Thing the First:
My sister expressed heartbroken disappointment that when she visited my new digs on the internet, they looked exactly like my old digs on the internet. Because I am nothing if not a people pleaser (and I've been procrastinating about this for months now), I spruced things up a bit over the weekend. A little "Spring Cleaning" if you will. I brightened up the decor and cleaned up the side bars by creating a separate page for all of those fantastic blogs that I fully endorse. I even added a 100 things about me list over there to the left--except mine is 101 things about me, because I will not be restricted by convention!
Thing the Second:
Over the weekend I was honored to discover that one of my very favoritest recently discovered bloggers, Tipp, had bestowed the honor of naming Tomorrow is Another Day an Excellent Blog. This was really more exciting than I would have expected, and I've got to tell you, this is the first blog award of any kind that I've ever been given. It took almost three years, but I've finally made it! I'm the damn Susan Lucci of the internet! Anyway, the idea is to now pass it on to those bloggers whom I happen to find excellent. And this is where I'm stuck, because I made a list, and it was about fifteen thousand miles long. So, my solution is to give it to everyone on my blog roll. Some of you read here, others of you don't, but every single one of you makes my day a little brighter every time you post, and I couldn't possibly choose favorites. So there you go, you gorgeous, Excellent Bloggers! Be proud!
Thing the Third:
I'm leaving for Italy in four days--our flight takes off on Friday evening, and we'll be touching down in Rome on Saturday. I really feel like somehow we made the leap from four months to go to four days to go at an alarmingly hasty speed, and I still have about a bajillion things that need to be done. And so of course, I'm freaking out just a tad. Here is a random sampling of my to do list for this week:
1) Contact Our Lord in Heaven, and find out his weather plans for Italy from April 5th-20th.
a) At least see if He will narrow it down to sweater weather or tank top weather.
b) If He is not available, leave a message and then check weather.com obsessively for the next four days.
2) Learn to speak Italian
a) If not fluent by Wednesday, at least learn basic conversational phrases.
b) If still not able to carry on a conversation by Thursday, focus effort on numbers, bargaining terms, and "more wine/gelato, please".
3) Lose 15 pounds so that the 20 pounds I am liable to gain by eating a steady diet of gelato, parmesan, and wine for the next two weeks will not be so visible.
Of course, there are many other things on the list--packing for example--so I'll be pretty busy for the next few days. But I figure we've got our passports, we've got our plane tickets, and we've got our hotel reservations, at this point, everything else is just extra. (Although if you have a spare Italian tutor lying around, please feel free to send him/her in our direction.)
I can't believe you're going to Italy so soon! I hope those shoes are broken in!
Posted by: Miriam | March 31, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Lucky girl! Going to Italy. Have a blast. I think you are going to need a little more time, just a bit, to be fluent in Italian. LOL!
Posted by: 1218blog | March 31, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Wow, that DID go by quickly! I love your to-do list, mine would look just like that, but with CLEAN THE HOUSE at the top (because I am crazy), and with things like TAKE SHOWER and WASH HAIR interspersed, just because I like to cross things off.
Prego, ciao, and gelato are the only words you need to know in Italy. There, now you can cross "learn Italian" off the list!
Posted by: Operation Pink Herring | March 31, 2008 at 07:08 PM
"if not fluent by Wednesday.."
yeah, good luck with that. hehe ;)
Posted by: Michelle & the City | March 31, 2008 at 07:22 PM
Ha! I have a Russian tutor in Seattle and an Italian language pocket guide with me here . . . not EXACTLY what you're looking for . . .
Have fun!!!! And eat pasta. And make sure you visit the Trevi Fountain in Rome (and then the shops nearby--so cute!). And playing "Count the Clergy" in Vatican City is actually pretty entertaining . . . well, at least my brother and I had fun playing it . . .
Posted by: L the D | March 31, 2008 at 07:59 PM
Bring a sweater and maybe a rain jacket. I can't imagine it being too warm right now. That said, it will be warmer than WA!
I'm pretty sure you don't need to know Italian, since your blonde. The Italians love blondes and no doubt will be hanging on your every English word. But bring a pocket guide and give it a go. Maybe Colby will surprise you, having practiced on his many nights away from you?
Have fun! I can't believe it's only 4 days away. It seems like that FLEW up. You are gonna LOVE IT!!!!
oh, and I did I mention I'm jealous?!
anne
Posted by: Anne | March 31, 2008 at 08:40 PM
Congrats on your award AND get excited about Italia! I recommend the Rick Steves guide to the language because it'll get you into/out of any situation you could possibly end up in. (My friends and I read through it one day at lunch and passed by the conversation had at a bar and someone's first time, yeah).
A good thing about Italia is that you walk a lot. I didn't lose weight before I went and actually was OK with gaining a little pasta belly while there. When I got home, I learned I had lost about 15 pounds from all the walking. So you can eat all the good stuff because you'll walk (some) of it off.
Have fun!
Posted by: E.P. | March 31, 2008 at 09:17 PM
I can't believe it is already here! I leave Friday to visit my family in Atlanta, but I already know there language. Don't stress too much before you go, everything will be fabulous even if your list is incomplete.
Posted by: sophie | March 31, 2008 at 10:48 PM
I swear I know the difference between "there" and "there," even though I was not the family English major.
Posted by: sophie | March 31, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Also handy: "Where is the bathroom?"
Posted by: TasterSpoon | April 01, 2008 at 01:48 AM
i'm so jealous you're going to italy so soon! that's so exciting!! can't wait to hear stories and see pics of course :)
Posted by: katelin | April 01, 2008 at 02:01 AM
I recommended listening to those "Learn to Speak Italian" CDs in your sleep. Save time during the day!
Posted by: Erin | April 01, 2008 at 02:27 AM
I had a dream last night about a passport mix up. I was racing around Philly trying to get one so I could go on a family vacation. I don't even have any foreign trips planned. Hope yours is fabulous!
Posted by: JP | April 01, 2008 at 03:58 AM
I am still in shock over the award thing!
I can't wait to see pics of Italy!!!
Are you going have guest bloggers when you are away?
Posted by: Tipp | April 01, 2008 at 05:43 AM
Wow, time is FLYING!!! But you're right, passports, plane tickets and a hotel room are the major necessities, and as long as you pack some underwear, you're good!
Nice job with the "Spring Cleaning," and I love the 101 things!
Thanks for including me in the "Excellent" list! :)
Posted by: Girl, Dislocated | April 01, 2008 at 05:45 AM
My packing tutorial is some timely.
I don't know how to pack for long term trips. I did 6 weeks in Costa Rica once. It was a disaster!
Posted by: slynnro | April 01, 2008 at 06:03 AM
omg...you're going to Italy in 3 days.
OMG! YOU'RE GOING TO ITALY IN 3 DAYS!!!!
Like Anne, I'm jealous...but I'm so excited for you and will live vicariously through you and your plethora of photos that you will post upon your return.
Ah, Rome. So beautiful! I was there, let's see now...about a million years ago. It probably hasn't changed.
Order the Sangiovese. You won't be disappointed. And eat gelato every day. Twice, whenever possible.
Have a safe journey and a wonderful time!
:)
xoxo
Posted by: Anonymous G | April 02, 2008 at 05:41 AM