After a two-hour delay in Chicago, we are finally in Brussels. We missed our connecting flight to Rome but may be able to make our train to Orvieto. If we miss our train, we have to purchase new tickets and arrive later to our destination. Dad is picking us up in Orvieto so hopefully he's reading this and will plan for our possible delay.

The airport is hot, Francesca is convinced she's allergic to Belgium, and we both smell.

In just a few short hours, we will be leaving for the airport. I cannot believe I am actually going to Italy - today!! I will try my best to blog and keep up with everyone while I'm on the road.

Ci vediamo più tarde!

I got my license today. My international driver's license. It was very exciting but much easier than going through driver's ed classes and all those hours of "range". All I had to do was walk into a AAA Motor Club office (I went to the office in the Thompson Center building, 100 West Randolph), get my picture taken (I look like a freak), provide my current Illinois driver's license, and cough up $20.83 (non-AAA member price for photos and license; member price is $10). Simple, quick, and hassle-free. Now here's hoping that the driving in Italy will be just as easy.

This trip has really snuck up on me! Sure, we have been planning for a few months now and I have been well aware of my departure date, but I cannot believe that it is almost here. I remember being a lot more anxious last year before I left for Tanzania. I feel a lot more relaxed this time, though. Maybe it is because most of our reservations have been made, many of the details already worked out. At any rate, I am very much looking forward to this adventure and to getting away for a while.

A few people have asked if we will be blogging on this trip. While I cannot answer for Felicia, my response is, "I am going to try." I have read that internet cafes in Italy are quite pricey; I do not want to spend all of my money (and time, for that matter) on internet access. If that turns out to be the case, I will post-trip blog when I return and then everyone can read the stories and view the pictures all at the same time.

Only four days to go...!

Mom playing bags for the 1st time, originally uploaded by superstarsinger.

I also have a video of it! Hilarious!

Karate Kid, originally uploaded by FrancescaM.

You asked for something funny, Frank, and here's what I've come up with so far. What do you think? Funny enough? This was when you thought you were the Karate Kid. I think this was taken the same summer that you ran over the neighbor's mailbox with your bike in Fort Myers. Remember that?

I think this is it. This might be the final take on the itinerary. There are a few days that are still "free days" but we're set for the most part. Here's the rundown once more:

25 September: Arrive in Rome; take train to Orvieto, Umbria, the closest town to the villa that we will be using as our "base" for most of the trip (train reservations were already made).
26-29 September: Hang out at the villa and spend some time exploring other towns in Umbria, such as Perugia and Assisi.
30 September-01 October: Venice (train and hostel reservations made in advance).
02-03 October: Florence (train and hostel reservations made in advance).
04-06 October: These are the "free days" I mentioned. We left them open just in case we wanted to spend an extra day in Florence but we will most likely end up in Siena and San Gimignano.
07 October: We all get on the train in Orvieto and head back to Rome. Felicia and I have reservations at Hostel Alessandro Palace in Rome for the next four nights.
08 October: Take in as much of Rome as possible and celebrate Felicia's 29th birthday.
09 October: Possible day trip to Pompeii.
10 October: Last full day in Italy; catch what we missed the first two days in Rome.
11 October: Return home to Chicago.

The itinerary seems to be action-packed so I am glad we left a few days open. Only 18 more days till departure!

I woke up this morning to learn of this sad news story. Steve Irwin, "Crocodile Hunter", has died at the age of 44. While I was not a huge follower of his television shows, I always admired Steve's passion for the environment, wildlife, and the entire natural world. He was an extraordinary conservationist and someone we should all admire for his ambition and his enthusiasm.

Here are two of my favorite pictures from my childhood. I love them so much because, in both photos, I think I look like the happiest and most-loved kid in the world. Here I also included the comments that accompany each photo on my Flickr page.

Who's that little Asian baby?!

That would be me. And I'm not Asian. I swear. That's my mom, too. She looks so young! (She actually looks much the same now. I hope I've inherited those good, forever-young genes.)

Dad & me

This was taken at the park after one of my dad's softball games. I remember spending Sunday afternoons there watching Dad play ball. And Dad looks so happy, too. I'm the luckiest kid to have such loving parents.

First try, originally uploaded by FrancescaM.

This one is called fd's Flickr Toys. It allows users to make all kinds of fun stuff with their digital images, including mosaics like the one here that I created. This was my first experience with the Mosaic Maker so I didn't get too creative; I just selected a few of my favorite pictures from my trip to Tanzania.

Give it a try, have fun - just don't get caught making mosaics at work!