Jury duty was an ordeal, yet somehow....it also felt like a much needed vacation. It lasted more than 2 weeks and I was able during that time to sleep in 'til 8AM (I normally wake up at 5AM to get ready for work...I start at 7). I loved not having a real 9-5 (or 7-4) schedule...loved the uncertainty of it all...not knowing what times I'd have to go in the next day and I LOVED LOVED LOVED those days when the judge would just say YOU CAN COME IN TOMORROW AT 1. Wow...it felt like college all over again, when your classes are all over the place, scheduled 3 hours apart and you can actually enjoy your days, rest, sleep and just BE!!! It was tough not having a computer in front of me. Yes, I'm still shopping for one. Why is it taking so long? I haven't had a chance to go to any stores...simple as that. Got the money...time? Well, I've been lazy and busy at the same time. I'm giving myself 2 more weeks. I'll have a computer in 2 weeks...mark my words!
I've missed blogging...missed my fellow blogging friends and the comments just made me smile, knowing that thanks to my love of "trashy" romance novels (I don't think they're trashy...well, some are...you get the idea) I've made so many friends. I wish I could meet you all. Gosh, anyone coming to SF? At all???
I haven't been reading many romances lately. I started ROSE AT MIDNIGHT by Anne Stuart a while ago and am still on page 84. I decided to read a few historical non-fictions I've had sitting next to my couch. One of them is SEX WITH THE QUEEN, a book which unfortunately sounds sexy but isn't. Good thing I bought it on OVERSTOCK. What a disappointment! The book is about...you guessed it...queens through the centuries and their paramours...Marie Antoinette and her beloved Axel Fersen...Catherine the Great and her many many many lovers. The book was good, but...gosh, I felt like the author couldn't keep her thoughts organized and it was just a big mess. Also, the author seemed to rely on a lot of rumors and speculation. I know quite a great deal about royal history...I'm obsessed with monarchies, royalty, women's history, et al. I was thoroughly disappointed in this book, the sequel to the excellent SEX WITH KINGS.
During this time, I've also rediscovered my love for Anime. My family moved to Italy when I was 12. We stayed there 'til I was 17 and then we moved back to California. The move was not work related. My parents simply decided they wanted to raise their children in their native country. I loved certain aspects of living there, but I felt very lonely and I learned to keep to myself and survive on my own, without having a dozen friends around me at all times. Anime kept me going...all of them series anime dubbed in Italian. Now...really THERE IS NO COMPARISON between US Cartoons and Japanese ones...sorry, I know it's good to be patriotic and all, but seriously Japanese cartoons are the bomb. I was in love with the stories, the characters, the perfection of colors. I bought a few old anime dubbed in Italian (the very ones I watched as a teen) recently and now I am obsessed with getting all the ones that helped me get through my years in Italy. The following are my recent purchases:
CANDY CANDY
MILA E SHIRO, DUE CUORI NELLA PALLAVOLO (ATTACKER YOU in Japanese)
(sorry, but most of this is in Italian...)
Now I want to get the following (again in Italian):
Milly, Un Giorno Dopo L'Altro (other names in Japan LADY LADY and Hello! Lady Lynn!)
E' Quasi Magia Johnny (Kimagure Orange Road in Japan)
Prendi Il Mondo e Vai (Touch in Japan)
I understand I could probably get the last three in Japanese with English subtitles, but I want them in Italian. It's how I remember seeing them and...I guess I've gotten extremely nostalgic lately...I know eventually I'll find them...after all, I never thought I'd own CANDY CANDY and MILA E SHIRO, which are incredible anime, by the way. Anyone heard of them? What I love the most about Japanese anime and manga is how realistic they are...they don't spare anyone the experiences of death or broken hearts. They're not watched or read exclusively by children, but by all. They're glimpses into everyday life, so beautiful, warming and even tragic.
I'm glad to be back to the world of blogging. I've missed it a lot. Missed you all and can't wait to get back into the swing of things. Oh, court was boring...very boring! MISTRIAL! Nice! Criminal case! Not too pretty, either! I need some good romance to cheer me up, y'all!!! I'm soooo happy to be back.
On another note, I'm taking the California Bar Exam next year. I hate my job! I need to actually do something I went through years of schooling for (whether I like it or not). Wish me luck! I think this country needs another lawyer to clean things up...a lawyer with integrity, ethics and...a love for "trashy" romances.
BTW: Anyone catch Grey's Anatomy? Alex and Izzie need to get back together and live happily ever after NOW!!!
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7 comments:
It's about time!!! (..and welcome back)
Yes, Alex and Izzie need to get back together now. There's unfinished business between them ~ they started and ended way too quickly.
Italy?! Color me jealous. I'm hoping to go there for my 40th (which is only a few years away ~ how did that happen?!). Well, Italy and Greece.
Congratulations on deciding on the career change. It's exciting that you have the option and as a lawyer you'll be in a place to really do some good. Good luck in advance on the bar exam.
Wow! When you jump back in the pool you jump in in a big way. I LOL when I saw that you figured jury duty as a holiday!!! And after all that time a mistrial?!?!? And we missed you too! And taking the bar - cooooool! I'd comment to on Grey's Anatomy but I just watched my very first episode on Thursday so other than Dr. McDreamy and Meredith, I have no idea who anyone else is - yet!
Devonna - I don't get why so many people want Alex and Addison...I really don't. Maybe for a quick fling, but nothing permanent. I see her with George.
Took me a few yrs to decide on the bar, but I need more $$$. It's a means to an end. I want to do other things and paying my loans off sooner rather than later will help me accomplish that. I'm keeping my eyes on the prize (I'm being vague but eventually I'll elaborate).
Kristie - You will absolutely love Grey's. Start taping the new episodes and start watching the old ones. You won't be sorry!!!
Once you mentioned Italy I figured I have to come out of my lurking position on your blog and speak up! Very cool you spent so much time in Italy, I'm on year number 4 now. I'm also from the Bay Area. I rely on all of you guys to sort out the good romance books (that I then have to order on Amazon since they are impossible to find here). I enjoy your blog!
Ms. Adventures - How do I go back? I've been going on sites trying to figure out whether there's a chance I could live there again for a few years at least. I have family here but I have a feeling they'd love it if I moved there (so they can visit me, of course). I need something different. I'm still going to take the bar but I'd love to be able to use my education in Europe. HELP!!! How do you just get up and go? I'm off to your blog!
One more thing...I also have family in Italy...a few cousins in Bologna, another aunt in Brescia and others in Sicily (Mazara del Vallo). I wonder sometimes if it's just nostalgia...I was a teen when I was there. Loved it initially..was Ms. Popular and all because of the whole American thing and then..I don't know what happened. Business venture of my parents' gone wrong and I was just wanting to leave. I was the typical rebellious teen. Now an adult, I realize how amazing life in Italy truly was...how people survive on less $$$ than Americans (who never seem to have enough). How did you find it in you to make the jump? I usually talk a lot and once upon a time I actually walked the walk...nowadays...I'm just a talker. I need to learn to walk again. How do I go back to Italy? HELP!!!
Hello, are you calling Italy? Italy is answering!
We are a group of friends who started few months ago a blog about romance novels, at http://romancebooks.splinder.com/ . If you want to refresh your Italian, feel free to have a look and post your comments. Most posts are in both Italian and English, so you shouldn't face too many problems. We would be really pleased !
And should you need any info - even those needed to learn how to survive with half the bucks of US people... - let us know, we'll be happy to oblige you ! ^_*
Ciao, e auguri !
( = all the best, bye !)
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