I haven't written a post in a long while, but I have a very good reason for that:

I've been in Italy on an Archaeological Dig at the San Giuliano Necropolis and Plateau in the town of Barbarano-Romano (which is a MUST see place - absolutely beautiful!)

During this trip I did a lot of research for my Thesis and I ended up handing in a "badly in need of editing, but the writing is good" First Draft of my Thesis. So, that's part of one hurdle cleared!

Over the last week or so, I've been working on doing my TA job and writing the papers that I need to finish off the Study Abroad - which is time consuming.

I've also been writing a little on TIAF: Unit Zodiac - Book 2. Not as much as I would like, but I have to get these papers done first. They're due on Friday, so I should be able to get them done before that and then, over the weekend, maybe get some "not-for-school" writing done.

Being in another country for so long is inspiring! I have come up with the ideas for at least Three More Stories!

One thing I noted, however, as I wandered around Ancient and Medieval Cities and Towns - the size of the streets and alley ways. It makes me think back to some stories / books I've read that have the streets as "wide, unpaved streets" or "wide enough to pull a full-sized cart through" or "the large troop of soldiers marched down the alley way toward the *insert whatever they were going for here*"

No...the Medieval Italian towns that I went through...the streets were narrow, often not big enough for two people to walk side by side. They were mostly paved in stone blocks - and in certain areas, you see where the small carts and such wore grooves into the stone...from hundreds of years of use!

Some of the "streets" were stairways leading up and down from different areas of the town and opening into lovely Piazzas that were the "courtyards" of the houses or apartments for several families...a small community within a larger one.

This is something that writers of Medieval Fantasy and such need to take into account when they're writing - go look at places or, if you can't travel, look up pictures and talk to people who have been there. Small attention to detail like that makes the story more realistic...and pretty damned awesome!

Okay...that's enough from me today...I have papers to finish writing!

Stay Safe and Have Fun - and Remember: Life is an Adventure! Live It!