Only a Few Days Until I Leave

It's a gorgeous Iowa night as I start my first post.  The wind has died down and the birds are chirping in the trees.  My neighbor got his sprayer stuck in a ditch near our house.  He and someone else are working on trying to get it out.  I know that I will be seeing none of the sort when I am finally in Rome.  In an odd way, I think I'm going to miss the little things that happen out here in the sticks.  Anyways, to keep everyone posted on what is going on while I'm gone, I wanted to keep a blog.  Well, I just checked the countdown on my homepage and it says I have 2 days and 16 hours until I will be on a plane and heading for Rome.  I have almost everything laid out and just need to get it packed in my suitcases.  I'm kinda starting to get a little nervous.  I have been to Italy before, but the first time we had a tour guide that could translate for me.  Not this time!  I hope I catch on to the language quickly.  Well, I think I will close, but hopefully I will get my suitcases packed and be ready to head out.  Keep checking back often.  I will try to keep daily posts.  That's the plan anyway!