The windows now sparkle and the prospective buyers come and go. The Italians arrived and on Saturday night we went to S.O.B.'s (Sounds of Brazil), a festive nightclub where the evening's band and dancers seemed to have come right off the streets of Rio's Carnevale. On Sunday we celebrated Easter with good ol' New York bagels and lox.

I went over to corporate headquarters after a visit to the bank today. New York looks rather romantic in the rain and fog, especially downtown by the waterfront. My pension benefits all seem to be on track now and my last necessary document for the consulate (as far as I know - chi sa?) is my FBI clearance.

It's been exactly one month since my last day at work and it's exactly one month before my first day living in Italy.

posted by Joanna @ 3/29/2005 12:03:00 AM 0 comments  

Well, I thought it was spring but it snowed again yesterday. I went out to buy flowers anyway. A gaggle of realtors came and I hid everything in the closets. They were all very kind. Still have so much sorting and trashing to do! And paper work! God! It's endless!

My Australian friends are leaving Sydney for Tuscany on Sunday, so I'll see them at the end of next month, but the Italians arrive Friday night - that's tomorrow already. We'll have fun! I hope the weather improves for them (and for me).

posted by Joanna @ 3/24/2005 02:00:00 PM 0 comments  

So the apartment is painted (although I can't dig up a window washer to save my soul) and it's on the market. I got fingerprinted at the NYPD and the FBI has been begged to expedite my docs for the residency visa (Bolliger will not be happy if I don't have a PdS when my stuff arrives in Italy) and I'm feeling a bit "che sará, sará" about the whole thing. How much trouble I will find myself in is anyone's guess, but I'm outta here on April 27th regardless.

You'll do better to visit me when the house isn't being torn apart - walls demolished, plumbing and electrical work being done - and I do hope you will. I have friends from Italy and perhaps Australia visiting here in NYC this April and other friends coming to my construction site in Castiglione in May and July. We'll all just have to cope!!!

Spring is trying to happen in New York and I hope it's here before I say goodbye. I've been enjoying my neighborhood and the city - actually, seeing them - in ways I haven't done in what seems years.

posted by Joanna @ 3/22/2005 02:51:00 AM 2 comments  

What a day!!!

The apartment was painted yesterday and goes on the market on Friday as per my telephone conversation with my real estate agent this morning. This is assuming that the shipping company (another call) comes to pick up all the cartons of books in the middle of each room this week and that I get the windows washed and new blinds put up. The pension department called and things are falling into place there, too. And I went to the office to collect six more cartons, some pictures and a lamp. My last visit.

My sister left for home, Sydney, on Saturday, after doing wonders to get me organized. Who do you think packed most of the cartons here and at the office!?

Plans to see a lot of friends before the end of April, but before that it's off to the NYPD for fingerprinting to send to the FBI and then the visa application at the consulate. I think I'm busier now than I ever was while working!!!

But soon I'll be in the Val d'Orcia where the most urgent possible demand on my time will be helping my friend Paolo go round up his donkeys if the electricity goes out and renders the fence around their field useless once again. A far cry from NYC.

Since my TV is tuned to RAI nearly 24/7, I think the only thing I might miss initially is The Daily Show which puts U.S. news in its proper perspective these days.

posted by Joanna @ 3/15/2005 05:39:00 AM 0 comments  

Well, I love being retired! My last day at work was February 28th. My sister came in from Australia to help me celebrate and pack up my life. What a great kid sister!

We've torn the apartment apart, gone to brunch and dinner with friends and seen a wonderful exhibit of early Renaissance painters from Urbino and environs at the Metropolitan museum. And I got to see Pale Male, Fifth Avenue's resident red tailed hawk, soaring above Central Park. Wild in the city.

I have a ticket for Rome for April 27 and will be on the flight with or without the residency visa. (I will be coming back to New York for my god-daughter's wedding in September anyway.) I have appointments with the shipping company and real estate agents this week. Can't wait to be in Castiglione!

posted by Joanna @ 3/07/2005 12:42:00 AM 2 comments