Ms. Garmin needs a name

Today was my first day in Rome without having to wake up to an alarm clock. I am embarrassed to say I slept until NOON! I think I really needed to catch up on the sleep I didn’t have earlier in the week. I woke up feeling rested and was ready to be a tourist.

Before leaving home, Rick and I search high and low for the perfect GPS unit. One that had a pedestrian mode and had Europe preloaded. It turns out that they were not as easy to find as one might expect, fortunately we found Ms. Garmin at Frys, they have everything.

I went out exploring with a too small to read map and Ms. Garmin. Ms. Garmin took forever to find the satellite. I turned her on and she was searching, I carried her in my hand for about 30 minutes and she was still searching. Finally I just put her in my bag and after I ate a panino and had a “Coke Light” I remembered her. I had already found the Trevi Fountain by myself (with the posted signs around town). I checked her again and she had finally realized I wasn’t in Kansas anymore (well Round Rock). I decided to try to program a destination and stumbled my way through the menus and found the Spanish Steps in the landmark section.

She was finally useful but she wanted me to back track from the direction I had already been and I wanted to go a block over and backtrack on that street to be able to see more. ‘Ms. Garmin’ didn’t appreciate my sense of adventure. I finally met up with where she wanted me to go and lo and behold I was walking by my hotel. I thought that must be the way of the Garmin Gods to tell me to get off my feet for a few minutes and enjoy some AC. I took the Garmin Gods’ advice and am relaxing for a few minutes in the room before continuing on to the Spanish Steps to have my first gelato.

I know people name their Garmins. Help us think of a name for ours, Ms. Garmin just won't do.

Hello from Roma, bella Roma.

My first post about our big move, how exciting!


I survived the flight without my carry on. I wasn't able to sleep on the plane more than a couple of minutes, I think I was too excited about coming to Rome for the first time. When I got here I had a driver waiting with a sign saying "SHORES". I am 37 years old and with all my years of flying this was a first of having a sign for me. I have seen those guys standing there waiting, but never for me. A special moment in a silly way - I love those moments.

While driving me to the hotel, the driver received a call from my new boss, Lou. Lou instructed the driver to stay with me at the hotel until he was able to come greet me. My hotel is just across a little street from the Embassy. I didn't have a chance to freshen up before this. Oh well, I tuck in my shirt and hope for the best. Lou shows up with the SAIC (big boss) and Christine, the administrative person of the office. Mind you, I have been traveling since 9:00am (Austin time) the morning before and it was 9:00am in Rome now. I felt like such a bum, but they said they were just happy to have me here.

My room wasn't ready, no surprise since it is hours before check-in. I left my luggage at the hotel and went to the office for the first time with them. I pushed myself through the day so I would overcome the jet lag. I registered the kids for school and got to walk around the complex where we will live. I think choosing to live farther out of the city was a very good choice. I think we will have a pretty big place, by Roman standards at least. My commute won't be so fun, but that is ok, I will be living in Rome.

Can't wait to move here and start our new life. We really need to hit the Rosetta Stone before we get here to help make the transition easier.

Lots o' stuff:

Minnie is happily frolicking in Northern Virginia. She was a day late, but 'Becca was able to be there when she was delivered. Hal & Sheila have 2 dogs already (a Labradoodle and a Boston Terrier... I think), and Minnie is trying to figure out where she fits into their pack.

'Becca left today for Rome. Her plane lands at 12:45am tonight here, 7:45am tomorrow morning local.

The plane didn't have space for her carry-on (on the flight from here to Newark), so they gate checked it... but "gate checking" evidently means something different now than it did a few months ago; she didn't get it back when she got off the plane in Newark. It was considered "checked" at that point, and she has to claim it as regular luggage tomorrow in Rome. She was a little peeved when I talked to her, to put it nicely.

It's bedtime for the kiddos, so I'll leave you for now.

Latest developments:

Minnie leaves this weekend for Sheila's house in Northern Virginia. Becca is going up there for training anyway next week, and was going to try to drive up there, but it would be cost prohibitive.

We found a place here in town that delivers pets worldwide, and they're going to take her from door to door for $450. She leaves Sunday, and will arrive on Wednesday.

All that's left is the house, so if anyone knows anyone who wants to buy a house, please let me know.

Welcome to our blog:

We will try to keep this updated as we get ready to move to Rome.