Work Day

We are T-minus 10 days to slogging ourselves Stateside.

Things yet to do:

Figure out how to get everything into our luggage

Eat up the perishables and things in open packages 

Book Rachi's trip (we're waiting for Travel Tuesday)

Each book our Thailand/India trip (ditto on the Travel Tuesday) for a "honeymoon".

Book any Catania stay at the end, if doing one, or any other quick side trips before we fly out.

Catania Christmas Markets (and a stop into Geox on Corso Italia, and possibly take a caffè with Jay Greco)

Finish the week's laundry

Deep clean the place 

Clean out the fridge

Book Ryanair gift card for Vincenzo and Mariella

Get spazzatura rotations completed

Ask for Nonno's handwritten spazzatura schedule.


So that last item is a bit odd, perhaps. To back up: Over three years ago and my second day in this apartment, I was desperately trying to keep the garbage -- spazzatura -- schedule straight. It's so ingrained in people's minds here, I remember one time when talking with Giovanna, I stopped to ask, "Wait -- what day is it?," literally meaning, is today Tuesday or Wednesday, to which Giovanna replied, "Plastic". So I had to write out the schedule and put it at eye level on the shelf in the kitchen.


When we were celebrating Thanksgiving at Nonno's place, I went into his kitchen to get the pumpkin pie. Turning around, I saw, on a shelf at eye level, and in his own handwriting, Nonno's note of the spazzatura schedule. It was my note in his handwriting.

For some reason, it touched my heart, and I'd love to have it framed and hung in my kitchen. If they don't want to give up the original, perhaps Elena can make a copy for me.

Today, Cyber Monday, I was glued to my phone, looking for deals for Rachi, and trying to get firm answers from everyone on the Mexico excursion. I love travel, but I don't love this round up the responses sort of thing. It's different, planning for others than for yourself. Waiting on one response, and then I think we're golden.

Tomorrow, I want to go to the Catania Christmas Markets, early. Then we're back in time (what will be good USA time) to book everything on Travel Tuesday, which is supposed to host some great deals. Hopefully all of this will be off my list by Wednesday!

After a lunch of brodo caldo, with lenticchie e pasta, and a tortorello salad, I walked to Vesti Bene to get Joe some socks. His other few pairs have not yet shown up; I think Andrea put them with Giuseppe's things.

I found men's socks, some new slippers for me and Joe (since ours here are looking ratty), a thick scarf that can fold out to be a shawl, a little coin purse, and an inexpensive sparkly belt for the holidays. 

Since I needed butter and wanted peppers to go with tonight's supper, I stopped at Lidl. I laugh into my coat lapel sometimes, waiting in line to pay anywhere in Sicily, and maybe extend that comment to include all of Italy. I picked one of two checkout lanes (two! Fancy today!), with a guy and a few items in front of me. Evidently, someone was with him, butting in front of me with a few items in her hand. Rude; shopping while in line, right? I'm used to it. But not quite used to someone (the same woman) reaching back and wedging a full shopping cart in front of me. You have to just chuckle at these things, or you'll constantly be pissed off.

Budger


Once I finally got to the checkout, the young man cashiering started saying something in French. I must've looked stupified, because he hastily explained that I looked similar to a French woman who shops there, and mistook me for her. I've talked with him before; he must've forgotten. "Sono Americana," I reminded him. But I was pleased that if he were going to guess another nationality, he guessed French. I am part French, after all!

I called my sister on the way back.

A little more flight searching time, then I started dinner. Sausage, not used on Thanksgiving, fried with onions and peppers, and served with thick bread I bought today. Joe loves the water-based salads, so I made an iceberg lettuce and celery salad with vinaigrette. A nice Grillo from Wine & Charme accompanied everything.

Big clean up (I hate the mess of frying), and now it's bedtime.

Not the most exciting day, but my walk was pleasant. Each time I go through town, I see something old with a new lens, or something new and fun. 

It was a day in this little, busy, sweet Sicilian life, and a nice one.

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