Two Weeks!

I can't believe it is only two weeks until we leave! We started this process back in October and the moment is upon us. The high temperature in Paris today was 64 degrees and the high in Rome was 74 degrees. I am a wimp when it comes to anything below 75 degrees. I will just have to pack sweaters because the lows are in the 40's and 50's at night. Oh, well...now I don't have to get a tan before I go! I hear through many sources to NOT wear tennis shoes or shorts because I will stick out as a tourist!
I am still not sure about my phone and communicating back to the states or even calling Sheila when she does not want to trod through one more museum and decides to adventure out on her own. I plan on Skype-ing with my laptop to keep up with my boys and Clay, but I can only Skype on my cell phone if there is internet or WiFi. Luckily my phone has international features and calling, but I just wonder how well I will be able to connect back to the US and if it will cost me an arm and a leg. Any suggestions would be welcome!

Emailing the Vatican

Do you know how surreal it is to be emailing and corresponding with The Vatican? Opening up my Outlook and seeing an email, in Italian no less, from The Vatican has been a real treat! Sheila and I wanted to take a tour of the Necropolis (Scavi Tour) and to be able to do that, you have to make a reservation and be approved, so I emailed them to request the tour. I picture the Pope on the other end reading my email and sending me approval! Hee hee. The Necropolis is the "Dead City" below St. Peter's Basilica where St. Peter's bones are buried along with other popes and saints. I don't know much about it, but can't wait to find out more! I know a Swiss guard stands at the door to guard it and you have to have a reservation to get in, so that will be an experience in itself. Unfortunately you can't bring cameras in, so I won't be posting any pictures of inside the Necropolis, but will try my best to crack a smile on the Swiss guard outside and see if we can photograph him!