Beatrice and Eleanor

Today, Ryan set off for another business trip to Kazakhstan.  After a wonderful, long weekend, I was especially saddened to see him go.  What makes for a wonderful weekend in Russia?  Allow me to paint the picture, 7+ hours, snuggled up on the couch, lunch, snacks, drinks, dinner, popcorn, M&Ms, fireplace turned on, cozy blanket, and......wait for it....... Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures.  Yes, you read correctly, I, Virginia Lee, watched (and effectively awarded myself "Wife of the Year" Award) Raiders of the Last Ark, Temple of Doom, and Last Crusade.  Ryan was stunned that I had never (to my recollection) seen any of the Indiana Jones movies.  We decided to pass on the fourth movie, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Ryan is not a huge fan, and I was reaching, if not already surpassed my movie watching limit.  I have no desire to hear the Indiana Jones intro music for a long, very long, long time......

Refocus.....

Ryan left today, I stayed in Novorossiysk (absolutely no desire to visit Kazakhstan), but as always, Ryan had his two companions (Beatrice and Eleanor) along for the journey.  If you do not know them already, Beatrice is his Blackberry, Eleanor is his laptop. Since they are his ever present companions, I named each.  I chose female names because that way I can make entertaining comments about his "other women" (strictly a joke, I have absolutely no worries of Ryan with other women).  I chose the names based on the modest, unsexy sounding image Beatrice and Eleanor exude  (no offense to any ladies named either Beatrice or Eleanor).  The names lighten the mood when you are able to say:

"Beatrice is flashing again!"

(when the little red light flashes to show a new message)  

"Eleanor is not invited to Italy."

(though she did end up joining us)

Last week, Ryan came home for lunch and announced, "Eleanor died today."  I stifled my excitement thinking no computer until he goes back to the United States, I was OH, SO WRONG.  He had already been issued a replacement.  He asked if I was going to give his new computer a new name.  I loved Eleanor so much, I decided to stick with it,  "What about Eleanor 2.0?"  "It may be newer, but it's nothing fancier, more like 1.1" was Ryan's response.  So the ladies remain Beatrice and Eleanor (1.1)....

Ryan on the ferry in Indonesia, with Beatrice and Eleanor...

Beatrice may always be present, but she does prove herself very helpful.  I especially love her Google map (now that I know how to use it), and in Italy, when my camera was packed away, and I did not want to get it out, she was a very good photographer....

So many Smart Cars in Rome.  Ryan and I particularly enjoyed this clever twist on parallel parking.  Two thumbs up for thinking outside the box, and getting that last available parking space.  

On the train from Rome to Naples....Ryan's first experience with Italian coffee.
The true espresso shot.  (Notice Eleanor in the picture, but I will give Ryan credit, Eleanor only came out of the backpack during our train rides, his email sync time).
A gentleman sitting next to us on our train from Rome to Venice provided me with a new term, "computer widow."  He saw Ryan working on his computer, then looked at me, "So, you're a computer widow?"  The man and his wife, and Ryan and I all had a good laugh.

I have never seen sexier female cops, than in Naples.  When we first arrived at our hotel, we were walking into the lobby as these two officers were leaving.
At the same time, Ryan and I both whispered to each other, "Someone must have been awfully naughty." Referencing the fact that they were strippers, dressed as police officers.
To our surprise, we saw them actually out patrolling the street near our hotel.
My response, "Hmmm, so they're actually officers.  I guess I was wrong."

Ryan, Beatrice and Eleanor are currently in transit to Kazakhstan.  I wish the three of them safe travels. It is a very short trip, Ryan and I reunite Friday, in Moscow!  I leave for Moscow Friday, and on Saturday we fly to the wonderfully comfortable, English speaking, shopping galore, always my favorite country, United States of America!!!!