Rude and Crude

Once again... Long Islanders behaving badly....

Tiger Woods taunted at 10th hole; Fred Funk's name becomes obscenity -- Newsday.com

Beer-sodden fans and rain combined for an ugly finish to a long day of golf yesterday, with Tiger Woods and other golfers subjected to drunken heckling as the action at Bethpage Black came to a close.

At 6:42 p.m., dozens of drunken spectators at Hole 10 taunted Woods as he prepared to start his third round in the rain.

"We're on Long Island, baby, where men are men!" one fan yelled. "Put that umbrella down!"

The taunts were mixed with cheers from the majority of the crowd.

Woods did not respond to the people who were heckling him but tried to quiet the crowd with a "sshh" hand gesture, putting his finger to his lips, as golfers prepared to tee off on the adjacent 12th tee.

"Suck it up, you've got your own video game!" someone shouted at Woods.

Some fans, apparently disgusted by the hecklers' behavior, walked away from the hole. Others told the vocal contingent to quiet down, which had no effect on the verbal abuse.

Minutes later, a group of fans greeted Fred Funk at the 10th hole by shouting his last name as an obscenity.

A little earlier, drunken fans at the seventh hole shouted at golfers, "This Bud's for you!" On the ninth fairway, drunks called out "you suck" to players while spectators on the other side booed the hecklers.

Concession stands scattered across the course - including the one near the 10th hole - don't start selling beer until 11 a.m., yet a line already had formed in front of the taps between the 16th and 17th holes well before that. But the late- morning scene was peaceful, giving little indication of what would happen later elsewhere on the course.

Many beer-drinkers Saturday at Bethpage Black were there simply to enjoy the scene.

John O'Shea, John McQue and Cronan Ryan sat on a hillside overlooking Hole 17, leaning back on their elbows and taking slow sips of Budweiser.

"We just had to rest a while to get some beer in us," said O'Shea, 22, of Manhattan.

"We just needed to relax," added McQue, 28, of Sunnyside.

Ever wonder why I left?

And I married Sam?

Watch this and it explains it all....

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Long Island Wants to Secede
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran

"Better on the road than in the broth" 

Synchronicity... is the experience of two or more events are causally unrelated occurring together in a supposedly meaningful manner. These events should be unlikely to occur together by chance...

Work with me people, I am going somewhere with this thought.

Ok...

A week or so ago Anna, hysterically laughing, comes into the home office with a new notebook. On the cover was a chicken wearing sneakers walking on the road with a English / Italian joke. See above. The notebook remains unused. Anna, didn't need it, she just had to have it and couldn't leave it for some kid to buy who wouldn't understand the joke. I scanned the notebook and thought, this would make a great image for a post one day....

Today, I am sitting down drinking my morning cappuccino on the passagiata with Sam, Silvia and Ian. I snap open the local paper and read this headline:

Rapallo, gallina e pulcini sulla A12

Chioccia travolta, salvati i piccoli

(Rapallo, hen and her chicks on the A12, hen run over - chicks saved! Nothing to do with J. Travolta!)

Vigili del fuoco e polizia stradale mobilitati questo pomeriggio sull’A12 per recuperare una gallina ed i suoi pulcini che si erano avventurati sull’autostrada. Il singolare episodio è avvenuta tra Rapallo e Chiavari, in direzione Levante. La gallina, purtroppo, non è riuscita a sfuggire alle auto che sfrecciavano sull’autostrada ed è stata investita. Miglior sorte per i pulcini che si sono rifugiati vicino ad un tombino ai lati della strada e sono stati recuperati dai vigili del fuoco.

Translation... The autostrade was shut down because a hen was on the road with her baby chicks. Unforturnatey, the hen became road kill.... but the firemen were able to save the chicks because they were in a storm drain. 

After my delicious coffee and brioche, I came home and logged onto to facebook. There on my newsfeed was my friend Susan, who lives in Annapolis, MD - see link to her blog "Whelan Kids" in the side bar, announcing that she had just delivered 7 baby ducks whose mom bit the dust on the I -95 to a wildlife sanctuary! 

Could this be sychronicity? Or has post partum blues gone fowl?

A connecting principle Linked to the invisible Almost imperceptible Something inexpressible Science insusceptible Logic so inflexible Causally connectable Yet nothing is invincible

 

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"Mille e una storia"

 

A Thousand and one stories... 

With  roles on that ranged from a wise Signora, a Principe from Denmark and la Signorina Natalia Vladimrovna a star was born last night... Anna's career as a budding actress is on its way. 

Keeping with tradition, the last night's annual production began in the unsual chaotic way and very late. Most of the parents wouldn't stay seated or civil, and one unruly child stamped his feet on the floorboards as he and walked up and down between the aisles creating a sound similar to a stampede of elephants distracting Anna and her friends on stage during one serious act. The girls didn't miss a beat. The only professionals in the theater - were the young adults on the stage. Maybe the parents need a workshop on audience participation....

Through all the commotion, the show went on, and, I know I am her mom, but, Anna was brilliant. Unbelievable to see our shy little girl grow up to be a serious young actress.  Anna tells us all the time, it all so much fun to pretend to be someone else. And, really, isn't it?  Anna is already looking forward to next year's production and scoring a promised starring role. She even has a first fan. Some little boy ran up and give her a hug as she walking out of the theater.... Thankfully, Sam didn't see it.

Next stop... the great white way!

Flags

One of Sarah's artistic moments...

In one brilliant shot she captured the story of her life.... The Italian flag, the Union Jack - yes, Sam is a British subject and so are the girls, and the European Union flag. Missing, the Stars and Stripes. 

The rainbow flag... no, Sarah is not gay. That flag, is the flag of "Peace" - Pace. Don't believe me... check out Wikipedia.  Rainbow flag  To my delight these last few years -  the anti - war / anti - Bush / anti - globalization crowd - while demonstrating, protesting or striking in the Italian streets have carried this symbol of "peace" . It is often flown on the same pole as the symbol of the Soviet Union, the hammer and sickle. Ironic, isn't it? Symbol of peace flying with the symbol of communism? How many millions lost their life in the pursuit of the worker's paradise? Wonder if they thought about world peace?

Which got me thinking....

If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom, and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that too. 

W. Somerset Maugham

Concerti!

In June our lives become a blur. As the days get longer and schools winds down, the weekends are a constant stream of "events" building up to the day when take our seats on the jet that flies us to JFK....  

This weekend was no exception, and, it was a weekend of firsts for Sarah....

Friday...  Sarah debuted her new violin with the Orchestra Giovanile del Conservatorio Nicolò Paganini at the Monastero di Santa Chiara in Genoa. 

This was only second performance since being invited to join the young orchestra this winter. Normally, the practices start in the fall, but this year thanks to strikes and how things go in Italy, the young musicians got a late start. Even though, they sounded terrific and were extremely professional. The program ranged from Haydn to Vivaldi to Bach and the kids never seemed to miss a note. The audience? Many of us still don't know when to clap and when to not clap. Classical music is funny that way. One should never clap between movements, only at the end of a piece. But, the conductor, who is great with the kids is also great with the audience. First time we clapped when weren't supposed to, he reprimanded us with a no - no wave with his baton! I get the feeling he is teaching us along with his students.
Saturday night saw Sarah giving a repeat performance, only this time, she was in Moneglia (not far from the Cinque Terre) at the Oratorio dei Disciplinanti. And... this time, we had to PAY to see Sarah perform! Our first time ever paying to hear our daughter play her violin. The audience was made up of mostly family and friends of the young musicians, but, a local hotel bought a few rows of tickets for their guests. Just think, right now, some German tourist might be blogging about the fabulous young orchestra from the conservatory in Genoa he saw this weekend. 

This weekend while listening to my daughter play her violin with the other talented young musicians in the orchestra who are from not only Genoa, but from many other parts of the world - Russia, Armenia, even another young American. I started to think that maybe living here is not so bad after all. That even though I struggle living in this country and feel the life I have built is temporary. Maybe I haven't done so bad after all. And all that we might have given up by living here, may be overshadowed by what we have gained. Look at Sarah, would she have had the opportunity to be exposed to and study with such high calibre musicians if we had stayed in San Diego? I will never know. 

Like the language, which no matter how much a try to be fluent in, eludes me. Life here at times does too.  The chaos, which seems to have no end. The bureaucracy that ties your life in knots. Feeling like a foreigner each time you step out of the door. And then you look at your kids and it hits you. They don't feel any of this. They know of no other life. They are in some little way, becoming Italian.

I may never fully immerse myself in Italy and I will never feel Italian, yet, I am changed. I know that I am not the same person I was when I arrived in here 9 years ago. And, you know, that is not so bad. 

The thought hit me while listening to Sarah and her friends. Maybe what I am longing for is really what I mourn. A way of life. My way of life. Simply being an American and living amongst familiar surroundings. And the sadness that I feel, that no matter how many turkeys I roast for Thanksgiving will never cure, is quite normal. Really, when do we never miss something in our lives? Are we ever complete?

Sarah and Anna are merging two worlds and many ways, that might make them different. You know what? That ain't so bad. Isn't "different" quite like being extraordinary, novel, individual, original or special? 

Orchestra Giovanile del Conservatorio Nicolò Paganini

Oratorio

A Weekend Wedding

 

Sandwiched between Sarah's concerts, there was a wedding. As things go here. There is this couple, Odille and Rosella, who come to the monthly antique market in Chiavari to sell their fabulous furniture  Antique Piemonte. Click over to their site and you may see my home! Sam and I over the years have bought many of our amazing pieces of furniture from them and have quickly become their friends. About 5  years ago, they started telling us about this other "Inglese" couple who was also a client. This couple had sold everything they owned, moved to Italy with 2 daughters, bought a villa in Piemonte and were renovating it into a hotel - to hear Odille tell it, you would think they did the renovations themselves. As it goes, one thing led to another, and we are now friendly with the English couple who these days are proprietors of  a swank hotel in Piemonte -  LaVilla Hotel.

Back to the wedding....

Odille and Rosella's youngest son was married this weekend and where else to have the wedding than at a friend's house which is also a charming hotel.

Saturday was a day that threatened rain and storms. All around you could see ominous black clouds, but never over us. The clouds passed over a few times but, over all we were in a bowl of sunshine. The wind blew, and it blew so strong that it lifted a few skirts... Other than the excitement of my exposed knickers, there was the cake. Look at that cake! Have you ever seen anything like it? Believe me, it tasted even better than it looked. Sponge cake with pastry cream topped with fresh fruit! So good, I went back for seconds!

 

 

A Cat's Life

 

Time switch gears here and to talk about the other child in my life.... Gucci, cat who thinks she is human. A misanthropic one at that. If you have ever tried to pet her, you know what I mean. Reach for her and she will scratch you. Call her and she will give you ol' one eye and slink away. Search for her and she will hiding, either, sleeping in my spare bed, safely tucked under the covers or deep in a closet beneath all of the clean clothes. Other than when she is begging for food, Gucci is invisible and unlovable. House guests? Company for dinner? The cat simply is nowhere to be found. If you do stumble upon her, she will hiss and spit if you try try to make nice. I sometimes wonder why I have a cat. Warm and friendly she is not.

But, this spring has brought Gucci (and me) some new entertainment and reason to come out of the closet. 

Pigeons!  

                                       

My usual aloof cat has become a fearless stalker of prey!

 

These flying rats swoop down every morning and try to nest on the office terrace. Actually, they might be sleeping in they empty flower boxes all night... Who knows? This morning, I finally was able to take some photos of the pigeons and Gucci in action before the birds flew away.

 
We, that is Gucci and I, have been fighting a losing war to rid my terraces of these vermin. Problem is, the pigeons are not afraid! They have figured us out and know how far they need to walk/fly to stay out of the Gucci's reach and return when I am not looking! And, now that the things are so bold, they are nesting in the empty flower boxes. Well, after today, they won't find those anymore...  I am off to the nursery to buy new geraniums. That should take care of that. My new war? That will be with Sam and getting him to remember to water the plants while I am in New York. I know, who am I kidding? I am going to return in August to dead plants and baby pigeons nesting in the boxes! 

The annual June count down has begun. 

One week left of school, two weeks final exams.... 

Drumroll please -  only 21 days until our departure for New York! 

Ready or not Dad, here we come!

 

Birthday Girl, Wildflowers and a new Baby

Since I sprained my ankle last month hiking on the trails above Portovenere I have been limited to strolls on the passagiata of Chiavari. Not today. Wednesdays - the Ladies Walk and Lunch (see the side bar link to the confusing Dutch/English blog in my roll). This week in honor of Joanne's "mmm hmm" birthday, the ladies were ready to hike, and, hike my favorite trail. How dare I refuse? But, I did convince Sam to give us a head start and spare us (and  my sore ankle) a two hour slog uphill from Lavagna by dropping us off at the trial head on top of San Giacomo - 500 + meters above sea. Thank you Sam!
We might have had a head start, but we walked! The idea was a nice 2-3 hour hike from San Giacamo across to Capenardo then down into Sestri for lunch at Luna Blu. Ok. Easy enough.
All started out fine, after all, Sam got us started on the right trail and is was just as lovely as the last time I saw it a year ago. See my profile photo to your right? That shot was taken in June last year just after a heavy thunderstorm.  And, as you can see in the photo above, the wild flowers are just as beautiful this year as they were last year. A little rain and lots of sun and the hills around here bloom alive. Thankfully, today, though we were in the clouds and it was threatening to do so, it didn't rain.

We were doing fine, until, we reached the point where we started our descent. Me, the only one who has walked this trail, and I will admit, I have walked this trail many times in both directions, made a bit of a mistake. I was having a hard time with my sore ankle and walking downhill was not proving easy, therefore I took the nice road to the left when, I really should have taken the narrow trail to the right. We ended up on the right road, but, in the the wrong place. Story of my life and, actually, how I ended up in Italy. A move to Monaco in France somehow took us to Genoa in Italy... but I am going off topic, again.

We now found ourselves on a road that I had no recollection of -  and was twisting and turning in every direction but the way we wanted - downhill towards the sea.  I was just hoping that my walking guru skills weren't failing me, because I hated to admit it but, it seemed we were walking into the entroterra (wrong way) and not down to the mare (right way).  I stopped to scratch my head, get my bearings and read the trail map - with out my glasses I may add. Hopeless aren't I? Fast thinking Nicole came to my rescue. She whipped out her fancy cell phone, complete with GPS, downloaded our coordinates, and, in seconds reassured us we were going in the right direction on the correct road! Soon enough we found the red triangle marking the trail on a wall. 30 minutes later we were sitting on the beach in Sestri taking off our hiking shoes and slipping on our sandals..... Ahh.... Who needs a man, or a compass for that matter, when you have NOKIA with Global Positioning! Kiitos Finlandia... 

Four hours after we started out, we were more than ready for lunch, me, I was ready for a nice glass of white wine. Hey, this walking guru thing is STRESSFUL! 

Was the day over for the intrepid walking ladies of Liguria? Nah. They hopped on the bus that took them back to Chiavari and in their own directions. One went home to take care of her family, the other to a flute lesson. Me? No sooner I was in my apartment, I was out the door. Today was a very important day, OK,  it was Joanne's Birthday, but, it was also a special day for another reason.

 Today, Sarah's new violin was BORN!

After 6 months of waiting and a fitting midway. Sarah's new violin emerged from the liutaio's workshop this afternoon! 

This is Sarah's very first Italian, custom made violin. It has never been played by any other violinists. Why did I use born? Well other than a bad translation from Italian, Sarah has to "raise" this violin. Give it a "life". And to do that - she has to play it, and play it so much as to give this instrument its "anima" or soul. Perfect. Sarah HAS to play, this is music to my ears. Sarah HAS to play her violin. Did  say that again? Oops. 

Now, my baby, has, her delicate baby in her hands. If Sarah loves her violin and cares for it tenderly, hopefully, her baby, will make Sarah as proud as she, my baby, makes me. 

Krista

Personal Projects

 

Here is Sarah Friday afternoon presenting her "personal statement" at school. She played her violin, gave a lecture on Paganini and his violin the "cannone" which now lives in a vault located in the "Municipo di Genoa" or City Hall. Her violin teacher is one of only a few who has privilege to play it, so once a year Sarah gets to gaze upon the priceless violin. I digress...

Getting back to Friday evening and prom night and my little personal project, Sarah. 

Povera Sarah, Friday, she just couldn't get a break. 

• In the morning she went to the station - all the trains were late...We drove in, and she was still late for school. 
  
• After school, she had to present her personal project first so she could leave for Orchestra practice. Her teachers were late... She was an hour late for orchestrata.... 
  
• To add insult, traffic was snarled on the streets surrouonding the tiny church where the young orchestra was practicing, she had to take a bus to meet me when she was done... 
  
• I took her to the hairdresser to fix her up for the prom. They made her wait an hour...

And so the day went...

At the end of the evening - which rewarded her day's struggles by being perfectly magical - she got out of the taxi, took a step to the door - and the contents of her tiny clutch spilled out into the road, including, my nearly new digital camera. 

Sunday morning, all excited to see the photos, we plugged the camera to my laptop and tried to download the files. On the camera screen there was no menu to select from, only a white fuzz with jagged black lines. The screen was cracked! Thankfully, the photos moved from the camera to the laptop, but, the camera was rendered useless. Sarah apoligized over and over again. I felt bad and what can you say? Lending children your precious things always comes with a risk.

What did my plucky little girl do? She went out for a walk that afternoon - in the rain - and bought me a new camera with her OWN money. Money she earned doing translations and diligently saved with the intention that Sarah would buy herself a new digital SLR camera this summer. When presented with my "gift" I could have cried.  The broken camera was already written off and any disappointment no longer lingered - I mean, things happen. I was standing there in the hall stuck in an awkward moment. As a parent, I looked at her little face, so full of pride that she had made a wrong - right. I had to pause to collect my thoughts and respond as to not hurt her, but I knew in my heart, there was no way that I could accept that camera. Then it hit me, I knew exactly why my dad, every time I buy him a gift, says, "ah you don't have go and do that, I don't need anything". I get it now. I understand why parents never feel comfortable with "bought" gifts from their kids.  

Will I keep the camera? Yes. How could I not? Making Sarah take it back would only break her heart. Am I going to give Sarah back her money? You betcha!