Archive for the ‘friends’ Category
Finding Ravioli and Other Book Recommendations
Last week I received an awesome surprise in the mail from one of my very favorite artists and bloggers, Karen Cole of Artsortments (and I’m not just saying that because her self-portrait from her college days could’ve been done of P’s sister Pina):
That’s a copy of Laura Schenone’s The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken: A Search for Food and Family underneath Karen’s card, which shows one of her assemblage sculptures she made while in Cortona in 2006. Isn’t it gorgeous?
FYI, I’m loving the book so far; I’m only a couple chapters in, but I’m relating to so much of what Schenone went through in her search for family heritage vis à vis Genovese ravioli–from the basic lack of interest on the part of her American family to her pilgrimage to the Old Country.
Grazie mille Karen!
I’m also reading two other books that were sent to me by She Who Blogs blogging buddies:
from Karina of Candid Karina and Creative Karina
and
from Qualcosa di Bello of Piacere, Write Away, Dog Blog, and Snap 366.
These books are both *fantastic* reads (as are those blogs–check ’em out!). It’s taking me a while to get through all these books just for lack of spare time, but I’m truly savoring every stolen moment I have with them.
I can’t thank my book fairies enough–as I’ve mentioned a few times, English-language books are just not easy to come by around here.
But I even have an Italian-language book fairy! Back for my birthday Shelley of At Home in Rome sent me the Italian version of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist (L’Alchimista), which I finished last week.
Ya’ll I read the WHOLE thing. In Italian! And it took me well under a year! Woohoo!
Plus? I *loved* it. I can’t wait to read the English version now too.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think?
And what are you reading now?
Come on! This is as close as I get to browsing through a bookstore these days.
surviving long distance relationships: guest blogger cherrye’s call for stories
In addition to the 1st of the Month Featured Bloggers, another one of my fancy ideas for the new and improved Bleeding Espresso is to invite someone to come in and guest post on the 15th of every month.
There won’t be many guidelines for my guests–see I’m not a control freak no matter what anyone says–so if you’re interested in posting here, do leave a comment or drop me a line.
You don’t even have to have a blog to guest post, by the way, so send in your idea! Don’t be shy!
The first guest blogger is my fellow American in Calabria who you’ve heard about before, Cherrye of My Bella Vita.
If you haven’t visited Cherrye at her place yet, you should as she’s always good for an enlightening, entertaining story about her Calabrian husband, her oh-so-Calabrian father-in-law, their bed and breakfast, the building of their house, or sometimes, when we’re really lucky, her adorable nephew Cole or small friend of the family Mario (son of Antonino).
I can assure you that Cherrye’s just as funny and lovely and genuine in person, so if you’re ever in southern Italy, you should also think about booking a room at the newly renovated Il Cedro Bed & Breakfast in Catanzaro.
And now here’s Cherrye, keeping with our love theme this week:
A lot has been written about passion, romance, and the quest for true love. So much, in fact, that I hesitate to write this at all. I’ve shared our story, and truth be told, to see it through someone else’s eyes, I do, indeed, see the fairytale.
A tall, dark, handsome knight rushes in to rescue the fair maiden from a life of total hum-drum boredom and her 9-5, bound-for-corporate-hell, day job.
Ah, if it were only that simple. By all outward appearances everything seemed perfect. Two young lovers meet in the City of
The end.
But, life isn’t that simple. Relationships aren’t that simple. Everyone who has even been in love knows this. Relationships are difficult when Boy meets Girl, Boy lives in same city as Girl, Boy speaks same language as Girl, Boy doesn’t have strange, and sometimes impossible to comprehend non-verbal cues that confuse Girl…need I go on?
Now, multiply those difficulties by
Lost in Translation was not just a movie to me. It was my life. And, like all good girls trying to survive a long distance relationship, I called in reinforcements. Many of my “why-is-he-doing-this-let-us-over-analyze-together-or-die” sessions with my girlfriends went the same way.
“Is it because he is a boy?”
“Is it because he is Italian?”
“Is it because (gasp!) something is wrong with us?”
Who knew?
We sure didn’t.
But, we did learn a few things along the way.
So, my question is this:
If relationships truly are hard, which we have established they are, and a couple must commit to working on that relationship day after day, then why did we win the golden ticket?
Many of the problems that arose throughout our five-year relationship were issues ordinary couples see. Sure, we had our jealousies and insecurities, but no more than Same-City Boy and Girl. We argued here and there. Again, no more, no less than the norm. But, we made it.
According to the Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships (yes…this is a real place!) the average couple in a long distance relationship lives
Whoa!
I’d have thought I was living with the boy if I’d have seen him that often.
I want to talk about loooooooooooong distance relationships. Like I had. Like many of you had. Like some of you still have.
How do you make those work?
And, that, my friends, is where you come in. After some consideration, a small debate, and, yes, I must admit, a wee bit of “the nag,” Peppe and I have decided to write a book.
A book!
Or, rather a His and Hers Survival Guide to Looooong Distance Relationships. And, we need your help.
Send us your stories, your tips, and your techniques on how to have a successful long distance relationship.
Tell us how far you were. How far you came. How you made it.
Heck! Even if you weren’t in a long distance relationship, send in your ideas and tips for comparison value. Ask your other, notice I did not say better, halves.
While the book is still in the early stages, we know there is a void of this information in the marketplace. I know. I looked. I look forward to hearing from you!
Please send all inquiries, stories, ideas, and tips to:
mybellavita[dot]cicina[at]gmail[dot]com
—————
[tags]long distance relationships, center for the study of long distance relationships, call for stories, italy, calabria[/tags]
bloggers’ generosity (plus more contests)
The other day I mentioned how kind the blogging community has been to me lately. Now I’m going to give you the details.
First, just before Christmas I received a care package of a crazy amount of cross stitch goodies from my friend Concetta of An Italian-Scot’s Stitching Journal.
Check out my favorite, “The Dreamer,” which some of you may remember is what “Sognatrice” means in Italian:
As I told Concetta, I think this would be gorgeous in a little girl’s room. Now I just have to get me a little girl . . . .
Grazie mille Concetta!
Then the Italian postal service continued to bless me with actual delivery when My French Life by Vicki Archer arrived just after Christmas. I had won this book in a contest over at Robin’s place My Melange.
This book is *gorgeous* and if I didn’t want to head to France to visit my expat Froggie bloggie buddies, I sure do now (although truth be told, I did before anyway).
And then I got news that I also won a contest over at Valerie’s 2 Baci in a Pinon Tree. I know! What did I step in, right?
Valerie was compiling a list of expat bloggers in Italy and offered up some fabulous prizes: a copy of Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well by Pelligrino Artusi (English translation) and–get this!–“hand-crafted chocolates from the best darn cioccolateria in Le Marche.” Woohoo! *So* exciting!
And then I read that Geggie of So…What Else? What Else? What Else? is having a contest giving away some Burt’s Bees goodies. Well I’m on a lucky streak, so of course I had to enter–and you should too!
CLICK HERE TO ENTER TO WIN BURT’S BEES GOODIES
But wouldn’t you know it? I’m already a winner! In the contest post Geggie asked for a little technical help and has now offered to send me some fun stuff as a thank you. Thank *you* Geggie!
Speaking of contests, head on over to Grace’s Sandier Pastures and leave a comment explaining why you need a new blog design–and you just might win one.
CLICK HERE TO ENTER TO WIN A FREE BLOG DESIGN
And finally I got a big ole virtual bacio from Jenn at The Verge. She wrote some truly wonderful, heartwarming thoughts about me which mean so much coming from a blogger who I just love visiting.
So I’m passing along this:
to Concetta, Robin, Valerie, Geggie, and Grace (and back at Jenn) for their generosity and kindness not only to me but to all of us who are lucky enough to have found them.
This blogosphere just keeps on giving I tell you, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of it.
—————
[tags]cross stitch, contests, my french life, vicki archer, blogging awards, science in the kitchen and the art of eating well, pellegrino artusi, burt’s bees, free blog design[/tags]
La Musica Calabrese – Calabrian Folk Music
One of my favorite parts about living here is that you never know when you’ll be caught up in an impromptu concerto. Seriously.
Now I’m sure some of you are thinking “Ah there goes another one of those stereotypes of ‘la dolce vita’ that simply doesn’t exist in real life Italy.”
Well I’m here to tell you that in small town Calabria, most males of all ages seem to play the guitar and will gladly break it out and start singing — especially the later into the evening it gets (and the more grappa that is flowing). And for those of you reading this who have visited here, chances are you can back me up on this.
In other words, we may miss out on a lot of “conveniences” down here, but at least we have la musica.
In fact the other night at New Year’s Eve dinner, one of the younger boys who is just learning to play the chitarra battente (pictured at left) asked for some advice from Mimmo, our host and lead singer/guitar player of Marasà, a local band that performs traditional Calabrese music with a bit of an updated twist.
I just love how generation after generation picks up these songs and instruments with pride, keeping the tradition going, not feeling embarrassed or shy in the least as they sing along (loudly) when the guitar shows up.
For anyone who thinks that Calabrese music and Calabrese in general is dying out, here’s a short clip of Mimmo encouraging yet another Calabrese boy on how to play the traditional way:
Although Italian musical heritage goes back centuries, including the famous chants of the Gregorian monks, Calabrian music has its own unique tradition and is rooted in songs about peasant life in the feudal system and all it entails–sung in Calabrese accompanied by Calabrian instruments.
It is music of the people, by the people, for the people, so to speak, and tells stories of both hope and hopelessness–common conflicting emotions for many Calabresi throughout the centuries.
Traditional Calabrian folk music has some common elements: high, strong vocals, a catchy, nearly hypnotic rhythm, and a bittersweet raw passion with any combination of tambourine, guitar, chitarra battente, accordion, zampogna (bagpipes), lira, mandolin, drums and more. The song rhythm you’ll hear often is the tarantella, a traditional southern Italian folk dance that was performed by female victims of spider bites to rid themselves of the venom.
There’s a great description of Calabrian music heritage here if you’re interested, but I think George Gissing sums it up pretty well in his 1901 travel memoir:
Listen to a Calabrian peasant singing as he follows his oxen along the furrow,
or as he shakes the branches of his olive tree.
That wailing voice amid the ancient silence,
that long lament solacing ill-rewarded toil,
comes from the heart of Italy herself,
and wakes the memory of mankind.
~ George Gissing
By the Ionian Sea: Notes of a Ramble in Southern Italy
For me, there’s just nothing like that distinct Calabrese cry accompanied by the chitarra battente to take me back to when my ancestors walked these same streets, living much simpler yet much harder lives, imagining what they could offer their families if only they could get to l’America.
Goodness I wish I could go back and tell them.
You can hear more of Marasà here by clicking on “il disco” and then choosing songs. My favorites are Aquila bella, Canto ad aria, and Facci di n’ammendula and if you like bagpipes, be sure to check out A Nuziata.
If you’d like to order a Marasà CD of your very own, you know where to find me.
12 Christmas Memories: Part IV
For Part IV of My 12 Favorite Christmas Memories as inspired by Wanderlust Scarlett’s meme, I’m going to stick with the childhood theme. If you haven’t yet, you should also check out Parts I, II, and III.
Now here are three more that come from my earlier years, and since we just talked about cookies, let’s stay there for a moment.
7. Jeanie & Joe eating all the kolaches
Jeanie was my great-aunt’s daughter and Joe was her husband. That might sound rather extended to you, but since my Aunt Babe lived about 30 seconds away from her sister (my grandmother), our families were always quite close, especially around the holidays–and my Aunt Babe remains one of my most favorite people in the world. She knows everything!
And what are kolaches? My mom’s version looks something like this:
Walnut goodness wrapped in cream cheese dough and sprinkled with powdered sugar. I made these this year, but I had to improvise because I couldn’t find a square ravioli cutter like she uses. In Italy! I couldn’t find the ravioli cutter I needed! Harumph!
So I used a round one, which makes smaller ravioli and that made rolling these babies a lot more challenging. They’re still delicious though, and that’s what matters, right?
Well kolaches were probably the most sought after cookie at my grandmother’s house (she also made them) during the holidays–so much so that my mom used to make a tray just for my grandfather to keep *in his bedroom*. Yes, this grandfather.
Anyway, Jeanie and Joe lived a couple hours away from us, so they came in for the holidays right as they were beginning, which left their visiting time to a minimum. And so, they’d come over, often individually, on Christmas morning, which as you can imagine, was always quite hectic as anywhere from 5 to 15 people would be eating dinner there at noon.
My grandmother always played the perfect hostess, though, despite having a million other things to do–she truly loved their visits.
But after a while she noticed that there would always be a huge dent made in the cookie tray in the area of the kolaches after Joe left–and let’s be honest, it was mainly Joe who was the culprit. So my grandmother would purposely take most of the kolaches off the tray (she’d leave him a few of course), often literally as he was coming up the walkway.
“Joe’s coming! Grab the kolaches!” *was* shouted.
Jeanie was mostly innocent in the Great Kolache Fiasco but she’s thrown in this memory because her Christmas morning visits were always such a huge part of the holidays, and also because she recently passed away.
Jeanie was just 62 years old, and her husband Joe passed away last year after a long debilitating illness which included a heart transplant. Their children are around my age, and I think of them more often than ever.
And now with the holidays, wonderful memories of their parents have really come rushing back to me, and I hope they do for them as well.
8. I’m Mary!
OK, let’s lighten things up with a fun memory from about fourth grade–when I was chosen to play Mary in the church play of the Nativity Scene.
I was never the one chosen for things like that, and to be honest, I thought one of my best friends who eventually became the angel would be Mary, but nope. I was Mary! Everyone was so proud!
I think we picked names out of a hat or something, so it really was no big feat to have won the non-speaking role. But whatever. I was Mary! I wrapped the Baby Jesus in swaddling clothes!
And I do have a photo of it somewhere, just not here. Sorry. Maybe next year.
Also, attached to this memory? I was also the one who got to put the Baby Jesus in the manger on Christmas morning in our nativity scene at home. Woohoo! The benefits of being the youngest in the house!
9. Caroling with Friends
They don’t really do the caroling thing around here (not that I’ve seen/heard anyway), but I do have a fond memory of caroling when I was about 12 years old.
A group of girlfriends, probably about 10 of us, went around one evening and sang and sang and sang–and if anyone wonders why I know the words to just about any Christmas song, this is probably why. Seriously, try me.
One blustery December night, instead of going home after school, we all went to the house that would serve as Caroling Central. We got all bundled up (it was *freezing*!), and then walked around town, avoiding slushy puddles and snow piles, stopping at random houses, especially near those that were all lit up, assuming they’d certainly appreciate the effort.
We got invited into so many homes, drank far too much hot cocoa, and even made some cash–which we spent later that night on pizza if I recall correctly. Guess we could’ve donated the money, but hey, we were 12. And hungry.
Ah, and of course there was a huge slumber party afterwards.
I had almost forgotten about this memory until Wanderlust Scarlett and I got “talking” via email. I’m so happy that she reminded me! I don’t have contact with most of those girls anymore, but some of them are still my best friends–and you know who you are–and I’m certainly thinking of you this Christmas.
Ah, small town America in the late 1980s.
Come back tomorrow for the final installment of My 12 Favorite Christmas Memories!
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.
Calabria Guidebook
Recipes
