Wordless Wednesday

A little early...
Sculptures from the Hilton Hawaiian Village on the island of Oahu. I was truly amazed to see the amount of detail and realized emotion of this artist's renderings of the hula.

Review of An Italian Affair

I thought I would finish the book before I gave you my thoughts, but I really don't see that the tempo or depth of this book will change in the next 18 pages.

Generally, I don't comment if it's a negative reaction, but some of you expressed an inkling to maybe reading it based upon my initial excitement about this book. So, here goes.

From the first line of the book, this memoir quickly went downhill. It's hard for me to read a book written in the third-person (or is it second-person: /you/). This autobiographical travelogue is written in the same vein as Eat, Love, Pray, which I thoroughly enjoyed as light reading. But it lacks the multi-dimensional writing and descriptive prose of Elizabeth Gilbert.

Sorry to be such a downer on this one. Hopefully my next selection, The Sixteen Pleasures, will be a better read.

PhotoHunt: Fresh

Zabar's in New York City - Upper West Side. The largest, freshest assortment of cheeses, among other things, in the city. A unique market designed European style - "a gourmet emporium". I can even smell the aroma of coffee brewing as I type. Their babka is to die-for.

Gratitude Friday: Aging

Well let me define that a little further. I am very grateful for the wisdom one gains from aging contently. It has given me a fresher and more genuine perspective on life, unencumbered by societal influences and other people's expectations. Yes, even the newly formed lines and wrinkles seem to give a dimension to the experiences that I've encountered along the way and define me in this mid-life body.

As Carl Jung has stated, "We cannot live in the afternoon of life according to the program of life's morning - for (often) what was great in the morning will be little at evening, and what in the morning was true at evening becomes a lie."

From Wayne Dyer's daily dose (Wednesday: I appreciate all that I am and all that I have.

Have a joyful weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

A bit late but so goes my week.

Window box from Beacon Hill, Boston, MA: 2009
A typical scene from our 'Hill'.

An Italian Affair

Sounds like a sensational, sensual pleasure, si?

Candi's blog entry about Florence, Sandra's entry on in-flight entertainment are making me itchy to travel again. October was the last of my ventures. Italy in September can't come soon enough.

To assuage my hunger, I developed a list from researching SlowTravel, Amazon and a few other sites for books set in Italy. Currently reading An Italian Affair by Laura Fraser, an autobiographical memoir and travelogue about Florence, Ischia and a few other places around the world. I'm just getting into the book, but it had me at the first line - Mi hai spaccato il cuore. (You have broken my heart.)

PhotoHunt; Three

The doors of Orvieto.

Match Day

Having never experienced this first hand, it was quite an anxiety-producing exercise. Thankfully, for my son, his future is now directed. His specialty, physiatry (pain management/physical medicine in rehab or sports) will be at the University of Chicago. I hear Chicago is a nice city to visit!

Don't know if this link works but = Joe is the first male shown receiving his white envelope from the dean.

Match Day at UMass/Worcester.

Wordless Wednesday

The East Coast was hit (no exaggeration) with 72 hours of pelting rain, winds, and sometimes hail. Many have been affected with flooding rivers, streams, basements and homes. Fortunately, we came through only feeling the after effects of road closures and detours to work. Ahhh, I'm dreaming of spring.

It's my son, Joe's 'match' day tomorrow for determining where he spends his next 4 years of medicine --- would appreciate your sending prayers and positive thoughts his way. Mahalo!
(Photo courtesy of Boston Globe)

Quote

Spend time in that inner space befriending the invisible director that
guides your life. Trust it today. Allow it to function in the loving way that
it wants to. Go with what it directs you to do, trusting that your life is
on purpose and that you will not be misguided, the more you will commune in
the peaceful, harmonious world of real magic. ~ Wayne Dyer
(Photo by Deborah Koff-Chapin)

PhotoHunt: Spiral

Presenting ---- drum roll --- plumeria! The scent permeates the Hawaiian islands. Reminds me of the first time I stepped foot on that hallowed ground.

And while on the subject of Hawaii/spirals, the leis of the Grand Wailea on Maui -- the keiki greeted you with these leis upon your arrival. Ono.

Wordless Wednesday

My cat, Lilly, has a family nickname "shadow dancer" as her favorite past time is sitting patiently awaiting the wall shadows to appear. She stares at the wall for hours ready to pounce when a car's headlights casts shadows on the wall. I live on a cul-de-sac only 2 houses away from the street's circle, so you can imagine just how 'patient' she is. Some might say she's a little crazy.....

PhotoHunt: Foreign

Just one of the many reasons I Love NY --- two parades in one weekend (Korean and Turkish).

Mahalo for Sunshine

Follow My Bliss Barb lightened the end of my work week with bestowing this lovely ray of sunshine on me. Thank you for this honor. Truly an honor because I am reminded everyday how fortunate I am to be alive in a world of many wonders, and it's comforting to pass it on.


It is awarded to bloggers whose positiveness and creativity inspires others in the blog world.

The rules for accepting the award are:
1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
2. Pass the award on to 12 bloggers.
3. Link to the nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

And my nominees are.............

1. Denise Desimone @ http://www.denisedesimone.com/bio.html
2. Let Us Go Then, You and I @ http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/andasamo/
3. Girasoli @ http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/girasoli/
4. Eden's Wanderings @ http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/eden/
5. Trekcapri @ http://trekcapri.blogspot.com/ (on haitus)
6. Earthangel4peace @ http://earthangel4peace.blogspot.com/2009/05/healing-energies-of-completion.html
7. Kahalai Kitchen @ http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/
8. Spirit on Water @ http://jakigood.blogspot.com/
9. Thou Shalt Live a Creative Life @ http://creativesustenance.blogspot.com/
10.Cream Puffs in Venice @ http://www.creampuffsinvenice.ca/
11.Letizia @ http://madonnadelpiatto.com/2009/01/16/zuppa-di-lenticchie-e-farro/
12.A Tale of Two Cities @ http://debikirksey.blogspot.com/

There is always Something you can do ....

Ask yourself whether the dream of heaven and greatness should be waiting for us in our graves - or whether it should be ours here and now and on this earth. ~ Ayn Rand

Wordless Wednesday

I grew up in a neighborhood full of kids and at a time when you left your house early in the morning and played in the neighborhood all day, coming home for lunch and not returning until dinner time. Besides building forts, playing hide n' seek, putting on plays, and street dodge ball, one of my favorite pastimes was laying on the grass and looking up at the clouds. We would envision all sorts of figures from those obscure shapes.