Né "Desperate", Né "Housewives"

As you all might have heard, I am currently President of the AIWC of Genoa.... This year the club is celebrating its 50th year of existence! Actually, it has been around at longer than that... but, anyway...

Here I am helping to cut the cake and posing with my fellow club members last Thursday in Genoa at the Villa Spinola. The Luncheon held in honor of the Golden Annivesary of the AIWC of Genoa was very elegant and spirits in the crowd were high. I have never been kissed and wanted by so many, well, since my wedding reception so many years ago! I was telling Sam later that evening, that is what the day felt like - our wedding - and just like that day, I was completely and utterly exhausted when it was all over.

I had planned the lunch for many weeks with Carol Bordoni, the lady helping me cut the cake, and tried to take care of every last detail, but when the party started, the event took on a life of its own. And what a wonderful life it had! By the way, even the local press came to the Luncheon. "La Republica" and "Il Seccolo" both sent reporters to see what the American International Women's Club of Genoa was all about. I was for the first time interviewed in Italian. Very nerve racking indeed! The next day the lady from "La Republica" titled her article, "Né Desperate", Né "Housewives", "Neither Desperate Nor Housewives". Not bad. They went on to say many lovely things about us in a tongue and cheek way and even went on to say I had a pretty face, wore minimal chic, and spoke with Italian with a heavy American accent! What can I say other than I am so proud of our little club! And, you know, it is sort of nice to see your name in the newspaper.

A presto!

Krista

And this is what my talented, bright, strangely deep dark muscian/artist daughter wrote for me yesterday on my birthday.

Beautiful.

Thank you Sarah! You know your mommy loves you.

Run

By Sarah Crockford

I keep on biting my tongue
till it bleeds
so I don’t say anything
that bothers you and me
but I know that
if I wasn’t so careful
I’d say so many things…
I always hear my heart beat
from it’s little cage
all can do is pretend I have a heartache
but it’s not true…
There’s a little dove inside me
ready to fly
but it can’t cause it’s trapped
by rules
and I don’t know why.
If I could run
across the ocean,
I know I would,
if I could fly to the sky
then I’d know I’m free,
but keep this between you and me.
There’s another person inside me
who’s ready to burst out
it’s like bird who wants fly
but can’t cause he has no wings,
expect I have a will
and I have way,
but it’s another thing
that keeps me back
till today.
I want to run
till I’m free,
and I want to fly
cause I know I can…
And I want to be myself
just for one day
and I want to know the world
like I never known it before!
I want to be loved for who I am and not hated for being myself…

My Babies Love Me!

Look at the effort they made for me this evening....

They went out, bought me a cake and distracted me with a "computer problem" to set it up. Aren't they the greatest?

Today has been quiet. Didn't get to work out. Gym was closed so I had a lovely coffee with Silvia Lewis. I shopped and strolled through Chiavari enjoying the springlike sunshine that we had today.

Though, it is apperitivo time now and well... I have no one to share a glass of bubbly with. So I will share this photo of my darling children instead.

A presto!

Krista

20 Years Ago...

This is what I looked like....

Scary huh? 21 years young.

My friend Susan posted a photo of herself on her blog (link is on the sidebar "The Whelan's Blog") from 1984. If she can humiliate herself so can I. Hey it is my birthday. I can't go back as far as Susan did, thank god. I don't have those photos here in Italy, they are still safely hidden in my dad's house in NY. This one came into my possession last summer when I caught up with my friend Maxx. We used to work together at WLIR on Long Island. He was a Disc Jockey and I was the Music Librarian for the Program Director, Denis Macnamara. I got that "promotion" after working for free for a year answering the "Airline" - the radio station's request line. Very cool jobs indeed. Free tickets to concerts, on the guest list for all shows at the Ritz, all the free records I could lay my hands on and the privilege to shake hands with the musical artists from the 80's including, The Pet Shop Boys, A Flock of Seagulls, Bananarama, Lloyd Cole, Mick Jones from the Clash, The English Beat, The Farris Bros. from INXS, Billy Bragg and last but certainly not least, Joey Ramone from the World Famous Ramones, may he rest in peace.

One last thing, I will even admit to being on the Howard Stern show back then in the 80's. I was a huge fan and I was invited by a friend to be live on air for Howard's Christmas show in 1985. Back then he had just moved to WXRK from WNBC after he was fired for doing something obscene. What else, right? It was a blast and I never had so much fun. I have to say, on mike, Howard was a dog, just like you would think he would be, off mike, he was a perfect gentleman. Go figure. I shared the booth with Joey Ramone and some lesbian Howard always had on back then. It was an experience that I will never forget. There is a tape somewhere of that show and if you bribe Sam enough.... he might let you listen to it.

Moving on....

Six months after this photo was taken - I met my Sam. Can you see that black hair? What was I ever thinking? What on earth did Sam think? Ahh... the 80's gone but not forgotten.

Krista

Its My Birthday... Its My Birthday!

And I am a year older, wiser, thinner (yeah), and happier! What more could a girl ask for? I have my health, my family, and all the things I wanted to be or do when I grew up - well apart from being a fairy princess -- I achieved. I have traveled - I have loved - I am a wife - and I am a mom. Career, I gave it a try and still do "work" these days but, I like being a mom and wife much more. There is that pride in watching someone grow into something beautiful that gives me a feeling of satisfaction and contentment l have always wanted -- Where would I be without my man and girls? Lost.

Speaking of which. This day is turning into the perfect birthday. I am sitting here, all alone, sipping my tea, kids are in school, Sam is in Milan working, Franca (my housekeeper) is on her way and I, well I am relishing this moment. The sun is shining in Chiavari and I am off for my workout in an hour. Perfect day in every way.

Ah, pressies you wonder? What did my beloved give me for my birthday? Other than peace of mind and home, he took us all to Switzerland for the weekend. We left Thursday night for Davos and a little skiing with our friends Peter and Pippa who were there with family and friends. We had two glorious days of sunshine and great skiing, Sunday was spent nursing hangovers and keeping warm in the bars on Jacobshorn - perfect. Believe it or not, even with all the gloom and doom about global warming, there was snow on top of the mountains and you could ski. Thank you Sam for a great weekend with friends and family. All was perfect in every way!

Krista

Happy Birthday To My Sam....

And did we throw a party to celebrate! In the true spirit of Carnival. We had a 60's theme revival birthday party last night. I invited all our friends to join us in their best interpretation of the era.

We had, 7 hippies, 4 mods (including Sam and I), one goth (Silvia Lewis) and one lone Italian communist/anarchist agitator.... don't worry, I did let Silvio in the door, though not after I saluted Marx, Lenin, and Che!

We drank Spumante, Martinis and ate way too much junk and cake. As the the evening gave way to the wee hours of the morning we found ourselves singing "Delilah" on the top of our lungs with Ian and Sam leading us on with their kickline salute! God only knows what our neighbors thought we did notice when we stepped out on the terrace to catch a breath of fresh air that passers by on the street looking up and pointing! We danced our grooviest and Jan ended the evening serenading us and leading the chorus with Anna's guitar. A perfect end to a perfect evening in honor of my grand old man!

Happy Birthday Darling. Remember, 40 isn't so bad.... You will always be my Rock Star no matter how old you are.

Auguri!

Krista