Actually, I was thinking it would be sort of like a pet. You know, we could...we could name her Trixie, or Miss Kitty Fantastico, or something.

Tara ,'Empty Places'


Spike's Bitches 44: It's about the rules having changed.  

[NAFDA] Spike-centric discussion. Lusty, lewd (only occasionally crude), risqué (and frisqué), bawdy (Oh, lawdy!), flirty ('cuz we're purty), raunchy talk inside. Caveat lector.


brenda m - Mar 26, 2009 5:36:12 pm PDT #4823 of 30000
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there

So, this was weird. Apparently I'm going to Italy.

We were tossing around ideas for my dad's birthday (he's 70 this year) and right in the middle of that I spotted some seriously cheap fares to Italy. And suddenly an idea my sister and I had tossed around yonks ago in a sort of yeah, someday way was resurrected.

He spent several years there in the Navy, still speaks Italian (kind of), met my mom there when she was spending her grad school tuition futzing around Europe with her friends, etc. So, yeah, it was kind of a significant place to him. And they never made it back there.

[It wasn't a huge tragic story - we did make it to other parts of Europe on a couple of occasions so it's not like they couldn't have. But still. I know it would mean a huge amount to him to get to see the place once more and remember and share some of his history.

So I bought the damn tickets and the three of us are going in May. Only for a few days - in theory, she's contributing but reality is that is basically going to be on my dime so I really had to be firm with myself about what was going to be manageable.

Anyway, we're flying into Pisa, will go from there maybe to Florence for a day, then a couple of days in Naples where he lived and then back to Pisa to head back. Phew.

Any advice, suggestions, warnings? I'll take anything you got.


beth b - Mar 26, 2009 5:50:40 pm PDT #4824 of 30000
oh joy! Oh Rapture ! I have a brain!

Well. I just hope it all goes smoothly. -- I mean the travel, I am sure your talk will. (that was for hil)

DH did his first travel with new co. The person who booked things - not a travel agent. Booked everything one way. Over night 2 stops to Ohio. He comes back Friday -- but the second flight , it looks like he will be bumped. 8pm at DFW. and it was sort of booked that way. Now there are lots of flights from DFW to this area, but this didn't have to happen

Since the office in Columbus,OH is where a number of his people work ... he needs to find the best way.

and yay brenda!


Hil R. - Mar 26, 2009 5:47:46 pm PDT #4825 of 30000
Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont, open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant. Adam Schlesinger, z''l

Hmm. I was in Italy a few years ago.

Florence has all the art museums, of course. It's also got a museum of the history of science that's nowhere near as interesting as the ads would have you believe. (There are like three really cool exhibits, and rooms and rooms filled with things like protractors and log tables.) If you go to the Academia, there's a little exhibit in a sort of side gallery of antique musical instruments, and that one is pretty cool.

Food is incredible everywhere except Venice. If you've got time and interest to do a winery tour, those are fun.

There was this great little restaurant that we found in Pisa, but I can't remember exactly where it is. The restaurants within a few blocks of the tower are all overpriced. When you go see the tower, also go over the other side of the plaza and look in the church -- there's some cool artwork on the walls.


Connie Neil - Mar 26, 2009 6:03:13 pm PDT #4826 of 30000
brillig

Hil, Hubby suspects a muscle has shifted on you and is now pinching some nerves.


Vortex - Mar 26, 2009 6:06:48 pm PDT #4827 of 30000
"Cry havoc and let slip the boobs of war!" -- Miracleman

Any advice, suggestions, warnings? I'll take anything you got.

You should email mfnlaw. Her family's originally from italy and she goes there every other year, I think.


sj - Mar 26, 2009 11:23:11 pm PDT #4828 of 30000
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."

Brenda, take the time to see the statue of David while in Florence. Also, if anyone is in a shopping mood, Florence is the place to do it, especially for gold and leather goods.


sj - Mar 26, 2009 11:27:40 pm PDT #4829 of 30000
"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."

Tea:

We actually had really good food in Venice. We ate on a nearby island called Burano. It's a beautiful fishing village, and we had the freshest seafood dinner.


Shir - Mar 27, 2009 1:50:27 am PDT #4830 of 30000
"And that's why God Almighty gave us fire insurance and the public defender".

I'm thinking if to send my resume for a 1/2 time job. Because that job is easy, and I need one, and I can also work from home, but I really only have the time for a 1/4 time job.

Hil, I hope things will turn alright for you.

brenda, I say you'll be too close to not visiting Israel. But dammit, Italy. Have fun!

I took a couple big sips. eh. Not bad, not WOW! but I can drink this. Cute co-worker was like "oh, I've always wondered what they taste like, can I?" Um, Ya! Apparently that thing was pure booze. Me? No clue. Thankfully I stopped drinking it after that next sip. 10 minutes later. Ya. Felt it. Feeling it. Yum. Feels great, but glad I stopped, or no driving home for me. WOW! And that was only 1/4 of the glass, if that! So what's that say about my ability to drink? My mouth used to be an early warning for hard liquor. Apparently not any more! If I make it to the F2F, something tells me, I'm gonna be drunk off my ass.

Now I want to experiment. Please, by all means, if he makes it to the next F2F, take pictures. With notes.


Strix - Mar 27, 2009 3:45:44 am PDT #4831 of 30000
A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman but loose enough to flee from zombies. — Ginger

Brenda, I heard an NPR story on the state of tourism in Italy right now, which is apparently crappy, so there's som good hotel and tourist deals right now. Some AmEx places have closed, so I would make sure I got good info on the best exchange places before you go. And Italy/American taxes are crap, so remember that when you buy stuff.

Otherwise, I am totally jealous! Neither my mom or my dad have ever travelled out of the US, except one day trip to Mexico in the 60's and I know they've always wanted to. This is so cool.


Calli - Mar 27, 2009 3:48:14 am PDT #4832 of 30000
I must obey the inscrutable exhortations of my soul—Calvin and Hobbs

The London police are getting in on the fashionista business as they advise bankers to dress down for the G20 summit next week. I don't think ironic cardigans are going to save them.