un bel sopresa

many people are asking what i am doing with myself here in italy, so i'll give you an account of any given day in my roman life.  brace yourselves, it's QUITE riveting.

6:30am - i awake, or rather, am waken, by screaming children

7:00am - after brushing my teeth and dressing with my eyes closed, i get the girls dressed

8:00am - off to school we go.

9:00am - lessons.  everyday.  different places throughout rome.  lots of 'cafe' is involved

1:00pm - pause for lunch.  more 'cafe'

4:00pm (sometimes 2:30 on swim days!) - time to get the girls once more

5:00pm - try and keep small children from eating something inedible

8:00pm - grazie dio.  bedtime for the little ones.

so there you go.  however, i was pleasantly surprised on monday (a swim day) when natalia was in rome with us because her show was in a nearby town.  she had a ticket for a friend, who could not come, so she asked if i would like to come!

there i was, driving in a town car with natalia and vittorio viviani (a fairly famous italian actor) to the theater.  the show is titled "La Commedia di Candido" or "The Comedy of Candide".  It's a farce on the obvious, Candide by Voltaire. Vittorio plays Diderot, Rousseau, and then of course, Voltaire - in three separate acts, all the while trying to discover more about the scandalous Candide.  

Natalia plays his opposite in every act, and let me tell you...she is fabulous.  I may not have understood everything, but I couldn't stop laughing!  

The best part about the whole thing is that these actors are doing what they love, and making it work.  i'm not saying it doesn't come with a price.  natalia is spending many months away from her children, and only getting to see them every few weekends. hopefully, life will be easier once they all relocate to milan.  however, that aside, she gives me hope!  so attention all you whimsical artists out there - let's rock this bitch.