Monday, September 24, 2007

My Mysteries

I don't know how things work in other people's homes, but in my home there are definitely some strange things happening. Like the socks that always seem to go missing in the wash. I know I put both into the washer, but by the time they come out of the dryer, I am always missing at least one match. Then weeks later, the odd sock will show up in a drawer as if it got lonely hanging out wherever it was and decided to join the gang once again. And what about those green "veggies" that have long lost their peak in the fridge drawer and are starting to change form. Does anyone ever throw them out when they see them? No, they just pull out the questionable perpetrator and complain that things are "growing" in there (there, being that dark hole of a vegetable drawer). Why is that a mom's job? And why is it always my job to empty the kitchen garbage even when everyone else can see that the pail can clearly hold no more. I don't know. I guess it's just another great mystery of life.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Ailments




The weekend has once again flown right past me and I didn't even see where it went to. My husband spent both days staining our deck. He's now completely out of commission in back agony hell. My weekend was spent unpacking boxes from the garage and various rooms as well as tending to my once again ill son. I can't figure out what is ailing him. He's got the sniffles and sore throat like a few weeks ago, yet this time it's combined with throwing up and crampy stomach. Suffice it to say, whatever progress he's made during the week is completely destroyed when he's sick. He is truly a classic helpless, moaning male when ill. It's almost comical to me as I totally can't relate. I wonder what tomorrow morning will bring. I hope it's a good start to the week.

In an unrelated way, I wanted to share some photos of an amazing looking sky we recently had at dusk.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Venezia


Life in Venice marches to a different drum. In fact, upon arrival to this city build on water you feel like you're entering a different time and world. That is until you stroll by one of its McDonald's or Burger Kings. Hard as it is to believe that anyone would choose to eat at such an establishment when walking through a foodies' culinary heaven. Venice to me is everything you've seen in the ads and movies and postcards. That and much more. It's like an antique, grown-up Disneyland on steroids. It is so picture perfect, charming and quaint that it is almost surreal. The buildings are hundreds of years old and are precariously perched amongst the canals. There are the striped "barber" poles. Canals are filled with gondolas all trying to pass under the Bridge of Sighes. Pastry shops beaming with fresh marzipan, chocolates, almond tortes and pistachio treats. And the costume shops with their store front windows are like a still-life theatre. The ornate Carnivale masks, puppets and costumes are such works of art that they one can't help but be mesmerized. What most travellers don't know is that Venice (in its peak seasons) is so crowded with cruise ship passengers and marauding tourists that you can barely move down its tiny, maze-like streets. Everywhere you turn, there is a flag on a pole or a bright umbrella being held up with some guide hollering in German or other foreign tongue. Although crowded beyond my comfort level, Venice is a truly remarkable and special destination that will linger in my memories for many years.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Trattoria



As I was saying before, Italians take their food extremely seriously. I can't tell you how many conversations amongst our business groups revolved around food. I didn't have to speak the language to know that the crescendo of voices and smiling faces were peaking over the discussion of some scrumptious morsel. We were lucky enough to be taken to a local trattoria that offered no menu other than what the owner/chef felt was the freshest of combinations available that day - paired also with wines and cheeses that were chef-selected from various parts of the country. In Venice, the tiny cobbled streets are filled with beautiful pastry shops offering almond cakes, pistachio tortes and marzipan delicacies shaped in any fruit or vegetable that you can imagine. Looking into the windows, one can only drool at the copious amounts of baked, tempting treats. Of course, you also don't have too look to far to find a North American fast food joint either. But why would you want to eat that when you can be tasting dishes will dazzle your taste buds and imprint memories for a lifetime.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Brescia, Italy

We've just returned from almost a week in northern Italy. To say we had a great time just doesn't describe the feeling. After all, visiting one of the oldest civilizations in the world is fascinating enough. Our main center of business was in Brescia - a small city situated between Milan and Venice. My husband had business there and while he was working, I toured around. Even though I don't speak Italian, it was interesting to see what words and phrases I could drag out of my subconscious mind (after hearing my native Italian-speaking husband converse for years). I found most people in Brescia did not speak any English. But with a few gestures and simple words, they were happy to try and help.


In fact, when we went out with a business colleague one night, we saw an older man who had somehow gotten his little car completely on top of the sidewalk while going around a corner. I have no idea how a person could have even done that (but apparently he had alcohol on his breath, so that may explain the lack of reaction while taking the turn). My husband's colleague immediately stopped and asked if this man needed a hand. Sure enough within minutes, there was this businessman, my husband and 2 other men from separate cars all bouncing and lifting this Fiat off the curb. This gesture of kindness was something I didn't expect to see because it wouldn't in our culture. And if someone did stop, you'd be afraid they were going to either rob or kill you. Refreshing to still see altruism in this world.


During this short visit, I saw once again what a natural zest for life the Italians hold. How such simple things in life take precedence over the frenetic scurrying that grabs our culture by the throat. And after watching countless hours of any Italian cooking show on FoodTV, I can assure you that yes, the Italians do take their food seriously. And it is almost impossible to get a bad meal in that country. But that topic shall wait for another post.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Uneventful

Finally a day that ran smoothly. My son got off to school without any tears or calls home. I managed to finish up a lot of internet work. And I was able to finally squeeze in a workout, which I've been remiss about for the past few weeks. Life here at the 'homestead' was relatively quiet and uneventful today. I must admit it was difficult to adjust to the pungent aroma of fresh pig manure that dominated the air around here today. Let's just say it was a day to run quickly from the car into the house and thank God for air conditioning. I am now mellowing out from a long, draining week and will soon be off to dreamland.

Back to School is Not Always Easy

As I sit in my living room watching the 20th Anniversary week on Live with Regis and Kelly, I'm chowing down a bowl of President's Choice Fiber One, a twig-like, crunchy, fibrous cereal. This is actually one of the few moments I've had this week to sit down and have something of quality to eat, not to mention add some fiber to my much suffering diet lately. The first week back to school has not been a great one. Tuesday, the first day, my son was still not over his feverish cold and required yet one more day at home to rest, of course. After all the sniffling (and belligerent refusal to blow his nose when necessary), his skin became chaffed to the point of looking like a red raw moustache. Today it is now down to a half a scabby brownish stain. My poor baby boy. Life is one big melodrama after another it seems lately. Yesterday as I was driving across Toronto, to an appointment I'd waited 6 months for, I got a call from the school saying he was having a rough day and needed me. What was I to do? Like a good mommy, I made it back in time just to see him smiling as he came down the hall, backpack in tow, ready to have yet another half day of leisure. So today, I was thrilled to have an attitude adjustment, no major meltdowns or refusals to go to school, no tears and a pleasant drop-off. We shall see what the day unfolds.

Monday, September 3, 2007

The Night Before School

It's the night before school starts again. This was a night I always dreaded as a child. I guess it's the anticipation of the foreboding unknown. Who will my teacher be? Will I have any friends in my class? Luckily for my son, he will already be familiar with most of the children in his class. He is in a very small school that almost hearkens back to the days of the one room schoolhouse. It is odd how you always want what you don't have though. Today again he asked me if he could attend a "big" school like the regular public city schools that were once around the neighborhood corner. Being that he's always been a hyper-sensitive child, I believed a smaller more nurturing environment would suit his temperament better. Funny the things we learn as we go along the road of parenting. Nothing is ever what it seems to be. My son just had his 7th birthday on the weekend. And to bring in all this "cheer" he's had a cold with a high fever. I'm just hoping that tomorrow he'll be well once again. I hope he's not the poster child for bringing colds into the new school year (argh...)!