long island for a year

Goodbye!

2010-08-13T14:15:00.000-04:00

You can still find me around the corner!

I know, I know...

it has been one year now. Actually a bit longer than that.

And we'll be staying some more months. But I am not a fan of extended projects; this has to end. Now.
Also, I am not a fan of goodbyes.
But this is a secret.

As mentioned here and there, I need to take care of another little writing project with a friend and as much as I like reading couple of books at the same time, I am not able to concentrate on writing more things at a time.
Some other things that were happening (or not happening) made me take this decision. I got to go. I will go.
I will miss writing about Long Island, but there are such wonderful people writing about this island and me, I am kind of a "part-time lover" to use the words of Stevie Wonder.

Before I go, I really need to say: you should read the blogs I put in my blogroll. On the left-side; the other left!

I am very selective, so just expect to find la "creme de la creme".

Do you have tissues?

Cutchogue - A Pacifist Memento

2010-08-09T11:23:00.000-04:00

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

Albert Einstein

Certainly, back in 1939, he was preoccupied with the situation in Europe, where - he knew - Germans were working on a new lethal device, the atomic bomb.

In Cutchogue he wrote letters to the President Roosevelt who, taking Einstein's words seriously, decided to launch what is known as the Manhattan Project*.

What was Einstein doing in Cutchogue though?

He was on vacation, sailing on the Tinef; but he was a sailor who couldn't swim.

You might read more in this article about Einstein in Cutchogue.



*I don't need to explain more about the Manhattan Project, but today (August 9th) I want to give a personal contribution: I have been to many places related to WWII: Hiroshima, some concentration camps in Europe, the lab (and now Museum) where Oppenheimer was working in Los Alamos, NM, not to talk about Berlin.

Also, there are some strange coincidences in my life related to WWII.

I don't know if it means anything, but I grew up as a pacifist, I can't even stand people arguing, let alone using weapons of any kind.

If you ever happen to be in one of the above mentioned places, try to survive the emotional shock to remember that there is no end to brutality, as much as there is probably no end to technology.

Certainly, once we destroy everything, there will only be sticks and stones.

Cutchogue's English Past

2010-08-09T11:21:00.000-04:00

The Old House in the Village Green

After the little disappointment for not being able to see with my eyes what's left of Fort Corchaug - now property of the Peconic Land Trust - I moved to the other historic spot of Cutchogue, where the English house stands.

This house was built in Southold in 1640 - and is therefore the oldest English style house in the State of New York - to be moved to Cutchogue in 1660.
I have written in a previous post about my fascination for the history of some of the villages in the North Fork.
Not only am I a big lover of things east, here in the little village of Cutchogue I found an incredible concentration of what is the history of Long Island, of the US but also a little piece of world history: starting with the American Indians, to proceed with the English settlers, other immigrants from Eastern European countries, Italians...and one well known scientist who had - it seems we are never able to learn from our past! - to leave the Old Continent because of his religious and political views.

to be continued...

Cutchogue - a Dive Into History

2010-08-09T10:46:00.002-04:00

After the story about the beaches, I knew there was a part of me that still needed to be sated.

Truth is that I am a very curious person and my first time in Cutchogue was NOT driven by the search for a nice beach. That was mere chance.

In fact, what I was looking for were some rests of an old ruin, namely that of Fort Corchaug, which was a gathering place for the Corchaug, one of the Algonquian tribes who lived on Long Island before the English settlers put their roots on the East End in the mid 17th century and who were decimated by either weapons or diseases.

Although not an expert, I am interested in American Indian history, which was sadly a succession of genocide in the past and is - up to now - a difficult struggle to keep alive minorities with traditions and rules, without creating a bunch of individuals isolated from a society that does not take such rules and traditions into consideration.

Anyway, if you are interested in knowing more about the Fort, I suggest you read this article about its history and the cross-cultural history of Cutchogue and Long Island in general.

In Southold you will also find a little museum dedicated to the Algonquian Indians.

A must read about the Algonquian people on Long Island today is the book "We are still alive" by John A. Strong.

to be continued...

Cutchogue - beaching around...

2010-08-09T07:32:00.000-04:00

View of the Bay from the New Suffolk Park

Relax is the one reason why I am here!

Houses in Cutchogue are very pretty, I am totally envious...

Since childhood I was always spending my summers at the beach (back in Italy).
Even though the Dolomites are not too far from where I lived and even though I remember many day trips to the nearby hilly area, to lakes like Garda or Levico or the banks of the river Piave, summer vacation meant one thing: beach.
With the connected accessories like sunscreen, granita (crushed ice with mint syrup), watermelon, shells...

Growing up, the whole experience became a little wilder, the accessories being a gang of cousins my age, poetry, bonfires, the guy with the guitar and the dark eyes, a good amount of fun and very little sleep.

Now, first of all nothing is more precious than my beauty sleep (it would be more correct to say that my beauty has fallen asleep, but these are details for another time).

And I definitely grew out to be a totally non-romantic person, so if - say - someone thinks about bringing me flowers*, I'd point in the direction of my chocolate supply and say: empty!

But one thing didn't change: I like sitting on the sand and look in the direction of the horizon. I don't need anything special (crosswords would be a fantastic companion though), just to let the thoughts float.

This kind of pastime, which is close relative with inner peace and absentmindedness, is of course more or less like an interrupted line on an uneven piece of paper.

Why?Because this time I am on the other side, I am a mom taking care of two kids who are, hopefully, having their fun.

Now it's me the one who wakes up early to prepare some lunch, snacks, collects toys, sunscreen, hats, bathing suites and so on (and feels like my mom, or my MIL, upset that their husband is always the last one to be ready; who knows what he is still repairing, looking for, cleaning that is so urgent!Men seem to be suddenly very busy whenever help is needed)**.

Anyway, it makes me very happy when I find a nice place where everybody is having a good time.

One of this places is in Cutchogue, in the town of Southold.

With small kids I am especially fond of shallow water, so this is - being on the Big Peconic Bay - an enjoyable, pretty and usually not crowded spot.

The playground from which one can enter the beach is as nice as the beach itself and perfect for a shady rest.

Of course you can also meet some nice friends there...

(sure enough there was a kiss after that look...who knows if the duck ever turned into a princess?).

to be continued...

*I like flowers very much, but they seem to have a shorter life after seeing me, so I feel totally guilty when someone brings me flowers...

**spending half an hour in the bathroom with sunscreen in his hands didn't prevent Ralph from getting a sunburn, so I really wonder what the hack he's doing...maybe reading the list of chemicals?

Design Connections

2010-08-05T10:07:00.002-04:00

Admittedly, I love design and home design magazines.

But this one is more than just about design; in fact the cover is by a friend of mine, Elena, who - hopefully - will be visiting New York in October.

I haven't seen her in ages, but I definitely connect her with a positive moment of my life, having a good time during (and after) school.

And also with a special sketch (she was always good in drawing) of me and my beloved one (better looking than in real life of course!) engaged in a kiss, subtitled "I need to do some experiment", as the philosopher Hume would say.

That was hanging on the classroom's wall for a while, triggering some interesting question from teachers!

Do you remember that, Elena?

btw HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Berliner Schnauze, mon amour!

2010-08-01T10:44:00.000-04:00

Talking to my friend Ilka, a German girl my age whom I consider part of my family, I always have to complain about how I am pissed and mad at people in Berlin. She always agrees.

By now I know enough nice and friendly people and I like them very much, but there is always the "public place experience" which leaves me - almost everyday - in discomfort.

People complain a lot. Doors do not get opened for you (me, usually pushing a stroller and carrying more than one bag), nobody gives you his or her seat in the train, queues are not respected and if you ask for an information, most probably you will receive a bad look.

Let's don't talk about kids: someone would always tell you they are too loud or would give some unwanted suggestion - and if it comes from a man, I can tell you I get totally upset!!!

So, with all the pretty things to see and do there are, the one I never missed is this attitude.

The sources of which are still obscure to me; is it the stress of being always on time?The perfectionism?Or is it pure selfishness?

I know at this point I would make my German readers unhappy, but I believe it is time to change!What about a friendly smile?What about a more positive state of mind?

This, believe it or not, can make the difference in one's life.

My husband, himself a born Berliner (but generally a lot friendlier than the stereotype described above) would always tell me to complain directly to the people who cause my unhappiness, but - as in the best cases of bad communication between man and woman - while I would try to make him feel sympathy for my dissatisfaction, he would get angry because I don't do anything to solve the problem.

Point is that, apart from being myself, kind and caring and smiling, I can't do much to solve the problem, aside from having these long dialogues with Ilka and - if in total despair - yell something like "go to hell", revealing that my inability to pronounce the letter H at the beginning of words is not because I am a sweet French girl, but rather an angry Italian one.

A (bitter-sweet) Taste of Southold

2010-07-25T13:52:00.000-04:00

I'm not so much a visual person as I am a word person, and especially when telling a story - best done in my own language - I'd concentrate on words very much. Sometimes, though, a story pours out of an image I have in my mind or images come to my mind when reading a story.

This photo is a good example of what I'll say.

I was driving through Southold in a warm afternoon, after having unsuccessfully planned my morning and I so much wanted to take a walk on the beach. Which beach? There are many in Southold.

The one in the picture is on North Bayview. But don't try to get there, if you don't have a Southold parking permit.

The town of Southold put this sign e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e: on every possible street that might take you to whatever view of the water.

So, unless you are on a boat or are the lucky owner of a waterfront estate (and filthy rich, because those are huge!) you might as well forget you are on an island.

Many times I resisted the temptation of ringing the bell of one of those villas, telling a nice story to their owner to be able to throw a look from their windows, terraces or garden (a woman with two cute kids, I believe I could succeed!) and catch a grasp of what they keep so jealously under their finger-nails.

But I just took a couple of pictures from the flooded spot I was standing.

What you'd never suspect (and expect) is that, a few seconds later, from behind that little island-sand bar, a bunch of seniors male and women - armed of swimming noodle - made their appearance, giving a twist to my imagination.

The little paradise-like picture suddenly became the scene of the long ago seen movie Coccoon.

And I - half amused, half respectful - restrained myself from taking more pictures.

Instead, I drove to Cedar Beach (amazingly you don't need any permit to park here) to face the South Fork, but - as I arrived there - my baby had ironically just fallen asleep, so I decided to leave my walk for another time and another place.

Note: I will have more to say about the beautiful city of Southold.

Du bist so wunderbar Berlin!!!

2010-07-23T11:45:00.001-04:00

View from our window

Short post: I have been away from home (home-town and home= living place) for one year now.

I miss my city life. I miss walking around and get things done without ever starting the engine of the car. I miss the culture, I miss the apartment, the bed and the kitchen. I miss my friends and my second family.

But I am not sad.

Being away (from people and places) is a constant in my life. I will be back soon. And I will want to go away again. (Ralph meant I can always take the S-Bahn to Königs Wüsterhausen when I am fed off Berlin).

I read about Berliners...and I am ready to get angry again, to have a healthy amount of poison everyday to swallow and to talk back if necessary.

Ice Cream Extravaganza

2010-07-20T13:37:00.001-04:00

Last weekend my family and I were invited to attend an "ice cream party" and for no reason in the world we would have missed that.

In the first place because Gabriele - an Italian friend and colleague of Ralph - made this invitation and he and his family are such nice people we wouldn't have said no.

Second, we love ice-cream.

Third, we know that Gabriele's ice-cream is THE BEST.

So, of course, I took a bunch of pictures, which are not doing justice to any of his creations (when technology will be able to convey taste and smell through the screens, then it will be fair).

I might, though, tell you about some of the flavors that we had to choose from

(well, I didn't go as far as to try them all because I'm a bit picky, but I tried many).

The genius at work!

And young and old enjoying...

Next to the classics like vanilla and chocolate - good but not extraordinary - there was a huge variety of fruit flavors among which pineapple, nectarine, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, watermelon, banana-cardamom, strawberry, apricot...(bet I forgot some).

I am totally for the berries; my favorite combination was blueberry and banana cardamom and very good were raspberry and vanilla.

As for chocolate, I almost never have chocolate ice cream. Unless it's dark chocolate. Or chocolate - red chili. (I miss the Eis Boutique in Berlin).

Well, I don't think I had ever eaten so much ice cream in one single afternoon before...so now I definitely need an ice cream break.

In fact, when the twenty something people were done with the ice cream, Gabriele showed a few guys one of his food findings: a marble cheese-cake. With the words "I don't like cheesecake, but I like this!" he convinced me - not a cheesecake lover either - to try it.

And I tried that little piece in the middle. Just that, I swear!

West Meadow Beach - Stony Brook

2010-07-19T14:03:00.005-04:00

From this point, the West Meadow beach is on the left (north-est) side.

To know more about the little brown cottage, Stony Brook and the Three Villages, I recommend you read what Soundbounder has to say (he has nice winter photos and his blog is always an excellent source of information for all the Long Island Sound area!).

The mouth bars are supposed to be changing their shape continuously

In the past months I have been hanging around the Stony Brook and Three Villages area a lot.
Earlier this summer I spent some time with the kids walking and having picnics between the harbor and the Wetland Preserve in Stony Brook and visiting the Long Island Museum, where an interesting carriage exhibition took me back in the history of means of transportation on Long Island and the US altogether.

I had the chance to walk in East Setauket, Old Field and Poquott (here we were looking for a house about a year ago, but I opposed any waterfront option for fear of flooding and strong winds).

One place I didn't know about was the West Meadow Beach.

This is a great spot, especially in the morning at low tide.

The beach is not sandy, and actually the stones are bigger than in other places, but once one gets to the water, there are very few pebbles and - especially if you have kids, like me - you will love that the water is shallow, with sand bars after a few feet.

West Meadow is one of the most relaxing beaches around, and one of the smelliest: in fact, at low tide everything smells different, but I found that here there was a quite strong sea-weed scent I always have to associate with the very concept of sea, together with saltiness. (Next time we'll talk about my love for sea-weed).

I ignored the existence of this corner (advertising the existence of a beach is not a well known concept) until couple of weeks ago, when a friend bounced me a list of pools and beaches offering swimming lessons for our daughters, one of these being West Meadow Beach.

Anyway, it seems that - before becoming the idyllic and family friendly spot it is, West Meadow had its own controversies (the same old story of people putting their hands on public land and making it their own until it hurts) but in the end I am glad I can enjoy this place, at least until the jellyfish starts getting annoying.

To find useful information about West Meadow Beach you might read this page or maybe take part to one of the sunset seminars. These sound like fun!

Purple rain

2010-07-15T14:14:00.000-04:00

Dear Roger,

it's me again.

I know I said goodbye once, but I needed to tell you how impressed I was when I saw you on tv, winning the Lifetime Achievement Award.

You in public, speaking to hundreds people... what an emotion that must have been!

You looked pretty good, very elegant in your self designed turtle neck.

Sorry I devoted myself to another little man - you know...that's how it is now (be aware, he's a singer and a dancer too!!!).

No, I will not forget ~~your~~ back then in Paris. Sigh, more than ten years have gone...

And yes, you more than deserve a spot in my heart - because with Ben and my cousin Monica, you'll always be my favorite Jehovah's Witness!

WARNING: Although the characters in this post are all real, I obviously have never had anything to do with Prince. Too bad!

How We Decide

2010-07-11T18:08:00.006-04:00

Montreal (but it could be wherever) - coming to a conclusion

This is one of the pictures one just takes for fun and I wasn't going to put it up, but sometimes sleep brings good advice and so, there it is.

It is a highly symbolic one, obviously. (Don't shake your head because it's AGAIN about food!)

In fact we all have been there, in front of a choice in life. Haven't you?

You are hungry and you are given two totally different options: the one, on the left, tells you no lie, it is clear and promises you what you see. So, unless you are either vegetarian or on a diet or have high cholesterol, it sounds quite alright and satisfying.

The other one, on the right, is more or less a suggestion. It reminds you about something familiar, but you don't exactly know who the hell Giorgio is: he may be the owner, he may be the cook - chef Giorgió - so you'll have to rely on your instinct...because it could be a stuffing, delicious lasagne plate or a nouvelle cuisine lot-of-esthetic-but-no-content plate what you're going to find.
(And here I picture myself chef Giorgió running around with truffle-sprinkles on a plate of calamari...YAK!!!).

Anyway, in front of these choices

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Would you choose the easiest option?Or the less clear?

Or at least check the menus of both places?

Or maybe blindly choose and have a look out of curiosity but only after eating?(Usually source of regrets and anger).

As for me, I didn't have to choose; but I ask myself how many people stood in front of this board and wondered what they should choose and which criteria they'd follow.

POST SCRIPTUM
Yes, I have been there done that, but sometimes I still face this kind of doubts, especially concerning kids; which pre-school they should go, which pediatrician is the nicest, which vaccination or not they should get, should they have that nice toy or would they just forget it in a corner...
My motto is "more information as possible helps you decide".
Every now and then is just more confusing, sometimes you don't have much time to know enough...and have to trust your gut.

How We Decide is a very interesting book by Jonah Lehrer about decision-making seeing from the side of the brain.
If it doesn't help you decide to which restaurant you should go, it will give you an amazing insight of how your brain is working at that point.

Montreal, Jazz me souvien.

2010-07-11T17:39:00.002-04:00

This one is especially dedicated to Dede.

One more post isn't enough to talk about this beautiful city, but eventually I feel I should be talking about the main attraction of these few days in Montreal: the Jazz Festival.

I could start with a negative note, saying that we missed the George Clinton & Parliament's concert and the Dave Brubeck's concert as well and - given the fact that good Dave Brubeck is 90 - this is NOT one for the next time, probably.

Anyway, in things music, I always tend to see the glass full.

The amazing number of concerts (all of high quality) and the relaxed way Montrealers and visitors had during this festival struck me as an ideal of tolerance and good behavior I've seldom experienced at open air concerts.

US Americans are a good example, but Canadians are perfection - this is something Europeans should learn.

There was a huge crowd and I didn't see anyone pushing, yelling (that would be my daughter) or complaining.
There was no junk on the streets, no drunk people and no freaks.

Just pure fun and good vibration connecting everybody. That was great.

A memeber of a marching band that was kind of guiding people from one stage to another with standard brass sounds but funky costumes...

I love brass and I definitely have a couple of movies I enjoy if only for the music like Kansas City, by Robert Altman, Mo' Better Blues, by Spike Lee or Bird, by Clint Eastwood. (One could argue that Charlie Parker was a saxophone player and saxophone doesn't belong to the brass family...but I am not discussing these details here!)

This skilled and sophisticated young pianist and composer is Amanda Tosoff.
I liked her music, but I need more peace of mind for that.

What I like in jazz is the amount of different aspects, nuances and contaminations it has and one of the most interesting is certainly Latin jazz.

Harold Nussa is a young (26 year old, amazing!) cuban pianist.
You can see an interview here.

As I said, everybody was having fun: Bastian loves singing and dancing and it was amazing how child-friendly the whole party was.

Never was I afraid of kids getting lost or hit by people walking distractedly.

I forgot the name of these ladies, they were performing excellently some hit, not necessarily jazz songs, but each with a very characteristic voice and sound.

This is at the Lost Fingers concert, certainly the most interesting evening; three guys at the strings, singing 80s songs in a jazzy-gypsy variation à la Django Reinhardt (inspiration and background of their name).

Django Reinhardt suffered an injury on the forth and fifth finger and therefore played just with the three left fingers. This year would be his 100th birth anniversary.

I got myself the cd Lost in the 80s and enjoy that in the car so so much...

Some favorite of mine are You shook me all night long, Pump up the Jam and Part Time Lover (not so much for the lyrics, but the interpretation is just too good!Even a stupid tune can become great, if played by with skill and irony).

Btw, last year, when Stevie Wonder was performing at the festival, the Lost Fingers performed ten consecutive nights.

Between stages and performances there were some breaks with streets actors, and one big break for me when Ralph took Carlotta for a walk and I had a very good talk with a man from Luxembourg who called me "Madame" all the time - some people are just born elegant (he, not I, of course!).

This happened before the last concert of our last evening, Emir Kusturica and The NO smoking Orchestra in their performance full of energy and yet as controversial as the movies Kusturica directed, with some kind of nationalist content.
Well, it was an interesting talk because it was like being in front of a miroir.

This guy was traveling around a lot, it seems, and he explained to me that "if you wanted to see every place on earth, you'd need more than one life. So, I just follow my feelings. They tell me where to go next. You understand me?I bet you do!".

Of course I did.

"If you open your eyes, you will learn a lot; and travel is not just about destination, it is a journey to your inner self. You understand what I mean?

I have no one, I only have god - not the god of religion, forget about that!

It's just something I can rely on, something that connects us all.

I know I am a rebel, a Don Quixote who fights against wind-mills, but that's how I feel and how I have to be.
Do you understand what I mean?
Some people are blocked, they can't live their life fully, because they are afraid of taking any risk; anyway today is just a perfect day, the weather is wonderful and the music too: everybody is having fun. FANTASTIQUE!".

Montreal - more sightseeing....

2010-07-11T16:56:00.000-04:00

There are some spots of Montreal that I already declared as my most favorite.

One of them is the Rue de Prince Arthur Ouest (photo above and below).

It's a little walking area with nice restaurants, a little fountain, and such an enjoyable atmosphere I almost want to go back for one more ice-cream at the Pagliacci.

This is the Carré St Louis, (between Rue Pince Arthur and the Rue St. Denis) with its octagonal kiosk, which reminded me - although with a different purpose - of the Café Achteck am Rudesheimer Platz, in Berlin: one family favorite, being half a mile away from our home and offering a quiet square with garden and fountain, plus a number of little cafes, excellent bakeries and the weekly market.

Buildings are here a little shorter than in Berlin, though.
These are Second French Empire homes, with the typical rectangular tower and steep roof (the style is also called mansardate and was originated in Paris, which makes sense because this part of town, caught between the Plateau Mont-Royal and the Quartier Latin was mainly francophone).

One of the attractive things about Montreal, apart its French connection, is its relatively smooth traffic and of course the bike-friendly streets.

With those steep stairs most of the buildings have, it is some kind of a problem to park one's own bike.
So, as a turist you might like the option of getting a bixi bike from the miriads of "bike stations".

As a bike owner, you will find other solutions...

The Oscar Wilde Pub at the Quartier Latin.
Little anecdote about Wilde: when he was visiting Montreal he called - a bit arrogantly - the Mont Royal a hill...and actually, that's what I thought when I got a glimpse of that, but never mind!

Chess by the University of Quebec ground

Strolling in the Quartier Latin, a gay friendly, bar and record stores loaded area was also very relaxing, one just has to remember it's not all walking ground, as cars come from the side streets, even when they are slow and careful...

to be continued...

Montreal - sightseeing in the morning...

2010-07-09T11:44:00.001-04:00

After having slept like stones, we were spending most mornings doing some sightseeing, which was - due to the few days we had in our hands - more or less a collection of impressions and a promise to "leave something for the next time".

As far as collecting impressions goes, my own state of mind during this vacation was inspired by the stoned oriental philosopher who - running short of good advice - once said "when you don't know what to think about yourself, just don't think about it".

So, I was projecting and collecting and fell in love with this place.
With every single corner of it: With its people and with its European, international, open-minded, relaxed flair.

Between the Champ de Mars, the old ruins of the city, and the Old Montreal walkable area, we found ourselves immersed in a fruit and vegetable garden, the Governor's Garden, on the back of Chateau Ramezay, the headquarter of American army during the American Revolution.

It's always fun to see how kids are excited about raspberries, blackberries, carrots and beets when they are still on a plant (me?I am a country girl, so I am immune to this fascination).

Walking in Old Montreal you can meet people you know - and know people you meet.

Place Jacques Cartier from Rue des Artistes

I've got a thing for silly jokes, and Canadians too, it seems.

Amazing how nice and rich of atmosphere most of the restaurants and diners were!

I like hybrids, I also want an aeroplane that can swim, next time I fly...

Strolling on the Promenade Vieux-Port (adjacent to the Old Port).
In the background, the Museum of Archeology - one for the next time!

Garden of the hotel, where we didn't stay...

And the omnipresent Nutcrackers - people are NUT about these toys....

Stone buildings are much more common than in the US, even though the border is not so far....

That's the inside of the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, with its beauiful stained glass windows.

It is also known as the Sailor's Church...so now I can make more of fun of Ralph, who, instead of being on a boat, for this year has to be contented with a catholic Church. I still wonder if he should be allowed that, with his protestant background...

So much beauty....

And on a stroll between Old Montreal and Chinatown, the facades which remind me of life in a place rich in history

to be continued...

Montreal's Chinatown

2010-07-08T14:36:00.001-04:00

I am a huge fan of Chinatowns; up to now I visited more than a couple of these meta-cities and found that each has its own special atmosphere.

The one I liked most until now is the one in Kobe, Japan and the one I liked less is the one in Washington D.C. - tasteless.

Montreal's Chinatown is a small one, yet very interesting and original. There is a small number of stores and restaurants which might not compare to those in NYC, but the general feeling is that of a very well integrated Chinese, French and English speaking Gemeinschaft.

Yes, in Chinatown too streets get cleaned!!!

Choosing the most original restaurant

Japanese style window, but Chinese food and drinks

and for my collection of colorful buildings

I took these two pictures as inspiration for one of those things I'd never wish to do, but I'd be crazy enough to try...(cleaning the windows that is!!!!).
This might have been at least the 20th floor!

But look at this guy: as if he was doing that all day long!Braveheart!

A very interesting article about Chinatowns via @Atlantic

to be continued...

On the road again! - travel is not just about destination

2010-07-08T10:56:00.002-04:00

Here is a post loaded with positive impressions, one I needed to write for myself and I owe to an old friend.

Trying to avoid Independence Day's fireworks (that's one thing that makes me weak, fireworks!) we visited the city of Montreal - a suggestion given by more than one friend of ours.

We used the perfect combination of not being able to cross the US border after July 31st and having at least five weeks of appointments we can't miss and were there in perfect coincidence with the Jazz Festival, a life-time dream!!!

When I left I had the blues, so it was also a kind of soul vacation; not a relaxing one altogether, spending two full days in the car, torturing the kids with long walks, late night concerts, warm weather...but one after which you come back with new energies and new stories.

Let's start with day one.

There are the kids, requesting the three Cs (cookie, cracker, cheerios - pleeaase).

Obviously the requests were never fully satisfied all time, so we had to take some stops.

Our first and most enjoyable was at the Taghkanic Lake State Park, located on the Takonic Parkway, which goes basically from Bronx way up to Canada through the State of New York.

We had a picnic lunch by the emptier side of the lake and moved later to the busiest side.

It was a peaceful place, very calm and extraordinary.We are already thinking about spending a weekend there sometime.

Our second stop was in Chestertown, a little old (beautiful) ghost town with a nice diner and ice-cream parlor loaded with antiques and curios and which upper floor hosts a gift shop. Adirondacks' Maple syrup was the main theme, so if you love the stuff, that's the place. (And finally you can learn the difference between a real maple syrup and a fake one).

Being there in the late afternoon, we didn't have a real meal, but it all smelled delicious!

Eventually we passed the border, after 8pm.

The sky offered the most beautiful landscape.

I realize that pictures - especially if taken from the car at 50 mph - aren't good in conveying these feelings of taking the distance, leaving a place you somehow love to get distraction, organizing ideas, trying to separate and disassemble the thoughts that so often stick together as if they had been knotted. Well, that's how it feels when you get kicked in the flashbacks of your mind, and how it is when the different levels of perception (the heart, body and mind) sometime fight and yell at each other.

A huge sunset

the messengers of a god talking indigo words,

an invisible hand turning the light off

and the city of Montreal with its jazz-revelation

Of course there was music in the car; I always find the Red Hot Chili Peppers to be perfect for travel, but there is a song I always have to listen when we have to ride for such long trips "Run Around" by Blues Traveler.

to be continued...

When parents act unreasonably - kids teach them a lesson

2010-06-29T13:07:00.000-04:00

I wrote in a prevoius post about how sometimes my parents act nonsense.

Well, this time the nonsense is about me.

As a parent I am more than once in a while VERY tired: nights are interrupted, no time for myself, appointments to which I might not necessarily wish to attend.

Anyway, there is some project going on to which I can't say no anymore (promise, promise!) and I need that precious quiet time between throwing pebbles in the water and chasing after my little Messner or fighting about just anything with my daughter.

So I feel kind of stressed and sometimes this just comes out as a river of tears that I can't really justify - also, listening to some pathetic songs doesn't help.

Kids are very quiet in those moments and show their best "Why on hell is this woman crying? Must be because she didn't get the chocolate she so much wanted!!!" sorry look.

Of course kids know better.

As we were walking to the beach couple of days ago, Carlotta - always looking for answers - asked me wether I, as a child, wanted to stay a child forever.

No, I remember pretty vividly how much I wanted to be a grown up. So I told her.

Then she replied "You know, life ain't easy when you are a grown up".

Right.
The other thing she told me is that she might try cigarettes when she grows up, but she is not going to like them. Actually, she said, she has already tried cigarettes.

OKAY...

As for my project, it has nothing to do with Long Island (I owe this place the last posts about some place I really love, though) so I am packing for a couple of days, notebook and even some pencils (you never know) and hope this time nothing comes on our way!!!

June is almost over, my dear!

Getting ready for guests...

2010-06-27T16:41:00.000-04:00

I certainly told before the story of my mom finding many excuses not to come visit.

First it was about the flight - she has never gone further than Berlin, so I understand a certain preoccupation.

Then it was about my dad and his health - he's perfectly fine apart from some high sugar level.

There is also an upcoming wedding (end of August) to keep her busy - she basically has to go to the wedding, after getting dressed.

I don't know what she found out next. Maybe the fact that she didn't want to be left alone with me. Who would???

Anyway, after months trying to convince her, I eventually gave up.

Just recently I was mentioning how beautiful some of the harbor towns are and how nice it is to be able to go to the beach whenever we please.

Well, guess with that I unexpectedly convinced her.

It might well be she was a bit sad we are staying three months longer than the original plan and she wouldn't be able to see her grandchildren, but I really had the impression she was all about the beach story.

Anyway, now she seems very enthusiastic about the all thing, and what's more is that she found a travel companion: her good friend Maria.

Together the two of them already came to visit us a couple of times in Berlin; they were never living with us, though.

We have a small apartment and no guestroom.

Oh my god!!!

This time is going to be different.

Not only will they stay at our place, but they will be with us (i.e. me) ALL DAY LONG.

My sister has already warned me and now I must confess I am a bit nervous.

Don't have so many doubts about Maria: she is fine, she is interesting and kind. More doubts I have about my mom because we are two very different persons.

Plus my mom is totally not able to match colors. Why do I mention that?Is it so important?

Well, I guess it's reason enough for mother and daughter to have a discussion!

What I fear most is not about spending time together outside: there is enough distraction to keep her mind busy. I fear the time we'll be spending inside.

Where she will talk about how bad I don't have a table cloth (yes, yes, that drives me crazy) or where she would tell me how the kids don't have elegant clothes enough (pleeaaase, leave me alone!!!) or...I don't know, just things I don't care about.

Part of this anxiety is due to the fact that I am not good at accepting criticism, and once I decide something is good for me I don't see any reason to discuss about it anymore. And of course even less with my mom.

In the hope this feeling of being happy but freaked out gets better until September, I started doing a little list of things I want to do with the two of them - yes, I will accompany them around because they won't drive in a foreign Country, which language none of them speaks.

Most certainly I will take them to New York - sitting them on the LIRR and expect they find their way back is too much of a dream.

In case they get on my nerves I can suggest they try.

I haven't been to Montauk yet, but this sounds like fun on a weekend.

My mother will have some remark on this point, but I bet Maria would be more than happy to visit some antique store. There are quite some at the Hamptons, so this is a must.

As for the beaches, I am never spending a whole day under the sun - me and the kids having a very delicate skin - but Catchogue and Southold are near enough to spend a morning without driving too much.

There will be enough to do and I am pretty sure they will have some totally new experience.

Food might be a shock. But they are both excellent cooks, so - in case they are bored - I can put them in the kitchen to prepare something for me, like clams or mussels: no restaurant on Long Island can beat my mom on that!!!

The mall experience is also one they must go through. Absolutely.

Even if I am not a big fan of that, there is something to it.

Obviously there are too many things one could do the first time in the US, but they'll just stay for ten days, so - if one includes the first days of adaptation - that won't be enough to see and do most of the interesting stuff on Long Island.

Lost raccoons

2010-06-23T19:01:00.000-04:00

This morning we spotted three tails under the bushes in the garden...

We tried not to scare the little raccoons away, knowing how bad people drive around here.

They had probably lost their mom and were looking for a safe place.

How sweet!

Week 24th. My Birthday. You Witness.

2010-06-20T14:23:00.003-04:00

Given the fact that the settimana enigmistica (the Italian crosswords-riddles&puzzles authority!) is my favorite magazine and that some people used to call me like that, no wonder this title is some kind of riddle.

Anyway, since some of you were already laughing at the strange coincidences I experienced during this week, I'll explain what I mean.

I had birthday and I had my cousin and her family visiting from Italy for some days.

Because they are Jehovah's Witnesses - but also people I like a lot - I decided to leave my celebration uncelebrated on the very day - and keep my daughter distracted enough and forgetful - so that nobody would be offended or hurt.

I wasn't hurt: as I said, my cousin is one of the persons I like most and since she is nice, sweet and caring that's no effort.

As kids we used to spend quite some time together and she was always a sort of older sister to me, as much as I was the sister she never had.

This in spite of the fact that we are very different persons: because her mom was converting to the new confession in a very sad and depressive moment, her life turned from the rich, intense, high-society life into a secluded and probably weird existence.

But never was my cousin rebellious nor angry. Up to now she lets her parents invade her privacy and decide a lot on how she should be.

Which doesn't mean she doesn't have her own personality, she is just too nice.

If you compare her to me, you'd think I am sort of ungrateful nasty kid who doesn't let parents know her whereabouts, let alone decide on anything personal.

Anyway, it was nice to have my cousin here. It was fun, not too stressful and - as my mom put it - some kind of "movement". Not that I don't have enough.

To make the story shorter: she left the day after my birthday and my dear friend Jane soon came over (how nice of you Jane!!!) and gave me her present - always good taste, I love it!!!So it was Present's Day.

On Friday there was a party. Not my own though: Carlotta's graduation's party.

Graduation is a big step for a little child and a goodbye loaded moment.

Not only will Carlotta leave pre-school and start Kindergarten: her teacher, Ms Leesie, is retiring. If I could go to pre-school again, I'd want Ms Leesie as a teacher.
She was taking care of my out-of-the-tank-fish non-English speaking daughter and made her feel at ease, taught her to write and read, but most of all she was a wonderful person and made me always feel very confident about our pre-school choice and relaxed about the big change our daughter was going through.

Yes, Ms Leesie, don't cry because it's over, but be happy because it happened!

Then came Saturday, and there was our Special Guest's Day.

And - I hope - good food.

Sure, my birthday without good food is an offense I wouldn't tolerate.

And flowers!(A note for myself: remember to water the flowers!).

And today EVENTUALLY my other present, the breakfast I so much talked about.
Honestly, I am happy it's Sunday, so tomorrow I can start dieting!!!

Of course it was also Father's Day, so I (see the geniality) brought kids and husband to the Stony Brook Museum - which was free for fathers - and while they were visiting the exhibitions and having some fun, I had some time to read.

It was such an intense, emotionally full week I could drop asleep any second, but I don't want to forget how good it is when you can spend time with people you like.

That is the greatest present ever. And not one I take for granted.

Also, this kind of extended celebration has its advantages, because one can make more small things and still consider them very special.

And Bob, to you: I have been partying like it's 1975 and the party isn't over yet!
Isn't it another fun coincidence I was born after Armageddon?

American Breakfast - part 2 (cold cereals)

2010-06-14T14:12:00.003-04:00

With my birthday approaching (and no wisdom in sight), I have to hear questions like "What do you wish?", "What should we do?", which I can never answer because I don't really need anything special...wait, I DO need something!!!

I need my peace: quiet, silence, calm.
(Ideally a desert island would do the trick, but I'll be contented with something smaller).

That I can never have a relaxed breakfast has been an issue for quite some times now, so it's time to have another breakfast outside.Hooray!

It'll be an exception, so let me tell you how an Italian - used to either tea-biscuits (those you can professionally dunk to show-off), rusks or double-baked bread (the messy, old fashioned, tastier version of rusk) in a big bowl of lukewarm milk with pure soluble toasted barley - finds her way in this Country to have breakfast at home.

My usual breakfast since we've moved is nothing fancy but a bowl of cold milk and cold cereals with a cup of coffee (or what someone describes as "coffee tasting beverage").

Clearly this is EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
I needed some training before finding the right cereals.
Why?Just walk the cereal aisle in a supermarket: it's perverse.

You'll have different shapes and textures for the same cereal (shredded, puffed, rolled, toasted) and different coating (sugar, honey, maple), plenty of colors (fruit loops!) or chocolate-chips (or chunks, or the all deceiving "flavor"), cookies in cereal form, cinnamon-apple smelling concoctions, old fashioned, quick, space-travel compatible crunchy companions...
Want to start reading the labels or have you already given up?

For me - chocolate junkie, but not sugar addict - plain cereals would do: rolled oats, wheat (puffed or shredded), corn-flakes (although the ingredients' list isn't the most reassuring).

A peanut butter sandwich is something I wouldn't have consider couple of years ago, now it's almost necessary.
But here, too, one has to face the Hamlet's dilemma about peanut butter: plain or crunchy?Salt added or not?What about natural?

And what kind of jelly or jam?
Does anybody really eat mint jelly?

Will someone ever have the time to try all the possible options and combinations?

~~The many question marks are a clear sign that~~ I am very curious to know how people like their own breakfast.
And even though I wouldn't go as far as to have breakfast with any person I know (a punishment I inflict only to my family) I certainly will do my little survey.

M is for Maps

2010-06-12T17:40:00.002-04:00

Super cute map in Kobe, Motomachi

Some of the things I do are just random, some other dictated by rational thinking. To guess what is what you'd have to know me to a certain degree.

One of the things I rationally did, was choosing the picture for my profile because, although I don't have many nice pictures of me, this one explains a lot about me.

Taking a closer look at it, in fact, one can see that I am standing in front of a big map.
It's not just the casual picture taken in a touristy moment, it's more like a general attitude.

I love maps.

I own a number of maps. No matter where I am, no matter if my bags are stuffed, there is always place to collect more maps - those with funny cartoons, those with numbers for sightseeing, those you find at information centers (of course, different versions of the same place) and those you might just find in the telephone book...

Once - oh my, that's embarrassing - I even stole a map.

I swear it was absolutely unintentional and I would have brought it back, hadn't I been almost a hundred miles away from the scene of the crime (Omaha, Nebraska - football team map!).

This makes me feel a little bit like Dora the Explorer, except that I don't go around singing "we did it, we did it" and that she only has one map.

Which is very helpful but not fun.

In fact, my main preoccupation while reading a map is NOT finding the right direction - you could argue that I use maps more or less to "successfully get lost" - but to have a general overview of urban planning, or of what is next to me and what is too far to even bother...which is the shortest way to get to a place and if there might be obstacles to reach my destination - obstacle is usually anything larger than a three lane street.

I have no cognition of north and south - for that I rely on light and shadows (primitive, but effective) and therefore I am very fond of the Japanese information booths you can find almost everywhere on the street.

They are always pointing in the direction you're looking at. How easy is that?

No turning of heads.

So, if I come back from some vacation, the one thing I will certainly bring back - instead of some funky object or dust-catcher - is a dozen of maps.

Plus more paper to fill up my collection.

And you can bet it will all be in my hand baggage.

Sag Harbor Whaling Museum

2010-06-09T23:05:00.001-04:00

The past ten days were very busy and almost every night I was falling asleep soon after my kids: still, I didn't feel there was a day I wanted to sit at home by the beautiful weather and went to a couple of interesting places.

It had been in my plans for a while and eventually I visited the Whaling Museum in Sag Harbor.
Lately I am observing that - since we are in the US - my kids learn to know different animals than they would in central Europe, starting with the "quirrl" (squirrel), the chipmunk (a novelty for me, too), many fun birds (not just that flying rat someone calls pigeon) and - even if not live - the whale.
Admittedly, I had the impression that the history of whales is more or less a history of men, but it was nevertheless fascinating to learn more about this mammal; there are different kind of whales and their bodies were used for the most various purposes like fuel for lamps or tennis rackets, cosmetics and fashion products, like corsets (and here you find me totally against it).
Whaling itself was a native Americans' technique*; unlike English settlers, though, native Americans were using parts of whales they found on the shore. Englishmen learned the technique, added a good knowledge of the seas and ship building to that (with a hint of sea imperialism) and began whaling as we know it from literature.
So it came that, in the late XVIII century, Sag Harbor was flourishing as the shipping and whaling port it was born as, becoming the third largest in the world, with the stereotyped harbor atmosphere including a red light district, a number of taverns and a wide-spread rum commerce that remained charecteristic for quite a while (think about rum row during Prohibition!).
As I said, the whole fascination with whales has for me a too masculine aura.

So, let me tell you about the Museum, which was the most pleasant surprise: once the house of wealthy whaling-ship owner Mr. Huntting, it's one of those example of classic architecture applied (revisited and re-interpreted) to American buildings.
The entrance recalls the front of a Greek temple with its Corinthian columns - beautiful, but screaming for restoration (just to give you the right feeling: when walking around Venice you'd be always looking for the next brick falling down!)
Inside there are plaster decorations on the ceilings and a spiraling wing of stairs that leads (visually, at least) to a circular window on the top.

(This picture is from the Museum web-page, no chance of taking a pic with the sun coming in)

I couldn't climb it to satisfy all my curiosity as it was closed to the public - it houses a masonic Lodge - and most probably I would have been in big trouble coming down, totally dizzy.
Nonetheless it was great to be there at noon, when the sun was shining directly through that glass, illuminating the entrance with a Pantheon-like effect. I couldn't tell if the window was made of alabaster, because it was pretty sparkly...

Whaling history aside, documenting the adventurous voyages (some as long as a year just to spot a couple of whales!), displaying harpoons and scrimshaw, there was a collection of objects from the past belonging to Mrs Sage, later owner of this building and philanthropist: old toys, doll's house furniture, clocks, some fine Limoges porcelain, a number of native Americans' artifacts...
After visiting the museum - empty, except for a few people - we took a walk in Sag Harbor.
It felt like a familiar place from my childhood with lots of nice restaurants, little galleries, colorful shops; of course the view of the bay was gorgeous, but at the same time it was very "hamptonish" and Main Street was a polo-shirted walk, with no evident difference between lower and upper Main Street, so the effect was less literary than in Moby Dick and more elegant than it probably used to be.

Maybe the reason is that the history of whaling was too short, as in the mid-XIX century oil was discovered in California and whalers, whaling boats and anything connected to the commerce of whales were not needed anymore.
Of course this is very personal, but I might have been less impressed than in Greenport.

Little detail of this nice day, I got myself a CD called "I love Long Island", with a number of traditional songs dating to the XVII and XVIII centuries, sang by the "Connecticut Peddler".
A bit odd for some ears (but hey!if there are people listening to the Chieftains...) unusual perhaps; anyway I enjoy listening to these songs about traditions, battles and popular themes when I am driving.

*Here I am referring to the North American Continent, it is obviously widely spread around the world.

Am I aging or getting wiser?

2010-06-03T11:22:00.000-04:00

Because I am in a hurry, but because I will do that sometimes - postponing is a habit - but not now, I just want to remember that I have a blog-roll; these are the things I do read and that make me feel good.

Obviously it is updated.

Everybody is my favourite. Some is my most favourite.

One is a kind of second voice talking for myself very often - that's Elisa.

Thanks for talking your mind!

Oooops...I did it again!

2010-06-01T21:50:00.007-04:00

I know, I know, I was weak; I ate that bar of chocolate.
Sure, it was not mine to enjoy, but hell...it was there and now I feel a little sorry.
Is it my fault I can't resist dark chocolate?

What's in my brain that makes me need that?And what is in my blood NOW.
Good, I confess: as short as a pleasure it might seem, it is on the run the winning, uncomplicated key to ALL of my problems. And I don't want to quit because there is no real reason to do it.
Some research showed that consuming chocolate could cause depression (contrary to the belief that it cures it), but no, not in me.
Give me more of that, I don't feel depressive; guilty maybe, a bit nasty, but not depressive!!!

I don't mind chocolate cake or chocolaty stuff, no, no, I am for the real thing: starting from the 70% cocoa and up, I am in heaven with a couple of ounces of that bitterness and even when it is not in my pantry, it is in my thoughts.

Once in a while I do carry it in my purse (you never know!) and very seldom it stays there for a long time. No matter how hard I try to forget it.
But trying and focusing are productive ways of keeping things in mind, so obviously not good ways of forgetting.

Sometimes I am

2010-05-31T21:48:00.005-04:00

Sometimes I am like the wind
gusting with rage against the trees,
not to stop, not out of malice, just earthly harmful
and sometimes I am like the pillar supporting a Greek temple,
there to sustain and hold, simple and pale.
...I am like the window through which you look at the rain
and through which you let the sun come in.
Sometimes I am like a bee,
busy searching for sweetness, a bit here and a bit there.
...I am like the shell, a protection for a less strong being,
scattered among thousands of shells which have an answer to every question of the wave.

Sometimes I am an airplane which cheerfully greets from above
to land in dark runways,
a pen you'd use to write special words ,
the crossword you can't solve right away,
the childish laughter you'd never expect.

Sometimes I am the fast pace and the slow breathing
to keep going ahead, no matter how steep the path.

An arm deprived Khali, an early morning thought, a tiny grain of sand,
the cup without any lid, sometimes I am.

Now for some relax...

2010-05-29T17:48:00.001-04:00

I know it might sound quite utopian, but I promise to look as relaxed as in this picture for these days alone with the ~~monsters~~ kids.

Wading River

2010-05-26T19:21:00.002-04:00

The big pond on North Country Road

After my sister mentioned she is spending all of her time in Venice, because I know that springtime is the most beautiful season to be there and also because Sunday was wrapped by a mist so familiar (and so unhealthy!) I got a bit into a Venice-mood - which brought to my mind some of the things Long Island and Venice have in common.

Did you know that Venice is also fish-shaped?

Little digression.

On Sunday I ended up (literally, I was just trying to get out of the way) visiting Wading River.
Until few weeks ago, this place meant for me not more than the Wildwood State Park and the trailer park you'd see driving to there.
I thought of Wading River more or less as an abandoned place.
Truth is that the Park is great - even though, after the last nor'easter, erosion damaged a lot of its beach, so the concession stand on the deck overlooking the shore was (at least until last week) not accessible and it seemed to me nobody was going to take care of the problem. (Costs' cut?Unconcern?).

But, after more than a play-date at the Wading River beach's playground, I know there is more than the park.
On Sunday, in coincidence with a little craft-fair around the Duck Pond, I took the kids to this little hamlet and since the streets were closed to traffic I had my chance to have a quiet walk.
In particular, I decided to visit the Olivers Hill Cemetery - see, the mist was bringing some creepy thoughts.
I had been driving by it a couple of times and didn't want to believe the inscription saying "1696".
But then, I realized there were other signs mentioning that Wading River belonged to the town of Southold for some time, in the XVII and XVIII century.

Old tombstones at Olivers Hill Cemetery

So, together with Cutchogue and Greenport, Wading River was also settled by puritan families*. (You know I have an issue with religion, so some day I am going to write how this influences and shapes the spirit of a place).
The fact that this hamlet is indeed so old doesn't mean it is abandoned: there are a number of spots that remind me of those towns with no present and no future, but on Sunday I actually had the impression its community is very lively.

My usual destination is anyway very quiet and relaxed, as if it had been forgotten but by some wild child.
The beach (with the playground my kids love) is located on Creek Road (I love these old pictures), just few feet away from the creek that makes this place so appealing; although walking eastbound you might have the chance to cover more length, walking westbound you will come across its estuary.
And of course you'd view the ignominy that's the Shoreham power plant.
(And probably think "what the hell is this huge, colorless metal chunk doing there?")

The creek, with its meandering shape and its tidal moods is nevertheless attractive: if you take a look at it on a map, it will tell you "come". At least this is what it told me (and I am not hearing voices!).

As for the history of Wading River in more recent times, it is related with that of the nearby Camp Upton, the army's camp where soldiers were being trained for WWI and WWII - back then it was a compulsory conscription -a nd that became the site of the Brookhaven National Lab, where Ralph works and where we used to live during the first six weeks of our stay.
Sometimes I eat in the bunker-like cafeteria, just to mention one of the few oddities.

After the war, when the Camp didn't have any reason to exist anymore, and BNL was officially born (1947), some of the returning soldiers began creating a larger community in Wading River.

*Religion and the founding of the American Republic is an interesting overview on the topic.

Talking to an Angel-o.

2010-05-25T09:51:00.000-04:00

When I was telling you I would have had a more interesting conversation with my dad, I was being ironic.

I don't even have to wait until I call to know what we'll be saying: it's the standard exchange of two people who totally suck at phone calling:

"Hey!"
"Hey!"
"So?"
"So?"

"Congrats!"

"Thank you"

"How's everything?"

"Fine!" break.

"Good!" meditative break.

"How are the kiddos?"

"They are fine..." thinking break.

"Is it warm?"

"Well, it is warmer than last week..."

"Sorry, I didn't hear"

"It is warmer!"

Embarrassing break.

"Should I call your mother?"

"Alright"

"See you for Christmas, thank you, bye bye".

And that's it.

If I want to tease him I'll ask if he could eat some cake - which due to his hyperglycemia might sound insulting.

No way I am pushing him into real talking, it would be counterproductive.

After more than three decades I know better; and I've learned to read every sign, tone and expression.

Like when I do something he - in my place - would have done too and that my mother wouldn't approve of: his reaction wouldn't be more than a smile (puffing under his mustache), which is never supposed to be out of joy; it's more or less the "stamp of approval", the "ego te absolvo" and go in peace.

My mom would get a bit mad, as if we were allied in a silent battle and then she would just let go - because of all things she is not trying to change two donkeys into pleasing pets.

When parents act unreasonably

2010-05-22T18:00:00.001-04:00

May is phone-call month: most of the people in my family and also a good number of friends (and also my husband) decided they had to be born in May.

How blame them?After June, this is a perfect month to come to the world.

Point is that I don't quite like phone-calls; if it wasn't for the kids I'd probably feel entitled to just call my family once a month.

Why?

Because sometimes, talking with my mom, I have the impression she's got so many more important things to do...

"Sorry, I got to go out with my friends" or "Ok, now I'll do something useful" or "The pan is on the stove and my roast-beef must be burning" are some of the typical sentences my mom would use to quit our conversations.

As if she was annoyed and as if I would be calling her every day.

Hey, what's the matter???

One of the things that make me hate calling is that she would always mention how much space our house has. What???

Did she see that?Nope.

Did I ever tell her we have a huge house?Nope.

Just because we were living in an apartment in Berlin, this doesn't mean that now we have lot more space. Not at all!

True, we have an upper floor, which we don't use because we don't need more bedrooms. Unless we have guests.

And it seems to me she is pissed because even though we have "so much room" she isn't our guest. That's ridiculous. And unfair!

I spent more than a phone-call trying to convince her to come over but no, no, no...excuses after excuses she doesn't want to.

What can I do about it?I won't be able to have her and someone else (because this is what she needs, someone to hang out with while I am busy doing something else). And this all "If you could just have come back sooner" doesn't sound so true. It sounds more like "At least, when you are in Berlin you can come over every two or three months and I don't have to do the effort to come visit myself".

Guess it wouldn't make sense to have an argument with her (which is a favorite past time when we spend more than one hour together) and trying even more to convince her to come over wouldn't bring much.

I suppose my sister would have a more reasonable opinion on the matter, but me...I don't get it.

And in the end I am ok...well, at least I wouldn't have too feel guilty in case she's either bored or too tired or just not interested in doing things other than turning my underpants on the drying line so they can be dry faster - I don't do that, why should my mother do it?!!!

And no, I don't give a damn if the lamp has dust, as long as my brain hasn't!!!

So, when next week I'll call home to congratulate my dad I'll certainly have a more interesting conversation.

My favourite songs

2010-05-19T14:22:00.000-04:00

Once in a while you'd hear me say "that's my favorite song".

And I'd say that about way more than a dozen songs, so the truth is that I love lot of songs and that they are all number one. But songs, like seasons, are coming and going, as for now I really like this one and can't get tired of it.

Levon Helm's voice is a sand-paper caress and...wow, what an energy this guy!

Thoughts about Pregnancy

2010-05-18T14:04:00.000-04:00

No revelation here: I am not thinking about having a third child!!!

A dear friend of mine on LI is going to have her second child; the due date is around mid-January, which means I am not going to see the baby.

This is triggering a lot of feelings of course.

In the first place because I know how a pregnant woman feels about babies: suddenly there is nothing more important, more beautiful, more precious and delicate than your child, even if it's just as big as a tennis ball and even if it makes you feel sick from morning to evening or tired as if constantly jet-legged. Or too sensitive or just freaked out. Even pathetic at times.

When a good friend has a baby, I respect her need for rest but I am very glad to get to see her and the new-born and maybe do something together that might help her feel not too lonely without making her too tired.

It's a very intense and very emotional phase of a woman's life.

And I AM NOT GOING TO BE THERE.

It is clear to me that - at least in this life - my timing isn't too good.

That if I had taken that train or not have waited for that damn bus or just hadn't done laundry on that very day, it wouldn't be so hard to get used to the thought of losing another friend.

Is there a place I miss, I wonder sometimes.

Well, no. And I can't say I would live somewhere forever, not even Berlin. This was supposed to be temporary, in my mind it still is.

But temporary is - be it a couple of months or some year - a fist in the stomach when it comes to say goodbye.

(Some of the) Things I do not understand

2010-05-15T11:33:00.001-04:00

I might as well go straight to the point, but then it would be unfair to my target.

Let's start with things I really don't have a clue about like chemistry; although I am certainly interested in the structure and behavior of matter, I just don't think in terms of atoms and molecules and I do have a problem with learning formulae.

Along with that goes physics. It might even reach the boundaries of ridiculous, because I know what is meant with force and the difference between push and pull but I keep mixing the things up - yes, in any language I at least read.

Another embarrassing thing is that I don't understand what men mean when they use codes, so if I am asked "Would you like to have a coffee together?" my answer would most likely be "Thanks, but I'd miss the 5:30 bus".

Now, being married, I feel relieved I don't have to care anymore about this.

I also don't understand envy.

Sure, there are people who have more advantages (and not always justified) than others, but I don't hate them and I wouldn't change place with them. I've got a satisfied mind and even though there are things I wish in my life, they are pretty much depending on myself and self-improvement, so anybody else is just not responsible for my periodical pissed mood.

If there happen to be one person who's responsible for that, than I am avoiding him or her. As simple as that: I don't understand why people stick around someone they could as well do without - if it's not strictly necessary as in case of colleagues. That's not me. (Just picture me in a western setting saying "There is not enough room for the two of us in this town").
That said, the number of people I deeply dislike is very limited.

So, here I come, to the point I mentioned before.
What I DO NOT understand is men and motors. I could mention the two separated, but it wouldn't be fair to myself, because I have good men-friends and I understand them quite well (I don't always have to agree with them, of course) and I have a basic understanding of motors (just try to get a drivers license in Italy and you won't go around that!).
But men&motors it's just as puzzling as man-on-the-moon.

There is some reason why I am mentioning this. Recently I noticed that a father in Carlotta's pre-school is coming to pick up his child with his sporty car. Nothing against that, if he wasn't driving at the same speed he's driving on a town street with speed limit 30 (which means he's driving 40mph).

Does he want to be noticed?Well, he managed to be.
Let me be mean: when I see a man driving like that, my first thought is that he has to compensate some lack.
I am really sorry I didn't talk to him (yet): I am always trying to get out of his way not to get hit...

But what pisses me most is that he is doing his miserable manly show in a school's parking lot, during pick-up time, when moms and kids are around.
There is a racing circuit not too far, doesn't he want to try it there?

...of course the list of things I don't understand is much longer and includes other important issues, but as for now I'll stay focused on that and try to talk friendly to this guy - something tells me that people like this aren't open to criticism but I might be wrong.

Frogs and Turkeys - not a batrachomyomachia!

2010-05-15T10:08:00.000-04:00

I know it's not Thanksgiving yet, but I have to smile every time I look at this drawing Carlotta did yesterday; turkeys are a tiny bit strange, but frogs are...well, mutations.

Carlotta is learning about tadpoles, caterpillars and metamorphosis ("Mom, can you say that?Meta - mmorphosiss!") and she is concentrated on teeth - that explains the big smiles.

Mother's Day Tea

2010-05-09T18:11:00.000-04:00

In this post I won't be writing anything about motherhood - which rhymes with Robin Hood, did you ever think about that?

Here are the pictures from the Mother's Day Tea at Carlotta's pre-school: I did enjoy it. I do believe that my four year old understands what it's meant with the words "I love you, mommy!"...

I had to bring my favorite cup of tea

Cookies, love of mine!

And enjoy the treats my daughter was getting for me

It was hard to keep the tears from falling (tears of joy, damn cookies what are you doing to me?!).

Greenport - the boss goes east.

2010-05-07T14:11:00.001-04:00

The weather is getting more summer-like with somewhat sticky days, which are OK if you are used to live in a former swampy area - and I am; with the summer at our doors - my doors at least - I feel it is good and right to be at the seashore and breath that special watery smell - is it the seaweed?the crab-shells?the salt?...

As my spouse has to concentrate a lot in his work, during the weekend he puts his brain in the stand-by mode and lets me boss around and decide where to go and what to do (with cheap excuses like "men need directions" or "no matter what I decide, it will be wrong", followed by "do I need to have an opinion about everything?").

After the usual discussion (let's spare the details, or we won't celebrate our anniversary this year...) last Saturday we spent our morning in Greenport, which turned out to be a good decision, because there was a bit of fun for everyone of us: the nice village with lot of old buildings, the jail (where I promise to put my kids if they don't behave), the brewery, a good ice-cream parlor, the little harbor in front of Shelter Island, the famous carousel - that isn't anybody's cup of tea but it was made in the 20s, so it is almost antique!

Merry-go-round

From one of the pier facing Claudio's clam restaurant

Some old building on Main Street

At the corner with Bay Avenue

And more on Bay Avenue

The Jail and Police Museum (1917)

We liked Greenport a lot; it is actually one of those place where we both could live - if BNL was a bit closer - and the fact that there is such a nice harbor is obviously one of the main reasons.

And aren't those buildings gorgeous?

Even driving to Greenport was beautiful (and generally I am not a fan of driving): cruising through the wineries and the old villages of Aquebogue, Catchogue, Southold made it relaxing; I noticed many antique stores, a number of signs for "historical sites" and definitely some old church.

This should be no wonder, because Greenport - and the villages that consitute the city of Southold - are the first English settlements on Long Island, dating back to the early 1640s, not so long after the Dutch had settled (and bought) what would be Manhattan.

Some puritans were coming to the eastern part of Long Island from New Haven, Connecticut, to establish their own settlements, purchasing the land from the Indian Corchaugs; those villages (including Greenport) stayed under the jurisdiction of Connecticut for about thirty years, while English and Dutch colonists were owning back and forth New York and claiming all colonies for themselves - until eventually the Duke of York forced these puritan settlers to submit, somehow annihilating their religious identity - which makes the big sign at the Orient Point Ferry Terminal welcoming people to the Empire State quite ironic - that must have been lot later, though.

And yes, once we were done with Greenport, we thought it interesting to check out the Orient Point Ferry Terminal - which was boring - but we went to the Orient Beach State Park and this was quite an amazing place; not so much for the beach or the playground, which of course were the most important thing for the kids and were nice; I really liked this piece of land between two Bays.

It must be a very fragile environment, probably flooded very often...I don't know if it stays in its shape of peninsula for a long time or if it becomes an island itself.

Bastian having fun with one pebble - which he keeps all day long!

Orient Beach, looking south-west

The park was still quiet, but not empty; a number of family were there, some people were trying to have a bath...and not making it: the water is still too cold, or better, the wind makes coming out of the water not so nice.

We'll certainly go back to this place sometime, why? Because I am the boss and I say so!!!

Duck architecture

2010-04-27T14:46:00.003-04:00

Driving through the Flanders we got (finally) to see the so famous landmark.

I didn't stop by the duck, this image is from www.lukecole.com

The Big Duck used to be a store where one could find ducklings and duck products; this is a fun example of road-side architecture, but what I didn't know is that the word "duck" specifically defines a kind of building which shape refers to its product; in other words, if you had a peanut-shaped store you'd immediately know where to buy peanuts, peanut butter, reese' s, P&J sandwiches...and that'd be a duck.

Ducks don't need any ads (like decorative shed do): their shape is the ad itself.

The idea of a duck-store wasn't an original of Long Island but it was patented here: the inspiration for it was a Californian coffeepot-shaped coffee shop, but the triggering motivation was that in the '30s the duck commerce on LI was so huge one had to stand out among the masses of farmers selling ducks.

Farmer Martin Maurer got the brilliant idea of attracting more buyers with something more than an ad - and let' s be honest, traffic might have increased significantly just in those years and people aren't that attentive anymore when they are on a wheel (and some have problems reading the signs, too!!); so he had his duck built of wood and concrete (another of the industry which was flourishing back than) with eyes lighting in the night as someone was driving by.
Maurer started selling eggs and duck produce on Main Street in Riverhead.

The Big Duck was moved only later to the Flanders.

It seems it had its best years in the '60s and '70s ,to see its door closed in the '80s. Now it is a souvenir shop, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and it is owned by Suffolk County.

There isn't such a large demand for ducks anymore - the first were coming from China in 1837 so we are talking about Peking Ducks, like the one who ended up in this delicious roll...

Sorry, vegetarian friends, I never meant to hurt your feelings!

CMEE Children's Museum of the East End

2010-04-26T07:44:00.001-04:00

As a Bnl employee's spouse I take part in some activities connected with the Lab, mainly a playgroup where my kids meet children their age and with a similar background.

The playgroup has a designated meeting place but sometimes moms and kids would meet outside, or decide on some specific activity.

Bottom line, because of the kids I get to go to places I would not dream of going to - or I wouldn't be allowed in.

One of these is the CMEE, the Children's Museum of the East End in Bridgehampton, designed by Lee Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership.

What an amazing place! On a beautifully arranged mix of interactive spaces children can dress up as princesses or pirates, explore the interior of a submarine, fish, play in the ice-cream parlor, sit in the library, exercise or do crafts. Just to give you a sample of the choices offered.

I forgot the fire fighter truck, a hit for Bastian

When they say that TV substituted the fire place in modern families...did they mean that?

Other highlights of the day were of course the drive through the Flanders and the Big Duck (which deserves a post of its own) and the feeling that arouse from being in this part of Long Island.

Partly because driving gets a little more relaxed driving eastbound, but certainly because there is suddenly more water to be seen, nature offers a full range of colors and shapes and also because you get away from the generica of most towns (which, if I think about it, is based on straight lines, sharp edges and few colors) it is hard not to be seduced by all this beauty.

Greener Earth Day

2010-04-24T19:00:00.001-04:00

For a week or so now, it has all been around Earth Day.

If you ask me, it doesn't take a day, or a week to become aware of what the planet needs: it takes a cultural shock.

The one where you realize that some Countries are allowing themselves privileges and economical growth at the so called third world's expenses and with an enormous impact on all the planet.

Today we were at the Indian Island County Park in Riverhead to celebrate too; it's a bit contradictory that we were driving half an hour to learn how much plastic you can save buying one large chip bag instead of ten small bags...Not true, there were many hikers who could share precious hints .

Carlotta got a lot of gadgets from the stands which were promoting awareness about nature on Long Island and the earth altogether... and I am very proud to say that she can read the words "Save Planet Earth" all by herself.

She has being learning about environment and recycling in pre-school; she has of course a four year old girl's understanding of what it is all about.

Couple of nights ago, while I was brushing her teeth, she came up with these very words:

"Mom, you are keeping the earth clean". I was a bit puzzled.How?
By brushing her teeth?How dirty must they have been???

"Yes, because you don't throw your cigarettes out of the car window!".

Now it started making some more sense, if we don't consider the little detail that I DON'T SMOKE AT ALL.

Later that week she suddenly proclaimed "We don't throw chewing gum out of the window" (littering is a bad habit).

"We can bring it home so we can recycle it!"

Family detail aside, what can I personally do save the planet?
As a blogger I will join the initiative called My Blog is carbon neutral started by bloggers of Make it green (Mach's grün).
The program is trying to neutralize the carbon footprints caused by blogs (8 lb per year - a bit less than half of the emissions an average American person would produce) by planting a tree, which in turn absorbs about 11 lb of carbon dioxide per year.

If you are interested in carbon dioxide emissions per Country and pro-capita, you should take a look this list. Pretty scary.

Update: For more about Earth Day, I suggest this article.

The (not so) subtle legacy between appliances and capitalismus

2010-04-22T14:54:00.002-04:00

As if there weren't enough things to take care of, last week our (landlady's) fridge broke; we had it repaired some hours later, so we didn't have to take extreme measures concerning the food that was in it.

But now I want to know!!!

What would YOU do, if your fridge broke and you had to wait for a couple of days until it could be repaired?

Would you throw away fridge and food?

Only the food (so you can start a new diet)?Or only the fridge (because yours didn't have a nice design anyway)?

Would you ask a neighbor (or ten) to keep some of your stuff and meanwhile curse in Aramaic because you had just bought so much perishable food?

Or would you find the time to cook for your friends and their cats?

Parks and Friends...

2010-04-19T17:12:00.000-04:00

This title sounds like that of a toddler soap-opera...now seriously: I got bitten by a tick ten days ago.

This brought some disappointment because I wasn't incautiously hiking; in fact I wasn't hiking at all.

My only fault was to have spent 10 minutes in our garden, where the grass is low, to prevent the kids from running on the street, while Ralph was removing the last fall leaves.

Guess the mischievous beast had been on my body no longer than a couple of hours before I found it, still... not a nice feeling; am I a bit paranoid about ticks?
This is because I have seen one (plus hundreds of pictures) and there are definitely nicer species on earth.

Yes, I do feel alright, no symptoms at all but anyway it is too early to decide whether or not to test and see if I got Lyme disease. And no matter how much people tell me ticks aren't a big deal: it sucks!

After this brief introduction, I come to the point.

There is a lot going on recently: we might prolong our stay in the US of a couple of months, but we need approval from Ralph's employer in Berlin. This doesn't affect our lives as much as it affects our daughter's since she might start Kindergarten here.

So, basically last week was spent collecting all forms and documents we need for her enrollment, and I had to do more phone calls than I can stand - quite untypical for a woman, I know - and for those who had the luck to hear my adventures with bureaucracy I will tell you: this time everything went fairly smooth and everybody was friendly and cooperative.

So, apropos phone calls: in the last days I was hearing from some friends; it is quite complicated to define what a friend is. Maybe I mentioned that before, but I happen not to be there for my friends (and this implies that my friends aren't there for me either) most of the times.

This is not meant as a criticism, it is simply fact.

Nevertheless there is from my side a kind of naïf belief that no matter how far, no matter how long you don't see each other, you can always count on a friend.

And also that the "riding the same wave" feeling you experience with some people isn't ever going to fade away.

This doesn't make me stronger against disappointments, but it is how I decided to live, sometimes playing silly and forgiving people who shouldn't be forgiven just to stick to my principles (see, stubbornness is my favorite s-word).

And then, talking about friends, yesterday I was at the Wildwood State Park's playground and met Emanuele and Caterina, a nice couple (he is Italian and she is American-Italian) .
We found out that we have lot in common, fun to say, I don't mean our genes, rather that our perception of life here is very similar.

Caterina works for Delta airlines and was in Venice last week, which made me feel close to home (just talking about that island makes me want to be walking up and down the bridges and eat Baicoli) as if I could see with her eyes...

The fact that she works on airplanes also made me think of how Venice looks like from above and how I inevitably feel overwhelmed by the beauty and the calm of the Lagoon.

And by the many phone calls people are doing immediately after landing.

Totally day-dreaming about this, I bent my thumb while coming down a slide (can you picture a frightened face?)...talking about landing...

I'd be usually pushing smaller people down the slide...

Sunken Meadow State Park

2010-04-09T16:05:00.001-04:00

Looking east...

Traditionally Italian people say you should spend Christmas with your family and Easter with whom you please.

In the last five or six years, living in Berlin and having there my "new" family, I was spending Easter - or at least Easter Monday - with them, which is actually nice and fun, because Ralph has a pretty large family too: with uncles and aunts, cousins, some of whom have kids as old as our kids; plus Ralph's grandma is still alive (103 years old and rather healthy), so there is a four generation get together eating delicious homemade German Kuchen (lucky me).

Anyway, this year it was just the four of us, and we enjoyed the two beautiful sunny days to be outside and explore more of Long Island.

Since Carlotta was wishing so much to ride her bike, we needed a place which was not the usual Heritage Park in Mount Sinai and still bike friendly, so we headed to Sunken Meadow State Park, which has a 3/4 mile boardwalk wide enough to practice biking and still room for lot of people walking, jogging or pushing strollers. And for toddler running after bikes, of course.

Sunken Meadow State Park is one of the two end points of the Long Island Greenbelt trail, which on the south starts from Heckscher State Park.
This trail stretches for about 39 miles, and since I don't see myself covering it all, neither alone nor with kids aged 4 and 1, I will have to be contented with exploring part of it from time to time.
One of the most amazing things about Sunken Meadow is that it borders the Nissequogue River State Park, from which you can see the Nissequogue emptying into the Sound.

Not having being in this area before we chose to drive from our place west-bound on the Nesconset Highway and take then the route 25a, which is maybe the fastest but probably less scenic way to do it.
One of the surprisingly nice places (for me, at least) we drove through was Kings Park; this is a city with flair and a number of old buildings that, to my disappointment seemed quite abandoned, especially the little shops in the city center. Not as abandoned as in Riverhead, but maybe with a similar fate of becoming a ghost town just because everybody is shopping at the nearby mall, leaving few reasons to maintain stores which don't sell as well.
Anyway, there is a very good bakery (Park Bakery) in Kings Park - nice breads, cookies, pastries - a joy for the eyes and not only!

With the weather getting so pleasant it is time to be outside a bit more; even the rain isn't as annoying as it use to be, because, as Carlotta has taught me "April showers bring May flowers" and, talking about flowers and flora in general, I found this page, which is very interesting: maybe I can finally learn what trees I see in the neighborhood (on the street signs at least - Rocky Point has this funny feature of having streets named after trees and whenever I drove by Locust I got upset thinking it was an animal - see, no reason to be upset anymore).

I love you, my bunnies...

2010-04-02T15:56:00.001-04:00

I changed the blog template because I really am a springtime (actually more a late springtime) person but don't think all of those flowers make me a hippy happy quiet soul - because I am not.

And it's because I wanted to wish Happy Easter, but it feels a bit strange in these times of catholic crisis...

Me, I am just a recovered Catholic, like my maid of honor, and I kind of had problems with the Church from the very beginning.

That is because I don't let anyone tell my which WAY I have to go.

But let's start from, let's say...Sunday school.

This is when I first met nuns (as an abstract object). I do remember very well this old lady asking everybody if they ever went to church and of course everybody went to church, because their parents were church people.

My parents never were, especially my dad...so what I could tell was, more or less "On Sundays my parents sleep".

It must have sounded like heresy, but think about it: they were both waking up every morning very early, didn't they have the right to sleep longer on weekends?Now that I am a parent I tell you straight: they had that right.

But the nun, shocked, suggested I torment my mom and dad until they bring me to church on Sundays and me, the innocent child, wanted to be like all the other kids.

My mom was probably ok with that, thinking it might do me some good to hear the word of Jesus- not that I had been a bad girl, but there is always improvement (...).

From then on I started going regularly to the Church, pushed by the next teacher in Sunday school, who was a relative of mine (distant relative, of course).

When I was a teen I really enjoyed mass, for two reasons: I would meet with my best friend and we would sing some of our favorite songs - there are some church songs who make you feel good, especially around Christmas time. Anyway it was fun and all the different Sunday school teachers - after this relative of mine - were very nice and funny and they organized little events like concerts for seniors, which made us feel better kids.

But then, then it all started getting tough.

Sunday school was less and less interesting and service was mass boredom.

Also, I became more and more myself and there were things that I didn't like anymore. Like that priests would openly criticize homosexual people during mass. It was obviously a sign that our society was becoming more open on one side and totally preoccupied on the other side - terrified is a better word I think. It was like Church was seeing that the ideal family they so much emphasized wasn't a truth anymore (did they ever have a clue anyway?) and they needed their scapegoat.

But, then, it sounded all so silly. Now it all starts making sense.

In my "catholic career" I met many nice priests, some were the best jokes tellers, some were alcoholics (at least they really enjoyed alcohol more the a bit) and some were nice persons; two of them were actually very handsome guys. Those who made you superficially think "It's a waste they became priests". One was a nice person, the other one was an asshole (if you are a kind of Hitler in ropes I am no forgiver!).

So, if you ask me, AT LEAST these two were clearly gay people in disguise: instead of a coming-out they decided to announce they had a call (Lift up the receiver, I make you a believer) to keep their bigot catholic families and friends quiet.

And I firmly believe most of priests are following this pattern.

Some find an inner peace, some other don't. So we have a problem.

I am not saying that priest=bad, but if you have to bury your real self to let it come out in such a miserable and embarrassing way as it is happening now, well...then it is about time the Church rethinks itself from within and not from ME and YOU and SINNERS around the world.

You know what scares me now?Nuns.

Priest are a very small percentage of the Catholic Church (and isn't it crazy that they have so much power?) but nuns are the hidden power of it.

No, not all nuns are bad, just those who run around with their long pants when they think nobody sees them and those who don't let me read books in the train because they think the gospel would be more suited - these make me want to scream!

Anyway, my position is very clear: I respect you as long as you respect me, you can be a beggar of even the Pope, I don't make any difference.

Now I can drink my coffee with a relieved spirit.Amen.

I wish you a very nice Easter Weekend!!!

Rain rain go away...

2010-03-30T13:54:00.013-04:00

What a rainy day it is; there is storm again - not as strong as the nor'easter that hit most part of Long Island New Jersey, Connecticut,Massachusetts...two weeks ago but there are going to be a number of flooded areas this time too.

As for us, we were spared by the nor'easter, although our neighbor had his share

We live on a hill, so we see rivers of water flowing down and down means we will have to drive in the flooded - or partly flooded - streets, in the pot-holes that are from time to time being filled with concrete but never get to be a smooth ground.
Luckily enough Carlotta's pre-school has its spring-break this week, so I can avoid unnecessary driving.
So what are we doing with this kind of weather?
Apart from writing, I'd say baking.
But before that I wanted to post more flowers pictures, this helps feeding the delusion that springtime arrived...

All pictures were taken in different places (a Wonka bar of chocolate if you guess where!!)
Sure, I like flowers and maybe I should have some posters in the kitchen.

Some city

2010-03-26T14:15:00.010-04:00

Last weekend we had a great time in the City.
We drove - Ralph drove, that is - to New York (why on hell aren't there fast trains in this Country?Can someone hear me???) anyway...we started the morning with a must: the Tim Burton exhibition at the MoMA - I am a proud member for this year and I need to use it, don't I? - and this was really weird. Guess it was intentional...
We expected Carlotta to be scared but she was fine (I was hiding the body-less head with my shoulder when we walked by it, just in case). I am not so much into cartoons but I enjoyed most of the movies directed by Tim Burton - mostly because Johnny Depp is in the cast and because I like Batman...and as you might have noticed, I like Prince - that's a genius, writing an entire soundtrack based on dialogues from a movie, unbelievable!!!And check out Candy Dulfer playing the saxophone. I'll stop it.
I do appreciate the ironic and grotesque attitude towards fear but bottom line is I like what Tim Burton makes me think about.

After this exhibition we took a look at Monet's Water Lilies - not the nicest selection apart from this

Japanese foot bridge - not in our living room

We then spent the rest of the day walking south and through Chelsea and the Greenwich Village - the last reminding us a lot the atmosphere of Prenzlauer Berg - the "Caffé-Latte" area of Berlin.
There is my inner smile in action when I see people fancying drinks that my grandma has for breakfast, probably because my grandma also listens to the religious channel on the radio and falls asleep with the radio on...snoring quite loud...Still, she's an institution.
That's another story, though.

I had a cold coffee - the weather was sooo gorgeous!!! - and on we walked.

We were able to get into the Jensen-Lewis furniture store, where we fell in love with this table...and had the chance to change a diaper on this bed (as a mother I got immunization against shame).

To make the tour a bit smoother we took the train from the Village back to the parking lot (about 14th streets north).

Since supper time approached we were ready for another mission: drive back and stop in Flushing or Chinatown for pros.
Would you believe it?
I have been to several Chinatown before but Flushing, I am telling you, it's a place Chinese Government would want to claim as part of China. My pantry paradise. The dumpling field of happiness, the Sin City of the palate...

We really had a great time and a taste of springtime we forgot quite fast.
As for this weekend the sun shines, but pretty much like on clear sky winter days.

I just need your extra time and your...

2010-03-22T13:47:00.004-04:00

Warning: if you don't like Prince or if you have a honey allergy, leave this page.
If the word TAFKAP is just reminding you a new hair-spray, go to this page instead.

Dear Roger,
I think it's time to say goodbye.
It's not that I don't love you anymore, but "times are changing" and you aren't getting any younger.(Me neither in fact)...
Besides, you are always surrounded by those girls, dancers, models, actresses...why in the world would you care if I didn't stick around?

What is with me?
Guess I found another person who makes me happier, who dedicates more time to me and who shows his back to me alone and not to a crowd of people. Sure, work is work but dear, I need a more exclusive commitment.
So, here it is: a younger, nicer, smaller (that's possible!) boy who can say "KISS" over and aver again...

There you go!

North and South Beaches

2010-03-08T14:43:00.008-05:00

Finally good weather and finally outdoors...
On Saturday we decided to give Wildwood State Park another chance - last time it was really too windy to enjoy the walk.
This Park on the North Shore is easily accessible and just a fifteen minute drive from our home, which is very convenient (no complaints in the car is always very relaxing).
We were hoping to use the boat ramp like we did the first time and then walk along the shore, but this time it was closed to public (to the public who doesn't want to climb on the fence) so we took the shortest of the four trails - marked in red - and walked through the beech forest for 1,8 miles.

For the blue trail (2,9 miles), the orange trail (2,3 miles) and the yellow trail (3,8 miles) you need to organize food and drinks, unless you want to hear "Are we there yet?" more than hour long.

The red trail goes past one bluff from which you can enjoy this view:

I got myself "Hiking Long Island" by Lee McAllister, which is of course very stimulating - we definitely want to explore more of Long Island but we also know our limits (not too much of sun, cold, exhaustion, ticks and so on...or it would just make it hard on all the family).

Anyway, as the weather was going to be nice on Sunday too...we took a trip southbound and had a walk in West Hampton Beach.
We found a parking spot next to a wooden ramp that takes you to the beach and walked eastward. It wasn't just Carlotta collecting shells and stones, I could spend hours picking up whatever sparkles in the sun.
What did we find?Oysters, mussels, snails, clams....and some sand dollars. For some reason I believed these were just to be found on the Pacific Ocean but nope!

The highlight of the day is in the next picture!In doubt whether this was a log or a dead seal, we approached it with lot of excitement.

It was a seal, and it was alive (just lazy, maybe)!!

It only turned to look at us and decided we weren't a dangerous specie; then kept on sunbathing.

I'd get upset if Carlotta was walking looking behind and not forward, but in this case we were all looking at the seal behind us.

When the sun started to go down, we moved to West Hampton (in the hope of finding good ice-cream, what else?) but the Shock Ice Cream and Candy Café was closed...too bad.

Main Street was sleepy, guess it will come alive again after Easter.
Maybe after some of the houses will be rented...

This for example

Longing for some sweets

Thanks Ralph for this pictures - I am the mind you are the arm...and today is March 8th, so complaints are not allowed.

People with real problems...

2010-03-01T13:17:00.000-05:00

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/02/25/2010-02-25_egads_its_an_ikea_kitchen_in_our_fancy_bldg.html#ixzz0gYE9mNQo

Because this happened not far from here, I just had to take my chance:

I also want to sue the former tenants for leaving us an ugly IKEA kitchen that we had to clean and put up again. Guess it doesn't work in Europe, right?

American Breakfast - part 1

2010-02-28T18:54:00.000-05:00

I recently wrote a post on US food but I tried not to be too hard in the first place because if there are obvious targets I could hit, there are certain other I don't want to hit.

One of this is the American breakfast - at least one style of American breakfast: that with eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast and - if there is still some room in my tummy - pancakes...

This isn't something I would have everyday, unless I want to run two or three miles up and down the hills around here; but I really like it once in a while.

I am not afraid of eating something savory in the morning or something more than coffee and croissant (I hear most Italian people have this habit - my mom was very impressed when I told her about the scrambled eggs).

After months we finally managed to go out to have breakfast - kids are part of the being lazy but sometimes it isn't fun when under your table lay two or more spoons, straws, jam boxes and you are responsible for this mess. Even less fun it's when your baby doesn't sit quiet while everybody else enjoys the meal. Sometimes it works, sometimes it takes lot of diversion - crayons, color-books, some toy - and patience (because it all follows the law of gravity and kids are empirical physicists in diapers).

This morning it worked pretty well, both kids were eating and behaving so we didn't make a mess on the floor - I hate picking up stuff from a floor where hundreds of people put their shoes on...and picking up stuff in general while I should be eating.

Some friends suggested that we go to George's Kitchen in Sound Beach and we found that it was homey with excellent food and the staff was very friendly - which to me is the # 1 reason to go back to a certain place.
Thumbs up for this little American diner!!!

and 6 degrees of separation!

2010-02-25T14:44:00.000-05:00

Last night I couldn't sleep well: my nose was a bit congested and I had a terrible head-ache...so I got mad at myself about the last post.

It was the typical scene with a little angel sitting on one shoulder and a little devil sitting on the other one, arguing about this facebook craze.

The devil was right, asking "Why on hell would you wish to add another family member to an already large family?".

On the other hand the angel was also right, asking "Shouldn't we forgive, even if he voted for B.?".

Basically this is what bothered me most; in the end I decided to forgive - but not forget - and kind of forgive myself too, because I seem anyway to have the urge to find more relatives.

Might it be that I am often around and feel a bit rootless?Whatever!I have a more fun story about relatives.

This all started on our last Japan trip, to be correct at the welcome banquet that always takes place when one of Ralph's conferences begins.

At the reception we had to find my name on the participant list (which was not easy as it wasn't there) and - while doing this - one name popped to my eyes: that of a Greek man, at least with a very Greek name, and...my grandma's surname.

Background is that my grandma was born on a tiny tiny Greek islet - a Venetian colony then - and moved to Italy after the end of WWII. Her surname isn't common, so I got very curious about this guy and tried to find him but with more than 300 people and no clue how he should look like nor for which institution he was working for, I wasn't very successful.

You can bet I managed to contact him later and found out that he works in Sweden and he is originally from Albania.

He confirmed that his surname isn't very common and those who have it belong more or less to the same family; he then offered to be our guide if we ever decided to go to Sweden - this was very kind, wasn't it?

So, well, the world is small and not all relatives come to harm.

FB

2010-02-24T10:18:00.000-05:00

In times of social networking this title might sound obvious but I want you to push your imagination a bit ahead...

Did it ever happened to you to accept/confirm a friendship from someone you don't really know?

Most probably yes.

Me, I am very strict: either I had at least a cup of coffee with the mentioned person (or an ice- cream) OR we share the same surname. Which is wrong because the last isn't a guarantee for a real friendship or anything but I just think we are all a big family and we don't choose our relatives anyway!

But...what if then you find out that your "relative" is kind of an ass?Or that you don't share political views at all?You've incorporated another Mr. someone to your family and now regret it?

This is what happened to me, so I'll never trust family members again until they at least offer a cup of coffee - then I will decide.

Fast food nation?

2010-02-16T17:33:00.004-05:00

Most Fast Food Per Person and Other Food Facts | Daily Yonder | Keep It Rural

Just found this and wanted to share...
What is your opinion about American eating habits?And what is you general attitude towards fast food?
Is Michelle Obama in Mission Impossible?

More snow

2010-02-16T08:32:00.004-05:00

We are confined at home these days, with Carlotta having a cold and the snow.
It is supposed to snow all day again so, let's consider shoveling a bit as a winter sport - if I practice enough I might make it to Vancouver!!!

My funny Valentine

2010-02-14T09:36:00.000-05:00

Definitely one of my favourite songs ever.

After the snow blizzard

2010-02-11T13:59:00.000-05:00

If I were a rich girl...

2010-02-11T12:55:00.004-05:00

Last Saturday we had the very unique chance to be invited to one of Carlotta's friends' birthday party.
I say unique, because this was about the fanciest thing I have been in my entire life. One of the few.

A little wedding party - and although I have been invited to some weddings either I didn't show up because I couldn't or I was too far (or both) or the kids were too small or whatever.
I feel sorry for the couple that get into so many troubles to make everybody happy and ends up being exhausted and, in the best case, criticized (for whatever reason, don't ask ME).

Back to the birthday party.

The little one to be celebrated was a five year old girl and the invitation needed a RSVP: the setting was an Italian restaurant, about an hour away from here.
There were a DJ, a magician - who did the fire alarm trick so good he sent us all outside in the cold weather until the fire-fighters declared that the place was safe "again".
Who else was there apart from the 100 or so guests?Dora...Winnie the Pooh and some other character I just don't remember.

The buffet dinner was really good, we had a good time talking with another couple of pre-school parents and Carlotta had fun with some of her friends - they were all invited but not everybody was there - and I can only say it was a nice evening.

Sure, if you look at it from another perspective you might find it all weird and useless - why celebrate a five year old child's birthday (she has two brothers and EVERY year they celebrate in such elaborate way, I was told) with such an effort?

Why invite people you don't know and probably don't care about?

I can't say.

I don't know these people well enough to decide if this has a special reason or if it is just very normal for them - it is certainly not the usual American celebration.
Apart from that I can confirm our kids will not have such a birthday: they can have their party at school and this is fair to everybody since we don't get to decide who's invited or not and if they want to have someone at home, they might have to pick four or five friends for whom I'll be glad to organize some games and bake a big cake - even use frosting if it's necessary - but that will be it.

What is all the fuzz about?

What do kids need more that this?To be cool?To find their place in high society?
Please, don't tell me I am wrong again.

Kittychan

2010-02-09T13:47:00.002-05:00

In front of Lever House, in NYC

I am an Hello Kitty fan, so what?
There is one thing that warms up my heart in the last days: one of Bastian's new words (after poo and no) is: KITTY.
Sometimes he would say KITTIKY, which is fun, but he really likes this cat too and steals his sister's stickers or books with Kitty and friends.

How blame him?

Hair salon - pride and prejudice

2010-02-04T14:17:00.005-05:00

Am I desperate or do I just look like as if I were?

Yes, I finally went to have a cut. I was mentioning yesterday I should - have long ago - and I did it.
Many of you people out there may think "so what is the big deal?".
The big deal is that I sort of...have a problem with hair dressers. Is it prejudice or just pride? Maybe both.

I am very motivated and well intentioned and ask - beg - for a cut, nothing special just "stop this mess, I don't have time to wash my hair" (which usually takes more than half an hour, with the drying, plus vacuum cleaning and it is stressful because Bastian would usually start crying in the middle of everything so I just have to hurry and be half as happy with the shampoo session - let's leave the conditioner for another time and let's leave a bit of wet hair, so tomorrow I can have terrible neck pain and so on...).
Hair salon is the solution, even if, as I mentioned, it takes a lot of lowering my pride just to make an appointment.

But then I think, hey, they cut MY hair, so I should be thankful and think they are nice people. They probably are. Probably.
This morning, as I sat on the torture chair, there were three or four hair fairies dancing around, chatting about (guess what?) hair color "I don't like that maple leaf brown on X, she looks older or maybe it's because she was always blond" "Yeah, she should try dying her hair velvet red" (I am making this up, because it's Valentine's day soon and because I didn't honestly follow the conversation).

The other thought I had was "too good these guys are not driving around and just stay in their salon", 'cause they smelled of alcohol and I do NOT mean alcohol like that in hair spray or product.
A bit unusual for an hair salon.

Conclusion: I tried my best, but they failed.

Oh, I am not talking about my hair, it looks pretty fine, washed and trimmed and tidy - for a couple of days at least - just you know, if you had a water gun and you would have to choose someone to get completely wet...whom would you choose?

Beauty salon

2010-02-03T13:23:00.006-05:00

So, today I was - in spite of the snow - driving to this place to get an ointment and a new tape for Bastian's lip, since the old one was coming off last night and I was told by some surgeon's secretary "not to touch, remove or apply anything, just come here and we'll do it".

Driving half an hour isn't as terrible as it used to be some times ago and the snow had left almost no trace on the streets BUT going to the surgeon, filling some forms in the hope that someone is fixing the problem and then getting two small packages of ointment ("do you have this at home?" you think if I had this at home I would have come all the way to a facial treatment spa with two kids to make an ass of myself?Excuse me, but no.) was as ironical as it sounds. When I finally get to go to an hair salon, it will be enough beauty.

Then, I took the kids for a stroll in Port Jeff and went to the burrito bar, because we wouldn't have time to cook and there were no left-overs.
I fancy spicy food and am a very big fan of chocolate-chili ice-cream (I should convince the Mc Nulty's people to make this flavour for me, they offer this kind of service) that's by the way a perfect mix to convince your kids not to eat chocolate anymore!!!Wasn't the book I started writing titled "101 best parenting advice"?

February...quite contrary

2010-02-02T13:57:00.003-05:00

How do you survive tiredness?
Lately I really feel sleep-deprived and still I can't sleep during the day, I am too nervous and keep thinking and I don't get things done, especially after Bastian's small accident - his pretty upper lip got cut and he had a stitch so I kind of guard him - I feel absolutely unable to do stuff AND keep an eye on him.
He doesn't sleep too well either, and sometimes he's unhappy so that I am not sure if his lip hurts or he's just tired...
No, there is no way I can change, when people I love suffer, then I suffer too.

It has always been that way and now I am too old to re-program my brain.

Then there is this thing that I finally got used to life here and half year is gone, and when I see in the news that Berlin had a specially cold winter I just don't want to go back, but move to a warmer place. Plus, I don't feel like I belong anywhere and anyone, as if home was the place I want to go away from, not the place I want to live. A safe harbor, but...you don't want to live in a harbor I guess.

Maybe Carlotta is kind of home-sick, mostly because she doesn't like the house we're living in: it's a pretty house, but I agree, it's not our stuff, so she wants to sleep in her bed, to open our drawers, to play with her inflatable horse Rocco...
I miss our bed too - that's one thing I hate when being away from home: beds. American beds are too high and I LOVE low beds.
Yeah, these are small things and bed is not what it is about, it is the temporary that bothers me. It's not like Ralph's approach to that, probably: he's got a work related project, some dead-lines but when he'll be back he will keep working on that; for us as a family it's a bubble-like experience that might lead to nothing - of course we get some new friends, new experiences and it is great to be here all together, but then?
Then we might have to start over again. And miss the friends here.

Guess I will eat some more of the chocolate waffles I bought only for me myself and I.

Meetings after meetings

2010-01-17T14:30:00.011-05:00

Marty and Irma - on the left - on their pontoon boat

What was I doing lately, apart from running after my son who is now a professional walker?
Some days ago we had some Lab related meetings, meaning that there were colleagues-friends coming over to Long Island for work, which led to some dinner and nice talk afterward.

We met our friend Marty - who used to be Ralph's colleague back in 2000, in Chicago - and Shen Pen - a Chinese Californian colleague with whom we were sharing our compartment on the night-train from Shanghai to Beijing two years ago: thanks to his human engineering AND knowledge of chinese language we managed not to spend the night with perfect strangers.

Aren't we relaxed?

We were all invited at Nancy and zio Bob's (that's how Carlotta calls him) place and had a very good time, with me trying to protect the kids from Sierra (their dog).

If you know how scare I am of dogs - childhood shock - then it might sound amusing...

We were all brave, indeed, and let Sierra swipe our crumbs and (hi hi) get Carlotta's slippers.

We then managed to go eat at the local steakhouse (not much fish on Long Island...) - just when I had convinced Carlotta that we could try another place, my work was annihilated by ignoring husband: that's why talking about stupid details matters, I guess.

The one dinner we skipped was probably the most exciting, though, because it was in Flushing, where you can find a large Chinatown.
Supposedly it's even more dumpling filled than the one in New York City. SURPRISE.
Let's not mention that Flushing hosts a large Korean community too - which adds a hint of garlic to the (melting) pot.

So, now Flushing is the one spot to be visited - what do you think I am planning for the next Chinese New Year celebration?I'd love to see it, even if I must confess I don't quite like the idea of dragging the kids into the crowds.

We - me and the kids, that is - joined a Music Together class with my friend Jane and her little daughter Julia (who's a month older than Bastian - but a lot lighter, which is worth telling as a sign of my activity - me, the anti-sport).
It's a fun thing we did when Carlotta was about two years old, but now it's even more interesting, because she speaks English and plays with Bastian who seems to love music too - this is one of the many words he immediately recognizes.
No, I am not a super fan of franchising activities in general, but I know that my kids like music - probably every kid does - and it is nice to make them approach it in a fun way - no Mozart when they were fetuses...

Thinking about it

2010-01-15T18:44:00.004-05:00

I don't want to be talking rubbish right now: found something interesting here.
Disaster may happen anywhere, but if you have neither the infrastructure nor enough help, then it can be a catastrophe...

What can we do?Someone had an interesting idea.

Galani Crostoli Chiacchiere Frappe Bugie

2010-01-10T15:51:00.015-05:00

I saw these at a near by Stop & Shop and I was wondering if anyone here knows the name of this Carnival treat as there is no name on the box...
But me, I come from Venice so you can bet I know what they are...
(which reminds me of the original intention of my posting - I really got lost reading a blogger diatriba and the news - Jeeez...).

Anyway, since I want to keep it light today, I figured out I should share some pictures - sorry Elisa, I wanted to post something of 2009, but now I am in a Carnival mood.
Ready?

Local coach parade near Venice - no snow, but confetti...

Stand -by me! Fritters, another Venetian treat

Crowd in front of the Basilica, Venice

Self-made ribbon costume - but not me!!

Mexican themed wagon...near Venice

And more costumes...

Carlotta digging in the confetti bag

And having her own opinion on Carnival

Harlequin at the fair

If you ever needed one more reason to visit Venice...

Meditate

2010-01-07T13:25:00.004-05:00

This morning I had a very inspirational moment; brought Carlotta to pre-school - after a very busy breakfast which included several interruptions to prepare lunch, feed the kids, get them started - and instead of the usual errand run I went to the beach.

Baby Bastian was falling asleep in the car, so I did not take any walk but stayed at the parking lot for a good half an hour and watched the Sound, the waves and the ferry approaching Port Jefferson and the fumes of some factory down in Connecticut.
Also I listened to the radio. Just some cheap pop.
But it was nice, very nice indeed.
Guess I will miss this view...

I don't know if it's the water, the waves...or the horizon...In Berlin there is no horizon:
you can go to different Towers and look around and you would still see Berlin.
My theory is that this lack of view is one of the reason why Berliners are kind of hard-spirited.

Not all of them, but generally they are.

Don't get me wrong, I like it here and there, and everywhere...in different ways and for different reasons: I got very much used to live in a city and I like it. But the sea, the ocean or in this case the sound...(no, please, don't talk about little lakes) are another pair of shoes.
One for all: I used to spend lot of time at the beach when I was younger and it always felt good losing track of time looking in THAT direction, knowing that somewhere there is land again.
It might be far or even inaccessible but there is something.
This helps thinking, thinking strait and not in circles, thus it calms one down.

Let's call it meditative water-hood...

Losing my...identity

2010-01-04T11:19:00.000-05:00

It eventually happened.

If you ask me how it feels, then I am telling you I really feel guilty about that, because I am a responsible person and I care about things and well...
On the other hand I tend to day-dream a lot and it is a wonder it didn't happen before.

Well, I wouldn't even say it is untypical of me - after all I am not really the stereotype Italian young woman.
But, now I am feeling most uncomfortable, now it really feels as if I had completely lost my identity.

What happened???

I lost my cellphone. And with that all phone numbers that - obviously - I hadn't save anywhere else...

Yesterday I thought I had heard it, the typical sound of an empty battery, just it wasn't anywhere to find. Maybe it gave the last goodbye and left me with no clue, naughty device!!!

And the child was born!!!

2009-12-28T10:55:00.001-05:00

One year has gone...so fast.

The last two Christmases I haven't been so much into celebrating or decorating.
This year my baby boy turns one and this is a very special occurrence itself.

And...last year, as you might well imagine, I was very much concentrating on myself and on "how the delivery would be" and - most important - how fast it would be.
If you've ever heard stories of endless deliveries - which are very common with first borns - just forget about that.

Since I had spent about three hours in delivery room for Carlotta, it was for me quite obvious that it would be faster with the second child.
The fast and the furious.

I like to start the story with me having the first contraction while drinking tea and eating cookies but I will spare the details because I don't want to upset your stomach after the feasts.
Let's just say that Bastian was born 2 hours and 15 minutes after that first contraction and again I got tea and cookies as a treat...
The midwife meant I could also have a shower and start off as if it all had been a spa session.

So here are a few pictures of Bastian's first year

one day old

six months old at Grandma's

with "big sister"

first (American) love - you ain't getting any!!!

crawling on the carpet at the lab

sitting and smiling...?

sleepyheads on futon

winter outfit

Happy birthday Bastian, sweetheart!

Christmas is in you...wait, in me....

2009-12-25T07:43:00.003-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My daughter asked a few days ago if Santa was allowed to go to stores and buy everything without going through the cashiers...Smart girl!

White - and wet- Christmas

2009-12-21T13:22:00.004-05:00

On Saturday it was snowing on Long Island, too.
This is probably a snow landscape I hadn't seen before, even if there were snowy winters in Venice when I was a kid - and this year too, to tell the truth.
Have a look at this...isn't it amazing?

Very beautiful pics of the snow on Long Island were posted by Bill Drago on The Long Island Blog.

What am I doing while the snow is still on the ground?

Bake cookies: I took the chance to try a recipe I got from my friend Marge.
Usually I am very experimental with sweet stuff, which means everything turns out a bit different from expected...and actually I did add a secret ingredient.
Still, these cookies will be renamed "Marge's cookies", because I like the idea that there is a person behind every recipe.

Mi spiego

2009-12-20T12:39:00.007-05:00

Caro XXX

c' era un tempo in cui avevo due mani.
E due occhi, due orecchie, due gambe...solo per me.
Ora niente mi appartiene: qualsiasi cosa io faccia devo essere vigile affinché i bambini non si facciano male, possano essere sazi, riposati, ascoltati...

Ecco, anche ascoltare qualcos'altro che non siano i pianti, le richieste o i loro racconti non è semplice; ció che prima davo per scontato, come poter sentire i miei programmi preferiti alla radio, ora appartiene a un passato quasi dimenticato.
Dico quasi, perché io - pur affetta da una memoria traballante - non ho scordato in quale particolare circostanza le nostre vite si sono incrociate: ascoltando la radio.
Allora, una sera d'estate, ascoltavo musica per consolarmi o per passare il tempo e scrivevo come una dannata per trovare scampo alle mie frustrazioni e per sopportare la tortura che mi pareva allora infinita.
Non è ancora finita del tutto ovviamente, sennó non sarei qui a spiegarti.

Beh, ti diró che di quella particolare circostanza non ho un vero e proprio ricordo, ma una scatola di madelaine proustiane sempre a portata di mano - quella che rimane libera: mi scorrono difronte le immagini del film "Dopo mezzanotte", di una Torino e della sua Mole vista solo piú avanti e mi rimbombano nella testa le canzoni dei Subsonica, anche quelli vissuti solo successivamente.
Anni dopo, a Berlino, scrissi un articolo in tedesco dedicato a quella Torino che conoscevo anche grazie a Culicchia; il mio primo scritto in lingua tedesca convinse l' insegnante a leggere "Tutti giú per terra" - potere delle parole.

Ma l'incrociarsi delle nostre vite non é legato soltanto a questa cittá.
Dici di essere stato piú volte a Venezia, l'isola a forma di pesce, dove incontrare qualcuno che si conosce diventa questione di fondamenta e calli percorse in momenti distinti, parallelamente magari, eppure mai insieme.
Venezia non si conosce mai completamente fosse solo per il suo cambiare colore continuo, perció scelgo ogni volta una calle diversa, pensando di osservare chissá quali volti.
A volte mi sento seguita, non da qualcuno in particolare ma da immagini, ombre, maschere.

Sempre a Venezia ricordo di averti odiato.
Forse é una parola un po' forte...credo di essermi molto arrabbiata, dovendo fotocopiare un mare di fogli che non hanno forse piú ritrovato il lore ordine originale - generalmente leggere una lettera venti o trenta volte va bene, poi peró si mette via e non ci si pensa piú.
Venire a sapere che tutta quella fatica e quel disordine sono stati invano beh...mi fa ancora un po' arrabbiare.
Tanto, dirai tu, siamo sempre su un' isola diversa.

Ora come allora

Wishing well.

Warming up my heart!

2009-12-11T15:20:00.025-05:00

In a freezing cold December day, after fighting with my daughter who is - if you ask me what's wrong with her - possessed by evil spirits from time to time...I find support in GUESS WHAT?

CHOCOLATE

I don't necessarily eat kilos of it at once, but I need some.
Thanks to the kind people who know me so well and instead of flowers just bring me a bar of dark chocolate (more than 70% cacao that is) as a present.
Sorry for those who bring flowers, I like them a lot but it obviously ain't enough to keep them alive. Sigh.

Said that, I will post my last Japan pics, those of Shikoku. I wish we had more time to visit this wonderful area of Japan - will there be a next time?I don't know.

In the distance you can se the Seto Ō-hashi bridge 瀬戸大橋 that connects Honshu with Shikoku, namely the beautiful old city of Kurashiki in Okayama-ken and that of Sakaide in Kagawa-ken, stretching for 13 km over five islands on the Seto Sea.

If you ever happen to stop here, there is a Kinokuniya bookstore and the second best gelato - maccha gelato!!! - we had during this trip.

Bicycle parking - why don't we have those in Europe?

We spent two nights in a cheap hotel - tatami room! - in Takamatsu, the capital of Kagawa-ken, which is interesting and odd at the same time. The harbor area isn't that bad, the station is also close, but still the city center is located further south.
Well, it isn't probably so strange. If you think that tsunami 津波 are nothing exceptional here, it is quite reasonable to have a downtown separated from the harbor. Also, the original meaning of tsunami is "harbor wave".

Downtown Takamatsu means a connection of shopping arcades - I love them, you can walk and be kind of outside but you are covered if the weather is bad - under which people ride their bicycles like mad.
Riding a bicycle is very common in Japan.
It's not the lawless riding of Chinese people but nevertheless - being the rules kind of exoteric - it requires a certain wariness.

I do love this ad, isn't it sweet?

View over Takamatsu from Yashima peninsula

This peninsula is nothing but a lava plateau - i.e. a large and rather flat surface formed by a fast outpouring of lava out of the crust.
Looking at the area around Yashima one can observe the layers that form the peninsula itself.

On the peninsula, the Yashimaji, number 84 of 88 pilgrimage temples in Shikoku.

Near the main temple hall you'll find a Tanuki temple.
Tanuki are Japanese raccoons, famous in folk tales for their mischievous attitude and ability to disguise themselves.
Some seem to be naughtier than other, but mostly those you find outside restaurants are benevolent ones - don't worry!

view of the islands in front of Takamatsu from the observation point

After two days in Takamatsu, where we also visited the city museum and the exhibition "It's a Rumic world", we took the ferry to Ikeda port in Shodoshima, also called Olive Island because of the olive cultivation, that was actually the first in Japan.

As you'd expect from a place where olives can grow, the climate was very pleasant, still warm during the day and just a bit fresher in the evening - I can never get enough of it!!!

The Ikeda ferry terminal area was pretty much a ghost town: no restaurants, no convenient stores...sure enough there were vending machines - is there a vending machine goddess yet?

Anyway, we took the east-bound bus and, after couple of adventurous stops, we landed in a dismissed bikers hotel where we got a room with a view on the harbor.

Not bad!

But this was also in a very sleepy area, namely Sakate, where the ferry to Osaka only run in summer and where all shops were closed.
Very odd, but very beautiful anyway.

You can judge the dimensions of the house looking at the stroller on the right side...

We had - at least - a bus station in walking distance...

After visiting Shōdoshima we returned on our steps in direction of Tōkyō with a short stop in Himeji - which I didn't really like - and a night in Kōbe.
Should you ever need an hotel in Kōbe, you can ask me anytime for advice..(I guess I know most of them NOW because we had to find a room and had no reservation on a week-end where they were all booked out - what a pain!!).

Our last night we were in a hotel in Tōkyō, Asakusa, where we had the top best maccha gelato!!!
But not before having dinner, of course.

The soup that makes us soo happy!!

And of course a stroll around Asakusa Temple and to the Kaminarimon.
-sigh- Japan, how beautiful!!!

Despite all her contradictions and the obvious diversity with any western country, this is for me still a land to fall in love with.

With that I won't bother you anymore and will go on telling about the life on the other Island.

Ruggito del Coniglio - La Bella e la Bestia - Atto III

2009-12-11T10:26:00.001-05:00

una favola per mia figlia

9 and 10

2009-12-10T12:31:00.003-05:00

As much as I promised myself NOT to follow the Advent Calendar tradition, as much as I tried to avoid stuffing my daughter with presents she doesn't need, you can be sure that she is having this year too a nice treatment. Which she doesn't deserve, because she doesn't do anything to make ME happy. But is it the role of kids or the role of parents to make one happy?

Bet you know the answer.

And it's nice to see her smiling face every morning when she gets up - usually she would be in a very bad mood, no matter if she has slept 7 or 12 hours!!! - because she knows there is a small packet waiting to be open by her anxious hands.

She really gets small stuff, like Xmas stamps, a colorful soap, small books, stickers...

But this year I've got a present too. We. No, me. It's me the "at home" parent, so I am the one using that more often. It's an internet radio, so I can listen to my favorite programs.
I love some Italian radio programs.
Some.
Some I hate.
The noisy kind irritates me.
Besides there are radio speakers who talk like dockers. Seriously, why do I have to listen to that language even when they are talking about important issues?
And why on hell is this happening during the day when lot of kids are home and listen to such crap?

Aren't we earning already a bad reputation abroad?Aren't we trying to get rid of this bad reputation?
Well, yes, if there is radio SOMEONE out of their own little bunker is listening!

I get angry about that, because this offensive language is one reason Italians aren't taken seriously and guess what?Here there are a lot of second or third generation Italians who are proud or at least want to be proud of their background. So I am getting angry for them too.
Obviously I don't listen to this kind of programs, if not by accident, and I don't want to promote censorship, just...are good manners really so unimportant?Aren't non-said words often funnier than those that are repeated until we drop?

Maybe I am an old lady inside, anyway it suits to my habit of looking for coins out of my purse 'till the cashier cries.

6, 7, 8 busy bee.

2009-12-08T12:01:00.005-05:00

On Sunday we did make it to the City, managed to find a free parking spot not far from Moma and we enjoyed the Bauhaus exhibit...Carlotta was busy eating her candy necklace and she didn't complain much and Bastian was fine.

Visiting museums with kids isn't always a piece of cake - and if you add to it that in winter you need half an hour to get dress, then undress and maybe go to the restroom just when you would like to see the last rooms or the last work of art then it all becomes more a stress than a pleasure.

I am very glad though that Carlotta liked at least one of the works of Bauhaus: a stained glass composition of Albers, that is.
Well, it was colorful and very pretty and not so strict like many of the other works of art.

No, let's don't start a discussion about art, I am trying to think with the mind of a four year old girl.

To turn this a bit, I'll tell you about the game she wanted to play yesterday afternoon: she said we were supposed to play "mom with son and daughter". She was to be the mom.
It was very interesting, 'cause she asked me where I wanted to go and so I started acting like she would sometimes - maybe exaggerating a bit.
"I want to go to NYC, no...I want to go to the library...no, I want to go eat ice-cream". She was kind of surprised but accepted the "eat ice-cream" option"saying "OK, but one scoop chocolate ice-cream in a small cone" and on I went "No, two scoops in a large cone" and she "A small cone for you and a big one for me"..."No, I will be eating ice-cream, not you!!!".

And there she pull out the lesson: "If you are acting like this, then you won't eat any ice-cream".

Did I ever complain she is not listening to me?There you go, "mom".

Three, four and five...

2009-12-05T17:08:00.004-05:00

I am very bad at counting, very bad in sticking to plans and schedules, in a word...busy mom of two kids.
We had a quite intense week, even though we didn't do unusual things.
Bastian is very active, which means he tries to walk along any walls, or just crawls away to be found in the most inappropriate places of the house, so whatever I am doing there are interruptions and lot of running around involved.
It's fun, but it always seems there is no way to finish what one begins.

The weather was also kind of crazy lately, one day you needed to wear just a sweat-shirt, the next day you needed a winter coat, so we had to plan our activities accordingly.
Yesterday was a wonderful day, one of those that makes you want to walk along the beach and collect pebbles - how many did I collect in the last months I don't know - but the wind was so strong that in the end I decided to just have a walk in Port Jefferson, which is one of the nicest towns on the North Shore, with a harbor and some nice shops.

Without the wind it was very enjoyable.

Today we were forced to stay home being unpleasantly rainy, windy and very cold.

Anyway, the weather forecast is good for tomorrow: it should be cold but sunny and we plan to go to NYC, hopefully it will work.
We'd like to visit the Museum of Natural History or the Moma: if Nikolaus is bringing enough diversions for Carlotta then even modern art is fine.
Don't know what she will think about Bauhaus, but maybe the Tim Burton exhibition could amuse her for a while.

Ralph has bought a second car - how bad is it that we got to this?
But truth is that he needs a car to go to work and I need a car to go around with the kids.
With that I like driving less than before, but there is no escape....

Happy Nikolaus!

TWO

2009-12-02T21:15:00.001-05:00

Two, like two shots against the flu...

ONE

2009-12-01T11:56:00.003-05:00

December OMG!!!
That's my blog-advent calendar.

Traditionally, I would have a Xmas Tree...
But when I moved to Berlin I had a brilliant idea, look at that!!!For Ralph's happiness.

Happy first Advent Sunday!

2009-11-29T16:51:00.005-05:00

No, if this is what you are asking yourself...I am not, but in a season of movies like "The Santa Clause" with Tim Allen - whom I love in Home Improvement, btw - and various versions of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" I also want to spread a word of joy.
Did you know that Tim Allen was arrested for cocaine possession?And for drunk-driving?

Word of joy, excuse me.

Because we are somehow waiting and hoping for the Saviour, even if we are not personally oppressed.
This gets me back on my trail: oppression, that is.
And something I want to share with you, as lately I have seen a parody of Maya Angelou on SNL - very amusing indeed - and she happens to be one of my favorite poets.

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Happy Black Friday!!!

2009-11-27T10:58:00.005-05:00

It's great to be in the States for Thanksgiving...although we're not really celebrating with traditional American food - well, we had a chance to do that on Tuesday, as the Lab where Ralph works had organized a feast for all "homeless" employees, i.e. people from abroad or far from their families.

Today is Black Friday, the first shopping day after Thanksgiving and unofficial beginning of the Christmas season.

Why, did the shopping ever had a break?Or were Christmas ornaments not in the stores before Thanksgiving?

Mhhh...mysteries I would never really understand.

Note that in Europe it wouldn't be much different: you might find Christmas items in September and then at the end of November you can start the celebration with the Advent Countdown.

It all makes me feel like the Grinch. And not because I don't like Christmas!
On the contrary: I like neon lights and the tree and those wonderful polish glass balls not to mention the presents and wrappings around presents or my favorite food on a neat table with the best cutlery BUT it would be easier if I could enjoy one thing at a time, if you know what I mean.
I am still eating my pumpkin pie and someone is already feeding me the Xmas lunch, I just can't take it, that's way too much.

Last year I was pregnant and had few energies for my daughter, but I had some time and decided to prepare an Advent Calendar with a small present every day starting December 1st until December 25th. It was nice to wrap small things she might need for the winter, some small toys or just craft bonuses like baking cookies together or making small photo-albums with pictures of her (we usually upload pics and seldom print them).
It was kind of "for her before she realizes mom won't have so much time after Xmas" - baby Bastian was due on January 4th, but I knew he would arrive not much later than Santa.

Anyway, this year I am so tired of Xmas already and she kind of has anything, I can hardly think about 24 presents. Of course I have some, but I never have the time and the privacy to wrap them all. I should have begun with the wrapping in August...
So, let me feel like the Grinch!

The Grinch hated Christmas! The Whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But I think that the most likely reason of all
May have been that his heart was two sizes too small.

From How The Grinch Stole Christmas © 1957 by Dr. Seuss

You know the story?You want to know how it ends?
This could be, by the way, a nice gift for both children and grown-ups..
Books are always a good option.

Momotarō 桃太郎

2009-11-22T11:26:00.005-05:00

Momotarō is the peach-boy of Japanese legends.
These days I am making my own Momotarō story: whenever my daughter asks me "Are you my mom?", I answer "No, I just found you".

Anyway, we found this pretty statue while walking in Okayama, the Vegas of western Japan, a city rising in the middle of nowhere but with one of the most beautiful gardens I've ever visited - the Korakuen.

Yatsuhashi Bridge (八橋)

から衣きつゝなれにしつましあればはるばるきぬるたびをしぞ思

Karagoromo / kitsutsu narenishi / tsuma shi areba / harubaru kinuru / tabi o shi zo omou

I have a beloved wife / familiar as the skirt / of a well-worn robe / and so this distant journeying / fills my heart with grief

from Ise Monogatari 伊勢物語

On the other hand....

2009-11-12T17:01:00.003-05:00

This is my ideal of Fall.
Can you order that for me?

November

2009-11-05T11:33:00.005-05:00

Guess I need to make a pause in my Japan's telling.
Because since we're back many things happened: Carlotta had her fourth birthday, she got back to pre-school and the routine prevented my spleen from narrating more fun stories.
Also, when we got back, our roommate told us he was going back to Italy. I will leave the details, because it's all very personal, but the main motivation was that his family needed him more than ever and to me this a good enough reason to take such decision.

November is a quite depressing month.

If you split from your partner in November you're more likely to be sad than if you'd do that in June...for example. They call it winter blues, in some exclusive circle.
November is the month of the dead: I used to go to the cemetery with my parents and relatives to remember dead family-members.
My father used to be very bored and hung his jacket on one of the wall-tombs - guess this is what you do when you're bored.
After all the praying and saying we would go back home and eat pastries from our local bakery. This is also what you do if you are bored: eat. Or if you are sad.
I don't like November. In spite of chestnuts.

Kiyomizudera 清水寺

2009-11-01T11:33:00.007-05:00

Kiyomizudera is one of my favorite temples, because it combines an amazing architecture - I've told you I am a fan of such constructions, maybe I have been an architect in one of my previous lives...- and a spectacular view over Kyoto.

Since it was rainy just before we got to the terrace of the temple, we got the next illumination with sun piercing the clouds - isn't it inspiring?

ooohhhh....ehhhhh.....aaahhhhh

(Japanese for awesome)

no single nail was used to build this temple

Kyoto and the Nishiki Market

2009-11-01T06:46:00.010-05:00

Nishiki Market stand

From Teramachidori

If you are a temple freak - like I was and still partly am - Kyoto is the place to be.

The first time in Kyoto, nine years ago, I was desperately craving for illumination, so this time I decided to take it easy - it is part of that illumination to know that you don't enjoy temples while your kids are complaining and crying because they are tired or hungry - or just because to them torii - the gate in front of shinto shrines - all look alike and Buddha is only a fat man (I try to see through the eyes of a child, of course to me THERE ARE substantial differences!!!).

Kobe is a convenient location for a day trip to Japan's ancient capital, so I took this opportunity and got on the local trains to reach Kyoto and stroll around, visit the Nishiki Market and, as part of the deal, walk through Teramachi Street (寺町通 teramachidōri) a shopping arcade surrounded by temples - or the other way round.

Not long ago I had read about anko (red-bean paste) kit-kat and I was struggling to find it in supermarkets or combini (convenient stores), instead I found this....

For a new kind of tea-ceremony.

Rope-way and Herb Garden

2009-10-31T18:18:00.009-04:00

Here comes one of the toughest part of our Kobe tour...
After running around so much, Carlotta finally decided that she was ready to be transported.
In Kobe Kitano, literally the northern area of Kobe, there are mountains from which you can enjoy a wonderful sight of the city and take a stroll through the herb garden, where you can find some hidden beauties.
The price to pay to get there - and we aren't talking about the entrance fee - is a ten minute ride on the rope-way.
As you probably know, I don't quite like the heights...for a number of reasons.

Can you picture me on such a trap?

These are some pics I could take; if you mean they are not good it's because everything was shacking!!

If going up wasn't enough....

but the view is great

ain't it?

Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art

2009-10-31T12:10:00.006-04:00

There is a strange tricky monster in my mind, which makes me seek things western if I am in Far East and makes me seek things eastern if I am on the western side of the world - but it is a matter of definition where east and west are, right?

Me, Carlotta and little Bastian made it to the Hyogo Museum and stared at a lot of art-works. When I say "stared" I really mean it, since the title of the exhibition was "Visual deception" it took some time before you could figure out what was real and what just illusion.

I was incredibly captured by a work of Patrick Hughes, displaying one of my favorite cities...

Arima Onsen and Akashi Bridge

2009-10-31T11:26:00.010-04:00

Forget riding the jet-ski for a second!!!
We had - sorry, I meant we joyfully took part to the social program bus-tour organized for scientists' accompanying persons.
Do you like bus tours?
Do you like Japanese bus tours?

Anyway, we went to the Arima Onsen - nothing for me with both kids (too bad because I love to soak in hot water).

After riding the bus to Arima, we hit the road again to reach the Akashi Bridge observation point on Awaji Island.

The longest suspension bridge of the world just there in front of us.
I started being interested in such amazing constructions as bridges, dams, towers...escalators oops...maybe the last aren't so amazing but hey, useful!!!

Meriken Harbor Land

2009-10-31T11:11:00.006-04:00

I like cities on the water, be it a river, a bay, the ocean or a lake. Especially harbors are a source of energy and of new ideas.
Japanese harbors though are a bit depressing, being strictly dedicated to the import of goods and to the industry.
Not far away from downtown Kobe though you can find an area that "celebrates" the harbor with a panoramic wheel, a sightseeing tower and a nautical museum hosting a large ship exhibition which Carlotta found very exciting, mostly because of other means of transportation she could pretend to ride....

Motomachi

2009-10-31T10:40:00.011-04:00

Kobe is a rather international city: it has a large harbor, a number of ethnic restaurants, an area where a bunch of European homes were built - a little Shanghai without ever being as crowded as Shanghai.
The big earthquake in 1995 destroyed most of it, so I can't be sure of how much of the original flavor remains.

One of my favorite areas was the Motomachi area, bustling with life and packed with small shops and restaurants, mostly located under arcades or under the railroad (saving room is a national sport).
On top of that, add the small but busy Chinatown, a place where you might forget for a while you are in Japan and where the intense and delicious smell of dumplings and Peking duck rolls fill the air. How did it go?
Give me a gate and I'll turn it into a Chinatown?

Sorakuen

2009-10-31T10:36:00.005-04:00

Ikuta Jinja - Kobe

2009-10-31T10:31:00.008-04:00

Kobe

2009-10-31T10:01:00.008-04:00

Not that I am a fan of high-speed, but how can't you be fond of Japanese railways and trains?
Taking the Shinkansen is like taking an aeroplane without leaving the ground...
No delays, no mess...

That's how we reached Shin-Kobe station - on the northern side of the city - in two and a half hours.
From the station we had to walk down the hill to get to downtown Kobe and to the Sunside hotel.
Should I tell you about that?
Yeah, that was our first "hotel experience" during the three weeks, so get ready.
We were due to stay ten nights in a twin room - each parent with one kid in bed is a fair compromise if beds are wide enough.
Trying to ignore the average salary-men who were going in and out the hotel lobby (lobby is a big word) we took the shower-wide elevator to eventually get into a small room with two small beds. After traveling and being very tired it is more disappointing that it might sound.

I have slept in uncomfortable places before, but I really didn't like this one.
Neither did Ralph, so we decided to stay two nights and move out of there.
Luckily enough we found a hotel just around the corner, with much nicer staff, nicer beds and nicer breakfast (an inviting selection of onigiri with pickles and miso soup plus some corn-flakes and milk - for people like me who never leave home without drinking milk - just imagine how bad I get if it happens!)

We could spend the first two days together, visiting some of the local attractions like the Ikuta Jinja and Kanteibyo and the Sorakuen Garden, located on the northern part of the city, behind Sannomiya station.

Japan

2009-10-11T09:43:00.007-04:00

I know, I know...you thought I was lost in translation and I didn't want to go back to the States but I am back, even after the 12 hour long flight and the usual stop at Washington - late because of weather delay, missed the connecting flight, short night at the Marriot and flight the next day (I could get used to that procedure).

After recovering from some jet-leg, I realized I am well behind schedule with my posting and now I have to report about our trip.
Let's start from

Odawara

After flying from NY La Guardia to Washington Dulles and from there to Narita, we were taking the train to Odawara, which is not far away from Chigasaki.
We decided to spend a night in Odawara before getting to Kobe, because we wanted to meet Chizuko - see previous post and picture - and also because we wanted to have some sleep between the long flight and the Shinkansen ride.

We arrived on the very day the tropical storm Melor hit the coast in the Tokyo area. The wind was quite strong, local trains were canceled and so I couldn' t meet Chizuko, but we made it to Odawara castle, one of Japan's largest.

have a look at the sky...

Although local trains didn't run, the fast Shinkansen was able to take us to our final destination: Kobe.

Mattete!!!

2009-10-04T10:39:00.004-04:00

We are packing again.

Tomorrow we will leave for Japan: Ralph has a meeting in Kobe and we are following him.
The weather doesn't seem to be too good, with some tropical storms and winds, but it will hopefully get better.

...of course I am happy, but the idea of SUCH a long flight is terrifying.

Guess I will have to relax and just post again when I am there, since it might really appear to you it's more a torture than a pleasure.
Japan is one of the countries I love most.
I love Japanese people, food, sights, colors, language, sounds - yeah, some might even be disgusting, but they are part of the fun.
Besides, I have tons of good memories related to Japan; lot of dear friends (I know, some might argue a friend is someone you see very often, but me...no, I don't have such friends).

The photo above was taken six years ago, in front of the Pacific Ocean, in Chigasaki.
eeeeee......

Last, but not least, I met Ralph in Japan.

V.I.P for a day

2009-09-21T14:10:00.004-04:00

If you are not a resident or you don't pay an outrageous charge for parking, you won't see the beautiful beaches in Westhampton.
Unless...
you are here after Labor Day.

NYC

2009-09-21T13:51:00.010-04:00

To avoid too much countryness, we decided to spend the weekend in the City...strolling, eating Chinese food, listening to music. Do I need more?Mhhh...no actually I don't.

Here are some pics.

I scream for ice-cream

2009-09-18T14:21:00.004-04:00

Today I went downtown...Rocky Point downtown, that is.
It's a small nest between the hills and route 25A, couple of stores, some restaurants and a CVS pharmacy.

I walked in to the Italian food market - mostly meat, so I couldn't care less - and a dozen expired cookie boxes - colors fading away made me just curious, so I checked before stuffing my head with the thought of delicious cappuccino filled wafers...

Across the street there's a small pizzeria - unimportant details, since what attracted me most was the sign of Mc Nulty's ice-cream, which is one of the best so called "Italian-ice" around here.
So I asked the young woman behind the counter if we could have an ice-cream and she was pretty offended, meaning "it's not ice-cream...it's Italian ice".

I had wanted to, but I didn't dare asking her for the difference, because I am an ice-cream junkie, so call it the way you want, it just has to be good.

BUT it was probably as expired as the above mentioned wafers.
Bad ice-cream sucks.
Anyway it all could have ended in a racial issue, since she gave me the thing in a squeeze cup.

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