Two's Company

I found out not long after I moved into my house that my next-door neighbour is [name withheld to protect me from getting dooced]. He was stationed with me in Japan, and he's my superintendent here (my boss's boss). At first, I didn't think it was too big of a deal; that was until the other day when I was unpacking boxes upstairs. Suddenly, I hear him calling my name from my kitchen. It seems he hopped my fence and let himself in. If we were best friends, I wouldn't care, but I really don't know him that well. And when he said very condescendingly, "Just because I'm your boss doesn't mean we can't be friends," all I could think was, "Man! What an asshole!" Things got even more awkward when he found out I'm paying less rent than he for the exact same house. Since then, he has frequently yelled over the fence we share asking if I want to go for a drive or a hike. Luckily, I've always had something going on. I know he's just trying to be nice, but I can't help but feel uncomfortable around him. Mostly because he's very zealous about the Air Force and I'm...not. Maybe if I just relax and go for a drive with him, it won't be so bad. Tolerance is a valuable lesson, even when it comes out of nowhere.

I'm Bound To Pack It Up

I've been unpacking since my stuff came, and I'm still up to my eyeballs in boxes. It's starting to resemble a home, but there's still so much to do. I thought I got rid of a bunch of stuff before I left Utah, but every time I open a box, I see something and think, "Why did I keep THAT?"
My unpacking has only stopped in the evenings for some socialising and on Sunday for Church and calcetto. Also, I've introduced everyone to Settlers, and they all agree: I might as well have injected heroin directly into their veins. I was hoping my experience at the game would allow me to win at least once, but no such luck. I'm no good at making deals or trading, so I guess I should just accept the fact my Settlers victories will be few and far between.

Feels Like Home

Yesterday afternoon, the TMO guy called and told me the rest of my stuff was in. He said it could be delivered today, but if not today, then not until late next week. I opted for today.
I asked my boss if I could take leave on Friday, just because it would take a while to get everything situated in my house. He told me I could take Friday off, and that I didn't even have to burn any leave. We work over quite a bit, so it all evens out in the end. So, yeah, I have a four-day weekend!
The mover guys came around 11 today and were done by 2:30. Since I've been sleeping on the floor for the past month, laying in my own bed tonight is gonna be extra-nice. I've been putting together furniture all day, with plenty more to do tomorrow. I think I could assemble any Ikea product with my eyes closed.

A Case of Rugrats

Not too long after I found out I was coming to Italy, another guy in my shop also received orders to Aviano. Jeremiah, his wife, and their four children (the oldest, of which, is five) arrived yesterday afternoon. Luckily, we had three cars to transport them and their luggage to their hotel. There wasn't room in billeting on base, which seemed inconvenient, until we saw their gigantic suite in their hotel downtown.
After getting them settled in, I took Jeremiah to the commissary to pick up some groceries. After that, we went to eat at a local place called San Giorgios. It's been a long time since I've been out to dinner with toddlers, and I forgot how frustrating it can be. PCSing is hard enough as a single guy; I can't even imagine doing everything with a big family. I'm gonna help this guy out any way I can...unless he wants me to babysit.

Foregoing All Jokes About Rides

Shaun's been growing a full beard since before I got to Italy. When he got back from his trip on Saturday, he said he was going to shave it; but we had no idea we'd encounter 100% industrial strength AWESOME!

Shaun's Stache
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Land of 1000 Dances

Wii Dancing
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Last night, we all gathered for some much-needed social time. It began with lots of snacks and evolved into playing lots of group games on the Wii. The funnest (and funniest) was this strange dancing game.

Wii Dancing
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

It wasn't easy to begin with, and it got even harder as it went faster and faster and faster.

And if the still photos aren't enough to make you smile, check this out:

The Green, Green Grass of Home

Tall Grass
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

I have a nice little yard around my house. It's nothing huge, but it's big enough for tossing the frisbee or duck-duck-goose or whatever. We've gotten quite a bit of rain lately, and my grass has gotten pretty shaggy. I've never owned a lawn mower before, so I bought one today.

Before
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Unfortunately, it didn't come assembled. I gathered my tools and pulled out all the pieces, making sure to read the instructions as I went along. See, I'm not one of those guys that think instructions are mere suggestions. I follow them word-for-word, which somehow didn't stop me from putting the handle on the front end.

After
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

After only two hours of turning wrenches, looking for missing bolts, and stray curse words, I had a bona fide lawn mower. I was all excited to give it a spin, but during the assembly process, it started raining. I guess her inaugural run will have to wait until tomorrow.

Rollin' With My Homies

And a big "WOO-HOO!" for getting my truck today. It feels so good to drive it again. I can't believe one of the biggest hurdles in this PCS is finally over. Well, not entirely. There's still the issue of payment, for which I wrote a check for over $2,500 today. I'm still going back and forth between finance and TMO, neither of whom want to take the responsibility of helping me out. Monday will determine whether I take the matter up with my First Shirt or not. Let's pray everything goes well.
In other news, Shaun and the crew get back from the Czech Republic tomorrow. I'm excited, not just to see them again, but to hear their stories, as well. They have a 15-hour bus ride ahead of them through three countries. Let's pray everything goes well with that, too.

You could be looking at me right now.

Because I always seem to be behind the curve on certain trends, I just got Google Earth. I've played with it before just for fun, but the reason I downloaded it today is to see different routes to get to places around Italy. It's not as helpful as I'd hoped because the roads in the towns are so narrow, you really can't see them, even when you zoom in really close. But I'm hoping this, combined with my GPS, will help be get from Point A to Point B without having to travel through Point U by way of Point J. And if I get lost from time to time, I'll just take the opportunity to get acquainted to places I wouldn't normally have seen. This is why Shaun told me to take the way I know, even if the road sign says otherwise. Following the sign might get you there, but it could take much longer.
So, if you have Google Earth, go to 46 degrees, 2'26.26" N / 12 degrees, 32'4.91 E. Yep, that's my house.

Motor Home

I sat in my truck today. A guy who spoke very little English called my office this afternoon and somehow managed to inform me my truck was waiting at a pick-up site in Pordenone. Luckily, I already had a print-out with the address on it, which I punched into my GPS. (Also, luckily, I purchased the European map card last week and received it yesterday. What timing!) However, I couldn't actually drive it home. I had to retrieve a form from the shipper which I have to take to Pass & ID along with several other forms to get my European plates. Then, I can get my truck. I hope to have it by this weekend.
The most frustrating thing about the whole deal is that I might have to end up paying for it out-of-pocket. I made the mistake of going through an independent shipping company, which, at the time, I was told wouldn't be a problem. I've made numerous trips to the finance office, who seem to enjoy giving me different instructions every time I go there. After countless calls to various people in the States and wild goose chases to a variety of offices all over base, it seems nobody can give me a straight answer. I'm going to make yet another plea to finance tomorrow, and we'll see where that gets me. I'm prepared to take the matter up my chain of command, if necessary. I don't play around when it comes to emptying my checking account.

From The Channels - Mad Props #7

Have you ever seen Almost Famous? Or All The Real Girls? Or Elf? Or The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy? If so, then you've seen the very cool Zooey Deschanel. There's something about her I find very alluring. Her dry wit has me rolling in The Good Girl ("I put a Halloween curse on your hellish heads."). And she's about the only good thing in Failure To Launch.
It seems acting isn't her only forte. She's recently delved into singing, forming a duo with Matt Ward called She & Him. I bought their album, "Volume One," last week, and it's been playing in my head non-stop. It's full of quaint singer-songwriter tunes that bounce and lull around, with Zooey's mezzo pipes recalling 70s AM radio.
So Mad Props to Zooey and her multi-talented self.

Peel me off this velcro seat and get me moving

So, you know how I was gonna try and get out and meet people and do interesting things this weekend? Well, I didn't. In fact, I didn't do much of anything this weekend except sit around, surf the internet, watch movies, and eat peanut butter M&Ms by the handful. In my defence, I was confined to my house the bigger part of Saturday because there was a guy there installing new air conditioning units. I was hoping it would take a couple hours, but it ended up taking all day. But after that, I had little desire to do much of anything.
As a result, when I woke up this morning, my gut looked larger than normal. When I ran at PT, I barely made the two mile run without falling over. And after lunch, I could barely keep my eyes open. So, the time has come for me to seriously get into a normal gym schedule and cut down on junk food. The hard part is setting a goal for myself, as my self-esteem isn't exactly soaring right now. And if you were to rank the will power of all the world's inhabitants, I'd probably be down somewhere between Kirstie Alley and Pete Doherty. Still, I'm gonna give it a shot. I have to. My PT test is scheduled for May, and there's no way I'm gonna suffer the humiliation of failing.

Meeting People Is Easy

Shaun and the whole crew just left for the Czech Republic for their service project. They won't be back for eight days, so things are gonna be kinda quiet for a while. At first, I thought I'd just end up laying low until they got back, but I think I'll take this as an opportunity to branch out socially and try to expand my circle of friends. The guys at work are always asking me to have a beer with them, so I guess there's no time like the present.

New Old Stuff

I got my unaccompanied baggage today. It took the movers less than 45 minutes to unload everything, unpack it, and remove all the boxes and packing material. It's mostly clothes and shoes, but also includes some dishes and cookware, books, and my snowboard. I doubt any more snowboarding will go on this season, but I'm so happy to have it nonetheless. The guy at TMO told me my household goods is due by the 16th. This is everything else I own (furniture, electronics, and remaining clothes, etc.). I'll be so glad once my house feels like a home.
However...
I'm still waiting on my truck. The boat was scheduled to reach Germany last week, and, from there, it will be ground shipped to Pordenone (about 10 km down the road). I've been going round and round with the finance office on base because, for some reason, the invoice for shipping it hasn't been paid. They keep asking for a certain piece of paperwork that wasn't given to me. I've called my contact at the shipping company, who has given me various people to call who might have this paperwork, but nobody knows what I'm talking about. I'll be really upset if I have to pay for the whole thing out-of-pocket. But I'm not going to stress about it now. I'm going to take this weekend to put my newly received stuff in its proper place.

Your epidermis is showing!

In the continuing saga of my red, reptilian skin, I got a call today from the hospital saying there was a cancellation, and asked if I could make an appointment this afternoon at an office much closer than my previously scheduled doctor. I accepted, and spent 45 minutes with Dr. Leonardo Marini, a dermatologist, in Roveredo. After a quick examination, he seems to think I have a form of psoriasis, despite a lack of family history. He also seems to think it's stress-related. He prescribed an antibiotic, an oil-based cleanser for showering, a post-shower moisturiser, and some other drug to counteract any side-effects of the antibiotic. Plus, he's ordered three injections to be given in 15-day intervals. He also recommended taking a 20-minute bath twice a week while adding sunflower oil to the water. Furthermore, he wants me to go to his main office in Trieste (125 km away!) to get a skin biopsy. I almost think he's trying to make money off the U.S. military. The biopsy means they'll punch out a layer of skin for diagnosis, requiring stitches. As I've been pretty lucky in my 33 years on this Earth, I've never had stitches before; and because of this, I'm a little nervous. I'm almost wondering if all this is really worth it. Keeping up with the schedule of when I'm taking all these pills is exhausting enough. Stress-related, indeed. Maybe I should just forget the whole thing and wear long sleeves and pants for the rest of my life.

But The Drugs Like Me

I went back to the doctor today since the drugs I got last time have done nothing for the horribly disgusting red splotches that continue to cover my entire body. I had a different doctor who thinks I was misdiagnosed, and that it's not even any kind of psoriasis. He's not sure what it is, but he set me up for an appointment with an Italian dermatologist next Wednesday. He also took tons of pictures of me with my shirt off. I probably should have gotten the money first.
While I was there, I asked if he could prescribe something for my allergies, which have started acting up since the weather has been warmer. He gave me Claritin, Singulair, Flonase, and a saline nasal spray. I'm beginning to feel like I could operate a pharmacy out of my kitchen. I also just read that a possible side effect of Singulair is suicidal thoughts. If I'm at the gym this weekend, and start listening to Marilyn Manson on my iPod, I'll immediately discontinue taking it.

Out of Thin Air

So, guess where I am. In my HOUSE! Yep, I finally have internet. After a couple trial and error experiments, I found a USB modem that plugs directly into my PowerBook. It works off of cell phone towers, and it's pretty fast, too. Plus, I can use it anywhere in Italy. Now I can feel free to browse sites like NudeCircusFreaksJumpingOnRubberCows.com without worrying about who's looking over my shoulder.

Who are the people in your neighbourhood? The people that you meet each day!

Via Agostino Stefani
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

I woke up this morning to a bright sun and singing birds. I opened up all my windows and decided to take a stroll to the middle of Budoia. It's only about a block away from my house, so it took all of five minutes to walk there. I live on Via Capitan Maso, which runs into Via Agostino Stefani (possible relation to Gwen?). All the streets are pretty narrow and the Italians drive like maniacs, so it's a little daunting to walk anywhere. Luckily, there wasn't much traffic.

Via Roma
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Budoia
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

In the middle of nearly every town in Italy, there's a church. From my house, I can hear the bells ring several times each day. Many of the churches date back several hundred years. The door was open, but I didn't go inside.

Cappuccino
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

In the center of town, where Via Agostino Stefani, Via Roma, and Via Umberto meet is the piazza (public square). There's not much to it--only a few small shops and a cafe, called Bar Ristorante Da Rene', where I stopped for a cappuccino. It was only 1.20 Euro (about $1.80), but it sure was tasty.

Cafe
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

There were about ten older men also there, chatting in small groups. I think I was the only one who didn't have some kind of alcohol. It was only 10 AM, but they were all drinking wine or had a shot of booze in their coffee. Damn, I love this country.

Budoia
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

After I left the cafe, I walked around a little more, smiling and saying "Buon Giorno" to anyone who made eye contact. They all returned my greeting with a smile or a nod. I hope to spend many mornings here, getting to know these people personally. This is why I came here.

My Lesson in Macroeconomics

Today's agenda included a trip to the Banca Popolare, the Italian bank on base, to get things set up for direct deposits and paying rent and utilities and such. Getting a Euro account set up initially is kind of a nuisance, but once everything is in order, it will be virtually maintenance-free. I say "virtually" because there is one important thing to consider, and that's the Euro rate. The stong Euro/weak dollar situation makes things somewhat bothersome. I have to keep an close eye on the rate and my account, because a fluctuation of just one cent can cause my rent to vary by fifteen dollars. I'm overpaying into my Euro account to avoid any hassles, and maybe, by the time I leave, I'll have a little extra saved up as sort of a bonus.

OMG! Where's Noah?

Thankfully, I had a minimum of stand-by calls this week. And most of the ones I had I was able to solve over the phone or with a brief visit. What's most annoying is when someone, usually a dorm resident, treats me like some kind of indentured servant. Case in point: I had a call tonight from a girl saying her dorm room was "flooded!" (I should probably include a few extra exclamation points for emphasis.) But when I arrived, I found only a small puddle on her bathroom floor. She said she hadn't done anything to cause it, but I've never seen any kind of bathroom fixture spontaneously leak without some kind of tampering. I mean, if your toilet is leaking, then don't keep flushing it thinking that will make it stop. I turned off her supply line to keep it from flooding further. Then she developed attitude when I deemed her situation a non-emergency and told her she'd have to wait until tomorrow morning for us to get parts. She wasn't happy when I left, but something I learned long ago is that her happiness isn't my business. Taking care of emergencies is.

When I Got The Music, I Gotta Place To Go

As I mentioned, the base here is pretty spread out, so a lot of time is spent driving to different jobs. Whist driving, I've found all the Italian radio stations that play American/British music, and there are quite a few of them. My favourite is one called "Radio Fantasy," which features a station identification jingle with a guy singing (in a very strained, Joe-Cocker-ish voice), "To the people, Radio Fan-TA-SEE!!!" The other one is "Superstar!" whose jingle isn't nearly as fun. Both play lots of Euro-pop, and I was really excited last week when they started playing the new Madonna song (which is pretty awesome...AND it features Justin Timberlake). The other station I frequent plays lots of Brit-Pop. I think it's actually a British station, but just broadcasts out of Italy. Especially since their station ID is repeated ad nauseam in a very thick British accent, "Virgin Radio." They all have obnoxious DJs, just like in America. I can't really understand what they're saying, but they sure like to laugh at their own jokes a lot. The other interesting thing is that they don't censor any of their music. The other night I was driving home and heard Dr. Dre saying "if bitches talk shit, I'll have to put the smack down." I guess most of the Italians probably don't know what he's talking about anyway.
Speaking of Madonna, you know she can do no wrong in my eyes; but she's seriously pushing the limits with her new album artwork. I mean, she's gonna be 50 this year, and I know she's in better shape than most women half her age. But I was thinking, you know, maybe she'd just like to kinda tone it down a bit.

Mixed Signals

I'm currently in the community centre on base, bumming their free wi-fi. It's a nice facility, and the internet is surprisingly fast. The base here is split up into several areas around the town of Aviano, something I've never seen before. It's kinda cool, but it also makes regular errands somewhat inconvenient. Most facilities, including my shop, are around the flightline, but I have to drive off base to a different area to go to my squadron, and another area for the Chapel and hospital. The community centre is in area A-1, so it's kinda out of my way, but at least I can come here to check e-mail and update my profile on averagelookingguysincapableofintimacyorrelationships.com.

A Brief Pause

I've packed up all my stuff, and getting ready to move out of billeting. As such, this might be my last post for a while. I still haven't decided on what I'm going to do for internet at my house; but luckily, there are plenty of places around with free wi-fi. So, if any kind of groundbreaking, earth-shattering news happens, I should still be able to let you know. Take care.

Just A-Swingin'

Italy has their fair share of national holidays, and today is one of them. It's basically just an extra day off to celebrate Easter. The base gave us a down day today, but I had to work anyway. Luckily, though, I wasn't at the shop all day. It was just doing rounds at 9 AM, 3 PM, and one more tonight at 9. The rounds consist of checking the wells, lift stations, and taking water samples, which only takes an hour or two. We have a rotating schedule at work, so last week, I worked the early shift (6 AM to 3 PM). This week, I'm working swings (1 PM to 9-ish). Swing shift includes stand-by, hence doing rounds today. I'll work the weekend, too, but I'll have next Monday and Tuesday off for compensation.
Since I don't have to go in until the afternoon tomorrow, I'm going to use my time in the morning to run some overdue errands, such as filing my temporary lodging allowance claim, getting my overseas housing allowance set up, and (finally) moving out of billeting into my house. I got a call Friday from the Traffic Management Office saying my unaccompanied baggage has arrived, so I need to set up a time for that to be delivered, as well. This shipment is just some clothes, dishes, and a few other basic necessities; but it will make living in my house much easier. It also includes my snowboard, which I have missed sorely and will be sleeping with. Naked.

Risen Spirits

Human Knot
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Today is Easter, and after Church this morning, I didn't really feel like playing calcetto with everyone. I came back to my room to do some laundry and pack up a few things since I'll be moving out of billeting and into my house tomorrow or Tuesday. Mostly, I just felt like being alone. To be honest, I'm still feeling a little down and missing friends back in the States. Shaun has been a huge help to me, and I sometimes feel like a burden, even though I know he doesn't think so.
After they finished playing calcetto, Shaun called and asked if I wanted to head over to Tracy's house with them for Easter dinner. Again, I felt like just staying in my room, but for some reason, I ended up going. And I'm glad I did.

Human Knot
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Before dinner, we chatted and did the human knot game, which I hadn't done since high school.

Easter Dinner
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

And dinner consisted of great home-cooked food, which I haven't had since I got here. Afterward, we played even more games like 21, Big Bootie, and King Elephant. It was consistent laughter for hours.
Thanks to Shaun for getting me to come. I definitely needed it.

Adventures in Not Snowboarding

Shaun
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

It's Saturday morning here in Italy, and the original plan was to be on the slopes in Austria right now. We left at 8:00 last night to make the two-hour drive to Nassfeld, but the farther we got into the mountains, the worse the weather got. Here, we stopped in a tunnel to put chains on Shaun's car.

Nick, Tony, & Josh
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Once we got the chains on Shaun's car, it performed much better. Unfortunately, Jason didn't have any chains for his car. Much of the drive through the pass was spent either pushing Jason's car or sitting on his hood to aid in traction.

Jason's engine was burning up, as was Shaun's clutch. Around 1 AM, we figured it's probably not going to happen, and decided to turn around and head home. But I wasn't going to give up so easily. In what could have been a future Air Force safety briefing, I stapped on my board and rode down the mountain in the middle of the road. (It was rental gear, so why not?) There were a few times I had to hold on to Jason's car to get some momentum, but most of the time, I stayed ahead of them. It was all switchbacks, but the snow was deep enough that I didn't get hung up. There were a couple times I got so far ahead, I couldn't even see their headlights; and being out in the snow-covered mountains in the middle of the night with barely any light was kinda scary, but also very beautiful. Yeah, it was probably one of the stupidest things I've ever done.

Tony, Nick, Jason, Shaun, & Josh
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

This was 3 AM in a rest area where we stopped for some desperately needed cappuccino. True, we didn't get to our destination, and it's not looking like there will be another opportunity for me to head up this season; but at least I can say I boarded the Alps. Sort of.

A Lot On My Plate

It's been a particularly stressful week, and I'm ready for it to be over. I'm finally able to move into my house, but I haven't yet because I'm not too keen on sleeping on a hardwood floor. I tried to buy a mattress, but they don't have any in stock, and the wait is two to four months. If I don't move in tomorrow, I definitely will on Monday. My biggest worry here is whether or not my housing allowance will start appearing in my account by the first of the month.
I'm enjoying work, but it's definitely a challenge. I've been working the early shift this week, but still staying late. Italian utilities are manufactured and installed very different from anything I've ever seen before, and there's lots to learn. Finding parts is next to impossible. I've had a few jobs this week which were really frustrating, and I left feeling so upset I just wanted to come home and lay in bed.
I've heard tons of conflicting reports about internet service in my area. Most people say DSL isn't available, and I'd rather not pay tons of money to get a phone line if all I'm going to be using it for is dial-up internet. I talked to a lady yesterday about getting a card for my computer which allows me to surf via cell phone towers. It's faster than dial-up, slower than DSL, and cheaper than either. The kicker is that my time online is limited. Decisions, decisions.
My truck should be in sometime next week, but the company that shipped it is waiting on their payment. The military is supposed to pay it, but they obviously haven't yet. I went to finance today to find out what was up and the guy who worked there was clueless. I might end up having to pay for it myself, and then (hopefully) get reimbursed by the Air Force. We'll see how that goes.
Shaun has asked me to be a chaperone for his service project next month. It's late notice, but he's pretty desperate for some male counsellors. Basically, we'd be hanging out in the Czech Republic for a week on a mission-trip-ish outting, and making sure the high schoolers don't get into trouble. It sounds fun, and I'm allowed permissive TDY (meaning I won't get charged leave), but I'm not so sure I want to ask for time off work after just getting here.
And right now, there's is practically no gas in the car I'm driving. Gas is insanely expensive in Italy (about nine bucks a gallon), but as NATO forces, we're allowed gas coupons allowing us to fill up for much less. But to get the coupons, I need a vehicle registered in my name, which I don't have yet. So, I've been bumming gas coupons, and I'm starting to feel bad about it. I'm thinking about going out and just paying $30 for a quarter tank to last me the next few days.
So, yeah, I just needed to vent a little bit there. Thanks for reading.

Please, Mr. Postman

Just like in Japan, the base here assigns everyone a PO box. So, whenever I receive a package, I find a little yellow slip of paper in my box. And, oh, how I love the little yellow slip of paper. Finding the yellow paper in my box is almost as exciting as opening a present on Christmas morning. When I walk through the post office with my yellow paper, the eyes of the paperless glare enviously at me. As I stand in line to pick up whatever was too large to fit in my box, visions of internet shopping from the week before fill my head. "Will it be the shoes from Zappos.com, or possibly the pomade I had to special order? I bet it's the DVD from Amazon.com." It's a horrible addiction. It's not necessarily getting the package. Those damn yellow slips of paper have me mesmerised!
(By the way, if, for any reason, you'd like my mailing address, feel free to e-mail me.)

Still Seeing Spots

The whole rash thing has had me a little bummed the past couple weeks. We've had a few warm, sunny days, but I'm confined to long sleeve shirts and jackets because, seriously, you have no idea how ugly every inch of my skin below my neck looks. I was pretty confident it was a reaction to the linens in billeting, and was going to wait it out until I moved into my house. Well, I'm beginning to wonder if I'm ever going to move into my house; plus, the rash has started to get a little itchy. So this morning, I made an appointment to see the doc.
After a few questions, an examination, more questions, some typing on his computer, and then some questions, Dr. (Maj) Zollinger diagnosed me with guttate psoriasis. He said it's probably the result of the brief strep infection I had right before I left Utah. (So much for the linen theory.) What's worse is that, even though it will disappear, it might come back without notice and never really go away completely (kinda like Cher), but that's not for certain. He also used the words "...the worst rash I've ever seen." Thanks, Doc. I also took notice that right after he shook my hand, he went straight for the hand sanitiser.
I was prescribed two drugs. One is for the itching. The second one is supposed to take care of the actual rash, and it's some kind of steroid. I joked that maybe I should try to go hit some home runs, and he just looked at me and blinked. He said it's not that kind of steroid, but if I start taking these pills and my nuts shrink, I'm gonna be a little upset.

Venezia Calling

When I got here, my boss handed me a used phone and told me where to go to buy minutes for it. Most people around here use a pay-as-you-go option for cell phones. It's good for people who aren't going to be here very long, as it avoids contracts and having extra bills when you leave. But I'm going to be here for three years, and a lot of those pay-as-you-go phones incur hidden charges. So I decided to go for a contract.
I went to the Vodafone store Saturday and luckily, the girl who worked there spoke perfect English. I opted for the Samsung SGH-U700V. I had to pay a little extra, but it's a pretty sleek phone, and I'm happy with it so far. We'll see if it lasts me three years.

Post Lag

I started this blog on Blogger.com nearly five years ago, and I've always thought it's been a pretty good site. However, there are a few things I wish they'd fix. One, in particular, happens whenever I change time zones. I update my profile so whenever I post, the date and time is automatically stamped. But whenever I change my profile, it changes all the dates and times of all my previous posts, too. For example, there are posts I wrote in Japan that talk about something happening Saturday morning, but it's listed as Friday night. I could go back and manually alter a thousand or so posts, but who has time to do that? I'd rather just put out an explanation in case you're sifting back through the archives and I'm complaining about having to wake up early even though the post is written at 2 PM. Now you'll know why.

Back Talk

I meant to do this before I left Utah, but I was way too busy. And I doubt texting to overseas numbers is very cheap, so this will probably be the last time I do this for a while. It's been a few months since my last list; so now, totally unedited, is...

Top Text Messages - Vol IV

1) Think im going to join the peace corps. Screw around with the natives, drink fermented goat milk...thats the way to go.
2) If you were me and i were you, then what would you be doing right now?
3) Its eight thirty in the morning. Im at a bar in a monkey costume.
4) Debbie gibson is playing at thrift towne. Wish u were here. ;)
5) I was thinking of u bc i'm wearing ur shirt - btw i'm not pooping - oh wait yes i am
6) My friend works at the gap in provo... And Lindsay Lohan came in...
7) When i drink alone, i prefer to be by myself.
8) Borat is funny... And better drunk. Not that i would know that.
9) Hemorrhoids keeping you up?
10) Ween is just about to rock out Bitch asses off!
11) Weeehooo! Thats a damn fine cup of coffee.
12) I'm officially un-unemployed now. YAY for me!
13) I drank 12 beers. Then i woke up this morning with a sticker on my penis that i cant take off.
14) Women. Boy howdy, they are a rowdy bunch.
15) Oh, btw i'm going 2 get a tattoo of mt rushmore but with the golden girls faces on it
16) College girls are the most fiendish instruments of torture ever devised to bedevil the days of man.
17) I'm in the bathroom at the Minneapolis airport trying not to have a wide stance!
18) I think I just saw the world's oldest living Lutheran at the Mall of America!
19) I got in my first bar fight. Seriously butch.
20) I suck at interviews. Im just going to let barnes and noble tattoo advertisements all over my body.
21) Herds a five letter word. Rhymes with my fav candy nerds. It means many of a group of land dwellers. Yummy!
22) At a hotel in missouri with a six pack and a pizza. Thats how i roll.
23) I have malls
24) Guiness is just as good in the morning.
25) So i went to try's for a beer last night... Yada Yada Yada i'm in las vegas
26) I just told John that if i didn't get a McDonalds m c rib that i was going to throw up!
27) Meow, meow, meow. I like pork gravy.
28) When u move 2 italy will u buy a 17th century haunted house ... Charis said she'd b ur house keeper
29) All vacations from now on will be taken in warm climates, where physical activity is frowned upon.
30) I heart nudity

Deutch Bop

For some reason, I get German MTV in my room. About 75% of the videos they play (yes, they actually play videos!) are American or British artists. But the other 25% are German bands. Here are a few I've particularly liked:
"Schwule Madchen" by Fettes Brot - This one is actually from 2001, but I love the chaotic beat and the shouted chorus.

"Zusammen Verschwinden" by Karpatenhund - There's something about the singer that's very alluring, and the tune is very catchy.

"Nachtbaden" by Madsen - Great garage rock.

I don't know what any of them are saying (Ryan, where are you when I need you?), but it's sure fun to listen to. I don't know why I get German MTV, but maybe once I get into my house, I'll get the Italian version instead.

Having My Say

Yesterday, I sent off my Federal Absentee Ballot Application. Kentucky's primary isn't until May 20th, but that really doesn't affect me since I'm registered as a Republican. (Sorry. I was young and didn't know any better.) I've made inquiries into changing my affiliation to "independent," but it's harder than you'd think. Regardless, I'll still be voting in the general election in November.
I've heard tons of reasons why people don't vote.
--It doesn't really make a difference.
--My state will always be Democrat (or Republican) and mine isn't going to counteract everyone else's.
--I don't like any of the candidates.
--I don't want to throw away my vote on a third party candidate.
--It's too much trouble to register.
And to all these reasons, I cry "bullshit!" I get excited about voting. I really feel like I'm taking an active part in democracy, and though I rarely vote the way the majority of my fellow Kentuckians do, at least I raised my voice. My parents have always been active participants in elections, so it's almost like I'm carrying on a tradition of sorts. And if I don't vote, I don't really have any cause for complaining if whichever elected official doesn't meet my expectations.
Presidential elections only happen every four years, so don't let it pass by. I mean, if they close the bars for it, it must be pretty important, right?

Preventing Popsicle Toes

All my floors upstairs are wood, and all my floors downstairs are tile. I'm cold-natured and not a big fan of putting my bare feet on uncarpeted surfaces when I wake up in the morning. Thanks to a link from Dooce, I've spent the past two hours designing carpets on Flor. After lots of trial and error, I came up with a perfect design with a great colour scheme and just the right ratio of solids, patterns, and textures. Unfortunately, it would run me over nine hundred dollars, and that's just for the living room. I guess my mission this weekend will be to look for some Italian rugs downtown.

Mi Casa

My House
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Here's my house! I just got back from there because I was getting my appliances delivered. But despite the fact I now have a washer, dryer, stove, and refrigerator, it looks like I won't be able to move in today as I had hoped. My electricity is on, but I'm still waiting on gas. And spending the night in a house with no heat when the temperatures drop into the 30s doesn't sound too fun. Looks like a few more nights in billeting for me.

My House
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Here's another view from the side. See that balcony? It looks out toward the mountains. I would have taken a picture of the view, but it's raining today, and you can barely see anything.
Once I get my furniture and stuff, I'll take some interior pictures. This afternoon, I'm going to go shopping for some basics like rugs, a welcome mat, and a lawn mower. Yes, I'm going to take care of the landscaping, too, which kinda has me excited.

My View
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

UPDATE: So, I took some stuff to my house this afternoon, and the clouds were dissipating, so I decided to take a picture from my balcony. The mountains here are so diverse that you can't see the highest peak. But if you look really close, you can see the bell tower for Budoia's Church in the middle of town. I can't wait to walk down to the market and meet my neighbours.

Pimp My Ride

Shaun had told me he had a car for me to use until my truck arrived, but due to some paperwork issues, it kinda fell through. Luckily, my boss has an extra car sitting in his driveway. I picked it up today, and now I'm riding around in a Mercedes-Benz. Again, grazie mille (a thousand thanks) to MSgt Lewis, without whom this transition would be impossible.

Quattro Formaggi

Last night, a big group of us went to a pizzeria called Vecchio's. Before I got here, I'd always heard how pizza in Italy is so different than pizza in the States. I've had pizza from a few different places here in Aviano, and it's not THAT different...but it is better. Most pizza here has a thin crust, but at Vecchio's, they specialize in a thicker crust. I had the four cheese pizza, and I couldn't tell you what those four cheeses were; but the one on top was a white cheese that tasted like cream cheese. I doesn't sound very appetizing, but it was squisito (delicious).
There were eleven at our table, including Jenn McGuire (nee Price), who was stationed with Shaun and I in Misawa. She's now married to a super-nice guy named Matt, and is about to give birth any day now. It was great to see her again, and I had a wonderful time talking with everyone and meeting new people.

Busy Signal

I don't move into my house until Tuesday, and for the past several days, I've been working getting all the necessities (i.e. electricity, gas, etc.) set up so I can move in on time. Yesterday, I went to the phone company to set up my phone line and DSL service. Now, you should probably know that my house is in Budoia, which is a little mountain community and one of the smaller communes in the province. So, it shouldn't have been a surprise when the lady told me that DSL isn't available and I have to resort to (gulp!) dial-up. After they revived me (twice), I took a deep breath and realized this is just part of living in a foreign country. I'll somehow survive, and probably learn to rely on things besides YouTube when I'm bored.

Bring the Pain

Here's a little something I learned earlier this week: if you too busy to hit the gym for a couple months because you're, say, moving to a different country, don't expect to run your ass off two days in a row and not feel it. Yeah, those 800 mg Motrin horse pills in my cabinet came in really handy Tuesday morning.

Mixed Bizness

So much has been going on this week (which explains why posting has been scarce). A few things that have taken up so much of my time are...
Church. Shaun is a contractor here working for the Chapel. He helps run a program called Club Beyond, which is a ministry aimed at bringing in high school students who wouldn't normally set foot inside the Chapel. He's got several volunteers working for him, but he's always in need of more. I went to a volunteer's meeting Monday night, and it definitely sounds like something I'd be interested in. However, I'm not sure how many evenings I'll have free because of...
Work. I was kinda spoiled my last year in Utah. I knew I'd never have to stay past 4 PM and only worked weekends when I wanted. The shop here is a little undermanned, so when an emergency arises (i.e. every toilet in the club overflowing), I might have to stay until everything is resolved (like when I stayed until 8 PM Tuesday for a certain reason that might have just been mentioned). Luckily, everyone in my shop is super cool, which makes time there go much quicker. MSgt Lewis, the shop chief, never complains, is constantly making sacrifices for our shop, and has been more than generous in giving me time to set up my...
House. You wouldn't believe the time and money that go into finding a place in Italy. There's no such thing as a quick trip to the housing office, which is where I've spent countless hours over the past two weeks. On top of that, there are tons of forms to fill out, finances to figure, contracts, meetings, and deadlines. I just have to keep reminding myself that it might be stressful and overwhelming now, but once everything is taken care of, I'll be able to settle down and relax in my sweet house.

Guitar Licks and Power Kicks

Shaun & Nick
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Shaun came back from France Friday night, and Saturday, he had a little get-together. It was just some people hanging out, eating pizza, and playing Rock Band, but it was a blast.

Rock Band
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

So, I'm not much of a gamer, but I enjoy the occasional game of Guitar Hero. Rock Band is basically the same game, but with drums and vocals. Shaun is the first one in this crowd to get Rock Band, and it's become somewhat of an addiction. The whole night was super-fun, and highlighted by Peanut's snickerdoodles and Ryan's vocal stylings.

Calcetto
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Sunday, after Church, a big group of us met to play calcetto, which is just like soccer, but played on a tennis court.

Calcetto
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

It was the first good physical activity I've had in a long time, and it was amazingly fun. We played several games, and changed the teams up each time.
I'm really fortunate to have known Shaun before I got here, and even more fortunate that he has such a great circle of friends. This assignment keeps getting better all the time.

Adapt and Overcome

After living in Japan for over four years, when I got to Utah, I remember being overwhelmed at the selection of everyday items that hadn't been so readily available overseas. Now, after three years in the States, I'm feeling the crunch of not having my favourite pomade or organic granola just down the street. But I have no problem modifying my habits. My point is this: even the 29 cent burritos taste good if you smother them in enough cheese, salsa, and sour cream.

Local Flavour

Today, all the newcomers went on a bus/train tour of some of the local towns. We hit open-air markets, amazing churches built in the 1400s, and chocolatiers with the thickest hot chocolate ever. We ate lunch at La Parca, a restaurant in Sacile, which included two major courses, plus smaller courses before and after. On top of all the food was wine, two desserts, an after dinner liqueur, and espresso. I don't think I've ever eaten so much in my life. Our last stop was at a local winery where we tasted four different wines. The owner/operator spoke pretty good English, and educated us on what to look for and how to taste different types of wine. The Italians take wine pretty seriously, and I'm hoping to learn a lot from them in this area. I kept giggling during the wine tasting because I kept thinking about this:

Sorry if you have to watch an ad before the skit. NBC can be kinda stupid like that.

A Place to Lay My Head

I found a house!
It's a really nice, relatively new, two story, two bathroom, three bedroom home in Budoia (Boo-doy'-ah). It's only ten kilometres from the back gate, which means I should be far enough away so the noise from F-16s doesn't interrupt movie nights. It's got vaulted wood ceilings, and a marble staircase. It's part of the way up the mountain, which should keep things cooler and less humid in the summer. And I have a great view of the entire mountain range.
I was hoping to find something in a downtown area, and this is more residential; but I'm still planning to develop some healthy relationships with my neighbours. Also, the rent is about 40 Euro more than my housing cap, which at the current record low value of the dollar (Thanks, Dubya!), is about an extra 60 bucks a month.
Regardless, all this is insignificant when I think about how great my place is gonna be. Even though I met with the landlord today, I probably won't be able to move in until mid-March. The thing about the Italians is that they're never in a hurry, so it's gonna take about two weeks to turn on my utilities and stuff. I hope they can move a little faster than that, because I'm getting pretty sick of living in billeting.
A tremendous thanks to MSgt Lewis, my boss, who's taken me house hunting and devoted tons of time and energy into helping me find a place. I can't thank you enough.

I Can See Clearly Now

The haze has started to lift, and when I opened my drapes a few minutes ago, I saw the faint outline of mountains. It makes things around here look uncannily similar to Utah. The peaks still have quite a bit of snow, and I'm hoping my snowboard gets here soon so Shaun can take me up. I'm loving this place more by the day.

Casa Catching

This afternoon, my boss and I went house hunting, which was much more productive than I thought it would be. I found three very cool, very different places. I fear the one I like best is already been rented, but I'll find out for sure tomorrow. It's a really nice single house in downtown Sacile (Sa-Chee'-Leh). The other two are more in the country, and both have their ups and downs. After my morning briefings, I'm going to head to the housing office and see what I can find out. Rest assured, as soon as I find a place, I'll be posting pictures.
Speaking of pictures, my apologies for not posting any yet. The weather has been very hazy and foggy, so there hasn't been much scenery visible. Today, I passed the test to get my Italian drivers license (!), so I'm hoping to get out and see some cool stuff this weekend. You'll be the first to know.

Polka-Dotted

I've developed some kind of rash in the form of tons of little red bumps all over my arms and torso. At first, I thought it was an allergic reaction to some antibiotics I was taking for a sore throat when I left Utah. But now I think it might have something to do with the detergent the hotel uses. At least, I hope that's all it is. It doesn't itch or anything, so I'm gonna put off going to the doctor until I get my own place and see if it goes away. That may not be wise, but I have too much going on right now to worry about it. It's not incapacitating. It's just ugly. I can deal with that.

Written While Drooling

I know the true meaning of Easter, but my favourite secular part of the season has got to be the annual manifestation of these. I already ate one last night, and another one is sounding pretty good right about now.

Taking Root

Friday morning, my boss picked me up and took me around the base, including lunch at Mensa, the Italian dining facility. It was some of the best spaghetti I've ever had, and it's crazy how it's just their normal chow hall. Friday night, I didn't do anything, and by Saturday, I was starting to feel kinda lonely. Luckily, Saturday afternoon, I got an invite from Nate to go to the movies and then play Guitar Hero. This morning, we all went to the contemporary service at the Chapel, and then lunch. Everyone I've met here has been super nice, and I'm so glad I knew Shaun before I came.
Still, it's a new environment, and I don't have my own transportation or house yet. I'm finding it hard not to think about Utah and everything that's going on there. I just keep reminding myself I'm in a wonderful new place, and it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It's just going to take a while to get settled, just like it did when I moved to Vegas, then Japan, then Utah. Everything will fall into place when the time is right.

Ciao, Italia!

I made it! My flight landed around 3:30 this afternoon (Italy time), and my new boss picked me up at the terminal. After a quick tour around the base (which is amazing), he dropped me off at my billeting room. I immediately called Shaun Chauta, who picked me up and took me to dinner with all his friends at a great Italian restaurant off base. Then we hung out at his place for a while. Shaun has to go to France for a few days, but his friends said they'd totally hook me up with rides and finding a place to live and stuff. I've only been here eight hours, but I love this place already.

My Last Pre-Italy Post

Turning in my truck at port today wasn't near as bad as I'd feared, despite some last-minute running around to retrieve some paperwork from a couple different offices. But once I had all that, the actual turn-in process took less than 10 minutes. Now I'm hanging out at the USO in the Baltimore airport, killing time until my flight takes off.
But before I go, I want to give some props to some of my Utah peeps:
1) Caleb and the whole Wendt clan - You guys were the first people I knew in Utah, and you totally made me feel like a member of your family. Your friendship is priceless and I can't thank you enough.
2) John - Because I met you, I ended up meeting a wonderful circle of people. You draw people to you, and have the kind of personality that makes everyone feel special.
3) Brian - You're the most hospitable guy I know. Thanks for opening up your home to so many people, and keeping everything drama-free.
4) Katie - You have the most infectious laugh in the world, and can make me smile just by walking into the room.
5) Johnny - For the past year, I've actually looked forward to going to work. Kudos to your mad peanut butter application skills.
6) Nick - Thanks for defying stereotypes, and hanging out, even when it was inconvenient.
This is a really short list, and there are tons of other people I'd love to thank personally. Utah is a really special place, made even more special by the wonderful people there. I love you guys, and I'm gonna miss you so much.

Oh, The Places I'll Go

For Christmas, my Dad got me a Garmin nuvi 200W GPS Navigation System. He's had one for a while, and absolutely loves it. I wasn't as enthusiastic about it, but decided to give it a shot anyway. I'm so glad I did. I'm used to looking up directions online and trying to follow and read them at the same time, not an easy task during rush hour in a big city. Now, Linda (as I've named the polite but somewhat cold female voice) just tells me where to go. Sometimes it can still get a little confusing if there are two exits right next to each other, but if I miss a turn, Linda recalculates my route, and has me back on track in no time. Plus she knows, based on speed and route, my estimated time of arrival at my destination. WIthout her, my trip out here would have taken much longer. Today, I used her to look up bookstores and coffee houses in Baltimore. Tomorrow, I'll use her to find the place I drop off my truck.
Unfortunately, it didn't come pre-loaded with European maps. I can buy the chip for the bargain(?) price of $300. I'm gonna see how easy it is to get around in Italy for a few weeks, and if I think it's worth it, I have no problem shelling out the extra cash. We'll see how it goes.

Cruising Crabtown

After driving over 2,200 miles in four days, I finally arrived in Baltimore. The drive was much better than expected, with very few traffic or weather issues. Plus, I got to see Don, Jessi, Paul, and Trish in St. Louis, and stayed overnight at home in Kentucky. Thanks to everyone who's been calling and texting to check on me. Tomorrow will consist of dealing with the shipping company and getting the final paperwork done so I can drop off my truck at port. But tonight, my good friend Dan is on his way to my hotel, and we're gonna get dinner and have a few beers. I don't get to see Dan very often, so any time we get to hang is much appreciated.

Making Like A Tree

I just finished my final out-processing appointment, and it feels good to have all the military appointments off my mind. There are still a few things I have to take care of with shipping my vehicle and taking care of my apartment, one of which is turning in my cable modem, which is why I'm writing this right now. In a few minutes, my internet access will go from constant to sporadic, as will posting until I get things set up in Italy.
I have a minimum three-day road trip to Baltimore ahead of me, and I love road trips and all, but I'm just hoping the weather will cooperate. So far, the forecasts look good, but I'm bringing a blanket, a case of water, and a couple MREs, just in case. Highlights will include stopping in St. Louis to see good friends and new babies, and an overnight stay at home in Kentucky. My Mom has already promised to make my favourite cookies, which makes the entire trip worthwhile. Plus, my good friend Dan lives in the Baltimore/DC area, so it will be good to hang with him again before I depart.
Tonight will be my last night hanging at Roosters, whose owners have probably bought a boat from what I've spent there. Utah really is a special place. It's almost as hard leaving here as it was to leave Japan, as I've made some great friends here, and had some super-fun times. But, as always, when I get to my destination, a whole new world is going to be opened up to me. I won't forget Utah, but it's my time to move on.

Packed Out

The second wave of movers just left, and now all that's left in my apartment is the stuff I'll be carrying on my back. It's very empty and kinda sad.
My shop going-away party is tomorrow morning, and I still have a few things to take care of at work. I'm planning on leaving early Friday morning.
This move has been looming for the past nine months, and I can't believe it's already here. I'm gonna miss Utah.

Eulogy

Sunglasses
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

When I first got contact lenses, I went crazy buying sunglasses. I bought this pair on sale at a Giorgio Armani boutique. I can't even describe how perfectly they fit. Technically, they're not even within regulations, but I wore them to work anyway, and nobody ever said anything. I think the reason why is because everyone knew how good they looked on me (see my profile picture).
They've been to Iraq with me twice, through Japan, and all over the States. They've been kicked, stepped on, scratched, and dropped off a third story balcony. Despite all that, they've somehow held on for over four years.
Last week, I was wearing them while running some errands, and when I got out of my truck, they got knocked to the ground. I don't know why this time was different from any other time, but a screw flew out and a lens cracked. And though it pains me to do so, I'm going to have to put them down. Funeral services will take place tomorrow at 3 PM. But not really.

Almost Gone

Z, Me, & Nick
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Last night was my big farewell party at Brian's house. I was thrilled and flattered at how many people showed up. There was quite a bit of alcohol consumed, and these pictures are about the only evidence of all the fun I had, because the memories are somewhat fuzzy.

Pete & Jonathan
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Josh & Eric
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Trevan & Jeff
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Mikey, Rob, & Floyd
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Drew, Becky, & Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Josh, Drew, & Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Scott & Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Tina & Me
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Trevan & John
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Tavia & John
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Adam, Me, & Scott
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Rob, Me, & ?
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

It was one of the wildest parties I've been to in a long time, and I didn't get home until 6 AM this morning. For the whole photostream, go here. Thanks to all my friends for coming out. It made me feel really loved and appreciated. And extra special thanks to Brian, not just for opening up his house for this party, but for continually being so hospitable, ever since I've known him. I'm gonna miss all of you.

Bring On the Boxes

I've got a lot to do today, not the least of which is to start packing. I don't really have to "pack" anything, but I do have to separate all my belongings into three groups: 1) the stuff I'll be carrying on my back, 2) my "unaccompanied baggage," which is the stuff I'll need soonest and is limited to 500 lbs., and 3) everything else, which is mostly furniture. This is the third time I've done this, and you'd think it would get easier. But it doesn't, mostly because I have more stuff now. I've been putting off packing for too long now, and the movers come Monday. I guess I'm gonna be up pretty late Sunday.

New Addition

Everett
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Please join me in welcoming Everett Lewis Dinkins into the world. He arrived yesterday at 3:32 PM, weighing in at 9 lbs., 11 oz. and 21 1/4 inches. A big congratulations to Trish, Paul, and Roxy! I can't wait to see him in person.

Reinvigorated

I've been corresponding a lot with my friend Shaun over the past few months. We were stationed together in Japan, and he PCSd to Aviano about four years ago. Since then, he separated from the Air Force but stayed in Italy as a youth minister. He's been giving me advice and information about my move over there.
I've been getting a little overwhelmed this week with deadlines and faxes and appointments. For some reason, it seemed a lot easier when I did this three years ago. I'm tempted to just crawl under my bed and hope everything just takes care of itself.
Then, last night, I got the best e-mail from Shaun. It mentioned trips to France, Austria, and the Czech Republic. It mentioned his large circle of good friends who are more than willing to help me out. It mentioned snowboarding. It totally got me re-excited about this tour of duty, and now all those hurdles between me and Italy don't seem like such a big deal anymore.

Stress Threat Level: Orange

I am THIS CLOSE [puts thumb and index finger 1/4" apart] to saying, "The hell with it!" and just selling my truck and buying something new in Italy. All the paperwork and faxing and sending and phone calls are starting to get to me. And today, I found out my truck might be sitting in port in Baltimore for a month before they even put it on a boat. So, why am I paying you $2,500 if you don't even have a boat lined up? I just wanna be on the plane already.

Spill the Wine

Wine glasses have sorely been missing from my cabinets for far too long. As I've been drinking wine more frequently as of late (thanks Ben), I decided to hit up Bed Bath & Beyond for a set. My intention was to go in, get the glasses, and leave; but I made a really bad decision. After I found the glasses I wanted, I made a loop around the store. The temptation was so great, I even had to go back to the front and get a cart. Oh, well, at least my place in Italy will be well stocked.

Gridiron Gathering

I once referred to the Super Bowl as "the world's biggest display of homo-erotic macho bullshit." That was three years ago, and though I still don't place a lot of emphasis on professional sports, I can't deny the fun to be had a good Super Bowl party. Case in point: yesterday, Drew and Becky had a great party at their place. The big game was pretty exciting, and was book-ended by equally exciting games of Settlers. Just for the historical value, a little part of me wanted the Patriots to win; but the bigger part of me was rooting for the underdogs, so I was glad to see Eli and the Giants pull off one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history. Plus, what better excuse is there to drink beer and eat junk food all day?

Sounding Together

Last night, Mark, Scott, Brian, and I went to the Utah Symphony at Abravanel Hall in downtown SLC. It's been quite a while since I've seen a classical music performance, and I'd forgotten how enjoyable it can be. Conducted by Keith Lockhard (also the music director for the Boston Pops), the first half consisted of Sursum Corda by Erich Wolfgang Kornngold and a Concerto for Violin by Miklos Rosza, the latter featuring Robert McDuffie on violin. After intermission was Beethoven's Seventh Symphony. The obvious emphasis was on the Beethoven piece, but most impressive was McDuffie on the violin. The whole evening made me a little nostalgic for my college days as a music major. I'm hoping there will be plenty of opportunity for performances like this in Italy.

Tossin' and Turnin'

I went to bed around 11 last night, and just as I was drifting off, I got a text message. It doesn't bother me to get text messages at any hour, but you know what does bother me? Insomnia. If I'd gotten that text message five minutes earlier or five minutes later, there would have been no problem; but instead, I lie there, restless. I tried everything from reading to sudoku to "other" methods, but didn't fall asleep until nearly 3 AM. Surprisingly, I still woke up refreshed and ready to go this morning. Of course, that could have been because I knew I'd spend a minimal amount of time at work today.

Shortitis

I now have less than three weeks before I board the plane for Italy. I've been spending a minimal amount of time at work this week, which is not to say I've been spending a minimal amount of time working. I stay at work for about half the day (sometimes less) and then spend the rest of the day out-processing. I probably shouldn't admit this, especially since I've been pacing myself on all my out-processing appointments and I'm usually home by 1 PM so I can take care of laundry, TV-watching, and napping, which, in its own way, is a form of work.
What's taking the most time, though, is getting everything set up for shipping my truck over there. I've spent hours on the phone with shipping companies, my bank, my insurance company, the traffic management office, and finance. You'd think it would be easier to get straight answers from people to whom you're going to give a large amount of money.
Throw onto all this the fact I'll be testing for Tech (again) on Monday. Actually, scratch that. I've never stressed about promotion before. Why start now?

Double Feature

One of the big events in Utah is the Sundance Film Festival every January. Officially, the festival ended Saturday, but luckily, they hold a few "Best of Fest" screenings at different theatres especially for locals. Kevin got a hold of a couple tickets to last nights films at Peery's Egyptian Theater in Ogden.
The first film was Captain Abu Raed, winner of the World Cinema Audience Award. It was a Jordanian picture about an airport janitor who tells stories of travels he hasn't taken. It was a little sappy in parts, but overall a good movie about building friendships and helping others.
The second film was Patti Smith: Dream of Life, which won the award for Excellence in Cinematography, Documentary category. It was a wonderful portrait of the life and music of Patti Smith, with whom I was only casually familiar. It was interesting to see how influential she has been since her debut album "Horses" was released in 1975. She narrated the film, which discussed her family, her friendships with Robert Mapplethorpe and Michael Stipe, her love of New York, and her political standings. I think a lot of people thought it was boring, because several got up and left; but I really enjoyed it, and might even pick up a few old Patti Smith albums.
Thanks to Kevin and Karen for scoring the tickets. I've always had a love for independent cinema, and this was a great way to catch a little Sundance fever before I leave Utah.

Release

Today was my first full day of out-processing, and the first thing I did was get rid of all my chem gear. It felt almost as good as that day I discovered masturbation.

Alone Time

I haven't had much time to myself over the past couple weeks, and after taking the guys to the airport this morning, it was kinda nice to have the place to myself again. I know I sometimes whine about being lonely, but there are times when it's nice to just relax in the quietness and be still for a while.

Early Departure

I took my Dad and his buddies to the airport this morning. (It's not even 6 AM yet, and I'm already back home.) It's gonna be a long time before I see him again, and I'm glad he took the opportunity to come out to Utah before I leave. I'm already looking forward to the day he and Mom come to see me in Italy.

Hills, Valleys, Mountains, & Canyons

Powder Mountain
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Today was the third and final day of boarding with my Dad, and the weather was a complete 180 from yesterday. Sunny, blue skies and visibility for miles. Plus the added bonus of great snow. We went to Powder Mountain again, and it was the busiest I've ever seen it; but "crowded" by Powder Mountain standards really isn't all that crowded.

Dad, Dave, & Eli
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

This was our third day in a row on the slopes, and even though we were feeling a little fatigued, the weather made us forget about any aches or pains.

Powder Mountain
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

I looked all over for the whiskey on this run, but I didn't find any. Strangely enough, I didn't see any Mormons, either. Coincidence?

Powder Mountain
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow, but I don't care. Totally worth it.

Fade To White

Eli
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Today's excursion led us to Powder Mountain. The weather conditions weren't exactly ideal, but the snow was probably the best I've ever boarded in. The powder was thick in the trees, and even the groomed runs had a few inches of fresh snow on top. And the cold temperatures made sure it stayed nice and fluffy. This is Eli right after he totally bit it in some trees and lost both his skis.

Dad & Dave
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Powder Mountain
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

I've never boarded in total white out conditions, and at the top of the mountain, I couldn't see anything but whiteness. It was kinda scary just going along without knowing if I was gonna hit a slope or a tree. But as soon as we descended a few hundred feet, things cleared up a bit and made for a wonderful day on the slopes.

Powder Keg

Dad, Dave, & Eli
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Dad flew in last night, along with his friends Eli and Dave. The mission is to spend as much time on the slopes as possible. We hit up Snowbasin today, and stuck around from the time the lifts opened until they closed.

Snowbasin
Originally uploaded by currtdawg

Things were great all morning, but around 2 PM, a storm blew in making everything white. Despite that, it was probably the best day of snowboarding I've had all season. And it's great carving down the mountain with my Pops.

"I drink your milkshake!"

Yesterday evening, Rob and I went to see There Will Be Blood. It was probably the most intense film I've seen in a long time. Daniel Day-Lewis was brilliant and the score by Jonny Greenwood (of Radiohead) was wonderfully eerie. Very highly recommended. I'm not sure if I could decide between this and No Country For Old Men in the best picture category.

Friends With Benefits

You may have read my rant about supermarket membership club cards, but I found a loophole. Last night, I went to the grocery store, and since I only had a few items, I went to the self checkout lane. I left my discount card in my car, but there's a feature where you can input your telephone number if you've misplaced your card. So I put in my telephone number, but for some reason, it wasn't accepted. Then I thought about how Caleb always puts his phone number in and it works, so I pulled out my phone and looked up his number. But when I put it in, it wasn't accepted, either. So I just started going through my phone, putting in random numbers. After about the ninth try, Theresa's number finally worked. Thanks, Theresa! You saved me $6.37!

Breaking Bread

At Trevan's birthday party, I met a guy named Rob who, in August, opened a deli with two of his friends. They're still just starting out, so they're only open Monday through Friday, from 11 AM to 4 PM. Since I'm usually working then, I wasn't sure I'd get a chance to sample some of their cuisine. Luckily, I was running errands in SLC today, and dropped in for an avacado provolone sandwich.
Oh. My. Goodness.
This was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. So if you ever find yourself in downtown SLC during the week, hit up Gusto! Take-Away. You'll support my friend, a small business, and get a scrumptious lunch.

Paternity Test

My Dad and two of his buddies are flying in tomorrow for a few days of skiing. I didn't want to go back to work for just one day, so I took all week off. I have a billion errands to run today, but the most important is getting my place ready. Since Ryan is gone, I have this huge flat all to myself, so I told Dad it would be ridiculous for them to stay in a hotel when there's plenty of room here. I just hope we don't end up strangling each other.