Archive for the ‘me me me’ Category
love thursday:
happy birthday mia!
Yes my niece and nephew were born just a week (and three years) apart, so that meant combined birthday parties in their younger days. I’ve been in the reminiscing mood lately, thinking about those fun family times, and I remembered that I actually had some photos stored on the computer.
I thought it was about time to get them up on Flickr, and since I know my niece takes after her Aunt Shell in loving to look at family photos, I’ll share them here too for her birthday today.
This is the three of us at their 2002 birthday party:
And here is Mia with my mom, her Nana, around the same time:
Definitely one of my favorite photos of all time.
And these are all from the last time I was home between February and June 2004, during which we played around with the webcam quite a bit:
Happy Birthday Mia!
I hope to be there for more eskimo kisses and fishy faces very soon.
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
on becoming a knifty knitter
I can’t take credit for that punny play on words in the title; it’s direct from the package of my brand new Knifty Knitter Assorted Loom Series by Provo Craft!
I had been wanting one of these ever since I started reading Sara’s American Girl in Italy years ago, and as of about a week ago, I finally have a set thanks to the concerted efforts of a friend from the US and my mom.
Grazie mille!
Well on Saturday night, P was out with the boys, and around 10:30 pm, I started to get bored. I glanced over and saw the looms and thought, hey, why not?
Less than two and a half hours later, I had this:
Seriously, the instructions on this set are *fabulous*. I had absolutely no trouble picking this up and going with it. It’s so fast and easy–how can you beat having a new winter hat in the time it takes to watch a movie?!
OK, so the yarn I had wasn’t the most appropriate for a winter hat, so I will have to get some thicker stuff for the next go around–and then I’ll also make a matching scarf.
Oh yes, in the set you get different sized looms to make different things–the long, skinny one is for a scarf, as you might imagine:
To be clear, I’m not being compensated in any way for sharing this wonderful product with you; I just know that some of you are crafty and might be interested, and I know I always love getting personal recommendations.
So go forth and loom!
Tell me, do you loom? Knit? Crochet?
Any favorite websites for these hobbies?
More Answers: On Going Home Again
This past weekend, along with Cherrye of My Bella Vita, I had the pleasure of meeting Leanne of From Australia to Italy and her (Calabrian) Bel Ragazzo (left). . . and I’m sorry to report that we took precisely *no* photos!
I don’t know how it happened either, but one of us definitely should have pulled out the macchina fotografica to record the expressions on our faces when our waiter told us that not only was there no pizza for lunch, there was no *anything* besides fettucine with eggplant. *After* we had looked at the menu for fifteen minutes.
Always an adventure in Calabria!
Anyway, in honor of our visit, I’m answering Leanne’s questions today:
(1) I don’t think you have ever been back to the US since the move to Italy. Do you hope to take P in the future so he can see your country and your ‘old’ home?
(2) Are you trying to teach or do you want to try and teach P English?
Last things first, as for teaching P English, he really has very little interest, although when my mom was here he did try a bit. I’m pretty sure he’s all set on the morning *and* evening greetings now, so he’s got that going for him, which is nice.
Honestly though? I actually kind of like that he doesn’t speak English since I can talk freely on the phone with English speakers, i.e., rant and complain about him, his family, etc.—although he does always seem know when I’m talking about him, so I think he understands more than he lets on.
Now, on the first question, I actually *have* been back to the States once since moving here; after I was here for six months, I was back in the US for three months. I do hope that P would eventually get to see the US, but most importantly, where I grew up, places I used to hang out and, of course, get to meet my family and friends!
I would *love* to take him for a walk around my town (all two streets of it) and point out things like:
“Here is the bar where I used to get Swedish Fish for a penny a piece on Sundays even though by law it shouldn’t have been open; the lights and television were always on super low and the neon beer signs outside weren’t lit to make it seem like it was closed if you were just walking by.”
And…
“This is where I watched my brother hit homeruns in Little League and was even a cheerleader for a couple years when I was six, seven years old; I probably still have that green and gold uniform with the big A on the front of the shirt somewhere. This is also the field where we played tackle football in the winter in the snow.”
And…
“Right there, there used to be an old, rickety, wooden house that creaked and swayed in the wind. On Tuesday evenings, the fire company used it for practice, but on other summer nights, my cousin and I used to sit on the merry-go-round at the adjacent playground and watch the house for hours, absolutely sure that we saw something moving in the sheer curtains in the upstairs window.”
And…
“This is where we used to go to pick berries and look for arrowheads and rocks, especially quartz, and swim in big ole stripmining holes that are now filled with the most gorgeous blue water. Yes it’s quite dangerous, but it’s like an initiation rite for a Coal Region kid.”
*Le sigh*
Yes, Leanne, I would *love* to have that opportunity. Absolutely.
What would you include on a tour of your hometown(s)?
dream vacations and living locations
Today we’re all about PLACE.
Two readers asked me questions about place, and since the same principle applies to both of my answers, I’m combining them.
Alicia (blogless, I think, but if you have one, let me know and I’ll link to you!) asked: “If you had to live in one other country, other than Italy or the US, which would you choose and why? Canada doesn’t count… cuz technically, that’s America-lite. Kidding eh! Seriously, where else would you live?”
And Geggie of So…What Else, What Else, What Else? asked “What’s your fave vacay location outside of the US or Italy?”
Here’s the hard, sad truth: I haven’t been to any other countries other than the United States and Italy. So to choose to *live* somewhere else would be quite a difficult decision.
Would I want an English-speaking country? I’ve always been drawn to Ireland–what a contrast in the weather I currently experience, huh? But all that green?! I just know I’d love it. Plus I love wearing wool.
Or perhaps Switzerland where I can settle in the part that speaks Italian and also find lots of English? Hmm….
Or would I take on the challenge of yet another language? France perhaps? Greece?
Eh, I’d probably pick Australia for both vacation and another country to live in. I’ve never heard of anyone *hating* Australia, so it seems like a good bet.
Plus they speak English! Although I know I’d still have quite a few words to learn….
And, ahem, regarding the vacation, if anyone would like to donate to the plane fare fund, do let me know.
So tell me, readers, what country other than your own
would you choose to live/vacation in and why?
More questions answered tomorrow!
my interview at ‘this eclectic life’
When my friend, professional storyteller Shelly Kneupper Tucker of This Eclectic Life heard that I got a new gig writing Guarda! A Video Tour of Italy at Italy Magazine, she immediately asked if she could interview me on her blog to help spread the word.
She typed up some fabulous interview questions and had them to me within a day.
How great is Shelly?
So great that you need to head over there right now
and read her interview with me:
Is She Really Bleeding Espresso?
Thanks so much Shelly!
People like you bring sunshine wherever you go!
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
