I can't believe I have to go to work tomorrow. I have too many other things to do! All for me (instead of for money).

When I got to Italy last month (and I will be repeating myself alot here in my effort to relive the experiences), I went to Torrita di Siena all by myself on Saturday, the second day (it was pouring!), and bought mattresses at Noi delle Notte, arranging for delivery on Monday. I'd spent the morning revisiting my house in Castiglione d'Orcia and finding it even more to my liking than before. Then I barged in on Paolo and Ester in Monticchiello and got invited to stay for lunch. Got to see Daria at La Porta, her restaurant, when we went there for coffee afterwards. We all made plans to go to her for dinner on Monday evening. Jet lag made Sunday a wash- just a cozy indoor day as houseguest at the place which inspires my ideas for Il Loggino.

On Monday I got a block of cheques from Claudio at my bank branch after receiving the mattress delivery and getting Mario the smith to cut the lock off the ENEL box (broke the key). We got to see Ester's marvelous dolls, works of art!, and play with Paolo's dogs before dinner at Daria's.

Tuesday was a spectacularly sunny day and Gary took me to IKEA in Firenze for a housewares shopping spree! We rewarded ourselves and Zak (for his patience) with dinner at I Poggioli in Buonconvento where I feel like I'm at Cheers where "everyone knows your name"- old home week! And Guido's cooking remains the best bang for the buck in southern Tuscany.

After doing laundry on Wednesday, I had lunch with Zak at the new restaurant in Chiusure, Il Pozzo, a very nice addition to the town by a young fiorentino chef.

And then, Gary and Zak threw me out!!! All the baby sparrows learning to fly all over the Val d'Orcia this April had company! Of course, they did provide me with a young man from Sardinia to do the hard and dirty stuff and help me negotiate the purchase of a stufa, get the bombole and hook them up so we could cook and avoid freezing.

So I was off!!! Thursday was clean out the attic, create a kitchen, and go to Sinalunga to get home insurance from Zak's agent at SAI there. Flying!

posted by Joanna @ 5/18/2004 04:55:00 AM