T-minus....

Today is Sunday, T minus 4 - I am sure with everything going on, I will probably not finish the post until T-2...

Anyway, I think we are in surprisingly decent shape as far as having what we nee, getting packing and maybe all the places we are staying.  Jess had to change another place in Greece again, because there was construction on the house next door and the guy said it was intolerable.  A for what we are doing in Greece...who knows!  I think since you lat read we also changed a spot in Venice and are no longer in the Jewish ghetto but near the Rialto.  I think we are taking a ferry in to Venice - so that will be cool, we've never done that before.

As for life...it has been non-stop:  baseball, parties, our block party (which I have no pictures of other than my ribs - but was a huge success), going here - going there.  As I try to write this, Jess is talking to me about sleeping arrangements in Florence and who is sleeping where and with whom.  

T-3:  Well, I wasn't lying - it's now Monday night.  Neil had baseball yesterday and they won their first playoff game - he pitched 4 (I think) innings of a combined no-hitter.  Malcolm played tonight and they won their playoff game.  Both are moving on to the next round - and Malcolm, while we are in the air to Venice.  Tomorrow is already shaping up to be a good one since I have to go to the dentist and then the chiro for one last adjustment before we head off and hope that I do not destroy myself on the flight - which I can almost guarantee will happen.  

I made what I hope to be my last amazon purchase for the trip:  compression socks - apparently I need these because I am fucking old, SD cards for the GoPro Neil will be using and an SD card reader which I will probably take to work - and lidocaine pads should my back going to be out.  This is bullshit because I have never had to worry about these things before, WTF?

While I was checking out some memories - there were lots of good ones from previous travels - and doing work at our old house.  Seems like if we are not in Europe we are somewhere else....

Workin on the Potter Blvd House...

As usual, my proper planning - this time for Australia and New Zealand.

Neil's first big trip, Puerto Rico...

The next one...Scotland and then here in Iceland.

The Outer Banks with the Lodies - and Malcolm who we "picked up" on the Isle of Skye.

The first BIG trip with multiple kids, England, Portugal, Germany (here at the beer garden), Austria and Prague.

Scotland with all three - this was some trip.

This will be the first major trip with all four.  

T-2:  It's Tuesday morning.  I am at work and the day has started.  I have a few teachers in who are doing some planning around executive functioning - don't get me started.  You need it too.

I had one interview and that was, let's say, interesting.  I couldn't keep up with the number of Uhs....I tried to for at least one response to a question and then stopped at 8.  That's right, 8.  It was almost every other word.  I always give people and opportunity to ask questions, but then she started grilling me like I was the one being interviewed and she already had the position.  Needless to say...

Now I am trying to set up other interviews for these positions -and the pickings are slim.  Very slim.

I am home now after the joy of the dentist and chiropractor and the kids are chilling on the couch - it's hot and I am really not sure how this is going to work for us.  I mean, for the most part they hate the heat - I remember liking it as a kid - but I hate it now.  It's going to be really hot man - perhaps being on vacation and less stressed it won't bother me as much.  I imagine that you will be seeing many pictures like this one...

It literally only tells half the story since two of them are actually behaving, of which, at least half is usually not.

T-1:  So, while at work and trying to finalize a number of things before leaving, I got the news from two of our teachers that they were able to hook us up with a tour of Fiorentina's new training facilities (their family is involved with the club).  We will be heading to Viola Park - of course, I am super excited and I hope the kids will enjoy it too.  Taking care of one or two banking issues to ensure that we do not have any card problems and then I think we will be good to go.  I say that - but I am sure something will come up.

It is Wednesday evening - and we are getting to the final touches of the packing...I am sure there are a million other things we will remember...or forget and then remember - but in less than 24 hours - minus tomorrow's monsoon (I am expecting delays and I am already going to get more anxious) and we will be on our way - no turning back.