a day late, a buck short -- or in italy it's roughly a buck fiftyish.

so as some of you may have noticed, i am indeed a day behind in my blog. generally i try to get it out on sunday, as there isn't a whollle lot else going on past the flea market, reading, and a nap. and in all honesty, yesterday was the same deal, only about 2 hrs past when i usually do these things. anyway, who cares, now you'll probably appreciate this one a slight bit more as it is, right? and if it helps, i'll include today too.

my past week started off, well, kinda weak. i woke up not feeling 100% on monday so apart from sleeping as much as i could and fighting a cold i squeezed in going to class. you know something's off when i both don't want to wear cologne that day, and don't want any espresso. so i stuck to pounding as much water as i could (we're talkin liters here), eating right, and zicam -- when it runs out, i will literally cry.

luckily however, my weekend included a healthy enough alex ready to go out. although as things turned out it was a pretty low key weekend and i guess life goes on even if you don't go to a club or bar? however if you ask me, that's not a life i'm looking to lead right now.

additionally i did have both a mediocre kebap and an outstanding one. what's the difference you ask? well, in the world of kebab/kebap/kebab-eries/kebap-eries, the meat is key. when you're working with what can only be cat meat (there aren't so many left in the colosseum these days) freshness is key, vegetables as well. and the really only deal-breaker is when the only roman in 2009 who has managed to contract, and continue to host, the plague is serving you during his break from watching tv. che fortuna! what you need is a man who speaks too fast and is willing to shave you some of the freshest mystery meat that a vertical log of the stuff will offer. and i know what you're saying at this point, if it is so low quality, why buy it? well, that statement in itself is hypocritical. it is quite the well-rounded, affordable, filling, delicious meal. especially with the veggies offered by a kebap, you're looking at bread, vegetables, meat (of some variety, maybe gyspy if not cat) and even some hot sauce to help you sweat out the toxins you are presently ingesting via your dinner, all in the palm of your hand (or in my girlish case, palms).

so, after a couple low key nights and plenty of rest, par normal (or in italian "di solito") i went to the flea market.

for those of you who have never been to a flea market/swap meet, they have an uncanny ability to be roughly 90-99 degrees fahrenheit no matter what time of year, but the exact difference is negligible as it will always feel uncomfortably hot. just hot enough, in fact, to get a slight sweat going that persists for hours and seems to make everyone around you stand out as "the guy who forgot deodorant that day" or in most cases, make that "everyday," kinda like the bus. benissimo.

but not to worry, because this time around my sweat (blood and tears weren't necessary) paid off, as i did make a much sought-after purchase. i bought a cheap chain to string things up around my neck as i see fit, thus far i've got some old keys. it'll likely give me a rash, but that's the price of beauty. i also swooped up my hard, sought-after shoes! not only did i haggle with the man, they both fit AND look great. i know what you're thinking, what about blisters? that's another point, these babies just work, so blisters? fughetaboutit. to put it as simply as possible -- pulling, them, off. the literal only downside is the fact that i did not shop for a sheath for these daggers i just bought. luckily though, i don't need a permit to take em out in public, but i'm pretty sure it is illegal to look this good.

monday was hardly a slap in the face as well. after class i did a little more shopping (leather jackets are a hard decision, it's like finding a wife)/passeggiata along via del corso, one of rome's major shopping streets. it runs from the piazza venezia down to the piazza del popolo, and includes names ranging from puma to zara to rolex to stefanel, essentially anything you'd need. and if you need more, it connects to the street leading up to the spanish steps/piazza di spagna, which houses even more large names. aka, great people watching and only a couple stores that fall into the price range of "anyone who is not berlusconi."

funny thing about the italians though, they love "guess jeans." they had a huge billboard in st. mark's in venezia, and today there was a lamborghini parked in front of the one on via del corso. on my way back i also saw a gorgeous maserati (at least they're buying italian, right?) and the combination of events and beautiful warm weather, it just about felt like i was back in newport. that is until i hit the police man on a stand directing traffic with a whistle, and i was right back to rome.

so i wrapped up (had to pee again from all the water i'm still drinking)*, got home, and here i am! tomorrow we are visiting the jewish ghetto in my rennaissance city and society class, maybe i can snag a bagel. either way it'll be cool. i'll be back on sunday (most likely) and i have since stopped with pictures, i continue to forget and thus, we all suffer. ciao ciao e bacioni!


*i recently have learned the term "to go (or make) pee" in italian is "fare il pipì" so i guess i had to "faccio il pipì."