It all started with the alarm clock that did NOT go off. At 7:30 am when my bladder finally said "enough already" I did my early morning shuffle past the clock in my bathroom when my brain started working just enough to register that I was running WAY late. So off to the races I go getting ready and in my car by 8. I lucked out and got to work in like 35 minutes (I promise I did not go over 65).
I missed my morning briefing but made it in time for our normal coffee run. "Yahoo" I'm thinking...maybe my luck for the day is changing. I mean come on. I made it to work in time for my favorite part of the morning anyway, right. We have one of those
Flava Coffee machines where you put in your coffee packet and it brews one cup how you want it. I put my packet in, the machine starts up and then tells you to "catch the aroma of fresh brewed coffee" which I always mock by throwing my hands
together as if I've
physically caught the aroma like a baby bumble bee in my hands. And yes, I think of the children's song about squishing that baby bumble bee when I do this action but it is little silly things like this that make my work life bearable. I'm the first to say it...I know I'm goofy! The next thing I notice is that the machine is back to the beginning sequence where it asks you what kind of drink do you want. WELL, I want the
French Vanilla coffee that was supposed to come out of the machine and into my cup so I can actually get to work. I now have to go back around the corner to the galley where I get another French Vanilla coffee packet to try this again. I go to the other machine, put my packet in and wait again but this time I decide not to move my hands in the air like the idiot that I am. I patiently wait while coffee comes out of the machine...
ALRIGHTY NOW! Yeah, Life is Good until I look down to realize that this machine had give me an espresso shot instead of a regular cup. Oh well, this I can deal with.
Finally things start to
stabilize when I get an email stating that one of my favorite guys on our management team has left our company. No details on where he is going or why. I hate seeing such a huge asset that has done so much for our department and company just leave. Plus he made me laugh all the time with his big hair band songs and smart-ass comments. Again,
AUGHHHH!
Positive, Positive, I need a Positive to talk about.
Ohhhhhh, my next trip to Italy to see my oldest and dearest friend, Julia. Now there is a positive. I think I'll be on flying the friendly skies the first part of
February back to one of my favorite cites (Florence, Italy) to see one of my favorite people.
So here is what I realized today in song form:
"You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life. There's a time you got to go and show You're
growin' now you know about The Facts of Life, the Facts of Life. When the world never seems to be
livin up to your dreams And suddenly you're finding out the Facts of Life are all about you, you. It takes a lot to get 'em right When you're learning the Facts of Life. (learning the Facts of Life) Learning the Facts of Life (learning the Facts of Life) Learning the Facts of Life."
Did you sing along? :)
Once we were up on the wall we realized that it is basically a tree lined path around the city where young and old strolled, jogged, or rode their bikes. There are several children's playgrounds, lots of moss on trees and several water fountains. It is kind of a magical place. We walked around on the wall for a little while as the sun started breaking through the clouds and then decided it was time to check out the city within. We had heard that they did not allow cars within the walls but to our dismay there were cars and scooters inside. Once placing ourselves "inside the map" and finding one of the churches of interest (San Frediano) we remember that it is Monday and most places are closed. UGH! We make the best of it took pics of the outside and even snuck into the Pilazzo Pfanner which was closed for the winter. What they don't know won't hurt them. So I got a great pic of the Pfanner's courtyard. Then on to San Michele, over to Pucinni's birthplace, and then it was time for lunch. We were scheptical of the lunch in the little cafe but we were suprised with a delicioius meal of mushroom lasagne and tortellini with ham & cream. Next we decided to see their Duomo which had the most beautiful stain glass but we were not allowed to take photos inside. We strolled around the city some more and the back to the wall. All in all it was a wonderful day to walk on the wall and sing "I live on the second floor, I live upstairs from you, I think I've seen you before". 
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