Thanks for the support guys. Things have just been crazy at home and work for the last month or so and I haven't been online much except for checking my e-mails and trip planning.
Yes, I'm on anti-virals - started those day before yesterday. Yes, I got my Xanax and a prescription for heavy duty antibiotics filled - the first for my fear of flying and stress, the 2nd in case I come down sick on the road.
My boss who came down with the worst virus has been out all week. As of yesterday he still had 101 F degree fever and couldn't shake it.
Yes, I'm trying to keep my immune system up and think positive happy thoughts - but work has been so incredibly stressful with everyone new coming in and my immediate boss leaving and all the work that needs to be done before I leave...I had planned on using these last two weeks to catch up everything and set up the people I support with reminders and updates for the next coming month while I'm gone, but then two candidates got scheduled to arrive yesterday and Monday for 2 day tours and I got drafted to make interview appointments, arrange airfare, car service, hotel and escort all over campus and that has taken up the bulk of my time so that I'll probably have to do MY work at home so that I can be finished by Friday. It's a nightmare.
But I've already come down with my 2nd ear infection - doctors are at a loss at how to explain me coming down with swimmer's ear when I don't swim and have not changed my daily routine.
And of course stress lowers your immune system, so I'm trying not to let it get to me and I'm taking a Xanax as needed.
Yes, I'm still staying at convents and monasteries and agriturismos. I'm very excited about that. I hope they will be cleaner than staying at hostels and cheap hotels.
I'm Venice-Florence-Vernazza-Siena-Rome-Pompeii-Positano then flying home from Rome.
I'm interested that the weather on the coasts will be much cooler than inland.
I have a 1:1 tour guide in Rome. American working in Rome for the last 7 years. He was recommended to me, but has been completely flakey in his contact with me. So I don't know about him. We're to meet at the Pantheon. He will have an Italian flag so I'll know it's him.
Venice according to the weather reports I've seen is supposedly very chilly in the evenings this time of year, so is Pompeii and Positano, one's on the Adriatic coast, the other on the Tryrhenian coast. Rome and Florence and Tuscany are warmer.
I've read in Italy they turn off the heat at certain times of year and I think I'm arriving just as they turn off the heat. I wonder how ascetic the nuns and monks live, and if I'll be sleeping in my leather jacket for warmth. We'll see.
But that's just part of the adventure. I just don't want to do it sick.