Roman Holiday - Part I

Roman Holiday – Part I

Most birthdays come and go and we mark them with the traditional singing of “Happy Birthday”; friends and family give cards and gifts; we remember fondly the day we were born and the “lore” surrounding the day. In my case, my mother has many wonderful stories about my day. One of my favorite is of me being born on my exact due-date! Normally it wouldn’t be that unusual, except for the fact that in her naiveté, my Mother (to-be) informed my (soon-to-be) Daddy that since it was so far from their house to the hospital (practically all the way across the Mohave Desert to Edwards AFB), and that since “the baby” (me) would be born today (after all, it was her due-date), she had better drive into work with him (even though she wasn’t even in labor yet!) Ha! And . . . what do you know - I was born that very day! Right on time! Amazing!


Well, fast forward to this year, and we were looking forward to making my 55th birthday something special. After all, I was turning 55 and I was born in 55 – 1955 that is! (A shared birthday with the original Disneyland, by the way). So, guess what we did? We just took a simple day-trip to ROME – that’s all! Now, how cool is that! I’ve wanted to see the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, for as long as I can remember. Not to mention the many, many other famous sites in the city. We knew that we could only go for the day, but it would be worth it for our first peek at the famous city. There is plenty of time for travel to this magnificent city while we’re stationed here in Naples over the next few years, to see the myriad of other places on our list. It’s only an hour away if you take the fast train and two if you have a little more time and want to save some money.

Our trip started very early the morning of November 12th. Friday shouldn’t be as crowded as the coming weekend, we thought, and it was still close enough to my birthday that it felt like a celebration. Phil took care of purchasing the train tickets, as well as the bus tickets needed to get to the train station beforehand, so all we had to do was get a few things together the evening before and drive our car to the same place Phil goes to work every day. We commented that it seemed strange not having to pack *anything* at all for a trip to Rome, and even more strange that we’d be returning that very evening to our own house! It all still seems so very surreal. After driving to the base, which is next to the airport and the bus station, and then taking the bus to the train station; and then enjoying our leisurely, very fast trip from Naples to Rome on the train, we arrived at the Rome train station by 11:00 AM. Not really sure of what to do exactly, other than wanting to see the Colosseum, we set out on foot to get our bearings.


We quickly realized that we needed a map! So, we bought a map (Can you believe we didn’t have one yet? Silly, Mimi!) But, it’s not like a person couldn’t buy one on EVERY corner! As we were looking at our map and deciding what to do and what to see, a guy came up to us who spoke perfect English (of course) and asked if we would like to go on a tour. After listening to his spiel, we thought it was actually a pretty good deal and a great way to spend the next few hours. This way we would see many of the major sites (Monuments of Rome) in the city, and be

able to use the tour bus all the rest of the day.

We would go back to the Colosseum after the tour and take that tour then as well, which is what we did! It all worked out quite nicely, actually, and we enjoyed our day immensely!

. . . to be continued

Fair-weather Blogger

"A *fair-weather friend* is the type who is always there when times are good but forgets about
you when things get difficult or problems crop up."

On the 12th of November, the day before my last blog entry,
Papa and I travelled for the day - and for my birthday - to Rome! It's less than
an hour by train and it was the perfect way to mark my 55th birthday -
unforgettable! On the way home, however, as we were waiting for the train in
Rome at the train station for our return train, my throat began to hurt more
and more by the minute! I found myself unable to swallow very well, and in dire
need of a throat lozenge (a bit problematic with the language barrier). By the
time we reached our home in Pozzuolli, I was genuinely sick! Fever and all! For
the next two weeks I was rarely out of the house, doing my best to kick the bad
cold! Every-once-in-awhile I would say to myself, “Since I’m just lying around
the house doing *nothing* but coughing and sneezing and feeling yukky - I
should work on my blog” . . . still I couldn’t bring myself to write anything
feeling the way I did! But . . . once I did start to feel a little better,
well, you can imagine, wa-haayyy too much catching up to do!

"Stuart was frightened, but he was a brave mouse, even when he had a sore throat." (from Stuart Little by E.B. White)

The good news, I am 90% better and able to engage in all the
activities going on over here for the Holidays. Not to mention finishing up the
*un*packing and the putting away of our household goods!! “Almost there . . .
almost there . . .”

I’ll blog soon about our trip to Rome and finally getting our
second car and me *driving* in Italy for the first time! Just wanted to check
in though, especially for those who’ve been asking, “Where are you?” . . . with
not a little concern in their *voices*!

Ciao, Bella! Mimi

Happy Birthday, Johnny!
It's your birthday today and we celebrate it with you!
We hope you enjoy your day.

God grant you many, many years!

Love,
Mom & Dad

Veteran's Day ~ 2010




2nd MEB Memorial Service ~ April ' 2010



Veterans' Day ~ 2010

Naples, Italy

Almighty God, when men gathered at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 to sign the armistice agreement for what they thought would be the conclusion of the war to end all wars, they had no idea that in the 92 years that would pass until this gathering here today, America would have to endure at least one more global conflict, and more than five additional major conflicts. As we commemorate the service of all veterans on this day, let us not forget the sacrifice of so many in these terrible past seasons of unrest in human history, as well as in the campaigns that continue even as we speak today. Let us not despair, however, over the losses, but instead celebrate the victories that came not to satisfy the egos of tyrants, but to ensure peace and security for ordinary men and women everywhere. May this be an inspiration for us today, as well as for our future …and a solace for the losses of the past. Give us hope for a future where wars will finally cease, and where men can enjoy fellowship together at a common table of tranquility. Bless the food we’re about to receive, and the gracious and giving hands that traveled so far to provide it and prepare it for us. In your holy name we pray.

~ Amen.


* Fr. Philip [a.k.a. Chaplain Pelikan] said this prayer this morning at a special steak and egg breakfast provided to service members and their families on the base by "Chefs from the Valley."  They are a volunteer group of business men and women from the San Joaquin Valley in California who brought 3,500 steaks - paid for out of their own pocket - and all designed to honor the troops and their families on this Veterans' Day!

Happy Birthday Marine Corps!

Born in Tun Tavern, 235 years ago today, the United States Marine Corps has served our country with a distinction, belying its inauspicious beginnings. From its somewhat scandalous origins, the Corps has built a reputation for skill and intrepidity in war fighting that is second to none.

We are proud to have been associated with them for 10 of the 21 years that we’ve been in the Navy Chaplain Corps.



         Happy Birthday Marines and
                    Semper Fidelis

Birthday, Balloons & the Blues

Tomorrow is my birthday -  for the first time in Italy. But I was just thinking how it was 35 years ago - tomorrow - that I was "in" the hospital with false hopes, as it turned out, awaiting active labor and the birth of our second son - already a few weeks overdue! They sent me home, however! "It won't be long now." they said. 4 days later, our second son finally made his entrance into the world!


We've had, and will have, a number of birthday celebrations during these fall and winter months. Funny, I thought I'd be okay [sort of] with all of it. But it's really hitting me now, and not really turning out that way. As I see pictures and read the posts and emails about all the festivities, it tugs at my heartstrings more than I realized it would.

75 . . . 55 . . . 35 . . . 5 . . . and these are just the birthdays ending in the number 5 this fall/winter! Super-special years, and aching to be there celebrating the day these specal people in my family were born! And there are others!

What's to be done . . .

Papa and I watched Walt Disney's, Pollyanna, the other night, to see if would help cheer us up - definitely one of my all-time favorite movies! In that movie, Pollyanna, played by Haley Mills, is a cheerful young orphan girl who goes to live with her aunt Polly, in a small town after the tragic death of her missionary parents. She is somehow able to bring the love of life to all the people in the town though a view of life she learned from her father. He taught to her through a game called, "The Glad Game" and by the time she must leave them through a tragedy of her own, she has transformed the community with her incredible will to see the good side of even the worst situations and brings about the betterment of all those around her.

I came across a simple version of "The Glad Game" and thought it might be enjoyable this Holiday Season:

"The Glad Game"

Inspired by the classic, Pollyanna, by Eleanor H. Porter.




Simple Solution


"The very name “Pollyanna” has come to mean someone who is eternally upbeat and optimistic, who spreads positivity and good will wherever she goes. Before you decide that such unremittingly cheerful behavior is truly nauseating and deserves a good smack, think of this: people who take time every day to count their blessings are truly happier (and live longer) than those who don’t.



So spread a little good cheer in the New Year with this great game that helps you to focus on the glad, not the bad. Your heart--and everyone who knows you--will be grateful. It only takes a minute.



You can play this game when you’re driving in your car, or taking a walk, or sitting at your computer--pretty much under any circumstances.



Start small: just think of ONE THING that you’re glad for. Maybe it’s the taste of the special coffee that Aunt Ruth from Winnetka sent you for Christmas. Maybe it’s the fact that the holidays are over. Perhaps you have a new love in your life, or an interesting new project to work on. Or you could be glad for your family, or your dog or cat. Really think about whatever it is for a moment. Allow yourself to smile over it. Feel your heart open and glow with gratitude for whatever it is.



That’s it. But tomorrow, try thinking of two things you’re really, truly glad for. Expand the field of your gratitude every day. Really take time to appreciate the many many blessings you enjoy. You’re alive: you have the capacity to be a beneficial and positive presence on the planet. You are needed--or you wouldn’t be here. Enjoy this life that you have been given! And be glad."



I'm already feeling "glad"!

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

[the real "Glad Game"]

Happy Birthday US Navy!



Navy Ball ~ 2010

 On Friday, October 13, 1775 ~ the United States Navy was born as the Continental Congress ordered the construction of a naval fleet - if you can call "two sailing vessels armed with ten carriage guns and swivel guns" a fleet! The two ships were manned by crews of eighty and were sent out for three months at a time to intercept transports carrying munitions and stores to the British Army in America.

This was the original legislation, out of which the Continental Navy grew and as such constitutes the birth certificate of the United States Navy.

"Over the course of The War of Independence, The Continental Navy sent to sea more than fifty armed vessels of various types." The Continental Navy began the proud tradition carried on today by our  United States Navy, and whose birthday we celebrate each year in October."

This past Saturday night, we, CDR & Mrs. Philip J. Pelikan, attended the 235th Navy Ball in Naples, Italy!  And rather than trying to manage taking a nice picture when we got there, we took this picture at the house just before we left (in our repaired car - by the way - ['all dressed up and somewhere to go'] navigating the narrow road just fine).
We had a great time! Papa was honored to give the Invocation during the ceremonial portion of the evening. In attendance were six Admirals, one General, a plethora of senior officers and distinguished guests - including the US Consul General and over 360 in attendance (mostly US Navy). We enjoyed meeting quite a few new people and even some that we've known in the past. The food was delicious, the band was exceptional, and the venue a complete success!

Ciao, Bella!  Mimi

Helpless, Helpless, Helpless!

I learned a little more about myself Saturday evening as I trudged up the hill from the "dead" car in the middle of the road; I much prefer my personality in happier times! Also, I would rather write when I'm lighthearted than when I'm sad . . . so, it pains me to write today. I wanted to tell you what happened to us last night though, so I must write! With this in mind, I will try to eek out some words and divulge how the other night, I came to be slowly making my way up the very steep Roman road that winds its way to our recently acquired Italian home, rather than enjoying the lovely evening planned with colleagues and friends at the idyllic Italian restaurant we were headed to. As I was laboring up the very steep hill in my nice clothes, and Papa in his, I could just make out the faint echo of an old Neil Young song from my teenage days in my mind, and felt 'Helpless, Helpless, Helpless' with each agonizing step! It was all I could do not to be extremely upset at my husband as he zoomed on in despair ahead of me, since he was the one who'd backed into the wall and rendered our very recently purchased car - "dead in the water!" (not a good testimonial as to my attitude, but there it is nonetheless) It's difficult to even describe how narrow the road is, and the car we have is just a little too wide. We should actually have something a little smaller, and having to back up was not good . . . it's actually never good! Everything seemed to converge at once that evening; the rain, the darkness, cars coming in both directions, no where to pass, etc. It was the "perfect storm." An accident waiting to happen, I suppose. To top it off, we were on our way to a "Hail and Farewell" and WE were being hailed!! There was no way for us to get to the dinner and say good-bye to the outgoing XO after "the rendering of the [car] death." We don't have a second car and we needed to be at the scene of the accident to make sure a tow truck came to move our car out of the road as quickly as possible.  We were "all dressed up with nowhere to go" - literally!

Obviously, we had to do something, but WHAT? We tried to find numbers from our orientation class notes and call the base emergency 911 number so that an interpreter could help us get someone to come out on a weekend, at night, to tow the car. We finally got that worked out. And it's a good thing we had enough Euro, otherwise . . . there's no teller nearby, our neighbor was out of town, we aren't within walking distance of the train or bus! It was looking grim! The towing company only takes cash! 50 Euro to tow the car 1km!! Yikes! But, fortunately we had the cash; why, because we were supposed to PAY for our [sniff] nice dinner earlier that evening!
I was rapidly sinking into that sadness hole I was talking about earlier! But stop and think, I said to myself, all in all, this situation is more of a hassle than anything else. . . it could've been so much worse!. At least no one else was involved and we weren't hurt, apart from our muscles being a bit sore from the sudden stop. As I sat on my couch later on, clicking away on the keyboard with my mom in the states on msn instant messenger, for the first time since moving here to Naples I felt small and far away! I guess it all just hit me. So, after I "hung up" from chatting with my mom, I sat on the sofa for the longest time just feeling a bit sorry for myself! I "typed" to mom that I needed to be by myself for a little while and pray and think things through. You just do what you have to, even when you don’t feel strong enough or brave enough or even well enough.


I went to bed a lot earlier than usual Saturday night, which for me is kind of a big deal (those who know me well can attest to this), wishing we could live the day over somehow. But, alas, we couldn't and it's a new day. We're doing our best to plod through the steps of getting the car fixed and getting another car, or a rental car, etc. Papa has to get to work, we need to live and drive around. We are stuck here at the moment!
The tow truck was just here (silly me didn't take a picture of it) and hauled our car off for an estimate! Again, the fellow driving was desperately hoping we at least spoke a little Italian (poco), but his countenance fell as we told him we spoke no Italian. He spoke no English either. So, there we were again with our trusty cell phone posing as the in-between translator while our Italian friend explained what the tow-truck driver wanted to say to us and what we needed to say back to him. Ker-aa-zee Baby!


The Hebrew phrase "Jehovah 'Ezer" is translated as the "LORD [my] Help" or the "LORD [our] Help."  Am I - as Neil Young says, "Helpless, Helpless, Helpless?  Of course not! Still, is it okay to feel that way sometimes? You bet'cha! Just so long as I don't wallow in it.

Ciao, Bella!  Mimi

For Fun



Looking out our living room door before furniture



Hi,

I'm borrowing the router from the neighbor again today, and it's working pretty well actually. For my regular readers, I have an idea for you all . . . why not take some time to check out the side-bar on my blog. I have some handy little things I've put there and I'm working on update it. (If I ever get a full time Internet connection [grin] )

I have a "Picture of the Week" that I promise to keep more current, and I'll try and select a picture that I haven't posted on the blog before. And I just added a new feature, one where the program scans the entire blog to find the most popular posts and shows a thumbnail picture from that post and a few lines to pique your interest. I also have a cute little pool ball graphic with the current time here in Naples, and a link to the weather here as well. There are some interesting podcasts and family blogs, etc. So, check it out and let me know what you think. I have enabled the comment capability, so I would love that! And . . . there is a section for "Followers" too; please become one. Some of the sections are being updated, so you may notice there haven't been changes in quite sometime, but keep looking. I've designed the side-bar so that it's a place you'll want to return to regularly. I will make additions as I find what will be of interest. My Japanese friends, for example, really enjoy the "Idiom of the Week."  Let me know if there's something you'd like to see here.

Ciao, Bella!  Mimi

Anticipation

So there I was this morning, tea cup on the nightstand next to my bed; pillows strategically stacked three-high so that leaning and typing would be oh-so-comfortable as I composed my most current blog post, "whilst" gazing out my bedroom window at the islands of Ischia and Procida! The sun just peeking through the clouds with a slight promise of sunshine after a night of rain, when what ghastly thing do you suppose happened? EEEK!! An Italian message appeared on my computer screen, promptly asking for a password due to "obvious" modem problems (boo hoo). My puffy, happy day was being dashed to pieces, right before my eyes!  I can't call the Internet/telephone company myself. I must wait for "an English speaking representative to call me." I am not a lot better off than I was a few days ago . . . but, Italian life does go on.

So here I am on our neighbor's borrowed router - AGAIN - with the teensiest of connections, telling friends and family that it will be a few more days before I'm writing again in earnest! That's "if" a technician can get to our house to fix the problem "in a timely manner."

Ah, Italia!

Ciao, Bella! Mimi

Moving Day

What woman doesn't want a perfectly organized moving day? She has imagined it going just a certain way since the pack-out of her belongings on the other end. The "arrival." The "planned placement" of everything. You know what I mean; the organized look of it all when finished! Ha! Of course it didn't turn out that way. I did have hopes though. There's been this little voice inside my head saying, "It'll be okay. Don't worry." And, in the grand scheme of things, of course it will! Compared to the more serious things in life, on a scale of one to ten, this is not far up there!
As the first nip of fall cuts the air of Naples, I'm so happy to be posting a blog from the living room of our
new home! It's starting to "feel" like home and even a little bit "cozy." It's somewhat hard to believe that it's already been 11 days since our moving day . . .  and yet, here it is. 
Initially, it was to be on Thursday, the 30th, but the schedule kept changing, almost daily. The Express Baggage shipment was due to be delivered on a separate day, which would've been much easier, but as it turned out, both Express and Household Goods were delivered on Friday, October 1st! We had appliances (Refrigerator, microwave, freezer, 3 wardrobe units, etc.) delivered the day before. These are on loan from the Navy while we live out on the economy.)
At last . . . we cast our eyes upon "the goods." And for the most part things are in pretty good shape.
There have been some "heart" broken belongings, some of them beyond repair and some will just need a little TLC, but I suppose this was bound to happen in one of our moves. We have been blessed throughout our career with very good pack-outs all around.

We are almost halfway through putting things away now and the adventure continues. Tomorrow I will tell you about the "invasion of the flies."

Ciao, Bella!  Mimi

Internet, Telephone, Hooray!!





A view of the vineyard

 

This must be quick, yet even so, I wanted to make one brief post to let everyone in on some good news. We received a phone call this morning asking if we would be home for the next 30 minutes. Fortunately, the rain had postponed plans to harvest grapes on our landlord's vineyard today, so we were home working on our house. The telephone/Internet guy happened to be in our area, and would be doing a favor by stopping by to get us all hooked up, as long as we were available on very short notice!

Our landlord showing "Padre Filippo" his veneyard

To make a bit of a long story short, here I am writing to you on my own Internet connection with a telephone that actually works in our Italian home, as well! Life is good!

It's been almost 3 months since turning off utilities in our North Carolina home, so I am actually feeling a bit euphoric preparing to post through "my own connection" today. Whoo Hoo!

All this to also say . . . a rather lengthy post is being scratched out as we speak.

Ciao, Bella! Mimi

Be Patient With Me

Just leaving a quick little note on my blog here. We drove into the base (30 min) very early this morning (0630) to do our Divine Liturgy, and then did a quick swing by the commissary to buy some food and check email. I'm not sure how long it will be before I can post regularly again, but I will do my best to figure out a way to keep in touch.

Gotta run.  Lunch today with our new landlord.  More about that later . . .

Ciao, Bella!  Mimi

Going Pewter

GOING GRAY? Maybe you’re not, but I sure am! For the past, oh I don't even know how many years, I've been coloring my hair once-a-month because it grows so darn fast, and then when the silver roots start to show, the contrast is not too dissimilar to that of a skunk in all of her glory! I've been watching as both my brother's hair turns gray, thinking that it looks nice, distinguished even, and envying them somewhat, wishing, at times, that I didn't have to spend the money or take the time to deal with this whole "hair thing" and just chuck it all and go natural! Maybe the color will be platinum. Or pewter! Maybe I will look like Jay Leno. It won't look like my natural birth color anymore, but it will be my natural color now, and it will be easy, honest and truly me!

I read once that, "If we change the way we think about gray, about the fading, the aging, and think about it as a viable color choice, it changes our way of thinking about gray hair."

So, when we got our orders to come to Italy, I took the plunge.  The first thing I did was cut off my hair into a very short hair cut. The next step was to put blond highlights in so that when the gray hairs started to show it wouldn't be such a "skunk stripe" and I'd be able to deal with that for awhile. The third step is where I am now . . .
It's a good thing too!  From what I've been told, and what we're now experiencing, this water over here is the worst water - ever! Basically it's volcano water! From Mt. Vesuvius. Very high in mineral deposits which wreak havoc on your hair. Even Papa's super short hair is brittle and unmanageable.  Imagine what it's doing to my colored hair. It feels like a Brillo pad.
My mom gave me a pair of these really cool scissors called queeving (sp) sheers. They have big chunks missing evenly between the blades as you cut, so only part of the hair is removed, but the other part stays just as it is. The effect (hopefully), is a similar haircut with shorter pieces toward the root and spikier hair sticking out toward the top.  Well, I figure after 13 years as a manicurist (in another life), and watching stylists cut hair, for a little while anyway, I'm going to cut my own hair! So far so good! I've cut my hair twice, and it doesn't look too bad yet!

I'm surviving my transitioning process so far, but my true test is coming up!!  Dun-dun-dun! The "Balls" - The Chaplain Corps Ball, The Navy Ball, The Marine Corps Ball, etc.  And of course I have to go . . . yukky mid-transitioning hair and all! It's all I can do to not make an appointment and get a "little touch up" for those pretty pictures we'll be taking at the balls! And Papa being the Command Chaplain and everything too!! Oh well! I'll just have to do my best and use lots of gel.

I'm just at the stage now, I'm noticing, where people are taking an extra long gaze at the roots of my hair to figure out why on earth would she be letting her hair "look like that?" "Can't she find a hair stylist!!! No doubt . . . I would be wondering that myself.  It's all I can do to not say something every time I see that look. Ugh!  Torture!
But, only 6 or so more months to go, and it will all be over.  I can cut it short enough to get down to all that gray!



Transitioning . . .



 "Just as we don't say “yellow” for blond hair, we don't have to say gray. Giving your gray a new name is more than semantics. It implies an attitude about gray, an acceptance of its natural beauty. Its pure, yes, color. It's time for the way we perceive gray to change. When people compliment my “gray” hair, I say “Thank you, but it’s really pewter with ice highlights.” Try it."

I like the sound of this, don't you?

Ciao, Bella!  Mimi

Sunday Satisfaction

Week three and we already have a new family attending, as well as an inquirer! Sunday Divine Liturgy was so much more fulfilling having people there to participate with us. The couple that came was just so happy and truly blessed that God had answered their prayers to have a place where they, as Orthodox Christians, could feel involved as part of the military community, instead of muddling along in an Italian speaking Orthodox church, barely understanding what's being said and only going a few times a year, most likely, because of it, they said.  Their 16 year old son is in the high school band and was away this weekend, but his parents said he would be glad to be an altar server in the future with Papa.  That is such an answer to prayer for Papa, as well, because having to keep the sensor going, to prep the water and the zeon for communion, then not being able to process the incense makes it extremely challenging for one person to do - especially in the tiny, cramped little space we're using.  In sharing with them a bit after the service, one of the most touching moments was the realization that God had not only answered their prayers to provide them with a priest, but that God had answered our prayers as well because He knew that we needed people in order to celebrate the Divine Liturgy.  It was a bit of an emotional moment for all of us - and a genuine blessing! An interesting irony in all of this is that this couple actually knows Fr. Nicholas, and have been blessed by his ministry in the past, when he was a visiting priest at a mission church in Virginia where they were attending back in the mid '90's.

After church we went out for a light breakfast and then went back to our room and picked up Sherman, another small load of some clothes and miscellaneous stuff,  and then took car ride out to the new house.  As I mentioned yesterday, we are trying to take a little there each day, so that we'll be done by Thursday.



Sherman on the rooftop



It was fun to show Sherman his new home for the first time!  He "met" two cats (from a distance, of course), and the cats laid their eyes on him as well.  I wish I had the camera in my hand so that I could've captured our neighbor's cat frozen in her perfect Halloween pose for at least 1 or 2 minutes!  Sherman was sitting like a gentleman next to me, however, eyes locked on the target but behaving like he was being told to and sitting still - not exactly relaxed, however!  We let him loose in the house and he sniffed his way through every nook and cranny!  It was an adventure to rival even Blues Clues . . . in Sherman's world anyway - I'm sure of it.  He was busy for a very long time.  Lots of new and interesting things to see and smell for the Sherminator.



Little breezy today



The old Roman road leading up to our house

While Sherman went exploring, Papa and Mimi planned where all the furniture needs to go.  When the movers bring everything we need to tell them exactly where to set it down and unwrap it. Then the movers have to take all the wrapping materials away with them that day! Ugg! 



Can you believe this is two lanes?



So . . . onto the next stop! 
There's a beautiful facility owned by the Navy called Carney Park. A sprawling, peaceful, multifaceted recreation area inside an extinct volcano.  I'll write more details about it later, but for today what we were looking for was the little dog park, inside Carney Park - hoping no other dogs would be there!  Sure enough, not a single dog was there and Sherman was able to run and catch the ball for the first time since we left North Carolina. 



Very ancient looking



Now, we are sitting on the couch watching "In Harms Way" and Sherman is dead the world!  He's so tired that he's hard to even get him to move of the couch in our pet apartment. On the way back in the car, he actually slept as we cruised down the hwy in our sporty little Alpha Romeo (albeit '2001 - it's not like it's new or anything), going 120 km per hour. (not that fast really, 75 mph . . . it just seems like it over here). But Sherman was racked out!

All-in-all, it was a very nice day!

Now . . . Mom! This is mostly for you:

I took a few more pictures today of the outside and inside of the house and the road leading up to our house . . . stuff like that.  You (all) keep asking for more pictures, so I'm just going to post some extra pictures for fun after this post.  So, enjoy!!

Ciao, Bella!  Mimi



1st Floor Bathroom



View from the roof terrace



Roof Terrrace




Kitchen sink and cupboards




Roof terrace, nieghbors glass panes dividing our terrace from theirs and roof stairwell




Rooftop terrace stairwell




Livingroom Entrance





Garage

 


I backed up a took another picture to give you a better idea of the size





The back door of the kitchen



The livingroom with marble stairs and a view into the kitchen

Little front yard

Side terrace of the little front yard

Carney Park

Dog Park

Doesn't Sherman look happy?

I think these trees look like we're in Africa or something

All done playing

IKEA in Italy!

We've had an interesting past few days; signing up for our utilites and appliances, making sure everything is delivered on time, finding out that it will be 1 to 3 months before we have a telephone and ADSL in our home, etc. But it's hard to top the trip we had to the IKEA store this afternoon! There were literally thousands of people there. I'm not exaggerating!
We slept in a little, since it was Saturday, and then after breakfast drove out to our new house to see if our electricity was on yet, and to take a few boxes there from the room with us as well. Yay! The electricity is on.  We were able to open the garage door with the garage door opener and Papa practiced backing down the very steep driveway and pulling into our giant garage. We turned lights on inside the garage for the first time too, which was nice, since we could then maneuver around so much better in what didn't seem so much like a dungeon any longer. We met our neighbor, Tim (a doctor) for the first time, all 4 kids had to come over and say "hello" of course, and it seemed like all the cats in the neighborhood showed up for a community paw-parade. (Boy do they have a surprise coming when Sherman arrives!) The family next door has two cats, but they've been warned and we're going to be especially careful until their cats learn about Sherman.
On the way back from our house adventure, we decided to drive to IKEA (pronounced "ee-kay-ah" here in Italy . . . or so I've heard). There are a few things we need for the house and we thought we could take a "quick" look around and get an idea of what they might have to offer over here. Once we finally arrived, we couldn't believe our eyes. There were hundreds and hundreds of cars in the parking lot.  It looked like the Christmas Season at the mall back home.  We both wondered if there might be a sale going on or something, but we never did find out how it could possibly be so crowded. It may be that it was the weekend and this was one of the only IKEA stores in the area - I don't know. We entered the regular line to find a parking place and went into the store. Oh my goodness!  There were thousands - literally thousands of people in the store! We were bumper to bumper people in IKEA!  It was amazing!  Eventually we found our way out of the store, but it was no simple task. IKEA stores are designed to keep you going in circles anyway, but it seems they never want you to leave this store. We finally had to stop and ask someone how to get out! Fortunately he spoke a little English, since our Italian is sorely lacking at this point. We felt like mice in a maze with no way out.
We found some items that are perfect for our home, but here's the question: Should we go back?
Not on the weekend, that is for sure!

Ciao, Bella!  Mimi

Moving Day Is Coming

I’ve heard the expression more than a few times already, “Vedi Napoli e poi morire?” Hopefully implying, see Napoli and die happy!! Even though Naples is not one of the “go to” places of Italian tourism these days, it is surrounded by some real contenders for the catalog: Pompeii, Vesuvius, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, Ravello, the Greek Ruins of Paestum, Capri, Ischia, and other famous Italian spots, all as stunning as the crystal clear view from the terrace of our new home. Standing together in a little bit of shock that day at the breathtaking view, we could all but see the windows of the buildings resting on the island of Capri as the sunlight sparkled off her coastline! Dazzling! On a clear day like that, we could even see Ischia and the entire Bay of Naples.


"I think no other birds so happy as we.”

People in Naples seem to live loud and live large! Coming from Japan a few years ago, where life, in general is somewhat subdued, the grandiose hand-gestures and loud voices of the Neapolitan people can seem overheated, maybe even angry sometimes to the hesitant, untrained eye and ear, but we are finding them to be loving, friendly and fun. I heard a perfect description of the people of Naples just the other day: They are just "highly uninhibited, highly animated and highly caffeinated!” Ha! Cute, don’t you think?




Papa, Perla & Luigi signing the contract

 Well, today was a big day! We signed our paperwork at the housing office and scheduled our move-in day! We are going to become residents of Naples! At least for a few years!


NEXT THURSDAY, September 29th!!! HOORAY!!! A little over a month from when we left North Carolina.


Our appliances and transformers, etc. from the base; Our House-Hold Goods; Our Express Baggage Shipment; The Electricity will be on; And all of it will be delivered on this day!




Septembre

 Can you imagine it? WOW!! What a day that's going to be!  All the trucks the people to unload it all will be there throughout the day.  I can only imagine the chaos ~ can't you ?


Our new landlord has given us a key to the house, even though there won’t be any electricity yet. That way we can start taking belongings from our apartment on the base over to the new house before we have to check out nextThursday morning. The goal then is to have all the initial moving done by Wednesday (the day before we move in) with very little to do but check out on Wednesday night. Not so much craziness that way! Sherman's crate alone fills up most of our car.  It's going to take many trips ~ once or twice a day ~ just to get the things in our apartment out there.


If all goes really well, we may even have Internet hooked up to the house by then too. We shall see. The power takes up to five working days to get turned on ~ from today, and then we can put a work order in for Internet, etc.






So . . . it all begins! Finally!




Ciao,  Bella!  Mimi

Foolish Fears

The little cares that fretted me,

I lost them yesterday,

Among the fields above the sea,

Among the winds at play,

Among the lowing of the herds,


The rustling of the trees,

Among the singing of the birds,


The humming of the bees.

The foolish fears of what might pass,

I cast them all away

Among the clover-scented grass,

Among the new-mown hay,

Among the rustling of the corn,

Where drowsy poppies nod,

Where ill thoughts die and good are born --

Out in the fields with God!

~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning