Well, it's not official yet, but it looks like I'll be spending some time in Italy this summer. I'm definitely going for Flavio's graduation at the end of July, but I'm hoping that I can stretch this into a 2-week stay. If I can, we'll basically be having our "honeymoon" (even though the wedding won't be until November, maybe). I'm so excited!! This is all contingent on me being able to get a little leave of absence from work, but things have been so slow (and are only getting slower), I don't think that'll be too hard to swing.
I've been watching a lot of
Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel, and just about every day they show a different city in Italy. It's filled me with a strange feeling I can't quite describe...something in between homesickness and the travel itch. I'm eager to be back in a place I love, but just as excited by the prospect of exploring new parts of that place. I want to go to Verona, visit the Casa di Giulietta and rub the statue's bronze boob for good luck, and ride a free bicycle through the streets while I take in the mix of Roman and Venetian architecture. I want to go back to Venice and eat four ice cream cones again. I want to travel to Bologna and take my first scooter ride and see if the mortadella tastes as good as the Oscar Mayer bologna I grew up eating.
And don't get me started on how jealous I am of Flavio right now. Tomorrow morning, he's hopping on a train and heading for the coast. He's just going to spend the day reading, sunbathing, and swimming in the Mediterranean. Then he'll spend the night camping on the beach. If I didn't love him so much, I think I might hate him a little bit. ♥
I love you, sweetie. Albert will be in the mail tomorrow, along with your surprise!!!
It's been 9 days since my last post, and it's rained every single one of them. Poor Xena doesn't seem to know what to do, tip-toeing through the mud and muck. Although the sun is shining today, there are storms in the forecast pretty much every day for the next week. As long as it doesn't flood, however, I'm not going to complain about the rain. The farmers need it, right?
It rained buckets last night. Today, my car can't make it down the street due to flooding, so I'm effectively rained in. It's a bit like being snowed in, without the fun for Xena. She loves playing in the snow, but she hates rain. Around 2 o'clock this morning, she climbed into bed with me because of all the thunder and lightning.
Today was a pretty great day. The weather has finally decided to be beautiful (and, hopefully, stay beautiful). This morning I took Xena for her longest walk yet--about 3/4 of a mile. She's doing really great! She even sits down when we reach an intersection so I can check for traffic before crossing the street.
