Ciao! Ciao!
 

Well, I am almost recovered from last night's party and am trying to get something off to you this morning (while you are all fast asleep in the US).  During last night's party, we had a terrific electrical storm and it knocked out the upstairs electricity.  It came back on fairly quickly (we have a generator that kicks in if that happens) but this morning the DSL is not working so I am writing now and sending later.  It was a HUGE and quick storm passing through.  It hit so hard once that it sounded like the back of the house fell off, but, of course, it did not.  I guess I will go through yesterday from the bottom up.  The party last night was a huge success.  I was the downstairs maid (hee, hee) and I prepared and passed the appetizers, prepared the salad, served the salad, cleared the salad while pouring water and wine, prepared the buffet table with the hot food (Phil barbecued the pork tenderloin) cleared the dinner dishes, cleared the buffet table from dinner, prepared the buffet table for dessert, cleared the dessert plates etc.!!!  My legs were finished by the end of the evening. 

Debby did some dishes last night and is finishing them this morning, as she decided not to attend her Italian language class at 9 AM.  It was a terrific evening.  Everyone loved the appetizers, the dinner, the dessert etc.  The storm was at its worse just as everyone was leaving but they all made it home safely.  Youth is wonderful!  They were such delightful young couples, well groomed, with lovely manners and respectful of rank AND "older" adults (that means older than they are...not OLD!!!!.)  Say what you might about the military, I think it would certainly do all young men a great education to spend a couple of years serving in some capacity of military service.  I could do without the "MAM" part that those Southern guys seem to always use (makes one feel older than a great, great, grandmother) but it is respectful.
 

Yesterday morning, we drove to the JFC Base (for those of you who are non military, that is the NATO Base and JFC is for Joint Forces Command, Naples).  Debby had to go to a meeting of some Navy wives who are doing a Carnival booth while she is in the states.  It is a big money raising thing and they cook hamburgers and have lots of games etc.  It is an all Nations Festival but the US has a big booth.  Fortunately, I do NOT have to do her job there while she is away.  I can attend as a "guest"...hee, hee.  Phil got all my passes and paperwork yesterday so I can get on all the bases, including the NATO base which is the closest to our villa and where I feel the most at home.  The Navy support site is a long drive but not too difficult and I probably can do it without getting lost.  However, the JFC Base has most everything I might need while they are gone, except fresh veggies.  We went to the local grocery store on the way home to get vegetables. 

They have very nice produce, better than the bases.  The market is easy, although I'm not real good at the Euro dollar yet.  However, the main thing is having enough of them to pay the bill!!!!  They have a good system with the vegetables both on the base and in the local markets.  You put your produce in a plastic bag and it has a number.  Each thing has a separate number.  You put your selection (say red bell peppers) on the scale, push the number for that class, and it shoots out a ticket that sticks on to the bag with the price.  This means the check out person does not have to try and figure out what you have, what the code is, how much it is etc.  The markets are pretty crowded and that saves a lot of time.  Very easy to learn to do.
 

I have already been invited to go on some tours with the gal down the street and her mother, who arrives Friday.  That will work out very well.  Her son is also on Philip's football team so they will make sure he gets to the games and will also take me!  Nice, as the game/school is at the support site 1/2 hr or more away from the Villa. If I am repeating what I told you yesterday, please forgive me.  I cannot remember who knows what etc.  Also, our DSL is out so I am writing this off line in hopes that the DSL will be back up and running soon.
 

 A nice man at the NATO base, who owns the small hardware store there, has invited me for Cappuccino AND to go sailing any weekend I would like to do so.  He sailed against Debby and Phil a couple of weekends ago at Navy Yacht Club and would welcome me aboard his boat.  We didn't have time to stop and have a Cappuccino with him yesterday, as we had much to do before last night's party.  Soo, he was very insistent that I come back and have one with him after Debby and Phil leave.  I like the feel of the different stores at the NATO base and the friendly atmosphere. 

It is pretty easy to find from Debby and Phil's Villa so I think I can drive there and back when I need something.  Coming home from there and the market was a bit difficult.  6 lanes of traffic at a standstill trying to go to 3 and then most trying to get to the left one to turn left.  It took almost 1/2 hour to go three blocks but we eventually got there.  If the Italians are not going 100 miles per hour they are crawling on top of every car around them.  Driving here is interesting.  If I lived here, I think I would consider a scooter, as the sidewalks are usually clear and they were merrily driving past us yesterday on the sidewalk and making great progress.  It might not be real safe on the freeways but it seems pretty safe in traffic.
 

The outdoor sign boards are interesting here.  For instance, there was a huge outdoor board advertising jeans...very nice jeans... and a very well designed ad...however,  the girl didn't have anything else on.  It's so Italian! 
 

We also bought gas yesterday.  You have to order it in liters and then watch that they put in what you said or you will get ripped off and get less gas...a very common practice here.  Debby says it is not the case on the NATO base so I will attempt to buy gas there whenever possible. 
 

It is a very macho country.  I do love the way they dress. It is nice to see men's clothing fit a bit closer to the body (and some of those bodies are really buff) and to see such beautiful and well polished shoes on the men (when they aren't in tennis shoes).  Although their hair is longer, in most cases, they look neater but do not smell as nice as our American men do.
 

We live on a very steep hill so we have to come up it in first gear.  I hope I can remember how to drive a shift car.  I think my years of driving a Porche will all come back to me quickly.  If not, I may never get up the hill!!!  Hee, hee.
 

Debby and I are going to cook today so we will have a nice dinner ready to eat when we return from Rome tomorrow.  We have to get up at about 3:30 AM tomorrow morning (maybe as late as 4 AM), as we have to be at the support site at 5 AM to catch the bus to Rome for our tour.  Never dull!!!  I may not be able to write tomorrow, as I think we will be ready for bed at an early hour.  The following day we are going to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.  I can't wait. 
 

Getting acclimated to this time zone isn't really hard for me.  I usually wake up about every 4 hrs anyway so I just check the clock and see if it is time to sleep or time to get up.  I'm just kind of cruising through day and night about the same way. 
 

Your last night's news is our morning TV news here.  We have the Armed Forces TV channels so we get a variety of different news stations...CNN, and FOX alternate in the morning and then the TODAY show in the afternoon.  We got Meet the Press sometime yesterday.  So, we are up to date but on a slightly different time schedule. 
 

Well, I had better try to get this sent and then see what adventure might be happening today.  I see the SDL is still blinking and trying to get itself to stay on so this will probably have to be sent later.  Do send me a few lines via e-mail.  It is a long way away over here and I am going to be very lonely when Debby and Phil leave Saturday morning.  Take care.
 

Love and hugs...Ciao bella!  Marylee/Mom