I have absolutely let too much time pass between posts...and I'm sure that this entry will be a little too scattered with thoughts and events from the past two weeks so I apologize in advance! I am currently sitting in OU's new office, at my brand new desk (finally, after 8 months I have a place to work!), which has been wonderful. Last Thursday we had several visitors from OU here as we had our office inauguration party-it was very cool to see everything come together for such a great evening. It feels nice to know that even after I leave OUA, I will have been a part of the very beginning...literally, on my hands and knees scrubbing the floors to make sure everything was ready for last week (that might have been a little much). I even hand hot-glued the crimson and cream bows used for the ribbon cutting.
Before the party, one of my directors asked our friend Silvano (a 75 year old landlord of one of our student apartments and INCREDIBLE concert pianist) to play for the evening. I have seen him play several times now and he is truly remarkable. The man knows at least 500 songs by memory, and can pick up a new one after playing it once or twice through. He invited me to his apartment to work on a couple of songs together so that I would be able to sing with him-we ended up playing Moon River and You Don't Know Me....two songs that I have always loved but have never been part of my set. It was so nice to be able to incorporate something that I love so much into an evening dedicated to the work I've been doing for Oklahoma. It also helped me to realize how much I miss playing Thursday nights at Benvenuti's in Norman with my brother....I really took for granted having the opportunity to play out once a week for a couple of hours-and my voice, like any other muscle, is feeling the lack of practice! Speaking of which...I finally cracked this week. After eight months gym-less...I broke down and walked into the gym located right beneath my apartment (how convenient) and joined for the next two months until I am back home. Now, for most people, I understand that walking past a gym every day might not even be enough to merit a double-take...but for me it was absolute torture. I will admit, in the beginning it was pretty liberating to walk home with a bag of bread and a box full of pastries and know that I couldn't go to the gym even if I wanted to, so why worry about it. I actually enjoyed watching my body transform a bit in the beginning...but then it just kept changing and I had less and less energy....and I had finally had enough. I spent Sunday at a French market in Piazza Grande...which means I bought more cheese than I ever need to be eating on my own. Hence, the following day, it was time to reconnect with the treadmill. Oh exercise, how I've missed my 45 minutes of blaring music and elliptical-ing a day. I am sleeping better, not falling asleep in the middle of the afternoon, and completely enjoying my extra wine and cheese. Win-win.
I am also enjoying the masterpieces that my incredible new french roommate likes to throw together so effortlessly in the kitchen. The week after Eloise moved in, I opened the door and all that I could smell was chocolate and banana....she had baked a banana-breadish loaf but packed it with pieces of dark chocolate and oh, flame-cooked the bananas in Rum before even putting them into the bread. Heaven. It was a rainy, dark day...and I swear the smell alone made the entire apartment feel warmer. Elo has been such a blessing, and while I can't believe that I will only have two months left in the apartment that has become my home, I am very grateful to have been given the chance to get to know her. She is so generous and easy to talk to (her English and Italian is perfect...so it has been nice to have both of the languages together!)...and of course, I love listening to her speak in French, too! It's hard to believe that when I was a freshman in high school I actually spoke a little french...and now I know only a few words at best. It's actually kind of terrifying...as I absolutely do not want to lose the Italian that I have learned. So, if you know anyone who speaks Italian in the DFW area, please let me know : )
Continuing on the food trend, I spent last Saturday celebrating Marco and Chiara's birthdays (a brother & sister that have become incredible friends). Dinners at their house are always some of my favorite....not only because Marco should be a chef and open a restaurant, or because some of them are themed (I have a thing for themed parties), but because the company is always the best. Elisa and I were running a little late, but arrived to a table full of friends with glasses of prosecco waiting for us and Marco on his way out of the kitchen already with food in hand. We sat around the table for about 3 hours eating, drinking, and talking...at which point after enough glasses of champagne I almost started to cry because I realized that I would only be able to be a part of this for another couple of months. We changed the subject. I just always feel so thankful to have been included the way that I have...to look around a table of friends that 8 months ago didn't know me, that now don't even view me as the 'guest', but rather, just another friend. It will be these nights that I remember forever, and I have tried not to take a moment for granted.
Well, I think that catches things up a bit. Sorry if this post made you hungry.
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