All in One Piece

Dumb, real dumb.

Let me begin with: everything turned out ok. So, Randy and I totally screwed up our sleep schedules. We arrived in Italy at 3:30 Italian time, 10:30 Eastern Standard time; after a night of minimal sleep aboard a plan with two dogs. We were greeted by several members of our new squadron. 

Our sponsors took us to our TLF (temporary housing) and were so generous to give us a bag of groceries. I fell asleep (against my will and better judgment) at about 5:30. At 10:00 pm I woke up and realized I was screwed-I was awake according to no kind of time zone. I accepted my fate and decided to take the dogs out. We’re on the first floor, but it’s actually one above ground level.  I couldn’t find the stairs so I took them on the elevator. 

The door to the elevator had closed when I realized I had Nina’s leash in my hand, that it was connected to her, and that she was NOT IN THE ELEVATOR. I quickly pressed the open door button, but it rudely did not comply and I tossed the handle in the air and watched it raise one floor above me. My inner monologue screamed “this is my worst nightmare” while I tried to find the staircase after I left the elevator. I didn’t and ran back on the elevator, went back up one floor, and found my little dog. She was unscathed and oblivious and still attached. WOW. I realized I better wake up and get my head on straight before I dismember my pets. The irony is that Nina is scared of wood floors and her harness, but her near death experience went by completely unnoticed. Geez-welcome to Italy.