Adventures in AndreaLand

It has been brought to my attention that some of you may actually still be wandering around andrealand… so here is the latest update in its least descriptive quasi fictional watered down saccharined up form.  I am back on the left coast in the quaint fishing village of Seattle, named after Chief Seattle of the Suquamish culture. Ironically, I arrived on Thanksgiving, the American holiday of celebrating colonization and domination with gluttony and sloth. We are thankful they didn’t have guns. We are thankful they couldn’t drink grain. We are thankful they still let us gamble. (I was banned from thanksgiving grace a long time ago)  Despite all the gorey details, I had a lovely meal with lots of laughter wine cornbreadstuffing with my family later cuddling with Sherry and it felt very good to be home.

We went to see Rent the movie and while the music is still great it somehow didnt quite transfer to the big screen. Roger really on the hills in Santa Fe was just too much. Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes is a great way to measure Big Jims patience. He walked out after twenty minutes.

I am thankful for my beautiful wonderful supportive family and friends who make each day a better one. While I may not have received thirty one spankings on my oh so special day, I did have thirty one million reasons to be grateful.

Soon.

So I after an exhausting two days of travel via taxis buses trains planes from Firenze Rome Brussels Amsterdam Paris I am finally back on American soil. I arrived Tuesday night and while I am still unpacking reorganizing and trying to get settled back into my apt after 3 months absence I am also trying to mentally adjust back into my own culture. And its weaker coffee.
Following the wonderful weekend in Venezia, J&Z made their way back to Firenze. It was great to have my friends stay with me for my last week to share lovely dinners and blood for the mosquitos (they loved Zach poor guy). We saw the magificently perfect David by Michelangelo whose hands are exquisite Jesse cooked delicious dinners for us and I gave them my last tour of the Villa. Last week at the Villa was super sad. I wrapped up my projects submitted my ideas for a working loan policy and tried to soak in the mystery of the place and the lovely experience I was given. Certainly a small cast of characters I spent the past 2 months with and knew Id miss each one in their own way. They took me to a wonderful lunch on my last day pasta and laughter at a restaraunt on a hill overlooking Firenze on the road to Firesole. Had one last dinner at Nuti my favorite pizza place with Jesse girls night out. My last wood and fireroasted pie slightly burned so yummy came heart shaped. I looked up and the old ragged chefs and cute young waiters were all standing all proud. Last goodbyes to my gay boyfriends at the internet cafe (who brought me biscotti so sweet) and the sexy old man at the corner bar who poured me one euro glasses of good red wine and didnt speak a lick of English. So guess I did make some friends after all….
We spent the weekend in Rome many ruins bridges churches and laughter playing our new favorite game Where’s Jesse Zach Andrea among the tour groups. Long Roman Catholic holiday weekend for Italians Pope spoke so city was packed. Met up with my beautiful N’Awlin friend Jenny B who I am fairly certain is suffering from PTSD following Katrina. Unbelievably humbling and infuriating to listen to an individuals story of the storm unmediated by the media. And such a fascinating description of humanity forced into survival mode. Soo much wine grappa amaro pasta and fried cheese homemade by an ancient Italian woman with many stories of catching up laughing and even dancing at a club where Zach shook it down. Next day headache and more exploring Piazza Spagna Piazza del Popolo hillside Gardens dodging perverts Augustus Tome St Peters Square strolled the Tiber under arching trees turning golden the market of Campo di Fiori Piazza Navona Pantheon and along the Colisseum at night. Jenny and Pierluigi made us a delicious mushroom ragu pasta dinner with olive crostini goat cheese sweet tomatoes and berry pie. Such a happy send off.
Last 2 days had 24 hour layover bw Brussels and Paris so decided to head over to Amsterdam for 18 relaxing hours. Spent a mellow Halloween night sitting along the sparkling canals listening to live jazz enjoying cafe chocolate and the northern lights. Next day train back to Paris to catch flight home arrived in NYC in the night so nice to sleep in my own bed for the first time in 3 mos. Woke up to sunny crisp windy golden northeastern fall morning grabbed some Mud and explored the city a smidge. Heard 17 different languages listened to an old man play his guitar sing his soul out You are my Sunshine in Wash Sq Park sharing the experience with 57 strangers who all seemed to welcome me home.
Ive also had calls and emails from those who arent strangers welcoming me back, thanks y’all and I look forward to seeing you soon.