I really just wanted to say one thing....VIVA ITALIA!!! Zizou, schmizou....I don't care if Materazzi insulted Zidane's mother, sister, dog...whatever. You just don't go and headbutt the crap outta someone when you have 5000 cameras on you and expect to get away with it. What was he thinking?!!! French people are so weird...

Speaking of the French, I work with about 6 of them:>) And I love them all...especially the ones who are reading this blog! So they were really not happy Monday morning when I greeted them with a cheerful 'Buongiorno a tutti!!' They quickly said that PKs are never a good way to determine the better team...blah, blah,blah. And then they defended their beloved Zizou til they were almost blue in the face. You KNOW that they would've rubbed it in my face if France had won!

So, I went to watch the game with some softball buddies. I ended up injuring my hand after Italy scored because I was so excited and kept slamming it on the bar...it was a brilliant goal, was it not? Then, after it was all said and done, we left to catch the bus and encountered a city full of Italy supporters going crazy. It was awesome!!! I even called my brother to make him listen to all the madness...whole families jumped into their tiny cars to drive around town honking their horns and waving their flags out the windows. There were tons of people on their balconies blowing air horns, with their flags draped over the sides. The Portugese were especially happy (I'm assuming because they lost to France, they were supporting Italy)and decided to dance and sing in the streets waving the Portugal flag around! I just kept jumping up and down, with my fists in the air, screaming 'Italia, Italia' everytime a honking car passed my way. It was just too cool!

To live on a continent where soccer, or football I should say, is the sport is just so exciting...especially during the World Cup. Now we have to wait 2 years...The Euro Cup will be coming to Switzerland and Austria in 2008!! Viva le football!

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted anything, so I thought I would take a few minutes to bring everyone up to speed on my exciting life.

So for the last 4 weeks, it's been World Cup fever over here. And for the most part, I have followed all the games. But this is ridiculous!!! France in the final?!! Is this a joke?! If I have to hear one more time that stupid song at the end of their games, I am seriously going to stick a baguette up someone's French ass. So....Viva Italia!!!!

Loulou has been getting bigger and stronger everyday now. She's the size of 12-15 month old at only 10 months, but is super cute. She has a very strong character and is starting to throw fits, which I will try to put an end to quickly! She is absolutely amazing with a soccer ball! I've been around a million kids, but I've never seen a 10 mo. old practically run after the ball and kick it far each time. She even takes it with the ball of her foot and rolls it around as if she has it completely under control...it really is amazing to watch:>) The future Mia Hamm;>) I will definitely spend time helping her to develop her coordination and skills, cuz she so has the potential to be a good athlete. I know that all kids have that probability, but she is more inclined to be sporty. Definitely the 'tomboy' type!

Well, I have 6 more weeks til I go to Texas! It will be a long 2 weeks since my little bro is getting married and my sister is having her baby. I'm also going to Las Vegas to see Celine Dion in concert and I'm so psyched!! I've never been to LV and I've never seen her in concert so it's the best birthday gift ever....Kim set it up and we'll be going the first week I'm there. I also, (I think!), have an alumni soccer game at MSU but haven't been informed of anything yet so we'll see if it's still on or not. If it is, I better get up and moving cuz I won't last 5 minutes in the Texas heat if I don't get into a little bit of shape! I always forget how hot it is there when I've been in Switzerland for 5 years, where the weather is more like Denver in the summer.

June was a sad month as I had to say "til next time" to some good friends from school. They finished their MBAs and moved back to Brazil and Italy. It's not easy to find good friends, and I definitely had a blast this year with them. So, hopefully, I will get to visit them very soon! The great thing about my university is that there are so many countries represented, but the downside is that when the year is over they have to leave. Oh well, at least I have really good reasons to travel now:>)

Speaking of studies, I am almost done!!!! I have one more class, in the Fall, and then my comprehensive exam in December. Then I walk in April, which I'm really happy about. If I'm able to pull off an 'A' in my last class, I will graduate Summa Cum Laude!!! I am really hoping for that;>) Then I think I am done with school!

Well, I am planning on working out the kinks with this blog site....not really sure how to make it look the way I want it. So I hope to have it look nicer the next time I update it:>) If any of you have suggestions on how to do that, I'm all ears!

Til the next post....Take care!