Archive for 2007
What’s Cooking Wednesday: Pasta with Broccoli
A quick, easy, delicious recipe for pasta with broccoli.
Read on...village games: part II
Back in January, I unveiled a game that P and I play called (children cover your eyes):
Loosely, and cleanly, this means “Where the heck is it?” and these are the rules:
(1) I roam the village taking random photos.
(2) P has to tell me where I’ve found them–all of them.
(3) Loser cooks dinner and cleans up afterwards.
The last time we played, I underestimated P. Greatly. Go back here to see the photos he identified without a moment’s hesitation.
Annoying, isn’t he?
So now that I’ve had a few months to prepare, I felt I was ready, and we played again last night.
Photo Number 1:
This is what we call a “false sense of security” photo. Easy as it’s rather recognizable to say the least. Plus it’s on our usual walk with the dogs, so, as expected, he got this one right away. It’s the house of a Swiss couple that visits only in the summer if you’re interested, but no, I don’t know the significance of the train.
Like I’m wont to do, I turned up the heat:
He threw out a guess (wrong) and then struggled for a few moments. I then made a strategic decision. I gave him a tiny hint–a photo of the door that’s across from it. Then it was pretty easy; this doorbell is within sight of the house he grew up in. He got it.
I gave him that clue because I felt safe, nay even a bit cocky, about the last photo that I was going to give him. Risky to be sure but I like to take chances.
Photo Number 3:
Hi sunshine!
At first there was a hint of recognition in his eyes, but that quickly turned into a squint, then a look off into the distance, and, ladies and gentlemen, I kid you not: the words “Dove cazzo è?” were uttered. Repeatedly.
I gave him clues, told him how close this is to our house (*very* close), how he doesn’t actually pass by there often (it’s the “back way” and there’s really no reason to go there ever unless you’re taking random photos for a guessing game), how it’s somewhere you wouldn’t expect (it’s outside the cantina of our 80+-year-old neighbor Anna Maria who doesn’t seem much the ceramic sunshine tile type . . .check the link for how she heats her house in the winter).
Niente. He had nothing.
HO VINTO IO!!!!!!!
That means I won, and I’m planning out my feast as I type. I’m thinking he should do Thanksgiving. What do you think?
Today I am thankful for:
My P. I’ve never been one of those girls that was always partnered off; indeed, I’ve spent most of my adolescent and adult life alone (not lonely even though in Italian it’s the same word–solo/sola!), and I’m quite good on my own. I *need* lots of alone time, in fact, and sometimes that goes over well in a relationship and sometimes it doesn’t.
So imagine my surprise when I truly enjoyed being part of a couple, and not only that, I’ve even managed to find someone who will play silly games like Dove cazzo è? with me and not think I’m strange. Or think I’m strange but go with it anyway.
That’s pretty special, I know it, and I’m so thankful to have found P.
If you’d like to read more about him (and see a photo), here are some P posts:
How a Jean Jacket and Some Wind Can Change Your Life
(story of how we met)
Let the Answering Begin: The Sequel
(Question 2)
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[tags]calabria, southern italy, nablopomo, 30 days of thanks[/tags]
puppy eyes & puppy sighs
Not to inundate you with puppy posts (yes I am and I will continue to do so), but we’ve reached another milestone.
Yesterday, the puppies began to see the world: 
And this is how interested Stella is in all of this: 
I joke. She’s really a great mamma; she just obviously trusts her crazy human with the camera.
How’s Luna, you wonder?
Just fine, thanks, with a little help from Nana in the States. Thanks for the toys and treats Nana!
And while we’re on the puppy tip, go check out “Sighs of the Heart,” sent to me by Maryann of Finding La Dolce Vita. Too cute!
Today I am thankful for:
Having the opportunity to be a part of the puppy process and a doggie mommy in general, not only with Luna and Stella, but with all the dogs that have been in my life:
Missy: a white poodle mix that my mom tells me I used to try to ride like a pony (and she still never bit me!); loved spaghetti and often had an orange snout because of it; she is the reason I am named “Michelle” instead of “Melissa” in case you’re wondering;
Peco: (PEE-koh), Missy’s son, black with a white strip down his chest and a Michael Jackson glove on one of his front paws (Peco was born in 1984 or so); sweetheart of a dog that had a penchant for running away and coming back smelling like a “pujack” as my grandmother said; would get shaved at the start of every summer and looked about 5 pounds thinner; aka “Rosco P. Coltrane” or Pecorino;
Maverick: named after Tom Cruise’s character in Top Gun, this was the first dog that was really mine and truly my baby; a big galoot of a mutt, he was a German Shepard/Rottweiler mix and was really a gorgeous dog; he picked me out at the ASPCA, wouldn’t let me leave without him, and then slept on my lap in the car the whole half-hour home; aka Maverick-a-rony-ravy-doodle-noodle-bug, Rikki Tikki Tavi, or as my grandfather called him, Albert; I still dream about him;
Beau: my mom’s little yipper with an unfortunate underbite; greatly resembled Toto from The Wizard of Oz; was fond of ripping the mail that came through the slot in the door and tearing it to pieces; aka Beau Dog Beau;
Max: my brother and sister-in-law’s Chocolate Lab who was, without a doubt, the most gentle dog I’ve ever known in my life; loved swimming in the pool and a raggedy old rope-like thing; every time I see Ninotchka’s Charlie, my heart smiles for Maxwell Smart, as I called him;
Samson: my brother and sister-in-law’s hyperactive Yellow Lab with whom I spent much time chasing and disciplining and petting and cuddling during my three-month stay with them back in 2004; aka Sammy Doodle;
Arturo: a gentle, shaggy-haired golden mutt that I adopted here in the village; at this point, village knew I was different because I actually let him sleep in the house; his untimely demise led directly to P’s bringing Luna home to cheer me up.
Having animals in my life truly makes every day better–sometimes more stressful to be sure, but there’s always at least one moment each and every day that I am thankful for my pooches, and so very thankful that my family encouraged good relationships with animals from an early age.
I see so many children and adults here deathly afraid of even Luna and Stella because they were brought up to fear dogs; I find it so sad that they’ll never know that slobbery lick when they’re feeling down, that wagging tail greeting you like you’ve been gone for years, that wet nose nudged under your arm or hand pleading for petties.
I’m so thankful for my canine friends.
P.S. I love kitties too–hi Patches, Cleo, Bella, Matty, Opal, and Kudzu(cchini)
and remember I saved a kitten once!
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[tags]dogs, puppies, nablopomo, 30 days of thanks[/tags]
Money Money Money Mooooney…Money!
Prompt #83: Money
I.
“I don’t know, Doc. I just feel so…misunderstood.”
“I see. Tell me more.”
“Like everyone wants a piece of me, wants to get their hands on me. So many will do just about anything to have me–steal and do all kinds of bad things that they’d never do otherwise.”
“Um hum.”
“And then once they get me, what do they do? They put me away somewhere hoping to turn me into more of me or worse yet, they just throw me away. Not literally, but they use me for such silly things, they might as well burn me.”
“Continue.”
“As far as I knew when I signed up for this, I was just supposed to be here to make doing things a little easier, to give them a way to exchange goods and services. I never expected things to get so out of hand…for me to become so important and sought after that lives are ruined for me, that wars are fought over me, that people and animals and trees die for me.”
“Yes, go on.”
“I just wish they wouldn’t put so much pressure on me, thinking *I’m* supposed to bring them everything they ever wanted. I’m only paper after all.”
II.
Has anyone else read Naomi Klein’s article “Rapture Rescue 911: Disaster Response for the Chosen” published on The Nation‘s website a few days ago?
Here’s a snippet, although I do recommend going over there and reading the whole thing:
Just look at what is happening in Southern California. Even as wildfires devoured whole swaths of the region, some homes in the heart of the inferno were left intact, as if saved by a higher power. But it wasn’t the hand of God; in several cases it was the handiwork of Firebreak Spray Systems. Firebreak is a special service offered to customers of insurance giant American International Group (AIG)–but only if they happen to live in the wealthiest ZIP codes in the country. Members of the company’s Private Client Group pay an average of $19,000 to have their homes sprayed with fire retardant. During the wildfires, the “mobile units”–racing around in red firetrucks–even extinguished fires for their clients.
I had no idea. I’m speechless, but I’d love to hear your thoughts, especially from anyone with personal experience with this.
III.
Today I’m thankful for:
Having come to the realization at a relatively early age in life that the quest for money and material things is not how I want to spend my days on Earth. I haven’t always made the best financial decisions (and some were downright awful), but I’m definitely proud of this one.
It’s not that I don’t like or want any money–as we all know, it does make the world go round for better or worse. We all need at least some of it to survive, and let’s be honest, life is much easier, less stressful without having to worry about where your next meal is coming from or about what would happen to you or your family if something terrible should happen.
And we also know that there are plenty of positive things that can be achieved *only* with money–relief efforts, health and education initiatives, etc.
But that doesn’t mean we all have to be in a race to collect the biggest pile, doing whatever we can (even when our insides are dying a slow death) to get there. Personally, I’ve wholeheartedly adopted the mantra of someone who has inspired me greatly over the past 10 years, SARK:
Do what you love and the money will follow.
If you don’t know about this awesome woman named SARK, do go over to her website Planet SARK and check out what she has to say.
And one final thought:
The best and most beautiful things in life
cannot be seen, not touched,
but are felt in the heart.
– Helen Keller
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[tags]money, sunday scribblings, sark, helen keller, california wildfires, nablopomo, 30 days of thanks[/tags]
weather you like it or not
In case anyone doubts the fickleness of the weather in Calabria, I’m going to show you a little of what it was like here on Thursday, November 1.
From the time I woke up that morning, it had been pouring, buckets and buckets of water, so I hadn’t paid much attention to the windows. But then, just as I was starting to think about lunch, a hint of sun glared through the balcony door.
Literally at that moment, P called me and told me to look outside.
11:45 a.m.:
I’ve seen a lot of rainbows here, but never one this low; indeed, that’s why P had called me–he hadn’t either. And where he was at the time, he was nearly at the start (or end?) of it–my little pot o’ gold!
11:47 a.m.:
To be clear, these views are from my balcony, off to the left. To the right there is the sea, or at least that’s what’s usually there.
11:56 a.m.:
We get a good amount of fog here throughout the fall and winter months, but I’ve never seen this much fog in the daytime. It rolled through quite quickly, though.
11:59 a.m.:
At this point I thought we were finally, finally in for some afternoon sun, and we did have a good couple hours of the stuff, but then I looked out toward where the rainbow had been.
2:24 p.m.:
And it rained the rest of the afternoon and was cloudy and/or rained Friday. As I type this on Saturday morning, there’s plenty of sun and not a cloud in sight, but I’m not placing any bets.
Today I am thankful for:
The sun and rain, the clouds and sky, the hail and snow, the wind and still air, the heat and cold–all of the natural weather elements that make the world go round, help our food to grow, make trees greener, and above all, keep life interesting.
Because who hasn’t gotten caught in the rain? Or the wind? Or the snow? It’s not always fun (although it can be!), but it’s always an experience. You just can’t help but feel alive when you’re getting pelted in the face with hail, can you?
And besides, sometimes it’s good to be reminded that the world does what it wants and we’re just along for the ride. Weather you like it or not. Hah!
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[tags]rainbows, calabria, southern italy, weather, nablopomo, 30 days of thanks[/tags]
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
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