Tuesday, January 1, 2013

So it's 2013.

This past year has been... well let's say, different.  I went without my husband for roughly 7 months while he/we transitioned into Air Force life, celebrated one year of marriage, braved my first transatlantic flight (by myself I might add), moved to Italy, and celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve without my family for the first time in my life.  It's been pretty difficult, but I've survived, and it's pretty much all thanks to my wonderful husband.  Without him to guide me, hold my hand, tell me it'll all be okay, and help me transition through this, I would be in utter despair.  He is the love of my life, and even if the world shat on us everyday, simply knowing I have him to go through it with would be enough for me to survive it.  Thanks honeybunny for being you :D

CHRISTMAS 2013 IN ITALY

 
 
I love this man with all my being!
Okay, so enough of that mushy crap.  I know it's been quite a while since my last update, but I've not been much in the writing mood, which for me is weird.  If I had to have resolutions for this year, it'd be to write more, complete my 2nd novel (and publish it online), scrapbook more, and be completely debt free.  I know those aren't very ambitious things, like trying to lose 100 pounds (which lemme tell you I'd love to do) or cure world hunger or something, but I just want to be realistic here and make 2013 an amazing, fun, happy year.  I'd like to travel more - really take advantage of being here in Europe!  I'd like to visit my family in Germany; I'd like to get home mid-year and see my family in the states; I'd like my family to make a trip here for Christmas.  But honestly, I just want to continue to strengthen the bond between my husband and me, give our pooch all the loving she deserves, and enjoy these wonderful people here at Aviano who've we've been lucky enough to have placed in our lives.  If I can do that, I'd say I was on the path to success

Speaking of traveling, we haven't done much.  We intended to make the 8 hour or so trek up to my uncle's home in Germany for Christmas, but things just didn't work out, and honestly, I quite enjoyed our Friends-that-are-our-home-away-from-home-family Christmas :D  But I did insist we do SOMETHING fun while the hubs had a two-week leave, so we spent a small chunk and took a trip to Pisa & Florence, accompanied by our close friend and her family who came to Italy to visit her over the holiday (they pretty much adopted us for the day).

Us in the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa

 
About to go into the Duomo in the Piazza dei Miracoli
  
The Leaning Tower of Pisa!!
  
On top of the Leaning Tower
Piazza del Duomo in Firenze (AKA Florence)
 
Giotto's Campanile (Bell Tower) in the Piazza del Duomo in Firenze
On top of the Bell Tower looking down 40 or so feet!

   
Firenze from the top of the Bell Tower
"Hercules & Cacus" by Bandinelli (1533) in the Piazza della Signoria, Firenze
Palazzo Vecchio (we didn't get to go in!)
The copy of "David" by Michelangelo in the Piazza della Signoria
Ponte Di Santa Trinita, the oldest elliptic bridge in the world!

Galileo's Tomb in the Basilica di Santa Croce
Michelangelo's Tomb in the Basilica di Santa Croce

  
Last Supper & Tree of the Cross by Taddeo Gaddi (14th Cent)
inside the Museum in the Basilica di Santa Croce
  

We had a BLAST!  It was so much fun and so friggin' cool to see HISTORY!  The type of stuff you only read about in books but never get to get experience for yourself!  I was blown away, especially by the Basilica di Santa Croce - the Temple of the Italian Glories - where hundreds of famous Italians are buried.  It's sort of an ominous feeling being in a sacred place of rest and it's certainly humbling to know all of these people and places and things that came way before you!

Anywho... I'm not sure what our next trip will be (hopefully this spa that they have a trip to on my birthday!) but I'll definitely share when we figure it out :D

Have an AMAZING 2013 and keep reading!!

Until next time...