Mosquitos and Other Such Nonsense

I have never in my life experienced a mosquito problem like the one in Italy...specifically my living room in Lucca. There is no air conditioning, so people leave their windows open and even with screens (which have very small holes) there seems to be room for those little insects of evil to get through. You just dont have a choice about it so the appropriate measures are taken to keep them away: "Vape" which is the equivalent of "OFF" in the States. It comes in a spray and also in a dish that you set in your room and heat, but nothing works. Everyday I am at least bitten about eight times before noon. I have also developed a keen sense for when a mosquito is about to strike and Ive become a very apt hunter. Lizards are also everywhere...geckos especially. One time, I found one near the ceiling in the "casseta" (little house) but I couldnt get it down, so I hope it got out on its own.... These creatures have really become some of my only company over the past few days. Theres a black cat that lives in the garden and these bugs and such. Mark and Zeek made it back to the States safely and in the mean time Ive been biding my time until I go to the Pucci home for a month. I actually leave tomorrow at 3 PM. It seems like these past two months have been a lifetime. I love Italy but it is so much slower than the pace of my normal life. Of course, I dont think that will last for long with school coming up and chaotic Roma, but its still very bizarre to even know what this much free time feels like.
I was also thinking about how my dad is coming here to Lucca in one month and, after a few attempts at narrowing down the things I want to show him, I realized that Ive experienced so much since I got here. I managed to find places where Im actually recognized as a "regular" and I have favorite spots. There are so many things that I didnt think were making an impact on me that actually have and Ill miss my small nook in Lucca. I think at the end of next month there will be a certain pride in getting to show him around "my first Italian city" and in actually knowing about it in my own rite. Arrivederci!