Yes, my little Anna, last weekend went off with her best friend Valentina and her family to go skiing in Champoluc located in the Valle d'Aosta, think the northwest side of Italy that is near France and Switzerland. Anna and company left on Friday afternoon from Chiavari and when they arrived in the ski resort, they found it was snowing very hard. Valentina's mom had to put something on her tires in order to get up the mountain. Did she use chains? Nah... she used these sock things that are so much easier to put on. Believe me, after all the trouble we had with the chains we had to put on our car during our last ski holiday in Davos, Switzerland, it was the highlight of her trip and all Anna talked about. How they work, how easy they are, and hey Daddy, why don't you use these and not those silly chains? Poor Sam. Beaten up by a 10 year old.
So Anna had 2 full days of skiing. A belly full of crepes and nutella, ate tons of snow - according to Anna much easier than carrying a water bottle around and she did mention she ate the snow from underneath, and has been invited back again this weekend. Lucky her. I hope the good weather lasts, if it snows again, she is out of luck.
Sarah this weekend is also going skiing with her best friend, Virginia and her family. They are going to the opposite side of Italy, the northwest, Trentino, to ski in the Dolomites! They are staying in a lovely hotel in Madonna di Campiglio. These girls have the life! I certainly never had friends like this when I was a kid!
Both girls will be away for the weekend, Sam and I? We we are stuck here in Chiavari all alone. What ever will we do? Don't worry, I sure we will figure it out. With this new business of Sam's there is plenty to do. Did I mention I am tying to design his web site? Not so easy for me. But, I love a challenge!
A presto!
Krista
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Battesimo di Luca!
Nicole and Bruno held the party of the year this afternoon all in honor of the latest addition to their family, Luca. Though Luca stays awake most nights, much to his parents' delight, today he was charming and well behaved. Never once did he fuss or cry. If he exhausts his parents at night, at least he let them eat their lunch in relative peace while we all played, "pass the baby". What a lunch it was! 5 courses in all, 3 featuring fish, and for dessert, Dutch Apple Pie and Petit Fours driven all the way from Holland in the back seat of Nicole's parents' car. They even sacrificed heating in order to keep the confections from spoiling and it is a 2 day drive! My dad thought he had it hard being my mule! I only ask for Maple syrup and chocolate chips when he visits.....
Anyway, back to the lunch. We were all together, 61, including, I believe, because I couldn't count them all, 18 kids ranging from infant to teenager. Once again we were the Chiavari contingent of the United Nations. The usual countries were represented, Italy, Canada, Holland, Finland, The UK, Germany, and of course, The U S of A.
We ate ourselves full, drank ourselves silly, and had a completely decadent Sunday afternoon. Thank goodness I dragged Sam out of bed at 7 am to go for an early morning brisk hike through the hills of Chiavari and a cappuccino on the passagiata at our favorite place, if you read my blog regularly, the bar that doesn't let you sit in the seats before noon. At least we burned some calories before we ate too many calories! A small consolation to ease our guilt.
Thank you Nicole and Bruno for such a lovely day! You guys really outdid yourselves! Click and go to my homepage and take a look at the photos!
Off to watch the rest of the Olympic closing ceremonies.
One last thing... Poor Team Finland. They put up a valiant effort, but lost in the end! 3 - 2 to Team Sweden
Buona Notte
Anyway, back to the lunch. We were all together, 61, including, I believe, because I couldn't count them all, 18 kids ranging from infant to teenager. Once again we were the Chiavari contingent of the United Nations. The usual countries were represented, Italy, Canada, Holland, Finland, The UK, Germany, and of course, The U S of A.
We ate ourselves full, drank ourselves silly, and had a completely decadent Sunday afternoon. Thank goodness I dragged Sam out of bed at 7 am to go for an early morning brisk hike through the hills of Chiavari and a cappuccino on the passagiata at our favorite place, if you read my blog regularly, the bar that doesn't let you sit in the seats before noon. At least we burned some calories before we ate too many calories! A small consolation to ease our guilt.
Thank you Nicole and Bruno for such a lovely day! You guys really outdid yourselves! Click and go to my homepage and take a look at the photos!
Off to watch the rest of the Olympic closing ceremonies.
One last thing... Poor Team Finland. They put up a valiant effort, but lost in the end! 3 - 2 to Team Sweden
Buona Notte
Friday, February 24, 2006
Leonardo's mind probed in Florence
While reading the Italian news today I happened upon this:
Uffizi show highlights 'universal' nature of his genius
This got me thinking about Mr. di Vinci. In addition
to this exhibit in Florence, there is another one in his honor which will open at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan. It will feature his Codice Atlantico. This is the journal with all the famous sketches. The big deal with this brief exhibit - You will actually be able to see the original masterpiece! The book itself. Might be worth the trip.
All this news about di Vinci got me thinking about the previous discussion on the "The Big Question". How many of you know that it is widely accepted amongst those in the "learning disability" field that Leonardo di Vinci, one of the greatest minds of all time, was, in fact, a dyslexic and most likely had ADH/D?
Many of you already know the passion I have for learning and what these days are called "Learning Disabilities or Dyslexia". I can thank my daughter Anna for a new calling. She is dyslexic and has Attention Deficit Disorder. What ever that means. To me, she is simply brilliant. Always was, and always will be. School and learning of the alphabet almost crushed her will to learn at the age of 6. Why? Because she thinks upside down and in pictures. Not the way the teachers were teaching her. A new way had to be found for her. And this experience we have had with Anna has opened my eyes to the downside of public education. Yes, it is a great thing to educate our young. But, are we doing it in the right way? Are we missing something big along the way in our rush towards progress? Are we all so alike that we can be herded into classrooms 8 hours a day and expect to all come out with the same results? And is there such a thing as a child with an average or superior IQ, that has such trouble learning they must be labeled as LD? I think not, it all seems so illogical. And, by the way, most LD labeled children are of above normal intelligence. What gives?
I do not believe that anyone has a disability that relates to learning. We all learn in our own way and each of us have our strengths and weakness. Some are visual spatial learners, meaning they think in images. Others are auditory-sequential learners, meaning they think in words. If all minds think and grow alike, how would we, as a society, find our future innovators or future writers? People are not the same. Yet, public education treats us that way. Are we norming ourselves into mediocrity by teaching to the lowest common denominator and patting ourselves on the back because all of our children find success in school? If they don't find success, say the child fails, we test and say they have an LD. Is that the answer to why the child cannot learn?
I think somewhere along the way we have lost the plot regarding the education of our children, our future generations. Yes, we have progress. Free public education for all is a great thing - a noble concept. But, it is a social experiment. One in which I think we have lost control of. In our desire to norm us all we educate our children in a production line fashion. We worry about self esteem and not learning of the facts. We have turned education into taking and passing a test - yet do not educate our children enough in order to pass those tests. A chore and a score. Somehow along the way, school becomes a bore. Are we, by turning our students into little robots who can regurgitate facts, losing the joy in the discovery of learning? Are future great minds being numbed by boredom because they are not being stimulated? Picture a young di Vinci in public school today. How would he fit in? And further more. When things do go wrong. As in when a child does not learn to read or basic math facts. Whose fault is that? The school's? The child's? The parent's?
One thing not mentioned in that brief bio above is, that it was Leonardo's father who recognized his talent and first sent his young son to study painting. That set the young di Vinci on the path to discover and express his genius. His father, not a school or teacher. Remember that. It is the point of this post.
Are we as parents, by turning control of our children to schools 8 hours a day and expecting miracles, and in the process letting someone else decide who our child is and who they can be, doing a great disservice the child and to our future as a society. Who is in control? Us or them?
What do you think?
Uffizi show highlights 'universal' nature of his genius
Florence, February 24 - The unique workings of Leonardo da Vinci's mind are analysed in a new show in Florence .
Rejecting fanciful reconstructions of Leonardo's theories and inventions, the exhibition aims to paint an "undistorted" picture of Leonardo's contribution to science, technology, art and culture, organisers say .
This will highlight the thought processes underlying the 'universal' nature of his genius, they say .
A series of faithful but still spectacular models will be presented of the most innovative machines and most ingenious experiments conceived by the Renaissance giant during his long life (1452-1519).
The exhibition, entitled The Mind of Leonardo, The Universal Genius at Work, will also present numerous paintings and drawings.
This got me thinking about Mr. di Vinci. In addition
to this exhibit in Florence, there is another one in his honor which will open at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan. It will feature his Codice Atlantico. This is the journal with all the famous sketches. The big deal with this brief exhibit - You will actually be able to see the original masterpiece! The book itself. Might be worth the trip.
All this news about di Vinci got me thinking about the previous discussion on the "The Big Question". How many of you know that it is widely accepted amongst those in the "learning disability" field that Leonardo di Vinci, one of the greatest minds of all time, was, in fact, a dyslexic and most likely had ADH/D?
Leonard Da Vinci
Born in 1452, Da Vinci was sent to Florence in his teens to apprentice as a painter under Andrea del Verrocchio. He quickly developed his own artistic style which was unique and contrary to tradition, even going so far as to devised his own special formula of paint. His style was characterized by diffuse shadows and subtle hues and marked the beginning of the High Renaissance period.
Da Vinci dedicated himself to understanding the mysteries of nature, and his insightful contributions to science and technology were legendary. As the archetypal Renaissance man, Leonardo helped set an ignorant and superstitious world on a course of reason, science, learning, and tolerance. He was an internationally renowned inventor, scientists, engineer, architect, painter, sculptor, musician, mathematician, anatomist, astronomer, geologists, biologist, and philosopher in his time.
Da Vinci was also believed to suffer from a number of learning disabilities including dyslexia and attention deficit disorder. Some believe that the initiation of many more projects than he ever completed suggest that he had attention deficit disorder. Strong evidence in Da Vinci?s manuscripts and letters corroborates the diagnosis of dyslexia. It appears that Leonardo wrote his notes backwards, from right to left, in a mirror image. This is a trait shared by many left-handed dyslexic people. In addition to the handwriting, the spelling errors in his manuscripts and journals demonstrated dyslexia-like language difficulties.
Da Vinci overcame his learning disabilities by funneling his creative talents into visual depictions of his thoughts. His creative, analytic, and visionary inventiveness has not yet been matched.
Many of you already know the passion I have for learning and what these days are called "Learning Disabilities or Dyslexia". I can thank my daughter Anna for a new calling. She is dyslexic and has Attention Deficit Disorder. What ever that means. To me, she is simply brilliant. Always was, and always will be. School and learning of the alphabet almost crushed her will to learn at the age of 6. Why? Because she thinks upside down and in pictures. Not the way the teachers were teaching her. A new way had to be found for her. And this experience we have had with Anna has opened my eyes to the downside of public education. Yes, it is a great thing to educate our young. But, are we doing it in the right way? Are we missing something big along the way in our rush towards progress? Are we all so alike that we can be herded into classrooms 8 hours a day and expect to all come out with the same results? And is there such a thing as a child with an average or superior IQ, that has such trouble learning they must be labeled as LD? I think not, it all seems so illogical. And, by the way, most LD labeled children are of above normal intelligence. What gives?
I do not believe that anyone has a disability that relates to learning. We all learn in our own way and each of us have our strengths and weakness. Some are visual spatial learners, meaning they think in images. Others are auditory-sequential learners, meaning they think in words. If all minds think and grow alike, how would we, as a society, find our future innovators or future writers? People are not the same. Yet, public education treats us that way. Are we norming ourselves into mediocrity by teaching to the lowest common denominator and patting ourselves on the back because all of our children find success in school? If they don't find success, say the child fails, we test and say they have an LD. Is that the answer to why the child cannot learn?
I think somewhere along the way we have lost the plot regarding the education of our children, our future generations. Yes, we have progress. Free public education for all is a great thing - a noble concept. But, it is a social experiment. One in which I think we have lost control of. In our desire to norm us all we educate our children in a production line fashion. We worry about self esteem and not learning of the facts. We have turned education into taking and passing a test - yet do not educate our children enough in order to pass those tests. A chore and a score. Somehow along the way, school becomes a bore. Are we, by turning our students into little robots who can regurgitate facts, losing the joy in the discovery of learning? Are future great minds being numbed by boredom because they are not being stimulated? Picture a young di Vinci in public school today. How would he fit in? And further more. When things do go wrong. As in when a child does not learn to read or basic math facts. Whose fault is that? The school's? The child's? The parent's?
One thing not mentioned in that brief bio above is, that it was Leonardo's father who recognized his talent and first sent his young son to study painting. That set the young di Vinci on the path to discover and express his genius. His father, not a school or teacher. Remember that. It is the point of this post.
Are we as parents, by turning control of our children to schools 8 hours a day and expecting miracles, and in the process letting someone else decide who our child is and who they can be, doing a great disservice the child and to our future as a society. Who is in control? Us or them?
What do you think?
Thursday, February 23, 2006
The Big Question
I am being a big cheeky and stealing this from Joanne's blog. Her post and her comments were so poignant and since I read her blog the other day, I have thought of nothing else. I have been trying to come up with a comment to post on her blog, but with so much to say, where does one begin?
Poor Joanne translated her Italian version. Here is the original. Joanne's is an Italianized version. Of course, Italians ate lunch together in the good ol days! Even back then, in the best of times, we Americans were lucky to eat dinner together.
Joanne's Dad, who is currently living Chile, replied:
To which Joanne replied:
What do I think?
I have to say, I concurred whole heartily with Joanne. The dyslexia point, of course, jumped right out at me. I shudder to think what Anna's life would have been like if I never got her the help she needed. Progress is a good thing. Modern life gives us many comforts that we need as human beings. The question is, where to find the balance. The balance between living in a modern society and connecting with the natural world for they both have their good points and their negative aspects. I mean, who would give up modern plumbing? Certainly not me.
Moving on. Here is what I have been thinking of since I read "The Big Question":
On the point of "over protecting" our children. I couldn't agree more. I believe we are doing a huge disservice to today's young people. We give them the toys of adulthood, ipod, cell phones, "safe sex" etc. We freely give these without teaching them the basic survival skills a child needs in life. Is there any better lesson to teach our children other than - How to fend for themselves. How do make good choices. To take care of themselves and to have responsibility for their well being and respect for others we share this world with.
I am not advocating throwing kids to the lions. The world is an ugly place. But, as children grow up and mature, to give them responsibilities they can manage so they can gain confidence in themselves and in what they can do and achieve. This can be done in a "safe" environment. As Joanne rightly pointed out, there are manageable risks. Like walking to school with your friends at 13.
What I have been thinking ever since I read this little discussion, is what a fearful society we live in. How we obsess over the dangers that lurk around every corner in our lives and how we react to our fears. We have become, in many ways a culture of fear. Of panic on manic proportions. Something dreadful happens and the "what ifs" and the "could that happen to me" go out of control - we react - by wanting to control. Whether we as a society legislate ourselves into relative safety or cocoon our families in the "safety" of the home. You can never completely control your life or bad things that happen. Yes, bad things occur and bad people exist. But, they have always - since the beginning of time. Nothing we can do to stop it or even manage it. Evil is evil and evil people exist. Is there anything as a society we can do that will ever change that? Evil never goes away. By "protecting" and scaring our children into a "safe" environment only serves to sooth a parent's fears. It doesn't teach our children how to manage risk or how to minimize it, or, most importantly, how to spot evil when they see it. By making a child fearful of the world only creates a timid child, one who is passive and won't speak up and fight for their own well being. A child armed with some "street smarts" might just stand tall and carry himself with confidence - even become a voice to ones without, possibly even make a difference in the world. Something we should all strive to do.
Just a thought. What do you think?
Krista
"THE BIG QUESTION"
IF YOU WERE A CHILD IN THE 50's, 60's or 70's...
HOW DID YOU SURVIVE?
We travelled in cars without airbags or even seatbelts...
Traveling in the back of a pick-up truck was a great thing, something we still remember today...
When we were babies, our cribs were painted bright colours... with lead-based paints!
There were no safety caps on medicines, no safety latches on cupboard doors...
We rode our bikes without a helmet...
We drank out of the garden hose, not out of bottles of mineral water!
We spent hours building go-carts, and the lucky kids who lived on a hill launched themselves down the hill at top speed - only to remember halfway down that they had no brakes. After running into a few trees, we figured out how to solve the problem... yes, we ran into trees, not cars! (Note: Canadians substitute toboggans!)
We played outside, and we had no cell phones, so our mothers didn't know where we were! That was fine as long as we were home before sunset.
Families ate lunch together (dad too).
We cut ourselves, we broke bones, we lost teeth... and no-one sued anybody over it. It wasn't anybody's fault but our own.
We had plenty of cookies, bread with butter on it, pop - and we were never overweight because we spent hours running around outside!
We all drank out of the same bottle, and nobody died.
We didn't have a Playstation! We didn't have Nintendo, an X-box, computer games or satellite TV with 99 channels and dolby surround sound. We didn't have mobile phones, computers or internet chatrooms... we had lots of FRIENDS.
We went out, got onto our bikes or walked to a friend's house, rang the doorbell or just went in without even knocking. Our friend was there and we went out to play. Yes, OUTSIDE! Out in the cruel world - without an adult to look after us! How did we do it? We played with sticks and tennis balls, we made up teams to play games, and not everybody got chosen but the ones who didn't get picked didn't have to go to a psychologist to recover from the trauma...
Some kids didn't do as well as others at school and when they fell behind, they had to repeat the year. Nobody went to a psychologist, a psycho-pedagogist, nobody had dyslexia or attention deficit or anything else... they just got smacked and had to repeat the year.
We had our freedoms, our failures, our responsibilities and our successes, and we learned to handle them.
So the big question is:
HOW DID WE MANAGE TO SURVIVE AND GROW UP?"
Poor Joanne translated her Italian version. Here is the original. Joanne's is an Italianized version. Of course, Italians ate lunch together in the good ol days! Even back then, in the best of times, we Americans were lucky to eat dinner together.
>That's the list, exactly as it was handed to us parents (except that it was in Italian.) Then we were divided into groups to discuss it, and each of us had to say which points on the list we disagreed with - i.e. which changes in the way kids are brought up today we think are good and necessary. It's obvious that some of the changes are regrettable, while others are positive. What do you think? How does this tally with your experience, as a child, as a parent, even as a grandparent? Please leave your comment.
Joanne's Dad, who is currently living Chile, replied:
You see, that is just the point! We are survivors!
Ask the same question to a parent whose baby was flung out of a car and died in a seemingly relatively minor accident years ago.
Ask the parents of the teenagers who, whilst riding in the back of a pick-up truck in the Fraser Valley some years ago, were killed in an accident when they were thrown out of the truck!
Here in Chile I am still amazed to see people riding in the back of camionetas on the highway. Sure it is great fun as a kid to experience these things, and we still can on back roads. I am amazed here that most cars are still sold without airbags - airbags are an expensive optional extra, so the person who is struggling to afford a car naturally will avoid an unnecessary frill. I am also amazed at how many deaths occur on the roads, and get reported at the bottom of an inside page of the newspaper.
Sure we can go too far - if we burn ourselves spilling coffee that is too hot, we cannot expect to blame MacDonalds for selling it to us in a dangerous state! Do I ride my bike without my helmut? Of course I do on occasions. My risk, and my fault if something happens.
I vote for lead out of paint, seat belts and airbags as mandatory. Keep pop machines out of school - do you know that in most countries, Canada included, coke is the most common purchase in supermarkets? Was it like that when you were young? - no. Amazing what marketing can convince us we need!
And whilst we are remembering the past, I can still remember the humiliation of being one of the last to be picked to play on a team when it came to that period in gym! Traumatized? You bet - I still feel an aversion to competitive sports.
Lets be conscious of protecting our young - mentally and physically, because they are precious and irreplaceable. Some of that protection needs to be legislated, because, unfortunately, we don't all know the risks, or we don't all care enough.
Perhaps next time you should invite me to your scout parents meeting!
To which Joanne replied:
Wow! What a comment.
Your reaction was much like mine. First of all, not all of us did survive: Kids I personally knew suffered injuries, and some died, in accidents that would probably not have happened today, with our increased awareness of safety and stricter safety legislation. I would say, safety is an absolute value and for this reason I too commented that seatbelts and bike helmets are essential improvements. As for riding in the back of pick-up trucks - that, like some of the other points for discussion, depends on context. It's fine on a logging road on Vancouver Island, but not on the autostrada in Italy!
The last point on the list is also a positive development. Children did have dyslexia, other learning difficulties and psychological problems in the 70's, and they didn't get recognised. It's a shame that bright, intelligent children were dismissed as "dumb" when they simply needed to be given an opportunity to learn in a different way from the mainstream.
On the other hand, it is true that kids are overprotected these days - at least in Italy. Whatever trouble they get into, it's somebody else's fault, as far as the parents are concerned. If a child gets hurt horsing around in the corridor at school - it's the school's fault, it's the teacher's fault for not providing adequate supervision, it's anybody's fault except the child's!
As a result of overprotection and parents' fears, children are not given enough responsibilities of their own, even as simple as getting themselves to school. A friend recently told me posters are being put up in pediatricians' offices as part of a campaign to encourage parents to allow their children to walk to school on their own. Yes, it's a dangerous world out there, but it always has been, and children have to learn to face it on their own sooner or later!
Another point the scout leaders were trying to make, and one of the most important concerns they try to address in their activities, is the way that kids (and people in general) these days are cut off from the natural world. I have been reading the Italian translation of "Culture Jammer" by Kalle Lasn (editor of Adbusters magazine in Vancouver) and he points out that for thousands of years human beings have lived in close contact with nature, in a world where the only sounds we heard were the sounds of the waves, the leaves blowing in the wind, birdcalls and human voices; we are perhaps the second or third generation to live in a world predominantly of our own construction, to a constant background of mechanical and electronic sounds generated by cars, machines, stereos. And we are the very first generation to spend half our waking hours in the virtual world of computers, televisions, mobile phones and i-pods. In effect, we are the guinea pigs in a world-wide experiment whose outcome is unknown. Lasn suggests that this unnatural detachment from the natural world is responsible for many of the malaise of the contemporary world. One of the scouts' most important aims is to take kids back (or forward?) into a simpler world of contact with each other, their families and nature. They are not allowed to take mobile phones, gameboys or any other electronic devices on their monthly hikes, and their packed lunches must not include coke or any sort of pre-packaged foods. At their annual camp they are told to take off their watches, to encourage them to focus on what they are doing in the present time.
What do I think?
I have to say, I concurred whole heartily with Joanne. The dyslexia point, of course, jumped right out at me. I shudder to think what Anna's life would have been like if I never got her the help she needed. Progress is a good thing. Modern life gives us many comforts that we need as human beings. The question is, where to find the balance. The balance between living in a modern society and connecting with the natural world for they both have their good points and their negative aspects. I mean, who would give up modern plumbing? Certainly not me.
Moving on. Here is what I have been thinking of since I read "The Big Question":
On the point of "over protecting" our children. I couldn't agree more. I believe we are doing a huge disservice to today's young people. We give them the toys of adulthood, ipod, cell phones, "safe sex" etc. We freely give these without teaching them the basic survival skills a child needs in life. Is there any better lesson to teach our children other than - How to fend for themselves. How do make good choices. To take care of themselves and to have responsibility for their well being and respect for others we share this world with.
I am not advocating throwing kids to the lions. The world is an ugly place. But, as children grow up and mature, to give them responsibilities they can manage so they can gain confidence in themselves and in what they can do and achieve. This can be done in a "safe" environment. As Joanne rightly pointed out, there are manageable risks. Like walking to school with your friends at 13.
What I have been thinking ever since I read this little discussion, is what a fearful society we live in. How we obsess over the dangers that lurk around every corner in our lives and how we react to our fears. We have become, in many ways a culture of fear. Of panic on manic proportions. Something dreadful happens and the "what ifs" and the "could that happen to me" go out of control - we react - by wanting to control. Whether we as a society legislate ourselves into relative safety or cocoon our families in the "safety" of the home. You can never completely control your life or bad things that happen. Yes, bad things occur and bad people exist. But, they have always - since the beginning of time. Nothing we can do to stop it or even manage it. Evil is evil and evil people exist. Is there anything as a society we can do that will ever change that? Evil never goes away. By "protecting" and scaring our children into a "safe" environment only serves to sooth a parent's fears. It doesn't teach our children how to manage risk or how to minimize it, or, most importantly, how to spot evil when they see it. By making a child fearful of the world only creates a timid child, one who is passive and won't speak up and fight for their own well being. A child armed with some "street smarts" might just stand tall and carry himself with confidence - even become a voice to ones without, possibly even make a difference in the world. Something we should all strive to do.
Just a thought. What do you think?
Krista
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Sam
Yes, this is how Sam spends his lunch hour. Not at his desk working hard, but at the a nice bar along the sea. Here he is relaxing and reading the local paper after just eating a nice salad. Ah.. La dolce vita!
All kidding aside, Sam and I had a full day. We started off by popping into Genoa to pick up my resized ring (remember from my birthday). Did a quick tour of the Centro Storico and retruned to Chiavari before noon. Seeing it was such a lovely day, meaning the sun came out, we had a quick bite to eat at the famous bar on the passagiata that doesn't let you use the tables before 12. Sam did work hard all afternoon, I gave an English lesson and then we were off for the daily run around with the kids!
A dopo!
Krista
All kidding aside, Sam and I had a full day. We started off by popping into Genoa to pick up my resized ring (remember from my birthday). Did a quick tour of the Centro Storico and retruned to Chiavari before noon. Seeing it was such a lovely day, meaning the sun came out, we had a quick bite to eat at the famous bar on the passagiata that doesn't let you use the tables before 12. Sam did work hard all afternoon, I gave an English lesson and then we were off for the daily run around with the kids!
A dopo!
Krista
The Return of the Anna Fish
What more can I say? I simply love this kid!
My fish is back in the water! See her swim!
Off for my sommelier class!
A presto!
My fish is back in the water! See her swim!
Off for my sommelier class!
A presto!
Monday, February 20, 2006
Meet the Parents...
That is meet Barbara's parents. I jokingly refer to them as my stalkers, for I always run into them while I am out and about in Chiavari. Sometimes I see them in the carrugio (our main/high street) or find them on my street. I often bump into them on my way home or just as I am leaving my apartment. But, the place I see them the most? The passagiata! Here are Peppe and Alba today walking arm and arm on the passagiata and walking straight into me! Aren't they a lovely couple?!
A dopo!
Krista
A dopo!
Krista
Tempest in a Teapot
Think of the Mediterranean and the first thing that usuallly comes to mind is - warm breezes and moderate seas. Normally, that is how it is here in Chiavari. That is until a real storm with a strong low pressure blows in. Then the sea which is normally as calm as tea in a teacup becomes a tempest in a teapot - exactly what happened this weekend! If you were able to catch some of the Olympics yesterday you could see the snow was falling in Torino! The women's super G was cancelled and the 2 man bobsled was raced during a real white out! Here on the Riviera? There was thunder and lightning and the wind was howling! It was raining cats and dogs on and off all day. The water level in the river that runs adjacent to our apartment was rising to an alarming level and we started to really worry that our garage might flood! We went to bed last night and woke to the same fine weather this morning. As the morning worn on the skies did begin to clear. Sam and I had some errands to run and dashed out before the rain could start again. On the way back home we walked along the passagiata and took some photos of the beautiful waves!
Arriverderci!
Arriverderci!
Sunday, February 19, 2006
The Week in Review.
It is Sunday afternoon. Women's Curling is currently on the TV, rather boring and I don't understand how this "event" is an Olympic "sport", and Sam is skyping with his brother in Latvia and cracking himself up. Over what, I'd really rather not know. Me? I am going to reflect on the week - minus the birthday parties. I will tell you a bit about what else has been going on here in little Chiavari.
See the nice men in the orange suits? No they are not the local prisoners on road clean up. They are the road crew who arrived this week to repave our street. As I was returning home Monday from my party at Barbara's, I caught these guys actually lifting a car, which was not supposed to be parked on the street, onto the sidewalk. I quickly took out my camera and took a few shots of the "men at work". I missed the men lifting the car, they were mighty fast, but I caught the rest of the "act". See here.
Friday evening, Sam and I were off to Genoa to go to an evening cocktail sponsored by the British Chamber of Commerce of Italy. The BCCI has recently renewed their chapter in Genoa and this was the kick off party. As these things go, it was what you would expect, no surprises, except, I bumped into one of teachers from my sommelier course. He taught us in our first level class all about beer and distilled liquor. Turns out, he, Angelo Matteucci, is married to an Englishwoman and his business is importing of English foods, as in beer, spirits, and cheeses from the UK to Italy. Small world, no? We had a lovely conversation - in English, for his was flawless - and he was most inspiring. He suggested that since I am striving to be a sommelier, to actually put my newly acquired knowledge of food and wine to practice. First suggestion, to start/host a pot luck dinner club.... Each participant/couple brings a dinner course with a bottle of wine to accompany it. We share the food and we share the wine! Great idea! Told Joanne about it, and we are going to do it. Who else wants to join us? Second, our new friend is, in addition to being a sommelier, the Vice President of the "Single Malt Club of Scotland" in Italy, and he invited Sam to join! And I think he will. Lastly, he mentioned to me, since I love food and wine, to think about joining the Slow Food club chapter in Genoa! Hmmm... Maybe I will. Most inspiring of all, this extraordinary man convinced me to get up in front of my next sommelier class and lead in one of the tastings! Last week my class started again, and since we are now at a more advanced second level, in other words, we should be able to lead a tasting by this point, were invited to do just that. Of course, we were all too shy! But, next time if I get up there and make a go of it with my mediocre Italian.... It might start a revolution!
To cap off the weekend. Sam and I had a lovely dinner Saturday night with our good friend Cristina and her husband, Jacopo. We were joined my Natalie and Marco, and Cristina's colleque from work Andrea and his wife, Anna. We had a lovely meal of mixed salumi and cheese to start, followed by a fiorentino di Carru'. Fiorentina, is the Italian version the T bone steak and Carru is the Piemontese version of Black Angus! Think a very thick chop and very fine cut of beef. All this accompanied by a Pinot Nero Cru from Frans Haas, in Alto Aldige. The wine was round and soft and paired perfectly with the meal. Only thing. The name. I looked at the bottle and looked and Sam and said in my best german accent, "I want to pump you up!" Who remembers the Hanz and Franz skits from Saturday Night live?
Now, it is Sunday night apperitivo time in the Riviera and Sam has just brought me my little drink.... Gotta go!
Cheers!
Krista
See the nice men in the orange suits? No they are not the local prisoners on road clean up. They are the road crew who arrived this week to repave our street. As I was returning home Monday from my party at Barbara's, I caught these guys actually lifting a car, which was not supposed to be parked on the street, onto the sidewalk. I quickly took out my camera and took a few shots of the "men at work". I missed the men lifting the car, they were mighty fast, but I caught the rest of the "act". See here.
Friday evening, Sam and I were off to Genoa to go to an evening cocktail sponsored by the British Chamber of Commerce of Italy. The BCCI has recently renewed their chapter in Genoa and this was the kick off party. As these things go, it was what you would expect, no surprises, except, I bumped into one of teachers from my sommelier course. He taught us in our first level class all about beer and distilled liquor. Turns out, he, Angelo Matteucci, is married to an Englishwoman and his business is importing of English foods, as in beer, spirits, and cheeses from the UK to Italy. Small world, no? We had a lovely conversation - in English, for his was flawless - and he was most inspiring. He suggested that since I am striving to be a sommelier, to actually put my newly acquired knowledge of food and wine to practice. First suggestion, to start/host a pot luck dinner club.... Each participant/couple brings a dinner course with a bottle of wine to accompany it. We share the food and we share the wine! Great idea! Told Joanne about it, and we are going to do it. Who else wants to join us? Second, our new friend is, in addition to being a sommelier, the Vice President of the "Single Malt Club of Scotland" in Italy, and he invited Sam to join! And I think he will. Lastly, he mentioned to me, since I love food and wine, to think about joining the Slow Food club chapter in Genoa! Hmmm... Maybe I will. Most inspiring of all, this extraordinary man convinced me to get up in front of my next sommelier class and lead in one of the tastings! Last week my class started again, and since we are now at a more advanced second level, in other words, we should be able to lead a tasting by this point, were invited to do just that. Of course, we were all too shy! But, next time if I get up there and make a go of it with my mediocre Italian.... It might start a revolution!
To cap off the weekend. Sam and I had a lovely dinner Saturday night with our good friend Cristina and her husband, Jacopo. We were joined my Natalie and Marco, and Cristina's colleque from work Andrea and his wife, Anna. We had a lovely meal of mixed salumi and cheese to start, followed by a fiorentino di Carru'. Fiorentina, is the Italian version the T bone steak and Carru is the Piemontese version of Black Angus! Think a very thick chop and very fine cut of beef. All this accompanied by a Pinot Nero Cru from Frans Haas, in Alto Aldige. The wine was round and soft and paired perfectly with the meal. Only thing. The name. I looked at the bottle and looked and Sam and said in my best german accent, "I want to pump you up!" Who remembers the Hanz and Franz skits from Saturday Night live?
Now, it is Sunday night apperitivo time in the Riviera and Sam has just brought me my little drink.... Gotta go!
Cheers!
Krista
Friday, February 17, 2006
Bird Flu Mania!
Ok. Yesterday was a slow day here in Chiavari. The rain was pouring down, it was dreary, and I was glued to the TV watching the Olympics. Lets call it the post birthday blues. Watching those young fit athletes compete at the top of their game made me feel a bit fat and lazy. I did remind myself that I have commited myself to the gym twice a week, though, sitting on the couch yesterday won't get me anywhere.
Anyway, back to the point of this post.
Dead swans with the deadly Avian virus have been found in Italy!
Who wants to eat chicken now? According to the press, no one. Poultry sales are way down all over Europe. Even at my local butcher, who always has the finest chicken, there is none to be found.
A presto!
Krista
Anyway, back to the point of this post.
Dead swans with the deadly Avian virus have been found in Italy!
In Italy, the five infected wild swans were detected on the eastern coast of Sicily, in Taranto and in Calabria. The confirmatory tests were carried out by the Italian national laboratory for avian influenza in Padua, an accredited EU laboratory and also the reference laboratory of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Animal Health Organization, following preliminary positive tests undertaken by laboratories in Palermo, Portici and Foggia.
Who wants to eat chicken now? According to the press, no one. Poultry sales are way down all over Europe. Even at my local butcher, who always has the finest chicken, there is none to be found.
A presto!
Krista
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
A Birthday To Remember
What can I say? I have had a truly fantastic birthday! The party started on Sunday and ended last night. Though Sam was nursing the flu, he showed his British fortitude and kept a stiff upper lip. He never for a moment let the flu get him down.
The festivities wound down last night when Sam, Sarah and Anna helped me open my gifts from them. Sam popped the Champagne, a gift from Silvia Lewis, and I dug into the lovely cake made of sand sitting on the table in front of me. Why sand you ask? Well, Sam really wanted to take us to a tropical beach for my birthday. If he couldn't bring us to the beach, he certainly could bring the beach to me. And he did. Then he buried all of my presents in the sand! Remember the sand part, it is important.
First, Sarah read to me a poem she wrote in honor of my 40th birthday. It was so beautiful and profound that it brought a tear to my eye. I am so proud of her, let me share it with all of you:
Ok. Fair enough to say, that I cried. Who is this kid? I cannot believe she is mine. What gift could a mother want other than her child's love and for that child to show it is such a meaningful way? Simply overwhelming.
So, onto the rest of the pressies. I got from Anna, my little techie, a new ipod! 60 gb and with a color screen. Very nice. Considering my old ipod just died, this was a very welcome gift. I already have uploaded my complete music library to the thing and I am ready to rock and roll!
Sam, he was my other star, he decorated me with jewelry. In that sand I found diamonds!!! Yes, I got a new diamond ring with earrings to match. Click here and go to my homepage to see more.
Last but not least, remember the sand.... Sam gave all of us a wonderful surprise. He is taking us to the Bahamas for Easter! Yippee! Our friends Pippa and Peter have invited us to spend Easter with them on their private island and to continue the birthday celebrations, see, Pippa and I both turned 40 this year! Sarah and Anna were bouncing with joy, Easter in the Bahamas on a private island.... Seems like a dream! Pinch me I think I need to wake up!
Needless to say, I am completely overwhelmed by my wonderful family and Sam's infinite generosity!
Thank you too, all of you that have stopped on by and said hello and wished me a happy birthday. You all really helped to made it a special day for me and a birthday that I will always cherish.
Grazie Mille!
Krista
The festivities wound down last night when Sam, Sarah and Anna helped me open my gifts from them. Sam popped the Champagne, a gift from Silvia Lewis, and I dug into the lovely cake made of sand sitting on the table in front of me. Why sand you ask? Well, Sam really wanted to take us to a tropical beach for my birthday. If he couldn't bring us to the beach, he certainly could bring the beach to me. And he did. Then he buried all of my presents in the sand! Remember the sand part, it is important.
First, Sarah read to me a poem she wrote in honor of my 40th birthday. It was so beautiful and profound that it brought a tear to my eye. I am so proud of her, let me share it with all of you:
Color my world,
mom,
with the colors of your love,
Keep next to you all of us
in fear-
or in peace
because if you weren't here
where would we go
or what would we do?
Color our world
mother and wife,
with the colors of your hope
Keep us from stumbling
when we're tired
and wounded
because if you weren't careful
nobody would be
and we would fall to pieces
Color the world
woman
with the colors of liberty
Keep all of us from being prisoners
of others
of our own beliefs
because we love you!
Sarah Crockford Age 11
Then she went on to write this on the next page.
"How many years have gone by, yet it seems yesterday that we moved to Italy and you were celebrating your 35th birthday. So it has been 6 years, and in these 6 years so many things have changed, what could've seemed difficulties are now everyday things. But what ever age you'll have, for me you are still a 'raggazina' "
Ok. Fair enough to say, that I cried. Who is this kid? I cannot believe she is mine. What gift could a mother want other than her child's love and for that child to show it is such a meaningful way? Simply overwhelming.
So, onto the rest of the pressies. I got from Anna, my little techie, a new ipod! 60 gb and with a color screen. Very nice. Considering my old ipod just died, this was a very welcome gift. I already have uploaded my complete music library to the thing and I am ready to rock and roll!
Sam, he was my other star, he decorated me with jewelry. In that sand I found diamonds!!! Yes, I got a new diamond ring with earrings to match. Click here and go to my homepage to see more.
Last but not least, remember the sand.... Sam gave all of us a wonderful surprise. He is taking us to the Bahamas for Easter! Yippee! Our friends Pippa and Peter have invited us to spend Easter with them on their private island and to continue the birthday celebrations, see, Pippa and I both turned 40 this year! Sarah and Anna were bouncing with joy, Easter in the Bahamas on a private island.... Seems like a dream! Pinch me I think I need to wake up!
Needless to say, I am completely overwhelmed by my wonderful family and Sam's infinite generosity!
Thank you too, all of you that have stopped on by and said hello and wished me a happy birthday. You all really helped to made it a special day for me and a birthday that I will always cherish.
Grazie Mille!
Krista
Monday, February 13, 2006
The Girls Birthday Lunch!
I am now officially a member of the over 40 club! My girlfriends helped me mark the occasion today by hosting a lunch in my honor! Barbara, the ever gracious hostess held yet another festa at her lovely home. In attendance were Silvia D, Silvia I, and Barbara, who were representing the over 40 category. Nicole (not in the photo) and Joanne (who will turn 40 this year too), represented the under 40 crowd. Thanks Ra Ra, for a lovely lunch and by the way, she painted that American flag on her door! Very Andy Warhol and very appropriate, no? Click here to see more! Lunch was wonderful!
Turning 40 seems no big deal, it is just a day like any other day. I started off the morning by going to the gym to take a Pilates/Stretching class, now I feel very tall. I had a cappuccino with a friend, lunch with the ladies, and then off with Sam to pick up the girls at school.....
To be continued.... The party is still going on! I will fill you in on all my lovely presents to be given to me from my adoring family tomorrow!
Krista
Turning 40 seems no big deal, it is just a day like any other day. I started off the morning by going to the gym to take a Pilates/Stretching class, now I feel very tall. I had a cappuccino with a friend, lunch with the ladies, and then off with Sam to pick up the girls at school.....
To be continued.... The party is still going on! I will fill you in on all my lovely presents to be given to me from my adoring family tomorrow!
Krista
Sunday, February 12, 2006
My B'Day Present to Dad!
Here is the pie that I baked today. Little did I know that I was bringing it to my surprise party!
I took this photo for my dad. He and I have this little competition about who makes the best Apple pie. He seems to think that he does. I seem to think I do. I will let you, my readers decide. How did this all start? I have no idea. But, my dad always says that my grandmother, Rose, could bang out 5 pies in one go and never break a sweat. Each one was wonderful and she only used lard for her crust! Me, I use butter. I know my dad uses a mix of Cricso and butter, which is a no no in heart patient land. But, hey, you only live once. My pie? It was all gone in a flash. I have to guess it was as good as it looked in the photo! I can only hope my grandmother would have approved! I know that my dad would have loved a slice.
A dopo!
Krista
I took this photo for my dad. He and I have this little competition about who makes the best Apple pie. He seems to think that he does. I seem to think I do. I will let you, my readers decide. How did this all start? I have no idea. But, my dad always says that my grandmother, Rose, could bang out 5 pies in one go and never break a sweat. Each one was wonderful and she only used lard for her crust! Me, I use butter. I know my dad uses a mix of Cricso and butter, which is a no no in heart patient land. But, hey, you only live once. My pie? It was all gone in a flash. I have to guess it was as good as it looked in the photo! I can only hope my grandmother would have approved! I know that my dad would have loved a slice.
A dopo!
Krista
Surprise!
Sam surprised me today with an "early" surprise birthday party. He kept the secret and it was a party to remember. All my friends were there and I really had no clue to what was going on. I even baked an apple pie to bring!!! And it was mighty tasty.
As I drove up to the Silvia and Ian's, the surprise was over, I saw the magnum of Ferrari on the table set outside and the cars in the driveway, but not a person in sight! They were all hiding!!! No worries, surprise or not, the party was a complete success.
Tomorrow is really the big day. So I will blog a bit more then. For now, click over to my homepage to see more.
I ate too much, drank too much, and overall, I had a great time. I am off to watch the men's ski jumping on the TV. I will write more tomorrow when I am a bit more sober!
Ciao!
Krista
As I drove up to the Silvia and Ian's, the surprise was over, I saw the magnum of Ferrari on the table set outside and the cars in the driveway, but not a person in sight! They were all hiding!!! No worries, surprise or not, the party was a complete success.
Tomorrow is really the big day. So I will blog a bit more then. For now, click over to my homepage to see more.
I ate too much, drank too much, and overall, I had a great time. I am off to watch the men's ski jumping on the TV. I will write more tomorrow when I am a bit more sober!
Ciao!
Krista
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Meet the Peasants!
Yes, this is the image you all have of Italy, isn't it? Fashion, speed, and beauty! Not.
Welcome to the real Italy!
This lovely couple have been selling their homemade honey in our local market for only a couple of weeks. I took notice, but, hey, honey is honey right? This morning Anna and I were on our way home and took a pass through the outdoor market. Which, by the way, is a Monday through Friday thing held in a beautiful piazza and I shop there almost everyday. I thought, right I forgot to buy honey on my last trip to the "ipercoop", lets get some. How could your resist these two? I walked up and before I could even ask for the honey, I got a the lowdown on their operations in Valle dell'Aveto, (which is high above Chiavari) how they only sell to their personal clients (which they have had for years), and that this was a bumper year for honey in the valley and they had so much they came to Chiavari to unload it. Apparently they have been a hit. They sold 45 kilos to just one customer. Ok. I really didn't need the sales pitch, remember, I needed honey anyway, but, the sell worked, I walked away with two huge jars of honey!
Sam has been a bit off the last few days with a sore throat and cough. To sooth his throat, this afternoon I made him some camomile tea and served it with the new honey. Let me tell you. Honey is not just honey. This was the best honey either of us have ever tasted! We couldn't keep our spoons out of the jar!
At the moment we are watching the Olympics, pairs figure skating... and it is nice to see it live. We watched the Swedish ladies cream the Russia ladies on the ice. Who knew women played ice hockey? I hope that you were able to catch some of the opening ceremonies, they were great. Very stylish and a bit campy. Just what you expect from Italians. And..... Amazing to see that for the last leg of the torch relay, a women, Stefania Belmono an Italian cross country gold medalist, carried the flame and lit the fire, la Bomba, Alberto Tomba only got to carry the torch into the stadium! La Forza delle Donne! By the way, I also hope you got to see Sophia Loren, she looks marvelous! What an inspiration to us aging ladies...
Countdown to the big 40, 2 days!
Divertiti!
Krista
Welcome to the real Italy!
This lovely couple have been selling their homemade honey in our local market for only a couple of weeks. I took notice, but, hey, honey is honey right? This morning Anna and I were on our way home and took a pass through the outdoor market. Which, by the way, is a Monday through Friday thing held in a beautiful piazza and I shop there almost everyday. I thought, right I forgot to buy honey on my last trip to the "ipercoop", lets get some. How could your resist these two? I walked up and before I could even ask for the honey, I got a the lowdown on their operations in Valle dell'Aveto, (which is high above Chiavari) how they only sell to their personal clients (which they have had for years), and that this was a bumper year for honey in the valley and they had so much they came to Chiavari to unload it. Apparently they have been a hit. They sold 45 kilos to just one customer. Ok. I really didn't need the sales pitch, remember, I needed honey anyway, but, the sell worked, I walked away with two huge jars of honey!
Sam has been a bit off the last few days with a sore throat and cough. To sooth his throat, this afternoon I made him some camomile tea and served it with the new honey. Let me tell you. Honey is not just honey. This was the best honey either of us have ever tasted! We couldn't keep our spoons out of the jar!
At the moment we are watching the Olympics, pairs figure skating... and it is nice to see it live. We watched the Swedish ladies cream the Russia ladies on the ice. Who knew women played ice hockey? I hope that you were able to catch some of the opening ceremonies, they were great. Very stylish and a bit campy. Just what you expect from Italians. And..... Amazing to see that for the last leg of the torch relay, a women, Stefania Belmono an Italian cross country gold medalist, carried the flame and lit the fire, la Bomba, Alberto Tomba only got to carry the torch into the stadium! La Forza delle Donne! By the way, I also hope you got to see Sophia Loren, she looks marvelous! What an inspiration to us aging ladies...
Countdown to the big 40, 2 days!
Divertiti!
Krista
Friday, February 10, 2006
Today is the Day!
The flame started it's journey in Greece, took a pass through Chiavari (imagine that), and now is ready to light the Olympic fire tonight. It has been a hell of a journey, but it has made there. The torch has been stolen and yesterday had to make a detour in order to bypass protesters. Given that the eyes of the world have descended on Torino, everyone with an agenda is screaming to be heard. Click here to get the whole story.
Apart from the anti-globalization and the anti high speed train protesters, the lower than expected ticket sales, and the near fortress like atmosphere found in Torino.... Here in Chiavari it is calm and quiet and a near 60 degrees F. Like it was yesterday in Torino! Yikes. I hope they have been making plenty of snow! We plan on watching the opening ceremonies live starting at 8 p.m. from the comfort of our home. You ask what is the most asked question and the biggest mystery surrounding the games for Italians? Who will carry the torch the last leg and light the flame that marks the beginning of the games.... Odds on favorite, "La Bomba", Alberto Tomba! Who is he you ask? Then you don't know winter sports! Google it!
Ciao!
Krista
Apart from the anti-globalization and the anti high speed train protesters, the lower than expected ticket sales, and the near fortress like atmosphere found in Torino.... Here in Chiavari it is calm and quiet and a near 60 degrees F. Like it was yesterday in Torino! Yikes. I hope they have been making plenty of snow! We plan on watching the opening ceremonies live starting at 8 p.m. from the comfort of our home. You ask what is the most asked question and the biggest mystery surrounding the games for Italians? Who will carry the torch the last leg and light the flame that marks the beginning of the games.... Odds on favorite, "La Bomba", Alberto Tomba! Who is he you ask? Then you don't know winter sports! Google it!
Ciao!
Krista
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
1,000 Hits....
and it still keeps on ticking....
I am overjoyed! I did it!
Thank you all for stopping by and saying hello. I have to say this, I have been an addict to this site all day! I have been clicking over and checking in to see how much further to go and counting down with Sam how many hits till 1,000. He thinks I am nuts. Maybe I am. Now that this is over. What's next?
I must give a huge thank you to my cousin Patsy for all her support and comments. Also to every one else who clicked over, mille grazie!
And the 1,000 hit was....
Drum roll please.....
I don't know... but, 1,001 was, Susan! Love ya babe!
Arriverderci!
Krista
I am overjoyed! I did it!
Thank you all for stopping by and saying hello. I have to say this, I have been an addict to this site all day! I have been clicking over and checking in to see how much further to go and counting down with Sam how many hits till 1,000. He thinks I am nuts. Maybe I am. Now that this is over. What's next?
I must give a huge thank you to my cousin Patsy for all her support and comments. Also to every one else who clicked over, mille grazie!
And the 1,000 hit was....
Drum roll please.....
I don't know... but, 1,001 was, Susan! Love ya babe!
Arriverderci!
Krista
Shopping Hell
Another rainy day in Liguria. What is one do? Go shopping!
The "ipercoop" is the Italian version of "Costco". In fact, it might have been the inspiration. The "iper", or as my dad likes to call it, "hippy coop", is located in our own little shopping center in Carasco, the only one found in these parts. Before this, there wasn't mall in sight, I went to Genoa to do the "big shop". When the "iper coop" opened almost 4 years ago, the lines to get in the parking lot snaked for a kilometer. The crowds have died down since then, but on a rainy day you can count on heavy traffic.
The "ipercoop" is the closest version of American style supermarket shopping you can find near my home and I love shopping there! Sometimes you just crave convenience. Bicycles to butter...
Sam was a sport and came along to help me push the cart and carry the bags. I secretly think that he tags along to check out the discount DVD bin (and to watch what I spend), but if that means I have company to do this drudgery. Fine. Let him have his fun.
I am 8 hits away from the 1,000 mark!
Ciao!
Krista
The "ipercoop" is the Italian version of "Costco". In fact, it might have been the inspiration. The "iper", or as my dad likes to call it, "hippy coop", is located in our own little shopping center in Carasco, the only one found in these parts. Before this, there wasn't mall in sight, I went to Genoa to do the "big shop". When the "iper coop" opened almost 4 years ago, the lines to get in the parking lot snaked for a kilometer. The crowds have died down since then, but on a rainy day you can count on heavy traffic.
The "ipercoop" is the closest version of American style supermarket shopping you can find near my home and I love shopping there! Sometimes you just crave convenience. Bicycles to butter...
Sam was a sport and came along to help me push the cart and carry the bags. I secretly think that he tags along to check out the discount DVD bin (and to watch what I spend), but if that means I have company to do this drudgery. Fine. Let him have his fun.
I am 8 hits away from the 1,000 mark!
Ciao!
Krista
Wow!
You guys are great. 15 more hits to go and I am at the 1,000 mark! Sam and I put the bubbly in the fridge and are ready to pop that baby open when the counter turns to 1,000!
I am overwhelmed with your support and love all of your comments.... Lets say, all of this attention makes a blogger's heart go pitter patter....
Off to the Coop to shop! Poor suffering Sam, I am dragging him along too.
Check in with you all later!
A dopo!
Krista
I am overwhelmed with your support and love all of your comments.... Lets say, all of this attention makes a blogger's heart go pitter patter....
Off to the Coop to shop! Poor suffering Sam, I am dragging him along too.
Check in with you all later!
A dopo!
Krista
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Hi ya'll
Take note all of my faithful readers! I have received my second comment from a perfect stranger which coincides with the escalation of hits I have been getting on my blog. Why is it only Italian men leave me comments? hmmmm. That could be a whole other post. Back to today's topic, which is... Getting to know each other.
Yes, I do have faithful readers. How do I know? Has anyone noticed the site meter on the sidebar of this blog? The service lets me SEE who has been visiting my blog and how often. I have to tell you, I am really happy you all stop by and more than flattered that some of you check in daily. It makes me think you guys really like me. At least I hope that you do.
Now that the cat is out of the bag and we all know that we are here. Even perfect strangers are starting to leave me comments. Don't send me emails with comments, post it! Why don't all of you lurkers come out of the dark and throw me a bone. Come on. Post a comment on my blog. I have the comment forum set up so you can remain anonymous or let us know who you are. Say hi and let me know that I am not blogging in vain. I promise to say hi back!
Please don't get panicky about the site meter, it is not like "Big Brother" is watching you. I cannot stalk you or anything like that. I don't know who you really are. Only information I receive about my readers is - where in the world you are, where you clicked over from, and how long you stay on the site.
My site meter is rapidly approaching the 1,000 hit mark! I average about 20 to 30 hits a day. At that pace I should hit the mark in less than 2 days. Keep on clicking over and see if we can get there any faster!
Grazie!
Krista
Yes, I do have faithful readers. How do I know? Has anyone noticed the site meter on the sidebar of this blog? The service lets me SEE who has been visiting my blog and how often. I have to tell you, I am really happy you all stop by and more than flattered that some of you check in daily. It makes me think you guys really like me. At least I hope that you do.
Now that the cat is out of the bag and we all know that we are here. Even perfect strangers are starting to leave me comments. Don't send me emails with comments, post it! Why don't all of you lurkers come out of the dark and throw me a bone. Come on. Post a comment on my blog. I have the comment forum set up so you can remain anonymous or let us know who you are. Say hi and let me know that I am not blogging in vain. I promise to say hi back!
Please don't get panicky about the site meter, it is not like "Big Brother" is watching you. I cannot stalk you or anything like that. I don't know who you really are. Only information I receive about my readers is - where in the world you are, where you clicked over from, and how long you stay on the site.
My site meter is rapidly approaching the 1,000 hit mark! I average about 20 to 30 hits a day. At that pace I should hit the mark in less than 2 days. Keep on clicking over and see if we can get there any faster!
Grazie!
Krista
Monday, February 06, 2006
A glass of wine a day....
Seems to keep the years away. At least according to a new Italian study!
What perfect timing! My birthday is just one week away and my sommelier course starts on the 14th! So drink to your health and as you raise that glass of vino rosso, just think of the years your are adding to your life!
Countdown to the big 40.... 7 days!
Salute!
Krista
Red wine a fountain of youth
Red wine can make you live longer and feel better while you're at it, a new Italian study indicates .
A chemical in the wine slows aging and wards off two things the elderly often gripe about, feeling weaker and slower on the uptake, the scientists said .
What perfect timing! My birthday is just one week away and my sommelier course starts on the 14th! So drink to your health and as you raise that glass of vino rosso, just think of the years your are adding to your life!
Countdown to the big 40.... 7 days!
Salute!
Krista
Sam's Birthday Surprise
All last week I had been planning, organizing, and scheming with friends to give Sam a memorable birthday. What did we do? We had a surprise party for him at a local osteria. Everyone played it cool, and the party went according to plan. Even Sarah and Anna, who were bursting to tell Daddy, kept the secret. Though I think Anna almost slipped. The most difficult thing to do? Get Sam there without him suspecting anything was going on!!! I had to play it cool. Not my best trait. I even baked Sam a very plain birthday cake and the girls and I sang Happy Birthday and Sam opened his presents that afternoon. Sam seemed a bit disappointed, but, the plan worked. I told him we were going for a romantic dinner, just him and I. He was off our trail!
For all of you that know me well, I am a constant planner and always a bundle of nerves when planning a party. When I couldn't get Sam out of the house on time, I counted to 10 and reassured myself that someone would be late to the restaurant. Not a chance. Everyone listened to me and was seated at the table by 8 p.m.!!! Sam and I walked in at 8:30. He was so funny. All men check out women in a room, right? Sam only saw the chicks! It took a minute, but it sank in. He was at his birthday party!
A week of planning and it was all over in a few hours! We had a great time and thank you to everyone who joined us, you presence and presents made it a special night for Sam. Joanne was the resident photo journalist. Take a look here to see her work and our fun! Once again, our group of friends, who hail from many nations, helped us make Saturday special for Sam. We had representatives from: Peru, Canada, Germany, Belgium, United States, Italy, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and of course, Finland, that being Sam! A special thanks to Nicole and Bruno. They gave Sam that huge jar of Nutella! See his face! Sam is one happy boy and Sarah and Anna are even happier little girls!
Auguri Sam!
Krista
For all of you that know me well, I am a constant planner and always a bundle of nerves when planning a party. When I couldn't get Sam out of the house on time, I counted to 10 and reassured myself that someone would be late to the restaurant. Not a chance. Everyone listened to me and was seated at the table by 8 p.m.!!! Sam and I walked in at 8:30. He was so funny. All men check out women in a room, right? Sam only saw the chicks! It took a minute, but it sank in. He was at his birthday party!
A week of planning and it was all over in a few hours! We had a great time and thank you to everyone who joined us, you presence and presents made it a special night for Sam. Joanne was the resident photo journalist. Take a look here to see her work and our fun! Once again, our group of friends, who hail from many nations, helped us make Saturday special for Sam. We had representatives from: Peru, Canada, Germany, Belgium, United States, Italy, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and of course, Finland, that being Sam! A special thanks to Nicole and Bruno. They gave Sam that huge jar of Nutella! See his face! Sam is one happy boy and Sarah and Anna are even happier little girls!
Auguri Sam!
Krista
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Happy Birthday Sam!
Sam
A lad in a uniform
Who dared to live
Ran a race
Who set the pace
A world to take
A life to make
He took a bride
Stood with pride
Along came two
And began our zoo
A life on the run
Always full of fun
Your love keeps me alive
My pace is your stride
My shining blind date
My love and fate
Happy Birthday Sam!
39 years old today!
A lad in a uniform
Who dared to live
Ran a race
Who set the pace
A world to take
A life to make
He took a bride
Stood with pride
Along came two
And began our zoo
A life on the run
Always full of fun
Your love keeps me alive
My pace is your stride
My shining blind date
My love and fate
Happy Birthday Sam!
39 years old today!
Friday, February 03, 2006
Life's Little Surprises
I can say that I never woke up one day and said, hey, I want to move to Italy. I was in every way dragged to this blessed land, mind you kicking and screaming with two small kids in hand, by my better half, Sam. I remember vividly our arrival in Genoa and the drive from the airport to Santa Margharita. It was the middle of August and the height of tourist season. I was completely overwhelmed by the city's density and the shock of seeing the laundry hanging off the terraces. No subdivisions or order, and not a single family house in sight. Chaos reigned. The traffic was intense and the noise of the scooters overwhelming. Sam tried to lighten the mood and show us a better side of Genoa. He took us for a drive past the harbor and the seaside. Genoa is a port city with lots of ships coming and going. Watching the activity of a harbor is one of my favorite pastimes, Sam had a good idea. He turned onto the Sopralevata (ring road) that goes over old Genoa and past the port. The sight of the water would brighten my spirit. Guess what the first thing we saw on the road? A horrible accident. A helmet was on the road and a scooter was down. I turned my head for I couldn't bear to see the blood or a dead body. Welcome to Italy.
Things were certainly difficult in the beginning, I won't deny that. We all have our likes, dislikes and our passions. One of my true passions is food, wine, and cooking. That was my salvation. Underneath all the roughness of Genoa, and there are many, you can find many extraordinary and surprising things. Yes, my taste buds in the end redeemed Genoa from its ugly start.
Here I am today shopping in one of the true gems of Genoa and one of my first gastronomic finds, Antica Drogheria di M. Torielli. Don't be fooled by the name, Antica means old, and Drogheria, in this context, grocery shop. In reality, this a spice shop. It has been here for centuries and for the last one, it has been owned and run by one family. First the father, then his son, and now the granddaughters, one of which is pictured here. In this tiny corner store in the most unlikely of places, you can find anything and everything from any part of the world. From tea to curry, from allspice to homemade chocolate and even every type of bean, rice and nut. The store is just as it has been for centuries and the aroma from the mix of spices hits you before you step into the door. It is strictly standing room only and always full of stock and customers. As you can see the shelves are lined with jars and the floor is littered with sacks of nuts. They have no register and shun digital scales. Your purchases are wrapped as they always have been, in paper tied with a string. The only nod to modernity, the scotch tape to seal your package closed. Walking into the Antica Drogheria is truly a step back in time.
Genoa has always been a port city and as such a city of immigrants. At one time in it's history Genoa was a center of trade for the spice business. One of the great gastonomic ironies of Genoa: for a city that traded spices, their cuisine is rather bland. Go figure. But, since Genoa still has a vibrant immigrant community you can count on this store to find all the culinary must haves for your kitchen. Even tabasco sauce from the United States! You can stand here next to a Chinaman or African and be an American next to an Italian and no one turns their head for we are all there for the same reason, to satisfy our gastonomic demands.
Buon Appetito!
Krista
Things were certainly difficult in the beginning, I won't deny that. We all have our likes, dislikes and our passions. One of my true passions is food, wine, and cooking. That was my salvation. Underneath all the roughness of Genoa, and there are many, you can find many extraordinary and surprising things. Yes, my taste buds in the end redeemed Genoa from its ugly start.
Here I am today shopping in one of the true gems of Genoa and one of my first gastronomic finds, Antica Drogheria di M. Torielli. Don't be fooled by the name, Antica means old, and Drogheria, in this context, grocery shop. In reality, this a spice shop. It has been here for centuries and for the last one, it has been owned and run by one family. First the father, then his son, and now the granddaughters, one of which is pictured here. In this tiny corner store in the most unlikely of places, you can find anything and everything from any part of the world. From tea to curry, from allspice to homemade chocolate and even every type of bean, rice and nut. The store is just as it has been for centuries and the aroma from the mix of spices hits you before you step into the door. It is strictly standing room only and always full of stock and customers. As you can see the shelves are lined with jars and the floor is littered with sacks of nuts. They have no register and shun digital scales. Your purchases are wrapped as they always have been, in paper tied with a string. The only nod to modernity, the scotch tape to seal your package closed. Walking into the Antica Drogheria is truly a step back in time.
Genoa has always been a port city and as such a city of immigrants. At one time in it's history Genoa was a center of trade for the spice business. One of the great gastonomic ironies of Genoa: for a city that traded spices, their cuisine is rather bland. Go figure. But, since Genoa still has a vibrant immigrant community you can count on this store to find all the culinary must haves for your kitchen. Even tabasco sauce from the United States! You can stand here next to a Chinaman or African and be an American next to an Italian and no one turns their head for we are all there for the same reason, to satisfy our gastonomic demands.
Buon Appetito!
Krista
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Today is Groundhog Day!
Must mean Sam's birthday is around the corner! And mine.... Less than two weeks away! Yikes...
Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his hibernation today, crawled out of his hole and saw his shadow!
Six more weeks of winter....
What is groundhog day? Some pagan tradition the european settlers brought to the colonies that over the years has been commercialized to the max. A winter version of Halloween.
See you later....
Krista
Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his hibernation today, crawled out of his hole and saw his shadow!
Six more weeks of winter....
What is groundhog day? Some pagan tradition the european settlers brought to the colonies that over the years has been commercialized to the max. A winter version of Halloween.
In 1723, the Delaware Indians settled Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania as a campsite halfway between the Allegheny and the Susquehanna Rivers. The town is 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, at the intersection of Route 36 and Route 119. The Delawares considered groundhogs honorable ancestors. According to the original creation beliefs of the Delaware Indians, their forebears began life as animals in "Mother Earth" and emerged centuries later to hunt and live as men.
The name Punxsutawney comes from the Indian name for the location
"ponksad-uteney" which means "the town of the sandflies."
The name woodchuck comes from the Indian legend of "Wojak,
the groundhog" considered by them to be their ancestral grandfather.
When German settlers arrived in the 1700s, they brought a tradition known as Candlemas Day, which has an early origin in the pagan celebration of Imbolc. It came at the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Superstition held that if the weather was fair, the second half of Winter would be stormy and cold. For the early Christians in Europe, it was the custom on Candlemas Day for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to the people in the dark of Winter. A lighted candle was placed in each window of the home. The day's weather continued to be important. If the sun came out February 2, halfway between Winter and Spring, it meant six more weeks of wintry weather.
The earliest American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center at Franklin and Marshall College:
February 4, 1841 - from Morgantown, Berks County (Pennsylvania) storekeeper James Morris' diary..."Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate."
According to the old English saying:
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again.
From Scotland:
If Candlemas Day is bright and clear,
There'll be two winters in the year.
From Germany:
For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day,
So far will the snow swirl until May.
For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day,
So far will the sun shine before May.
And from America:
If the sun shines on Groundhog Day;
Half the fuel and half the hay.
If the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, an animal would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of Winter. Germans watched a badger for the shadow. In Pennsylvania, the groundhog, upon waking from mid-Winter hibernation, was selected as the replacement. Read more here
See you later....
Krista
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Simple Pleasures for Simple Measures
Ok. I am officially admitting to my mid life crisis. First it was the blue mini, complete with the Union Jack on the roof. Then it was the new wardrobe I bought myself this spring, after I lost a few kilos. Now, I am finally hitting rock bottom. Today I went to buy tickets to see Simple Minds in concert in Verona. I cannot even believe that I did this. The last time I went to a concert.... I cannot even recall. But this, I cannot miss.
Way back when, in the 1980s, I was a square peg in a round hole growing up during the punk years of rock -n-roll on Long Island. I was completely into all things British and new wave. My favorite bands were, U2, Simple Minds, and Depeche Mode. I loved the Clash, though they soon broke up, and I wanted to grow up to be just like Debbie Harry or Crissie Hynde (Who incidently, was briefly married to Jim Kerr of Simple Minds, they even toured together). I was sneaking into NYC when I could out fox my mom and going to every seedy downtown nightclub catching the latest acts from the UK or, hanging in the discos that catered to the new sound trying to look oh so cool in my latest new outfit. (Sorry Dad, but hey, I had fun and was always careful)
Amazingly, many of these bands I was chasing to see put out new CD's last year and are touring again! OK. U2 is, hands down, the megaband of the last two decades and still going strong, but who new back then we would still be listening to this sound and these new wave/alternative college radio acts and their music would still be relevant today. I can remember having this discussion with my older (by 13 years) brother of mine who was convinced this new sound was going nowhere and the 1960's was where rock and roll began and where it ended. This new wave/punk sound, according to him and many of the others of his generation, was going the way of disco, nowhere. How wrong he was! Bono and U2 put that theory to the rest with their success and talent and now all things 80's are back again including the music. If you live long enough, all things cycle back into fashion. A nod to my brother, even the Rolling Stones are on tour now and coming to Milan! But, I think I will pass on that one just like I did when I was in my teens.
In 1984, when I left High School, I was a rebel screaming just like others of my generation who had to follow the dinosaur bands of the 60's or the Disco queens of the 70's, which, by the way, were the only choices on the FM radio back then. For us, the generation who became know as "Generation X", what crumbs were the baby boomers going to leave us and did we want them? They had all the good jobs and the "me generation" dominated the culture by their sheer number, they weren't called baby boomers for nothing, who wanted to listen to their music too? I, like so many others of my age, choose the punks of England, and marched to the beat of their drum! I craved the new and different. I dared to be different! WLIR changed their format from AOR/Southern Rock to Alternative/New Wave and my world would never be the same again. In 1984 I started to work at the station with my best friend and partner in crime, Sharon, we answered the request lines for free, just for the chance to meet the artists and get the free perks, like concert tickets and our names on the guest lists at clubs. I have many an autograph and many a back stage pass and many a story to tell. I lived that rock and roll life till 1988. And what fun I had and how many different colors of hair I went through!
Today, the eighties are back, even more popular, and some of it still sounds fresh. The 80's are hip once again. Even many new bands today sound like the music back then, even ska is back. And, have you looked at what the teenagers are wearing today? It is all so 1985! Thank god that the puffy shirt didn't make it to the revival!
Keep rocking, and remember, you are only as young as you feel and choose to live! And, as Jim Kerr says....
Don't you forget about me....
Krista
PS. The first time I got to see Simple Minds in concert I sat 2nd row at Radio City Music Hall. I was so close, that I had his sweat all over me. I had only 2 tickets and brought my best friend Sharon. 6 of my other friends who were in like row 15, rushed the stage and we all were singing, dancing and having a great time, that is, until the ushers made us sit in our seats! Ahh... Those were the days.
Way back when, in the 1980s, I was a square peg in a round hole growing up during the punk years of rock -n-roll on Long Island. I was completely into all things British and new wave. My favorite bands were, U2, Simple Minds, and Depeche Mode. I loved the Clash, though they soon broke up, and I wanted to grow up to be just like Debbie Harry or Crissie Hynde (Who incidently, was briefly married to Jim Kerr of Simple Minds, they even toured together). I was sneaking into NYC when I could out fox my mom and going to every seedy downtown nightclub catching the latest acts from the UK or, hanging in the discos that catered to the new sound trying to look oh so cool in my latest new outfit. (Sorry Dad, but hey, I had fun and was always careful)
Amazingly, many of these bands I was chasing to see put out new CD's last year and are touring again! OK. U2 is, hands down, the megaband of the last two decades and still going strong, but who new back then we would still be listening to this sound and these new wave/alternative college radio acts and their music would still be relevant today. I can remember having this discussion with my older (by 13 years) brother of mine who was convinced this new sound was going nowhere and the 1960's was where rock and roll began and where it ended. This new wave/punk sound, according to him and many of the others of his generation, was going the way of disco, nowhere. How wrong he was! Bono and U2 put that theory to the rest with their success and talent and now all things 80's are back again including the music. If you live long enough, all things cycle back into fashion. A nod to my brother, even the Rolling Stones are on tour now and coming to Milan! But, I think I will pass on that one just like I did when I was in my teens.
In 1984, when I left High School, I was a rebel screaming just like others of my generation who had to follow the dinosaur bands of the 60's or the Disco queens of the 70's, which, by the way, were the only choices on the FM radio back then. For us, the generation who became know as "Generation X", what crumbs were the baby boomers going to leave us and did we want them? They had all the good jobs and the "me generation" dominated the culture by their sheer number, they weren't called baby boomers for nothing, who wanted to listen to their music too? I, like so many others of my age, choose the punks of England, and marched to the beat of their drum! I craved the new and different. I dared to be different! WLIR changed their format from AOR/Southern Rock to Alternative/New Wave and my world would never be the same again. In 1984 I started to work at the station with my best friend and partner in crime, Sharon, we answered the request lines for free, just for the chance to meet the artists and get the free perks, like concert tickets and our names on the guest lists at clubs. I have many an autograph and many a back stage pass and many a story to tell. I lived that rock and roll life till 1988. And what fun I had and how many different colors of hair I went through!
Today, the eighties are back, even more popular, and some of it still sounds fresh. The 80's are hip once again. Even many new bands today sound like the music back then, even ska is back. And, have you looked at what the teenagers are wearing today? It is all so 1985! Thank god that the puffy shirt didn't make it to the revival!
Keep rocking, and remember, you are only as young as you feel and choose to live! And, as Jim Kerr says....
Don't you forget about me....
Krista
PS. The first time I got to see Simple Minds in concert I sat 2nd row at Radio City Music Hall. I was so close, that I had his sweat all over me. I had only 2 tickets and brought my best friend Sharon. 6 of my other friends who were in like row 15, rushed the stage and we all were singing, dancing and having a great time, that is, until the ushers made us sit in our seats! Ahh... Those were the days.
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