This and That

I know what I am going to do for my oral report. That is, I have a list of subjects in my mind. I just haven’t started on putting these subjects into sentences in Italian. Here is my subject list:

• Introduction to my region which is La Sicilia. Place it geographically. It is an island at the south-west of the "toe" of italy. When I was a child we learned to say, "Long-legged Italy kicks poor Sicily into the Mediterranean Sea!" I am NOT  going to try to translate that!
• Geographical features–mountains, lakes, the capital etc.
• A festival. There is one I like the sound of which is rather like a maypole dance done only by married couples. It is associated with blessing the grain harvest.
• Food of the area including a restaurant.
• A historical monument
• And, I guess, a brief remark to sum it all up.

I actually have most of this information because we have been finding a web page each week. This week it is the monument but I haven’t found that yet. Basically we have one minute to speak and she emphasized she wants simple sentences in the present tense! So, my plan is to write them out and try them on Fred and he can time me. Then, the words I need reminding about can go on cards along with the outline. One that will definitely go on a card is LA Sicilia because I keep wanting to drop the article! Also I need to write the pronunciation phonetically as Su-CHEE li-a. Hmmm, I had better also check the accented syllable since it usually falls on the penultimate syllable in Italian although there are, of course, many exceptions. {Short pause to check the dictionary} No, I got it right.

In other homework news, I did the seven grammar exercises on verbs yesterday in my notebook. Sometime today or tomorrow I will type it out. I still have to find the web information and there are also a couple of pages to read in the text book, the one I had so much trouble getting! But mostly the primary effort today will be focused on writing the sentences and trying them aloud.Changing the subject somewhat, I am really looking forward to the two art workshops I will be taking in November. They are being offered at a local art-suppy store and run from 10 am until 5 pm with a break for lunch.  The first one on the 4th will be on some collage techniques. I am very interested in doing collages. We were told to bring pictures {magazine pictures preferred} and a pair of scissors–oh, and to wear old clothes, of course! The second on on the 12th is on make little outdoor statues with paverpol and fabric. If you want to know more, go to http://www.poverpalusa.com. We were told to wear old clothes, and bring an old tshirt and a pair of scissors. On, and a small piece of wood to attach the armature of our little figure to. I went upstairs to our new landlord’s apartment and asked him for left-over wood scraps which he very kindly cut into the right sizes for me.

This has nothing to do with art but I also asked him about trash removal {yet AGAIN!}. He is responsible for getting it removed and so far, it is piling up. The bins are full and the last two bags I had I put in the shed where he has trash stored. I told him I was reluctant to do this any more because some of it has fallen against the door and I really DON’T  want to open the door and have it all tumble out and attack me! He laughed and said he had the loan of a truck next week and he would take it all to the waste disposal place then . He also said that I could just put the bags in front of the shed and he would see to the storage of it. He really needs to arrange for a outside pickup but he told me that until he moves in full time, he doesn’t want to do this because he might not be there on the evening or morning  when the trash containers have to go to the curb. At the moment, they are quite a long way back from the curb and none of the containers are wheelie bins. Mike used to load them into his truck at regular intervals but Bryce doesn’t have a truck.

Until later….