The Dis Goes to Italy 5/24 - 6/1/2012 Viva Italia!!!!

[corky441]

That has to be it Jason. Even the picture at the end of the article makes me think so.

That was the most God-awful "dessert" I have ever had.

 

[Smokey'sMom]

I can't believe you found it! I see the problem-- it's not dessert without sugar. That thing was so awful. I might try to make it WITH sugar, and chocolate.

By the way, the color I picked for my last manicure ( without looking at the name) was Italian love story.

 

[JWren1234]

That has to be it Jason. Even the picture at the end of the article makes me think so.

That was the most God-awful "dessert" I have ever had.

I agree, when I saw the picture at the end, it looked so familiar.

I can't believe you found it! I see the problem-- it's not dessert without sugar. That thing was so awful. I might try to make it WITH sugar, and chocolate.

By the way, the color I picked for my last manicure ( without looking at the name) was Italian love story.

I thought the same thing when I looked over the recipe, I couldn't believe it didn't have sugar. And chocolate would have made it much better!

Jason

 

[Smokey'sMom]

Thanks to you we can now find out, as soon as I locate some chestnut flour

 

[stenogoddess]

For those Who need something to help them stay warm this weekend:

From: http://doctorwhocrafts.com/post/10620059323

It's my 40th birthday this year. Just thought I would mention it.

I hope everyone is doing well! I had to share the link below, I ran across this recipe for Castagnaccio on a Tuscan cooking blog. I'm pretty sure that this is that awful dessert they served us at the Tuscan BBQ.

http://http://www.tuscanfoodie.com/2011/01/castagnaccio-chestnut-flour-cake-recipe.html

Jason

I think I just a PTSD attack!


And in case folks are more crafty with fabric than I am, I found a super awesome website for Doctor Who fabric that people have designed. Some really great patterns. I just wish I could come up with a use for them!
http://www.spoonflower.com/spelunks?type=&q=doctor+who&x=0&y=0

And, by the way, the registration for the Tower of Terror 10 Miler opens tomorrow at 12:00! (Come on Christy!!!) It's going to be over our 13th wedding anniversary! How cool is THAT! I'm trying to come up with a cool idea for t-shirts or something. I might have to head over to the Disigns section of the boards and see if those ladies can lend a hand.

We leave for the World in 34 days!!! yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Smokey'sMom]

LOVE the fabric, especially the toile. That is so perfect.

 

[Chropistopy]

And, by the way, the registration for the Tower of Terror 10 Miler opens tomorrow at 12:00! (Come on Christy!!!) It's going to be over our 13th wedding anniversary! How cool is THAT! I'm trying to come up with a cool idea for t-shirts or something. I might have to head over to the Disigns section of the boards and see if those ladies can lend a hand.

We leave for the World in 34 days!!! yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been debating signing up since you posted on Facebook the other day. I think I'm going to bite the bullet and register.

 

[stenogoddess]

I've been debating signing up since you posted on Facebook the other day. I think I'm going to bite the bullet and register.

Cool! Registration opens Tuesday, not today. I got confused. Who starts registration on a Tuesday?

 

[Chropistopy]

Cool! Registration opens Tuesday, not today. I got confused. Who starts registration on a Tuesday?

I just signed up for the e-mail reminder.

 

[corky441]

 

[Smokey'sMom]

Marilee,

Love it! Happy Valentine's day to you and Dino. I like your new "byline" about dancing in the acqua alta. that is so true.

I'm pretty sure I've talked a friend and her daughter into going to Italy with ABD in 2014. I can't wait to travel with this group again. We were so lucky to have such a great group.

Love to everyone!
Cathie

 

[stenogoddess]

Hope everyone is having a Happy Valentine's Day!

 

[Chropistopy]

Happy Valentine's Day!!

 

[stenogoddess]

Hey gang!

I wanted to drop a book recommendation. I'm about 1/2 way through and totally hooked. It's WWII/present day murder mystery in Italy. I wish I didn't have some work to do so I could go on a book binge.

http://www.amazon.com/Villa-Triste-...8&qid=1361565476&sr=8-1&keywords=villa+triste

Just read this very good idea of what to do with left over foreign money. I wish I had known it before our trip! Even though I've got 20 euro to spend, so we better go back!

Avoid commission fees … with coffee

Starbucks addicts, rejoice! SmarterTravel Editor Caroline Costello shares a clever way to avoid having to pay a commission fee to convert that last bit of foreign cash to US dollars at the end of a vacation. First, pick up a free reloadable Starbucks Card before your international trip. Then, Costello says, "If you have leftover money in the local currency when you’re on your way home, use it to reload your card at the Starbucks location in your international airport." The money you'll save on commission fees might just cover that triple-shot-no-foam-cinnamon-soy-mocha-frappuccino with extra extra sprinkles.

Jack: Enjoyed seeing you on the show with your tie on, all lawyer-y!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

23 days to vacation!

 

[Chropistopy]

Hey gang!

I wanted to drop a book recommendation. I'm about 1/2 way through and totally hooked. It's WWII/present day murder mystery in Italy. I wish I didn't have some work to do so I could go on a book binge.

http://www.amazon.com/Villa-Triste-...8&qid=1361565476&sr=8-1&keywords=villa+triste

Just read this very good idea of what to do with left over foreign money. I wish I had known it before our trip! Even though I've got 20 euro to spend, so we better go back!

Avoid commission fees … with coffee

Starbucks addicts, rejoice! SmarterTravel Editor Caroline Costello shares a clever way to avoid having to pay a commission fee to convert that last bit of foreign cash to US dollars at the end of a vacation. First, pick up a free reloadable Starbucks Card before your international trip. Then, Costello says, "If you have leftover money in the local currency when you’re on your way home, use it to reload your card at the Starbucks location in your international airport." The money you'll save on commission fees might just cover that triple-shot-no-foam-cinnamon-soy-mocha-frappuccino with extra extra sprinkles.

Jack: Enjoyed seeing you on the show with your tie on, all lawyer-y!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

23 days to vacation!

I'll have to add the book to my list. I'm finishing up the book I'm currently reading and then diving into the Game of Thrones books. A couple of my Sales Assistants have been on me for months to start reading the series.

Lauren - I was thinking of you this week as it was the week for me to deliver employee reviews. I, unfortunately, couldn't just say "you're awesome" or "you're not awesome". Good thing is that the reviews are over and we all survived.

Jack - I too enjoyed seeing you on the show. It's so nice to see a familiar face pop up. Great job!


I've had an exciting week personally. I've been working with a personal trainer since the end of November. She took my measurements last night. I'm happy to report that I've lost a total of 19 1/4 inches...I'm also down 19 pounds. Yay me! I'm still on this journey but it was nice to get confirmation that the hard work is paying off.

 

[Smokey'sMom]

Congrats Christy!!! That is a real achievement. I would like to do the same.

Lauren-- thanks for the book recommendation. I'll definitely read it. I just finished a short book by Richard Russo (whom I like to read) that's set in Venice, but it had little to do with Venice. It was a good book though.

I like your suggestion about the Starbucks card. When I went to Europe pre-Euro, we would spend our remaining coinage on chocolate. It worked when I was young and skinny. I agree that you're required to go back to spend the remaining euro. I think we ended up with about 20 euro too.

Cathie

 

[Chropistopy]

Congrats Christy!!! That is a real achievement. I would like to do the same.

Lauren-- thanks for the book recommendation. I'll definitely read it. I just finished a short book by Richard Russo (whom I like to read) that's set in Venice, but it had little to do with Venice. It was a good book though.

I like your suggestion about the Starbucks card. When I went to Europe pre-Euro, we would spend our remaining coinage on chocolate. It worked when I was young and skinny. I agree that you're required to go back to spend the remaining euro. I think we ended up with about 20 euro too.

Cathie

Thanks, Cathie! I avoided getting a personal trainer for the longest time...but it is the best thing ever! There is nothing like getting the individual attention to really push you.

I too ended up with several euro let over. It is just waiting to be spent. Another trip has to be on the horizon...

 

[stenogoddess]

Lauren - I was thinking of you this week as it was the week for me to deliver employee reviews. I, unfortunately, couldn't just say "you're awesome" or "you're not awesome". Good thing is that the reviews are over and we all survived.


I've had an exciting week personally. I've been working with a personal trainer since the end of November. She took my measurements last night. I'm happy to report that I've lost a total of 19 1/4 inches...I'm also down 19 pounds. Yay me! I'm still on this journey but it was nice to get confirmation that the hard work is paying off.

Employee evaluations are stupid. When has anyone ever been personally motivated either way by one? If someone does good work they should get the pat on the head as you go along, and if someone is screwing up they should get coached as you go along. Making everyone stop what they're doing for a week or more to re-review the year? HR madness I tell ya!

As some background, I started over using the word awesome when I heard some author on NPR say that the word awesome should be retired from use because it's over used and used incorrectly. So I said, yeah? You haven't seen nothing yet, buddy! My step mother has run the word into the ground. No matter what you're telling her, it's awesome. And she always says it kind of like a cheerleader too, full o' pep. I just finished the curtains in the bedroom. Really? That's AWESOME! No cavities? AWESOME! (Jeri is not awesome because he needs a new crown having broken his on some food. The bill for that is also not awesome. Well, it's awesome in another way. More awful. Or both awful and (as originally intended) awe-full) So that's me, fighting against pretentious authors on NPR one awesome at the time. To be fair, though, Italy really is pretty awesome.

You know what else is awesome? You 19 pounds. Let's do some dancing to celebrate, shall we? Losing even one pound is a force of will, but 19? You're like Xena Warrior Princess AWESOME!

 

[jcb]

Employee evaluations are stupid. When has anyone ever been personally motivated either way by one? If someone does good work they should get the pat on the head as you go along, and if someone is screwing up they should get coached as you go along. Making everyone stop what they're doing for a week or more to re-review the year? HR madness I tell ya!

As some background, I started over using the word awesome when I heard some author on NPR say that the word awesome should be retired from use because it's over used and used incorrectly. So I said, yeah? You haven't seen nothing yet, buddy! My step mother has run the word into the ground. No matter what you're telling her, it's awesome. And she always says it kind of like a cheerleader too, full o' pep. I just finished the curtains in the bedroom. Really? That's AWESOME! No cavities? AWESOME! (Jeri is not awesome because he needs a new crown having broken his on some food. The bill for that is also not awesome. Well, it's awesome in another way. More awful. Or both awful and (as originally intended) awe-full) So that's me, fighting against pretentious authors on NPR one awesome at the time. To be fair, though, Italy really is pretty awesome.

You know what else is awesome? You 19 pounds. Let's do some dancing to celebrate, shall we? Losing even one pound is a force of will, but 19? You're like Xena Warrior Princess AWESOME!

1. Congratulations Christy. That is "awesome." (No, really, all NPR mocking aside, it is truly fantastic.)
2. Thank you for the kind words. I seem to have had a non-awesome green glow. I keep telling myself it is the force. I told Cathie I needed the top of the line a Mac Book Pro with Retina Display to compensate. Her response was lady like but unprintable. I heard three nouns, Deck, Master Bath and Europe.
3. Employee evaluations. Rarely awesome. Mostly a

 

[Smokey'sMom]

Christy,

I can see how the trainer would be a big help. I've thought about it many a time. How often do you meet with her? I think I would have to go multiple times per week.

Lauren,

I'll take up the cause for "awesome"too. I think I read an article by the same person. Based on that criteria, maybe we should eliminate the use of the word "the" or "and." I use those words all the time. I know what he's getting at, but seriously-- that's ridiculous. I hope Jeri recovers soon.
Cathie