I Need to Win the Lottery

[bunchofgrapes]

I just had the worst week at work ever. Thursday was probably the worst day--or at least morning--I've experienced in my entire work history. On the positive side, all the stress has caused me to drop a couple of pounds.

I was looking up this street that my friend, Jack, lives on in Milan and I couldn't believe that there is a picture of it. Piazza Sant'Erasmo. Click on the link and then click on street view under the picture that pops up on the map. For those interested, when my friend and I went to visit Jack, he was in the villa at the end of the Piazza (tile roof house with two chimneys. In the upper left hand corner of the picture you can scroll the view. The entrance to the courtyard is right about where the yellow van is. The gate still said "Basehart" when we were last there. During our first two visits to Milan, we spent a lot of our time in that house. Jack always had us over for dinner or just to hang out and talk about his dad. Richard never lived there but he did pick Jack up from the house when he came to visit. Jack was always very protective of us too. On one of our trips there, we were staying at this hotel in a quiet part of the city. Jack insisted on taking us back there after dinner so he could check it out and make sure it was safe. And then of course, we'd find out later that he had paid for our stay.

Going back to the Google map, if you look to the left, above the roof of the villa (you might have to click on the "full screen" button in the upper right corner) and you'll see a terrace. That's where Valentina, Jack's mother and Richard's second wife, was living when we met her. Actually, that's also where Jack was living the last time we saw him back in 2004. He moved out of the big house the previous year, I think.

Seeing this street, the house, and the memories it brought back made me very sad because I really miss Jack, Milan, and Italy. Jack's health hasn't been the best these last few years and I'm afraid something will happen to him before I can ever get back to see him again.

Comments

[bunchofgrapes]

You know, I never wanted to go to Italy when I was younger. I loved Germany and England, wanted to go to France, but not Italy. Went to Italy with my friend to meet Jack (friend was doing a book on his dad) and fell in love with the place. Milan has great memories of Jack but Rome and Venice were amazing.

[(Anonymous)]

That is really cool to see where Jack and Valentina live. That must have been a wonderful trip that you were on to be able to meet them and to become such good friends with Jack. We were only in Milan for a half day, when we were there, but I did think of Jack and I looked at just about every man that walked by hoping that I might spot him. Hope you get that chance to get over there and see him again.

Also, here's hoping that next week will be better for you at work.

N.

[bunchofgrapes]

Can't remember if I told you or not but Steph called Jack a couple of months ago. He was doing much better and still calls us his "angels".

And you would have immediately recognized Jack if you saw him. He looks (and sounds) so much like his dad--just about a foot taller and with less hair. Unfortunately, if it was raining or below 80 degrees outside, he's be all bundled up. The guy has the thinnest blood ever!

[wintergreen126.livejournal.com]

work can really suck sometimes; here's hoping that the coming week is much, much better for you.

the villa looks so charming! i've always wanted to visit italy.

however,i'm sorry to hear about your friend's health; jack sounds like a great person and an even better friend. i hope you get to visit italy again soon, and i'll keep him in my thoughts.

have a good night :o)

[bunchofgrapes]

Aw, thanks for keeping Jack in your thoughts. I find myself thinking about him a lot lately.

And you should go to Italy! I never wanted to go there when I was younger (like in college) but then I had this opportunity to go and meet Jack (his dad is the guy in my icon) in Milan and I fell in love with Italy. Of course, having someone recommend all the best places to eat helps. Rome and Venice are my favorite places but Milan will always remind me of Jack and that house.

[laura27md.livejournal.com]

Sorry you had a crummy work week. :(

I promise, if I ever win the lottery (well, a significant amount!) I'll buy you ticket to Milan. Though I'm going to need to start buying lottery tickets if that can ever happen. ;)

[bunchofgrapes]

Aw, thanks. Yeah, if I'm going to win the lottery, I need to start playing too. Maybe we need to road trip to some remote town to buy tickets. People in remote places always seem to win.

[insanityonline1.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you had such a hard day at work. That sucks.

I hope some day you get to go back to Milan and see him - I totally vote that the lottery gives you money to do so.

[bunchofgrapes]

The money isn't the issue so much as having no time to go. I haven't had a real vacation where I got to actually fly someplace and not do any work while on vacation since last July. If I win the lottery, I can quit my job and travel all I want.

[boubabe14.livejournal.com]

How dare those crazy jerks at work make you stressed and unhappy this week!! Let me and Tug at 'em for a few minutes. We'll show 'em.

And I'm sorry that your friend isn't doing well. I think you should go to Milan and see him. Leave that work idiocy and do what's important in the tapestry of your life. *volunteers to go with*

[bunchofgrapes]

Can I give you and Tug a list?

I think Jack is doing better--at least he was a couple of months ago--but his health has been a bit up and down for quite a while. There are many times when I've been tempted to just say eff it and go but I have this overwhelming sense of responsibility that won't let me do it. Plus, I really like what they pay me. I think right now I'm just bitter because I haven't had a decent vacation in almost a year. And every time I try to get time off, I end up working through it.

[boubabe14.livejournal.com]

There's a HUGE reason employees are given vacation days - so we don't get in the situation you are in :-) You are absolutely correct in thinking you really just need some away time. If that means getting outta town to stay away from work, then so be it. Book that ticket while fares to Europe are cheap!

[tos-lover.livejournal.com]

What's up with work??? Is it still the re-org or clashing personalities? I swear, sometimes it was hard to tell which was worse, upheaval or assholes. Of course if you have both then that's just about impossible, especially if you're in the middle.

I hope you get back over to Milan to see Jack again. He sounds like he's the coolest guy ever. I mean, escorting you home and paying for your stay. How awesome. Do you keep in touch with him still?

[bunchofgrapes]

What's up with work???

It's a long sad story that involves two re-orgs in less than 6 months and going to a different part of the company that has much more involved (over-complicated) reporting requirements than where I came from. I just spent 8 hours today trying to tie numbers back to a report that I got at noon today with a "first thing Monday morning" due date. Last week, while I was the only person in the building at 9pm, I realized that I'm one person doing a job that previously 5 people did. I'm just a little burnt and bitter right now.

I don't keep in touch with Jack as much as I should. My friend does though so she gives me updates. I'm horrible about calling people. But yeah, he's a really cool guy. When we went to Venice, he arranged for our hotel room and reservations at a restaurant and of course, he paid for everything. We try to argue about it but you can't argue about stuff like that with him. Btw, if you've ever seen the movie "Tea with Mussolini", he's in it very briefly.

[snowydragon1776.livejournal.com]

Oh I'm so sorry for the horrible week!!

MEGA HUGS

And HUGS over Jack.