Poignant Moments

Well, today was a day of great moments! First of all, I wish I had my camera on my drive home only moments ago.

I was on the so-called "mountain highway", a two-lane road that runs along the mountain and passes through my village. It's absolutely beautiful. There was a man standing in the middle, wildly swinging a staff of some sort, so I slowed down. It was only then that I realized he was stopping hundreds of sheep from crossing out into traffic!

It was crazy to see how they were completely obeying him and watching his every move to make sure it was fine to cross. It reminded me of a passage I read for this week's Bible study - Ezekiel 34:1-16.

I was actually on my way home from the Venice airport, where I successfully picked up Chris' mobility bag from its long journey of two months from Romania. I have to hand it to Alitalia - I thought the thing was a goner long ago, and never expected we would see it again.

At the airport, there were moments when I still thought we wouldn't see it. They seemed to have lost track of it for about an hour. Then, when I actually got to see the bag, they told me that they didn't think I could take it, since they weren't understanding the power of attorney, husband being in Afghanistan type of deal.

I almost lost it, but surprisingly kept my cool. I think it was because an English couple next to me was going through what was my worst nightmare only weeks ago - they were arriving in Venice for a cruise, and Alitalia lost one of their suitcases. The wife engaged me in conversation - it was clear from the mobility bag, my American accent, and my ID card that my husband was deployed. The husband was a former Parliament member, and on the British Transportation Committee no less. He was trying to keep from hysterics. So, she told me how their grandson had done three tours in Iraq, and that she thinks that I am brave with my husband being deployed.

I had to stop to tell her that it has become routine, and that my husband is the brave one. That reminded me that I need to give Memorial Day wishes to all the great men in my life: Dad, Matt (my brother), Joe (my brother-in-law), and Chris, THANK YOU for all you have done and continue to do to serve and protect our great country!

Now, I must take a moment to brag about my husband. On his way to Afghanistan, he stopped in Germany, and took time to stop in my favorite Christmas store in the whole wide world. I got the package (a total surprise) in the mail today, and it had a beautiful smoker and a cute Bella Befana (Italian Christmas witch) ornament inside! It made my day.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend - I'm going to a winery tomorrow!

Scorpion Watch 2008

For those who don't know, I am currently in the midst of Scorpion Watch 2008. A live scorpion somehow trapped himself in the light fixture in my bedroom -- and has still not died. It has now been eight days.

I have alternated between sleeping on my downstairs couch and my guest bedroom, as I cannot fathom trying to sleep with that thing click-clacking around above my bed in the dark.

In a win for Italian commerce, we finally heard back on Chris' lost bag from Alitalia. This is from his trip to Romania, oh, back in March (!). They found it. I think it's in Rome. I am not holding my breath that it will make it to Venice.

Another update: I will be making a trip home to the States in late June/early July, and will probably be in the vicinity of Arkansas/Oklahoma! I will keep you posted...

Even More Updates...Can You Handle It?

I got a totally sassy new 'do today, courtesy of my awesome friend, Andrea. It is possibly the shortest my hair has ever been, and I LOVE IT!! I will try to get pictures up at some point, but you know how that goes. It's a cute bob, with even more bangs than last time. And, Matt, I chose a color...it was time.

I found a dead cat in my driveway yesterday. The hits just keep on comin'. I was truly never going to get close to doing anything about it, so my landlord was gracious enough to come over and dispose of it. Yuck.

Updates

OK, so Chris is safely in Afghanistan, and I have finally added some more pictures below from the vacation.

Stop criticizing me, all you who criticize my communication skills! My home phone and Internet line refuse to turn themselves back on (good luck trying to get Telecom to come fix them...ever), and my cell phone has started to selectively tune out the cell phone tower at my house. Lovely.

So, here I sit on base using free Wi-Fi. This can't go on forever, right? Oh, yes, one day I shall return to the U.S. of A. and take for granted the total ease of communicating with others.

Insanity

The past couple of days have been a whirlwind of, not just activity, but plain insanity.

Chris left yesterday for a summer vacation in Afghanistan. He will be gone until the fall. I was telling some friends today that it all happened so fast that it truly has not hit me that he will really be gone for that long. He has been gone so much lately that it really feels like he will be coming back in a couple of weeks. I will definitely be lonely and sad soon, I know it!

To make matters worse, today I was supposed to host a group of ladies at my house to hold a meeting to select vendors for our Bazaar in October. I have the distinct privilege of chairing that event again this year.

Well, the table was set for a nice lunch, the house was mostly clean, and I was brushing my teeth at about 8:30 a.m. when the water in my house just stopped working. No running water whatsoever. So, I had to scramble to find a new location (you can't even flush the toilet in my house let alone cook food without any running water), and food to feed our crowd.

The blessing in all this was that yesterday I got to meet up with my sorority big sister, Jenny, and her husband Phil for a lovely day in Murano. We went to the glass museum, glass store browsing (and buying), and ate a great lunch. It was fun to see you, Jenny!! I had a great day. And, I bought some really cool new jewelry (yes, Chris already knows I went shopping to compensate for losing him for the summer).

And, my committee still got to meet today, and have the vendors really under control, and way in advance. I am so excited for the 2008 Bazaar!