Archive for the ‘me me me’ Category
Some Fun with a First Meme
I saw this fun “first” meme over at the Facebook page of Anna l’Americana of Only in Maine.
I promised to steal it, so here it is.
Feel free to fill out your own and post it wherever you like, even in the comments here…if you’d just like to pick out your favorite firsts from the list and share, please do!
1. Who was your FIRST prom date?
My first and only prom date was named Brian, and he recently threatened to post photos on Facebook. Despite that, I still think he’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever known.
2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love?
Occasionally.
3. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink?
Probably peach schnapps with my mom on some New Year’s Eve during my teens.
4. What was your FIRST job?
Waitress at a drive-in (no roller skates or movies involved). Best skill learned: how to make the swirly tops on a soft ice cream cone.
5. What was your FIRST car?
Never had one as I don’t drive, but if I get one, I’ll let you know.
6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?
No texts. Hardly ever any texts. I rather hate texts.
7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?
Not a person, but a kid. Pasqualina.
8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
Mrs. Casari. Loved her, and loved going back to see her when my nephew was starting school.
9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?
Raleigh-Durham, NC from Harrisburg, PA on my 18th birthday (back to Duke after Fall Break).
10. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk?
A fun gal named Heather, and sadly, we haven’t been in touch for about 10 years.
11. Where was your FIRST sleep over?
Heather’s. Her house had mirrors that covered most of the living room walls so we always played Bloody Mary and scared the bejeebers out of ourselves. Fun times!
12. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?
P, but it was quite limited. He’s not a morning person.
13. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?
My cousin Debbie’s as a flower girl/junior bridesmaid. I remember big glasses and a big hat. No, you will not be seeing photographic evidence.
14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
Put on my sheepskin boots!
15. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?
Aw geez, probably something at the Bloomsburg Fair.
16. FIRST tattoo?
I’ll keep you posted.
17. FIRST piercing?
My ears when I was probably 12 or 13 years old. Piercing Pagoda baby!
18. FIRST foreign country you visited?
Italia.
19. FIRST movie you remember seeing?
ET, twice with my feet sticking to the floors of the old Victoria Theatre (no longer there) in Shamokin, PA.
20. When was your FIRST detention?
Boh.
21. What was the FIRST state you lived in?
Pennsylvania—the second state of the union, incidentally.
22. Who was your FIRST roommate?
Kristin at Duke, and yes, we’re still in touch.
23. If you had one wish. What would it be?
That I’d have the power to teleport myself here, there, everywhere. P.S. I don’t know what these last three have to do with firsts, but I’ll still play.
24. What is something you would learn if you had the chance?
To play the guitar.
25. Who do you think will be the next person to post this?
You! Consider that a dare.
Lijit Search and Other New Things at Bleeding Espresso
Have you poked around my sidebars lately? Especially for those of you reading in feedreaders, you need to come on over and have a look because there are some exciting new things at Bleeding Espresso including:
1. Lijit Search
Have you heard of this yet? If you have a blog and other places you “appear” online (including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.), I highly recommend becoming Lijit.
My Lijit Search is the middle column if you scroll down a bit.
So what is Lijit? Lijit is a fabulous new search feature that pulls together everything you’ve contributed to the web and makes it searchable.
A quick example? If you type “Italy” into my search box (go ahead!), you’ll get results not only from my blog but also from my tweets on Twitter, my photos on Flickr, and more.
I really love this new feature, and I hope you’ll give it a try. If you want to sign up yourself, go to Lijit.com; if you have any questions, contact Grace Boyle at gboyle@lijit.com, who has been *extremely* kind and helpful as I became Lijit.
2. Recently Published Elsewhere List
Also in the center column near the top, I’ve added a list of my published articles around the web. Now, if you are so inclined, you can keep up with me without waiting for me to post about what I’ve written recently. Your support and comments are always greatly appreciated!
At any given time, you should be able to find something about Italy, travel, the law, and law school over there…and who knows what else? Be sure to check back frequently to see what I’ve been writing.
3. Ciao Google Ads!
I’ve finally cut the cord on Google advertisements. They’ve done next to nothing for me this past year, so I waited until I got enough for a payment and now I’ve removed them altogether.
I will, of course, keep BlogHer and Amazon over there on the far right, and I’ve also accepted other paid advertisements, which you can find in the center and far right columns. Feel free to click and see what they’re all about!
Feedback on these changes and suggestions for more are welcome in the comments! What’s new at your place?
Discovering the Secret of Happiness
While flipping through the latest issue of Psychologies, I came across a little blurb entitled “La felicità è contagiosa.”
Happiness is contagious.
The piece quotes a study published in the British Medical Journal, which found that the secret to happiness is to be around calm people who are satisfied with their lives.
I think we all kind of knew this, right?
I know I don’t like to be around negative nellies too much, because I find that unhappiness is also quite contagious.
But the article goes on to say that while “happy” areas in our brain are stimulated by being around happiness, this connection only happens in person and not via telefone or the Internet.
Accordingly, the author concludes, all you need to do to be happy is to shut off your computer, get out of the house, and talk to people (apparently preferably happy ones).
I’ll agree that there certainly is something extra-special about in-person contact, but I’m not sure that I don’t get at least similar happy feelings talking on the phone or via Internet with loved ones who also happen to be happy. Or maybe my brain is just different than those in the study?
What do you think?
Do online and telephone friendships
with positive people help make you happy?
2009 Bloggies Finalist for Best European Weblog
On Friday I got some amazing news:
Bleeding Espresso has been named a finalist in the 2009 Bloggies for Best European Weblog:
Vote for Bleeding Espresso here!
I am truly humbled and honored to represent the Bel Paese this year, and I thank all of you who nominated me from the bottom of my cuore.
We’re up against fabulous blogs Scaryduck, Iceland Weather Report, Bitchy Jones’s Diary, and one of my very favorites, last year’s winner, and perpetual finalist Chocolate & Zucchini, so it’ll be an uphill battle to win, but as the cliché goes, it truly is an honor just being nominated.
I congratulate all the finalists in this year’s Bloggies, especially my friends at Thursday Night Smackdown (Best-Kept Secret Weblog), Travellious (Best Travel Weblog), and Secret Agent Mama (Best Photography of a Weblog).
For those who are visiting here for the first time, a warm welcome from sunny southern Italy:
The best place to start learning about me and the blog is in the About section, which also includes links to more of my writing, and through my favorite posts, hand-selected and provided for you in the “Best of” tab above.
If you are so inclined, please vote for Bleeding Espresso at the 2009 Bloggies by February 2…just in time for World Nutella Day on February 5th!
Grazie mille!
New Zealand Nature Company: In Praise of Excellent Customer Service
We all like to spread the word when a company does us wrong, as well we should so we can warn others, but today, I’m sharing some good news about New Zealand Nature Company because they done good–real good–and they deserve huge props, especially one customer service representative named Bettina.
Back at the end of October, I decided to treat myself to a warm, snuggly pair of boots for the winter since I generally have to wear two to three pair of socks *while inside the house* from November to March or so. These old houses in southern Italy get *cooooold*!
The previous winter, when I was lamenting that I had freezing feetsies, a friend from New Zealand recommended the New Zealand Nature Company, and since I was still in love with these Supertread Sheepskin Boots a year later, I went for it.
I normally don’t spend even half this much on shoes, but I knew these would last for years, they were something I sorely needed, and they would also serve as my birthday and Christmas presents to myself.
The order went smoothly, other than my indecision regarding what color to get (I settled on chocolate), and I loved that I could even pay via PayPal as I don’t use credit cards.
But their delivery estimate of 10-14 days to Italy came and went. I was patient since I’ve been around the Poste Italiane block, but when the end of November came and went with no boots, I got in touch with the company.
Bettina was also convinced that the boots weren’t coming, so she immediately claimed insurance on the first pair and send off a new pair as soon as the ones I had chosen were back in stock.
How awesome is that?
A few weeks later, I got my new boots in the mail, and I swear to you, I’ve only taken them off to sleep ever since. They are *so* warm and comfy, and I don’t know how I survived a Calabrian winter without them.
New Zealand Nature Company, established in 1996, sells boots, clothes, beauty and personal care items, bedware, jewelry, stationery, and more, so if you want great products at great prices with *excellent* customer service, do give New Zealand Nature Company a try.
I’m not getting anything in return for this glowing recommendation–just the satisfaction of passing along the word about a fabulous company.
AND they are running a sale now until January 31–
20% off Supertread Sheepskin Boots
and
40% off Selected Silk and Other Clearance Items!
Prices include airmail insured shipping (choose your currency), and if you’re getting boots, do pay special attention to their charts as they use NZ sizes.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, I am kind of considering getting another pair of boots now that they’re on sale, but I will be sure to warn Bettina first.
Please share your positive online shopping experiences
in the comments or on your own blog!
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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