New Year Resolution

At this time of the year, crazy S and I sit and we make our list of thing to do in the New Year. We look over the previous year list and ask did we accomplish everything? Well in 2008 C.S. looks like he did a great job…. He skipped a couple of thing that I added to his list. He refuses to do any of my additions, because he claims there my resolutions for him not his. On my list except for trip to Italy during the summer-time, everything else will be moved to the 2009 list, and after all the storms that has been going through in my house in the last six months I decided that Peacemaker will be my real resolution for the 2009 year.
I will keep you post on successes and failures…
To all: Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy 2009

Welcome to New York

Ieri pomeriggio mentre ero a scuola, per un momento pensavo che stessi sognando scendendo giu` dal terzo piano in fondo le scale c’era una bellissima sorpresa ad aspettarmi, i miei carissimi amici Dario e Rosalba. Che gioia e` stato vederli non potevo iniziare le mie vacanze natalizie meglio. Infatti ieri e` stato l’ultimo giorno di scuola, D. e R. sono arrivati questa settimana dalla Sicilia per trascorrere pochi giorni a New York. Ieri tra l’altro e` venuta giu` la prima neve di questa stagione percio` a parte goderci la neve non e` stato possibile fare tanto o andare troppo in giro, comunque e` stato un bel pomeriggio insieme e con tristezza ad un certo punto ci siamo dovuti salutare.
In cambio sono in vacanza per le prossime due settimane con tanta gioia …….e ci sara` tanto da divertirsi….

HAPPY HOLIDAY TO ALL

Thanksgiving Day 2008

Today is Thanksgiving, and as per tradition we should contemplate what we are thankful for. My husband and I came up with a list ….I need his help as my brain was frying and smoke was came out from my ears!!
So here it goes:
1. We are thankful to God for giving us the strength each day!
2. We are thankful for having each other!
3. We are thankful for our work!
4. We are thankful for our family (and I had to include my m in L. Whatever….)
5. We are thankful for our friends including the 6:17 to Penn friends, as I go and come from work!
6. I ‘m thankful for……….macy’s…………just kidding…………no I’m serious!
7. We are just thankful!

“HAVE A WONDERFUL TURKEY DAY”

Columbus Day Parade

Per la prima volta ho parteciapato alla Columbus Day parade. Essere partecipe in questa 64th annual Columbus Day parade insieme agli studenti de La Scuola D’Italia “G. Marconi” e` stato molto eccitante. Con tanto orgoglio sventolando le bandiere tricolore abbiamo sfilato lungo la quinta avenue, da 44th a 79th street. Siamo partiti a mezzogiorno e si e` conclusa verso le 2:30. Ha coinvolto oltre 35 mila partecipanti, oltre 100 bande, carri e gruppi.

Con gioia La Scuola D'Italia si e` ritrovata sul New York time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/nyregion/14nyc.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=la%20scuola%20d

Solo Pensieri

Da quando ho deciso di scrivere in lingua italiana tenere aggiornato questo diario virtuale e` diventato molto piu` facile, cosi` anche esprimere le mie emozioni.
Ci sono momenti in cui realizzo quanto carente e` il mio inglese. Molte volte durante conversazioni, nel tradurre i miei pensieri dall’italiano all’inglese perdo completamente il significato di cio` che intendo esprimere, cosi` come e` successo oggi, nel cercare di tirare su moralmente un’amica, nonostante le mie buone intenzioni, ho finito per confonderla di piu`. Cio` mi ha lasciato un terribile vuoto dentro. Mi rianimo sapendo che ho quest’angolo dove mi posso rifuggiare e liberarmi di quel peso che poi turba il mio cuore....
...Sto ritornando al mio lavoro una settimana prima del previsto. Si conclude cosi` con piu` tempeste che serenita` un’altra estate. In compenso mi sento pronta ad affrontare con tranquillita` le sfide che man mano si possono presentare durante l’anno accademico.
Non vedo l'ora di rivedere i miei piccoli studenti, le mie colleghe e i miei amici....dopo due lunghissimi mesi....

Storm

Ieri e` stato tremendo. Una bella giornata estiva, ventosa e luminosa si e` trasformata in un diluvio, il cielo si e` oscurato improvvisamente e in pochi minuti pioggia, vento e grandine a non finire.
Anche oggi prevedeva tempesta tutto il giorno invece la tempesta di oggi e` stata interiore, una di quelle che ogni tanto prende dentro e ci mette di cattivo umore. Nonostante cerchiamo di non farci ferire dalle cose inutili e dare il giusto valore anche alle situazioni negative, c’e` sempre nella vita di tutti quella tempesta, quelle difficolta` che appaiono insormondabili.
Questa mia tempesta e` semplicemente la stanchezza emotiva di sentirsi l’anima attaccata dentro, la continua tentazione che fa perdere il controllo di se` stessi, nonostante vuoi mantenerti positiva, allegra.
Purtroppo lamentarsi e` inutile e non risolve niente...
Allora una bella passeggiata pomeridiana e` necessaria, per rinfrescarsi le idee, “to cool down” , rimettersi di buon umore con l’ottimismo di sempre... E cosi` si ritorna a vivere... con gioia...
....fino alla prossima... tempesta...

Due settimane in Sicilia

Qualche mese fa decisi di smettere blogging.
Oggi sento la necessita` di condividere i miei pensieri e le mie emozioni su quei pochi giorni trascorsi a Castrofilippo. Desidero farlo nel mio blog e in lingua italiana, per tutti i miei carissimi amici la` in paese......Mi mancate, mi mancate tantissimo. So che ci siamo visti solo per poco, ma la gioia nel ritrovarvi e` stata grande.
All’inizio di questa breve vacanza mi ero ripromessa di evitare confronti e le solite discussioni poco paicevoli, che sempre si sono create con i miei durante le mie visite. Sono molto orgogliosa di me stessa, sono riuscita a completare le due settimane senza neanche una discussione con pa` e senza aver fatto innervosire ma`, spero neache una volta. Lasciatemolo dire non e` stato facile....
Dieci giorni sono volati via semplicemente a casa godendomi ogni secondo i piccoli
Joseph

Victoria

double trouble

(9:00am -10:00pm) di seguito un paio d’ore di lettura, tra le punture di zanzare, sui gradini all’ingresso di casa. Leggere e` la mia passione, mi aiuta a rilassarmi e ricaricarmi dell’energia necessaria to keep my mouth shut.
Rientro adesso con emozioni diverse dagli anni passati, ancora sto cercando i motivi.
...forse perche` e` stata l’estate in paese dopo 8 anni, i ricordi e la nostalgia dell’estate castrofilippese hanno preso il sopravvento....
il nostro meraviglioso mare, non mi ero resa conto quanto mi mancasse.

...oppure perche` e` stato duro salutare i piccoli
...o forse perche` avrei desiderato almeno un’altra settimana da trascorrere con i miei amici.
Mi rento conto che sto scrivendo guidata dalle emozioni e percio` meglio smettere adesso.

Per concludere... a G. O. e sorella grazie per aver organizzato il pomeriggio in campagna, anche io pensavo e desideravo avere piu` tempo da trascorrere con voi. Siete sempre nel mio cuore. La foto ricordo arrivera` via email come promesso.
D. & R. mi e` dispiacito non essere stata presente al vostro matrimonio, ma grazie per aver condiviso le bellissime foto.
I. desideravo sapere piu` di te. Cosa fai di bello un anno dopo la laurea?
C. B. ho trovato il tuo blog a presto.... http://rollsappletree.altervista.org/
M.A. e sorella siete sulla perfetta strada continuate con serenita` il vostro cammino.
M.R. spero che ti dai una calmata, la vita va vissuta con gioia e serenita` sei ancora troppo giovane. Comunque, grazie per la serata era da tempo che non ridevo cosi` tanto...
Non so quando potro` rivedervi di nuovo fin a quel momento un abbraccio a tutti.

Land of the free...Home of the.... taxed

Weeks have passed by very fast and a lot things have happens, and just to make crazy S crazier’ here I’m with a post.
What the hell happened while I was gone and what hasn’t changed?
1) I been audited by the state
2) I had the pleasure to meet a wonderful blog friend.
3) I’m catching up with school projects.
4) I spent one weekend on children’s conference.
5) I’m still dealing with crowded house.
6) Still take me hours and hours to write a stupid post.

Back to number 1. “Audited by the State”
I have been a guest of this country for the past eleven years, and I have filed tax returns in these years, I have never heard of being audited: until the beginning of April when we received a notification that New York State has selected my state income tax for review. How lucky we are, I’m very excited. What a great thing. I’m learning something else about this country!!!!!!!! Sorry….. Lovely and wonderful country.
Like I have the time to go looking over one year of bills, receipts, canceled checks and medical bills, etc., etc., to prove all the information corresponds to my claimed deductions. I have to prove to the government of the state of New York who freely takes my hard earned money that I deserve or am entitled to some of my own money back.
So let make our Governor happy and start gathering all the information that he needs, make copies, draw yellow lines and justify my money……very hard earned money to be returned to me. I figure the state should double everyone’s return after all our governor spent money banging prostitutes. That is Ok he can do everything he wants with his money.
Anyway, all bills and receipts are ready, all copies are done, I called my accountant but tax season is over it was “last day the office is open sorry for the inconvenience” sorry… my ass no…better my husband’s ass it’s bigger! After all is said and done we have more receipts and deductions we didn’t include…so here you go…..pay me….and see you back next year!

Time

Sorry... for been away.
I will be back soon!
Until then enjoy the Byrds!

why this song?.....Just because!

Double Trouble part two

Baby Joseph and baby Victoria are doing great. I did not meet them yet but I was told that they are very good babies. They eat well and sleep well. They are very good during the night. Yet no complains from mom and dad about lack of sleep.
Of course I never find grandma at her house; every excuse is good for her to be over there.
Finally after 20 days of waiting I received the first baby pictures.

Here's photos of the babies’ birth day and the following day!

Good Bye Brooklyn part 2

The closing happened and it now was time for the move.
It wasn't me moving but mother in law, and it was the worst of the worst of headaches you can imagine.
Everything was a treasure and everything needed to be packed….. Yeah, sure, you bury treasure not pack it!
Of course all of it is in storage… Yeah, of course waiting to be buried in a land fill is Staten Island somewhere. Paying rent for stuff that the salvation army would reject or third world countries would send back with a donation to you.

but it's over and mission accomplished......NO MORE BROOKLYN.....Yes.

Good Bye Brooklyn

Good bye tenants, good bye bounced checks, good bye driving every week to Brooklyn, good bye all the headaches.
After two years on the market and 9 months under contract and in a very bad real estate market IT’S SOLD… at the asking price. Today was the closing and it went pretty well.
Thank you God. Perseverance pays off.
At the end it took one day to pack 40 years of my mother in law's memories, having my house crowded and full of boxes and s….
That’s how my spring break started. How it is going to end, I will leave for everyone’s imagination.
For now Happy Easter to all who celebrate it, and Happy Spring to everyone else.

My second tag "BooK Meme"

Few days ago I was tag by CDP to do the Book Meme. I love books and reading so I was very glad to do it. My selection random ended up to be an Italian book; and because it’s not fair for my English readers, I also picked up “The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett a book that I’m reading at this time.
Here are the rules for this meme:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

I did both books and you can try to figure out what the Italian one means. Go to: babelfish.altavista.com to find the translation.
“La Gita a Tindari” by Andrea Camilleri
Page 123, 5th sentence:
...si allenavano per quando sarebbero diventati grandi.
Next 3:
..o forse non c’era manco bisogno che crescevano proprio il giorno avanti, a fela, era stato arrestato quello che I giornali avevano definito un “baby-killer” appena appena undicino. Uno di quelli che si erano messi a parlare (Montalbano non se la sentiva di chiamarli pentiti e tanto meno collaboratori di gistizia) aveva rivelato che esisteva una specie di scola pubblica dove s’insegnava ai picciliddri a sparare e ad ammazzare. I pronipoti di don Balduccio quella scola non avrebbero avuto motivo di frequentarla.

The Pillars Of the Earth
Page 123, 5th sentence:
So it’s just a traveling knight or a tinker servant, nor the villagers.
Next 3:
…Then on holy day, when people come from all every over the country to hear the services in the cathedral, we gather farthings galore. It seems to me we might man the bridge on holy days only, and give you a fire out of the proceeds” said Philip. Paul looked anxious.

I’m tagging who ever will be my next new 5 blogger friends.
Video based on a book of Andrea Camilleri.

My first tag

I was tagged by Politits to do a minimalist memoir. A stripped down tale of this life in six words.
So here it goes.
The rules are:
1. Write your own six word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you’d like.
3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post.
4. Tag five more blogs with links.
5. And don’t forget to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

I don’t have much traffic on my blog but I enjoy reading:
FranIam, LemonGloria, Morning Martini, Aunt Dahlia, Wyld’s

What does this mean: You have been tagged:)

My memoir in six words:
Molding and shaping clay into art.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

God has blessed our family with
a baby boy Joseph weight 2,3Kg.
and a baby girl Victoria weight 2,4Kg.
Who were born in Agrigento (Sicily)
today March 4th, 2008 at 9:00am local time.
Both babies are doing well
and we are praying for mom’s recovery.

The Proud Aunt

PS: Photos coming soon

Snow Day

It is 5:30am; I was almost ready to walk out to go to the station, when my phone rang!
My Principal: “We decided to close the school today”
The emergency plan is on, one hour later and after lots of phone calls, everyone is happily informed about the news.
(We will find out tomorrow that someone was left out and showed up in front the school)
I don’t like the cold and never will get use to NYC winter, but today the outside view is incredibly beautiful.

It is 8:00am. What I do with the rest of the day?

ENJOY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry is Holiday......

...Please call back tomorrow!

(this is story, happened to Derelict #2.) myspace.com/paramedic7870

For someone, like D#2, who is works in the healthcare system, there are no weekends or holidays. Unfortunately heart’s attacks, broken bones, accidents, or illness don’t follow calendar events or specific office hours.

During last weekend D.#2 had a medical emergency on a Saturday. He needed to contact his health insurance Co. for verification of status.
"Our office is presently closed please call back during business hours Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm", the recording said.
Monday come, again D#2 is on his phone again. “Sorry, due President’s Day our office are now closed please call back tomorrow!” the recording now said.

My dearest D.#2 why are you so surprise? What were you thinking! Why should a live person be behind a desk answering your question on a weekend or President Day? Are you special?
IT'S A HOLIDAY, DOESN’T THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT NO ONE ALLOWED TO GET SICK ON THOSE DAYS!

After a few hours of *#@!! And tantrums from D.#2 we started laughing about the situation which brought back memories of a few years ago. Myself and D#2 were visiting family in Europe which live in a very small town, population 3,000 including chickens and pigs. One Saturday night, D#2’s next door neighbor ran to him, the sweet elderly woman who lives around the corner had an accident. She fell down and needed medical attention. The closest hospital is Kilometers away, the only doctor available in town went in his farm to take care his tomatoes' plants and the remaining population of chickens and pigs..

The sweet elderly woman had broken her arm. D#2 using his skills took care of her, made a splint from a grape vineyard branch, put on bandages made from pillow cases and drove 45 minutes to the nearest emergency room to have her X-ray’s done and her arm put in a cast! Upon arrival the were met at the triage by the Dr. who agreed that the arm was broken but, said come back Monday so we can do the X-ray and cast her arm. MONDAY it was Saturday night, why Monday? Sorry there are no radiologist available to do X-ray on Saturday night and Sunday, and the specialist that casts is not available on weekends (probably taking care of his chickens and pigs).
You have come back on Monday (if is not a Holiday)!

Nothing new! Different country same ………..

Tuscany's Sky / Cieli di Toscana

I was listening one of my favorite singer Andrea Bocelli his album “Cieli di Toscana.”
That bring back a lot of memories. So here I’m thinking about Tuscany one of my favorite italian region, and the beauty of Florence the capitol, one of my favorite city, that lies on the Arno River.
I was there two years ago for a week, and I’m planning to go back, not enough time to enjoyed what the region have to offer, and if there is a charm land of art, food, wine this is Tuscany.

I stayed in Florence at the “Garibaldi Hotel” felt warmly welcome by the people I met, as much as in Sicily with my family.
If you are into art, the city is a breath taker, Florence keeps an exceptional artistic heritage which is a marvelous evidence of its aged culture. Great monuments are the landmarks Florentine artistic culture: the Baptistery with its mosaics; the Cathedral with its sculptures, the medieval churches with bands of frescoes; public as well as private palaces: Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, Palazzo Medici Riccardi.


Every night I tried different restaurants, my refined palate was overwhelming by the food and the good wine. This region is the home of Chianti .
Tuscan food is simple and abundant with local produce, mellow cheeses and grilled meats. white beans cooked with sage and olive oil. Beef Steak Florentine, cover the table of a typical Tuscan meal.
The Chianti area, between Florence and Siena, is one of the most beautiful countryside in Italy and a famous wine production area, without a doubt the most well known of all Italian wines.
If you plain a trip in Italy stop by Florence, you will not be disappointed!

Andrea Bocelli & Helena Hellwing L'Abitudine from "Cieli Di Toscana"

Disaster Night

Tonight was a Disaster. Last Evening was a Disaster. My Home is a disaaaaster.That ‘s what, one of my 3 year old students, this morning was yelling, holding both his hands on his forehead as he walked in. Well, IT'S A DISAAAASTER… Now I’m holding both hands on my forehead yelling "Oh what a disaster. " What is a disaster?! When there are good stories to write about it and take a lot of time just to find the right grammar and verbs, adjectives, adverbs. Yeah! IT'S HURT. Being up all night would not be a good idea. C'e` sempre una alternativa e una soluzione a tutto. Per adesso, usando al meglio cio` che si sa e in pochi minuti tutto fatto. In seguito si vedra`......forse! In fondo la vita ci puo` sorprendere in cio` che si fa e dove non si immaggina si puo` incontrare quello che si sta cercando. Sicuramente in futuro avro` modo di raccontare e condividere piu` storie. Evidentemente questa non e` la serata adatta. Non male come inizio. Tra l'altro ho annunciato e anticipato la mia pazzia!

Give and Receive

Give and receive love openly. It's should not take much to show someone that we care. Half day and already a full collection of cards, candy heart, chocolate and flowers filling up the bag. On daily basis a simple smile or an act of kindness should do the work, and bring a hint of sweetness to someone's day. It's great warm up both, who give and who receive when it's done with love.

Should be Valentine's Day every day!