Good evening, Kossacks, and welcome to WYFP.
WYFP is our community's Saturday evening gathering to talk about our problems, empathize with one another, and share advice, pootie pictures, favorite adult beverages, and anything else that we think might help. Everyone and all sorts of troubles are welcome. May we find peace and healing here. Won't you please share the joy of WYFP by recommending?
I always have mixed feelings about this time of year. I love the bright sunny days with lower humidity. The weather this time of year is just wonderful. I have always loved teaching, and I am teaching one of my favorite courses this fall. It is called Last Hunters-First Farmers, and it traces the beginnings of farming on a worldwide basis. It gives me an opportunity to talk about my own research in Israel, in Ukraine, and in Hawaii, and to talk about other interesting areas of the world, from highland New Guinea (where taro and bananas were first domesticated) to sub-Saharan Africa (home to a while range of domesticated plants). And, of course, I love Halloween and Thanksgiving. So what's my f$%king problem?
In my heart of hearts, I am a daughter of the summertime. I trained as a field archaeologist, and I love going to the field. This summer I was able to carry out fieldwork in Hawai'i and in Turkey and Armenia. I am a swimmer and a walker. You could not pay me enough to go out in the snow to ski or snowboard. I hate winter, and I especially hate snow. There is a big piece of me that loves the fall but dreads the coming of winter. I hate the short days and the long nights. I can't stand the cold, and I hate driving in the ice and snow. I wish that the early fall could last forever. I always felt like Persephone in classical mythology. I am probably the poster girl for seasonal affective disorder.
In honor of the late summer, my favorite time of year, I thought I would post a few pictures of our family vacation. One item on our bucket list was to take our kids to Italy. Blue jersey dad's father emigrated to the US from Italy when he was a small child. Last month we were able to take our kids on a week-long walking tour through Tuscany. Here are a few pictures.
The five of us (in age order) on the road to Montepulicano:
The center of the medieval town of Siena where we began our trip:
The view from Montecino looks just like an Italian Renaissance painting:
This is supposed to be the most photographed chapel in all of Tuscany. It has appeared in several movies:
We encountered some kitties along the way:
The medieval monastery of San Antimo:
The central square in Pienza:
Entering one of the city gates at Montepulciano:
This was the trip of a lifetime, and it was certainly not a FP. However I did have a minor FP at work yesterday. I fell off a broken stool in my lab. Fortunately I landed on my butt. A few bruises, but nothing serious. So what's your FP tonight? I am here to chat.