May 8:.. Somewhat sunny today. I hope it's nice tomorrow, even warm. I did some laundry today, taking advantage of the weather, and went grocery shopping. Bought a bottle of Vin Santo. Opened it later after Internet time. It's good. Wrote my paper before going to bed. Outing tomorrow. *whine* I don't like dish duty.

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May 9:... Got up early with Gwen to help the nuns make sandwiches for our picnic. Twisted my ankle on the marble staircase. Ow. Took some Excedrin before we left on our outing, and packed my sketchbook.

First we went to Todi. We looked at a nice little church and I picked up some scraps of colored gauze from a recent wedding. Then we went up a hill (funicular!) and looked at another little church which, among other things, had the nude bums of monks carved on the facade. (And yes, I'm doing all of this treking while limping.)

Back in the vans. We follow the nuns through some gut-lurching curves in the road -- it doesn't help that I'm in the middle back between Gwen and Will -- until we reach a little monastery where we picnic. I draw a little, we all chase a lizard, it's mostly sunny and warmish. Everything is good. By now, the painkillers are in full effect and my ankle barely hurts at all. (or maybe it was a temporary twist, but it really doesn't feel that way...)

We leave at 2 and caravan our way to another town, Spoleto, where we see a third church (Gwen and I had our eye on a shop nearby though, and snuck away to see it) After seeing an absolutely breathtaking, valley-bridging aquaduct. Ask Gwen for pictures, as my little sketch was pathetically insufficient.

We returned home, and at 6:45, I called Mom to wish her Happy Mother's Day, did a little shopping for gifts, returned home, ate a sort of dinner (My Vin Santo didn't go very off at all) and drew a difficult picture before going to bed.

***

May 10:... Left thigh aches from all the compensating for my ankle yesterday. But at least my ankle is okay. However, I think I'm coming down with a cold. Break out the oranges and airborne tablets!

First day of the last week of Iconography. Drew some. Not finished. Skillen had a talk at 6:30, before which I picked up a bottle of the sweet wine I liked earlier. Paid a little more than before, but saved on time because I didn't have to go 2/3 the way down the corso for it.

After Skillen's talk, Gwen and I went to Pizzeria Charlie's. I tried a Pizzaiolo and another glass of wine, and later, we met up with Tara and Laura, talked, then later met Moon Unit the Psycho cat, visited with him/her/it, and went home, where I took a shower, ate another orange and went to bed. Mmm. Nice healthy sleep.

***

May 11:... Legs/Feet feel better, but I definitely have begun the ocld. Oh well, at least it's my last day of dishwashing duty. Finished my uber-scribble in class today. Later, Gwen and I went out gift-shopping for people, after which Gwen went to dinner at Skillen's house and I drew. Aaagh! I want to stop being sick! Stupid nose!

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May 12:...Not much to report -- more rain, repotted my rose, took shower. I still feel greasy, argh. Took the label off of my Vin Santo... it came off in pieces, sadly. Finished a picture, hung out with Gwen, then, despite her pleading to watch "Two Weeks Notice" with her, went to bed.

***

May 13:... Last day of Iconography. Must do final paper. Spent most of day working in my sketchbook, stepped out for a bit with Gwen at 7ish, and retired to bed at 12ish, after more art, some cocoa, a shower, and some chatting. Suddenly, I really want to model for Guy's figure drawing class.

***

May 14:... Got up early and had breakfast before anyone else. No oranges. Sad. After, since Gwen was still asleep, I drew for a while. Fortunately she was up by lunchtime, because we had gnocchi again, and for once, Will's table got to go first.

Sometime after lunch, drawing again, I had to shoo a wasp out of my room. When I got it out, I shut the window and went to Gwen's room to warn her to shut hers. I found her hiding in the bathroom, apparently already aware of the wasp. After several attempts, we made the little beastie go away.

Later, I went out to buy a pair of shoes, but they were too expensive, so I bought gifts and groceries and wandered around for a while. Came back drew some more, watched "Monsters, Inc." with Gwen and Will, then went to bed at 1:30ish.