Over teh Atlanticz!!!

Lol...

So, as you may have guessed, I'm somewhere in the sky over the Atlantic. I am glad I got a plane with wi-fi!! Even if it is super expensive and whatever. (PS- never get planes with wi-fi. it's super slow, hard to get into, and really only good for what I'm doing now: updating from the middle of the Atlantic.) I almost wish I could jump in the ocean, really... but we're really high up and I would die, so not a good idea ;-) And it's cold. And has sharks. Yeah, bad idea.

Anyway, here is our itinerary (sp?):

Depart Tampa at 9:35am. (You can imagine the morning I had)
1 layover in Paris (god knows why...)
Arrive in Naples around 11:50am (yay!!! direct flight!!! And no, it doesn't take 2 hours. that's including time zone changes (according to my calculations, that is).
Total trip time: something like 14 hours over like 5,000 miles.
ALL FOR THE LOW, LOW PRICE OF $2,157!!! ...each. 2 people. Did I mention I had to pay for this?

When we happen to arrive, we don't have a place to stay aside from a friend's house. That's right, I've yet to do anything with the houses I was looking at. What a smart gal I am... but I really think it's for the better. My friend (Rose, for easier typing) has an apartment she'll let us live in for free as long as we don't stay "too long," which knowing her is like 10 seconds. In that time, we will look at for sale by owner places, and probably look like a lesbian couple to every realtor we talk to.

Morgan still isn't even sure about living here, and honestly I'm not either, but once my stuff arrives in... I forget what port it's coming in (probably Naples XD), we can move it around from there. It's just a semi trailer and, though I don't know anyone who drives a truck, I'm willing to bet Rose does and I can get a deal. Maybe. Fingers crossed! I do like Naples, though, so maybe living in a place with an awesome garden (maybe with a few olive trees and grape vines) on the outskirts of town is possible.

I've been asleep for like 10 hours now, and we have a loooooong way to go. And it's my normal time I fall asleep anyway, so I'm still tired. Thankfully, we have the best seats EVAR!!! (not my pic, found online because for once Morgan didn't have a camera on her)

According to the site (and I've yet to find some of these features), I have "access to the aisle -- so there's no need to step over your neighbor anymore. But more important, each seat turns into a bed complete with a mattress and a duvet. And forget fighting for overhead bin space. The seats have their own extra storage right at your feet. Finally, there is a bench facing your seat to invite people to sit and chat during the flight. Other features include: a10.4-inch TV, auto-massage, hi-fi speakers with noise-distortion protection and video on demand."

I noticed the first part when I got on and the next about 10 minutes into the flight. I don't really care much about the space, but Morgan used it for her laptop. The bench is what Morgan decided to fall asleep on for whatever reason she may deem. I have my iPad, so the tv and speakers are not in use, but the massage is awesome. It's also the softest leather seat I've ever sat in. Probably explains the price!

Didn't I say I was going to bed? haha! I may post another sometime later on.

Amo! (may as well start the Italian now, right?)
Claire S.

Moving -- The Plan

Time draws nearer, and I think I have a plan that will work.

I'm talking with a realtor in Naples, Italy. I think that would be a good place to live aside from the constant threat of volcanic eruption. I would have to live somewhere on the outskirts of town because the main part of Naples is... well, messy and crowded. But, it's great weather almost all the time, there is PLENTY to do, and the ocean is the edge of Naples. Only problem is there are a LOT of fees.

The main house I like is really well priced at $515,000. It has 2 floors, 2153 sq ft, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a balcony, a large kitchen and garage -- everything I really need. I put in an offer at $550,000 just to (hopefully) ensure I get it -- and can afford it. Here are some pics from the website:

Here's the Garden. The path leads to something that looks like a small green door. No idea.

Here's a shot of the house and balcony.

Here's where the remodelling takes place. It's kinda dark and outdated.

I like it, though. And, for its location and price, it's perfect for just one girl and maybe a few boyfriends, hopefully leading to a husband and kids, I don't know. Either way, though, a good find. Of course, I'm looking at others because this one isn't exactly away from the crowd of houses and is right on a somewhat busy street near a big business, But you just never know.

I also found a moving company that can move internationally for a good price. All I need to do is box up stuff, which is mostly done. I found another company to move my cars, too, so it should all work out. I hope.

I already bought plane tickets to go from Tampa to Barcelona, then to Naples. Total: ~$1,800 (I don't remember the actual price).

Housing, moving, and getting there -- I'd say I'm set. Once i get there shouldn't be too hard. I've found all the important stuff: Grocery store, post office, "general" store, etc. I think I'm good. Now to show all my findings to my parents and see if I missed anything ;-)

Laska!

Claire S.



Cheese!

Actually, this will have nothing to do with cheese. It just has a special meaning to me :)

I really just wanted to note that police officers get really bored. Morgan and I decided last night to take our supercars out for a little spin. We decided to rally together a bunch of friends to go with us, so we had this little 2 lane line of my Ferrari, Morgan's Lamborghini, Steph's Porsche (actually her brother's, but who cares?), and Jeremy's Corvette. Darrel also, since he didn't have his Porsche, decided to take his what Morgan calls "Pimp Mobile" out with us. It's one of those cars with a special paint job, awesome sound system, shiny wheels -- pretty much everything but jacked up. He did it to a 350Z, so it's about 13x better than most cars people do that to.

Anyway, so we were driving along, surprisingly obeying the speed limit, doing pretty much everythign right, when 2 cops threw on their lights and sirens behind us. We pulled over, and immediately one of them came up to me. There were 2 officers per car, so we all got a little visit. One of them was actually kind of -- nevermind.

As far as I can tell, they were just checking out the cars. We had all the lights and such, including street lights on 2 cars. Maybe they were making sure we were legal? Anyway, it was a totally pointless stop. That's the second time in the last few months! No warnings, just random checks.

Afterwards, of course, we all went to Starbucks :)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to Morgan's new bass, Twalvè, a 12 string custom bass/guitar thing. Aside from the price being around a MiniMOOG's price (I think it was about $7,000, actually), it is a really interesting instrument. I've yet to figure out anything along the lines of pickup types or truss rods, but just from what I've seen and heard, it's pretty cool. Of course, Morgan doesn't know how to play a guitar, so she mainly plays the bass part of it. I'm teaching her a little guitar and theory for guitar so that she can play the whole thing and not have wasted a lot of cash, but I have to admit, it is definitely a cool instrument. Maybe not as cool as Pikasso, a 42-string acoustic guitar, but I like it!

Moving -- really, this time!

On July 16, or sometime around then, I plan on moving to Europe. I've wanted to go for a while, actually. I'm thinking of using a past idea and just stay there when my family goes on vacation.

The date is relevant because that's Morgan's birthday, when she turns 18. I'm older by 7 months ;-) She wants to go with me. We've talked about it between not only ourselves, but with her parents, too. Everyone is okay with it!

Even though I've already started looking, I'm going to stay at a friend's house in Prague until I get a house. My parents said I can keep all of my money (which still leaves them with more than enough to live luxuriously for the rest of their lives), so I don't need a job immediately, but having one would be nice. I'm looking to live either in Germany, Prague, or Italy, the last two are at the top of my list though because I can't speak German. I'm mainly looking in Italy, though, because it's both the easiest language and I have a lot of friends there.

I have a lot of moral support in Europe, west Asia, and north Africa, due to all the friends I've made, most of which live in central Europe.

The only problem I have is trying to move all of my stuff across an ocean. I've talked to various people and I have two options: air or sea. I'm thinking air because it's faster, but I also have two cars, a whole music studio, and my bedroom to move. The good thing is that I don't have much: In my bedroom I have a bed, dresser, a chair, nightstand, and stuff in my closet. That's it. My studio has a lot in it, but it can probably pack up small considering most of it is kinda attached to the house (like, say, soundproofing, lighting, and recording booths).

Morgan is about the same, but only 1 car and a photography studio, which is really small. She doesn't really have her own bedroom even, considering she usually sleeps with me.

I think that, aside from things that happen when we move (exchange currency, ID's, things like that), I'm set. I've already packed the non-essentials, which includes a lot of my studio.

I just hope I'm ready for this...

1/31/11

Www-OW I haven't posted in a while. Like a month.

So far, my January has been okay. At the end of every month, Morgan (my best friend) and I do what we call "Black Blanket Reflection" which, aside from being an amazing song title, is when we reflect on what we did the last month under, obviously, a black blanket. Here's pretty much a good summary:

• In the beginning of the month, I had huge sleeping problems. Not sure why.
• I had my hopefully last growth spurt, which, among other things, grew my breasts close to another cup size larger
• I started playing more games
• I got pulled over for no reason*
• I contracted influenza, which I think I am mostly overwith now.
• And, just the other day, I hit my Mercedes CLK and have to replace the bumper and fender. Yay...

*Funny story, really. I was driving around doing errands for my mom when I saw a police car with its lights on behind me. I pulled over, and it turns out he was after me! While he was walking up, I saw that he was looking at my car (I was driving Ferry, by the way), but not really the plate. When I asked him why he pulled me over, he first tried to say I was driving a stolen car. I told him to run the plate, and he came back saying he was wrong. Then he asked where I got the car, and I said from my dad. I then asked if he wanted to check it out, and he said yes. I think I know why I was really pulled over :)

Aside from that, not much has gone on. Morgan's band finally started producing songs, but to be honest, the two songs they have sound so different, I think at least one is a fake. They sound good, at least!

How has your January been?

Love,
Claire S.

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year everybody! And, for those of you like me, Happy Birthday! And if you are really like me, Happy 18th!

Sorry, the holiday season is always busy for me, considering we travel a lot and have a lot of people to deal with. But, just because it's busy, it doesn't mean it's not boring! Now that I think about it, not much really happened. Let's see, Nick came down, we went to Idaho for a couple days to visit family over the New Year's days, and... yeah, aside from a lot of cooking, that's about it!

Dad said I shouldn't be too excited about being 18. He says that it's the start of putting 3rd grade to use with finances. He gave me one gift: a going away card which read. "To whom it may concern, I hereby grant my daughter, Veronica Erin Schiaparelli-Slater, the right to move out whenever she pleases, and to not come back unless to visit." I laughed.

Going to Idaho was fun. Kinda. Ok, maybe not really. It was cold and I barely knew anyone we visited. Thankfully, we brought morgan along, so I had SOMETHING to do, even if it was just saying how bored we were.

In case you didn't know, Nick is like the perfect enemy. I only met Nick through Morgan, and I really wish I'd never met him. Let's just say our relationship went like this flow chart:

Paint makes that really easy :) Not to mention less emotional, which, trust me, is good ;-)

Hope you had a good holiday season!

Love,
Claire S.