Yesterday, I got my travel itinerary for Italy (leaving November 22). Today, the FBI warns that al-Qaeda (or your preferred transliteration) is pumped up for a "spectacular" new attack. The highest priority targets remain within the aviation, petroleum and nuclear sectors, as well as significant national landmarks, the warning says. Comforting.

I'll be leaving from -- hey, where else? -- Logan Airport, the World Trade Center terrorists' airport of choice. Providing I don't get killed in some other attack that meets "several criteria: High symbolic value, mass casualties, severe damage to the U.S. economy and maximum psychological trauma."

But we're still at code yellow. Happy Friday, everyone!

7:30p
The plan for tonight:

• hit the bodega to stock up on bubble gum and Triscuits
• crash course in Italian so I can find bathrooms, ask prices, flirt, scream for police, and so on as needed
• Welcome to Sarajevo (regrettably on VHS)

Over the weekend:

• more Italian for Dummies
• balance checkbook (get the stack of receipts off my desk)
• wrestle mail down to one stack

And next week:

• get a reservation to board Cricket starting Thursday
• nervously monitor weather in Italy to decide which weight of coat I need
• pay major bills
• drop off/pick up dry cleaning
• buy AA batteries (lots)
• (insert whatever I'm forgetting)
• chew off fingernails until I fall asleep on the plane

Edited to add: I'm usually pretty quick with the basics of languages, but I cannot get piacere di conoscerla (nice to meet you) out of my mouth without tripping over it. Maybe they'll just think I'm a diva.

Buon giorno! Buona sera! Come va? Bene!