I received a letter yesterday from the Ufficio della cittadinanza (citizenship office) at the questura (police station). I didn't file my pratica (file) at the questura, but rather at the prefettura (prefecture) so I was a bit perplexed by this letter. It stated that I needed to call them to make an appuntamento (appointment).

Every once in a while, I am truly taken aback by the beauty of my city. So much so that sometimes I want to pinch myself. This evening I walked through Piazza della Signoria as I have done many times before and was enchanted by the illuminated monuments. I know that normally they are not lit up like this, so I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures.

A few people have asked me recently, "Vai a casa per le feste? (Are you going home for the holidays?)" It's a logical question given that I'm American, but anyone who knows me well would know that I am already home in Florence. To one of my acquaintances, I responded, "Firenze è casa mia...è quindi sono a casa per le feste. (Florence is my home; therefore, I am home for the holidays." My acquaintance responded, "È bello sentirti dire che Firenze è casa tua. (It's nice to hear you say that Florence is your home.)"

I have been wanting to find a commercialista (accountant) in Florence for a long time. I know that I need a Partita IVA (VAT account) to establish a company here and bill in Euros. I asked around to find a commercialista and finally felt confident with a referral I received from a good friend. I immediately called him last Friday to set up an appointment. After our brief conversation, I felt pretty comfortable to hire him as my commercialista and planned to see him this morning.

After our early morning run and a very hot shower, I felt energized and ready to face the world. I was so full of energy that I decided to go to the anagrafe (registry office) to change my residenza (residency) to Alessandro's place. I have been putting it off since we got back from the US, but I know that once the Italian Consulate sends my certificato di matrimonio (wedding certificate) to be registered at the Comune (town hall), I will then have to go to the Questura (police station) to get my carta di soggiorno (stay card). It all sounds complicated, but it is quite simple once you know where to go and what to do.

As I was sitting at my desk working this evening, I looked out the window and noticed that someone put lights on a large tree. Because I haven't bought an albero di natale (Christmas tree), I was happy to see this one across the Arno river shining brightly.

After a rainy and gloomy Sunday, today started out foggy. It was so dense this morning that I could barely see the buildings across the Arno river. I looked out at the muddy green water that was swirling around and was mesmerized. The sun occasionally peeked through the clouds as they quickly passed overhead.

Ever since I've moved to Florence, the Mercato di Natale (Christmas Market) that comes to Piazza Santa Croce each year always makes me feel that Christmas is right around the corner. For many of my American friends, it was the day after Thanksgiving that signaled the beginning of the Christmas season. But since I've lived out of the US for a while, I don't get into a festive mood until I see other things, like decorated shop windows and lights strung across the streets.

Yesterday as I walked to the Ponte alle Grazie to wait for my suocero (father-in-law) to come and pick me up, I couldn't help but notice the reflection of San Niccolò on the Arno. I always carry my macchina fotografica (camera) with me wherever I go, so I pulled it out of my purse and took a few shots.

I enjoy calcio (soccer) a lot, and am always excited about going to a partita (game). Yesterday evening it started to rain and all I could think of was being in an open stadio (stadium) where we would get fradici (soaked). When I woke up this morning, the sky was grey, but by lunchtime the sun appeared and I couldn't wait to go to the stadio.

For months I have been wanting to run past the Duomo in the morning. I have imagined it a few times and the thought of it was what pushed me out of bed today. When we got up this morning to go running, I thought I probably couldn't do our normal 5 mile run because we went out for sushi last night and stayed out late.

After lunch today at Zoe's with my friend Shannon, I walked up to Piazzale Michelangiolo to take a few pictures. I hadn't gone up there since last summer and when I looked up at San Miniato yesterday when I went running, I thought about the view of Florence from up there and how I hadn't seen it in a while. Lately, the weather has been a bit chilly, but not rainy, so I thought it would be a good day to go up.

At 5:30 this morning I suddenly woke up. Alessandro and I had planned on going running this morning because we hadn't been out together since this summer. We laid out all of our running gear last night so that we could get dressed and just go. I immediately went to the living room to peek out the windows to see if it was foggy like it was most of the day yesterday, but it wasn't. I could see across the Arno quite clearly.

Today was one of those special days that I hope will be repeated. I'm sure for some people it wasn't so great, but it was domenica ecologica (ecological Sunday) in Tuscany and in many of the cities, like Florence, no cars or even motorini (scooters) could circulate from 8:30AM to 6PM. Only city transportation like buses (which were kept to a minimum in the morning due to the marathon), police cars, taxis, and ambulances were able to drive in the city streets.

I love my life. That's what came to my mind as I was riding my bici (bike) along the Arno after leaving San Niccolò this afternoon. It has been a gray day with intermittent rain, and still I am just so happy. Those four little words, which arrived at the same speed as the cool wind against my face, filled me with so much giddiness that I thought I'd lose balance and fall off of my bici.