Happy New Year!

Buon Anno Nuovo to you all... may it be crowded of good news, happiness, HEALTH, love and joy! Baci
Germana e Andrea

Fango - Jovanotti - Versione 1

The music can sound too repetitive but the words are really touching. I like him very much.

Fever!

Maybe I found out why I was such a dormouse in the last days.
Yesterday I was going to get out to do some errands when I felt suddenly dizzy and warm. I thought it was because I woke up at 3 to work in the cold night but then I felt strange... it was fever.
So I decided not to go and I lie down on the couch hoping to read something. But my eye bulbs hurted so I just rolled up in a couple of blankets and closed my eyes.
The momories suddenly ran to my childhood when fever meant MOM. My mom was always there when I needed something... to go to the bathroom, a glass of water, something to eat, a caress, a kiss... there she was.
My fever raised and I felt lonely. Monocolo did the possible by lying on my feet and creating the 'cuddles' athmosfere but... I felt lonely, until Andrea came back, prepared a camomile tea, gave me water and caresses and sweet kisses...
I can tell you it's not like Mom's hands, but it's my present and my future.

Ghiro!

You say "to sleep like a log", we say "to sleep like a dormouse".

I am really a dormouse lately. I don't know what it's happening, maybe I am simply into hibernation. Maybe it's the cold in the morning that once at home, after the shower transforms me into a sleepy, red-cheeks, comforter-lover girl. I don't know what's all about... I feel like if I live with a jetleg! I wake up at 4, I work in the cold (today 1st snow -which somehow it's better because the thermometer doesn't go too much below 0°C), come back home for lunch, eat a quick lunch without even cooking and collapse on the sofa... then wake up after some 10 mins and move my sleepy body to the sleeping room... possibly under the comforter... usually I set an alarm clock for an hour sleep... but lately I fail to hear it and keep sleeping and sleeping. Today I set my afternoon-nap records: 4 hours!

I can't believe I have been seeing the daily light only for 6 hours and a half... from 7.30am (when the sun raised today) until 2pm when I started sleeping as a log or a ghiro... depending from the language!

A life less dolce.

NYT writes about Italy. :-(

Winter

Winter
Originally uploaded by margiana.

Had a week end in Val di Fassa, on the Dolomiti Mountains. One of my friend owns a small home in Moena and decided to take a break from work driving 3 hours to reach the snow.
We stopped in Bolzano for an Apfelgluehwein and a small visit to the Christkindlmarkt. On Sunday morning we woke up early, had breakfast at home and then went out for a 2 hours walk to Passo San Pellegrino. At the end of the beautiful walk we stopped at this small church. The nature of those places is OVERWHELMING!
The cold strengthened our spirits and the view 'enlarged' our inner visions. We have been silent most of the walk... not because of the physical effort but to respect the mountains. At the end of the walk we stopped at this small church and talked a little... we all had this need to thank God for what we had just done.
After this 'religious' experience we drowned into hot chocolates. Later on we walked back to the car... at that point we opened our mouths and started talking without interruptions until the monday lunch when we reached our homes to meet again at work in the afternoon.
The walk opened a path to a mutual life stories... It has been fun and encouraging to know that we all have black holes in our lives but at the same time we try to live better lives and to learn from our past mistakes :-)

Winter season is definitely here!

Strike a pose!

Strike a pose!
Originally uploaded by margiana.

I've got good Angels in my life!
I've got old friends with whom I share grudges and memories of a past life or acquaintances with whom I entertain small talks.
I've got new friends, people who wants to know me or are interested in my 'world', those who see me as a good girl, those who always criticize me, those who I listen to and those who patiently listen to me.
I've got friends who read me and those who I read or others who share a cup of tea every once in a while.
Those I never talk to but can read my heart no matter what the physical distances are... and those who facilitate my everyday life in a practical way! In this last category I can put my 'Spice-Friends' in the picture.
I just got back home from a Spice-Fondue-Bourguignonne-dinner they organized to celebrate my b-day. It was fun because you keep dipping those small meat bits into the boiling oil (with a potato inside to avoid the fried oil smell - I can tell you it works!) and then choose the right sauce to dip the cooked meat while chatting about pretty much everything and most of the time laughing!
I loved it. I also had my b-day cake with candles on it and I still have some breath to extinguish them all :-)
Patty cooked a supercake for me that never reached our palate because it fell on the ground of her kitchen and she had to buy one at the confectioner's shop. Poor girl!
I also had a b-day present... a Bread Making Machine that will help me reduce the expenses to buy the bread sold in this italian region and that I don't like... and last but not least... a free entrance to a spa, included infusion drinks, thalassotherapeutic and thermal baths, relaxing room and musictherapy plus a cranium-sacral massage called Oriental Kerara that sounds so relaxing!
What can I ask more? My life is wonderful and I've got plenty of Angels who support me.
My everyday thoughts, prayers and thanks go to you all my FRIENDS who smooth the path of this special journey which is my life!

P.S. :35. This journey keep adding numbers... did anyone found a way to stop it?

Hands

Hands
Originally uploaded by margiana.

... hands shaking, clean, dirty, wounded, sensitive hands.... cold and warm hands... united, slender, stubby, horny hands... left and right hands, clapping hands, hand in hand, hands up, hands off... lots of hands. I like hands!
I am happy hand in hand with my soul mate:-)

Thanksgiving!

We ate everything you did... turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, green beans, pecan pie and pumpkin pie... but above all... we also had the time to remember to count our 'blessings' and to be thankful for everything we have and don't have.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Giving my blood away!

I finally did it. I woke up early, Patty my friend picked me up and we both went to the laboratory. I passed the visits and finally I donated my blood.

The blood they took me is going to go to the neonatal intensive care unit. I feel good!

Back to the full-time job!

Is it relax or what?
Originally uploaded by margiana.

This picture represents well what this last month has been for me: relax, total abandon to the pleasure of home and 'family' life, sleep and read and cook...
From december I'll get back to the full-time.
I am happy, since I really need extra money but I still think that we should do something so that in the whole world, everybody could work and then work part-time. It gives you extra energy and extra time. I am sure we'll all have less personal problems and the society will be more just! I know the French understood everything. They work 35 hours a week and they show that this is a possible system!But other than those statements, I can tell you I feel good. The house is clean, the refrigerator is crowded with healthy dishes, the cat is recovering and right now purrs over the turkish carpet. I am listening to the best free radio in town and drinking my mint infusion. What can I ask for? Somebody wants to iron the pile of clothes I am hiding under the bed?

Smile!

Smile!
Originally uploaded by margiana.

You are probably used to read me grumble about everything, from politics to personal complaints... but now you have to know that I feel
TOTALLY HAPPY!
Yes you read it right: TOTALLY HAPPY.... TOTALLY AND FULLY AND GREATLY HAPPY!
I don't know how to explain this but I am HAPPY, I'm afraid to have an HAPPINESS DISEASE. I am uncontrollably happy.
It's like if this permanent contract uncorked me. And now all the extra energies are flowing out. I smile, from the morning to the night... everybody who's next to me is infected by my happy virus...
I don't know what it is. I'd love to control it, to contain... but the smile-grimace is uncontrollable... it starts from the 2 sides and it stretches the mouth from ear to ear.
I feel free... free with not enough money but free... I feel free to go on vacation, to call me sick at work, to think of what I'd love to buy, do and say.
Free to be happy.
I don't know how long it will last. But I want you to know that I am Happy.
So, if tomorrow I will die...or when I will... then you know that I have been clearly, purely, HAPPY... and you will be happy for me!

I still wisper Monocolo is getting better and better :-)

Sicko

I just finished to watch this movie and I have been reminded of how lucky I am to live in this sick country!

Sometimes, what we need in order to easy our anxieties and frustrations, is simply look at the neighbour's grass and see that our is greener!

Other than this statement, I don't feel particularly happy to know that in a so-called-democratic country like the US, it's so difficult to get cures for the sicks.

I think this is a worth to watch movie!

About this topic... my Monocolo appear to be recovering.... (ashhhhh ashhhh don't say it too loud!)

FALLing into you...

FALLing into you...
Originally uploaded by margiana.

Today's windy.
I should rack those leaves... but I am hypnotized by their moves...
... a cup of wild berries infusion, an homemade blueberry muffin, the cat in the basket, the good Radio Città del Capo playing.. and me watching the leaves go by.... feel the Fall...

Colours...

I wake up and watch outside... in the backyard the Parthenocissus quinquefolia is now changing colour everyday. Every single leaf has a different nuance of red, brown and orange. In the middle of the wall the green-yellowish leaves of the wisteria keep on climbing around. The green grass is now hidden by the foliage. I prepare my dark wildberries infusion and drink it in front of the window looking out at the coloured cherry tree. I get caught by the blues...
Monocolo sneezes and my heart squeezes.
I take out the quilt Julie gave us as a wedding gift... it's coloured!
Fall must be colourful in order to prepare us to live the grey winter...
I feel in one of those moments in which I have to order the mess of colours inside of me so to create more space for others to get in... The world is coloured and to live is beautiful.

It's a free world... (the movie)

My life is coming out a lot lighter in those days.... Yesterday for example we woke up late, indulged in bed for long, had lunch together and at 3.30pm I went to work. At 8.15 I was already back home, had a piadina in our favourite piadina-place and then went to the cinema to watch the last Ken Loach's movie: It's a free world...
For those of you who don't know Ken Loach or never watched his movies, it may be a little harsh... but if you already watched Bread and Roses (one of my favourite movie), The Navigators, and some other of his movies you can get to the point quite easily.
The realism in which the story grows give the movie extra power.
Angie (Kierston Wareing) is a women in the her prime who is full of energy and ambition. She has been through a lot of different jobs in the past and difficulties but now she want to show what she is worth and needs to keep her life in her hands. This is the moment! Together with her friend Rose (Juliet Ellis), Angie decides to start a recruiting agency.
It's a free world... it's a story about the modern English reality, characterized by the "miracle" of the flexible work, globalization, double shifts and by lots of happy consumer: us, who take advantage of the illegal immigration and of the poverty of a lot of persons.
The movie is all by Angie's point of view, and it doesn't give a solution... Loach just put the problem on a table and there it is...
It may be because I work with immigrants and poor persons or because I feel I am a victim (on a lighter note) of the flexible work but this movie get to a point that is central to nowadays society and should be surpassed!

IT'S A CONTRACT!...

and IT'S PERMANENT!!!!! Germana is happy today!:-)

Pumpkin fever!

Thanks to Miss Sarah who let me know this, I have been into a pumpkin fever in the last day.
Last week I bought a pumpkin ('zucca' in italian) to put in the vegetable soup I do from time to time...but this time I bought a bigger one... just in case my imagination would have needed it.
My imagination is not working properly lately so I rely on others to help me survive this period.
We don't cook a lot of zucca but I decided to give it a try and prepare great Pumpkin Ginger Nut Muffins Recipe. There is only one simple question I can't find an answer: what is for you American 'baking soda'? I use what I think is baking soda to wash the vegetables; into the refrigerator to absorb the bad odors... but I don't think we are talking about the same 'baking soda'. Moreover, is it possible to not use any leaven agents? The muffins where great but did not leaven enough.
So basically I did a zucca purée.. and today I used it to cook Pumpkin Soup with Smoked Paprika Recipe. I don't even know what a smoked paprika is... but I used regular paprika and it turned out a super-delicious-soup I enjoyed all by myself...since husband Andrea hates soups.
I warmly recommend you those 2 recipes... and if only I had the seeds I could have Toasted Pumpkin Seeds but unfortunately I bought half of a big zucca.
Thanks Sarah...

P.S. My Monocat is still sneezing and on friday I'll take him for a RX:-( hope there are no more bad news!

What's up?

Sick Monocolo!
Originally uploaded by margiana.

Well... lots of things happened in the last 2 weeks. After the great adventure of Ferrara that helped me to turn on my uni-neuron brain... other things are happening to shut it down or mess it up.
My friend Julie and her little baby moved back to Utah. Her husband is going too in November. She decided to go back home after a couple of years here in Bologna. I am happy for her because I know they're gonna be fine but goodbye sucks and I am not good with it. I boarded her and the little baby on the aircraft for which I was working... so I had the chance to give her a last hug moments before leaving. It was sad.
On the 14th my mom came to visit. I was a little stressed because I know how we do 'work' together... but it actually went better than thought. It has been good to find the lunch ready once back home from work or the house clean or the clothes ironed. We did a lot of gardening and shopping.
Andrea and I had to drive mom back to Rome and to spend the week end there but Monocolo is sick and and I didn't feel like living him at home. I feel powerless. We have been giving him antibiotics for almost 20 days with no results... it should be a virus... but the antibiotics was for the possible bacterial complication to the lungs. We stopped with those... and are now giving him only an ointment in his sick eye. I hope he's going to recover.
Yesterday it was a beautiful day. Andrea and I finished some gardening thing... he actually was working on the irrigation system and I did planted bulbs: tulips, narcissus, hyacinths, bluebells and crocus.
I turned on the heater since winter steps in the house...
At work I am totally obnoxious since my contract expires on the 31st. Nobody in the airport worked more than 11 season (It will be 5 years in february) but I am not confident I'll have a permanent contract this year. The economic and political crises in Italy is simply shutting down the hopes of the so-called young. I feel stucked and have a good quantity of rage in my heart.
I am not watching Tv but I can see around me how people gets poorer and poorer... day after day... and so do we.
I am worried for the future... :-)

I only wish I could fall asleep under my comforter and dream sweet dreams.

Internazionale a Ferrara

Last Friday was my day off and Andrea took a day off too to join me for an extra day in Ferrara.
Internazionale is a current affairs magazine that I read since probably 1994 or 95. I used to read it while at the university and later I became a subscriber when I left the Univ.
Then too much busy and could not read a whole magazine in a week while always working in travel agencies...
It's a couple of years now that I read it every week but did not got back into the subscribtion... now I think it is time again to join them on a weekly basis.

Internazionale is the only magazine of current affair with a lot of different topics...starting from politics and ending with comics and 'true stories' passing through technologies, science and 'Italy seen from the other countries'. I love it whole. There's a lot of humour in it even if it's one of the most serious publication I've ever read.
The peculiarity is that it is written by journalists of foreign countries so that I don't have to read about the Italian comedy or tragedy from italian 'slave'-journalists.

On Friday we had the chance to see and interact with Michael Braun (Die Tageszeitung), Jennifer Grego (Financial Times), Jeff Israely (Time), Eric Joszef (Libération). They usually write for a column called 'Italieni' where we can read what other countries write about Italy and our weird way of living or doing politics.
It has been very interesting to hear that my feeling of the fact that the press in Italy is not free at all and is indeed slave of the Government, no matter if from the left or from the right, is a common sharable feeling.
Later we attended a meeting about 'Latin America Lula and Chàvez: two faces of the latinamerican left' where Cristina Marcano (Venezuela- El Nacional), Mino Carta (director Carta Capital- Brasil) and Ugo Pipitone mexican economist confronted on those realities...
In the afternoon I finally had the pleasure to listen to what Amira Hass had to say about the Palestinian occupation. She's an Israeli journalist who lives in Ramallah and writes about how it is living in Palestina. I've been reading her forever... and it has been great to hear what she had to say.
On Saturday I worked in the morning but we drove to Ferrara in the afternoon to attend the meeting with writers I've read and wanted to read. The title of the meeting was 'Literature - a world of stories: fiction and journalism' with Arundhati Roy, Efraim Median Reyes, Elif Shafak and Laila Lalami.
I loved this meeting.
It may all sound boring and snobbish but I can tell you it has been everything so simple and familiar. The organization didn't expect all this crowd so we had to wait in lines and in crowded place... most of the people had to sit on the ground of the big cinema room but it was really worthy.

P.S. For those of you who speak Italian and want to listen to the meeting of Intenazionale a Ferrara go here. Some of the interviews are in english.

Again... I feel I am good in listening, reading and commenting but I am not doing anything to draw a different picture of the world. And feel often frustrated. I know I do a lot of small things but sometime I wish I could commit more to my believes.

Other than this... Monocolo is still sneezing around and today we had to give him another shot. I really hope he's gonna recover soon.

Hanging on...

Hanging on a dream
Originally uploaded by margiana.

After working 12 hours a day in the last 2 days, and not sleeping well at all, I am now back from work and will enjoy my bed for a couple of hours.
I am 'living' a little to quick lately, not having much time for me. I am also suffering of P.E.C.S. (Pre End of Contract Syndrome) which affects me every 6 months, and I can tell you that it is nothing pleasant! Trying to image what is going to come next... whether if I will work again in the airport and do the job I like or if I will work for some 6 more months (for the 12th short term contract) or if I will have a permanent contract! Well, I guess I have to wait until the 1st of Nov. I know I am annoying when it comes to work but I can't help!

Monocolo is not feeling well and sneezing all around: poor Monocat!

Next things to do after the nap:
- iron the legendary pile of clothes;
- finish to read a couple of book;
- organize my wednesday in Ferrara with Andrea to partecipate to Internazionale and meet some of my favourite journalists and writer who write for the best Magazine ever read!

Mediterranean sea bass in a day of anguish!

Mediterranean sea bass in a day of anguish!
Originally uploaded by margiana.

This morning I woke up with anguish in my heart. I had bad dreams in the last 2 nights... would say better NIGHTMARE. I am touched by what is happening in Myanmar and for other things touching our family... Moreover I still don't feel at my 100% and feel weak by the antibiotics cure.
Today I work at the so called 'central shift' which means I start working at 1pm until 9. I hate this shift. It takes me the whole day.
I decided to indulge in bed until 9. After the morning cleaning I went in the kitchen to prepare my infusion of blackcurrant, ginseng and vanilla and put the boiler on fire...
After that I was taken by a superior strenght, wear the apron on and started cutting vegetables...
I didn't mean to cook... not at 10 in the morning... I didn't want to but... something mastered my gestures. Now I can see I cooked a minestrone (vegetable soup) that I also processed in the food processor... and then I prepared, and is now cooking, the sea bass I bought last night!
Now I feel relaxed! But still anguished by this weird event.
The good thing is that, even if my house smells food at 11 in the morning, I have my lunch and dinner prepared and also the veggy soup for Andrea's dinner.
Gotta seat down and read a romance...but I will read Internazionale instead which will make me thing of a lot more other things!

Myanmar Forces Fire on Protesters

"In support of our incredibly brave friends in Burma:

may all people around the world wear a red shirt on Friday,

September 28.

Please forward!"

Lonely dog over a blue sea...

Lonely dog over a blue sea...
Originally uploaded by margiana.

I have been sick for almost a week now and I am not completely ok.. but I will go to work on Thursday, if not I will also upload the pictures of the Mexican trip!
I am aware I don't have the ability to be concise but I couldn't help to upload so many pictures. And this is the same period of the year in which our honeymoon took place and I wish I could be there instead of at home with different parts of my body aching.

I should also clean my garden and prepare it for the winter but I like it when fall steps slowly in it and leave it naturally shabby!

I am reading a lot and I am joining some politics lately. Here in Italy the Government is really a complicated and polluted field! And I am a very environment oriented girl who'd love to CLEAN it out. Not sure we'll be able to do it but at least we can try.
I have project to complete and aim to reach... I only hope I could have more time to dedicate to the things I really care for.
But I only need to be more energetic and to organize my time:-) I can do it!

September

Greek lunch
Originally uploaded by margiana.

... I find myself in a perfect September mood. I am sick at home with my throat on fire... but am slowly recovering.
I have more time to read and to listen to the music and my thoughts fly away. That is how I end up filling to-do-lists and aims to reach!
Am I ready for the leaves to fall? Ready for the changing colours? Ready for the rain and the cold?
Wish I was in this small restaurant in a far away lonely beach of Santorini, to taste the simplicity of an home made greek meal!

Hands

Hands
Originally uploaded by margiana.

I haven't been able to write on the blog lately... had a lack of inspiration or...worse... a lack of 'sharing-feeling'..but I hope I am 'recovering'.
I spent most of August working and double-working, plus trying to soothe wounded hearts... That's all! No vacation, no days off...
We finally found 2 days to hide far away from here, shut down cell phones, disconnect our brains from everybody around us, and catch the wave of our souls according the wind on the Adriatic sea and the smell of the pines of Sirolo.
We celebrated our first anniversary in peace with the surrounding nature, and with us.
I finally had the time to recharge my batteries swimming in a clean and blue sea and spending time with Andrea.
I feel a little better now, and I am ready to put things in the right place and get prepared for the fall and winter.

Aurora Surgit

Altarcloth, Friar and Door
Originally uploaded by margiana.

Last Sunday we went to Monteveglio, a small medieval town on the hills around Bologna. Monteveglio is famous because of the Regional Park of the Monteveglio Abbey and its naturalistic sites, and because of the Abbey. The characteristic village is really impressive. By the way we went there because at 6am there was a concert in the Abbey of sacred music 'Aurora Surgit'. We took place in the presbytery because the church was unexpected crowded. Of course the view was not the best but we only had to listen to the concert... and I can tell you that it has been really a spiritual experience. Other than the pleasantness of the music in the early morning, it was the whole event. The Abbey, the friars, the words and the prayers... yes, prayers which spontaneously came to my mind...
Prayers of gratitude or requests of happiness for friends and family... the music and the architecture of the church simply helped the contact with the Spirit.
After the sacred music we all moved outside and the musicians played 'Le laudi e gli augelli' (hymn of praise to birds) and some ancient folk songs while the village was awakening and the birds were flying from one roof to another...

It has been an EXPERIENCE. Later the village offered the breakfast for everybody and then, my friend Irene (who works for the park) guided a naturalistic walk in the park.

What a beautiful and fulfilling sunday!

Colpa delle balene arancioni

Last night we attended the reading of a book written by Davide, a friend of ours..
The reading was organized into a restoration laboratory and the environment was pretty charming.
What a pity my camera did not worked, I would have taken a lot of pics.
By the way, we drank and eat a lot and enjoyed the reading of this funny romance...
Of course we bought the book 'Colpa delle balene arancioni' and enjoyed the company of good friends.
We went home late but happy.
It's so nice to observe the face of a person whose dream comes true!

Hot and sunny days...

Waiting for the sun!
Originally uploaded by margiana.

What do you think I am doing other than working?...just sleeping.
That's it.
I do work, attempt to faint, go back home and sleep.
When I baby sit the twins I also try to sleep on the bus.
That's all... I sleep, wake up to go to work, eat and sleep...

The Circus - Charlie Chaplin

The Circus - Charlie Chaplin
Originally uploaded by margiana.

A friend of us came to visit and we had a good dinner at Il Tinello right downtown... under the Two Towers.
After a good conversation we had a walk in Piazza Maggiore where there was the projection of The Circus by Charlie Chaplin with the music played by the Orchestra of the Municipal Theatre of Bologna and directed by Timothy Brock who's the one who also restored the music of The Gold Rush.
Last saturday we watched The Gold Rush always in Piazza Maggiore... I can tell you that was a real emotional experience!
Piazza Maggiore is a beautiful italian square... that represents most of the history of this city, changing during the centuries and adapting to the changing society needs... but it's still the heart of the city. Protected by the traffic noises. Closed in its own narcissism, surrounded by cafés and expensive shops, yet still a place where children can run after pigeons free from the dangers of the cars. But at night, in front of a black screen, it has been breathtaking to see this square crowded in every little space. Everybody with its own little differences of culture, age and social class... all there to listen to the music and watch this masterpiece.
It was great to hear everybody laughing at the same moment in such a serious square... all laughing to a movie of the 1927, all appreciating the great music performed by this orchestra... all having the same shivers at the same time... because it's a movie of sentiments... and those appear to be always the same and to speak to every kind of audience.

Faces

Faces - John Marley
Originally uploaded by margiana.

It's been a while since I don't write in here... but I have been exhausted in these last 2 weeks. The combination of work and heat simply knocked me down. In these two days off I am trying to recover.

Last night Andrea and I had a very pleasant evening. We had dinner at Rosso San Martino and then a walk in the ancient Jewish ghetto, still one of the best place in Bologna... later on an ice cream at Gianni and then we ended up in Piazza Maggiore.

I do love Bologna in the summer and it is not a common thing. I love the fact that in July the city is empty in the week-ends (people go to the beach) and I definitively love the city in August when you can go around the city and feel you are living in a ghost town.

There are places you never notice during the rest of the year, and you have a different awareness of who is walking next to you or simply meets your look. It all becomes more intense. I feel I float in a dense liquid of emotions, feelings, thoughts... and I love this feeling.
And we ended up in Piazza Maggiore where there is the XXI edition of 'Il cinema ritrovato' and they were showing Faces by John Cassavetes, a totally restored film, presented by Ben Gazzara who also speaks a perfect italian.

I love this location: Piazza Maggiore silent and dark, different persons with different cultures and background sit as a special audience to see a piece of history of the cinema. It is such a great experience for my heart. I loved it loved it loved it!
Morover, the movie is so much into 'faces' that the perception of the faces around me and their features almost overwhelmed me.
We finally had another walk at midnight to reach the car... and the disappearing of the people from Piazza Maggiore was another beautiful show.

Eat and drink in company

Marciana Marina
Originally uploaded by margiana.

My Spice-Girl-friends and I got back from our 'girls vacation' yesterday.
It has been perfect... like all our vacations. We enjoyed the driving to Piombino and then the ferryboat to Portoferraio. We ate a lot of 'schiaccine' and drank a lot of water, enjoyed the beach and the swimming pool but the key-words of this trip was 'eat and relax'.
We ate good dinner and light lunch, and snacked with tons of peaches and cherries and apricots that we carried in our thermos bags. We went to sleep so early at night that the hotel concierge laughed at us.
Of course we were all awake at 6.30am ready to enjoy big breakfasts on the terrace.
Too bad we had to come back so early! And of course today I was too relaxed to work again.... but I have my week end off and can exercise in sleeping and relaxing a little more...

Engine number 1 clear to start up...... or not?

Engine number 1 clear to start up...... or not?
Originally uploaded by margiana.

There's not a lot going on in my life in these days if not... working, getting soaked to the bones because of the constant rain, cleaning and trying to survive a confused schedule to manage 2 different jobs, an house, a garden, a cat and an husband... plus friends.
I'm looking forward a 3 day vacation with my Spice-Girl-Friends to Isola d'Elba... hopefully also a 3 days of sun!

Spoiled!

This morning I had to go to work at 4am since there were a couple of special charter flights to Athens because of the Football Champions League Final fans.

I woke up at 3 and while riding the bike to work it also rained a little so to raise the percentage of humidity in the air...

By the way, at 11.15 I was already home. I had a shower and then had lunch by friend Patty.

After lunch Patty, Fabiola and I headed to the beautician for a beauty-treatment!

Yes! To award Patty and me for the support in a difficult moment of her life, Fabiola gave us as a gift a beauty treatment on our choice!

I just got home from this super-special-relaxing-exfoliating-scrub made with a some special kind of salt and essential oils! I feel brand-new...except that I am so relaxed I wish I could just lay on the beach and sleep until tomorrow... when I should be ready for another hot day at work!

I am happy!

Cherries

Cherries
Originally uploaded by margiana.

We finally picked the cherries. Unfortunately the blackbirds ate most of it and we got just a little... but they tasted good.
I worked in the week end, but it has been good. It's hot but a little windy and working with this weather is good.... I wish it could be like this the whole summer... but I guess I'll melt before the end of june.
By the way. On Sunday I came back home for lunch and Andrea was in the backyard cooking at the bbq. It was so nice to arrive tired from work and find the lunch ready, the table made and a lot of delicious salads and grilled veggies and for me a good piece of sirloin grilled with thyme and rosemary. All together with a good glass of Lambrusco.
To finish, strawberries and whipped cream.
Yes, I am spoiled!

Be a blood donor but don't go to Mexico!

My Spice-friend and I decided to become donors of blood. There are several reasons for this:

1. in Italy blood supplies are really scarse;
2. we can get blood tests for free;
3. they give a coupon for a free-breakfast;
4. you can stay home from work and being payed anyway;

It all started because of the good cause; then we all found out that we needed a blood test for one reason or another; we love to have breakfast together but above all it never happen that we have a day off all together (we work in shifts).

But it isn't working right:

• one is pregnant;
• another had her period;
• the third had to undergo a small surgery;

Patrizia and I decided to go!

To tell you the truth I am not really brave when it comes to blood, so the day before I really put myself in the preparation for a 'special' day. I drank some 3 liters of water (it is very important to drink), I relaxed and tried to do, read and listen to only good things so to be in a good mood. We reached the place and filled up a survey, then somebody stung my third finger of the left hand to test the glucose, then I had to go for the last visit (preamble: I already did all those things the first time I went there and after a tons of blood tests and visits and surveys they declared I was suitable to donate my blood)...by the way I went in for the visit and the doctor examined the survey and I answered to the question if I travelled in the last 4 months I answered yes. The doctor asked me where exactly I travelled and showed me a map so that I could pin the trip.... I thought she was interested in my trip but... she prohibits me to donate for the next 6 months since that area is at risk for malaria and some dozen other illness. I was really frustrated. I went to assist my friend in her generous act and was almost fainting for that. But we had our free breakfast and our day off.

My question is why they don't tell those things in first place?

The saga has an end...

...Hopefully!
I just started cleaning my clothes with my new washing machine. Hurrà!

Is it a dream?

I was in Santorini with Andrea and had a little walk by my own while he was looking at dolphins from a cliff. I walked some 200 mts from him and the landscape was a lunar-volcanic view but with white earth.
Around me several tourists and local inhabitants... also a seaside holiday camp with a lots of baby girls barely walking because of 2-3 years old, all dressed with pink swimsuite.
I was looking at the sea when a big agricultural machinery crashed dangerously next to me.
I went close to the equipment to see if somebody was hurt but nobody was in.
I started walking away when a big wave, like a high tide started reaching the cliff where I was.
I looked around and it appeared like a normal thing to all... people were walking like if nothing strange was happening while the water submerged them. I was scared after a wave flood over the summer-camp girls, but nobody was really caring.
People started swimming. I followed two old ladies and asked them if there was a path by their way and they said:- 'Yes, 10 minutes walking or 20 minutes swimming', so I followed them until I lost them.
I kept on swimming and it was all normal until... the water faded away and I started walking, finding myself in Stazione Termini (central train station in Rome) in the square where there was my High School. There was no water there but I was soaked through.
I looked like an homeless at that time. I lost my cell phone and everything that was in my pocket, and I did not know how to reach Andrea. So I started looking around for a 200lire coin that I needed to call Andrea from a public phone (note: we do not use Lira anymore but Euro now... so it must have been some years ago).
Of course I did not have any so I started asking around behaving like an homeless asking for charity. Nobody gave me a coin maybe because I kept asking for 200lira????
By the way, I finally entered a shop that I usually go in but nobody recognized me until I found a girl who works as a cachier who decided to give me some coins, but she gave me very small coins like 1-2-5 cents and none of the public phone I went in accepted such a small coins. I didn't know what happened to Andrea.
Then I woke up.
Basically I was not scared or anxious but it was all so surreal that I was really confused.
Is it a dream or reality?

The washing machine saga...

Ok, the washing machine is here and we put it in its place. It is beautiful and has all the tools and programs that an old 12 years old one doesn't have. And I was anxious of washing the pile of dirty clothes I accumulate in the last week... the problem is...: it doesn't respond to the program. The knob is probably broken inside and it doesn't work how it should.
I'll call the costumer service and ask for assistance.
Why everytime I have my 'spiritual crisis' I have to deal with such earthy problems?
Sometimes I'd really like to be Samantha Stephens in Bewitched. She wouldn't pass through all this to have clean clothes!
By the way, I know the deepness of my post is dropping seriously but my brain is slowly going into 'sleep mode'. I hope I'll return in me soon... in the meanwhile, you'll read about silly things!
... like always on this blog though!

Clean clothes?

No way. The washing machine is still not here. It had to arrive on the 30th and Andrea and I made shift to stay home but... nobody arrived. This morning I called the courier but they can't tell me exactly at what time it will arrive and I have to go babysit in an hour.
Argggggh!
Moreover I still did not signed the contract with the airport (the contract is not ready yet... I don't see the difficulties in printing out a document that is always the same) and I still don't know at what time I'll go to work tomorrow. Is it possible? How is it possible?
Argggggh!
I am a freaky, frustrated, psychotic, with dirty clothes!

Back to work.

This morning the chief of personnel of the airport call me back to know if I can get back to work the 3rd of may. They just give me 3 days advice. Full time for 6 more months... then... ?
I should really think of something else.

Broken (Elisa)

Hard times flowing and my eyes couldn’t see stars shining
My heart couldn’t feel the beauty of the rising sun
And I’m lost like a bottle that floats in the sea for ever
Will somebody pick up my hope?
Will somebody try?
Will I realize?
’cause it’s broken broken
Something got broken like stolen
Stolen, like if it was stolen
And hurting, hurting I have been hurting and now
Only time will tell
Time will heal
Just pieces of truth thatI chose to keep
No matter if now they are gone
No matter if I am alone
Still I can get back on my feet and walk on
As I know there was something to learn
I know there will always be more worth moving on for
Though, it’s broken broken
Something got broken like stolen
Stolen, like if it was stolen
And hurting hurting
I have been hurting and now
Only time will tell ’cause it’s broken broken
Something got broken like stolen
Stolen, like if it was stolen
And hurting hurting
I have been hurting and now
Only time will tell
I’d love to be one of those colorful early summer days
When everybody is happy that you came
Everybody smiles back at you as soon as your eyes cross their eyes
But something has to happen first
I know winter has to come before it blossoms
So it’s broken broken
Something got broken like stolen
Stolen, like if it was stolen
And hurting hurting I have been hurting and now
Only time will tell ‘cause it’s broken broken
Something got broken like stolen
Stolen, like if it was stolen
And hurting hurting
I have been hurting and now
Only time will tell Time will heal

Washing machine

Have you ever tried to live without washing machine? Maybe you are not crazy like me and the clean clothes... maybe I am just sick... but it is scary how much I depend on that tool.
2 days ago the 12 years old washing machine told me good bye in a valley of tears and now I feel lonely:-(
Yesterday we went to help a friend of us to assemble her Ikea furnitures and I brought with me some dirty clothes... and used her washing machine. By 11pm we already ordered a new one online. I don't know if I'll resist until the delivery.
I feel a little psychotic lately!

Sunny day!

Yesterday Andrea had a small car accident. A guy hit our car on Andrea's side, but the most important thing is that nobody was hurt.
So this morning I had to go to the garage to see how much it will be... but the guy's insurance will pay everything (since it was all his fault) and I hope everything will be solved soon.

Since Fabiola is on vacation in NYC, she lended me her car and I am 'free' to go wherever I want.
So I went to visit Zita and together we had a good lunch and chats at the Trattoria del Rosso S. Martino where you can eat a complete meal (primo first-course, second course, sweet or coffe, 1/2lt water, 1/4 lt wine) all for 10 euros.
After that I got my coffe at Terzi (I got the sweet, a small ricotta cream with amaretto), and then we had a long walk to Zita's home where we finished our chats.
I took the car and went to buy some food since tomorrow the shops are closed because it's a national holiday.
Did I told you I bought a beautiful pair of sandals. I really love those! Are super comfortable and really good looking to me.
Well after those spending money (but not useless, since I provided food and shoes) I went to the nursery to buy some aromatics and cherry tomatoes, strawberries and a couple of flower plants.
Back home I did some gardening and then cooked some vegetables.
Andrea is out with a friend and I enjoy the silence of the house and a good book.
It has been a good day after all.

Time to do something!

I am still in a cloud of confusion but I'll try at least to move on another one!
Yesterday I did my best to pull out weeds in the front yard and started to hoeg the ground a little since I want to plant some more grass. I shortened the fence and cleaned the ground from the leaves. I did all this while listening to my ipod playing spanish . The fun thing of course was that there was silence around me except for me repeating spanish words and phrases:-)
What else? I'm still babysitting the twins and really really waiting for the new PC.
That's all for now and then.

I should.......

I should....

• clean the house;
• plant the grass in the garden;
• iron a mountain pile of clothes;
• do the laundry;
• find the documents for the income tax return;
• grocery shopping;
• eat less and move more;
• read a couple of unfinished books;
• decide about a job;

..... and a lot more...

Enough!

Yesterday we finally got home after the Easter visit to my family.
While driving from Rome to Bologna, over a crowded road, surrounded by the sweet landscape of Lazio, Toscana and Umbria, thoughts and dreams and pictures came to my mind.
The nervous and anxiety of my whole family makes me feel everything else always peaceful.
And I reconsider my life.... always... it's like a 'new year's resolution' everytime I go away from Rome.
I look next to me, and there's Andrea reading about a possible new car to buy (just dreaming for now!), and analyzes the 'greenest' one.
In the back of the car Monocolo bears the travel.
I need to give vent to my thoughts and I drown Andrea under a river of words.

I love Andrea, love him so much. I feel the 2 of us are a 'team'.
I feel we can share our good thoughts.
I love the way we try to be more and more environmental oriented and how we put ourselves in those things... and I feel I can change the world together with him!
I don't need much money;
I want to save some money and stop buying useless things;
I want to share more;
I want to give more;
I want to be happy just because I am healthy and loved and love.
That's enough!

Isla Holbox and back home!

After Playa del Carmen we took a bus to Cancun and another one to Chiquilà, than a little boat to Isla Holbox. We stayed in a nice hotel run by an italian (what's that? where are all those italian in Italy?) called La Palapa in a beautiful rpom overlooking the ocean.
We forgot who we were and where we were.... we mingled with the population playing tombola in the main square and playing bagatelle table (I'm not sure it's what I meant!) with the children.
We woke up at dawn to dive in the clear waters and to have a long walk while picking up beautiful shells. Then back to the village where we had breakfast in the nicest place I've ever been... a gigantic ensalada de frutas y yogurt y granola y miel and a gigantic jugo de mango.

Then back to the beach to see the fisherman's return and the cleaning of the nets and the food for the birds.

Out of time and space!

After this dream we did the trip back to Cancun in the rickety bus crowded with mexican only who became superhappy when Andrea and I (foreigners) bought some 'handmade' snacks from the pitchman who stepped up on the bus and got up after a couple of miles.
Back in Cancun and at the airport we had to deal with a herd of italian with sombreros (please note that in the whole Yucatan and in the states of the south nobody wears sombrero which is typical in the north instead) and already complaining for everything.
We've been lucky to be the first 2 in row and to go away from them as soon as possible. Unfortunately we had the chance to see their rudeness while ordering water at the bar desk or by being superloud in the passangers area.
Then 10 and half hours to Rome and another 1 to Bologna. Finally home.
The garden is blasting flowers all over and Monocolo is happy we're home as much as we're happy to see him. We really missed him!
I woke up at 12.45pm and I'll be sleepy in a couple of hours. I need to clean the house and the clothes and need to prepare to leave to Rome tomorrow to visit for Easter.

It will take a while to 'digest' this combination of colours, tastes, faces, and views we have been through in those last 15 days.
It has not been a picture-tour even if we shoot a lot, I'm sure none of those pics will transmit anything we felt. I've always been out of time, of frame or moving.
But the pictures that slide slowly in my mind are way too beautiful to be remembered!

Viva Mexico!

From Tulum we arrived in Playa del Carmen after only 1hour drive:-)
We got out of the bus and the 'global so-called-civilization' hit our face violently!
We booked the hotel via internet the day before coming to Playa and we really got a good deal since the place is right a block from 5Avenida (the strip of Playa) and it's really a nice place, run by italian.
Italian seems to be everywhere. In Tulum the Hemingway cabañas was run by Paola, and other cabañas by other italians!
By the way. Playa is just like Riccione and Rimini on the Adriatic Riviera. A place to buy and eat and eat and drink and buy and dance and eat and drink and have fun.
This morning we went to the beach and it was cool. Of course we had to forget the feeling of freedom we got used in Tulum, where the only shadow was that of a palm and the only worry was the cocunut shaking dangerously over our heads.
Here is all very Cool, Hip, In, Trendy, Sophisticated.... and so on.
We had a group of rich italian next to us. All dark tanned and with Giorgio Armani and Dolce e Gabbana swimsuits. The men were way too trendy... trying to copy Berlusconi in shapes and attitudes; women too old to expose their 'nudities' to the world but too vain to cover them....
Poor guys.
Playa looks like an American city. Americans are everywhere, everybody speaks english and there are 2 Starbucks on the main road.

By the way, we decided to give ourselves a little last present before going back home.... tomorrow we'll reach Holbox, a small, lonely island north of Cancun with nothing else than a place to stay and the beach and the birds and the shells.
Italo (an italian guy working in Tulum) told us of how he felt in love with that island, and we decided to go. We already called another italian guy (and then we talk of The Family!!!) and we booked this room for our last 2 mexican nights!
We're looking forward it.
We'll miss this country!
Write more from Italy in 4-5 days.

Finally Caribe!

Tulum....
After 16 hours of bus we got to the ocean.
We found those cabañas right on the beach. It is more than I have ever imagined. The only mole is the cost... they charged us 130USD for a night in a cabañas = a cabin with a roof made of palm leaves and a bed with a mosquito net... yes there's also a bathroom and some iguanas on the roof and some lizards in the room... but we don't care as long as everybody stays in its place.
The cool thing is that we are on the beach of Tulum... which is absolutely beautiful.
Last night we went to bed at 7pm (there's no electricity and the night is really dark out there) and this morning we woke up at dawn, put our swimsuit and went for a walk on the beach, then had a dive in the warm caribbean ocean and a great breakfast. The rest was... going in and out of the ocean and read and write and talk and enjoy the palm over us always paying attention to the 'dancing' coconuts over our heads.
Wow, how hard is living like this....
Tomorrow we'll go to Playa del Carmen and then in some other place...

San Cristobal de las Casas

From Merida we took a night bus to Palenque, where we arrived after 8 hours of sleep.
We arrived in Juarez around 6/6.30am and the light of the sunrise was yellow and beatiful stretching all the shades, which is strange here since the light is always white and the shades are always short.
The crowded small city of Juarez grows at the border with the ruins, a city of touristic services and place where to eat. Really colourful. We leave the backpack at the bus station at the baggage depot and then wait for the first free combi (small buses that transport local people around the places... you just wait in the middle f the streets and scream your destination!) to the ruins.
We arrived there around 7 but it open at 8 and we had the time to assist the preparation of the small market that borns every morning in the proximity of the ruins entrance. The indios come out from the jungle bushes with all their sacks and prepare little benches with their stuff to sell or things to cook or fuits.
I made a deal for a coconut and the guy made a hole with the machete and put the (ever present) straw in it, so that I could restore from the long night in the bus with a high airconditioning system. This coconut had a special taste to me. We were in the middle of the jungle, surrounded by indios and by this overwhelming nature and I was sipping a real coconut juice.
The ruins of Palenque left me speechless again. I have no words to express my feeling and the jumps by heart did while in this place. The jungle almost 'eats' the ruins and there's a soundtrack of verses from the 'shouting monkey' and the tucanos and other animals. There weren't a lot of turists and we just step over all the ruins possible. From up above the El Palacio there's a view of the valley which really impress the senses.
It's unbelievable those people made all this with no metal supplies or animals or wheels.
El Templo de las Inscriptiones and that of la Cruz are really beautiful.
But the jungle is queen in this environment.
We exit the ruins after a walk in the jungle, passing rios and waterfall and wood bridges and encountering snakes and spiders.
After that we visited the museums and waited for another combi to go back to the bus station. This one was very typical. There were some 4 locals inside and it was literally without door, and the engine was bursting weird noises every 200mts.
It has been a fun ride.
A 5 hours bus to San Cristobal awaited us.
It has been a silenced trip. Andrea took some drugs to refrain the carsickness and started sleeping, and I wasn't able to read or write anything since the road was curves and curves and curves.
So I watched outside.
From the 80 meters of Palenque we reached the 2160 of meters San Cristobal de las Casas, driving throung the rich vegetation of the Lacadona forest.
I was impressed. Going up was just green and blue, the forest and the sky. After a couple of hours the view was incredible... the valleys down there and the Altos on the other side.
We encountered a lot of small cabañas villages (small in order of 4-5 cabañas) where the indios live.
It was Sunday and the children were mostly dressed with a white shirt and almost looking elegant. The women all wearing the traditional clothes (even if they dress like this always) and family going from one 'village' to the next one where the church was with all the little coloured flags of the fiesta.
Outside some of this 'villages' coffe was toasting in the sun over white sheets and women were washing clothes and men working the red earth.
Children playing almost nude in the red earth.
I've been watching outside and 'inside' and there's a lot to think about.
We finally reached San Cristobal and found an hotel where we had a shower..... shower, shower.
San Cristobal is really beautiful; a small mountain town with a lot of attention for the indios. Here is the 'motherland' of the EZLN and I also came to know that El Sup Marcos was here yesterday but I missed him because I was doing the laundry! I was almost killing myself, but I didn't know about it if not after the laundry!!!!!! Pretty humiliating!
By the way we ate in the Centro Social where he did the conference, so I felt a little closer to the 'situation'.
Until last night we were thinking about going back to the Riviera Maya through Guatemala and Belize but checking the bus schedule it would have meant to spend 4 nights before the ocean whitout really visiting those places and... we are way too tired to wait 4 more days. So we decided to do the crazy thing and take another bus (this time it's a GranLux one... so Andrea is happy:-)) that we'll take us to Tulum in only 15 hours:-)
I know it's crazy but after a lot of asking and reading guides and planning sounded like the best thing.
Tomorrow morning we should be able to enjoy the Caribbean Mexican Beaches:-))
This is really a beautiful trip!

Hola

Hola de Mexico!
We arrived in Cancun and the day after we took the first bus to Valladolid, ate there and then another bus to Chichen Itza. At night we went to the archeological sites to see the 'sounds and lights' show and went to sleep. The following day we visited the site and since it was the spring equinox, it was pretty crowded but beautiful.
Then another bus to Merida where, following the instruction of the Lonely Planet we entered the doors of Paradise in the Medio Mundo hotel. A total different standard than the place we have been before... but so beautiful we couldn't refuse to stay there.
Yesterday we took a public transportation to the archeological sites of the Ruta Puuc and Uxmal.
The jungle and the archeological sites are breathtaking.
We took the small digital camera with us but I feel not able to take good pictures. The light is superwhite and shades are everywhere and I wish to take million pictures a minute but I feel blocked. My mouth open in all different directions, looking for iguanas, or other animals I've never seen before or astonished by the overwhelming nature. Cactus growing literally over big threes or such.
I am speechless and wordless and poor in creativity. It's just like if I am fulfilling a big sack with all the colours and emotions and feelings and I hope I'll be able to use those 'things' once back home.
The poverty (expecially in the jungle) is nothing I've every seen or experienced and it gives a lot to think about my everyday life and needs.
The earth is red. RED.
The sky is blue. BLUE.
The nature is really green. GREEN....
I'm almost shocked.
By the way we are healthy, we drink a lot of exotic fruit juices and water because it is REALLY hot.
Tonight we'll catch a bus at 10pm to arrive in Palenque (Chiapas) tomorrow morning, just in time to visit the archeological site and then go on to San Cristobal de las Casas.
Wish I could meet el Subcomandante Marcos!!!:-)
Gotta go now.
Baci

Ready to go!

Backpacks are ready. Despite my good intentions of going to sleep early, last night we packed until midnight.
I decided to stay light 1 trousers other than the one I wear, 2 t shirts, 2 singlets, one long sleeves shirt, a sweatshirt an hat and a scarf. A pair of flip flops and my light trekking shoes. I also bought a supercool travel-pillow and my sleeping-sheet-bag.
The things that are heavier are the medicines and the beauty case with the repelents and the sun lotion... but it's such a sweet weight to carry since it's so much about HOLIDAY.
In my handbag (a smaller backpack) there is my brick-alike Lonely Planet guide to Mexico, a book and other pubblication about the play of the ball in the Mesoamerica's culture.
Passport is ok. The only thing I hate is that we'll fly on a charter flight of a company I don't like at all... they are ruder than ever and the aircrafts are filthy, and since it's my first time ever on a charter flight I miss the consistency of a ticket. In fact we only have a piece of paper that says that we have to be at the airport at 10.45 and they'll do the rest.
I am always a little anxious when it comes to those 'others' that I know.
Tonight I had this dream of flying to Cancun with a small 6 seats aircraft.

Anyway... jokes apart, I hope I'll update you on my trip in some internet points and cross fingers we don't get in trouble somewhere. But I am positive since
1) my husband has been there (10 years ago) and claims to know everything about this trip without reading any guide and advices :-/
2) my husband speaks spanish (and I do understand pretty everything since it's supersimilar to italian) and I will learn it soon thanks to my spanish podcast,
3) we did not planned everything and we have lots of time to do so on the aircraft.

This is exactly what I needed... just go now... adventure is awaiting!
Baci

Messico!

I'm on my 'unpaid forced vacation' right now... and I woke up late, had my breakfast and log on my computer for the news and the emails and.... YES!YES!YES!YES! Here it is my confirmation for our flights to Mexico!
My heart is beating faster and I am excited to leave but now I am panicking for all the things that have to be done before the departure...: arrange things for Monocat, cut my hair, de-forest my body from the winter fleece, pay bills, buy medicines and arrange at least the first night in Cancun (we'll arrive in late afternoon) and then buy books to read while in there, read the superfabulous Lonely Planet, plan the trip and everything else.
I'm so much looking forward it! Today's a good day!
Gotta go now. Yoohooo!!!!!

Random thoughts!

Random thoughts... and actions. I move in no specific direction... I wander.
It may be the weather: the cherry tree is almost blooming, in the garden I had yellow daisy blooming throughout the winter; tulips, hyacinths and narcissus are bloomed and almost finished.
I feel a little lost... it's not use to be spring in late february and early march.
I booked a supercheap flight to Mexico- Cancun or Merida but we'll find out of the confirmation only 3 days before departure due on march the 20th so I'm here with all my fingers crossed waiting for a YES. But at the same time I'd like to read the Lonely Planet and plan the tour of Chiapas and Yucatan but I can't because then, if I can't go, I'll be desperate. So I am saving enthusiasm.
Tomorrow I'll have a 3 hour sewing machine class... so I'll be able to replace zips and take the hem to the trousers. Other 3 hours next saturday.
I should do the gardening but I am waiting to see if I leave to Mexico or not to be more present to my baby plants and grass.
Meanwhile I'm trying not to think about my 11th short term contract at the airport, since I won't have a permanent one this time either... I really don't know what to do.
I wish I could change the world and talk to the heart of some people. I wish politics should just work for the people and not for the money only. I wish we could all live a simpler life with no other needs but to love and live happily.
It may be this Lent period and all the thoughts about inconditional love.

I wish I could just hang with my overseas friends without thinking of the time zone... just have the "Teletrasporto" that was in Star Trek (I don't know the english word... I'm talking about that thing that could bring you somewhere else in a sec... you just go down the beam of light and you are suddenly in another place) and take a cappuccino in a nice place in Portland, or a veggy meal in Malibu, a "Thursday walk" in Cambrige or a cooking exchange in San Antonio.....

That's all for now... random thoughts are getting crazy thoughts inside and out!

Today's mood!

Today's mood!
Originally uploaded by margiana.

The Government crisis gives my mood the tones of black and grey.
I feel imprisoned in a country with uncertain future. The hopes and dreams I keep cherishing are less and less shareable! It's sad! Of course I know I'll keep them alive and I will act following my ideals but it is so difficult when the querrels are constantly coloured by insults and poor respect.
In the afternoon I went the Social Security Office to present my unemployment request (since last year I did not work from jan to march and also almost 1 month between oct-nov. After this experience I decided to enjoy the city but I forgot that today is Thursday and most of the shops are closed.

I am desperately looking for a winter jacket since I just washed my favourite one and it didn't succeed. But I have a bad relation with the sales.

Usually when the sales start (mid-jan) I feel too fat to buy outfits and trousers (Christmas season's fault:-)), then, once I feel a little better I can't find what I need and now it's all about spring.
So no good luck and no new jacket.
But Spring is ahead and I hope that this barbed wire will free me soon!

Tylosand the new sofa!

Tylosand the new sofa!
Originally uploaded by margiana.

Here's our purchase: the new Sofa-bed! So if you want to visit Bologna and live in a family-environment with no privacy at all, experimenting the small european spaces and with a cat probably sleeping on your legs, Come Visit Us!!! We have some spare space (maybe some 50square cms each!) to share with you. I know it's not a king size bed but here in Italy it's a double bed!
We now have almost finished to furnish the house. I know that now it looks like a block of the Ikea shop, but the thing that I love of Ikea is that I can at least furnish the house in a stylish way.

We visited several sofa shops and found great and beautiful sofas but they costed 3 times the cost of Tylosand and they had no washable coating or a smaller bed. Monocolo will for sure have a blast for his nails on this sofa and I didn't want to spend a lot of money on something that will be ruined by my 'beaten' ('cause I beat him a lot) cat.

But see? Ikea has the solution. I can change the coating whenever I want with not a big expence; if I want I can add another seat building an L sofa and I can renew it whenever I want. I can personalize the sofa with other pillows and I can use my new sewing machine to create some more cloth thing. Basically I don't care if my house has the same sofa of other thousand homes, I believe the personality of its inhabitans will show off in a way or another:-)

Other than that, the last week has been a cooking week inspired by Sarah's cookery book. Andrea also tried to do some vegetarian maki (not those recipes but very similar) and it all turned out very good!
We invited friends over and were very happy to taste other flavours.

Yesterday I went together with Zita to the sewing-machine-shop where a nice girl explained us the basic function of it. We both subscribed a 6 hours class to learn how to take the hem up the trousers or how to sew zippers. I'm so happy about that. We also had a long breakfast in a nice Bakery-Cafè dressed with lots of political and social talks (those that I love), then on the way back home we decided to stop for a lunch at Trattoria Fantoni...hummmmm I love that place. It is so basic and the food is so genuine and typical.
It turned out a perfect day to fix my tired and disturbed mood.

Lazy days

I have been at home from for the last 4 days. I've been sick. Not THAT sick but sick enough not to go to work.
I cleaned the house and ironed the epic tower of clothes and tried my new sewing machine(yahooooo). Read my magazines and book.
I had enough sleep at night and had time to relax on the couch, I also had time for dreams (usually I don't remember dreams) and loved to have breakfast at home!
Today, I switched on the TV to watch the news and stayed tuned for an hour or so. The preamble is that I only switch on the TV for the news and for a couple of TV series I watch but this afternoon I indulged on the laziness of the day (it's raining outside and it's sort of cold) and zapped a little. It was years I did not watched MTV so I got over it.

That is what I saw:

1) Room Raiders - 1 girl/boy search in the rooms of 3 boys/girls for interesting things...at the end the girl/boy has to choose 1 of the 3 rooms' owners....

2) One boy has to go on a date with 3 mom and then choose one of their daughters. I'm curious if there's one where a girl has to date with 3 dad to choose one of their sons.

3) Sweet 16 - it's how a girl or boy organize their own 16th b-day party spending how many money possible to satisfy their wishes: big discos, expensive clothes, luxurios cars, expensive Djs etc. The parents of the 'today' girl just spent 300.000$ for a b-day party.

I may have been unlucky and maybe MTV promotes also other kind of programs but I found those shows so stupid and disgusting that I kind of understand the decadence period in which we are living.
I am sure there are a lot of boys and girls who do not watch those silly things but I know there are a lot who do and it somehow scares me.

I just shut down the TV... and go back in my world.

Museum and Borghese Gallery

We had a beautiful week-end in Rome this time. Flew to Rome (the cost of the train tickets is rising to the stars and now it's almost cheaper to fly) on Friday and came back last night.
On Friday had dinner in a romantic restaurant on the sea. I had a swordfish tartare with crostini and a pasta (only flour and water) with rocket pesto, shrimps and zucchini and a coconut creme caramel...mmmmmmm
On Saturday we went with mom and dad to visit one of the most beautiful museum of Rome: Museo Borghese. This building was thought as a museum. It is small and crowded with Correggio, Tiziano, Bernini, Canova and other famous painters and sculptors.
It is a jewel.
I almost cried while watching Apollo and Daphne by Bernini and got caught by the beauty of Pauline Bonaparte by Canova.
I really wish you could all come to visit Rome and simply drink a little of its beauty. There's so much to see there.
It has been really an experience!
Yesterday it was a summer day. Families walking on the seashore and children dressed in costumes for the carnival.
Today we went to the hospital to support our friend and read the results of her biopsy and ... thanks God she's ok. No bad cells!
Before going to the hospital I saw a crocus bloomed in my garden. Poor little flower it feels the springtime but doesn't know it's still the 5th of feb. :-)
After all this waste of energy I think I'll call sick tomorrow at work since I think I got the intestinal virus... but I am ok. I may need some rest after the rush of the last days:-)

Cosa Vuoi Che Sia

Gli occhi fanno quel che possono
niente meno e niente più
tutto quello che non vedono
è perché non vuoi vederlo tu

cosa vuoi che sia

passa tutto quanto
solo un po' di tempo e ci riderai su
cosa vuoi che sia
ci sei solo dentro
pagati il tuo conto e pensaci tu

è la vita in cui abiti
niente meno e niente più
sembra un posto in cui si scivola
ma queste cose le sai meglio tu

cosa vuoi che sia
passa tutto quanto
solo un po' di tempo e ci riderai su
cosa vuoi che sia
ci sei solo dentro
pagati il tuo conto e pensaci tu

chi ama meno è meno fragile

tutti dicono così
ma gli occhi fanno quel che devono
solo tu puoi non accorgerti

e il mondo che ti dice "tu pensa alla salute"
e c'è chi pensa a quello
a cui non pensi tu

e il mondo che ti dice
"tu pensa alla salute"
e c'è chi pensa a quello
a cui non pensi tu

cosa vuoi che sia
passa tutto quanto
solo un po' di tempo e ci riderai su

cosa vuoi che sia
ci sei solo dentro
pagati il tuo conto e pensaci tu

e il mondo che ti dice "tu pensa alla salute"

e il mondo che ti dice "tu pensa alla salute"

Ligabue Cosa vuoi che sia - Nome e Cognome

There's magic in the air....

There's magic in the air....
Originally uploaded by margiana.

It's like blowing wishes in the air. It is such a magical and 'dreamable' thing. Andrea and I one night got out in the garden and started playing with the soap bubble and finished to follow them floating around with childish eyes. That is why I love him so much. He has childish eyes!

This morning I feel gloomy. I woke up and the sky is white. No more fog but ready for snow. The hyacints in the garden are almost blooming and all the bulbs have already their green juicy leaves out of the ground. It's getting colder and winter days are awaited and I am not ready for that after this spring-months. It's just like the seasons are exchanging time... summer-autumn-spring-winter.
I slept until late and then had my breakfast with Elisa playing on the stereo.

One of my dear friend is living her hell out since on Monday she's gonna have a biopsy. Her last smear test had some abnormal results and even if I feel everything is going allright, I can't stop thinking about what she is feeling now. I wish I had the power to clean some of her thoughts off.
Lots of memories of a similar things happened in the past crowd my head. It's not a nice feeling.
The only power I have is the power of prayers and this is what I'm doing. So those bubbles are now lots of prayers send to God...all for her in those days.
If any of you want to join me in praying for her I'll be grateful.
Thanks.

New haircuts

New haircuts
Originally uploaded by margiana.

Today was my day off and Rita and Simona asked me to go out for lunch with them. So we had a walk in the city and then ate at Pane Vino e San Daniele: delicious! We also had a bottle of Schioppettino, a red wine of Friuli. After that we needed a coffe and tooke them to Terzi, my really favourite place to sip a coffe. At that point time to greet but... there's an hair stylist right in front of Terzi (Andrea goes there for his haircut) and I felt I had to go. So I told the girls and instead of saying goodbye they joined me in. But it did not finished here. Rita and Simona cut their hair too. Simona who had long hair decided to cut them short. Now she's a lot more cool. I really love short hair!

Fog.

Winters in Bologna are usually cold and foggy. This winter is not cold at all, yesterday we had 8°C and it is wierd. But thick fog invades the scenery.
There's no dawn, nor sunset... no moon and stars, only thick grey fog.
Of all the things I got used to living in this region, the fog is something I can't get along with.
It alters my perceptions: muffled sounds, scary shadows, musty smells.
Yes, the smells bothers me as much as the inability to see things clear. I get out around 5am and I don't even worry for what is in front of my bycicle wheels, there's no way I can see anything... the lights of the street lamp, usually very strong, are useless. And the smell... I try to filter it with my scarf that smells of my favourite parfume but still it gets in my nostrils like a subtle ghost and gets in my lungs where I imagine it condensing in polluted water and drowning me.
I bring this imagine it with me the whole day and the mission is try to colour and parfume what remains out of the fog. It's not an easy task and since my physical activities suffer this deprivation of liberty, everything is harder.
Sometimes I feel lost in the fog. I lose every point of reference, I don't know where is north or south or my home or my bike. At work it's destabilizing. I wait for the aircraft to land parked in my place at the stand, than I hear the sound of it, a sound amplified (this time) but can't recognize the type of aircraft (usually I do...I know when there's an MD80. a 737 or an A320 or a small ATR landing)....can't see the light of the Follow Me truck until it's some 10 meters from me... and still don't see the aircraft and then, all of a sudden it appears and can see the big nose of it and it is extremely close!
That makes me think of the sailors and the pirates or of the merchants in the sea. They were brave! Lost in the sea.

Well, it's 3 days my head is aching me terribly. I feel in a ball of glass, can't bear light, nor sounds.
I work, all dressed up from head to toe with double sweaters, special jacket (the only coloured thing), hat, gloves but the head beats every heartbeat.
It's the fog-ghost that doesn't want me to colour the landscape and paints my thoughts of grey and shades of dark.

I shouldn't complain because at least it's not terribly cold but I feel paralyzed by the lack of mobility, the narrow-sight and the colourless landscape.

I need some wind blowing.

Update!

First of all.... HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sorry for the lack of entries but had to do a lot of things lately and tried to get over (with no success) to my addiction to the computer.
I left you during the trip to Wien to visit Kathy and her children now boys! We had fun iceskating and eating the original and great tasting sacher torte.
It was really cold compared to the mild temperature of this year december but it was really Christmasty!!! Lots of Christkindlmarket and winter smells! We loved to spend some time with this wonderful family and at the same time we had the chance to enjoy a short-Christmas-vacation. It has been recharging.
After that.... Christmas. We flew to Rome (I found a supersaver fare to fly to Rome) on the 24th we left Bologna at 7.30pm and at 8.30 we were already savouring my mom's Christmas Eve's fish dinner...yummy...
The 25th we spent the whole day at my aunt and cousins's home still eating and eating and eating and on the 26th we had a long walk on the Lungomare of Ostia (the strip that runs parallel to the sea), enjoying the sunset.
Back home on the 27th in the morning and starte working right away.
New Year's Eve as always, we invited friends over to eat some more (I don't want to step on a scale because I don't want to faint after reading the numbers)... and thanks to the dishwashingmachine it was all very easy.
So now in the 2007! Lots of resolutions and lots of wishes...
We had the chance to spend a lot of time together in these days Andrea and I (he's in vacation until tomorrow!!!) and we relaxed and enjoyed the city.

Lots of things going on around us, couples who split and romance that fades away... it is so sad to hear all this. I wish our friends and relatives could be happy with their hearts as I think they are...but then they are not and I wonder on the human ability to hide pain and disappointments and to deal with it.

Sometime I think it is so easy to see in the person I love all that I need... and then I tremble of fear to the thought that I may not see it anymore in the future.... how can it be?

My best wishes for you all is a 2007 full of LOVE and HEALTH. The rest will come next.

I wanted to write some more deeper thoughts but find overwhelmed by emotions in those days and can't use the appropriate words.
Get to organize the 'colours' inside of me!