Sadness

Yesterday was a very sad day for us. Beverly Domenick, mother of Michael Domenick (my sister Catharine's husband) died from Acute Leukemia. She was only 59 years old. I was not expecting it. I was not that close as she was my sister's mother-in-law but the times I met her she was kind. A good heart. It has saddened me and has confirmed my belief once again that life is a gift that we have been given (by God, by Allah, by the Big-Bang who knows) and it is our responsibility to live it. For what I believe we have only one life and a short one at that and who knows when our last day might be - so we must celebrate every day that we are granted and live it to the fullest. Tell the people near to you how much you care about them. Give your child a hug and kiss and let them know that they are precious to you. Don't hold back in love- invest everything in it because these are the things that really matter. Make the choice to be happy and make others happy. Smile, laugh, and enjoy every breath that you have. This is my choice and I hope it is yours.

Smile Smile Smile......

I've got nothing to do to-day but smile.....

Elvis has left the Building

And Papa Healey has arrived in Florence. Very excited. He landed in Bologna last night and this morning, after a relaxing massage that his darling daughter arranged, we had lunch together near my office. It is so weird, but it seems as soon as I see him that no time has passed at all- much less 2 months since the last time I saw him and a year since he was in Florence. Madison is super excited that Papa is here and has spent the last 24 hours saying "Papa guarda, guarda" (translation- Papa look, look) Papa brought him a bathtub basketball net with 3- count 'em three balls and we are now in 7th heaven (we slept with the balls clutched in our little hands). And this morning we were there in bed with Papa counting the balls. Papa would say 1,2,3 balls and Madison would say one, quattro, ten! Very satisfied with himself obviously...to be continued.

Things I like to say....

Sometime I just like to say "WE'RE GONNA ROCK OUT WITH OUR COCKS OUT"
I really like to say this....I am strange I guess....but it's fun like saying "rockin and rollin and whatnot!" or "majoragerallnighterexciter"

Boogey Wonderland

I just recently deciphered the words to Boogie Wonderland and I really liked the idea of such a place. I am sure that Xanadu was inside a Boogie Wonderland....

New Favorite Show

Here are my new favorite television shows:

1. Criminal Minds
2. Missing
3. Cold Case
4. Without a Trace
5. Crossing Jordan
   

Coffee, Tea, ME???

I have been drinking lots of hot tea lately. Not to say that I have replaced coffee, but here in Eye-tallee coffee lasts a whole 2 seconds to chug, like a shot and then it's over. Instead with weather outside being frightful, having hot tea at my desk is delightful. Mostly I have been kidding myself drinking lots of Tisane (non-tea tea). Basically anything that does not contain TEA can not be called tea- For example cammomile can not be called tea, this is a tisane or warm beverage. I learned this when I was a waitress at a Tea Room when I lived in the PORT. I have to say that I had fun in the Port for a year, but that was enough for me. Either way, been drinkin' lots of tea.

Guten Morgen

Good morning to all of you who don't speak German....it is actually closer to lunch time here but I am still feeling that "I need another espresso to wake up" so I will say Guten Morgen instead of Guten Tag...I have to admit that I find German a sort of offensive sounding language, but a friend of mine who speaks it really commands control of her kinder when she scolds them in German-even I am scared. Italian often just sounds like you are hysterical (same for Spanish) and French as if you have a mucous buildup in your throat...This is my experience anyway....

DREAMS..............

I wish I could go back to college.
Life was so simple back then.


What would I give to go back and live in a dorm with a meal plan again!

I wish I could go back to college.
In college you know who you are.
You sit in the quad, and think, "Oh my God!
I am totally gonna go far!"


How do I go back to college?
I don't know who I am anymore!

I wanna go back to my room and find a message in dry-erase pen on the door!
Ohhh...
I wish I could just drop a class...


Or get into a play...

Or change my major...

Or fuck my T.A.


I need an academic advisor to point the way!
We could be...
Sitting in the computer lab,
4 A.M. before the final paper is due,
Cursing the world 'cause I didn't start sooner,
And seeing the rest of the class there, too!

I wish I could go back to college!


How do I go back to college?!
AHHHH...


I wish I had taken more pictures.


But if I were to go back to college,
Think what a loser I'd be-
I'd walk through the quad,
And think "Oh my God..."


"These kids are so much younger than me."

Papa Healey & Rockin Out!

So my dad is going to be here in less than a week...I am excited. We always have a good time so no worries about that. I am planning a little trip to Lerici which is a little town near the Cinque Terre over the November 1st weekend. Then I am taking another 3 days off to spend with him. I am anticipating a very nice time...No that is not my dad above.....

Time flies.....

This was over a year ago..........

Ideal Job

I was talking to my sister a while back and we were talking about ambition and dream jobs etc and we were saying that it would be great if reading books was a job. And I was like "it is a job if you are an editor" and she explained that she didn't mean reading for work, but that if you could get paid just to read books for pleasure. For me this would be great, but only if I could talk to other people afterwards about the book. It's the same for me when I watch a movie. If I don't have anyone to talk about it with it loses something. I recently ready A Thousand Splendid Suns and while it didn't MOVE me like The Kite Runner I really really liked it and the entire subject of women in general, women in muslim countries etc etc. (don't want to ruin the book for you if you haven't read it.) And I recently saw BABEL with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett...really good, confusing and wonderful and thought provoking...which I like. I don't like movies or books that end with you going "what the f***?" but neat ending leave no room for the imagination. One of my favorite movies LOST IN TRANSLATION....I believe this is the Asian version of my life many times in Italy......

Half of the time were gone but we dont know where,
And we dont know here......

For Someone Very Special

My minds distracted and diffused
My thoughts are many miles away
They lie with you when you're asleep
And kiss you when you start your day.

Haircut

So I had this idea the last time I went to the hairdresser's that I wanted to cut my hair short - because I am now in my 30's (yuck) and need a more sophisticated do....well, bless her, my hairdresser E slowed me down and told me to think it over and leave it for the next time. Thank goodness I did- because I was looking at some pics the other day of when my hair was really long and I am nostalgic for my silken mane....I wish I had the money to get extensions on a whim like Britney Spears who one day was bald and the next day has hair pratically down to her navel. Not that I want to in any way resemble Brit (already my British friend introduced me as - Clinton-->she's from Louisiana and talks just like Britney Spears)....such is my heritage. The best thing that ever came out of Kentwood was the water. Full Stop! No, I feel bad for Brit, she was born WT and will remain that way...it's in her blood. Just like when you see certain children and they have that WT look. They can be wearing cute clothes and whatnot but there is no denying it. There is something in the pallor of their skin or the way their hair is not combed or too long bangs, there is that indescribable knowledge of their legacy....oh well. So needless to repeat that NO I did not bob my hair.

back in black

Ok, so I am back after not blogging for quite some time. New things in my life....stress stress and more stress. I have seen more doctor in the last few weeks than I care to think about. I have had back problems, headaches, stomach problems etc etc....nothing wrong but stress. What is causing all this stress??? Indecision. I have decided that not being sure about something is worse than knowing something bad. Because if you have clear information-even if it is not pleasing information you can react..but to when you are unsure you have to dwell on the what ifs. It's the what-ifs in life that will kill us.
Example- theoretical of course
I hate my job, my boss is a jerk....need the salary, job market is sucky...what do I do???
What makes me happy? What job would I like? I DONT KNOW: I know I don't like what I have but I don't know what I want.....this is the worst possible situation for anyone to be in.
Because your own indecision makes you angry at yourself but you feel impotent so you blame others for your lack of happiness, satisfaction yadda yadda yadda....

Happiness....it's a path and not a destination!

Happy Halloween

Weekends in The Country with Maddy Moo

FILL ME UP BUTTERCUP

I absolutely love this song. It reminds me of my college room mate Misty who used to love to sing it when we were getting ready to go out. I was talking to a friend the other day about what a crazy time I had in college-- there were some not so great things, but for the most part I had a FANTASTIC time. I don't remember lots of it...lots of this, and a little bit of that- but we rocked out....I have been feeling very nostalgic lately for these days and others even further back. Who knows why- I am not involved in a project and that is a problem for me. I need to create something new .... snaps for N who has created Lost and Found Hound for lost and recovered animals....recently I spent some time with my long lost cousin Kevin and he shared some k-nowledge with me....TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR MIND. This is very insightful and I am trying to do this- but it is harder than you think... to be continued....

IT'S FRIDAY IT'S FRIDAY

I have been horribly neglecting my blog - but I have a good excuse- all that is new in my life is an overwhelming amount of work.....YUCK! Last night as I was making tomato sauce - out of fresh tomatoes and various other ingredients I was wondering to myself it I would like to be a chef- low key - do cooking lessons etc ....hmmm I am so like Otis of K & S that it is incredible...except for somethings.. I mean I have two emotions - antsy and testy, maybe I am hyperactive, but if so I am the laziest hyperactive person I have ever met. I have no idea what I want out of my life, what truly makes me happy- besides Madison and champagne and dark chocolate..... I loved teaching and am sorry that I don't do it anymore - financial needs prevail, but hopefully one day I will find a way to make this professional valued by others in a more economical way. It's too bad I am not

1. Independently wealthy
2. Married to someone who is independently wealthy
3. In a situation where those around me are not concerned about money

However, this is not the case. I have to get back to work now as I my 60 minutes of lunch are up. Hopefully over the weekend I can catch up and put some more photos on from our Sicilian holiday.

More pics from the family trip

Eating watermelon at the OSTERIA DEI PAZZI in Florence

Hayes in the fountain at the Spanish Steps in Rome!!! (he was removed by an Italian Policeman!)

Family Trip to Italy 2007

Mister cool showing off in his Babbo's shades at the PAZZI


On top of Mount Etna in the midst of old lava flow - very exciting and exhausting (it was only about 104 ° that day!)


Feeling good in the stroller Night out with the famiglia in front of the Trevi Fountain

90210

Let's talk about 90210 for a minute - can I just say that either you were a Brenda fan or a Kelly fan
I personally was a Brenda fan and my friend Eliza was a Kelly fan--- blasphemy. How can you go for the
blonde, rich girl whose biggest problem in life is choosing a boyfriend - which she steals from her "best friend"
Of course, she pays for this in the end by

1. having her mother marry her geeky friend's father and having a late in life baby
2. overdosing on diet pills
3. becoming a victim of a sinister cult
4. becoming a crack whore
5. getting burned in a fire
6. stalked by her fellow burn member
7. shot in a drive by shooting
8. ????

It seems a lot, but as Brenda says, "if i looks like a duck and quacks like a duck..."

All I have to say is DONNA MARTIN GRADUATES!!!

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.....

Ok, so here I am Wednesday July 18th - only 3 days away from vacation and Maddy Moo is sick, I haven't packed, my cousin is arriving tomorrow, I feel naseuous , but I happened to catch a rerun of an old 90120 - the day that Valerie arrives, which cheered me up for a moment, the heat is out of control in Florence and I still have a million things to do before I leave at the butt crack of dawn on Saturday morning.

How does Butter Fly????

No one really knows the origin of this word. It is possible that it arose from the butter-yellow color of common European butterflies called sulphurs. I personally like the French and Italian words Farfallina and Papillon

Hebetudinous????

Are you tired?

Tell us why.

19.15 Monday evening

ok, so I should so be working, but I have had enough for today. There were problems starting at 10am this morning and I am tired and thinking about all the things I need to do to get ready for my vacation that starts this Saturday!!!! I am really pumped. I am going to see my fam and we are going to eat yummy food, and lay in the sun and hopefully just Ree-Lax! Sicily has wonderful Granitas that are similar to the famous Looziana SnowCone...and I love the mint flavor as does Maddy Moo. What I am super excited about are the desserts in Sicily.

Everybody's Workin' 4 the Weekend!

Who knew that these guys were Canadian?

Thursday once Again

It is Thursday once again and every morning I debate about getting up and going for a run know full well that there is no way in hell I am going to actually leave the house and run. The number one reason being I hate to run. The number two reason being I HATE TO RUN!!! and I don't often get much sleep. Last night I actually used ear plugs and slept in the living room to escape the grand central station that my bedroom has turned into. Amazingly, I slept from 3am to 8am which was pretty great. I actually went to bed at 11pm but was awakened at 2am-3am by crying child. I am not sure but I am about to KICK THE ASS of whatever scary monster is making him wake up every night.
In any event, the day is passing quite nicely and I am looking forward to the weekend. I just realized that in less than 10 days I will be in Sicily with my family (sans Cardene) for a week- and needless to say I AM PUMPED!
So I am sitting at my desk feigning work, which is a nice plus about this job, admiring the sunshine outside and thinking that at some point I would like to go see the new Harry Potter movie....

Stop and smell the flowers!

Madison has been sick lately with a sore throat and fever (according to the expert Italians it was too much PISCINA - swimming pool over the weekend) I am a believe in germs and bacteria as opposed to weather conditions causing fevers and other ailments. That is neither here nor there for this discussion. I decided to stay home with him while he was sick, normally he stays with his grandmother when he is sick and mamma has to go to work, but I have just been enlightened to the fact that mothers of children under 3 have the right to take off work to stay with their children. Didn't know this, but now I do. Anyway, since anyone who have ever met my child knows that it is virtually impossible to keep him inside all day even with a high fever, we decided to take the 2 second walk down the street to the coffee bar and get a popsicle for his ailing throat. As we were walking he noticed this large gelsomino bush growing near the sidewalk. He stopped (literally) to smell the flowers and it made me think how the most of us are so wrapped up in the crappy details of our lives that we don't stop and realize the important things that are all around us. I have been feeling down lately, but the "maudlin" phase is over - I decided! I refuse to waste even one day feeling down when all around me there are wonderful things to do and see. I have also discovered that there is a new machine that cures allergies with light therapy. Basically you stick these two nodes in your nostrils and a light comes on a does something so you don't suffer from allergies anymore. I am really interested in purchasing this product. If anyone has tried something like this please let me know before I go "spending the big bucks".

How to Scramble Eggs - The proper technique

EAT ME??

I saw this picture of toast and it appealed to me (yes, ok I am a bit of a perv)....mostly because I was having my second breakfast of the morning at my desk ---spilling the requisite crumbs and what not on my key board etc. As you will know if you read the previous bit . I awoke at 4.30am and never went back to bed this morning. So at 5.50am I meandered down to the coffee bar at the end of my street and had a whole wheat brioche and a cappuccino..now at 10am I was getting the stomach rumblings of a person who needs to eat and therefore decided upon a second breakfast of toast with sugar free jam (strawberry) and low fat yogurt along with a cafe latte. So here I am at 10.15 - came into work 1 hour early so I can have a long lunch today as one of my colleagues has taken the day off and the other is arriving late...........oh, guess what? TGIF --- or was it GFI Piscopal Hi -go 4 it!!!

GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE

Ok, so insomnia reigns at Via Enrico Baroni #13...was up at 4.30am to settle an unsettled child who was apparently fighting demons in his sleep and wanted his mamma. So of course I ran (the whole 2 feet) to his room and hugged and cuddled him and laid beside him until he was back in the land of sugarplum fairies and broom brooms (translation - cars) peppe (trucks- imagine a horn honking peh peh) and fanté (his new favorite we go to school with it we sleep with it plastic elephant that was bought to calm him at the discount German grocery store that I frequent ever since I was put on a restrictive budget by my hubby! (No Commnet) It has it's good points- they frequently have "Americany type stuff" that I pick up.
So I definitely think that this lack of sleep is the main cause of my - dare I say it "mild depression" that I have been feeling lately - just not my usual sunny self. My dad's advice "drink water". While drinking water is a good idea I am not sure that it is going to solve my problem. However, a relaxing weekend with a pool party, sunshine, grilled hot dogs & hamburgers should do the trick - I am counting on it.

What's been going on with me lately - I am not feeling my usual sunny self. Well, not entirely true, when I talk to a good friend who exceeds in gaining a unexpected giggle out of me I feel great, but on the whole I am feeling a bit down these days ..........could it be lack of sleep? Maybe. Change in the weather? A possibility. Or am I just looking for a new adventure and haven't found it yet. Hard to say. Work is monotonous, I have started smoking again, my back hurts...... I am not longer feeling like the spritely Clinton that I long to be. Hmm I need to reflect on this.

I have a pool party with friends (kids and hubbies included) this weekend and I plan to ROCK OUT with my um um out... For real, we will grill out, have a splash in the pools, drink a little and hopefully have a few laughs. Maybe it will be just the trick to turn my frown upside down

TACO TRUCKS??? HOT DOG CARTS???

Ok, so talking to my dad today he was telling me about how N'awlins is crawling with Taco trucks. This is not an unusual site in Italy to see on the roadside or at outdoor markets, not Mexican food, but roadside trucks offering tasty treats such as tripe sandwich and the such. We had a particularly interesting roadside stand near my house a few years back called Ciccio & Ciccia which literally means Fatso and Fasta (the feminine of Fatso). I found this name particularly amusing but however quite appropriate as the two proprietors were rather on the chubby side of the spectrum. They were very popular with the late night motorino after disco crowd - much like the famed late night hotdog runs of my friend Natasha. Anyway, I am happy to see that the new locals are installing their own traditions and giving the local folks a bit of their Latin flavor - a one man quoted "it's better than Taco Bell" - that's good enough for me!!!

The Magherini Family

Summer 2006

I know it's old but I really wanted to put it on here!

Look I have my own store in LONDON!!

I just thought I would add this picture of my little choc-a-holic

at Easter time ...

Wednesday Again

So here we are in the middle of the week. So far exciting news is that I have been granted Italian citizenship and once I decide to schump my way downtown to Palazzo Vecchio to make an appointment for the swearing in ceremony then we will be on our way. I can only do it on Mon. Wed. and Friday from 8-30-1pm so probably I will make it down there this Friday. In the meantime the chiropractor is going well - I am sore and feel bruised but apparently there is a noticeable difference in my mongy arm - so that is well worth it. What else - Maddy Moo is now pretty much sleeping in his own bed which is great, but he is refusing to do "pee pee" or "poo poo" in the potty. He is also reverting back to not using utensils and has started to do lots of grunting and pointing instead of talking - I am insisting that he "use his words" on that one mostly because it drives me crazy to be grunted at. So that's it for now. It is now 10 to 9am and I must get going - work has been crazy but today should be calmer so I might get a chance to write more.

Worst Songs Ever

We built this city by Starship is by far one of the worst songs ever written. Apparently I am not alone as I have googled this song that I am being forced by work space radio to listen to. I mean really- At the moment I am sitting at my desk eating a pear and cottage cheese (although not together) and wondering how I am going to make it to 5 o'clock. The witching hour today as I am taking off early for a chiropractic appointment. My hub-a-dub is out o' town tonight and therefore while I appreciate the freedom, I have to go to a dinner party where I only know 1 person and I don't relish the idea of going solo. I really want to leave now, but I can't. I have to sit here at my desk like an autonotom and pretend to work!
DAMN THE MAN!
"The Man. Oh, you don't know The Man? The Man's everywhere: in the White House, down the hall, Miss Mullins; she's The Man! And The Man ruined the ozone, and he's burning down the Amazon and he kidnapped Shamu and put her in a chlorine tank! Okay! And there used to be a way to stick it to The Man, it was called rock 'n roll. But guess what? Oh no! The Man ruined that too with a little thing called MTV! So don't waste your time trying to make anything cool or pure or awesome 'cause The Man's just gonna call you a fat washed up loser and crush your soul. So do yourself a favor and just give up!"

-- 

Max: That was more of a yield at that stop sign.
Grover: I broke, thanks.
Max: No, it was more of a yield.

'tash disaster!

Every time summer rolls around I am so happy to tan my skin a glorious bronze colour but ever since I was preggers I have developed a darkening of the skin above my lip that gives me the look of having a nice 'tash - but it's not true.
I swear, I have looked closely, the beauty shop girl looked closely -it is like having a shadow over my lip --but I hate it. And if I forget to put on PROTECTION (sun protection that is) then it only gets worse. So either I cover my whole face and I have white a face like Morticia from the Adam's Family and a golden tan body or I have a 'tash shadow! What to do??

A Poem on the Underground Wall

A Poem on the Underground Wall by Simon & Garfunkel

The last train is nearly due,
The underground is closing soon,
And in the dark deserted station,
Restless in anticipation,
A man waits in the shadows.

His restless eyes leap and scratch,
At all that they can touch or catch,
And hidden deep within his pocket,
Safe within its silent socket,
He holds a colored crayon.

Now from the tunnel's stony womb,
The carriage rides to meet the groom,
And opens wide and welcome doors,
But he hesitates, then withdraws
Deeper in the shadows.

And the train is gone suddenly
On wheels clicking silently
Like a gently tapping litany,
And he holds his crayon rosary
Tighter in his hand.

Now from his pocket quick he flashes,
The crayon on the wall he slashes,
Deep upon the advertising,
A single worded poem comprised
Of four letters.

And his heart is laughing, screaming, pounding
The poem across the tracks rebounding
Shadowed by the exit light
His legs take their ascending flight
To seek the breast of darkness and be suckled by the night..........

kicking & screaming