One day, and counting....

[ellid]

I leave at 5:30 tomorrow, and I cannot tell you how relieved I am. Work has been a meatgrinder this week (no, you do not wish to know about the new Office Manager who manages to be dithery, a micromanager, and seemingly incapable of doing her job, not that it stops her from telling me and several other people how to do ours), so I'd want a vacation anyway.

But tomorrow! CushionQuest 2008 begins! I'm almost completely packed, I have my passport, my Euros, and my plane and apartment confirmations, my Italian phrasebook and my guides to Florence, and two books for the plane. I even have handwork to do (I'm taking parts of my silk caftan along with me).

I will report in from Europe once I've arrived (possibly from Amsterdam, since they seem to have a free Internet business center thingy). If anything happens, Una and Roomie will be the ones to spread the word (probably starting with helwen and fitzw. I don't anticipate trouble, but for all I know I'll be kidnapped by gypsies or something...:)

Less than 24 hours! Yee-ow!

Comments

[lherelenfeline.livejournal.com]

I am so excited for you!
Will you have internet access in Florence?

Anyway, have a safe trip and let us know how its going.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I will have limited Internet access, so expect a couple of posts from me during the week. This trip is going to rock - and safe journey to Pittsburgh!

[varianor.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Safe travel. Good time to go to Europe too.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I'm saving a ridiculous amount of money by going in January, plus the crowds will be much, much less. Thanks! :D

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

SQUEE!!

Have fun (and learn lots) over there!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Among my stops: The costume collection at the Pitti Palace, which includes Eleanora of Toledo's dress and stockings, plus a collection of 16th and 17th century carnival costumes. Yes, I *will* take pictures/get guidebooks. If nothing else, you'd all kill me I want to remember this forever. :D

[xrian.livejournal.com]

Please take close-up, detailed pictures of Eleanora's stockings; FEET for me if you possibly can. All the decent photos show the tops very clearly but not the lower ankle, heel or toe. (I know they're damaged, but do the best you can....) My "other Laurel" Michaela de Neuville has been promising me copies of her photos for YEARS and has somehow never gotten around to it.....

[aunty_marion]

Oh golly, Eleonora of Toledo's stockings! A friend once asked me if I could knit her a replica pair ... I took one look at the link she posted and said "Er...NO." Certainly not without a pattern to work from!

Have fun!

[mnemosyne-1.livejournal.com]

Yay!! Safe travel! Take lots of pictures! :D

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Will do! Thanks!

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Bon voyage, sweetie!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

Have fun, watch out for the pigeons (they are vicious)!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

"And she almost slew the vicious Pigeon of Florence...."

I'll keep an eye out for them. A pigeon dumped on my head in Vienna in 1976, and I've hated those flying rats ever since. :D

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oooh, good luck! Be safe!!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[helwen.livejournal.com]

May you have good fortune and good health on your journey, and discover many fascinating things while you're there.

Hugs
H

[ellid.livejournal.com]

That's my hope...take care, and be well!

[tree_and_leaf]

Have fun, and don't let yourself be kidnapped unless you want to be!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I've already had a couple of requests for tall, dark, handsome men named Marco or Antonio...we'll see! Thanks!

[mistress-kabuki.livejournal.com]

Have a great trip! =D

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[owlfish]

Safe travels, and may Exciting Scholarly Discoveries be yours!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Wait till Wednesday. That's when I actually see the cushion in person. If I don't drop dead from delirious joy, that is...:)

Thanks!

[joyeuse60.livejournal.com]

have a fabulous trip... enjoy good wine.. good food... an interesting gypsy? and take lots of pictures.............. wish I were going with you...:)

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely take pictures! It should be a great deal of fun regardless, and if nothing else, I'll have lots of "Ellid bumbles her way through Italy" stories! ;)

[danabren.livejournal.com]

Have a safe, enjoyable, stress-free trip, and gain lots of knowledge!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon! I'll be at Birka, probably still jet-lagged as all get-out...:)

[orphandani.livejournal.com]

I guess you're on your way by now... safe journey and lots of fun! Can't wait to see the pictures when you get back!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I'm off to the airport in a couple of hours - and yes, I'll have pictures! Thanks!

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

W00t! Bon Voyage!

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks! See you this spring sometime!

ooh

[animangel.livejournal.com]

Have fun on your trip! It sounds like it's going to be a blast.

(....although, would getting kidnapped by gypsies really be such a *bad* thing?)

[hak42.livejournal.com]

Have a wonderful time!