I’ve been blogging pretty much non-stop for the last three years and three months. I haven’t taken any extended vacation in that time. That’s going to end the day after the primaries end. I’m headed for a little tour of the Lagos of Northern Italy.
If you’ve appreciated all my hard work over these past few years, maybe you’d consider a contribution to help me buy a plate of pasta and a glass of chianti. I’d really be grateful.
Congratulations! You deserve it! Do you accept contributions from non-American citizens?
sure. given the value of the dollar, I’d probably prefer it 🙂
Ha! Well, I’m going to be drawing pay in US dollars in about two weeks, but I’ll be sure to drop a few coins in your tip jar when I get a chance.
I’ll see what I can scare up after I pay the bills.
hey, know anyone who wants a Chevy Astro? Ugly interior, needs front end work, but the transmission is new and the engine is super strong. it’s got both safety inspection and emissions stickers, and passed both.
$1000 or best offer…
The primaries are going to end?!? Who told you that?
good point.
Italy had wifi.
Get back to work, slacker!
Only if you take us.
:<)
Consider it done!
Maybe it’ll be enough to buy an espresso.
:<)
What’s wrong with Yellowstone? Why do you hate America?
Leave Yellowstone to the Europeans. Why do they hate Europe? Because with their euro life is cheaper in the U.S.
Nothing, I hope, since I’ll be there about this time next month. While I can still afford it. Assuming I can still afford it.
That’s assuming the caldera underneath Yeallowstone doesn’t pick that particular Monday to erupt. If it does, well, you can kiss Omir goodbye. Along with Omir’s family and pretty much everybody in the general area.
Have a great time, BooMan! We’ll try not to wreck the place while you’re away.
My donation was sent.
this advice will surely help you navigate Italy.
One of my favorite pieces ever.
calvin is thinking that you probably are already very familiar with Rick Steves and Travels in Europe and, therefore, have his guidebook that covers the area. If not, get it right away.
Ciao!
rick steves has other advice here
betcha didn’t know he was a NORML member….
I’ll stick to Chianti…
I was surpised–until I read one of his guidebooks. Good on him.
A few (devalued) $s underway.
Have a glass for us & enjoy!
You can’t blog from Italy? 😉
Have a great time!! I was in the Alps in Geneva and Austria, but never from Italy. Made it to Venice, Rome and Florence though.
Yes, but why would you? There’s only so many times you can post “I’m in Italy, it’s beautiful and sunny, sucks to be in America right now don’t it?”
LOL, Omir!!
donation sent. Enjoy Italy, that looks beautiful.
Take care of the food helpings. We just got back from two weeks in Florence and the Amalfi Coast, and they are huge. I had a Valtellino red (from near where you will be) that wasn’t half bad.
Have a good one.
Ciao.
.
BooMan writes:
“help me buy a plate of pasta and a glass of chianti.”
Hi BooMan, we can meet at last. If you cross the Alps in the reverse direction of Hannibal (forget the elephants, use hp) we can meet in Basel …
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Alas, the closest I’ll get is Zurich, and then only to hop a train to Lugano.
Have you been to Zurich? If not, try to build in some time to take a stroll. You won’t regret it.
That’s would I’d do.
If I was going.
:<)
I’m so pressed. I’ve never been to Italy.
But I can’t even dream about crashing. Because my precious leave time, for now, has been donated to the Barack Obama campaign.
So I must live vicariously through you.
I went by Zurich on a train – does that count? Didn’t stop there. But dreamt about the view from Geneva to Zurich when I got home… Wow, was that spectacular. Stayed in Bern on a holiday – everything was closed, even the bears. Too bad!
The bears?
Do enjoy Italy. I’m not sure if what I sent will cover pasta and wine there. Especially since I’m still transacting business in American Dollars. But hope it does.
(Going to Toronto this weekend to open Euro account by the way.)
Way to go blogger extraordinaire.
It isn’t Italian, but it’s close.
translation via salon:
well done spot…all round, from the framing, ie: his placement in the screen…to the message.
his team is really good.
And doing it himself, in Spanish rather than through a translator . . . that should get him points right there.
I’d have to defer to someone who speaks Spanish on this one, but to me his Spanish sounds pretty good — not unaccented, because there’s no such thing, but like it’s his own voice rather than “I’m dredging this up from the Spanish I took in high school.”
I read elsewhere that his accent was really authentic. That alone should get him a few votes.
Did HRC try one in Spanish?
Yeah, is it better than Clinton could do, that’s the measure of success. And he takes the speaking Spanish metric away from her, too?! Bwahahahahaha!
I’m impressed. Thought I would cringe through it but he did pretty good, only a couple of words needed some work. Well done, Barry!
Yours was the opinion I wanted most!
i’m glad that he showed the residents of the island the respect to address them in both their official languages.
I suspect he sounds at least as good with his Spanish as Ahnold does with his English.
l second lisa.
Vacation in Italy?
Elitist!
he’ll probably rent a volvo too…have a nice trip.
if it’s Milan, shouldn’t it be a Fiat?
How would I know? I’m a girl. 😉 If there’s one thing I don’t care about it’s cars. Unless it’s a Tesla or a Prius. I want the former, but would settle for the latter.
don’t even attempt to drive in italy…they’re seriously wacko…walking is recommended, or public trans….they’re dangerous when behind the wheel
Show me a European, or a Bostonian, for that matter, who isn’t!
Rome on a Vespa! Not for the faint of heart.
What do you think the over/under is on Scott McClellan’s life expectancy?
I can wish some money into your PayPal, but I’ve been trying to wish money into mine for the past 8 mos. and it hasn’t happened. Yet. 🙂
Have a great vacation!
Boy do I know the feeling. Worst few years ever in that regard. I’m determined to change that!
Sent ya a bit of well-deserved dough, BooMan.
Oh, and btw, I heard somewhere fava beans go better with chianti, but I can’t remember where, though…
Buone vacanze!
Stick to the local vino, it usually costs a lot less than imports from other regions.
That’s true all over Europe, while here in the US we overpay for wine no matter where we are.
Buon viaggio!
I’ve been paying two mortgages, and finally the former homestead is for sale. Anyone interested in a nice 3-bedroom, 2-full bath, big 2-level deck, family neighborhood house that’s a quick commute to the state Capitol in Harrisburg?
After settlement, I’ll be flush and able to contribute everywhere I wanna.
I’d be all over it…I really should have stuck out for a 2 bathroom place. Even an extra toilet…sigh.
At this price in LA, all it would have is an outhouse! No bathrooms!
But seriously, I should have stuck it out for a one-floor house 3 years ago; I knew my arthritis would eventually make the stairs impossible for me. But houses were so hard to find 3 years ago, and my b-i-l walking the dogs saw the realtor pounding the for-sale sign in the front yard.
In any case, I’m self-employed and don’t need the “easy commute” so it’ll be a blessing to some poor soul trapped into an 80-mile round-trip commute.
Commiserations on the single bathroom.