I have finally come to terms with the fact that daughter has indeed moved out and there’s a high probability that her room is not going to be ‘her’ room anymore – she’s been gone for 3 years.
Well, I first came to that reality last June when my fiancé moved in and set up this room as his private haven. And, I guess after being in NYC for three years and now living together with her boyfriend, it’s a fact that my daughter identifies herself as a New Yorker (but still a Red Sox fan in ‘enemy’ territory).
So, last weekend I packed the remnants of her prior life in boxes – photos, yearbooks, prom gowns, journals. Among the items was a family history done by one of my sisters almost ten years ago, as a written history to be passed to the younger generation in the family. In thumbing through it, I was reminded at the enormity of the task and amazed at the precise care given to writing about historical facts and ancestors.
As mentioned before, my ancestors came from Avellino. To be exact, my dad’s parents were from Parolise and Candida; my mom’s from Rocco San Felicia. Coming from Italy to New York (and eventually to Boston) in 1898 and 1900 respectively.
One of our generations will get to visit these areas. I’ve been close ….
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Quote for a lazy midweek day..Wednesday
Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Meme: Have you ever
OK-I'll play . Not sure WHY but looks like fun - you may change your mind about me after reading this:-)
have you ever...
1. gone on a blind date? Yes, once and only once.
2. skipped school? Yes, OK this is a prelude the rest of this meme as I was a rebellious teenager.
3. been on the opposite side of your country? Well - this is pretty much a quote taken from Girasoli's blog at http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/girasoli/
"Yes. I grew up in Massachusetts and now live in Hawaii. That is pretty much as opposite as you can get." Please change 'now live' to 'lived'
4. swam in the ocean? The ocean runs in my veins.
5. had your booze taken away by the cops? Yes and he turned out to be a former neighbor of my family.
6. lettered in a high school sport? No. Com'n-I went to a Catholic all-girl's high school in the 60s --the only sport was basketball or cheerleading. I'm too short for basketball - was a cheerleader for one year before I got bored by it all.
7. cried yourself to sleep? Yes-unfortunately, many times.
8. played a musical instrument? Yes, piano and a brief stint with an acoustic guitar.
9. sung karaoke? Nope. Singing in the shower only or with Ty to the oldies while driving.
10. cheated on an exam? Not that I can remember.
11. played spin-the-bottle? For sure.
12. laughed until some sort of beverage came out of your nose? Probably.
13. watched the sun rise with someone you care about? Yes.
14. ever been arrested? Nope.
15. gone ice skating? Yes, many times.
16. been skinny dipping? Yes, many times.
17. been on television? Yes, when I was young-Rex Trailer.
18. thrown up in front of a date? Yes.
Credit http://chartroose.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/have-you-evera-meme-for-lazy-loggers-like-me/ for her creativity in thinking this one !
have you ever...
1. gone on a blind date? Yes, once and only once.
2. skipped school? Yes, OK this is a prelude the rest of this meme as I was a rebellious teenager.
3. been on the opposite side of your country? Well - this is pretty much a quote taken from Girasoli's blog at http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/girasoli/
"Yes. I grew up in Massachusetts and now live in Hawaii. That is pretty much as opposite as you can get." Please change 'now live' to 'lived'
4. swam in the ocean? The ocean runs in my veins.
5. had your booze taken away by the cops? Yes and he turned out to be a former neighbor of my family.
6. lettered in a high school sport? No. Com'n-I went to a Catholic all-girl's high school in the 60s --the only sport was basketball or cheerleading. I'm too short for basketball - was a cheerleader for one year before I got bored by it all.
7. cried yourself to sleep? Yes-unfortunately, many times.
8. played a musical instrument? Yes, piano and a brief stint with an acoustic guitar.
9. sung karaoke? Nope. Singing in the shower only or with Ty to the oldies while driving.
10. cheated on an exam? Not that I can remember.
11. played spin-the-bottle? For sure.
12. laughed until some sort of beverage came out of your nose? Probably.
13. watched the sun rise with someone you care about? Yes.
14. ever been arrested? Nope.
15. gone ice skating? Yes, many times.
16. been skinny dipping? Yes, many times.
17. been on television? Yes, when I was young-Rex Trailer.
18. thrown up in front of a date? Yes.
Credit http://chartroose.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/have-you-evera-meme-for-lazy-loggers-like-me/ for her creativity in thinking this one !
Saturday, September 27, 2008
PhotoHunt: View
If I'm breaking any rules, it's not intentional. I'm just too tired from a week of busyness to make a decision. So, I give you Views from four of my favorite places in the world:
Orvieto for its sensibleness, simple and exquisite beauty. The fog had not yet lifted which made for an eery backdrop to the iron scrollwork.
Rome for its reverence in history, steeped in tradition.
The Alhambra in Granada for its mysteriousness - and at dusk it's magical! 
Kaneohe, taken from the Pali Highway in Hawaii -- just because .. 
way too many warm thoughts to list here.
way too many warm thoughts to list here.Friday, September 26, 2008
Oh, Sarah p-l-e-a-s-e!
You know I generally don't talk about politics on a public forum, but I'm still shaking my head over this inane comment from a woman (and I say that with emphasis because, halleluia at first I thought it's about time we are finally represented but ..), who may hold a powerful position in our country (and we all know what condition that's in) with a hostile attitude. Sarah, give me a break, please!
Did you happen to hear the Katie Couric interview of Sarah Palin last night? She asked why Sarah didn't get her passport until just recently? Sarah's snooty reply in effect was: I was not one of those who upon graduating college, her parents gave her a passport and a backpack. Noooooo, I worked two jobs most of my life until I was married ... Most of my learning about the world has been done in other mediums like books ..
This mentality is scary .... and I'm a bit angered by her seemingly resentment of people who have passports (ergo, travel)! Yikes, I went to college, have worked two jobs, raised a family (most of the time as a single parent), went back to school and STILL GOT A PASSPORT!
So, we have the maverick and the dimwit on one side of the ticket. I will conclude this by saying: I was a Republican until this year and changed my status based on the inefficiencies of George Bush and the same from McCain - it's not working - let's try something/someone else.
Her original quote: "I'm not one of those who maybe came from a background of, you know, kids who perhaps graduate college and their parents give them a passport and give them a backpack and say go off and travel the world. No, I've worked all my life. In fact, I usually had two jobs all my life until I had kids. I was not a part of, I guess, that culture."
Did you happen to hear the Katie Couric interview of Sarah Palin last night? She asked why Sarah didn't get her passport until just recently? Sarah's snooty reply in effect was: I was not one of those who upon graduating college, her parents gave her a passport and a backpack. Noooooo, I worked two jobs most of my life until I was married ... Most of my learning about the world has been done in other mediums like books ..
This mentality is scary .... and I'm a bit angered by her seemingly resentment of people who have passports (ergo, travel)! Yikes, I went to college, have worked two jobs, raised a family (most of the time as a single parent), went back to school and STILL GOT A PASSPORT!
So, we have the maverick and the dimwit on one side of the ticket. I will conclude this by saying: I was a Republican until this year and changed my status based on the inefficiencies of George Bush and the same from McCain - it's not working - let's try something/someone else.
Her original quote: "I'm not one of those who maybe came from a background of, you know, kids who perhaps graduate college and their parents give them a passport and give them a backpack and say go off and travel the world. No, I've worked all my life. In fact, I usually had two jobs all my life until I had kids. I was not a part of, I guess, that culture."
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Hey, Paisano!
I don't know why I am always amazed when I run into someone that I later determine is related to me. The probability is, upon reflecton, quite high.
There were 10 siblings on my mother's side and each had at least 3 children (30). Seven boys (God bless my grandmother) on the other side (one bachelor and one childless) and each had at least 2 children (~10). In 1985, we had a family reunion for just one side of the family and 164 people were present. So, when I run into someone who has a family surname, I ask them about their family. After the preliminary questions of where did you grow up and parents' names, there's a connection made. This happened today in a phone conversation with someone. After speaking to him, I asked his name for my file reference - and sure enough - we are related!
Even when I was living in Hawaii in the 70s, I was contacted by a cousin who resided there (and I had only met him once - much older than I). I hardly knew him, but he was family and it felt good to be with family so far away from home.
When I was younger my father and mother would sometimes describe someone in conversation as "you know, he's a paisan." Seriously, I think everyone with a bit of Italian blood is related. After all, if you read about the emporers, kings, masters of arts, and even the popes, they fathered many families......hmm, makes you wonder?
Even when I was living in Hawaii in the 70s, I was contacted by a cousin who resided there (and I had only met him once - much older than I). I hardly knew him, but he was family and it felt good to be with family so far away from home.
When I was younger my father and mother would sometimes describe someone in conversation as "you know, he's a paisan." Seriously, I think everyone with a bit of Italian blood is related. After all, if you read about the emporers, kings, masters of arts, and even the popes, they fathered many families......hmm, makes you wonder?
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