But the procrastination is going FABULOUSLY...

So what if my dad comes on Monday to help me move my entire apartment into storage? So what if I load up my car and set off on the cross-country drive on Wednesday? Who's got time to pack when there are -

- pictures to upload to MySpace and Facebook, complete with albums and comments?

- Pilates classes to go to?

- friends to grab one last coffee with?

- a new GPS system to learn how to use?

- a 3,000 mile drive to map out?

- hair to highlight?

- thank you emails to write?

I can always pack boxes tomorrow.

Sweaty trains and jaw dropping views

The pace of our trip was frantic. We did not spend two nights in the same place, and some days we traveled for hours to get to a place and stay for only about twelve hours. We were both troupers, and didn't allow ourselves to be tired, or complain at all.

But Saturday was hard. We woke up in our hotel in Venice, and caught a water taxi to the train station. We rode on a train for about 5 hours - including a transfer in Milan - to Torino, where we took a jerky, long bus ride to the airport. We then picked up our rental car, and navigated the two hour drive to Barbaresco.

Needless to say, we were exhausted. But when we arrived at Ca' du Rabaja, on the tip-top of a hill overlooking one of the most beautiful landscapes I'd ever seen on both sides, it was immediately worth every second of the trying journey.

Enjoy the pics...

Dinner in Venice

Our time in Venice was whirlwind - we had a mere 17 hours to experience the city before rushing off to our next wine destination. After wandering around the Piazza San Marco, ooh-ing and aah-ing at the waterfilled streets, and sighing with contentment watching the gondolas float by, we took someone's recommendation and settled in at the Taverna la Fenice for dinner.

We were completely stuffed from having been wined and dined for three days straight, so all we wanted to do was share a leisurely bottle of wine and a pasta dish. A bottle of the Ornella Molon 2007 Sauvignon provided us with exactly the fruit and minerality that we were looking for to sip, enjoy, and jump-start our appetites. After nibbling on vegetable crudites and sipping our wine for a while, we settled on sharing a risotto. Rich and creamy, with lots of homemade sausage dotted throughout, the risotto was spooned onto our plates from a hollowed out bread bowl. The unique presentation wowed us, and we were enchanted by the whole place and experience. Despite our protests about dessert (we were hoping to grab some gelato on the walk back to the hotel), one of our waiters loaded us up with a plate full of unique petit fours - mini canollis, chocolate covered candided orange peel, and crumbly buttery cookies.

The dinner was simple and perfect. Needless to say, we will carry with us fond memories of our wine meal in the most romantic city in the world.

Friendly Venetians

Yesterday afternoon, my mother and I took a water taxi from the Venezia San Lucia train station to our charming little hotel, which is just off of the Grand Canal. Though we have tried not to have to bother with it, we have amassed a small wine collection along our way the last few days. Right now we have pared down our carryings to one small box with two bottles.

After settling into the hotel, I immediately brought my computer down to the lobby where the precious Wi-Fi is free. After a few minutes -

"Excusi, Senorina. I have a taxi driver on the phone. Did you leave two bottles of wine in his boat?"

So surprised, I did nothing but blink in confusion for about two seconds, before jumping up.

"Si!" I exclaimed. "Oh no!"

"Not to worry. I will see if he can bring back."

He ducked back in a few moments later.

"Eh... he is not close by anymore... Let me make a suggestion. You need another taxi tomorrow?"

"Si..."

"Ok. We will ask him to come back with your wine and take you to train station."

"Perfeto! Gratzie!"

I settled back onto my couch, shocked that the taxi driver went through the trouble. Sure, he gets a guaranteed fare out of the deal, but he could easily have just drank the wine himself. For me this is a great example of friendly and accommadating I have found the Italians to be so far.

Definitely my kind of people.

Italy: Part 2

Somehow my lucky ass is leaving today for Italy - again. My new job is sending me there to meet several of the wineries that we represent, because the theory is that you can't sell the products until you have stayed in the castles. I couldn't agree more.

To make the whole situation even better, my mother is coming with me! I am so excited that we will get this time together. She has never been to Italy, and I have never been to 90% of the places that we are going, so needless to say we are both beside ourselves. I'll have my laptop with me this time, so hopefully I'll be able to shoot off quick blog posts and upload pictures.

Ciao for now!

My dad

My dad is 55 this year.

My dad eats his steak well done.

My dad has blonde hair, and is shorter than me.

My dad has helped me move about ten times.

My dad hated sitting through ballet recitals when I was six, but came to every performance I did from the age of fifteen on.

My dad is very slow to change.

My dad is really good at Scrabble, and taught me tricks to getting clues in crossword puzzles.

My dad never throws away clothes.

My dad sometimes doesn't seem to know me that well.

My dad won't go to the doctor unless he is practically on his deathbed.

My dad had a few beers every night when I was growing up, but I never saw him drunk.

My dad owns his own business.

My dad - even though he knows better - knee-jerks to feeling sorry for the family when someone is gay.

My dad is great at fixing things around the house.

My dad was completely shocked when I announced that I was moving to California.

My dad has never lived outside of Richmond.

My dad performs all of the duties that he should for his mother, but doesn't really know her very well either.

My dad and I will do better when we do not live in the same city.

My dad, despite my complaints to the contrary, really isn't so bad.

Touche

My boss: Oh, by the way, I was wrong. You actually only get $170 from the Southern Starz incentive money contest, not $250.

Me: What?! That's crap!

My boss: Sorry, chica.

Me: Humph. Well, I'll just have to figure out some way to embezzle $80 from the company before next Friday. (My last day.)

My boss: Isn't that what your huge sample request yesterday was about?

At this point all I could do was give a shit-eating grin. Because, let's face it - I'm not showing wines this week. All of that B.R. Cohn, Langmeil, and A.R. Lenoble Champagne is totally to keep me company on my drive across the country.