Make New Friends But Keep the Old- Which is Silver, Which Is Gold?

Why are sayings that are supposed to be simple always so confusing? They tell you to make new friends but keep the old because one is silver and one is gold. But is this really saying to not forget old friends as you make new ones or to not stop making new friends because you have old ones? And which ones are gold? Old or new? I just don't get it.

I think the saying should be something like this-

When it comes to friendship, there is no silver and there is no gold.
A friend has to start as new if they're ever going to be old.

I don't have any issues keeping the old friends. I have issues letting go of the old (not completely of course) and making new ones to get me through the times I don't get to see the old. An old friend to me is someone that knew me before I knew myself. Someone that grew and learned with me as I was getting to where I am now. These are the friends that lived with me, gave me a shoulder to lean on, and cheered me on when I triumphed. The friends that no matter what happens and how much time passes between when we see each other, we'll pick up right where we left off. I can probably count these friends on my fingers.

This weekend I got to hang out with three of my four oldest friends - two roommates from college and my best friend from high school. These girls have been there for all of the biggest (and many of the smallest) moments of my life, and I am so blessed for it. I could not ask for better friends.

And. I. won't.

I don't need better friends. I need more friends that are just as good and will get me through today and tomorrow while those girls are off galavanting across NY, UT, Egypt, and the Caribbean. More new old friends. Because who really wants silver when you can have all gold?

It's Raining, It's Pouring, The Old Man Woke Up and Told Me to Stop Playing RockBand

How come the saying isn't that when it rains, it sprinkles? Or it just lightly rains? Why pouring? Hmm oh because neither of those would make sense. And because anytime something goes wrong, it seems like everything else goes wrong (even if it really doesn't). I swear if one major thing goes wrong, it seems like everything else (even the good things) just makes it worse until that thunderstorm goes away. Nothing really matters as long as a storm is still on the horizon.

It's been a stormy week, and I'm hoping the clouds are finally ready to go away to leave me with a sunny weekend (I definitely need it). Here's a snapshot of my week, the good and the bad.

Good: I bought lots of cute stuff at Potomac Mills last weekend including white dress shorts.
Bad: Found out my tire was flat (the valve was torn through) when I arrived at Potomac Mills and had to drive around on a spare until I could get to Wal-Mart to get a new tire.

Good: I've been given a lot more responsibility at work lately, big projects, etc.
Bad: I've been given a lot more responsibility at work lately- and I don't feel like working.

Good: I've gotten to catch up and chat with lots of good friends this week including delicious dinner with my friend Lisa tonight at Olive Garden.
Bad: All of those friends either live far away, are moving, have babies, or are pregnant. Not a good combination for non-pregnant me living in DC.

Good: I get to see three of my best friends tomorrow from out of town. Two of which I haven't seen in a long, long time.
Bad: I didn't plan it out very well. It's Richie's birthday and I don't have time to spend with him.

Good: Richie's birthday is tomorrow. He's going to be 25!!
Bad: It's Richie's birthday tomorrow, and I'm only going to see him between 12-9 AM. Oops.

Good: Richie started his summer job this week, and he really likes it.
Bad: He's already busy. The life of a lawyer's wife.

Good: Richie just opened his birthday present from me- ROCKBAND.
Bad: There are only instruments for three people. Not sure what Richie is going to do while my two friends and I play this weekend.

Wow that actually really helped me see that this week wasn't that bad after all. Pretty sure the goods outweigh the bads- I see blue skies in the forecast.

Or in the words of my favorite comedian- the big yellow one is the sun, the big yellow one is the sun.

Bring on the sun :)

Our Newly Painted Non-Smoking Apartment

So I really don't have much to say about smoking in Europe except for I hate it. We ended up having to eat inside almost all of the time (when we would'v preferred to sit outside and watch everyone walk by) because EVERYONE was smoking while they ate outside. It's one of those things I inherited from my mom, but I just don't do real well with smoke.

So instead, here's a post about the things I love about my non-smoking apartment- five things to be specific. Sorry no before pictures. They're on my old computer, and it takes way too much effort to open that up.

Reason #1- I share it with my cute husband who does things like this.

#2- And this (he built the headboard). I picked this blue.

#3- And this. Had to go with mocha (the name of my first dog).

#4- Doesn't the mocha go great with the red?
#5- Our office- because who doesn't love Wicked green?

This was the best kind of project- the kind where I don't have to do anything. Richie did all of this during his spring break with just my encouragement. And now our apartment feels much more like home.

The Secret to a Good Picture

I normally hate pictures of myself but for some reason I handed the camera over to Richie on our trip to Europe to take pictures of me. Those aren't the pictures you're going to see in this post. And maybe not ever.

Since it was only the two of us, in order to have pictures of both of us we did the "hold the camera in front of your face and squeeze your faces together" almost every chance we got. Surprisingly enough, we came out with a couple of decent pictures. There's just something about a little black eyeliner that makes you look so much more awake and alive. There are a couple in here that we did actually ask someone else to take for us...I like the hand held ones we took better. What do you think?

Train station in Madrid

Cathedral in Sevilla

Before flamenco in Sevilla

Oops (Granada)

Gaudi bench in Barcelona

Street in Paris

Paris (we didn't take this one)

Canal in Venice

St. Mark's Basilica in Rome

Trevi Fountain in Rome (didn't take)

Another one we didn't take at the Colosseum in Rome

Top 20 things I learned in Europe

What I've Been Reading Lately

I know I'm supposed to be posting about Europe and giving you all more pictures, but I've been a little consumed this week with other things. Like reading. I've got a huge list of books to read and review in the next month so I've been trying to get a head start on that pile. I'd forgotten how easily a good book sucks you in and won't let you go. And how much I love to read. Here's what I've read lately. I've given you a quick synopsis and rating; the title links to my full review.

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan- a young couple on their wedding night getting ready to consumate their marriage. The novel goes through their lives and what is going through their mind before the big night and where those thoughts come from. 4 stars.

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd- a story about all of the different kind of relationships out there. A woman has grown complacent with her place in her life and marriage and is given the perfect opportunity to explore and fine herself when her mother does something that appears insane. 3 stars.

Gift of Grace by Amy Clipston- When Rebecca and Daniel, an Amish couple, find out they can't have children they are devestated. Only when Rebecca's sister die and leave her their two teenage daughters does it look like it might be possible for her to be a mother. This novel goes through the trials and struggles of English teenagers trying to fit into the Amish lifestyle and a woman learning to be a mother. 3 stars.

Faith and Honor by Robin Maderich- Faith Ashley and Fletcher Irons are perfect for each other. Other than the fact that Faith is helping the colonials smuggle firearms out of Boston and Fletcher is trying to catch the people doing the smuggling. But they are destined for each other and of course fall easily in love quickly after meeting. The book is about trying to maintain their relationship in the midst of a battle greater than either of them. 4 stars.

Gelato Takes the Cake

We may have gotten some form of ice cream (and pastries but that's another story) in every single city on the search for the best. And although they were all delicious, I think we found the winner. You'll notice that all of these pictures are of me, but you better believe that Richie shared every single one of these cones. Ice cream never sounded good to him until it was in my hands.

We started out nice and easy with a basic chocolate ice cream cone in Sevilla, Spain. Well really a frutas del bosque ice cream in Madrid, but that one doesn't count because it was disappointing.

In Granada, Spain we stuck to normal ice cream. Until I saw this and HAD to have it. The entire time we were in the ice cream parlor I kept telling Richie that I wanted it (while I was eating a normal pistachio cone) but I didn't know what is was and how to order it. Finally, after we were halfway down the street, I decided that I have to have this ice cream cake in a cone. We went back and I got my cake. And it was worth the hassle of asking someone what they were eating then ordering in Spanish.

The next stop on our ice cream journey was in Paris where our guide told us about the world famous Berthillon ice cream. World famous? We had to try it, and it was delicious. But for three Euros a scoop, we only tried it once.

My first taste of gelato was in Venice where we found a lovely little gelateria called La Boutique de Gelato. 1.20 Euros got me one of the biggest single scoop cones I've ever had, and it was delicious. Their Nutella gelato was probably my favorite out of all of Italy. Smooth and creamy- exactly what gelato should be

The Nutella gelato was hard to beat, but Rome's competitors came in a close second. On one of our little walks around the city, our guidebook pointed us to a shop that sold this delicacy- Death by Chocolate. It may look like a chocolate brownie with whipped cream, but it's really chocolate gelato covering a chocolate covered cherry. Oh so rich and delicious. Richie ate the last bite (including the cherry we didn't know was there before he ate it). Apparently even though he doesn't like chocolate cake, gelato is a different story.

And where else to end our journey but the world-famous Roman gelateria- Giolotti. With tons of flavors to choose from, good prices, and huge portions we stopped here more than we should in the two days we were in Rome. We tried orange, strawberry, and pineapple the first night followed by pistachio, straticella, and white chocolate the second. All amazing. Hence the big smile on my face.

Top 20 things I learned in Europe

Top 20 Things I Learned In Europe

Okay here goes, the beginning of my Europe posts and there will be many. I'll try to post about other things in between, but I want to get the pictures and stories up for everyone that keeps telling me they want to hear all about it. Some of these things are about planning and executing a trip in general for those of you who asked how I did it.

While we were in Europe, Richie and I compiled a list of 20 things that we learned during the trip, and I'm going to write my posts accordingly. I'll write out the full list here then link the posts as I write them. Beware there may be multiple posts in one day, it just depends on how I'm feeling that day.

So without further delay, here are the top 20 things I learned in Europe:

1. No matter what you call it, ice cream is good everywhere. And gelato takes the cake.
2. The trick to a good picture is a little bit of black eyeliner and/or wearing sunglasses.
3. I'm glad I live in the US where it's not the norm for people to smoke, it's the exception.
4. You never know when tissues, plastic baggies, and a travel pillow will come in handy. Don't leave home for any trip without any of the above.
5. The one time you forget to take out money before leaving a city, you won't be able to find an ATM in the next one.
6. Spanish doesn't pass very well for French.
7. A meal is meant to be enjoyed not engulfed.
8. Three words- mix and match.
9. Things are a lot cheaper if you forget about the exchange rate.
10. Life is a lot more fun when you're not working and you pretend you don't have to go back.
11. There is such thing as life without a Blackberry, blog, or TiVo.
12. A bed always wins over a chair no matter what the cost.
13. You don't need 12 pictures of the same thing at different angles. One picture of the Eiffel Tower and one of the Sistine Chapel is much better than 12 pics of the Eiffel Tower.
14. Spaniards know the secret to life- siesta.
15. Americans are impatient, hurried, and demanding.
16. How to say tap water in three different languages.
17. Get a guidebook and follow an expert's advice.
18. You can't fit everything in so don't try. Plan in some time off.
19. Create a budget that gives you enough money to enjoy yourself then forget that it's your money. Much easier to spend someone else's.
20. There is no better place to remember how to enjoy life than in Europe.
    

There's No Place Like Home

After a two week whirlwind through Spain, France, and Italy we're back. And glad to be home. There is nothing better than coming home except maybe gelato from Giolitti's in Rome. There will definitely be posts and pictures (probably enough to make you sick of Europe) in the days to come but for now here's a quick recap of our trip.

After months of planning and saving money, our trip came together without a single hitch. All of the transportation, hotels, money, etc. worked out perfectly. Apparently research and planning works. Who knew.

• We hit seven different cities in three different countries in 14 days. 2380 miles.
• I learned how to say to hello, goodbye, and tap water in three different languages.
• I got to see sites I've only read about (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Vatican, etc.).
• I leapt out of my comfort zone and tried new foods that I couldn't even pronounce.
• I walked hand in hand with my wonderful husband down hundreds of cobblestone roads.
• I became a Rick Steves' guidebook guru.

And a lot more. But all that matters now is that it's 6:00 AM my time (I'm still on Italy time) and my body is telling me that my alarm for work tomorrow is going to come early.

Bonjour

Yes that is the only French word I know.

I'm sitting in an internet cafe called Le Milk on Rue Soufflet and just finished eating some amazing duck confit and a chocolate tart. We just finished up a week in Spain are in Paris for three days and finish the trip with five days in Italy. Richie's been taking plenty of pictures for me and writing down all of the funny stories about how I pronounced words wrong and asked for things like french fries in the rain (rather than to go). I'll be back soon with plenty of stories. Chao.