Paradise Found: Chapter Eat

The road to an Eat, Pray, Love version of self discovery has begun. My version includes far less food. Although the food in Florence is incredible, I have been on a mission to eat healthier. Out of all of my close companions, I seem to be the most addicted to bad junk food habits. Lynette, an environmentalist from Texas, is on a strict organic food diet. Jill, a vegan from Boston, also preaches about the importance of eliminating junk food. Therefore, I surrendered not only my beloved DDP, but also most gelato and large amounts of carb-filled pasta. I have instead been dining some of the best grilled dishes and sushi that Italy has to offer. The pizza here contains no grease, and it usually is only two ingredients. My ultimate favorite so far has been slow roasted ham on fresh baked pizza dough with mozzarella cheese. The pomodoro, mozzarella, and basicilo is also incredible. Grilled fish and muscles off the Italian coast is another wonderful dish that is more healthy. Occasionally I am allowing myself to stray away from the calorie conscious food. On these few occasions, I allow myself a meal of the most mouth watering pasta creations and delectable canolis. Not only is this method helping to battle of a few extra pounds it is also teaching me to appreciate many new foods.

Another victory in the weight loss battle has been my ability to exercise more. I am using my car-less summer to tone up and get into shape. My Florentine apartment is on the 2nd floor according to the Italians, but in the States this is definitely more like the 3rd or 4th floor. Everyday multiple times a day I walk up and down the steps that lead to my apartment. I attempted once to count the number of steps, but got discouraged after reaching the 20th step and not being anywhere near my front door. Now I just climb them without thinking. I also have been walking everywhere. I don't waste any of my precious euros on the bus or taxi. Florence is not an incredibly large town, but I get in a lot of miles every day. At first I was in pain every morning after exploring the city for hours on end. I woke up with sore muscles, shin splints, and aching arches. Slowly my poor body is beginning to adjust to this new strenuous walking schedule. The aches and pains have loosed their grip on my body and begun to reside. My stamina for heat and exercise is gradually building up. At the end of these next two months I should be tanned and toned to perfection.

I survied the rapture.

After a full day of flying, I have finally made it to Rome. I was terrified the plane was about to fall out of the sky due to the crazy people who thought the rapture was happening, but alas no problems. I landed safe and sound. My first day in Rome was filled with sleep and food. The food is incredible, but I need to learn portion control. Today I will be spending the day remembering all of my high school Latin. We are exploring the sites of ancient Rome. If all goes as planned someone will reenact scenes from Gladiator with me. I am also hoping that today with banish the last of my jet lag which is getting in the way of carpe deim. It is difficult to take full advantage of my day in Rome when I am in varying stages of exhaustion. At least I am alive and in Rome. Two things to smile about. Thank you God for not ending the world. Now it is time to begin my Italian summer!

Leaving Less To Fate

Time for some new life changes. With the semester over, I feel like a new set of goals are necessary. My problem is that I just don't know exactly what it is I want. Confidence is a good place to start. I am a Leo, damn it. Time to stop feeling so timid and awkward. Goal One: Be Assertive.

Another problem I've been having is my weight. I just don't feel comfortable and sexy these days. I sorta just feel fat all the time. The denials have come to an end. Its not bloating; I just eat way too much. This very moment its 2 am, and I am craving a hotdog and fried coconut with chilli sauce. Huge problem. Time to be assertive and use some much needed willpower. I need to use the same willpower to make myself exercise. Walking, biking, swimming or whatever it takes. Goal Two: Comeback of the high school body.

Chaos also seems to have taken a strong hold on my life. I am in desperate need of more organization and direction. I also feel the need to take more responsibility for myself. By the end of the summer I will be two decades old; its time to grow up. I want to be able to do things for myself. No more relying on others. Goal Three: Organization and Control.

Emotional baggage has been in my life for too long. I need to get rid of it. Time to leave it all by the roadside for the trash collection. I need to be comfortable with myself and my past relationship so that I can just relax and open up. I want to be someone's someone special and do that I need to be comfortable with them and me. Goal Four: Find a relaxed me.

I want to be happier in my life as well. I want to focus more on the positives and less on the negative things I feel. Time to stop being so anxious and broody. Goal Five: Smile. A lot.

Back to the Future

Although I didn't make the dream team all A's that my mother was praying for, I did well enough this semester (or at least I will after I knock out these last two pesky finals). My daddy put it best when he said, "She hasn't failed a class yet! Let her party and have fun." I like his motto, and I fully plan to adhere to it. I had a wonderful time this semester. I won't be missing the classes, but there are definitely some friends that I will be sad to see leave next Friday.

My leave of absence from the gym is being to show on my hips and thighs, but the problem will soon be corrected. I don't plan on eating in Italy since food is last on the list of things I plan on buying. All of the walking around Florence and other travel destinations should also help melt off that extra weight. So fuck ramsey. I have been and plan on continuing to get my exercise through more fun and exciting methods.

Sharing feelings never was a strong suit of mine, but to be totally honest I am not sure how I feel these days. Being that it is that time of the month and the end of the spring semester, my emotions have run slightly haywire. I am happy, sad, excited, and sentimental all at the same time. Bundled together its all one really confusing emotion. I love all of my friends, and I am sad that I will be saying good bye to some of them for long periods of time. There are plenty of people I am going to greatly miss this summer and next year. I will definitely have to find ways to keep in touch. I am also excited and nervous about my trip to Italy. Twelve weeks is the longest I will have been away from home and friends. I am sad that I won't be able to completely share my experience with some of the people I love the most. I am sure all will work out wonderfully in the end, but at the moment a nervous anticipation won't leave me. Everything will work out for the best.

I have finally gotten (almost) completely comfortable with a certain boy. I was afraid to be completely open with him due to past experiences and recent heart break. Therefore I set the ground rules rather strictly. I now feel that I would be more than willing to negotiate. A distinct giddiness and my former confidence is beginning to come back to me as I spend more time with this boy. Sadly time does me no favors. I will only be able to see this boy for another week, and then a twelve week leave of absence. With such a long period of time to myself, I see no need to change the rules. Let us both go out and enjoy life. Whatever happens will be left in the hands of fate. If nothing else, it has been a lot of fun.

Trying something new is definitely at the top of my list. I have made goals for this summer. I plan on falling in love with travel writing. Then I can hopefully use my skill to get a job with Rick Steve's or, even better, start my rival company to Rick Steve. I also plan on building my Italian language skills. I want to be able to carry out a full conversation (above a kindergarten level) with a fluent Italian speaker. I also fully intend on being an extra on The Jersey Shore. I discovered today that the entire cast will be staying in the same dorms as me this summer. My mission is to find the cast party with them for a least one night. I am going to make Snooki my best friend. I plan on convincing her to come to Athens to hang out with me and all of my friends. Challenge accepted.