FAWCO and Lyon

Well I have been a bit remiss in my blogging once again.... Let me catch you up.

Besides that is have been positively Spring like in Liguria - today it was 20+ Celsius or for those of you who use Fahrenheit, 68 degrees! Now, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon the fog is beginning to roll in off the sea and covering up Chiavari! As I look out my window I can see the fog covering the magnolias and the sea is no longer visible. Trust me, this is not usual weather for us. All the fruit trees have blossomed and many have already dropped their blooms and are ready to bear fruit. The flowers are blooming and so are our allergies! Man it feels like spring. Let's just hope that we don't have a freeze in the next few weeks. A cold snap will certainly spell disaster for this years crops!

So other than this wonderful weather we have been enjoying what has kept me so busy? The AIWC of Genoa has. Last week I was in Lyon helping to represent my club at the annual FAWCO (Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas) - you can click on the link on the side bar to read more about the organization. I had 5 fun filled days in Lyon and I never got to to see the city. I was stuck in General Meetings, Panels, workshops etc and ate lousy banquet food. At one point as I looked around at my fellow conference attendees I got the feeling I was at some Shriner's or Rotary Convention. That may have been the case but last week, I learned many new useful things - like how to stay on heels for 16 hours in one day - and made some new friends. Overall, I had a great time an hopefully I will see all my new FAWCO friends at next year's conference in Seoul, Korea.

By the way, that photo of me was taken at the Hotel de Ville in Lyon- City Hall - to you and me. The conference closed its last evening with a special treat. A Gala Dinner at the most prestigious building in the city. That is Carol and I standing next to the flags. Carol who is 79 years young and I drove all the way to Lyon in my mini complete with the Union Jack on the roof! I think she had the ride of her life!


A presto!

Krista

Anna Banana Plays.... THE CELLO!

What!

That is right folks, Anna has started playing the cello and she seems to love it. I don't even have to ask her to practice but, she has to ask me to help her with the cello because the darn thing is as big as she is!

At the moment the metronome is beating, the bow is being pulled across the strings and Sarah is helping Anna with her technique! Anna is actually letting Sarah gladly tell her what to do! It must have snowed in the Sahara today! This has never happened before. Best thing to do is leave the girls to it and let them get on.

Where on earth do these kids come from? The daughters of parents that are not musicians, loved punk and sleep during opera. If this is rebellion, well I will gladly accept it.

Krista

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