Winter has returned (cough, cough)

The freezing cold weather returned, just as I was considering acquiring some spring clothing. With the low temps and wind came a vicious cough which kept me up all night and I'm out of commission today. I called the school office to tell them I wouldn't be in class this morning or afternoon. They said they would tell my professor. (Tuition status: still haven't paid.)

My friend Marianna will be coming into town Tuesday evening. I'm very excited to see her. She'll be here for about two weeks, and we'll spend time together for Pasqua (Easter). She's bringing me a new power cable for this shoddy Mac, and the external DVD drive. Fingers are crossed that this will solve some of my infrastructure challenges.

A dear friend and colleague told me about Villa Viviani, which is just outside of Firenze. I wrote a letter to them requesting an opportunity to visit it. Here is the description from their website:

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Villa Viviani is an ancient villa located on the hill of Settignano, in the neighbourhood of Florence, surrounded by nature and open spaces. It has a fine view over Fiesole and Florence.

Its wonderful garden, in perfect italian style, is surrounded by vintage oliven trees and characterized by a row of high cypresses.

Mark Twain, guest of Villa Viviani in 1892, composed his tale "Pudd’nhead Wilson" right here; in the introduction to this tale he wrote:

"Given under my hand this second day of January, 1893, at the Villa Viviani, village of Settignano, three miles back of Florence, on the hills the same certainly affording the most charming view to be found on this planet, and with it the most dreamlike and enchanting sunsets to be found in any planet or even in any solar system and given, too, in the swell room of the house, with the busts of Cerretani senators and other grandees of this line looking approvingly down upon me, as they used to look down upon Dante, and mutely asking me to adopt them into my family, which I do with pleasure, for my remotest ancestors are but spring chickens compared with these robed and stately antiques, and it will be a great and satisfying lift for me, that six hundred years will."

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I'd love to visit this place. I'm hoping to have the opportunity to take some photos and make some drawings and maybe edition some prints. If I have this opportunity I would donate a print of each edition to the organization. And of course, I would gift them to Don!


Related links:
> Villa Viviani