Arrivederci!

I chose Frank Sinatra's "Come Fly With Me" in lieu of the traditional "Leaving on a Jet Plane." I like Siantra's style better. And plus, Carmel put it on my going-away CD (entitled "Too Cool for America").

Just wrapping up a great weekend of seeing friends and family in Baton Rouge. Had a wonderful going away party at Blaire and Noelle's apartment and got to say bye to everyone. It was a grand ole' time, complete with Margaret and Holly's festive purple and gold togas. HAHAHA!



Well, let's get down to business. I'm leaving tomorrow. I can count the hours until ROMA! It's unreal in an I'm-about-to-be-Alice-in-Wonderland-Italy-style type of unreal.

On the to-do list? Nothing. And it feels GOOD.

Peace out, America. Catch ya' in a few months.

Oh heavens...

Two weeks from today and I'll be on my way.

On the to-do list:

• Pack. I am starting to freak about packing. I mean really freak. Freak to the point of being rendered entirely incapable of doing anything. Well perhaps that's a tad dramatic. But when they look like

and I look like
Well, we'll see how that goes... ha

• Make endless copies of endless paperwork for the endless beuracratic nonsense required to step a foot out of this country for any decent period of time. Now, it's the Permesso di Soggiorno, or permit to stay. I have to go to the State Police (Polizia di Stato) to get this thing. That should be a hoot.
• Aside from that, it's nothing particularly interesting-- getting travel soaps, vitamins, etc.
• Oh, and learn the Italian language. HA

Oh, and p.s. I got WINDOW seats all the way to Amsterdam! Hooray!