It was something I’d always wanted to do so 2009 was my year to make it happen.  What is it you ask?  A cattle drive…Italian style!  That’s right, 5 days, 4 nights, 3 regions.  We started in Apricena, Puglia with 125 cows, 55 horses, and more cowboys than I could count.  With the mission clearly laid out before us the driving began.  First stop, San Paolo Civitate, Puglia.   Although there were only 18.5 km between the two cities the driving took over 5 hours.  Who knew cows could be so difficult?

That first day was tough but well worth it.  I never imagined the amount of work that went into moving cattle.  There are the drivers on horseback and those who go by foot.  Then there are the people whose jobs are to breakdown and clean the departure campsite only to transport everything to next campsite and have it ready for when the drive ends for the day.  Finally, there are a whole other group that are responsible to drive back and forth between the two sites in order to bring all of the horse trailers and other vehicles.  Then it’s time to kick back, enjoy some wine, and wait eagerly for some chow.

By the time 3 pm rolls around bellies are full and you begin to see a lot of this…even the cows are exhausted.

Since this was a first time for a lot of us we wanted to celebrate our accomplishments…until 2:30 am!  Trust me, after that night our energy stores were bankrupt and it was just hard work for the rest of the drive.

Day 2 and every day thereafter began with a 4 am wake-up call.  This consisted of a cowboy on horseback with a cow bell yelling “SVEGLIA!  SVEGLIA!”  I have to admit that first morning was terrible considering I had only 2 hours of sleep, but on the other hand it was the most incredible sight to see, old fashioned cattle driving, Italian style!

The drive continued like this from day to day.  Our stop on Day 2 was Ururi, Puglia, Day 3 was Palata, Molise, Day 4 was Montefalcone Nel Sannio, Molise, and Day 5 was Castiglione Messer Marino, Abruzzo.  Finally, after 123.4 km, the cows were safely at their summer residence and the horses were off to their respective homes.  It was an experience that I will never forget and a tradition I hope to participate in again this year.  It’s been almost a year since this drive and I still can’t stop thinking about those 5 days.  The amount of strength, courage, and commitment of all those involved is awe inspiring.

My cowgirl hat is off to you all!

Tuesday, January 12^th, 2010 at 12:15 pm, I arrived at Palm Beach International Airport with my mother. We had tickets for US Airways flight # 1247.  This flight was scheduled to depart at 1:55 pm to Philadelphia, with an arrival in Philadelphia at 4:25 pm.  Following this segment of our trip was a connecting flight to Rome, Italy, on US Airways flight # 718 which had a scheduled departure time of 6:25 pm, and an arrival time of 8:55 am on Wednesday, January 13^th, 2010.   We immediately went to the US Airways check in counter to leave our baggage and get our boarding passes.  As the gentleman at the counter was checking us in he informed us that the flight to Philadelphia was delayed and was not scheduled to depart until at least 3:25 pm. I informed the gentleman I had a connecting US Airways International flight at 6:25 pm that we would miss with the delay. “NO…YOU’LL BE FINE” was his response. I did the math and thought that any further delay would definitely lead to our connecting flight to leave without us.  I explained this to the agent and he said that since it was still a US Airways flight they would know that we were delayed and not takeoff without us.  He then added that since we had scheduled a cart for assistance with my mother we “should be fine”.  So against my better judgement I waited for the delayed flight and departed for Philadelphia.  I informed ever US Airways employee that assisted us along the way that we had a connecting international flight but no one really seemed concerned.  As I expected, the flight was further delayed due to air traffic, and after circling the airport for at least 15 minutes, we missed the flight!!!!

I explained to the flight attendant that we were due on US Airways International flight # 718 and the flight attendant laughed and said “they won’t wait for two passengers”  “you missed that flight.”  What the flight attendant did do was plan for an agent to meet us at the gate to help us get re-routed.  When we finally got off of the flight from Palm Beach, an agent did meet us at the gate and informed me that we were being re-routed on a British Airways flight to London Heathrow at 9:15 pm and then we would connect to Rome on an Alitalia flight with an arrival in Rome at 3:40 pm the following day.  At that point I asked the agent if there were any other direct flights that we could take as I was travelling with my mother who is not well.  I was told that this is what was re-booked for us but since we had to go to Special Services in order to get our boarding passes they might have some other suggestions.  With that, the cart that had been pre-ordered to take my mother to our connecting flight had arrived, but instead of taking us to our flight, it took us to Special Services.

When I arrived at the Special Services desk, I explained my situation including the fact that the re-routed flights would not work for us.  Immediately, the agent demanded she “can’t do anything without even know why we missed our flight”, so she asked “why did you miss the flight?”  It was accusatory.  With that, I explained the entire story starting from our arrival at the Check-In counter at the Palm Beach International Airport.  The same story I noted above.  At that point she said that all flights were full but if necessary she could try to get us on the same flight we were originally scheduled to take but it would obviously not be until the following day.  I accepted that option as there was no way I was going to subject my mother to anything but a direct flight.  The agent began to make our new reservation but couldn’t complete anything until she could get verification on the delay of our flight out of Palm Beach International.  That took her a good while as it appeared as though no one could give her an answer and the computer system showed no issues with the flight.  After about 45 minutes she was able to complete the reservation and give us our new boarding passes for Flight 718 with a departure date of January 13th.

I then asked how we were to handle our luggage and I was told that it was already routed to London.  At this point it was not yet 9:15, which is what time the London flight was scheduled to depart, so I knew she could have it pulled from that flight and re-routed to US Airways Flight 718 the following day.  She made it very clear with both her body language and her verbal response that it would be “difficult” but she would try if she had to…and yes, she had to.  Well it took her sometime but she was able to do it.  She then handed us our new baggage claim tickets along with a voucher for the Hilton for that evening, and two $10 vouchers to cover the expense of dinner, breakfast, and lunch!  Finally, she phoned the Hilton to send the airport shuttle.  We checked in at around 10:30 pm.  Starved, we dropped off our carry-on baggage and headed directly to the only eating establishment available, a sports bar.  We ordered 1 bowl of soup,  2 sandwiches, and a soda.  Our bill came to $26 and change.  There went our meal vouchers.

Wednesday we headed back to the airport at Noon since the Hilton would not give us a late check out.  We exchanged some Euros, lost a lot in the exchange, and then went to eat.  Another meal consisting of 2 sandwiches and a soda…$23 and change.  After that we just sat for hours.  I couldn’t log onto the internet since there is no free WiFi at Philadelphia International.  I asked at Special Services if they had some sort of “voucher” for internet use but they said they couldn’t help.  So we sat and waited until 5:40 pm when they started boarding US Airways flight 718.  We immediately got on the plane and into our seats.  Boarding went relatively quickly and before we knew it we were pulling out of the gate.   After about 15 minutes or so, the pilot shut down one of the engines and informed us all that there was an issue that needed to be resolved prior to take off so we would be pulling back into the gate and have the mechanics come on board to look into it.  We pulled back into the gate and waited, after about another 15 minutes the pilot came back on the overhead speaker to say that the issue seemed to have resolved itself “as sometimes they do”, and that we would be pulling out of the gate to depart.  We pulled out of the gate again and after another 10 – 15 minutes the pilot informed us that it seemed “that the problem didn’t fix itself”  once they pulled back into the gate the mechanics would come on board to take a look at the issue.  He went on to say that he was sorry for the delay but it would probably be at least another half hour before we would know anything else.

The mechanics did come on board and after a while the pilot informed us that they were going to pull out of the gate with the mechanics on board just to be sure that the problem was fixed.  After a few minutes we pulled back up to the gate, the mechanics exited the airplane, the doors were shut and the pilot announced we were heading to the runway to prepare for takeoff.  We made it to the runway, waited for the aircraft in front of us to take off, then we were cleared for takeoff.  The plane accelerated down the runway and just before taking off the plane came to a screeching halt.  Bodies were jolted forward, children began crying, and mothers began demanding off the plane.  People were looking out the windows yelling “what’s happening, what’s happening”, others were yelling “stay calm, stay calm”.  It seemed like an eternity before the pilot spoke to us all.  His words were “sorry about that folks but I think it’s best if we just head back to the gate and have the plane looked at because this issue won’t go away”.

Once back at the gate is was mayhem.  People rushed to the exit door and surrounded the flight attendants demanding they open the doors and let them off.  It was chaos.  After about 20 minutes, an agent from US Airways came on board and said that anyone that didn’t wish to continue on the flight could leave the plane and be rescheduled for another day.  She then added, “but we can’t sit around waiting for you, you have to make a decision and leave now”.  My mother was not going to attempt flying on that plane so we got up, grabbed our bags, and left.  Many people did the same.  Once we got off the plane we were treated like nothing but a big inconvenience.  We were herded from one area to another, spoken to like children being scolded, and not shown even an ounce of understanding.  There were a couple of agents working and they collected all of our baggage information so they could pull the baggage off the plane, then the process of re-booking began…for me and my mother, it began all over again.

At 11:30 that night, we were finally given new boarding passes for US Airways flight 718 departing at 6:25 pm on January 14^th.  We were also given a hotel voucher for the Sheraton Suites, and four $10 vouchers for food.  At midnight we arrived at our hotel to find no available food.  We were both physically and emotionally spent.  Not caring about hunger, we went to sleep.  The following morning I went to the front desk to request a late check out and was told we could stay until 3 pm.  It was a blessing in so many ways.  We relaxed a bit but not enough to forget the previous nights nightmare.  We were finally able to eat something so we went to the only restaurant at the hotel and had two burgers, two coffees, and an order of onion rings…$36!

At 3 pm we checked out of the hotel and were shuttled back to the airport.  At 5:40 pm we once again boarded US Airways flight 718 but this time we actually took off at 6:25 pm.  When we arrived in Rome we had to search down our luggage as it never really was taken off the previous nights flight.  Instead, it sat in baggage claim for most of the day until it was picked up and sent to the storage unit of the baggage handling company that covered the previous nights flight.

Since I was out of touch with the driver in Italy I learned he did wait 36 hours in Rome and we never arrived although he still got paid 200 Euros for his time.

I am now home safely but I am in no way feeling secure.  I have flown with US Airways my entire life and it hasn’t always been perfect, but nothing ever is.

The difference here is that the ball was dropped on so many occasions.

• Starting with the US Airways agent at Palm Beach International who should have listened to my concerns and thought about what the consequences might be for the customers standing before him.  Instead, he just pushed us along by telling us lies.
• Then, before arriving in Philadelphia the flight attendants should have been a little more sensitive to the fact that an elderly woman was concerned over missing her flight, she shouldn’t have laughed it off like we were her new best friends.
• Special Services should have been able to better accommodate us and our needs taking into consideration the time of day, the age of the passenger, and the fact that we were stranded in a major American city where a cup of coffee costs $4
• The agents that “assisted” us passengers who chose not to fly after experiencing the plane coming to a screeching halt should have been more patient and understanding.  They should have made an attempt to take time to speak with us not at us.  They should have tried show us some respect, some care, some compassion.

After all of this I can honestly say that I am disappointed with the way US Airways treats its customers.  It needs to end now or the good reputation that you had for so many years will quickly be wiped away.  I have utilized US Airways online feedback form and requested to speak to someone regarding this terrible experience.  I am now faxing this with the hope that my voice doesn’t go unheard, and that my feelings don’t get pushed aside.  I was always a loyal customer and I deserve at least this.

Giovanna Pasquarelli

…of Mom!?!  I got that thrown my way the other day and after recovering from the initial shock of hearing those words I began to think, why is that so insulting?  I love my Mom.  She is a woman that is strong in ways I could never be.  She is a woman who raised her children in a country that was not her own.  She is a woman who faced the challenge of assimilating to a new culture.  She is a woman who walked away from everything she was taught about being a good wife and mother so she could move forward in a whole new world.  She is a woman who never let her limitations deter her.  She is my Mom.  She is our Mom.  I am proud to be like her.

……

So to answer the question I left you all with at the end of my last post, the dog that I photographed was one of the first photos I took as we arrived in Gallipoli for a one week vacation.  It was me and 5 friends who set off to experience an area of Puglia known as Salento.  We decided to rent a big 4 bedroom house near the sea in Gallipoli because of it’s location.   From there we set off all day, everyday, to find some fabulous new seaside town with incredible views  like these.

The food was amazing and always with a base of fresh seafood.

And the beaches were breathtaking…take a look for yourself.

This was an incredible 7 days but it could have never been one of the the Best of 2009 if I hadn’t had the opportunity to share it with the best friends an American girl in Italy could have hoped for….Here we are…………..

I spent too much time in 2009 feeling like he looks, feeling like a spectator, trapped.  By the time October rolled around I could not wait to get back to America to feel some sense of connection to the world.  I waited and waited for December 13th to roll around so that I could board that plane back to “life”.  Now the 13th has come and gone and here I am back in America.  I am reconnecting with family, friends, and the everyday American way of life, you know, Dunkin Donuts, Bloomingdales, and let us not forget the most American thing of all, spending money you don’t have.  Once the novelty of America wore off, and my bank account became very close to non-existent, I started to spend time my time with family and friends reviewing my year in Italy.  It was then that I began to realize that 2009 wasn’t really *that* bad of a year, in fact, it was pretty damn good.  Sure there were really bad things that happened but I need to focus on the positive…I need to focus on the “Best of 2009″.

So who is that little guy in the photo?  Well, you’ll have to stay tuned to find out!

…let’s make it the best year yet!!!

I thought about getting back into blogging a lot over the past several months but always struggled with what to say. I guess I felt that I could only write about a life that was all happy and jolly when the truth of the matter is, life is not all happy and jolly. So, not wanting to drop by just to bitch and moan I stayed away. Well, no more!

I have a lot to say and the better part of it may not be pretty…or maybe it will. I don’t really know how things will play and I don’t really want to know. There is, however, one thing I know for sure and it’s that life isn’t handed to us in a nice and neat, pretty little package but there is always something good hidden beneath the mess.

It is this fundamental belief and the NaBloPoMo theme of “BEST” that fueled my desire to attempt blogging again. I’m pretty confident that if you don’t see the connection between the two right now, you will soon enough.

OK…I’ll be the first to admit that I have avoided this place for way too long. I don’t really have a valid excuse except for the fact that I am extremely lazy. It’s not like I don’t have all kinds of crazy thoughts running through my mind, or that I haven’t done anything exciting since my last entry…quite the contrary, I have loads of craziness in my head and loads of adventures that I’ve taken in real life. I would like to share them with you so I am going to use January’s NaBloPoMo theme of ‘Best’ to review my year. I hope there’s still someone out there who cares. If not, at least I’ll be able to calm the craziness in my head.

I was tagged on Facebook by an old friend  whom I’ve known since grammer school.  The meme involved answering 100 questions about me…my favorite subject.  I figured since I actually did this one I would share it with all of you.  After all, I know you’re all dying to know. 

 

1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?
Just one? I have so many! How about a beautiful 6 inch scar under my left breast from a heart surgery in 1991.

 

2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?
Paint.

 

3. DO YOU SNORE, GRIND YOUR TEETH, OR TALK IN YOUR SLEEP?
I deny, deny, deny all of the above, although, others will say otherwise.

 

4. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?
Everything but country.

 

5. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN?
2:57 pm. My mother always said I was just in time to watch General Hospital.

 

6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?
Sunshine on my face.

 

7. WHAT DO YOU MISS?
Working with Hospice.

 

8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION(S)?
My artwork.

 

9. HOW TALL ARE YOU?
5′ 4″

 

10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC?
Yes, very easily, then I go into a full blown panic attack. It’s ugly…very, very ugly.

 

11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?
No.

 

12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?
My sister.

 

13. WHAT’S YOUR WORST FEAR?
I don’t know…but that’s scary.

 

14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Blonde hair, blue eyes…I should have moved to Sweden not Italy.

 

15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF BEING PROPOSED TO AT?
I really don’t see me ever being proposed to.

 

16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK?
Decaf coffee…the furthest thing from an energy drink. I love my coffee for the taste, not the kick.

 

17. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING?
OK, ham, artichoke hearts, and mushrooms.

 

18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
A Birthday Cake Carvelanche…no candy, extra cake mix, and not over mixed.

 

19. FAVORITE COLOR OF ALL TIME?
Black.

 

20. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A GOLDFISH?
I barely eat real fish let alone goldfish.

 

21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?
Life.

 

22. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?
Does Lenny Kravitz count?

 

23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED?
No.

 

24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND?
Ann Taylor…I like the classics.

 

25. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE FEMALE/MALE CELEBRITY?
I really don’t know…

 

26. DO YOU HAVE A PET RIGHT NOW?
Yes.

 

27. WHAT KIND IS IT?
Two dogs and two cats. I am also getting a puppy in about a week and my cat is pregnant, again!

 

28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?
I would like to say no…but I guess anything is possible.

 

30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED.
49

 

31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES?
Blondes…didn’t we go over this?

 

32. FAVORITE QUOTE?
It’s never to late to be what you might have been. Don’t remember who said it.

 

33. FAVORITE PLACE?
Staniel Cay, Exumas.

 

34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE USA?
Yes.

 

35. YOUR WEAKNESSES?
Where do I begin…

 

36. MET ANYONE FAMOUS?
Yes.

 

37. FIRST JOB?
Souvenir shop on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

 

38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?
Yes…and I’m sorry.

 

39. DO YOU THINK EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS A SOUL MATE?
I think we all have people in our lives that are soul mates, usually more than one.

 

40. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED THIS OUT?
Baking pies to bring to the local nursing home for Carnivale.

 

41. HAVE YOU EVER HAD SURGERY?
More times than could ever imagine.

 

42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
My infectious laugh.

 

43. HAVE YOU EVER HAD BRACES?
No.

 

44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
I want to travel to a place I’ve never been and celebrate another year of life.

 

45. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT AND THEIR NAMES?
I don’t want to have kids.

 

46. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I was named after my father.

 

47. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TURN OFF OF THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Cheaters.

 

48. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU LIKED ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL?
Honestly? I was able to be out of my house for all those hours, 5 days a week and smoke lots of weed.

 

49. WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE?
Whatever smells the best.

 

50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Yes.

 

51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Ham.

 

52. ANY BAD HABITS?
I smoke…again!

 

53. ARE YOU A JEALOUS PERSON?
Sometimes…and I can admit that.

 

54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Hell yes…I love a challenge.

 

55. DO YOU AGREE WITH FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS?
I think that it’s a great deal for men and for any women who can really separate sex and emotion…but how many of those women do you know?

 

56. DO LOOKS MATTER?
Yes.

 

57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER?
I don’t…that’s what the happy pills are for.

 

59. WHAT’S YOUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE?
To always be a good person.

 

60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD?
I loved my Barbie Camper.

 

61. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE?
I’ve never counted.

62. WERE YOU A FAN OF BARNEY AS A LITTLE KID?
Barney wasn’t around when I was a little kid.

 

63. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Do bears shit in the woods.

 

64. MASHED POTATOES OR MACARONI AND CHEESE?
Mac and cheese.

 

65. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
I’ve stopped looking.

 

66. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES?
La GioFra, G, Jo, L’Americana, or America.

 

67. FAVORITE SUPER POWER?
Flying, without a doubt.

 

68. FAVORITE TV SHOW?
Boston Legal was great but LOST is my favorite.

 

69. WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH YOUR ENEMIES?
I don’t…

 

70. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
Nocciola

 

71. DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR FINGERS AND TOES?
Although I am short on some organs, I do still have all of my fingers and toes.

 

72. DO YOU HAVE A COMPUTER IN YOUR ROOM?
I have a laptop…you never know where it might be.

 

73. PLANS FOR TONIGHT?
Sleep…it’s 1:30 am and those damn pies just got out of the oven.

 

74. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE WHEN YOU ARE OLDER?
In a 5 star Assisted Living Facility.

 

75. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
I am not tagging anyone on this…they don’t ever respond.

 

76. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO?
The TV.

 

77. LAST THING YOU DRANK?
Water.

 

78. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
I Skyped Elisa, my longtime friend from Ventnor…she’s in Alaska, I’m in Italy, and we spoke for over an hour. It was a great virtual get together.

 

79. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX?
I’m an ass and thighs girl.

 

80. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
Travel, visit friends, blog, work on my house…

 

81. FAVORITE THING TO HATE?
I have no clue how to answer that question. Hate is hate, there are no favorites.

 

82. FAVORITE SEASONS OF THE YEAR?
Spring, Summer, and Fall.

 

83. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF CANDY?
Ferrero Roche Garden Collection.

 

84. HAVE YOU EVER REALLY AND TRULY HAD A BEST FRIEND?
I have lots of great friends, and lot’s of best friends.

 

85. WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOR?
Dark brown.

 

86. EYE COLOR?
Brown…contain your excitement please.

 

87. SHOE SIZE?
37

 

88. FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE?
Taco Bell

 

89. FAVORITE RESTAURANT?
I don’t really have just one…sorry.

 

90. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI?
Not into the sushi.

 

91. WATCH TV TODAY?
Grande Fratello.

 

92. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
Christmas.

 

93. PLAY ANY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS?
No…Not musically talented.

 

94. REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT?
Democrat.

 

95. KISSES OR HUGS?
I love kissing…and I love hugging…can’t I have it all?

 

96. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS?
Whatever I’m feeling at the moment.

 

97. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU BOUGHT?
350 liters of GPL.

 

98. WOULD YOU EVER BE A HOUSEWIFE?
Not in this lifetime.

 

99. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
Running With Scissors.

 

100. DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE:
Non existent.

Slowly they are gaining back their dignity.

Thanks Wizard!

I was determined to get to my house today.  I just needed to be in my space for some me time.  I knew that my car would never had made it, so I asked my dad to take me.  He has a 4×4 Fiat Panda, they are not the most attractive looking cars, but they kick ass in these weather conditions.  Just take a look at the roads.  Not many people are braving the conditions…we were the only two fools in sight.

Once we arrived I couldn’t believe the snow that had settled all around my little piece of paradise.  Here’s a shot of the driveway leading to the main road.  Believe it or not, I had just had the snow plow here earlier this morning…a lot of good that did!  I’ll be sure to track him down and beg him for another visit.

I haven’t been able to stay here since Wednesday night because my car just doesn’t *do* the snow.

The lions have been stripped of their dignity and are now in desperate need of a visit to the Wizard of Oz.

So while I wait for the snow to end, and then melt away, I’m trapped…and not dealing with it very well.