Life Can Sometimes Be A Bear

image via fffound

Group Hug!

This One is for Kat

"Be who you are
and say what you feel
because those who mind don't matter
and those who matter don't mind."
- Dr. Seuss

DOMANI 21 APRILE Artisti uniti per l'Abruzzo (FANTASTICO)

Here's some music for all my Italian loving friends.

The Tao of Wandering

"Girl in Villa Pamphili, Rome"

"Not all those who wander are lost."
-J.R. Tolkien

"My favorite pastime is

letting time pass,

having the time,

taking my time,

wasting my time,

living out of time-

against the current."

-Francoise Sagan, Responses

Conjugating Memory in the Eames Lounge Chair

"Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson:
You find the present tense
but the past perfect."- John Updike

Listen to Your Inner Voice

"Remember,
there are no mistakes, only lessons.
Love yourself, trust your choices,
and everything is possible."
-C. Carter Scott

It All Works Out

pendant by "ala mode"

"Take chances, take a lot of them.
Because honestly, no matter where
you end up and with whom, it always
ends up just the way it should be.
Your mistakes make you who you
are. You learn and grow with each
choice you make. Everything is
worth it. Say how you feel, always.
Be you, and be okay with it."
-unknown

Best of Love

"The best kind of love celebrates

your smallest win,

and

follows your biggest dreams.

May There Be Light in Your Life

Bellis Studio via Etsy

photo via McKinneys photostream flickr

“Love is not consolation.

It is light.”
-Friedrich Nietzsche

On Our Way to Olbrich Botanical Gardens

After brunch we made our way down State street to catch the #3 bus.

All was quiet in the center of town.

Here's a colorful little place next to where the bus stops.

Walking from the bus stop by the lake

We arrived at the gardens around 2:30. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. There was an afternoon concert that started at 2:00 so music as well as the fragrance of blooming spring flowers filled the air. Olbrich Botanical Gardens is home to 16 acres of display gardens and a 10,000 square foot tropical conservatory. Ten outdoor specialty gardens include a Thai Pavilion & Garden, A Prairie-style Rose Garden, and unique water features throughout the property. It is a lovely setting to tour.

A pavilion, or sala, is a common structure in Thailand generally used as a shelter from rain and heat. Olbrich's pavilion is more ornate than most roadside salas in Thailand and represents those found at a temple or on a palace grounds. However, Olbrich's pavilion is not a religious structure.The pavilion was a gift to the University of Wisconsin-Madison from the Thai Government and the Thai Chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association. UW-Madison has one of the largest Thai student populations of any U.S. college or university.Olbrich was chosen as the site for the pavilion because of its garden setting and its proximity to water. Water is important to Thailand because of its implications for good health and prosperity.

Thai Pavilion and Garden Facts
The pavilion is 40 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 30 feet high
The pavilion features gold leaf etchings, a lacquer finish, and intricate decoration
The estimated value of the Pavilion is $1.5 to 2 million
The pavilion is crafted without nails or screws
There are no endangered woods or materials used in the pavilion
The gift of the pavilion was approved by Thailand's royal family therefore, it bears the Royal seal of the Thai Crown
The pavilion is only one of four located outside of Thailand. The others are in Germany, Norway, and Hawaii
The Thai Garden is connected to the central gardens by a 155-foot arched, ornamental bridge that spans Starkweather Creek

The pavilion was designed and constructed in Thailand, then taken apart piece by piece and shipped to Madison. A group of Thai artisans arrived in September, 2001, to reconstruct it on its permanent site along Starkweather Creek.

This little lion is Aria's favorite statue

Thank you Aria for a lovely Mother's Day Celebration.

It was very special to spend this day with you.

"Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems." ~Rainer Maria Rilke

If you are ever in Madison, WI, be sure to visit these gardens. Outdoor Gardens are open daily and are free to all. Admission to the Bolz Conservatory is $1 per person and free to all on Wednesday and Saturday from 10 am to noon.

Mother's Day Celebration at Cafe Continental

Aria had made brunch reservations at a lovely little restaurant near the Capitol Building called, "Cafe Continental". It is located at 108 King Street (tel. 608.251.4880)
It has the feel of a neighborhood Parisian restaurant. We had a small private room in the back of the cafe.
After a long, leisure meal, plenty of coffee and three scrumptious desserts we were off to tour the Botanical Gardens.

The Schiavo Family Your Hosts, Zinc Bar, Over 200 Wines - 40 By the Glass, Wine Spectator,

Award of Excellence

Jocelyn, Aria and me. A very, memorable Mother's Day!

P.S. We loved this place so much we returned the next day to try the French toast with carmelized apples that we were too full to order on Sunday. To our dismay they were not serving the brunch menu on Monday...so we "had" to order off the luncheon menu instead and they "had to" twist our arms to order more desserts again...whoa, the waiter's recommendation for bananas foster with hot rum sauce and vanilla ice cream...killer!

Tomorrow's post: Mother's Day continued with a tour of Olbrich Gardens...

Eating, Drinking, and Shopping...Oh My

Let the fun begin
Aria and Barb in front of the State Capitol Building

Saturday at the Farmer's Market

Although this time of year it might be more logical to call it the "Dane County Gardening Market," with starter plants just about outnumbering food products, it's the largest producer-only farmers’ market in the country. All items are produced locally by the vendor behind the table. No resale is allowed. The Farmers' Market will be held on the Capitol Square every Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., rain or shine, through November 7th.

The Dane County Farmers’ Market is one of the largest farmer's markets in the country. It extends the full perimeter of the Capitol Square. We circled the perimeter twice,checking out all the wonderful sales. Lots of samples of fresh home-made cheeses, honey, flavored oils, breads, fresh baked multi-flavored scones and beautiful, locally grown produce including lots of interesting morel mushrooms. Dozens of stands sold starter plants for herbs and veges and lovely spring flowers. Go early, this sidewalk was very crowded by the time we left at 10:30.

Aria buys her bread from this baker every Saturday. This time he gave her the loaf free because he said it had an air bubble inside and the baker didn't want to charge her for it. Pretty lucky.



Touring State Street the main street leading from the Capitol to the University of Wisconsin campus

Kabul Afghanistan Restaurant

There’s a great array of all Middle Eastern food, not just Afghanistani food. They start you out with some flatbread that has a couple of great dipping sauces, followed by either a salad, or the Afghani soup. Fun stop for lunch between shopping on State Street.

541 State St, Madison, WI 53703-1010

Fresco, We enjoyed drinks and dinner here on a Friday night. Walking up the glass staircase was dizzying and that was before drinks. We decided to take the elevator down after dinner. This place has great atmosphere and ambiance, especially at night.

Located on the rooftop of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, Fresco is a modern dining space boasting panoramic views of the Capitol and State Street. Enjoy exceptional views of Madison while relaxing with martinis in the all-glass lounge. Dine indoors alongside a glass wall overlooking the museum’s 7,100 square-foot sculpture garden, or sit at the garden’s edge and enjoy dinner al fresco. Fresco's menu consists of contemporary American cuisine made with fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients.

Fresco: 227 State St. Madison, WI 53703

Hours:Sunday – 5pm - 9pmMondays – ClosedTuesday – Thursday – 5pm - 9pm

Friday & Saturday – 5pm - 10pm

Barriques Coffee Bar

Aria's coffee house of choice to study ...Barriques Coffee Trader is located 1 block west of the state capital building in the old Loraine Hotel at the corner of West Washington and Fairchild. They offer a full service coffee and espresso bar that opens early each morning. In addition to their irresistible fresh from the oven bakery, they have a light sandwich and salad menu to take care of your tummy. For evening enjoyment they serve several tap beers, wines by the glass and a limited cocktail menu. Plus you can pick up a bottle of your favorite wine from the infamous Wall of 100. (Which we did!) Free wireless internet access is provided.

We made several stops here for coffee, snacks and wine!

Bradbury's Coffee, Espresso, and Crepes

Isthmus127 N. Hamilton St., Madison, WI, 53703; 204-0474

Located in a nearly all-glass triangle on the ground floor of the Capitol Point condos, it's visible as you round the outer ring at the Hamilton-Webster-Dayton area. This small, bright space, enlivened by hip track lighting and earthy wooden chairs, is devoted to serving a good espresso and celebrating the underappreciated art of the crepe. Whether you choose a sweet or savory crepe you'll be fully satisfied. This is Aria's regular breakfast stop every Saturday after the Farmer's market. We followed suit after our saturday outing to shop for veges. This is just between the Capitol and Aria's apartment. A very convenient location.


The Old Fashioned

located at 23 N. Pinckney St.Madison, WI

We stopped here for a late night dinner on Saturday night. Was a lively place and great food and beer.

Located in the shadow of the state capitol, The Old Fashioned stands as a meeting place for friends and family, as well as a vibrant testament to Madison's downtown revitalization.

Cafe Continental

Another stop for us on Monday...The Continental Cafe again.

Fromagination

Fromagination is a new specialty cheese market celebrating Wisconsin Artisanal Cheesemakers and highlighting artisan cheeses from around the United States and the world.

Fromagination located at:

TWELVE SOUTH CARROLL, MADISON, WI 53703 • 608.255.2430

Stay tuned, tomorrow's post, "Mother's Day Brunch"

Fun In The City

An Evening With Elton John and Billy Joel at the Kohl Center

I arrived in Madison on a Thursday afternoon. Aria had told me she was able to get tickets for us to see Elton John and Billy Joel in concert that night. I was so-oo excited.

We joined the huge sell out crowd at the Kohl center arena for a night of outrageous fun.


The dueling pianos rose up from the floor. Elton John entered from one end of the stage and Billy Joel entered from the opposite side. From 7:30 to 11:00 they sang. First duets, then one hour solo performances and then closing with duets again. For those hours (no breaks) the sounds of "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road", "Just the Way You Are", "Uptown Girl", "Rocket Man" filled the area. They seemed to build with enthusiasm as the crowd shouted and cheered with each introduction of the next song. They sang one number after the next including all their greatest hits. I think this may have been the greatest concert I have been to.

They are the ultimate performers and their songs, voices, piano talents compliment each other perfectly. The whole arena was up on their feet and dancing and singing along. A crazy, fun night that I will long remember.

An Evening at "The Overture Center for the Arts"

On a Saturday night we were able to see a performance in Overture Hall by Chicago’s famed Second City ensemble. It was an evening of stinging satire and impish improv. This is the outfit that launched the careers of such comic giants as John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Chris Farley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bill Murray and Mike Myers, just to name a few. Arguably the premier comedy institution in the world, The Second City delivers the perfect blend of smart and silly, sophisticated and chaotic, insightful and irreverent. It was a fun evening. When we exited the theater it was lightly raining. We walked across the Capitol Square to a pub restaurant called "The Old Fashioned" and had a late night dinner and drinks.

Touring the Capitol Building

Rising between the picturesque waters of Lake Monona and Lake Mendota, the majestic granite structure
of Wisconsin's Capitol building glows like a beacon, accenting the Madison skyline.


Reaching to a height of over 200 feet the Capitol dome is topped by Daniel Chester French's elegant
gilded bronze statue, "Wisconsin".

Inside, visitors are treated to the unique textures of 43 varieties of stone from around the world,

hand-carved furniture and exquisite glass mosaics.

Edwin Blashfield's mural "Resources of Wisconsin" lavishly decorates the ceiling of the rotunda, which is the only granite dome in the United States.

The best way to experience the beauty and grandeur of Wisconsin's Capitol building (located at 2 East Main Street, Madison, WI 53702) is to see it for yourself. It is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free tours are offered daily, year round except on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas. Tours start at the information desk Monday through Saturday at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 p.m. A 4:00 p.m. tour is offered weekdays (Monday - Friday), excluding holidays, during Memorial Day through Labor Day. The sixth floor museum and observation deck are open during the summer months.

Standing on State Street looking towards the Capitol.

Frank Lloyd Wright's "Monona Terrace

Wright's Monona Terrace
On July 18, 1997, Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center opened its doors after nearly 60 years of debate. It was first designed by Wisconsin native and internationally renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1938 as a cultural, governmental and recreational building. Wright reworked the design several times between 1938 and 1958 before signing off on the final plans seven weeks before his death in 1959.
In 1992, Madison voters approved referenda to construct Monona Terrace—on the same site Wright had originally proposed—as a community and convention center. While Wright's design was used for the building's exterior, the interior was redesigned by Wright apprentice and Taliesin architect Tony Puttnam to house state-of-the-art exhibition, meeting and public space.

Views from Monona Terrace were lovely and vast overlooking the Lake below. It was a beautiful warm sunny day. We were able to relax and enjoy the scenes of both the city and the lake.

Our tour guide Aria, relaxes...

Jocelyn always makes us smile

A very lovely, scenic spot...

William T. Evjue Rooftop GardenOpen Sunday - Thursday 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. - midnight
The rooftop of Monona Terrace is an ideal location for summertime events and recreation, including weddings, receptions, art exhibits, public meetings or concerts. The panoramic view encompasses Lake Monona, the State Capitol and the near east and west sides of Madison.

Lake Monona Bike & Pedestrian PathAn essential design element of the building was to keep the 12 km pathway around Lake Monona. The bike path and walkway wrap around this building and there is an elevator on the east side that can accommodate up to three bicycles and riders at a time. The elevator, which was the first of its kind in Madison, enables bikers to move from the lake level to the Wilson Street level.

Tomorrow's post: Eating, Drinking and Shopping in the city

My Trip to Madison Wisconsin, May 7-12

With my travelling partner, my sister Jocelyn, we were able to make this trip together to visit my daughter Aria, who has spent the last year working on her Master's degree in Italian Language and Literature at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. I'm so happy we were able to travel together. Jocelyn is the best travel buddy, so kind and sweet and we all appreciate her great sense of humour.

We booked "The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governor's Club"

1 W. Dayton St., Madison

It was a wonderful location for us. Close to the capital and the associated activities like the farmers market, close to State Street shopping and food venues, close to campus and just a couple of blocks from Aria's apartment.

This map will show you how this part of the city lies on an Isthmus bordered on one side by Lake Monona and the other side by Lake Mendota. Our hotel was on the corner of Dayton and Wisconsin. Aria's apartment was located two blocks away on Gorham and Pinckney so it was a very easy walk for us to her place and central to all the sights in the city. The map also shows Cafe Monmartre which was a good stop off for Happy hour margaritas and good pizzas. You can see how close we were to the Capitol and to State Street which runs directly into the University. We did not need a car. There are restaurants, museums, great shopping all around the surrounding areas of our hotel. The bus lines are convenient to local attractions that we wanted to see. Madison is a great walking city. We loved it.

Touring the University of Wisconsin campus

This is the patio of the student union. With such great weather everyone was outside. This looks out to the Lake. What a great view.

These are the famous sunburst chairs that are everywhere on the patio of the student union. I love them!

State street runs directly into the campus.

If we turn up this street we will arrive at Aria's apartment

We're here!!!

This is the view from the front window. I liked that house on the corner.

This is looking down the street. Lots of student housing.

Here's Aria with her boyfriend Daniele. He arrived Monday night from Boston. He just finished a year of teaching at Holy Cross College. They'll be travelling back to Italy together to visit his family and for some R and R.

This is Kate, Aria's room-mate. We had a great time meeting her. She was such a good person for Aria to live with this past year.

This is us waiting for the taxi to take us to the airport. The five days in Madison were wonderful. We learned alot about this beautiful city and it made me so happy to experience a bit of Aria's life here.

For the next few days I will be posting more about Madison and the things we experienced while there.

Sunset Beach California

We spent several hours at the beach near our home on Saturday. It was a hazy, lazy day and not as hot as we expected it would be. I didn't even bother with opening the umbrella up. Normally, I hide under the shade of the umbrella but not this day.

Here's Mike with our usual set up...beach chairs, umbrella, binoculars to see dolphins and watch the surfers and my bag of books and sunscreen. We love the quiet peace and the sound of the ocean waves. There were hardly any people on the beach.

There were a few birds...

and a man that was fishing.

It takes solitude under the stars, for us to be reminded of our eternal origin and our far destiny.

-Archibald Rutledge

Valentino The Last Emperor

Photo shoot above from the documentary: Valentino: The Last Emperor.

One critic described viewing the film as
" a little like gorging on chocolate and Champagne until that queasy moment arrives when you realize you’ve consumed far too much."

Well, I've just seen this film and you might know, I do love chocolate and adore Champagne so this film was right up my alley!


I have always been fascinated by the world of fashion. As a child I would love to carefully go over each page of my mother's monthly "Vogue" magazines. I would study the fashions, the make-up and the hair styles. I learned to sew at an early age and loved the idea of making my own clothes. In high school there were dances every Friday night. On Mondays my mom would take me shopping for material. I'd decide what I wanted to make and I'd work on a dress throughout the week to wear to the dance on Friday night. I know it sounds crazy but I loved it. Sometimes I literally would have to sew myself into the dress because it wasn't quite finished. I would make really fancy dresses for the holidays out of satin brocade material. As a child (and as an adult) I loved dressing up and I still love anything to do with fashion, including shoes and accessories, especially sparkly jewelry.

In the late 60's as a young teen, I opened a hippie boutique with several friends. We designed and sewed dresses made out of rich velvets and sheer fabrics...they had long butterfly sleeves perfect for hippie girls to dance in at "love-in's" and "be-in's" and we made Nehru styled shirts and cowboy shirts for the guys. That was the style that was popular then. Sometimes famous people would come into our shop. It was a wild and crazy time and a lot of fun. One day, I'll post pictures and tell you stories of some of the things I experienced in the 60's.

Seeing this movie on Valentino brought back alot of those old memories. I really enjoyed this film with many scenes in Italy and France and footage behind the scenes of high fashion design from the construction of garments to the actual fashion shows. It is a very telling , often touching story of this man ...the life and times of a fashion genius. Here are some Valentino highlights:

Valentino was born Valentino Garavani in Voghera, Italy in 1932. He studied French and fashion design at the Academia de'll Arte in Milan (1948), in preparation for his move to Paris.
In Paris, he worked as assistant designer to Jean Desses and Guy Laroche (1955-1958). In 1960, he returned to Italy, and established his company in Rome.
In 1962, he presented his collection in Florence. During this time, his clientele is already a who's who list of the rich and famous - Jacqueline Kennedy, Princess Margaret and Elizabeth Taylor.
In 1965, he received the Neiman Marcus Award, and during the rest of the 1960s, Valentino would gain international fame. He will be a member of the elite group which would make the "Made in Italy" label famous and equate it with luxury goods.
Valentino's signature style is "opulence" He is known for his meticulous detailing and magnificent embroidery. The perfection of luxury in Valentino is never ostentatious, but rather a very strong yet discreet appeal of shades stolen from precious stones, from the impalpable delicateness of powder and milk. Absolutely unique, incredibly elegant Valentino style contain all the best italian fashion design and style.
In 1998, Holding di Partecipazioni Industriali (HdP) acquired Valentino with plans of creating a new luxury goods group.
In 2002, HdP sold the company to Marzotto, another Italian luxury goods group which includes Hugo Boss, world-wide leader in menswear, and the Marlboro Classic, Gianfranco Ferre Studio and M Missoni licenses.

Valentino: The Last Emperor (2009) (Trailer) (HD) (CE)

Here is an interesting journey into the high fashion world of italian fashion designer, Valentino. I really enjoyed this documentary.

A Little Wine With Dinner

Celibacy can be a choice in life,
or a condition imposed by circumstances.
While attending a Marriage Encounter Weekend,
Stuart and his wife Marcia listened to the instructor declare,
"It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other."
He addressed the men:

"Can you name and describe your wifes favorite wine?"

Stuart leaned over,
gently touched Marcia's arm
and whispered,

"I wanna go to Italy... isn't it?"

And thus began Stuart's life of celibacy.

Something to Think About

Sign hanging in Einstein's office at Princeton:

"Not everything that counts can be counted,
and
not everything that can be counted counts."

On Becoming Who You Are

I am a woman in process.

I’m just trying like everybody else.

I try to take every conflict,

every experience,

and learn from it.

Life is never dull. - Oprah Winfrey

Trying is What Matters

"It is not the critic who counts;

not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,

or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,

whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood,

who strives valiantly;

who errs and comes short again and again;

because there is not effort without error and shortcomings;

but who does actually strive to do the deed;

who knows the great enthusiasm,

the great devotion,

who spends himself in a worthy cause,

who at the best knows in the end

the triumph of high achievement and

who at the worst,

if he fails,

at least he fails while daring greatly.

So that his place shall never be

with those cold and timid souls

who know neither victory nor defeat."

-Theodore Roosevelt

This Awaits You

photo courtesy of Annie at http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/annienc/

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”
-Jawaharial Nehru

This is My Wish For You

"Comfort on difficult days,
smiles when sadness intrudes,
rainbows to follow the clouds.
Laughter to kiss your lips,
sunsets to warm your heart,
hugs when spirits sag,
beauty for your eyes to see,
friendships to brighten your being,
faith so that you can believe,
confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself,
patience to accept the truth,
Love to complete your life."

Happy Mother’s Day

image: courtesy flickr Eliza Beth

"There was something about being in the presence of my mother that made life magnificent." – Elizabeth Strout

Five Generations

My friend Annette sent me the above photo and article:
"Here is a story and photo of "Five Generations of Women" shortly before the 93 year-old Grandmother passed away last year. The photo shown features the hands of the Grandmother, Mom, Sister, Niece and Great-Niece. I'm sorry I do not know the photographer to give credit where it is due."

Grandmother's Hands

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK.Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking," she said in a voice clear and strong. "I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK," I explained to her. "Have you ever looked at your hands," she asked. "I mean really looked at your hands?" I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands I thought, as I tried to figure out the point she was making. Grandma smiled and related this story: "Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life. They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war. They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn son. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and my spouse. They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day, when not much of anything else of me works real well, these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer. These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life. But more importantly, it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when He leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ."I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home. When my hands are hurt or sore, or when I stroke the face of my children or husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God. I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face.

IF I Was A Robot

Leaving On A Jet Plane Today

Heading for

Madison, Wisconsin to visit my daughter Aria! Could not be more excited"Happy Mother's Day"

to all the mom's out there.

The world is a better place because of all your love.

UH OH

Don't forget: What goes around, comes around! Be on her good side.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

My fave on the rocks

The traditional blended version

Here's one recipe I found. You can use Triple Sec or Cointreau and the amounts vary to your taste. Basically there are four ingredients Tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice and salt.

For one drink:

1 1/2 oz. tequila (100% agave a must)

1 1/2 oz. triple sec. or cointreau (many recipes only ask for 1/2 oz.)

1 1/4 oz. of lime juice

Salt for the rim of the glass

Shake all ingredients with cracked ice in a shaker until the exterior frosts. Strain into a glass over the rocks or up in a cocktail glass. Garnish with a slice of lime. You can also blend with ice for a traditional blended Margarita.

Ole`!

"There is something magnificent in having a country to love." ~James Russell Lowell

So on the fifth of May, when you see the flags and the celebration of Cinco de Mayo, understand that it is not just Mexico that is being celebrated. It is victory, democracy and a love of one's heritage.

Happy Monday

Kreativ Blogger Award

Carol at http://artmusedog.blogspot.com/ has sent me this wonderful "Kreativ Blogger" Award. Thanks so much Carol. The instructions I have been given are to list seven things I like and then to nominate 7 other bloggers for this award to do the same.


Here are my Seven likes:

1. I like knowing I will be spending this coming Mother's day with my daughter, Aria, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Here she is in the middle of winter (brrrr, I hope it will be Spring weather by my arrival on Thursday!)



2. I like hearing the italian language. It's music to my ears. Imagine someone sending this love letter to you...with a thousand kisses!)


3. I like a nice, big, leather bag to carry when I travel.

4. I like the absolutely incredible hot chocolate at Angelina's Tea room in Paris.

5. I really like chocolate candy.

6. I like Champagne!

7. I like a "SPA" day!

Now here are the "seven" blogsites I nominate for this "Kreativ Blogger Award". This is the hard part because I read so many blogs that I really love. For all the other blogger friends I am sending you a Kreative Blogger Award hug from my heart!

1. Brenda at http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/bge/ "That's My Story and I'm Stickin' To It

2. Jane at http://janeandken.blogspot.com/ "Casey, Italy and Other Good Stuff"

3. Candi at http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/candi/ Candi's Corner: Wanderlust and Passions

4. Palma at http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/palma/ "Palmabellas Passions"

5. SandraK at http://acappuccinoaday.blogspot.com/ "A Cappuccino a Day"

6. Marcia at http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/marciab/ Happy Trails for Us: My Reluctant Blog

7. Girasoli at http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/girasoli/ Shave Ice and Gelato

Soon To Be Extinct in America

24 THINGS ABOUT TO BECOME EXTINCT

24. Yellow Pages
This year will be pivotal for the global Yellow Pages industry. Much like newspapers, print Yellow Pages will continue to bleed dollars to their various digital counterparts, from Internet Yellow Pages (IYPs), to local search engines and combination search/listing services like Reach Local and Yodel Factors like an acceleration of the print 'fade rate' and the looming recession will contribute to the onslaught. One research firm predicts the falloff in usage of newspapers and print Yellow Pages could even reach 10% this year -- much higher than the 2%-3% fade rate seen in past years.

23. Classified Ads
The Internet has made so many things obsolete that newspaper classified ads might sound like just another trivial item on a long list. But this is one of those harbingers of the future that could signal the end of civilization as we know it. The argument is that if newspaper classifieds are replaced by free online listings at sites like Craigslist.org and Google Base, then newspapers are not far behind them.

22. Movie Rental Stores
While Netflix is looking up at the moment, Blockbuster keeps closing store locations by the hundreds. It still has about 6,000 left across the world, but those keep dwindling and the stock is down considerably in 2008, especially since the company gave up a quest of Circuit City . Movie G allery, which owned the Hollywood Video brand, closed up shop earlier this year. Countless small video chains and mom-and-pop stores have given up the ghost already.

21. Dial-up Internet Access
Dial-up connections have fallen from 40% in 2001 to 10% in 2008. The combination of an infrastructure to accommodate affordable high speed Internet connections and the disappearing home phone have all but pounded the final nail in the coffin of dial-up Internet access.

20. Phone Landlines
According to a survey from the National Center for Health Statistics, at the end of 2007, nearly one in six homes was cell-only and, of those homes that had landlines, one in eight only received calls on their cells.

19. Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs
Maryland's icon, the blue crab, has been fading away in Chesapeake Bay . Last year Maryland saw the lowest harvest (22 million pounds) since 1945. Just four decades ago the bay produced 96 million pounds. The population is down 70% since 1990, when they first did a formal count. There are only about 120 million crabs in the bay and they think they need 200 million for a sustainable population. Over-fishing, pollution, invasive species and global warming get the blame.

18. VCRs
For the better part of three decades, the VCR was a best-seller and staple in every American household until being completely decimated by the DVD, and now the Digital Video Recorder (DVR). In fact, the only remnants of the VHS age at your local Wal-Mart or Radio Shack are blank VHS tapes these days. Pre-recorded VHS tapes are largely gone and VHS decks are practically nowhere to be found. They served us so well.

17. Ash Trees
In the late 1990s, a pretty, iridescent green species of beetle, now known as the emerald ash borer, hitched a ride to North America with ash wood products imported from eastern Asia . In less than a decade, its larvae have killed millions of trees in the Midwest , and continue to spread. They've killed mo re than 30 million ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone, with tens of millions more lost in Ohio and Indiana . More than 7.5 billion ash trees are currently at risk.

16. Ham Radio
Amateur radio operators enjoy personal (and often worldwide) wireless communications with each other and are able to support their communities with emergency and disaster communications if necessary, while increasing their personal knowledge of electronics and radio theory. However, proliferation of the Internet and its popularity among youth has caused the decline of amateur radio. In the past five years alone, the number of people holding active ham radio licenses has dropped by 50,000, even though Morse Code is no longer a requirement.

15. The Swimming Hole
Thanks to our litigio us society, swimming holes are becoming a thing of the past. '20/20' reports that swimming hole owners, like Robert Every in High Falls, NY, are shutting them down out of worry that if someone gets hurt they'll sue. And that's exactly what happened in Seattle . The city of Bellingham was sued by Katie Hofstetter who was paralyzed in a fall at a popular swimming hole in Whatcom Falls Park . As injuries occur and lawsuits follow, expect more swimming holes to post 'Keep out!' signs.

14. Answering Machines
The increasing disappearance of answering machines is directly tied to No 20 our list -- the decline of landlines. According to USA Today, the number of homes that only use cell phones jumped 159% between 2004 and 2007. It has been particularly bad in New York ; since 2000, landlin e usage has dropped 55%. It's logical that as cell phones rise, many of them replacing traditional landlines, that there will be fewer answering machines.

13. Cameras That Use Film
It doesn't require a statistician to prove the rapid disappearance of the film camera in America . Just look to companies like Nikon, the professional's choice for quality camera equipment. In 2006, it announced that it would stop making film cameras, pointing to the shrinking market -- only 3% of its sales in 2005, compared to 75% of sales from digital cameras and equipment.

12. Incandescent Bulbs
Before a few years ago, the standard 60-watt (or, yikes, 100-watt) bulb was the mainstay of every U.S. home. With the green movement and all-things-sustainable-energy crowd, the Compa ct Fluorescent Lightbulb (CFL) is largely replacing the older, Edison-era incandescent bulb. The EPA reports that 2007 sales for Energy Star CFLs nearly doubled from 2006, and these sales accounted for approximately 20 percent of the U.S. light bulb market. And according to USA Today, a new energy bill plans to phase out incandescent bulbs in the next four to 12 years.

11. Stand-Alone Bowling Alleys
BowlingBalls. US claims there are still 60 million Americans who bowl at least once a year, but many are not bowling in stand-alone bowling alleys. Today most new bowling alleys are part of facilities for all types or recreation including laser tag, go-karts, bumper cars, video game arcades, climbing walls and glow miniature golf. Bowling lanes also have been added to many non -traditional venues such as adult communities, hotels and resorts, and gambling casinos.

10. The Milkman
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 1950, over half of the milk delivered was to the home in quart bottles, by 1963, it was about a third and by 2001, it represented only 0.4% percent. Nowadays most milk is sold through supermarkets in gallon jugs. The steady decline in home-delivered milk is blamed, of course, on the rise of the supermarket, better home refrigeration and longer-lasting milk. Although some milkmen still make the rounds in pockets of the U.S. , they are certainly a dying breed.

9. Hand-Written Letters
In 2006, the Radicati Group estimated that, worldwide, 183 billion e-mails were sent each day. Two million each second. By November of 2007, an estimated 3.3 billion Earthlings owned cell phones, and 80% of the world's population had access to cell phone coverage. In 2004, half-a-trillion text messages were sent, and the number has no doubt increased exponentially since then. So where amongst this gorge of gabble is there room for the elegant, polite hand-written letter?

8. Wild Horses
It is estimated that 100 years ago, as many as two million horses were roaming free within the United States . In 2001, National Geographic News estimated that the wild horse population had decreased to about 50,000 head. Current ly, the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory board states that there are 32,000 free roaming horses in ten Western states, with half of them residing in Nevada . The Bureau of Land Management is seeking to reduce the total number of free range horses to 27,000, possibly by selective euthanasia.

7. Personal Checks
According to an American Bankers Assoc. report, a net 23% of consumers plan to decrease their use of checks over the next two years, while a net 14% plan to increase their use of PIN debit. Bill payment remains the last stronghold of paper-based payments -- for the time being. Checks continue to be the most commonly used bill payment method, with 71% of consumers paying at least one recurring bill per month by writing a check. However, on a bill-by-bill basis, checks account for only 49% of consumers' recurring bill payments (down from 72% in 2001 and 60% in 2003).

6. Drive-in Theaters
During the peak in 1958, there were more than 4,000 drive-in theaters in this country, but in 2007 only 405 drive-ins were still operating. Exactly zero new drive-ins have been built since 2005. Only one reopened in 2005 and five reopened in 2006, so there isn't much of a movement toward reviving the closed ones.

5. Mumps & Measles
Despite what's been in the news lately, the measles and mumps actually, truly are disappearing from the United States . In 1964, 212,000 cases of mumps were reported in the U.S. By 1983, this figure had dropped to 3,000, thanks to a vigorous vaccination program.. Prior to the introduct ion of the measles vaccine, approximately half a million cases of measles were reported in the U.S. annually, resulting in 450 deaths. In 2005, only 66 cases were recorded.

4. Honey Bees
Perhaps nothing on our list of disappearing America is so dire; plummeting so enormously; and so necessary to the survival of our food supply as the honey bee. Very scary. 'Colony Collapse Disorder,' or CCD, has spread throughout the U.S. and Europe over the past few years, wiping out 50% to 90% of the colonies of many beekeepers -- and along with it, their livelihood.

3. News Magazines and TV News
While the TV evening newscasts haven't gone anywhere over the last several decades, their audiences have. In 1984, in a story about the diminishing returns of the evening news, the N ew York Times reported that all three network evening-news programs combined had only 40.9 million viewers. Fast forward to 2008, and what they have today is half that.

2. Analog TV
According to the Consumer Electronics Association, 85% of homes in the U.S. get their television programming through cable or satellite providers. For the remaining 15% -- or 13 million individuals -- who are using rabbit ears or a large outdoor antenna to get their local stations, change is in the air. If you are one of these people you'll need to get a new TV or a converter box in order to get the new stations which will only be broadcast in digital.

1. The Family Farm
Since the 1930s, the number of family farms has been declining rapidly. According to the USDA, 5.3 million farms dotted the nation in 1950, but this number had declined to 2.1 million by the 2003 farm census (data from the 2007 census hasn't yet been published). Ninety-one percent of theU.S. FARMS are small Family Farms.

Make Yourself Happy

"Enjoy life.

This is not a dress rehearsal."

Purposeful Clouds

image by ali inkyblack

"Clouds come floating into my life,

no longer to carry rain or usher the storm,

but to add color to my sunset sky."

-Rabindranath Tagore