American in Norway

Happy Birthday to my beautiful "baby" boy.  I can't believe how fast 16 years has flown by with you.. It breaks my heart a little. I am so proud of the man you are becoming.  I have no doubt that you are destined for great things son. I can't wait to celebrate your BIG Day in the BIG APPLE marking off things on our bucket lists.   I love you so very,very much. MOM

Trip of a lifetime.. still smiling with a happy heart.. can't wait til next year's SPRING FLING..

Pretty Burano is one of the many islands of Venice . Famous for silk and brightly colored fisherman's homes it's one of the most beautiful sights in Venice .   I never dreamed I would get so excited about laundry...  but in Italy, it just. works.  Ohhhh .. the SPRITZ - MANY.. were consumed...   The Spritz (German: "splash" / "sparkling", also called Spritz Veneziano or just Veneziano) is a wine -based cocktail commonly served as an aperitif in Northeast Italy . The drink is prepared with prosecco wine, a dash of some bitter liqueur such as Aperol , Campari , Cynar , or, especially in Venice , with Select . The glass is then topped off with sparkling mineral water. It is usually served over ice in a lowball glass (or sometimes a martini glass or wine glass) and garnished a slice of orange, or sometimes an olive, depending on the liqueur   Burano is known for its small, brightly painted houses, popular w...

Sigh... I am still having a hard time getting back in to "REAL LIFE"   Venice was perfect in every way...  Spending much needed time with one of my BEST FRIENDS from the US...   I think I am still glowing..   feeling blessed..     Please bare with the picture filled posts to come...  Looked all over for these "Rice Balls" deep fried & filled with cheese.  - doesn't matter that I was walking over 10 km a day.. with all of the food and drink.. I may have broke even.     I have no idea who this lady is... but the abslolute JOY on her face was priceless...       I am a big PEOPLE watcher... I love seeing the joy.. and guessing their story.. I also see the people who are not so happy.. (It is never too late to change your story..)   I love seeing the happy couples taking the trip of a lifetime.. but also see the couples who sit across from each other ...

First stop.. The Liassidi Palace. I had two days in Venice before my friend arrived & I needed to find somewhere to stay.. My first trip to Venice I was 19 & backpacking with my sister & our friends.  I'm sure we stayed at a hostel and were eating from the grocery stores.  I don't remember much from that trip other than a dissapointing trip to a glass factory.  I have one picture from that trip.. For the record, I'll kill my kids if I send them on a trip like this and they come home with one picture! My second trip to Venice was while working on a cruiseship. We, of course stayed on the ship, and when we finally got off work & had time to go a shore, my husband thought Venice was old,dirty & way over priced.  So much for romance in Venice.  THIS time.. I would do Venice the way I wanted.. I would stop counting every dollar & treat myself.  Damn it! I deserve this.. I decided to go for the suite life. I bo...

I know I have so much catching up to do, but I can not, not blog from Venice. It is fantastic! I'm here on my own for the next two days, just exploring the city,taking pictures and drinking wine. If you had told me just one year ago, how happy I would be at this point my life, I wouldn't believed you..