Geez, Toddson, I'm glad you had that contract to proofread.

Oh, ugh, Toddson. On top of the general vilensss of meetings anyway, to add poisonous caterers and a cellphone reading of 17 slides? Purely evil.

Today I got to tell a persistent caller wanting to get my okay on a verbal order because "it's always such a hassle to call the clinic," "Please stop asking me to agree with you. I can be fired for giving an opinion on this. Please call the clinic manager and please stop talking to me before you get me fired." I have officially become one of those people who won't lift a finger except to forward someone to some other number. Yay, me.

That stinks, JZ. I'm sorry you find yourself in that position.

Aren't those fun? I had someone - in e-mail, luckily - who wanted me to give him a legal opinion on the responsibilities of one party to a contract. um ... NO ... and at 7pm, it's hell no.

Buona Sera!

So my dad and I are sitting at a cafe today, drinking capuccinos and talking, when a man and his family walk by, hear our conversation and stopped to ask us directions. He was also an American, and wanted to know if we knew where a FUCKING STARBUCKS WAS!!!

REALLY??????? You come all the way to Venice, and you want a FUCKING STARBUCKS???????????

YOU CAN GET AN ESPRESSO OR A CAPUCCINO OR A MACCHIATO RIGHT HERE, JERKHOLE!!!!

YOU'RE WHY I HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE I'M CANADIAN!!!!

On the other hand, this evening, my dad and I saw a concerto of Vivaldi's Four Seasons (plus a handful of other Venetian pieces), performed in a wonderful little concert hall, with the performers wearing elegant 18th century Venetian garb.

Magnifico. Multo bene!

Anybody who comes to Venice, and drinks Starbucks coffee, or goes to the Hard Rock for a drink, or eats at the Burger King or the MacDonalds that are here (or buys shoes from the Foot Locker) deserves to be punched in the junk.

Repeatedly.

I ate at a MacDonalds in Moscow. It was a cultural experience. I don't know what they're like in Italy.

I ate at a MacDonalds in Moscow. It was a cultural experience. I don't know what they're like in Italy.

Okay, but a) you're not really a USian, b) msbelle would totally get a pass if she came to Venice and wanted to eat at the Burger King here, and c) okay, I kinda wanted to try a MacDonalds in another country too, just to see what it was like.

But COME ON!!!! We were AT a COFFEE PLACE!!!!

I often feel that way about American things abroad. Although, I admit to stopping into a Hard Rock cafe in London and in Rome to get my friend a teddy bear because she collects them. I did not eat at them.

okay, I kinda wanted to try a MacDonalds in another country too, just to see what it was like.

When we were in the Frankfurt airport for seven hours, we found a McDonald's, and I recall their having some very strange sauces. It's definitely worth checking out, for kicks.