Italy Update

I spent the morning driving to Portland for an appointment with the Italian Consulate. This was my third visit to the consulate. I arrived about 20 min early, so I spent my time reading the Italian newspapers in the office. I'm amazed at how much I can read and understand. I'm also amazed at how much I still don't have a clue about.

The appointment went well. Mr Bartoloni read over the documents. We had two copies of one document. One in English and one translated into Italian. After checking the translation, he put his official stamp on the documents and I was on my way home, stopping to drop off the documents to Katrina at HP Corvallis. She was waiting, Fed Ex envelope in hand. Now the documents get mailed to our relocationt representative in Milan. She will hopefully have an appointment with Italian immigration next week and the work permits will be processed....fingers crossed!

Going Away Party

Last night we attended a Going Away Party for our friends and neighbors, the Beaumariages. Terry works for IT at HP and found out last summer that IT was being consolidated and moved out of Corvallis. They were basically given three options: 1) Move to Georgia, 2) Move to Austin TX, or 3) Look for a new job here in Corvallis. They were given 18 months. They chose moving to Austin TX and put their house up for sale in the fall. They finally sold it on December 26th and will be leaving for Austin this coming Thursday January 29th.

The Beaumariages have lived in the neighborhood since before we moved here. We didn't really get to know them until Brandon started kindergarten. Their middle (of three) is the same age and was in Brandon's class. They have been in the same class now for 3 years and are best friends. Julia is active with the school Scrip program and the APT.

The Beaumariages are also very active with the Scouts. Terry is the scout master, Julia the Committee Chair.

They will be missed and we will have big shoes to fill in the various activities they were involved in. We hope they get settled and enjoy their new home and city, but we will miss them. I know Brandon will be sad when moving day arrives later this week.

Disneyland

Katrina came up with the idea that we should go to Disneyland before we move away for two years.

Last night she booked our 3 day 4 night trip. We fly to Anaheim on Mon afternoon of 2/9. We then have Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to play in the parks. Friday morning we fly home. Katrina will drop Brandon and I off at the Portland Expo Center. We have a model train show all weekend and setup begins Friday afternoon. My good friend Andy will drive my truck and trailer up to Portland and meet us at the show.

Disneyland and Mickey, here we come!!

Tough Day

Ever have one of those days when you wish you could just go back to bed and wake up tomorrow? That was my day.

Brandon and I both woke up grumpy. The difference is, he went to school and came home fairly happy. I stayed stuck in the grumpy rut all day long.

It didn't help that the internet went down around 9am, just in time for my Italian lesson. It also didn't help that cable was out, therefore no internet or TV.

I drove over to our storage space to get some measurements of a new display table for my train layout. When I arrived there I realized I didn't have the trailer keys in the truck. They are always in the truck, but not this time.

None of this is that big of a deal, but the fact is, I just woke up in a funk and was stuck there all day long. Even now as I write this I feel uptight and grumpy. Katrina is trying to book a last minute 3 day trip to Disneyland for the second week of February (just two weeks from now) and I don't have much enthusiasm for it at the moment.

Hopefully I get a good night of sleep and wakeup in a better mood tomorrow.