So I am back at Leo and I am so excited to be around my friends and sorority sisters and finally be in the loop again. I didn’t realize how behind I was until I stepped on campus and was faced with the fact that I didn’t know where anything on campus was for the first time in three years!!! Everything had changed or had moved to a new location with the opening of the new buildings on campus. It was absolutely beautiful and it was so great to be home again. The way I see it I have two homes: one with my parents which I enjoy going back to, and one at Saint Leo where the campus might change but the people and the feeling you get when you are there never changes. Anyway, as soon as I got on campus everyone somehow knew I was there and they were already calling to make plans. One of these plans was being told that I HAD to go to Gasparilla with some of my friends. Gasparilla is this huge parade in Tampa right on the bay where pirates invade the coast and everyone tries to catch insane amounts of beads that are thrown off of the 100 or so floats. It was a lot of fun and while it was a little rowdier than is my usual scene- well, let’s just put it this way… by the time the parade was over I had caught a lot of beads. After the parade we went and had pizza and then went back to Leo where I fell asleep as soon as I hit my bed.

The whole gang all Pirate-ed out

ARRRRRRRRR!!!!!

The floats were sooooooo big!!!

Posted by Toni Recca at 8:17 PM | Permalink

So I haven’t written in a while but I have some updates. My plane home from Italy was delayed by a huge snowstorm in New Jersey. Luckily, my connecting flight was delayed as well so everything went as planned. I met my Mom and Dad when I got out of the terminal and they didn’t even recognize me until I dropped my purse and consequently my carry on and the sweatshirt I was holding (I am a notoriously clumsy person). No sooner did I get in the car when I was presented with a minute by minute itinerary of the next week and a half. We went shopping, saw a movie, lounged by the TV and ate Chinese food (which I had missed like crazy). The best part was that I worked a lot over the break and earned some extra cash for next semester (and got a pretty nice tan doing it). One of the highlights of my break was being able to see my sisters and their families this past weekend. We all had fun going out in the pontoon boat and hanging out at Donna’s (one of my sisters) new apartment while the kids opened their presents. I am so glad to be home. I think part of me will always want to go back even if it is not to Italy, but for now I am content to be here at home with my family.

My nephew Jonathan playing with Dad's hat.

"Someday maybe this will fit."

I love hugs from my niece!!!!

Dad lets the Grandkids drive the boat

Mike and Alex chillin at the dock

Posted by Toni Recca at 7:18 PM | Permalink