However, the biggest culprit for my lack of updates is the fact that spring has sprung in Rome. Trees are blossoming, the snow has melted, the markets have strawberries on sale, roof-tanning has commenced, the flea market vendors have started selling pastel-colored clothing, and this Wanderer is twitterpated (editor’s note: if you don’t know what that means, it’s time to watch “Bambi” again). Long story short, I’ve been distracted.

However, I am still a list-maker; I have a mile-long list of topics I want to write about. They include:

• the origin of the words “cappuccino” and “graffiti”
• the Italian Grandmother
• a Carbonara recipe, courtesy of one of my students
• creative ways to make money in a down economy
• dreaming and sleep-talking in a foreign language
• the benefits of living with Art Historians
• la bella/brutta figura
• the derby
• Ostia Antica, Viterbo, Cesano, and Spoleto day trips
• International Women’s Day – Italian style
• Roman pollution control
• traffic violations & fines
• heating & gas bills
• ………….and the list grows every day

I’m not lacking in inspiration, I’m simply lacking in time. I live in one of the most spectacular cities in the world, rich with art, history, architecture, mythology…and it’s sunny and 72 degrees outside. Can you blame me for not writing?  Anyway, I’ll try to be better about writing more frequently. But for now, take a look at one of the best-preserved bathrooms of ancient Rome (in Ostia Antica):