November 30, 2018

Dear Nucky,

I was very happy to hear from you,  and I am glad that you appreciate my blog.  It shows what good taste you have.  I know that we have not met yet, but I hope we will meet when we return to the United States.  Perhaps we can stop in Virginia on our way back to California.  Or who knows, knowing the way my life is going maybe we will live in Virginia for a while.  After all I am not sure that I want to move back to the land of smoke, fires and floods, but of course Brian and his family are there.  I do miss those little boys.

Today I have officially lived in Italy for about 6 weeks.  I think I am getting accustomed to my new surroundings, but I do miss my friends in California.  I haven't made any new friends here because we are rather isolated and there is not a dog park nearby.  Also, the weather has not been good, so I have not been getting walks.  This week we have had a couple of nicer days with a little bit of sunshine, but it has been near freezing.  Since I have lost all of my undercoat and it hasn't grown back yet, it is a little cold outside.  Maree dressed me up in a little doggie coat the other day when we visited Senigallia to do some shopping and have lunch, but I felt rather silly walking around looking like that.  I did not really want to be seen.  When we were in the clothing store, I hid under the racks.  I don't want people thinking I am a fragile little thing that can't stand the cold.  After all, I am a dog bred for the cold weather and wearing a coat is rather embarrassing.  Confidentially, however, I do hope my undercoat grows in soon because I am not in California anymore.

Speaking of embarrassing, the other day Maree said I was like a cat.  Can you imagine that.  I am all dog and not a cat -- although I have never really met a cat face to face, so I can't be sure whether this is actually something I should be offended about or not.  But, what is the problem with washing my paw and then washing my face after my dinner.  Do you think I want to walk around with food on my face.  I do hold myself to a certain standard of cleanliness and etiquette -- although when I am excited the etiquette part goes directly out the window.  Anyway, why can't a dog wash his face?  Is there a law against it or something?  I think people are just too prone to put everyone into a little box of their own fabrication based on little knowledge or evidence.  If I want to wash my face I will.  I don't care what anyone else thinks.  I am my own dog forever. Nucky, do you wash your face?  I think I will do a little poll of my friends to see if my behavior is so different.

I guess today I am on a rant.  Too little activity, so my mind is just going crazy and making me a little anxious.  I tend to be a little anxious anyway.  My latest anxiety is being caused by hearing the word Bologna almost every day.  I thought bologna was a meat product, but I never see any meat, so I am beginning to think that it is something else especially now that I keep hearing about trains and hotels.  I guess this means we are going to be going to someplace called Bologna.  I have been in several hotels in my life already, but I have not ridden a train yet.  I hope I like it better than the car, because I still do not like riding in a car.  But at least I don't get car sick anymore even on all of the twisty turny roads here in Italy.

 Actually I don't like going to new places very much unless there are friendly dog smells and lots of things going on to distract me.  I think Maree said there are a number of Christmas fairs happening in Bologna, so maybe that could be fun.  She is very excited about a French Christmas fair there with little chalets and Champagne.  I know about Champagne from California, and I know I am not allowed to have any of it, so I don't think I will have much fun at the French Christmas fair unless I meet some nice little French poodles.  I have met a couple of fake French poodles in California, but it will be fun to meet a real  one from France.  I wonder if they will bark with an accent?  Maybe in the spring we can go and visit France, and I can meet more French poodles.  I know Maree is wanting to go to visit the Champagne region, so if we are still living in Europe then -- France here I come.  (I better start learning some French to woo those poodles.)

It is not likely that the house in Italy will sell before the spring as there is very little sales activity in the winter months.  At least living here during the winter will mean I will get to experience some snow.  I have never seen snow, but I think it will be fun to run around in as long as they don't try to dress me up in some coat and boots. 

 How do I know there will be snow here you asked?  Well, I know there is snow because Jim has been trying to get snow tires.  He ordered them three weeks ago, and a week ago he went to have them put on the car.  He had an appointment to return because the store did not have the right tires for his car.  So, after two weeks, he went at the appointed time only to be told that he did not have an appointment.  Well, he showed the woman the paper with his appointment time on it and her response was, "you must have changed it".   Finally she works out that he can have the tires put on the car and they put the car on the lift.  When they are done, the car has two of the four tires that were ordered.  "Oh, signore", she said, " the other two tires have not arrived.  Come back next week and we will put them on."  So, today was next week, and Jim went down to the store for his appointment to have the other two tires put on the car.  They put the car on the lift, and he waited about forty five minutes.  Finally, the woman came up to him and said.  "Oh, signore, Your tires have not arrived yet.  They should come later today.  We will call you when they arrive."  So, Jim drove back up the hill, without his new tires, and told Maree this saga.  A few hours later the phone rang.  "Signore, your tires have arrived.  Can you come in on Wednesday to have them put on the car?"  By this point, Jim had enough, so he said he wanted the tires put on today.  And the woman acquiesced.  Well, after hearing the phone call, Maree turned to Jim and said.  "This is life in Italy.  You just have to love it."  And she shrugged her shoulders just like an Italian.

Nucky, I hope your life in Virginia is more stable and sane than mine in Italy.  Have a great holiday season with your family.

Ciao from Italy,

Dino, the expat dog