2008

Welcome to the new year everyone! I hope you all partied extra hard for me since my celebrations were obviously very low-key.

Yesterday we drove up Mount Etna to the ski chalet. (Don't worry John, there was no lava flow to be seen at that altitude.) It was incredible how quickly the seasons changed the higher we got. Not only did I see snow, but also orange and falling leaves in a small portion of the mountain that seems to be a bit season-confused.

Not that it should come as any surprise, but guess what you get when you combine Italian driving with a complete and utter lack of experience with winter? Pure mayhem, that's what. Mayhem and brightly colored retro snowsuits. By far the funniest thing was their vain attempt to bring winter back with them by piling giant blocks of snow on the hoods of their cars before driving back down to milder conditions. So giant I question whether or not they could adequately see the windy-a** road in front of them.