Packing

What have I missed? What am I not thinking of? What will I need when I get there and I don't have it? Why do I need so much stuff - stuff I will probably only lug around the mountain of Pompeii, Amalfi coast, the fountains of Rome and never even unpack… This is Day Zero - also know as "The Packing Day!" I have already identified two things that I need to run out and get while Ann is perfectly ready. Walking shoes - bought. Second pair of walking shoes - procured as well. Advil, Benadryl, Claritin, toothpaste, sun screen - check! Do I need 5 electrical converters? Will I really need 12 pairs of socks - all white; and three pairs of black socks too? Today is the day to answer these and many more questions for tomorrow is too late. Ann and I are headed to Italy for a 12 day conquest of Rome, Isle of Capri and the Amalfi Coast. We can't thank Elizabeth Montana and Dream Italia (www.dreamitalia.com - yes, shameless plug) for their guidance and creativity for our journey. I think we are prepared but like the great boxing quote "everyone has a plan until they get hit" - reminds me that we won't be sure until we get there or better yet, return… The preparations for this started back in December of 2011 as I worked with Elizabeth to surprise Ann for Christmas with an Italian guided tour. Now it is Day zero - all negotiations with United are done, hotels identified and reserved, trip is paid for, Euro's purchased (at all time great rates I might add but you never really get currency exchange conversions until you had some stranger four grand in US dollars and they hand you back three coins and a debit card and say "Its in there!" - like a Prego commercial), the Rosetta Stone lessons, the books, the maps, the meetings with Elizabeth - at least ten of them (Elizabeth is so patient…) - the emails, the questions - FINIRE! All I know is it better be or we are in the deep end of the lake, and by lake I mean Mediterranean without a Euro. Speaking of plans, here is the plan: pack and finish work today, watch football - it will be a while until I can again - flight check-in, run to drug store, run to office, setup out-of-office for work (mine and AG's), make sure things are charged - iPad, iPhone, iPod, MacBook Pro, Bose Headphones, Sony a77 DSLR, Philips Sonic toothbrush (aka "the Vaporizer"), electric razor and on and on and on... Irony would say that none of the fancy electricity converters from Tumi I bought will work and we will be huddled around a candle to keep warm and use the back of a kitchen knife to perform the personal grooming requirements. The point of this blog is not to entertain or share our deepest thoughts - that is another site that you will have to google, or bing, yourself. The point is to share some pictures and provide a running narrative on our adventures and experiences. This is the first time in Italy for either of us, and the way the Eurozone economics are going, Italy might be sold to cover the Greek and Spanish losses so who knows if it will even be there in 2 years. Updates will try to be done daily but at the point who the hell knows if I even will find time to tickle the keyboard - are you aware of how much wine, lemoncello, pasta, fountains, walking, standing we will be doing?!?!?! I may end up writing this post-return in October. Ah well, remember the boxing quote about plans…. Arrivederci mio amicos!