oh well

i thought since i had updated the renovation blog, i might as well give this one a write-by too. just got back from a glorious week in italy - our babymoon, long awaited vacation, last fling before the baby - whatever you call it trip and it was nice. we have a lot to do in the next 2 months for the baby and it seemed like the right time to go away. i should have done it a few weeks ago when i was in the peak of my health but even then, hitting the 1st week of the 3rd trimester wasn't as bad. i'm just bitching cos i have had such an easy pregnancy.

walking a lot in italy didn't bother me at all, it was the sitting. sitting on the plane, sitting in restaurants for hours while we eat the antipasta, the first course, the 2nd course, the dessert and the coffee - all those leisurely meals just don't cut it anymore. sitting just about does my back in - compresses the spine and makes my back ache. the moment i get up to walk around, i feel fine. and of course even bending over and putting on shoes is a task. i have to say it was nice to not be myself for a week and let mike do everything. i watched him pack as we moved from place to place, i whined if i wanted to sit or walk, i didn't carry anything, he rubbed my back, my belly and hugged me all the time. it was really nice. i could tell it wasn't as nice for him but in 9 months, all it takes is 1 wk to pander to me, i say he's gotten off lightly. i didn't feel bad for not pulling my own weight for once and i got sick in Venice (a fever then a cold) which made us both nervous but i bounced back in a day.

saw paola and her 2 kids which was really nice. i miss her. it's been 16 years since college and 6 years since i last saw her and Emanuele is big now - just about 6 and Alice is 20 months.. they are adorable children and she was stressed at work but i think overall still happy. they gifted us so many things, i felt bad - wine, baby things, hotel room stay and tons of clothes. i really miss them and italy

the rest of the trip was just Mike & I and I had forgotten how well we travel together. we plan the same way, we approach problems the same way and we enjoy the same type of adventures - a seedy neighbourhood in Rome for a fantastic meal (which involved a harrowing drive through Rome at night), a quiet neighbourhood in Venice far from the tourist crowds and a genteel dinner in Milano for our last night. he's not really into art which was fine by me since I've been to Italy so many times and he pandered my desire to see the Pope on Sunday at the Vatican and I think he was impressed by the experience too. we complement one another well too - he loves to drive, i like to sleep in cars. i speak italian, he does not. one thing i felt sad was I couldn't sample as much of the wine and prosecco as I would normally but what the heck, i visit italy often or at least i used to.

back to work on monday. i wonder how my replacement did. i got an email from the boss saying i was welcome back and that he wanted me back till season 10 (we are on season 1) and that he hoped i was having a nice trip. im sure it was at the urging of the various supporters i have placed in the crew - i was a little afraid he would just give my job away while i was gone (we are all freelancers - it wouldnt have been unthinkable - after all i am the one who left) i was resigned to the idea but it made me feel better when i got the email. i know my skills enough that the guy he got in to cover for me would never be as efficient as i am, BUT they are better friends. so who knows...

i've slowed down a lot since the beginning of the 3rd trimester. i don't feel quite as invincible as i used to. i wonder how that's going to play at work. all i have to do is last until dec 18 and i'm golden.