a dip.  It was just the two of them in the water, and another guy floating on a raft.  Innocent enough, right?  Wrong. 

Apparently, this other guy didn't actually know how to swim.  Then he fell off his raft.  He was still holding onto his float, and was really in no danger at all (I say that in all seriousness...he basically could have just stood up), but Dude started freaking out.  We're taking full on panic mode.  Arms flailing, screaming, first in Italian, and then "I can not swim! I can not swim! HELP!".  At first, it seemed so unreasonable, we honestly thought he was joking.  John Ralph looked to the shore, as if he were taking a poll from the audience, like "Should I save him, or what?"  Then the guy goes "I AM SERIOUS! THIS IS NO JOKE!". 

Ohh boy. 

John Ralph and his friend quickly swam over to him and John Ralph did like he had been taught in some survival swimming class and pulled him the whole 5 feet into shore.  The rescue execution was flawless...my hero husband, so brave.  I was waiting on the crowd to start applauding, but apparently "saving" someone isn't worthy of a standing ovation in this country.  Either that, or everyone else thought the whole situation was just as ridiculous as we did. 

Needless to say, the guy survived, and we got an outrageous story to tell.  Win win situation. 

The next eventful happening was just yesterday afternoon.  John Ralph was jumping yesterday so he was gone almost all day.  They were leaving early in the morning, and he needed some Zyrtec, so I got some together to take him on my way to work.  Being the great wife that I am, I also decided to throw together a little breakfast bag for him right before I walked out the door. 

Now, let me tell you a little something about our door.  It has more security features on it than a maximum security prison.  It's heavy.  It has big metal bars in it that you crank into the wall.  There is no way you could use a credit card to try to pop the lock.  For that matter, you probably wouldn't even be successful with a crowbar.  And last, but not least, it locks behind you.  (You see where this is going, don't you?)

I always check to make sure I have my keys.  Always.  And by "always" I mean I look in my bag seven different times before I shut the door.  And then look one more time to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.  Well, yesterday, I was so excited about taking John Ralph his fresh banana bread, that my little Suzy Homemaker butt walked right out the door and all the way to post without even thinking about checking for keys.  In fact, I made it through the whole work day, checking the mail, making a hair appointment, going to the tailor shop, buying some groceries, and riding the bus back home, before "check to make sure you have your keys" even crossed my mind. 

Then I realized I didn't have anyone's number that could actually help me.  And then I realized that I was going to have to sleep in the church across the street because I had nowhere else to go.  And then I realized I was going to be homeless for the rest of my life in Italy and my whole world was falling apart.  And THEN I realized that gelato would probably make the whole situation (or at least a little bit of it) better.  So I pulled myself together and set off for some cold comfort. 

Long story short, the gelato was good, but it got to be after 7:00, rainy, windy, and dark, and there I was standing on the street corner trying to figure out the best way to go about looking Italian and Catholic so I wouldn't get kicked out of the church.  I had tried calling our friend Mike several times with no success and I looked up at the little statues on the church thinking "this is it", I'm going to be locked out of my apartment forever.  I think God must have seen my desperation, because I tried Mike's phone one last time and HALLELUJAH! it rang. 

I sprinted to his house, never having been so happy to know I would at least have a roof over my head and I wouldn't get arrested for loitering.  John Ralph finally called me back that night saying "Honey! Did you realize you called me like eleven times?! What's going on?" 

Well, dear...you remember that time you needed some Zyrtec...?

And so there you have it.  Our life over the last 5 days.  It really never ceases to amaze me.

**I plan on updating with more pictures soon.  Still have Rome, Vicenza, and Lake Garda pictures to share.  Stay patient.  I promise they are coming!**

Ciao for now!