Tommy! I don't know about your area, but this Wednesday the local PBS is showing something about monsters of the deep, including squid!

Awesome! Thanks - I'll have to keep an eye out for that....

I wanted to get her a little thought gift, but it has to be something that she can take back to Italy (where she is doing her post doctoral work) easily.

think about the random crap the you can't get overseas. Has she mentioned anything that she's so glad to see/get (i.e. a kind of tea or candy bar )

Has she mentioned anything that she's so glad to see/get (i.e. a kind of tea or candy bar )

We really haven't talked yet. Just quick e-mails for time and place for dinner. Tea might work. I think she used to like tea.

When I was in London, I missed random shit. Mostly food related, but some items like my pantyhose, etc.

I'm cursed with the inability to sleep more than five or six consecutive hours. I fall right asleep, but once I wake up, I'm up. And I usually wake without an alarm. Things hurt too badly for me to stay in bed. I have to get up and ease achy bits, pay my morning respects, stumble into the shower, stumble out and wander around half-dressed while consuming coffee that either the timer-coffeemaker or one of the other humans has thoughtfully provided.

Verbal communication is unlikely and unreliable for at least an hour or two. I'm quite capable of driving, and performing physical tasks by rote--even some quite complex ones. It's just conversation or human interaction that's difficult. When I'm writing, the first two hours on arising are my most fertile time, as long as I don't have to talk to anybody or deal with math.

I'm trying to think about RI things she might miss , but I'm having trouble thinking of things that she could take back with her. Coffee syrup, Del's lemonade, and clam chowder are not easily packable.

A RI charm she could wear as a pendant or put on a bracelet? It's small, wearable, and very personal.

sj, seconding everyone else's thoughts on getting something she likes but may not be able to get in Italy. Another thought -- maybe a picture frame for photos of people back home, who she can't see very often.

I'm quite capable of driving, and performing physical tasks by rote--even some quite complex ones.

yes, this. Although, I have to be careful if I'm going somewhere else besides work, because I will suddenly realize that I'm not paying attention and I should have turned left.