Working Mommy Overload

I interrupt my Italy posts to write a little bit about being a working mommy of two with about a zillion other things going on.  Okay..it's probably an exaggeration to call it interrupting when I haven't posted on my blog for at least a month.  I don't even know when I wrote here last so it must have been a while ago!  This is more of a vent to relieve some stress and possibly make a plan. 

First and foremost, I've got two assignments due within the next month that total 70% of my final mark for the masters class.  That isn't exactly an insignificant amount and I am starting to feel the pressure to get working on these assignments.  While I would love to actually work of them, it doesn't take long for me to realize that I am not sure when that would happen especially this week.   It seems like something is going on every weekday and every weekend.  In actuality, it doesn't just SEEM like it...I really do have things to do every.single.day. 

Here's another kicker..I start my thesis hours in January and based on my grades, my writing seems to be regressing instead of improving.  I am at a point in my life where I don't care a whole lot about the actual number grade but I am interested in knowing how my writing abilities are regressing instead of improving in my fifth masters class.  Of course, I understand the ways of the world and that different teachers/professors might not be consistent with their grading methods.  However, it certainly takes a hit to the confidence as I embark on writing a research proposal and everything that goes along with it. 

I will admit that I was so disillusioned about getting the same crummy mark on my last paper as the one previous that I subsequently shoved it in my book bag and haven't looked at it since.   Yes, grad students do that too...or at least this one does.  The mature thing to do would be to look at the comments and learn from them.  I'll get there...eventually.

On the upside, I truly have little to complain about in life so this is all just nitpicking and mostly self-induced.  I'm all for a bit of stress to keep a person on their toes but I will be the first to admit that I might be a wee bit overstressed at the moment.  I will be absolutely thrilled when I am finished my fifth and LAST class on December 3rd.  In the meantime, I will keep running on the treadmill of life (as well as the real one..that's quality stress relief) and hope I don't fall off. 

I just hope that everyone appreciates working moms and how hard it is to get ourselves to work each morning.  You can assume we've been spit on, drooled on, possibly pooped on, plead with, whined at and finally clung to desperately before we get to work each day.  At least that's my life...so when I get to work and my hair is sticking up...that's where my kids hold onto my head when I help them with their boots.  That snot on my shirt is from their drooling noses when they cry and cling to me as I drop them off at daycare.  I may possibly be the happiest person at work on Monday mornings because, honestly, I am just happy to have made it there.

By the way..I'm not complaining; I'm just explaining.  I wouldn't trade all of this for anything.  Love my kids, love my job, and love everything else that I do in life even though it all sometimes drives me a bit crazy. PS-  Love my hubby too..just couldn't fit it into that last sentence with the parallel structure I was going for.  How's that for grammar?!

Vent over.

The Coliseum and The Roman Forum

Date: August 11th, 2012
Itinerary: Rome, Italy
Hotel:  Hotel Lancelot 

Happy 5th Anniversary to us!  This was a day we were very much looking forward to...what better way to spend a special anniversary than touring the famous Colloseum and the Roman Forum!  We spent the extra money on the upgraded tour with access to the underground area and the upper tiers.  It was well worth the cost and the tour was very interesting.

We learned that the Colosseum was actually called The Flavian Amphitheatre and it used to have a covering.  This made us consider Regina's potential new stadium.  If the Romans could do it thousands of years ago, then we should be able to do it now!  We also learned about the various entrances and the rules for seating.  For example, women were allowed to attend but had to stand in the upper tiers.  The wealthy entered through one particular gate number and had prime seating (of course).

We REALLY enjoyed this tour and managed to take some interesting photos.  We also enjoyed the Roman Forum and all the buildings that still remain after thousands of years.  It's hard to comprehend how old everything is even as you stand amongst the ruins.  We were in awe and took a lot of photos.  With that said, here are several and I'll try providing some captions to describe everything

On the main floor of the Coliseum overlooking the underground areas that are now exposed.

At some point in history, a Pope decided that the Colosseum had religious significance.

Roman Numerals denoting the gate number.  These are only readable on a small section that is cleaned.  The rest of the building is covered in a layer of pollution and you can not read these numbers.

Underground - This is where gladiators and animals were housed until they fought.  They were lifted up via trap doors into the arena. 

A recent addition - A replication of what the main floor would have looked like.

The underground maze of rooms and hallways.

Picture from the Roman Forum looking towards the Colosseum.

More ancient ruins at the Roman Forum

At The Roman Forum

That's a big pizza pie!

At the Pantheon

Vatican City and The Sistine Chapel

Date: August 10, 2012
Itinerary: Vatican City and Sistine Chapel Tour

Our first full day in Rome was our tour of Vatican City including The Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.  We did a Viator.com tour for this particular sightseeing and it was well worth the money for a couple of reasons.  First, the line was VERY long and it was extremely hot outside.  Second, there was so much to see and we wouldn't have had a clue what we were actually looking at without a guide.

By the way, to get to our meeting point, we took the Rome subway and were quite proud of ourselves for making it there on time.  Of course, there were some slight navigational bumps along the way as I am sure many of you can relate to if you've every traveled with your significant other.

Our tour guide was an American Art History major named Michael..who knows..maybe he'll read this someday!  If he does, thanks for guiding us through the crazed crowds of Vatican fanatics.  It was a very busy time to see the Vatican and Micheal did a great job of showing us around amongst the large crowds.

It has only been a month or so and I can barely remember everything we saw at the Vatican.  I do recall a great amount of amazing art pieces and paintings including the most fantastic tapestries I am sure I will see in all of my life.  St. Peter's Basilica was an astoundingly beautiful church with dozens of statues including the Statue of St. Peter.  Apparently if you touch his foot, you will be forgiven of all your sins.  Let's just say that I have a clean slate as of last month!

The best part of the tour was seeing the Sistine Chapel and unfortunately photos are not allowed due to copyright issues.  I thought they weren't allowed because of possibly damage to the paintings but that wasn't the reason at all!  The chapel itself was smaller than I expected and it was mostly empty except for the droves of people who snuck photos and chatted like school children and were told to "Be Quiet" and shushed repeatedly.

Harry Wong (author of First Days of School) wouldn't have been impressed with the lack of discipline in that chapel!  Regardless of all the external disturbances, I certainly enjoyed craning my neck upwards for a good 15 minutes and checking out the impressive works of Michelangelo.  After learning about the art when I was in high school and seeing photos and videos over the years, it was so amazing to see the frescoes in person.  That was kind of a theme for our trip to Italy in fact.  It was simply awesome to see all of these famous places in person and we were not at all disappointed.

Photos depicting the paintings in the Sistine Chapel.  Photos are not allowed inside.

One of dozens of paintings inside Raphael's Rooms

One of the amazing tapestries..look at the detail and vivid colour!

The Swiss Guard wearing their uniforms designed by Michelangelo

St. Peter's Basilica

Next up on our trip was the tour of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.  We took the upgraded tour to see the underground and top floors so we managed to get some excellent photos.  I haven't had much time to even check them out myself so I am looking forward to that blog post too!