Every day life in Jesi...

Hey, let's try this again, with pictures this time~!

Also, in case it hasn't been made clear yet, the actual website for the blog is:

http://www.hooverhappenings.blogspot.com/

Hi! 2 games later, we are finally posting a 2nd blog. It took us awhile to figure out the whole "google groups" mailing list, so now hopefully you'll each receive an email when I publish this post.

I wanted to share a few pics of our house and neighborhood. We live about a 6 minute walk from the City Center, which is where there is a lot of shopping, restaurants, etc. When walking to the Center, I pass by several fresh fruit and vegetable shops, pastry shops (pasticcerias), coffee shops, and little drug stores. Our apartment is on the 2nd level of this green building.

However, just a 1/2 block from the house is a Segafredo coffee shop. Segafredo is to Italy like Starbucks is to the States. It just so happens that the family that owns this particular Segafredo, the Manoni's, is also the owner of our apartment. I was already familiar with Segafredo, because the first one in the U.S. happened to open up about a year ago 2 blocks from my showroom/office in St. Louis. You can see the old guys wondering what the heck I'm doing taking this picture. They all sit out on the patio everyday and are big basketball fans, so they all notice when Ryan and I come and go, since it's hard to miss our car!!! Later... Brenna

Hello from Italy!

Buonasera!!!! We are both here in Jesi, and doing well. Ryan is a veteran, so all he has to do is concentrate on playing ball and winning games. I, on the other hand, have had a number of new things to learn, not the least of which, was setting up this blog!!!

I have been here one week now, and I am finally able to find my way to the two grocery stores, the arena, and the city centre. Driving here is a whole new experience... At the moment, I'm driving like a little old lady, which is driving Ryan nuts, but I'm sure that I will soon be able to keep up with the crazy pace, the turn abouts, and the winding one-way roads.

Tomorrow is Ryan's first regular-season game. He is playing in Montecatini which is just on the east side of Florence. It's a 4-hour drive and I will be going with another player's wife. Ryan played for Montecatini in the 2003-2004 season, so this game will have higher personal stakes for him, but it is also an opportunity to see old friends and teammates!~

I miss you all, but I'm also enjoying this new season of life... not much to be stressed about these days... I'll post pictures of Italy when I get back from Montecatini! For now, I'm posting a few wedding pics that people have been asking for...