Times...they are a changing...

Wow! Sorry for the delay in posting...a few things have been going on.
We hope everybody had a wonderful Valentines Day!
Last, I shared we were going to see a Broadway show here in Rome.
We saw Priscilla Queen of the Desert and it was very interesting...
I must say we were pleasantly surprised of the production value of the performance. They definitely brought the fun nature and camp-ness of the original show out in a truly Italian way. The theater all decked out with everything from the giant 'pump' to cut-outs of the characters.
The dialogue was in Italian but all the songs were in English. It was good fun and well done for Italian theater.
Here are a few photos of our evening...

Tom eagerly awaiting the show...

The theater all lit in lavender...

Yeah...I had to...

...of course the Pump!

The sets were well done & over the top!

All-in-all we had a wonderful time!

Other news in this end of the world is about our Pope! As most of you may already know - he is resigning at the end of this month (February 28). We were lucky enough to see him during the feast of the Immaculate Conception and I will try and get down to the Vatican for his last appearance on that day. Hopefully, I will be able to deal with the crowds.
Eight Five year old Pope Benedict XVI was elected April 19 of 2005 and is now resigning. He will be the first Pope to resign his office since 1415.

Pope Benedict XVI

Strangely enough, just about two weeks ago the Italian's re-unveiled a modern art sculpture of Pope John Paul II at Rome's Termini (the main train station). The first time this statue/sculpture was unveiled (May 2011) it was met with a lot of criticism - on lookers felt it looked more like Mussolini than John Paul. So, the statue was covered and reworked to improve the face and make it look more like John Paul.
Here is the new and improved John Paul... (I'm still not impressed).

Side view...

Front view...

Well, enough of Popes and Priscilla's...
Everything else here on the home front has been going well. It is still a little cold for my tastes in Rome but signs of spring are on the horizon. Tom has been having a lot of meetings in Switzerland and traveling but is doing well.
My sculpting and ceramics are going well. I have a few projects in the works waiting to be baked - and I am starting a new class! I have decided to learn how to do Mosaics. It is an amazingly tedious process but I am sticking with it. Hammering each piece of marble and then setting it in mortar is..... a...... verrrrry..... slowwwwwwwww.... process.... but it is interesting and kind-of therapeutic.
Well, here are the projects in the works...
First, is a bowl I am calling 'Two Seasons'. It is decorated with grape vines and flowers... I am still working on this so be kind!

The grapes vines (fall)...

& the flowers (spring) 

The 'Man' I am working on has just been painted with glaze that will make the terracotta look like marble (fingers crossed) then I will paint the background with acrylics to look like brick after baking...

I think this will be fun when finished...

Lastly, is my new adventure...mosaics... I am doing an antique lion in black & white marble.

This was three hours of work...

...like I said slow & painful!

Ok, Basta! (Enough!)
I will let you all go back to your wonderful lives and will post more soon.
As always, we send love and best wishes to all our friends and family!
We love you all!
Abbracci a tutti!
Ciao for now!
Ron & Tom

Almost forgot - I saw this today and thought it was great. A tiny little electric car, not unusual, but I loved the beagle in the back with his head out the window... Too cute! Enjoy!