Update

So much to tell you..but first, let me apologize for telling you to read the blog and then not writing in it....being at an internet cafe is not only expensive but demanding...these computers are from the 19th century and the keyboards are in Italian so many of the characters are in different places.

Just when I thought the pilot had dropped me off in Seattle, the rain stopped...its beautiful now. Have made some progress with paperwork...one last thing to do (the big one...permisso di sogiorno).

My friends drove me to IKEA and I did a whirlwind shopping trip, then we crashed an Italian wedding and then lugged all my purchases home via boat and walking.

The cat is fine...back to his grumpy self. My Italian is less than desirable but I am trying. I have applied for my internet access and they are telling me about 25-30 days someone will call me (in Italian) to tell me they are coming over to check out the wiring for it....after that, who knows how long it will take...so, my blog will be sparse and erratic for a while...hang in there with me, however.....I will catch you up on everything when I can

Observations on a Theme

So much rain...more in one day than in 2 years in Phoenix. But a nice change of pace. The flight was uneventful until the end when the cat got sick and the suitcase disappeared (and then magically appeared). Don't bring 5 suitcases to Italy unless you are prepared to receive many dirty looks from people...completely appalled with me! Snuck the cat in...good thing he was sick...no meowing going on. All moved in...getting used to water pressure, siesta closings, grocery shopping, and, of course, the language. Which by the way...all knowledge of the Italian language will immediatly leave you when you are talking to an official. Trying to get my internet service requested...who knows how that works or how long it takes...until then, every couple of days at the internet cafe probably. Visitors coming today, next Thursday, next Saturday and then about every 2 weeks after that for the next 4 months....hope it stops raining!

Twas the night before......

Well, here we are...just scant hours before I leave...the packing is still not done but the new (2nd new) laptop is all set up! I wouldn't recommend staying up for 42 hours in a row...what a science experiment that was! Other than packing, there really isn't anything left that I can do...it is what it is at this point.

However, I do have some advance warning in the fraud department....I am being told that by using my ATM card in Italy more than once will trigger a fraud block...nice feature but one would think that if I called in advance (like I did) and tell them I am gone for a year and will be using it, they could put some silly notes down and all is well. Not so, says the fraud department--they don't have the same software as the bank and so don't have access to my account until it hits the fraud trigger...then they are going to call me (at which point I won't be here to answer) to confirm that it is me and....well, you get the picture...

My last meal in Phoenix...I thought about it for a while (not long because I was hungry)...perhaps Arriba's Mexican and a big margarita to go out in style but not enough time, etc for that luxury. So, the next best thing (and this is not for the weak stomached people out there..) is peanut butter cookie dough! Since I am going to be deprived for a bit from the ol' PB experience, I thought this was a good choice...I can't believe I just confessed on the internet that I eat cookie dough for a meal! That's almost as bad as having a My Space page! :-)

Well, off to finish the packing....I am so tired of saying that...I have been packing for like a month now...soon, I get to unpack!

Talk to you from Italy!

It figures....

You know how things go so well for so long and then you slam into the wall. Well, I met the wall and I am a bloody mess. My brand new $1500 laptop has developed a hard drive issue and does not connect to the internet. How this happened is beyond me. It worked great a day ago and then last night, nothing. I have been on the phone for a total of 10 hours with various people around the world (India, Phillipines, etc) and we have gone as far as removing everything and putting it back to factory install. Still no internet. So, now I get to drive clear across town tomorrow to drop off my brand new $1500 laptop for service...and supposedly that it is under warranty is to bring me comfort! No laptop travelling with me to Italy. I have no idea what to do...I have officially lost it...crying like a baby and beyond exhaustion. I give up....moving to a foreign country is not the faint at heart and I have been a trooper for 9 months--running on nothing but adrenaline as I worked, went to school and prepared for the move. And, now, in the 11th hour, death of my lifeline......I don't know whether to be mad or sad....having not slept all night probably doesn't allow me to make an accurate decision....perhaps I need a nap.

And now it's several hours later without a nap but a good jolt of Coke and I am the proud owner of a new laptop! Yep, a new laptop! Don't have time to deal with this crap so being the determined individual that I am, I solved the problem! Andrenaline is running high (alongside caffeine) and I am off to tackle the packing once more--for good!

Finally.....

After months of being asked if I was scared or nervous (at which the reply was always a firm NO), it happened. I spent 5 hours working on some phantom laptop problem last night that wasn't really a laptop problem but probably an ISP problem. At 1230am this morning as I hung up the phone from the umpteenth 'techncial advisor' with what seemed to be a resolved situation, my stomach ached and my head swam and my palms were sweaty. And just a few moments later, the tears rolled. I am officially scared......what am I doing?! Just a little thing like who am I going to call in Italy when my laptop freezes was enough to start the litany of questions. I am leaving all things familiar and comfortable for the unfamiliar and uncomfortable...who in their right mind would do that on purpose?! I don't exactly have an answer for that because in my exhaustion, I fell asleep crying. I have awaken with "Marty Feldman" eyes and way too early, only to check my computer and see the phantom has returned.....finally, it is all real...the months of planning and thinking and strategizing are all in the distant past and I am faced with the new adventure that unfolds. God help me! seems to be all I can come up with.

The Elusive Wardrobe

So, I talked with the realtor this morning in Venice and he informed me that my apartment was just painted (I didn't know that was going to happen!) and that there is a wardrobe (armoire) in my bedroom! Yahoo...now I have a place to store all those shoes! :-)

The suitcases are all packed and only one thing does not fit....might have to 're-do' on Sunday one last time to fit it in. They are really heavy....so glad there are porters everywhere because the last thing I want to do is schlepp 250 pounds around the world....yes, I said 250 pounds....5 suitcases and an eight pound cat!

High Five!

Yep, 5 days to go....and really, all I have left to do is pack. That doesn't seem like much. In fact, today, I started at 9am and was sure that I would have it all done by 6pm and get to hang out for the remaining 4 days. Well, let's not jump to conclusions so quickly.....

First, I got everything in one room. Then I realized I had laundry to do, so I needed to wash that so everything could be in one room! Then I stood there looking at all that stuff and promptly turned around and left that room. Then Cammy came over, Deb called, Diana came over, Heather called, answered some emails, walked in and out of the room several times just waiting for the packing fairies to do their thing.....and, then, magically it was 6pm and time to get ready for dinner with Susan! Now its 930pm and all that stuff is still all in one room and no where near being packed.....it's so hard to find good fairies these days! And the really bad thing is that the 'one room' I chose was my bedroom, so now I can't even go to bed! I guess now is a good a time as any to try out the guest room and see what it is like to sleep there......or there is always the couch....

On a positive note, however, I did manage to 'delete' 4 pairs of shoes from the 30 pounds. That's great progress...I can hear the congratulations and applause already!