After a short work week (okay, well, for Keith...) we zoomed off to Philadelphia crack of dawn (or before) early Saturday. A few weeks beforehand, Mom had asked Keith and I to come down to surprise Nonni at the surprise party Nonno was throwing for her at the local country club.

So, the flight left at 7:10 am, which necessitated a 4:00 am rising time, and a 4:45 am pick up by the taxi to get us checked in. Predictably, we zoomed through the ticket counter and security so there was much time to kill and a chance to buy overpriced breakfast goods at the airport. Finally we took off, landed, retrieved our (broken) luggage (apparently the security guys wanted to look through our luggage but didn't master the kindergarten concepts of pushing a button to undo a buckle), and took the shuttle to the hotel, which was....SCHWaNKY. Our room had a large king size soft bed, couch, several arm chairs, desk, TV console, a dining room table with a minifridge, microwave, and a huge bathroom. Preettty cozy.

Mom and her boyfriend, David, (who seems to be recovering from the finger infection of the weekend before) picked us up shortly after 11 am and took us on their errands prior to the festivities. We also visited with some relatives before changing, making our way to the party, and beginning to set up decorations.

All in all, the party went well. Nonni seemed surprised (perhaps she thought that she was in store for a family gathering only) to find 60 people waiting there for her. Dinner was tasty and there was an open bar as well. Our gift to Nonni was a pair of citrine drop earrings. Mom says she has a ring with that stone, so I hope she will like them!

Keith is back to work today, I am working at home and eagerly awaiting further word on the status of my job search. Anxious....