Pompeii - Excavated Bodies - Warning!!

I always wondered why 7,000 people evacuated and 3,000 stayed behind during the eruption. Thanks to our trusty tour guide, now I know! The people who stayed behind thought that they would be safe in their basements (for the most part). The doors to their homes were shut and most of the bodies found were in the basements. What they didn't realize was that sulfur fumes would seep in through the ventilation in their basements. The fumes killed the people and then ash poured in and preserved where their bodies were. The bodies decayed, but the bones remained. Archaeologists poured plaster into the cavities and ended up with what you see above (this is why you can see bone in some pictures).

It's Official - I rock at matchmaking

ADAM AND MELISSA ARE ENGAGED!!!
I pretty much take all the credit. I rock at matchmaking. Officially my stats are only at 50%, but I've only tried it twice.

Awesome.

More Pics from Dad's Party

We had about 50 people at the party on Saturday. The theme was "Peace. Love. Raymond." HAHAH. 1960's for the 60 year old.

GOTCHA!!!!!

Surprise to my dad!!!! This weekend we (SUCCESSFULLY) pulled off a SURPRISE party for my dad! We have NEVER surprised him. Ever. As in not even once. He ALWAYS figures it out. The proof's in the pudding on this one:

You can't fake that face!

Even mom was shocked! We knew to keep the cat in the bag with her too if we wanted it to be a real surprise!

Photos courtesy of Lexipoo Pothlington, photographer extraordinaire.

Guess Who's 60???

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I dyed my hair and it turned out GREY. As in dark brown with grey highlights. I even went to a salon this time.

Dawg.

Coffee

My first attempt at uploading video! It took forever! Here's a weird little video that we took while drinking coffee at midnight in Rome. I had espresso and Matt had cafe Americano (regular coffee). I think I like the espresso because of the demitasse cups! Fun fun!!

Olympics

Conversation over breakfast at Grandy's:
Me: Can you believe that trampoline is an Olympic Event?
Hub: Whatever. You can't get me. I don't buy that for a second.
Me: No joke. It's true. Olympic trampoline.
Hub: OK, what do you want to bet? I'm not falling for this.

***1 hour later***
Google search: "Olympic Trampoline"
Google results:

1. Olympic Trampoline - Add 2008 Summer Games to iGoogle

   Results: Men's Trampoline - Preliminary - Aug 16 12:19am ET 1 Chunlong Lu 72.40 2 Dong Dong 71.70 3 Dmitry Ushakov 71.50 results.beijing2008.cn

HAAAAHAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAA
:)

My First First Day...

...was awesome!! I love my class! I know it's only been 4 days, but they are awesome! Yessssssssssss!

First First Day of School

Tomorrow is my First First Day of School! Last year I started in late September, so this will be my first full year of teaching. Yipppppeee! I'm excited. My numbers aren't huge and I hear from last year's teachers that my kids are awesome. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome.

Italia Installment #2: Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica

Interior of St. Peter's Basilica

This was designed by Raphael and Michelangelo

Apostle Peter's Tomb

The Plaque Marking the Apostle Peter's Tomb (In St. Peter's Basilica)
Click on the Picture to enlarge it if you would like to read the text.

The intricately carved wooden altar over Peter's tomb

Michelangelo's Pieta

Renaissance sculpture of Mary holding Jesus after the crucifixion.

Stealthy pic of the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
The guards kept yelling "No photos" in English, but I didn't use a flash so I don't feel quite so guilty. The guards also said, "Shhhhh" over and over and over.

Another Stealthy pic inside the Sistine Chapel

Waiting in line for St. Peter's Basilica

Italia!

We are eaters. We loooove to eat. So Italy was chosen as our dream vacation spot and off we went. Matt was anxious about flying over the ocean, but he has decided it's not so bad. The plane rides were actually pretty enjoyable. They fed us (often!) and we had movies on demand at each of our individual seats. I also teach about the Renaissance so I was able to get some great pictures to show my students this year. These pics will be out of order and come in spurts, but...enjoy!

Dinner our First Night in Roma - Trastavere

Trevi Fountain - If you toss in a coin, it ensures your return to the fountain!

Gladiator Matteo

We put our camera on top of a TINY car for this picture of us in front of the Colosseum

The Roman Forum - Can't you picture Roman senators in their flowing drapery meeting here?

The floor of the Colosseum - They had a miniature model of how the intricate system of pulleys moved the animals up out of their cages to fight the gladiators. The floor used to have a covering. What you are seeing is what was under the uncovered floor.

Gladiator Material or Lion Bait ?

Be careful ordering the soup of the day -- Matt ended up with a half gallon, excuse me, liter, of bland bean soup. Ooops. At least the bread and wine were good?

Ciao Italia!

We are back from our trip to Italy!! It was SO MUCH FUN! More pics to follow...