Can I get a pair of waterproof shoes for my life please?

Waterproof shoes are surprisingly handy. You buy them thinking, damn this is a crazy investment. The sales guy tells you, "It will be worth it. One day you will be laughing at everyone else with wet feet and think, that sales guy was right." Today was that day.

But I'm getting ahead of myself a little. I think the more important thing to talk about is my new "read it forward" idea. Yes, i know that this phrase does not exactly make sense. But I'm also pretty sure that you figured it out. This summer I have been reading my books and been unable to keep them with me do to a shopping addiction that has lead to not one extra inch of packing space. So I finish them, write a little note on the inside that I think sums up the idea of the book, or relates in some way...and then I pass it on. I generally do this back home, especially with Pam, but here I don't know anyone who reads in English. The first book I finished I left at a house we were staying with figuring it would be snagged by the future au pair. The last book I left outside of the train station in Venice. I refuse to believe the possibility that these books are simply thrown away by the local garbage man. These books definitely change lives. 

So, today I was wandering Venice da solo, as usual (alone, for you non italian speakers...aka everyone- why did i chose to study italian again?). I wandered right into the pouring rain, which inspired some beautiful italian dances of people leaping from shop to shop to stay out of the weather. I had remembered to wear my rainproof REI shoes (best store ever), and was feelin pretty good about that in the rain. It let up, and I wandered toward the main square where I noticed some strange activity. People cleaning their feet...what are these freaks doing? I've never seen so many foot fetishes in one place...how odd. After exploring the beautiful church San Marco's Basilica (that guy loved his bling, even after death), I wandered toward the main area of the square. Oh whats this?? The square is under water. About 2-3 inches, to be exact. The number of bare-footed people fondly reminded me of Santa Cruz. I began to treck through carefully and then looked down at my feet....

WAHAHAHA bitches, ive got waterproof shoes?? Who's laughing now....ME! Thats right, I am cracking up all by myself in Venice. I don't care, my feet be drrrrryyyyyyyy. and yours be wet. HA.

My feet, repelling all the dirty water all around. Staying happy, even in the rain. Why aren't there waterproof shoes for life? I could really use some right about now. I would love to repel all of the ickiness, all of the unwanted and just stay warm and dry in my own little Caitlyn Hut. Ooh, a waterproof Caitlyn Hut. I hear the sound of large sums of money being thrown in the air, or swam in in a bathtub. Better yet, a hot tub. 

You know you love teriyaki chicken....

Ti amo <3 

Cait

and then there was a blog.... errr wait, was there?

Why is there a blog, you might be wondering. What is Caitlyn doing making a blog at the very end of her trip? What a silly decision to make. Well thats where you are wrong; it was more of an ongoing indecision. For the last two months I have been pondering the "blog" saying tiny "errrs" and "ummmms" in my head until I finally panicked and just got one. Its hard to really explain why we do the things we do, and that is what I will try to explore through this virtual thought vomit that I will spew onto you whenever I am feeling a little to word drunk. This is part 1.

Part 2 is that this will be a place to catalogue my home, goals, plans. If you have met me or know me at all, you will know that this, often occurring at Borders, takes up a solid amount of my time. The combination of a nice warm non-fat decaf raspberry mocha, a tall round table, and all the books that will fit in the giant American miracle that is Borders just makes me feel like a little kid on Hanukkah. But now that I have left Santa Cruz, and to be honest, the best Borders there is with a second story loft cafe that gives you a general God-like feeling, I need to create another haven for my planning. My virtual borders!

Part 3...book club anyone? eh eh? Since graduating a large 11 weeks ago, I have realized how much I truly enjoy reading for pleasure. Remember that? When no one was quizzing you on what happened on page 241 or telling you that you must finish enjoying this wonderful book by October 5 or you will fail. Way to take the fun out of reading. Because of my new found love of reading (and my lack of friends in Europe) I read 4 books this summer. The two that were most notable: Middlesex and The Womens Room.

I want to talk about The Womens Room. If you are a woman and you have not read this, do it. If you are a man, read it. Educate yourself. The book paints a picture of the American woman from the 1950's through the 70's. Its most things that you knew existed taken to a depth that makes you wonder about the inner working of your own grandmothers mind and past. Its devistating and brutally honest and makes you consider becoming moving to a planet with no men. In my honest opinion, a lot has changed since the 70's, and we do not live in the world that is described in this book. But it would have been impossible for all the sexism and prejudice to completely disappear, and of course it hasn't. This spotlights all of that, and is enough to make Elaine Dowd go feminist for at least a year. 

On an anti-feminist note...look at my pretty new shoes!!!

oooh baby. What a lovely present to get, worth about 4 weeks of work! Ha, I sure outsmarted that family. Anyway, what else can I say except: Dolce. Gabbana. These shoes shall remain in my backpack for the rest of my trip to make sure that nobody swipes them. I might even sleep with them on...better safe then shoeless. 

Until later...you know you love teriyaki chicken.

xoxo

Cait