I'm sitting here being pissed off at the posters trying to be funny on the death of a great man, JP II, and hoping that the Dish Fairy comes to do the dishes that I didn't feel like doing!

Jocelyn and LoveItaly--I hope you both have great trips!

I am sitting here about to fall asleep. Last night about 9pm we decided to go snowshoe today. Nothing like last minute planning! So we were on the mountain all day...5 hours of actual trail time. And it was all fresh snow and we were the only people there, so we had to make the trails. Fun, but tiring. Did stop at the great burger place on the way home though:)

LoveItaly, you will be so close yet so far away :D
Safe Travels to you!

We just finished watching Stage Beauty on video.
Weatherwise, I am appreciating Florida weather this week, bright sun and warm.

Finished playing a symphony concert tonight and checking out the reception afterward. We played a Brahms double
concerto - violin & cello - beautiful.
Later we played the Planets complete w/ a light show and projected planets.
Something different. -- Food was good
at the reception -- great tomatoes. I
hope my garden puts out little ones as
good. --- Tomorrow, INCOME TAX and
scalping the lawn one last time to rid
it of the lacy winter weed trying to throw its seeds everywhere. --- Also,
thinking of visiting a young friend who
now resides in Buenos Aires. Would love
to visit that area for the 1st time.

Our friends who came over for dinner have just left! We talked and wined and dined for hours--they go to interesting European places that we've hardly heard of and needed a map to find out where they were talking about. It made for good dinnertime conversation (in between complaining about all of our teenage children, of course :D)

mms and Scarlett, thank you to both of you for your good wishes.

I just took a big breath. Suitcase and carryon bag by the front door.

Still waiting for the dishwashing fairy like Jody, but afraid she skipped my house tonight so that will be my last chore for the day. Even got the clocks changed.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy coming week. And may all the nasty comments not appear during the coming week. May everyone just respect each other and realize that many people are going through a sad period. Good wishes to everyone.

Im getting ready to go to Venice on Wednesday with my 4 children (aged 15, 13 and 12 yr old twins) one of whom is in a wheelchair after an ankle injury! Why is life never simple? I'm wondering if there will be a national day of mourning on the day of the Pope's funeral on Thursday or Friday? And if so will all shops and markets be closed? I am renting an apartment, and had planned to cook there in the evenings - so I hope I can actually get some food... I suppose I could always find pizza for the young, but I don't like pizza!!

Julia--Don't worry, even mediocre food tastes good on vacations...especially in Italy:)

julia, it sounds like the Pope's funeral is going to be on Friday. Just make sure you buy groceries in advance. In Italy be aware shops close at different times then here in the US anyway. So find out which days and what hours the grocery stores will be open. And don't forget, even on the day of the funeral Venice can be explored and enjoyed. Have a wonderful trip with your children. Sorry to hear one is in a wheelchair! Kids never let us relax for a moment do they?

Hi Mimi,

Collette doesn't frisk much anymore except on her morning and afternoon walks out into the vineyards. But she's enjoying lazing in the sun, for sure.

We had the lawnmower and rototiller going yesterday. We're also repainting the living room.

It doesn't get dark here now until about 8:45.

Ken

Julia-FYI-the Italian newspapers have announced 3 official days of mourning this week (prob. Wed. through Friday), however, all official/state offices and schools will still be open. Given that, you will have no problem finding food in Venice. (And I can tell you right now-you'll go straight to the fridge which stocks only Buitoni- brand pre-made pasta dishes, which seems to be in every snack shop and small grocery store in Venice, and stock up on any number of their micro-wavable pasta dishes).

Given that I've been eating Buitoni fresh pasta for over 10 years in this country, I was a little surprised to see the prevalance of this export pasta owned by a UK company, all over Venice!