In which: I successfully do my laundry

I would have it be known that this week I have again provided evidence for the old adage, 'third time's a charm'. I have finally figured out how to wash and dry my clothing without disaster and I am proud to announce that happiness is clean laundry, among many other things.

A quick, update, with room to breathe.

1. I made an amazing (simple and delicious) mushroom sausage pasta dish last night. I am inspired here to actually do the cooking that I always said I would do before. Perhaps it is because I don't really have a choice, but I think it is more that all the ingredients are so fresh and delicious. The red peppers in particular, I could eat them like candy.

2. I think that I finally have ideas for all three of my term papers. I know it is early in the semester, but the semester is short and I need to to some leg work before writing proposals. I am interested in all three, though sometimes the reading gets overwhelming. I am going to (with professor approval) be writing on the painting of the Lady with the Ermine for my da Vinci class, Mannerism with a historiography approach using Pontormo's Entombment as an example, and grocery shopping in the US and Italy for my food cultures class.




Lady with the Ermine, Leonardo da Vinci




Entombment, Jacopo Carucci da Pontormo

3. I met with the museum today that I am going to be doing a small internship for. The project is doable, but a little daunting. I will be writing a report providing background information for certain items in their collection. It involves working the in the museum library as well as looking for materials in the library of the Universita di Perugia and the Galleria Nazionale d'Umbria. Sounds fancy and that part scares me a little, but it is going to be a wonderful learning experience. I get to do some real art history.

4. At home the other night, Aurora (my Korean roommate), Hai (my Chinese roommate's friend), Ashley, and I had a great time trying to speak Italian. It was somewhat of a three-ringed circus including Chinese/Italian dictionaries, Korean/Italian dictionaries, hand gestures, drawings, and lots of laughing. It was great.

5. I experienced my first Italian train strike, apparently they happen a lot. Long story, not that interesting, but definitely an adventure in travel. Lesson learned: pad your travel time and beware when the lady at the counter says the word 'sciopero'.