Archive for 2007
legislating the seven-year itch
As I’m buried under work, I wasn’t going to post anything today, but I just saw this headline on Yahoo and thought it might make for an interesting weekend discussion:
Glamorous politician wants law to allow 7-year itch
For those who aren’t familiar with the term (or the classic film–you know, the one in which Marilyn Monroe stands over the subway grate and gets her white halter dress blown back up at her?), this refers to the belief that the inclination to be unfaithful increases after seven years of marriage.
Generally it’s come to mean that a lot of couples come to a crossroads at that seven year mark, and indeed, this follows through even when one considers other life changes, such as moving to a new country. I’ve read that it takes an expat about seven years to really feel at home in a new country–or decide to leave forever–so there seems to be something to that particular number of years.
Anyway, Gabriele Pauli, Bavaria’s most glamorous politician according to the article above, wants to make marriage a true social contract in Germany–one with a seven year expiration. At that point, she proposes, couples would have the option to extend the marriage or otherwise it would dissolve automatically under the law.
(Too bad there still wouldn’t be any money-back guarantees! Hah!)
Obviously such a proposal wouldn’t change religious rites regarding marriage so couples would continue to be married in that respect after the seven years passed; such a law would only affect a couple’s civil status.
There would surely have to be more details ironed out, such as how would it work if one party wants to renew and the other doesn’t? Would prenuptial agreements then become required/heavily encouraged–if there will be a split after seven years, surely there should be some sort of provisions for assets and most importantly, future/current children?
What other factors would need to be considered?
Do you think this would make leaving a marriage easier if one could just hold out those seven years? Or wouldn’t it make any difference in the “divorce” rate at all?
Would you be in favor of such a proposal?
Make some arguments you believe in or just play Devil’s Advocate–I only ask that you keep it all respectful.
Come on! I’ll be reading.
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[tags]seven year itch, legislation, marriage, divorce[/tags]
an abundance of love
So much love around here these days, I just have to share it.
For the past few days, my grandmother’s first cousin from America has been visiting with her childhood friend who also happens to have roots here. This was the first time either of them had visited the birthplace of their mothers, and it was such a pleasure to be able to share my new (to them) Italian life.
Together, we spent time with P and his parents and talked about old family memories, all while looking at old black and white photos that I had never seen (which may explain my recent obsession with the colorless versions of my own pictures)…and also never-before-seen-by-me footage of P as a baby and young lad. Too cute!
I’ll be able to share more of our time together as photos become available (I borrowed a digital but not the cable to upload–argh!), so in the meantime, you’ll just have to accept some other images of love that I captured recently.
I almost stepped on this heart in the pavement of a nearby agriturismo
(but instead stopped to take a photo).
And there’s just nothing like sisterly love.
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
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[tags]love thursday, dogs, hearts, love[/tags]
What’s Cooking Wednesday: Hummus Without Tahini
Today’s What’s Cooking Wednesday has little to do with Italian food except for the fact that one of the usual main ingredients of hummus can be difficult to find for some of us in Italy.
When Sharon of Respiri Di Vita posted a recipe for tahini-less hummus last week, I was pretty sure this would quickly become a staple in my house.
And it has, so I’m sharing it with all of you because I love it *that* much. This is word-for-word from Sharon’s recipe as there’s nothing I would change even a bit. That’s even her pretty photo!
Sharon posted a week full of quick, delicious recipes recently, so do go have a look.
Hummus Without Tahini
1 16 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans
1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas
3-5 tablespoons lemon juice (depending on taste)
1 tablespoon peanut butter
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth. Taste and adjust to your liking.
Peanut butter, by the way, is now pretty easy to find around here whereas at one time, there was no hope. Of course it costs about 5 euros (7 US dollars) for a small jar, so I always welcome peanut butter donations from my family and friends.
I don’t know if it was Sharon’s own idea to substitute peanut butter for tahini, but it was certainly she who opened up the world of hummus for me in Italy. And I will always be grateful.
Grazie mille Sharon, e buon appetito a tutti!
the bridge
We had Friday fun with Britney, now it’s time for free-thinking Monday fun.
Tell me what you see in this photo.
(click photo to enlarge)
Some thoughts to get you started:
Would you prefer to go over the bridge or under it? Why?
Who/what do you imagine is on the other side?
Who/what are you leaving behind?
Are you carrying anything?
What are you wearing?
How do you feel?
Come on now–don’t be shy!
There are no wrong answers, and as my friend Sara is fond of saying,
you’re not being graded on this!
The only requirement is to have fun.
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[tags]bridges, black and white photos[/tags]
britney spears & shameless self-promotion
For some Friday fun, click here to read
5 Lessons Britney Spears Could Learn From a Tomato
as composed by none other than . . . me
(there’s the shameless self promotion part).
Come on. You know you’re dying to know what *that’s* all about.
And here’s another photo of my village from the archives.
Buon weekend y’all!
(That was for Brit.)
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[tags]britney spears, tomatoes, medieval villages, southern italy, calabria, badolato[/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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