L'autobus: the pros and cons

The bus. I never served in a bus city during the mission, and I've never really lived in a city in my whole life where the bus was my only means of transportation. As a missionary I was either on foot, on my bike, or in a car (which was a pretty scary experience. I don't recommend to anyone a crash corse 'no pun intended' of learning how to drive a stick in Italy. I think the Lord was just using baptism by fire as a way to get me out of my, what was then, paralyzing fear of driving. It worked...needless to say).

Well..here I am now, with the bus as my only means of transportation. And it's taking an adjustment. So I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons....

It's cons:

1. I'm not a fan of the smells. Whether it's the people, the exhaust, the weird smells of the seats, or even the smells of the city...it's never inviting. There's only once where I was on a bus and it smelt good....wait...nope...nevermind. That wasn't a bus.

2. Bus alla Roma. There's never a moment when I want to get close to anyone in a bus...and when you're smashed in like sardines, it only intensifies the smells, the chance for a pickpocket, and definitely a push and shove contest where most end up frustrated out of their minds and have to suck in and hold their breath until the next stop. The only times I want to be squished is a good hug from a girl. Without the need of a bus to facilitate the closeness. At least I feel like I can see in front of me...up parascope....but it's still tough when you can't get off or on, cause the bus is packed full. I think most feel my pain here in florence.

3. We live about 2o min. from the bus stop, so it's kind of demotivating to want to go anywhere, unless you're prepared to make the trek and have to wait for the bus once you get there...I usually don't leave the house unless I know I'm gonna be gone for at least a couple hours....the only exception is institute...where I feel like feeling the Spirit is a good enough reason.

4. Last but definitely not least, is a bus stop. Waiting isn't a problem. I'm a fairly patient person...but when everyone gets off and start puffing on those cigs, I want to die. Sometimes I've wanted to bring a fire estinguisher and just blow it on everyone that's puffing. It might get an angry reaction though. So I've yet to try. It's really annoying too when you think you've escaped the clouds of smoke, and then that all too familiar smell sneaks up your nostrils and you realize the guy or girl next to you has secretly started puffing and you didn't realize it. It's always a game of hide and seek in some respects...I always try to walk the furthest away possible.

I think if people are allowed to smoke...then farting loudly and offensively in public should be more than accepted....and it's much more natural. Do I condone such behavior? Certainly not. But it isn't much different when you think about it... They both stink horribly...and they're both public...but one happens with an, "excuse me," the other, without any consideration for others.

Pros:

1.Like I said, I'm pretty patient, but I hate being late, and I'm definitely not a fan of traffic (not that I've ever met anyone who is). But being in a bus is nice cause you don't have to worry about merging or honking or saluting your fellow travelers with a number one (I try not to:)). YOu can just sit or stand and think about the day, and just kind of wind down. Or, if you're late, you can use the bus driver or traffic as the excuse, not your own bad driving...I kind of like it.

2. Carrying on a conversation. If you're in the bus, you can look at the person you're talking to, not one of those, "hey, i'm acknowledging you as we drive so I'll look at you a couple of times but I need to keep my eyes on the road" deals. I like being able to actually listen to the person, not look for the next exit or street sign, or incoming diesel truck

3. It's relatively cheap.... Before I left the states I was paying almost 4 bucks a gallon. Now I don't pay anything... really. I pay around 40 euro a month to take as many trips on the bus as I want. I had to pay more than 40 euro when I used to fill up in the states... and that's easily more than 3 times a month. It's very friendly to your wallet.

Well...that's my schpeal on busses. I think I prefer driving to busses still, but laying out the pros makes me feel at least a little better. But I still miss driving....and I still miss Voldemort, my black snake-eyed Lexus.

Really? A new post?

Yes. I am putting on a new post. I'm home on a saturday night, reading about Caravaggio's paintings, and I figured I'd say hi to the rest of the world...well, at least the world that cares to look my blog.

I'm amazed at cultural differences. I used to think that learning a language meant you just translated word for word, and "voila!" you had the language down pat...well, that was my thought pre-mission. I took more that 4 years of French, bombed the AP test, and then took a crack at Spanish for a year. Needless to say the french helped the spanish, but it was a mess of hyphens and question marks when I'd have to ask a question.

Then I went on my mission, and I learned missionary language, which consisted of lots of gospel conversation (so the gospel words were down-pat) and a pretty good idea of how to repeat the discussions (basically an introduction to some real italian with past remote, etc.). I learned some fun idiomatic phrases, but basically if I looked at a newspaper I might as well have been trying to read arabic (which in some ways would have been more satisfying, since their written language is much prettier).

In any case, you learn quickly that you haven't mastered didly squat when you get home and you have to read I promessi sposi or Verga or Primo Levi or Calvino and you realize that wasn't the language you learned on your mission....

So... my point is...the more I learn Italian the more I realize I know so little about the language. Language is not words...it's words that relate to a culture. And the less you understand a culture, the less you're gonna speak a language. At least speak it without sounding like a total foreigner. So...there you go. I'm done now. That's my two cents on the subject......on that note, why is it a "penny for your thoughts," but you put your "two cents in?" ......Somebody's makin a penny.

Facebook, or blog?

I'm kind of at a loss... I mean. I want to stay in touch with the rest of the world, especially since I live on the other side...but now that I post pics on facebook, and go as far as to show art there as well, I mean.. do I really blog, or facebook?

It's so hard to make these life changing decisions. I think it's somewhat redudant to have

both of them... It's like having way too many email addresses, and deciding which one to use...

Sometimes I'm a little stressed with the thought that I have to use both, so I just sit in piazza's like this and wonder.... blog? facebook? blog? ...in any case, for all of you that bother visiting my blog... you'll see a new post....for all of you that don't even read this...you'll end up seeing my status on facebook....and for everyone else who happen upon either, you won't even know you're missing the other half. As for blog readers, if you had any sense at all, you would leave my utterly boring blog and check out the blog by Jon Hintze. Because his is actually worth reading. We can all just read his blogs and pee our pants in laughter...and feel much better about our life, and have a new, defining sense of self.... with wet pants....

Pallavolo - Volleyball

I've come to appreciate this sport a lot more after playing it almost daily at school at Middlebury. It's possible that since I was playing it in Italian instead of English, it took on a new, exotic aspect that I didn't normally get when I'd play it in America. It also helps though that now I understand the rules, and more importantly how to win. I think that's pretty much the case with most sports. If you know how to win, you probably like it. If you suck, then you don't want to play anymore. I could be wrong, but I think that's the case most of the time. This picture doesn't represent the whole "rule" thing very well, it was taken during practice, but I think it's cool. I try not to touch the net, but sometimes it just happens. And it's really embarrassing when you get all tangled up in the net, like a fish.

ok,ok

Here's the mural. It's actually not a "mural", maybe to the chagrin of Emmalee. It's more of a montage of Book of Mormon stories I'm doin for a friend of mine. Supposedly it'll end up being an advent calender reading chart thingamugigger. It was fun to do. I even whipped out the colored pencils for this one. I'm somewhat pleased with it. I enjoyed posing, as demonstrated before.

Yes. That IS reformed egyptian superimposed into the border...heeheheh. I pulled out all the stops.

Repent, Repent!

I had to pose for a Book of Mormon mural I'm doing. I think the last time I dressed up as a Book of Mormon character I was at Lee's house. I was Ammon, he was Nephi... wait, I think I was Nephi. Well, in any case, afterwards I felt pretty weird. And our friends weren't very amused. We had fun. I think I make a pretty good Samuel the Lamanite.

Summer Fun

Hey y'all out there. Things are going good. I thought I'd just leave a little note and say ciao to anyone who bothers to find themself surfing the blog world. Summer is going good and I have to say I enjoy getting paid to illustrate. I'm doing some freelance stuff, and also correcting 8th grade italian oral examinations. Kind of strange, yes. But what can you do? I like illustration and italian.

I'm playing a lot of golf.

GRADUATION

FINITO!!! My undergraduate life is coming to a close. Kind of crazy to think I have to be a real person and get a real job and actually start providing for myself and a future family. It's been a long haul but I've loved it, and I've been blessed with innumerable experiences and friends. I guess it's not really over... I mean... I've only got years of grad school to look forward to. :( Maybe by that time I'll be able to just live off my IRA. Or I could just find a way to market Rebecca's soapcarvings and make millions. Or possibly do a "The Brethren's Impersonated Voices" comedy tour.
Nah.. I'll just keep on painting and getting paid, and lookin for Mrs. Right. And of course teaching la lingua piu' bella che ci sia. Congrats to all those in '07! We made it! Now we get to "go forth to serve."
... and who'd of thought one of my illustrations would be a foreshadowing of next week. I never really thought about it. I just thought I made a good model. :)

Conference Weekend

When I was younger, Conference Weekend was like a holiday, where you basically did everything you'd do on any other day while the grown-ups watched a bunch of old men speak about stuff that didn't make any sense. For some reason I remember a lot of conferences spent at my grandma's house. But I don't remember the talks or anything, mostly just making forts out of blankets and chairs in the basement. But now I look forward to Conference like I used to look forward to Christmas. It's such a special time.
I was walking to the library today and saw one of my professors. He said, "So, how's it going?" I said, "Pretty good." Then he continued,"It is friday." And then I said, "Yah, and it's Conference Weekend!" Then he said to my chagrin, "Yah. It poses problems. I've got so much to do. It's one of those times where I'm like, do I watch Saturday's Sessions or not?

I left that conversation with a bit of bad taste in my mouth. I mean, I guess he could be joking, but from the tone it didn't sound like it. I don't know. He's definitely much busier than I am.. but who doesn't wait eagerly to hear the living mouthpiece of God. I mean, who's like, "aaaah. I'll do it tomorrow.... I think I got a sock drawer to organize...." Shouldn't listening to the living mouthpiece of God be on your definite "to do" list?

I guess I just like the simple things. Well. I guess not so simple. I'll probably end up making a fort anyway...

Penso di giocare a golf...

Hey y'all. I'm gonna do my BFA show with the rest of the fellas, so if you wanna drop in a take a look-seee, feel free. It's somewhat pathetic. I only have 4 done of the 6, and only 3 framed, but I guess I have to show so I can graduate. I do have to admit, it's nice seeing em framed, I just wish I were done and able to do my own show like the rest of yas. Maybe one of these days I'll do a one man show at Thanksgiving Pt. Until then, drop down to the HFAC if you have a chance and sign my book. OH... Studenti miei, se venite alla mostra, vi do un credito per un evento culturale. Che ne pensate! Dovete pero' scrivere un riassunto come sempre!

Happy Golfing

Wooly Bully

Wooly Mammoths are all sorts of fun. Unfortunately I couldn't show blood- ridden beasts after the kill, much too graphic for the children. So I went with a super docile painting where Bill and Ted are sitting there saying, "Dude. Like, check out those huge hairy elephants...... Awwwsome."

Both paintings for Katy have been slightly altered, I decided to go over a bit with some prismacolor to add some final touches. I think it helped. But for the viewing public you get to see the raw original acrylics. Alright. I'm going to bed. Until next time.

Geico gathering

So, I don't think you'll save on your car insurance with this painting, but it was fun to do. It's always great to use yourself as a model, though I didn't need to grow a beard.

Hope Katy and the Core crew enjoy it. It was so easy, even a caveman could have done it.

Framing

Framing costs a lot. I think Sharae has found a lucrative business. I was thinking about it, for how much it cost me to get frames, they probably don't need to spend a lot on the frame itself. Labor is probably the issue. Although I could be wrong.
Well. Just a trite entry, I'll put more on in the future. In the meantime, happy reading.

I'm just trying to figure out how the heck to do this whole blogger mumbo jumbo. I figured I'd spice it up with one of my favorite illustrations by Rick Farrell. For those of you who have graced Richard Solomon's "signature style" workshop, you may recognize the painting. It's hanging up on the wall.

Alright. I'm sorry for the long delay, but I think I finally figured out how this stuff works. I think....

tuscantyler

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