If we were having coffee this morning I would be telling you……..This week I got an email from a woman asking about my stay at the Italian Language School, Il Sasso, in Montepucliano, Italy. After answering her questions and looking at my photos I am ready now for a vacation too! Working in the garden could tide me over for a while, but the weather is so not cooperating at the moment! It was 75 degrees here yesterday and today we are in a Severe Winter Weather Alert for SNOW!

So come in for a cup of whatever you would like this Saturday morning, whether it be coffee, tea or a spot of something stronger! Would you like some chocolate cake? That should cure whatever ails us! Do you like the drawings of the coffee and tea accessories? I do. They reminded me that for a long time when on vacations I would bring home a coffee pot or a teapot that I liked. I especially liked my Christmas teapots! Those days are over and I moved on to bringing home books, either gardening or history. Those days moved on as well, and now I look for something from my travels that I can use as a Christmas ornament.  As I got older the items got smaller and lighter because I no longer wanted to do the heave-ho with more baggage. Less is more is my new motto.

All that, got me thinking about my passport and my upcoming cruise in September. My current passport was due to be renewed in June and it has to be current six months out or the US will not let you out of the country or should I say back in? Whatever, I needed a new one! I am on my third passport! Let me tell you I am really going to miss that old picture on my passport! I had lovely medium length, red hair and I looked so young! The last few years at Passport Control I would get “the look.” They would look at me and then look at the passport and then do it one more time for good measure. I knew what they were thinking. “Is this the same woman?” I often commented to them that I wished I still looked that young. But, you get older and look different, especially if you no longer color your hair. I don’t. And my hair is totally white. I always said the day my hair was white all over, instead of just around the edges, I would no longer color my hair. And I didn’t. I love the color actually. There is only one problem.

Four years ago I needed to update my military ID. This is where I first encountered the problem. When I had my photo taken for the ID I didn’t really think about it, until I saw the photo. The background is white. My photo looks like two black eyes and dark eyebrows staring at you with no hair whatsoever! My white hair just blended right into the background! I asked the sergeant if this was going to do and she just shrugged. I really looked like a creature from outer space. Barely visible face and black, black eyes! No Hair!

So when I went to have my passport photo taken three weeks ago, here again was the dreaded white background! Same ol’  same ol. Just eyes, eyebrows and a very pale shadow of a face. No hair!  I asked the woman who took the photo, “Do you think this is going to be a problem?” It looks like I only have a pale face with big black eyes!” She said the photo required a white background, so she didn’t know what else to do. I thought it would be better this time.  I have enough white, curly, thick, shoulder length hair for three people! But No! It doesn’t show up!

And to make everything really interesting on the passport white hair is not listed as an option. Black hair, brown hair, blond hair, red hair, gray hair, that’s the selection. I am still going to get “that look” at Passport Control, aren’t I?  I had to select the gray hair option, but my hair is not gray, it is snow white! Only option I had was gray. They should just have an option that says “OLD LADY!”

Also, I will miss all the little stickers on the back of my passport. I had lots of little stickers! It always reminded me of those old leather suitcases and trunks they had with all the travel stickers on them! And my passport was much smaller than the new ones. Mine had a much smaller photo. I was quite attached to it! But, alas it is gone, mailed off to await the new one! And I am still waiting….. and waiting…. and waiting…… It probably is being inspected. Who is this person and why doesn’t she have any hair?

We are due to sign up for Dining Room options for the cruise at the end of March. In order to do this all passport information must be on file with the cruise lines. I guess that is required so they know you have a current passport. I can’t fill mine out.  I am STILL waiting for the new passport……  I’ll be able to say, I couldn’t sign up in due course, because I am severely white headed! And I am sure that anyone, who inspects my passport won’t forget me either! But, here are the options for eating anyway!

According to them and I made it short.

Chartreuse, French Fare with a Modern Twist. The twist is the seating with the terrific sea views! Dinner Only with Reservation

Pacific Rim, Culinary Delights of Asia and a Zen-like ambiance with ocean views through windows. Dinner Only with Reservation.

Prime 7, Classic Steakhouse with distinct intimate elegance. Dinner Only with Reservation.

Sette Mari at La Veranda, Authentic Italian Cuisine with pairing wines. Dinner Only with Reservation.

La Veranda, in the Chic indoor dining room or al fresco on the shaded open-air deck. Breakfast and Lunch only.

Pool Grill, Come-As-You-Are Dining venue. Thank goodness, I may get to eat after all!

Reservations are first come first served. All reservation eating venues are foo-foo. They require that women dress appropriately and men wear jackets.  I guess that means I have to leave all my cleavage showing, slinky, short-short, evening dresses at home. Ha Ha! Hmmmmm, if I don’t get my new passport by the end of the month it may be breakfast and lunch at the pool or the veranda, with evening room service for me, the white haired one!

I hope my passport comes through with no problems! I’ll keep you posted!

Well enough about my thoughts for the week! What have you been up to? Our Saturday morning chats are so much fun! I love hearing what you all are up to!

This is part of the #Weekend Coffee Share! I think it is great having coffee with all of you! It is hosted by Nerd in the Brain!  Be sure to link up so you can see what everyone else is saying over coffee! See you next week on Saturday!