aiuto!

"aiuto" is the Italian word for "help". 

This morning I realized I'm going to need it, soon.

As I sat drinking my coffee in an "I stayed up way too late last night playing bunco" haze, I noticed my husband's behavior.

I noticed his shifty eyes.  Probing.  Assessing.  Planning.

I noticed the way he moved from one area of the house to another.  Probing.  Assessing.  Planning.

I suddenly had an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

He's planning on making me work during his two weeks off!!!!!!  I see it,  I know it, I dread it. 

I quickly reminded him that I had previously declared that if we were to stay home we were NOT going to spend all of our time on projects such as "purge all of Sabrina's extra shoes" and "do we really need so many Christmas decorations".

He smiled his evil smile and laughed his evil laugh in a way that only means one thing- he's tricked me.  We're staying home and he has projects planned. 

WHAT WAS I THINKING?

aiuto.

I suggested a better use of his time would be a vasectomy followed by a long restful period of recovery.  Needless to say that is not part of his evil plan.

Bonsoir

Bonsoir mes amis!  (Good evening my friends!)  I'm writing from Paris!  By the way, Parigi is Italian for Paris.

It's been over 10 years since I've been to Paris and I'm thrilled to be back.  I knew I loved this city, but being here has reinforced why.  It's so beautiful!  Quiet!  Clean!  Paris is such a lovely city to stroll around, window shop and dream of life as a Parisian.

Today we took the boys to the top of the Eiffel Tower and also walked over to the Arc de Triumphe.  We are now the proud owners of 3 miniature Eiffel towers!  yipeeee.

Tomorrow I think we'll do a "kid day" and go to an exposition featuring - dinosaurs!!!!  yipeee again, but you have to do these kid days or they start to rebel.

I'll finish this post by sharing my little slice of heaven for the day - sushi for dinner.   YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!  and the best thing about it?  they deliver - right to your door - so I can have it again without the walk!!!!!  and I will have it again, maybe twice.

Ahhhhhhh, Paris.

Andiamo!

Andiamo means "let's go" in Italian.

Today we're off to Rome for a few days.  Paul has a meeting there tomorrow and we're tagging along to enjoy a  much nicer hotel than we could afford on our dime and some fun on the train (for the boys, of course) and in the city.  I LOVE Rome!

This morning Paul got his cast off but he's still wearing a support boot so a small amount of hobbling continues.  But, he got his cast off!!!  So it's only a matter of time before he can finallly start helping again things are back to normal.

We'll be home on Wednesday-
Arrividerci!

TGIV!!!

Thank God it's Venerdi!  Venerdi is the Italian word for Friday.

If there's one thing I truly grasp after living overseas for almost 3 years, it's this - never underestimate how hard it is to learn a second language.  I used to be one of those pain in the butt Americans who thought everyone who moved to my country should automatically speak English.   You came here, speak the language -right? 

Let me tell you something - if this is your attitude - do yourself a favor and change it now.  And then go out and learn a different language, or attempt to.  And then take the little bit of information you can retain and try to speak it with native speakers, and try to follow a converstion they're having, and try to do all of this while upset about something.  It. is. hard.

I will never again look at a non-English speaking person the same way.  Not only is it difficult to learn a new language "later in life" but it's horribly intimidating to use this new language when you need to.  If you see someone struggling to understand, struggling to make their needs known but can't because they can't find the proper words in English - PLEASE try and help them.  A little kindness goes a long way.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Great news today!  Judy, Paul's mom, is coming to visit us in May!  We are all so excited and can't wait to show Oma around Naples.  (Oma is grandma in German)

Fantastic day homschooling - we've got a groove going!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

What happened to my weather?

I was so sure Spring had sprung- in fact I think I actually named an entry that very title just last week.  But lo and behold I was wrong, it's gone back to cold and rainy and unpleasant.  Today was one of those weather days where I thank my lucky stars we homeschool.  No bus to catch in the rain, no running to class in the rain - nothing in the rain.  We stayed indoors all day, snuggled on the couch and read books, played games - a nice indoor day watching the rain fall and being thankful for heat and/or blankets.  My poor husband on crutches, however, had to hobble around in the rain.  Say it with me "poor Paul".

I have two new games I would like to recommend for kids
1.  Sequence for kids- very fun strategy game

http://www.amazon.com/Jax-8001-Sequence-for-Kids/dp/B00005UM9P/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1268161282&sr=8-1

2.  Rush Hour Jr. - an interesting puzzle game

http://www.amazon.com/Think-Fun-5040-ThinkFun-Rush/dp/B00004WJSN/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1268161334&sr=1-1


My boys love them both and I admit I do too!   As you can see, the versions I recommend work specifically for my age range - but, there are other versions for older "kids".

Here are my 3 things I'm thankful for today
1.  I am thankful for my family.
2.  I am thankful for each and every person who has sponsored a child through a charitable organization and made a difference in their lives.
3.  I am thankful that a child can find hope in places where there seems to be none.

Italian lesson for the day:
poor = poveri
help = aiuto
hope = speranza

Festa della Donna 2010

Yesterday, March 8th was Festa della Donna or Ladies' Day here in Italy.  I had the priviledge of participating in a cooking lesson/dinner with 9 ladies and we had a blast.

Our lesson was at a restaurant in the town of Monte di Procida and is named "La Taverna dei Sapori".  Our instructor/chef was Mariella - though she's not an actual trained chef.  Her former career was a tour guide!  She taught herself to cook because it was her passion and now she owns and runs this restaurant with her husband and son.  She's a lovely patient lady and it was a great experience to be in her kitchen for the evening.

Festa della Donna has a yellow theme - yellow mimosa flowers are given to the ladies and our menu also had a touch of yellow as you'll see.  Giallo is the Italian word for yellow (just in case you're wondering).

Last night's menu:

Prosecco Mimosa Cocktails

Antipasti Buffet "Principalmente Giallo"

Bruschetta della Casa

Gnocchi Napoletani "O' Sole Mio"

Pappardelle 8 Marzo "Delizia della Donna"

Bocconcini di Carne "Femme Fatale"

Torta Mimosa

Vino

Caffe e Limoncello della Taverna

English anyone? 

Mimosas - Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine and it was mixed with fresh OJ

Appetizers with a "yellow theme"

Bruschetta of the house - no yellow but yummy!

Gnocchi (potato dumplings) with corn and hard boiled eggs in a smoked cheesy creme sauce

Pappardelle (pasta ribbons) in a saffron, ricotta cream sauce with walnuts

Beef and mushrooms in a curry reduction

Mimosa cake

Wine

Coffee and Lemoncello

A good time was had by all, I learned a lot and had a yummy meal but what I loved most was spending time with some wonderful Ladies.

I am very thankful to my husband for getting home on time and taking care of the kids for the night even though the poor guy is still hobbling around on crutches.

Here are Monday's 3 things (a bit late due to the fact I left my house at 5 for a 6 o'clock lesson and didn't return until almost midnight, whew.)

1.  Buon Cibo

2.  Buon Vino

3.  Buon Amici

English anyone?

1.  Good Food

2.  Good Wine

3.  Good Friends

Buona Domenica!

Buona = good  and  Domenica = Sunday  in Italian

Lovely, lovely day today.  Waffles for breakfast as is our Sunday tradition, followed by church and then a nice lunch with friends.   Ahhhhhh.  I LOVE Sundays!  Have I mentioned this before?

You know how sometimes your husband throws out an idea that at first seems so crazy you laugh hysterically and secretly wonder if he's insane?  And then it starts to grow on you, and then you actually find yourself thinking it might be a good plan?  Has your husband ever mentioned putting all your stuff in storage and living in a motor home while travelling the continental US for a year or so after retirement?  Crazy, right?

Anyhoo, here are Sunday's 3 things
1.  I am thankful for my new hand lotion
2.  I am thankful for Claudia's profiteroles (if you've never had one, you have no idea what you're missing)
3.  I am thankful for mozzarella di bufala (mozzarella made from the milk of  water buffalo, yummy!)

Profiteroles

Mozzarella di bufala

Lunedi

Lunedi is the Italian word for Monday.

Another gorgeous weather day!  I could get used to this! 

Today's 3 things-
1.  I am thankful for the library.  Free books!
2.  I am thankful for humidifiers and Zyrtec - may they help my boys sleep well tonight.
3.  I am thankful for my Ipod.

Here is a link to the property where we'll be staying the last week of April - I'm so excited!
http://www.collesanpaolo.it/home/index.php

I found it through this site  http://www.ciaobambino.com/index.asp  which is a fantastic source of information for those travelling with children.

Buona notte!

Freddo, Freddo, Freddo. and Blessed.

Freddo means cold in Italian.  I am cold.  I cannot shake this feeling of cold no matter how many layers I put on or how close I stand to the heater.  I realize complaining about this when there are people in the world truly cold and who don't have or can't afford heat is ridiculous and for that I feel a bit guilty.  Lately I've noticed how much complaining I do about little things, how much complaining we all do about little things (check out the status updates on FB).  I recently read an article about a family complaining that they had no word on their son who was in Haiti on the day of the earthquake.  They demanded answers, they're Americans and they want answers!  How ridiculous.  I know they're suffering and I truly feel for them to have lost a son and not be able to get answers.  But I don't give a darn what country you're from or who you are, you don't demand answers when an entire country is still in total chaos.  Hundreds of thousands of people died and will never be identified - no answers.  Hundreds if not thousands of bodies will never be found in the rubble - no answers.  And to think this one family thinks their suffering is any greater than anyone else's?  Wow.
The world is full of suffering, real suffering, and complaining about little things is so self-centered.  I don't like this about me and I'm going to change it.  I'm officially giving up complaining for Lent (along with a few other things I don't want to share in case I cave).  And I'm going to start now by being grateful to have extra layers to put on, money to buy gas to heat my house, heck I'm grateful to have a house to heat!  Everyday I'm going to write down at least 3 things I'm truly thankful for - 3 new things each day.  Can you imagine how blessed I'll feel by Easter?
Buona Domenica!  Have a good Sunday!

PS-   uggghh, I just realized I'll have to give up complaining about my dishwasher!  This may be harder than I thought.

What the....?

So, I'm walking by the window and suddenly stop to look out because something strange caught my eye- and what do I see?  SNOW!  In Naples?  Strange things are going on folks.  I realize it's not nearly the amount of snow the east coast (U.S.) is currently enjoying but it's something.  Of course exactly one hour after it started it was all gone and the sun was shining again.

And in the "saw that one coming from a mile away" category, my stupid dishwasher is broken again.  I've only used it once since it was "repaired" and not one drop of water infiltrated the electronics.
 
Lo ho detto così.  I told you so.

Buona notte!  Good night!