Last push, I can do this

There is nothing like gettting the flu, having 3 dental appoinments, a physical torture appointment, and trying to pack in 2 days to create stress more. Wow. I just hope to god I survive these next couple days. So what really woke me up was the flu at 3 am. Nice.

I just keep thinking....Italy.

Its 3am

Well, as the title states. It 3 am. I came home went to lay down for a minute, rest from work and woke up at 3 am. I never even heard my roomates moving around. Now I'm up, contemplating working on my commission, packing some more, or laying in bed trying to fall back asleep like I have for the last hour. Its nuts really. I have so little time left in portland and I spend my hours at work and awake in the dead of night. I think I should do some packing. Though Ella, the cat, is awake to keep me company. She came in to join me around 1 am. Though she has alternately tried to sneak under the covers, attack my hands, and snuggle. Crazy cat. Well its looking like there will be no sleep for the wicked here, so I might as well start packing something. Though at 3 am tyring to pack something quietly is going to be a challenge.

Found out today that its going to cost anywhere between $120 and $500 to ship my paint to myself because aparently TSA won't allow me to bring them with me in my checked luggage. Wish that my questions would have been answered so that I could have been more prepared for this.

Ah, to return again! 

Here is a small description (au) of where I will be living this fall.

Corciano (Fall)
In addition to working in the studios, we will see the magnificent cathedrals in Florence, Siena, and Venice; Giotto in nearby Assisi; Raphael and Perugino in our neighboring town of Perugia and the smaller hill towns of Umbria; Medival Carvings, major works by Michelangelo-Donatello- Titian-FraAngelico-Bernini-Botticeli-Martini-Lorenzetti-Bellini-Caravaggio- Leonardo-Mantegna-Lippi-Masaccio-Ghiberti-Signorelli...

Corciano is a quiet, perfectly preserved 1000 year-old medieval hill town in the Umbrian countryside of central Italy. Our studios are surrounded by olive groves, vineyards, fields, and farmland. To the east we see the Appennine Mountains, beyond the nearby Tiber River valley. To the west are the hills of Umbria and Tuscany, as well as Lago Trasimeno, the largest lake on the boot of Italy.

Midway between Florence and Rome, we are even closer to Assisi, Siena, Arezzo, Cortona, Orvieto, Perugia, Todi, Spoleto and many other fascinating cities. The medieval piazza, narrow cobblestone streets and centuries old buildings are the heart of this culturally active hill town founded by the Etruscans (before the Romans) in the heart of Italy. Because of its central location, excellent public transportation and easy access to the railway and bus stations, Corciano is a perfect base from which to see the rest of Italy.

While Corciano is a quiet hill town in the countryside, less than five miles away is the bustling capital of Umbria, the incredibly beautiful city of Perugia, where one will find the National Gallery of Umbria, the National Archaeological museum of Umbria, the museum of the Accademia di Belle Arti, numerous Medieval and Renaissance churches, Etruscan and Roman ruins, and works by Piero della Francesca, Perugino, Duccio, Cimabue, Raphael and many others (frequent public transportation is located only steps away from the studios).

For those interested, you can read more about my program here:

http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/cas/art/studio/index.html

My dog Skyler. I'll miss him. Mom take good care, throw the ball LOTS. 

Welcome to "something with hamburger". Over half my life I have heard that as a response to the question " Mom, what is for dinner?". Dinner is about to change drastically for me. It will be set not around Mom and dad's dinner table, but in a foreign land with new and adventurous meals. Granted, Italian may not be adventurous for some, but when you've heard "something with hamburger" half your life, it really is.