Spooky Empire

Twice a year the Spooky Empire convention comes to Orlando. I’d never been before, but when I found out that the girl used to babysit would be doing a book signing, I had to go. It was also wonderful getting to catch up with Amanda. We had grown close while working at DRIP all those years ago.

Amanda looking beautiful in her skeleton dress. 

Myself and Amanda.

Myself with tarot reader Madam Adam.

A metal cutout of Hello Kitty as Freddy Krueger.

A life size model of a velociraptor from Jurassic Park.

A sign at one of the vendor’s shops (they did sell animal skulls).

I even chanced upon a musical performance by Voltaire. Ironically, I first heard of him while I was in high school babysitting for Stephanie and her brother who enjoyed watching “The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy”. He put on a great show!

An inflatable demonic head in the hallway.

Stephanie with her books. It was wonderful to get to see her at Spooky Empire! She took me to panel for one of her favorite authors and she was also on another panel with two other writers. She loved to write as a child and I am so incredibly proud of her for sticking with something she is passionate about. It is such an incredible accomplishment for her to have multiple books published and be invited to Spooky Empire. 

Stephanie signing my books. 

Aura

Shaylei

My friend Judi gave birth to her second child, a daughter Shaylei on October 18th, 2023. 

I got to visit her and her mom on October 26th. She is such an adorable little baby. 

All bundled up and sleeping through one of her mom and I’s walks through the park.

The 25th Annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk

I met up with Amber and Justin at Lake Eola to support their family at The 25th Annual Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk. It was a fun day of games for the kids and a lovely stroll around Lake Eola. 

Ava ready to go down the slide.

Peyton and Ava shooting hoops.

Ava practicing her swings.

Peyton and Ava.

Peyton having fun bouncing around.

Peyton and Ava playing a game with help from mom.

Peyton and Justin.

Ready to start the walk.

Ava.

Peyton crossing the finish line with mommy and daddy.

All of Peyton’s supporters.

Trevi Fountain and The Return Home

Later that evening we visited the Trevi Fountain. Designed by Nicola Salvi and completed in 1762, it is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome.

We all took turns tossing a coin over our shoulder to ensure our return.

Mom and dad.

We had our final dinner in Rome at Enoteca Barberini. I had the pasta with tomato and mozzarella sauce.

Liz had a delightful caprese salad.

The next morning we were up early to catch our flight back home.

The sunrise on the way to the airport.

Our flight back home took us over the incredible Swiss Alps. 

Flying over Zurich and its beautiful lake.

Campo de’ Fiori

After visiting the glorious St. Peter’s Basilica we headed to the earthly garden that is Campo de’ Fiori market. Back in the Middle Ages the area was a meadow and the name Campo de’ Fiori translates to “field of flowers.” 

The market has been operating since 1869. 

Treating myself to some fresh squeezed pomegranate juice.

Liz (towards the right) checking out the produce.

Jenny enjoying the flowers and a vendor’s adorable little black dog.

 Vibrant produce on display.

At the center of the square is a statue of Giordano Bruno. He was born in Naples in 1548 and had become a Dominican Friar in his early twenties. He was interested in forbidden books and became controversial for his free thinking. When it was discovered he was hiding a copy of the banned writings of Erasmus, he fled Naples and traveled around Europe for a number of years. Having a fantastic memory and a keen intellect, he published several books and even gained the patronage of King Henry III of France. 

He was most known for his cosmology and the belief that stars were distant suns surrounded by other plants that may contain life. He wrote that other planets “have no less virtue nor a nature different from that of our Earth” and similarly, “contain animals and inhabitants”.

He came back to Italy and was turned over to the Roman Inquisition for accusations of heresy, blasphemy, and immoral conduct. He refused to recant and was burned alive at the stake at Campo de’ Fiori on February 17th, 1600. 

His contributions to modern science are still controversial, as he seems to stand on the threshold between the old ways of thinking and the beginnings of modern intellectualism. Many still regard him as symbol of free thought and a martyr of science. The statue was dedicated in his memory by sculptor Ettore Ferrari in 1889. 

Zucchini flowers.

This vendor displaying piles of sliced vegetables.

All the colorful tomatoes.

Dad with his fresh squeezed mango juice.

Dad’s and my shadow cast over the bouquets of flowers.

A flower vendor crafting beautiful bouquets.

Mom and Jenny. 

Mom, dad, and Jenny.

Jenny and dad (towards the left).

We ate lunch at Cantina & Cucina. I got the Tonnarello Cacio e Pepe, and we also got fried artichoke to share. Jenny’s tomato and pasta is on the top right.