NBC Weather Plus was on the ground in Torino. Meteorologist Jeff Ranieri blogged from the XX Olympic Winter Games. Read his experiences below.

Day 18 (Jeff Ranieri)

February 23, 2006 | 2:04 ET

As the days wind down so does the energy, but not when it’s time to go live and do a story just at the end of your day. I’m not complaining by any means, it just certainly hits you as you head home and your eyes are super heavy.

The eyes opened up wide today! Kimmie Meissner, the Olympic figure skater, walked into our NBC space. While she did not medal this time around, many are already looking for her to medal in Vancouver in 2010.

Slideshow: More photos from Torino

I reflected on my experience a lot today. Our producers and editors put a few stories together on our best moments in Italy, and it was amazing to think back on how may new experiences I have had.

From my first trip to the alps to Italian cafes with one-of-a-kind cappuccinos, it's been really amazing.

While the Olympic games may mean a medal to some, advertising dollars, or a vacation to others, to me it was a journey of many firsts. The true theme that I witnessed time and again is how so many people from all over, on and off the field, athlete or spectator all seemed to carry an Olympic spirit.

Ciao- ranieri

To send Jeff a question or comment about his blog, click here

Day 17 (Jeff Ranieri)

February 22, 2006 | 2:39 ET

Ok, today I did not find tickets, but instead some really incredible cheese puffs. If these cheese puffs were part of the Olympics, I would give them the gold. I almost single handedly ate the whole bag myself!

Slideshow: View photos from Torino

As you can see from the pictures I just couldn't get enough. Ok, I admit there was a bit of staging involved in that picture, but I actually was able to consume all of the gold winning cheese puffs that I managed to stuff into my mouth. The flavor is light and they are airy as they do a triple jump into my mouth each time. The other crazy thing about the cheese puffs is your hands don’t turn orange, and for some reason I have convinced myself that since they taste lighter there are less calories and fat. I may just need to believe this since I looked on the bag and there is no nutritional information.

The name is “Dixi” and the brand is “San Carlo”. Time for some self control. The cheese puffs are just to my left as I write this but I refuse to open the bag as I need to save room for dinner.

On to work now, the days are winding down and you can feel it in the workspace as we are crunching to get last minute things finished before the games are over on Sunday. As I look back on my time it has whizzed by as everyday we continue to stay super busy.

I must go and get away from the cheese puff bag which is next to the computer. I can’t promise that I won’t get cheesy on you in this blog with just a few more days left. I will let you know how my addiction with the orange gold medal winning puffs are going.

Ciao-Ranieri

To send Jeff a question or comment about his blog, click here

Day 16! (Jeff Ranieri)

February 22, 2006 | 12:33p.m. ET

So, here I am sitting at my desk after a long day, and still trying to shake a head cold when I get a call. It’s a friend from NBC and he has tickets to an event that I have really wanted to attend... Figure Skating! I thought about the extra sleep I may get if I just go home but there was no way I could turn down tickets. I popped a few cold capsules, finished up a story I was working on, and headed over. I missed the first four skaters but there was still 12 or so skaters left.

Slideshow: View photos from Torino

When I managed to find my seat, I sat down expecting to enjoy what I was about to see, but I had no idea how incredible it would be in person. The crowd was pumped each and every time a different skater came out, and even if the scores were low everyone seemed to still be supportive. I have been known to be partial to some Canadians, and it so happens that one of my favorites, besides the American skaters, was a very well put together Canadian, Mira Leung. Mira had a ton of energy and the song she was skating to really picked you up with a techno beat. I would of gave her a much higher score as she seemed to be flawless on the ice. Ok, enough of my critique. Now on to the Americans.

After waiting through some great skaters, Emily Hughes finally took to the ice. Before she even skated, everyone was chanting her name. The crowd was going crazy waving American flags. I almost for a second thought I was in the states. What I found the most interesting before during and after the skate is what you don’t pick up on television. When Emily came out for a quick practice just before her official skate she looked to her mom and sister (Sarah Hughes) for approval. The judges were also giving early visual evaluations with very intent looks. When Huges hit the ice she did great. Comparing her to the other skaters, I did notice there seemed to be more looks of thinking and planning on her face as opposed to all smiles by some of the skaters that placed in the very top. She ended up placing third at this point but was later bumped to seventh at the end of the first round.

Sasha Cohen was who I was really waiting to watch, and she was dead last to come on the ice. Sasha strutted out with more confidence than any of the other skaters and a smile from ear to ear. The audience went nuts and cheered like crazy. Again, I felt as if I was in the United States as opposed to Italy. She landed every jump, twist, and turn. Sasha really made it look effortless. The judges seemed to move their heads to her music and the audience went crazy after every stunt she landed. Sasha even got a standing ovation from almost everyone in the rink, and she stayed on the ice the longest taking well deserved praise. In the end, she nailed the skating show and finished first.

After the event, I felt like it was my duty to enjoy a bit of American food to celebrate Sasha Cohen’s first place win. We headed to McDonald's! It was so delicious after days of pasta and pizza.

Ciao - Ranieri

To send Jeff a question or comment about his blog, click here

Day 14! (Jeff Ranieri)

February 20, 2006 | 5:46p.m. ET

Even though I managed to have a few adventures around the city center over the weekend, the weather is really the big blog story.

Slideshow: View photos from Torino

After a quiet start to the Olympics and not much weather news, a storm rolled in and brought a bit of unexpected snow to Torino. The alps were expecting several inches of snow but a fast dropping freezing level and cold air rushing into the foothills dropped the snow level in no time. This left much of our Sunday with plenty of fluffy flakes. This was not the kind of snow that stopped the city by any means, it just made everything look and feel like a Winter Olympics.

The snow did however stop a few events from happening in the Alps as the winds were too fierce and the snow was coming down too hard. Near a foot of fresh snow fell in many places. While this may be good in general for the mountains, it almost makes it worse in some cases at this point. Athletes need the snow but would rather have everything before the games. If a storm rolls in, it can really play with performance and make it tough to compete.

The snow on Sunday left a slushy mess for many people to walk around in and it quickly melted away. After talking with a few people visiting, they mostly say it was nice to get the flakes while they were at the games. I agree, but my shoes didn't! I wore the wrong shoes this morning. I put on brand new sneakers with a low sole and halfway to the media center my feet were soaking wet and they day was still just starting! I must say a hot shower was all I could think about for a good part of my Monday.

On the way home I made a quick stop at the medical center to try and get rid of my head cold... After that I did manage to go right home and hit the shower, and it felt super good on the feet!

ciao-Ranieri

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Day 11! (Jeff Ranieri)

February 16, 2006 | 5:46p.m. ET

The atmosphere in and around the medals plaza is non stop these days with concerts, tons of people, and plenty of sales.

I took a few pictures of what we came across while we were out shooting a story at night. The neat thing about many streets in the downtown area is they all have a unique color of lights and theme for each street, this of course very handy for the tourists like myself that always get lost!

After we were done with the story we made a stop in a gelateria and it was some of the most delicious gelato I have ever had. Keeping with my odd tradition I asked the whole staff to jump in the picture with me and smile. Loradonna the girl next to me didn't look to happy, I think my bad Italian was getting on her nerves - lol.

On the way back to the car I came across something that I found super unusual but fun. We passed by a large machine, and inside of it instead of candy we found a pears… I wonder how well that would do in America????

Alright the weekend is coming closer and closer, I will be sure to check back and let you know how my shopping and eating adventures evolve.

Ciao ciao Ranieri

*By the way "ciao ciao" is used by many locals rather than one "ciao" (goodbye), some Italian slang I thought I would pass your way.

To send Jeff a question or comment about his blog, click here

Day 10! (Jeff Ranieri)

February 15, 2006 | 5:46p.m. ET

Valentine's day greeted me with some very great messages sent my way by someone special and then later a treat to myself in a very festive Italian restaurant with all red walls. The menu was great and easy with only pizza. My choice was the spicy salami with gorgonzola and a few hot peppers sprinkled on top. It turns out it was truly the best pizza I have ever had at the “Charlie Bird” in Torino.

You can see how incredible it is in the picture. Not much left after just a few minutes. In fact, it was so good that I decided to ask Giuseppe the chef for a photo! I also learned that true Italian pizza is never cut like we do in America. Italians will typically serve the pizza on a plate and you just pull of what you want!

Slideshow: More photos from Torino

The next day I geared up for what would be a very busy day. I started off on a shoot for a story at the weather forecasting office for the Olympics and then headed back to start writing the story. As soon as I sat down it seemed like it was time for the live shots to begin. I hustled out on the platform for my first shot and then ran back in to keep working on the story. That’s how my days are often spent here very busy juggling several things at once, but this is what also keeps it so exciting.

When I got back to the live platform for the last live shot my friend Julia, a producer for NBC, said that Ted Ligety the gold medal winner was available to talk! We were just 30 seconds from going live I said yes and he stepped up and I introduced Ted. It’s moments like this that keep me always loving my job. At a moments notice things change and it’s all about reacting.

Moving on...Talking with Ted was great, he’s only 21 and so accomplished, determined, hard working and now a gold medal winner. I must say I knew the Olympic feeling hit me when I asked Ted for his autograph. I know tacky for a sports reporter, but hey I do the weather! It’s ok right??!

Ok, I’m hoping to feel as good as gold tomorrow. I have been feeling like a cold is trying to set in and win. I am off to bed with lots of water and sleep.

Ciao-Ranieri

To send Jeff a question or comment about his blog, click here

Day 9! (Jeff Ranieri)

February 13, 2006 | 4:55 p.m. ET

The Olympic feeling is here! That may sound weird after three full days of competition, but you now start to see people flooding into the various arenas downtown and all of the different Olympic spaces set up in the city.

Today what really stood out for me was the pride that people in Italy have about the country they call home. I had one Torino resident ask me about an article he read in the newspaper from America. He said it mentioned that Americans are not that fond of Torino. I quickly told him what I thought and how much I loved the old historic section of Torino, his face lit up and he gave me a big hug. Just that small gesture was enough to really make me think about home. How we all love and care about something in our lives, and for Italians it seems to be very obvious that family, friends, and culture are top on the list of importance.

The Olympics so far to me has been much more than just an assignment, or a piece of pizza. It truly is an experience that has made me reflect much more than I ever thought it would. This in part from submerging yourself in Italian culture and at the same time involving yourself with so many people from all over the world.

Ok, time to go relax and watch some Olympics on the TV. Right now the figure skating is on and oddly enough that’s right behind where we do our live shots!

Ciao - Ranieri

Day 7 and 8! (Jeff Ranieri)

February 10 + 11, 2006 | 2:22 p.m. ET

Friday was a busy day. We came back from the mountains and the main focus was on the opening ceremony. Our live shot location is just in front of the figure skating venue which we hear is going to be one of the most popular locations. Most of our live shots will be in this location. I would love to be up in the mountains more, but it takes so much time to set up everything and get a signal back when you are at the skiing venues. Don’t worry though, I’m going to try and head up there as much as possible to bring back more great pictures and live shots.

Throughout the day we learned of a few details on the opening ceremony, while most of what would actually happen stayed very quiet. Tickets were sold out and expensive! I tried to get tickets but I was too late. Although, I did catch on my camera a glimpse of the fireworks that were blocks away. The picture is hard to see, but it was neat to watch the fireworks at the end of the program and run to my window and actually see them. After a long day it took me a while to figure it out. I heard the booms outside and thought... “oh wait, I’m here. Get up and look already” - so I did!

Saturday marks the first day of competition and the weather couldn't be better. Cold and clear in the mountains and sunny near 50 in Torino. Unfortunately no events for me today. It was more of a planning day with live shots scheduled later in the evening. I am working on setting up a few stories for next week. Look for a story I just finished on snowboarders and how the weather can effect each turn on the half pipe. This should air on Weather Plus Monday.

Tomorrow I'm off... I may head out with a few friends and then I was thinking about getting a lot of sleep and then of course a bit of shopping. Log on Monday -- I should have pictures posted from Sunday!

Ciao - Ranieri

one more thing... I must say Italians are very honest! Walking on my way to the media center I dropped my brand new olympic fleece jacket. I went back twenty minutes later in a crowd of people and someone placed it on a security gate! I was amazed and very happy as you can see in the picture.

To send Jeff a question or comment about his blog, click here

Day 6! (Jeff Ranieri)

February 9, 2006 | 5:48 p.m. ET

The best place for a weather guy to be in the winter Olympics? The Alps, at least in my opinion, and I was lucky enough to head there today for our first round of live shots. The drive is long but certainly not painful. The whole drive from Torino to the Alps is filled with incredible sites, wineries, castles, beautiful homes tucked away in villages and well, of course, toll booths!

(By the way, check out this NBCOlympics.com blog for more insight into the Torino games and a slideshow showing the step-by-step process of how we make TV.)

A special road to take Olympic travelers to the mountains was recently completed just in time for the games. The price is expensive at 12 euros (14 US dollars) a pop, and that is just one way for about a 30 mile drive. While it was expensive for toll standards, the traffic was moving quickly and it was freshly paved. The trip took about two hours with our very efficient driver Antonio, and his great techno music that made the ride seem even faster.

Slideshow: More photos from Torino

As we arrived I took the camera out and had a hard time putting it down. The mountains, the brand new venues, and lodging all looked like they had a special shine. The Olympic village area even had an amazing glow in the daytime as it was perfectly nestled in between the 7,000 foot peaks.

After taking in all of the sights we moved on to the workspace. The live location was filled with a million different views. We set up and got started right away on live shots for Weather Plus, MSNBC, and taped a few segments for the affiliates in our shift. Once the sun went down it was super cold. The clear skies and cold front that passed through brought temperatures to the low 20s with a wind chill. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. The wardrobe: Three jackets, gloves, and a hat. What do you think of the hat? I got mixed results... I was not sure either, but fashion is no option when you are this cold.

After a long day we had fun with our camera on the way out of the hotel. They had animals that were stuffed. Antonio and I decided to get friendly with the furry wall ornaments.

Now, I'm back at home and ready for another day. I'll be in Torino for the opening ceremony with more live shots for weather plus. Ciao Ranieri

Oh, almost forgot -- If I look like I'm trying too hard to say my name it’s because Antonio the driver pronounced my Italian last name and I may try the “real” pronunciation on air. We'll see!

To send Jeff a question or comment about his blog, click here

Day 5! (Jeff Ranieri)

February 8, 2006 | 3:14 p.m. ET

After a long night the day before, I was able to sleep in a bit today and with the super shutters on the window in my room it makes it pitch black! I slept like a rock. After great sleep I had no time for breakfast and hopped right on the bus. The sun was out and it was in the mid 40s not bad. That didn’t last for long. Clouds soon rolled in throughout the day and the temperature dropped dramatically, probably the upper 30s. So, the weather wasn’t at its best on Tuesday.

Slideshow: More photos from Torino

Now what was at its best was the technology! After 4 days of being on the ground and shooting various stories we were finally able to send stories back to the network!!! You can now look for my reports on weatherplus.com and nbcolympics.com. Each day we will have a forecast for Torino and of course reports on your Weather Plus digital channel.

By the end of the day I headed back to the living headquarters with my friend from WMAQ Rob Eglas, and Maya Starks from NBC 17. We were on a mission to get wireless internet in our lobby area. Rob helped me get connected along with the incredible MSNBC tech staff - thanks a bunch Seth! We all had a glass of vino to celebrate… Just so you know, getting the internet connected here is so difficult that we had at least 5-10 people pass by and ask us how we got online.

As I head to bed tonight I have weather of course on my mind. A storm moving in from the north could bring us stormy live shots on Thursday and Friday. Wind, rain, and snow to the Alps is expected. In Torino, expect wind and colder temps for the opening ceremony. We are trying to set up live shots in the Alps for the wind and possible snow - we’ll see! I’m keeping my fingers crossed since being out in the weather and working is what I love to do, and being in Italy doesn’t hurt either!

Ciao - Ranieri

Questions or comments for Jeff Send them along!!

Day 4! (Jeff Ranieri)

February 7, 2006 | 9:20 a.m. ET

So the mountains were incredible...

I think the smile on my face says it all. When we stepped foot in the snow it was a soft powder with still untouched snow from the last storm. Even though the air temperature was in the low 30s with sunshine you still need to keep warm I learned. I have been in the cold and skiing before, but this cold was right to your bones. I started off in some of my weather reports with no gloves, thought I was ok. I grabbed some snow as part of the story and my hands were instantly frozen. Mental note : ( Gloves on at all times!) So, even the ski bunnies who like sun and skiing in the Alps are dressed way warm.

We were located all day in Sestriere. This will be one of 6 skiing venues where 11 different events will take place. It truly was a sight to see with over a foot of new snow capping the mountains from the last storm. The only thing I can compare the Alps to is the Sierra Nevada mountain range in northern California. But the Alps of course stretch much, much higher vertically, with 10,000 plus peaks.

While we were up there getting a feel for the snow there were a lot of crews still working and preparing to get everything ready for the first day of ski events which begin on Saturday.

After a long day in the snow our entire crew headed out for a group dinner. It was very long and super tasty. We had at least 6-7 different dishes. Started off with prosciutto, then a quiche, calamari with a sauce and rice, followed by steak, then gelato, and a chocolate cake dessert. The price also hard to believe. Per person in American it was about $50, probably even less. I think I’m going to skip breakfast for sure after eating all of that.

Ciao - Ranieri

Questions or comments? Send them our way!

Day 3! (Jeff Ranieri)

February 6, 2006 | 1:40 p.m. ET

Each day in Torino is a complete adventure... It’s still hard to believe it’s work, even with the long hours.

Today started off with my first trip to the MMC or Main Media Center. Goal number find the media center with a map in Italian. I hopped on the bus from our living quarters and was on the move. I felt good about it until, I got off the bus. I headed in what I thought was the right direction and got lost. Of course, I was determined to find it before I called for directions/help. Eventually I pieced together some Italian wording with a Spanish accent and was lead in the right direction.

Slideshow: Jeff Hits the Ground Running

I stopped for a cappuccino on the way, now I was feeling energized and ready to arrive. Instead, I ended up passing through the Ice skating rink which was a good accidental find . Then, I finally stumbled on the headquarters, which is a maze of large televisions and computer screens. Opening the door was any TV journalists dream. Everything you need in one spot. A home away from home.

Once I got to the workspace we were very busy getting our own gear up and running. As you can see I am now able to send pictures since our internet connection is up at the media center. This is the room where we will meet back and write our stories for the network. There are probably 70 plus journalists in the area. It’s quite amazing to think of all of the stories that will come from this room each day.

I took a few pictures of me at the workspace and some of the other crews. It’s a full working newsroom with correspondants from all different time zones. Quite amazing. We will be testing the live shots on Monday. You should start to see live reports from me this week.

I’m off to bed here in a few minutes as I will be up early and heading to some real meteorologist eye candy - the Italian Alps!

Ciao - Jeff

Day 2! (Jeff Ranieri)

February 5, 2006 | 11:44 a.m. ET

The weather was incredible today with highs in the upper 40s, low 50s and full sunshine -- not bad.

We headed out on our first assignment and it was quite a day. The crew: Maya Starks, a reporter from NBC 17 in Raleigh, N.C., Jon, our Photographer, Dario the driver and myself.

So we hopped in the very small car and headed for one of the oldest parts of Torino where buildings date back hundreds of years. Let me start off by saying it was completely amazing. I heard before I even came to Torino that it's not the Italy many people imagine. I am here to say Torino does have its breathtaking views and most incredible architecture. If the drains look this pretty in the old town, imagine how incredible everything else looks.

Hidden inside what is considered an industrial city is a complete gem. The city blocks of the very old area are lined with cobblestone streets, rivers, and more piazzas (town squares) than you could see in one day.

So, we were off to our shoot -- We stopped in three different locations. This included two very different town squares and the Po River. Dario the driver was not only great at getting us around but he was a most incredible tour guide. He pointed out so many details of the historic downtown that just added to the whole picture. One of my favorite "you gotta check this out" expressions was Dario pointing out how the buildings in some areas are perfectly aligned. For instance, open ornate and arched hallways that match for several buildings in a row. It makes for a most intense view for several blocks down.

I took tons of pictures showing the beautiful architecture of Torino. I had my first piece of real Italian pizza, and toward the end of the day my crew and a few others went out for some Vino and yes, more pizza. You'll need to tune in this coming week to see the video once our live signal is set up to transmit back to the U.S. We are very close to having this happen.

Well, I have had a long and very exciting day. I'm off to “Neverland” -- hopefully I'll be able to sleep better. The time change can be brutal.

Ciao - Jeff

Day 1! (Jeff Ranieri)

February 4, 2006 | 10:34 a.m. ET

Just woke up and enjoyed a delicious breakfast with a croissant, some ham and cheese, yogurt, apple, and cereal! Think I was hungry? Ha! Meanwhile, we are getting ready for our first day of shooting/exploring in the city. We're planning to head to one of the oldest parts of town, and will also stop for a look at the international broadcast center. We are planning to get some of this on tape, so look for it in the coming days. The crew is still working on getting our signal ready to send back to the U.S. So, you could look to see what we shoot sometime Monday or Tuesday. Ciao, Jeff

To send Jeff a question or comment about his blog, click here

On My Way (Jeff Ranieri)

February 2, 2006 | 11:37 p.m. ET

The day has come. I am now on my way to Italy on the plane as I write this. The screen on the flight reading just under 4,000 miles to Paris then a transfer to Torino. At this point I have my iPod out and just finished a episode of 'The Office.' Up next is a audio crash course in Italian, then a look at what will be coming the next few days at the Olympics, and dinner somewhere in between! I’m starving. I think flying makes me extra hungry. On the menu, wait where is my menu... OK, just found it - chicken, rice, and carrots. Dessert will be my favorite though, a triple chocolate brownie! Oddly enough pasta was the other choice, but I’m holding out for the real deal. Ciao

Finally, Snow for Torino (NBC Weather Plus Staff)

February 1, 2006 | 2:37 p.m. ET

After seeing no snow since New Year’s Eve, Torino and the mountains that surround it saw a big storm hit late last week.

More than two feet of snow fell in the slopes that will host many of the events of the Olympic Winter Games, which start on Feb. 10.

Antonio Castano, working in NBC’s Engineering & Information Technologies group and helping set up for the NBC’s coverage of the Games, sent back the attached pictures of the storm.

To see the full slideshow, click here.

For the latest Torino video weather forecast and everything you need to know about the Games, log on to our partner: NBCOlympics.com
Questions or comments? Send them our way!

Last-Minute Packing (Jeff Ranieri)

January 31, 2006 | 6:23 p.m. ET

Well the week that I leave for Torino is here, and of course, the day I leave is coming quicker and quicker.

I just started packing up things at work today, and learned how to use all of the tech stuff to help bring some visual life to my blogging. Let's just say there are a lot of directions! I seem to have a handle of uploading pictures and video ok...

In fact the pictures uploaded on the site were taken by our very smart web producer Kent, and I was in charge of uploading them. What do you think? Not bad for the first time right? I promise the pictures will get much more exciting once I get to Italy :-)

I have such a big list of things to do right now and I have that sinking feeling that I'm going to be rushing from the time I leave work today until I arrive at the airport. It's an exciting sinking feeling if you will... LOL. I just need to make sure that everything is checked off the "to do" list. Believe me when I say it's very, very long.

I have made some headway since the last blog. I have two suitcases packed and one left. I have laundry to pick up, dry cleaning to drop off, and a few more last minute items to buy. Otherwise, I'm in full Torino mode. I even made some Ranieri Red Sauce Pasta with spicy sausage this week -- mmmm.

Ok, well it's time to finish up at work and time to get home and finish packing the last bag!

Ciao!

Also, thanks for the responses to the blog so far - they have been very interesting to read! Keep them coming!

The Trip of a Lifetime (Jeff Ranieri)

January 27, 2006 | 4:12 p.m. ET

Where do I even begin?

Italy, the Olympics, my first trip to Europe, great food, such an incredible assignment.

When I found out I would be covering the Olympics for NBC Weather Plus a few months back I was, let's just say, super super excited. And that may even be an understatement.

Out of any place in Europe, I have wanted to travel to Italy for the longest time. My last name Ranieri is Italian, and my Dad is part of the first generation of Ranieri's to come to the U.S.. Traveling there for me is going to be a bit of a homecoming in a way. I secretly can't wait to say my last name somewhere and not have someone say, 'What? Huh? How do you pronounce that?' I'll keep you updated on how that works!

I've been marking down the days lately until I leave on a calendar, and I still don't believe I'm actually going. It probably won't sink in until the plane lands in Torino. Before I leave, it's time to do the dreaded packing -- but how do you even pack for a month? I'm still wondering. Just days away and I have three suitcases to fill and so much to bring. YIKES! I figure the bags will be filled with the essential stuff and then some additional items like voltage converters, laptop computer, blackberry, handheld camera, and of course some long johns! I'm hoping to make room for some pictures and whatever else I may be able to squeeze into my bag to make my media village quarters feel like home. A video tour may be in order once I get settled in.

Ok, enough on packing for now. Who likes to do that anyway?!?

My mind right now is in a mixed state. I'm trying to balance the work thoughts with the Italy thoughts. Since I have never been to Italy -- or Europe for that matter -- I can't wait to try the food, especially the fresh pasta, and of course, a bit of wine (of course only on the one day a week I may get off ).

Those visions have been in my head since the fall when I found out I would be heading to Torino. The other thought is this incredible assignment, and how we can bring a flawless product to the air on Weather Plus. We are planning to not only bring live reports to Weather Plus before and after the Olympics, but also provide a text and video blog on our new web site. In addition to Weather Plus live shots I will also be providing a special Torino forecast that will be available for all NBC Stations to air. Needless to say I will be very busy and looking forward to every second of the Olympic journey. Keep checking back here to find out how each day of my journey moves along.

Ciao!

To send Jeff a question or comment about his blog, click here

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