Public Enemy Number 1: The Poplar Tree

Take a good look at these trees. They look innocent enough, I know, but they're not. They are, in fact, ruining my life.

Perugia is full of thousands of poplar trees (pioppi in Italian) which produce a massive attack of pollen through the Spring. Little cotton-looking poofs of pollen that waft through the air, falling to the ground to then cover it in what looks like mounds of snow. It's GROSS.

Anyway, I spent almost all of Romina's wedding sneezing and my face was so puffy I think Andrea didn't recognize me at one point.

So that's what's going on with me: constant allergy-related angst. Well, if we're looking for a silver lining, I guess it makes my work angst seem like a peach in comparison....

Semblance of normality

I'm back! The festival was as stressful as I thought it'd be...but now I'm back and don't have to worry about crazy again for the next, well, 9 or 10 months, or at least I hope so!

Here, Spring (practically Summer) has Sprung, and my allergies are proof of it, as well as the zillions of "sagras" (like little town parties, generally honoring a type of food and with live music) popping up all over the place. Next week maybe we'll go to one in honor of cherries. Ahhh, sometimes I do recall why I liked it here in the first place...*sometimes* =)

Happy cherry weekend to all!