Oh boy, it's getting closer and closer to the departure day! 2 weeks from today is blast-off!
In an effort to maintain/salvage my sanity, I decided to pack for the trip ahead of time and get that done so I can start packing up other things without worrying about accidentally packing something that I'm going to need for the trip. I weighed the suitcase again and this time it is 20 pounds, but that's not too bad. I've walked around the house wearing it and it's not too heavy. It's lighter than Carson and Bowdrie and I've carried them up and down stairs and around and around so I think I'll be just fine.

Yay - the list has come!
We'll be staying in the 2nd floor of a historic building in downtown Florence, in an old tower that was part of a German city's defensive wall once-upon-a-time, and in what used to be an old hitching post in the Burgundy region of France! Oh yes, this will be quite the adventure!

Shoe update:
I'm thinking about leaving the chaco's at home and going with my Ol' Faithful Dansko Margerete's~

Any day now!
I am just watching my inbox and my physical mailbox - sometime this week I should be getting the list of which hotels we will be staying at on our tour!! I don't know why that's such a big deal to me but I can't wait to see where I'll be. I just have one pair of pants getting shortened and then I should be ready. Gulp.

I'm in the middle of another great trip-related book. This one is called "As the Romans Do - The Delights, Dramas, and Daily Diversions of Life in the Eternal City". It's written by an American man who moved to Rome with his family and he talks about well, yeah, all those things listed in the subtitle. I think the European way of life is going to be really interesting to observe. Patience - that will be a good thing to learn!