anotheranon | my beautiful laundrette

dotheranon and I are trying to iron out the details for housing in Florence this fall. He has more exacting requirements than I. While I'm So! Thrilled! to be in a Foreign! Country! that I will cheerfully sleep anywhere that is passably safe/clean, he's the more seasoned traveler and wants more amenities.

Specifically, this is a 2 week trip and he wants a washing machine on hand, should we need it. He has a point - part of the trip is an academic conference and I don't wish to offend; nor do I want to spend valuable touristing/geeking time looking for a laundromat. It's not even that hard to find a rental apt. with one, but I'm also a more paranoid traveler and want something booked now, lest every double-bedded washing machined en-suite bathroomed place be booked before I can get at it :P

I'm also thinking about walking and ways to reduce wear/tear on my feet - if I've learned nothing else from this weekend it's that my plantar fasciitis acts up with a vengeance when lots of walking is combined with weight-bearing (this weekend: boxes of books; travel: luggage). I will likely be going to one of the multiple "comfort shoe" shops and find something classy but comfy.

In other news: the fitted gown crawls along. I tried the Tudor Tailor author's directions for gathering/puffing the sleeves and they didn't work for me so I'm taking out 2 days work and trying something else.

Ebaying/half.comming/noun verbing furiously to try and gainfully dispose of the leftover books/vids. If this fails, Craigslisting/Freecycling may ensue.

And as if you didn't need more fencing foo - am attempting petite, jerking footwork I've only seen successfully performed by Olympians on tv, maybe one clubmate, and my cats. Given that all 3 of the preceding are tiny and made entirely of muscle, this will take some work. Masochist, me? Noo....Also theater of electrical stupidity today: 1 of 2 rewired blades appears to be working; I'm hoping my coach can take a look at them this week and diagnose what's failing with the other. The failing body cords remain a mystery.

I am off to stand on an ice cube and puff this sleeve before bed.