Dai Bobici al Barbecue, from Istria to Texas.

Book Friday !

2010-11-12T09:54:00.003-06:00

It's here, it's here !

Yesterday a book came in the mail.
From a friend from my homeland, who is the author.
First Edition.
Signed, with dedication.
About my city, my land, sea, and then more.
A real treat.
Come back soon for a complete review.

In the meantime, thank you, Simone.

Goodby, CowBoy !

2010-11-11T11:46:00.005-06:00

It was a matter of time, we knew that, we were hoping that somehow Cowboy would be around for a long time, even for a cat. Only kitten from our Moka mama-cat, he has been the most long living, real survivor on a property with coyotes, howls, hawks, and many more dangers.

Here we lost countless cats, one dog, and the count goes on.
But no Cowboy. He was a natural born killer cat. Didn't look like it. At first sight he looked more like a lazy, fat cat, content to stretch on the front porch, and play pranks on our dogs...

However, no squirrel, no bird, no snake were safe from Cowboy. His agility to climb, and his unbelievable speed made him a squirrel killing machine hard to beat. Often we would find dead (and decapitated) squirrels by the front door, with Cowboy just few feet away...

Cowboy is no more. One morning he just didn't show up as usual. Guess he found the "faster gun"...

Goodbye, old friend.

Books Books Books ( for free ! )

2010-11-05T09:06:00.007-05:00

Well, for once a post with no pictures..

I am super excited, following a friend's link, I found a site called
Book Sneeze.

Here is the deal: if you are a blogger, and love books, you just found a small gem. After you send in an application, this guys will have a look at your blog, and if accepted, you can request a free book at the time, read it, write a review on the book, blog about it, and keep the book.

For a family of bookworms like mine, this is so sweet.

Sorry, Roberto V. from Trieste Daily Photo I am afraid this is only for US residents.

Have a happy weekend, you all !

Flood

2010-10-29T12:44:00.005-05:00

If you goo back in the blog, you will find a post about us moving, and the picture of a moving truck in our driveway.

This same driveway pictured right here, only a few weeks ago: yes, water everywhere. Yes, we did move out from there , but we still had some stuff (mostly books) stored in a small garage just a bit to the right, in this photo. It has been a 100% total loss of our stuff, and now it's between mildew, stink, and the insurance company. Only in 337 books we lost almost $7000, and that is an underestimate. My father and mother in law had their house flooded, and their losses are hard to even look at. But life goes on, bleach spray bottle , mop, bucket, and all. Have a safe and happy Halloween, y'all !

I am back. ( again )

2010-10-22T09:02:00.002-05:00

After a year ( almost ) of absence, I decided to resurrect this blog.
It's kind of a rebellion to Facebook.
I need *my* space.

So, here we are gain. I will try to do my best to publish few times a week. Daily, is out of the question. There is way too much stuff going on in my life to commit to daily publishing.

Come back, see what's new, leave me a comment, and let's see where I can take this blog.

Welcome back.

The picture of today is a "memory lane" one.
My parents ( couple on the right, with some friends, in Zagreb, Croatia, circa 1954.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T20:30:00.002-06:00

Oggi e' la Festa del Ringraziamento, negli USA. Thanksgiving, lo chiamano. Ogni anno, questa festa segnala l' inizio delle festivita' Natalizie, e, dello shopping piu' sfrenato che abbia mai visto.

Non per noi, quest' anno. Abbiamo deciso 11 mesi fa che questo Natale, i doni saranno rigorosamente "fatti in casa". Tanto per ridimensionare le cose, e renderle piu' ... personali, se vogliamo. Si sono verificati altri cambiamenti, ultimamente, che modificheranno queste festivita'. Cose nostre, di famiglia, private insomma. E' un momento di riflessione, di intimita' come famiglia e di profonda riflessione personale.

Ci vediamo tra pochi giorni.

Sunset sky inTexas

2009-11-10T10:12:00.005-06:00

After what seems an eternity, I emerge from a sea of fever, aches, coughs, Kleenex tissue, nights spent sleeping in a chair because I could not lay down and try to sleep ( cough and feeling of choking would overpower me).

Call it flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, call it any way you want it, it was a nasty bug.

Not 100% over yet, but good enough to get back to work and boy, do I gave a backup to catch up to ...

Now our youngest one has started on the same path of endless, repetitive, dry cough spells at night, and insurance or not, she is going to the doc. right away, like NOW.

In the meantime i leave you with a masterpiece set up in the Texas sky few days ago. I happened to be in the right spot at the right moment, and I even had a camera.

Wrong lens, but hey, who is looking, right ? (hint: click on the picture to really see it..)

This picture is "straight out of the camera" NO editing of ANY sort.

Enjoy the entire sequence here .

And don't steal my pictures, copyright law enforced. And I am coming after you.

Ugali ? No, Polenta.

2009-10-28T14:07:00.008-05:00

Well, there I was, in Uganda, East Africa, fall of 2006. It was semi-work related trip, a fact-finding trip for a non-profit that organizes medical missions all over the world.
We were in Jinja, Uganda, guests of a friend, Adam. I was told over and over about "Ugali" and how it was a local staple, very good and they invited us for a meal at a local "cafe'" for a lunch with some Ugali ... While waiting, we went in the back of the cafe' to see the kitchen, and how this famous ugali was prepared... You can imagine my surpries when I saw the ugali.. look below:

Yes, ugali, in Eas Africa is noting else than polenta.
Our friends in Jinja were so excited that the mzungu knew ugali and liked it ... That was an amazing trip, that will be another post, maybe.

Snack

2009-10-16T12:56:00.003-05:00

The difference between an Italian snack and an American snack ?

Painfully evident.

You decide.

Magic

2009-10-06T13:27:00.002-05:00

Early Summer, it's dusk, three little girls dance in the light of fireflies, and all of a sudden everything is ... magic.

Oh, to be able to have that spirit again ...

Almost Wordless Monday

2009-10-05T13:50:00.007-05:00

Ci troviamo e ci contiamo e manchi sempre tu...

Summer is officialy over.

2009-10-04T08:56:00.003-05:00

Some friends from Italy came to stay with us for a while. Actually, they moved back from Italy to the US, after living in Italy for a decade.

My kids and their kids have known each other since they can remember, and they always have fun when spending time together.

This year, they had one last swim day at the pool, just before end of summer. One final swim, one final day of careless fun and pure kids craziness, one last splash before school starts.

Aren't they fantastic ? ...

Saturday

2009-10-03T08:48:00.006-05:00

It's Saturday, time to make lunch, and the kids want to help with the cooking. Well, some do, others would rather run and hide ... Angelina is our youngest child, she is three, and loves to help in the kitchen, and often does it with an effort and intensity that surprises us...

This time, she chose to grate parmigiano reggiano ( off course) while we were preparing the sauce and pasta...

She is the sweetest helper... :-)

Ah, the beauty of a photo ...

2009-09-30T14:19:00.003-05:00

My daughter, Francesca is 16, and she just came back from a two weeks trip to China.
Off course, being the shutterbug she is, she went with a camera, and came back with oh, let's say about 1000 pictures. I haven't seen them, yet ( she is jealous of her shots ) but some "leaked out" and I was able to grab this one:

My guess is that we will never know what they were looking at and why the adorable little girl was covering her face ... maybe something she saw many times, and she was like : "Oh, no, grandmother, not here again...!" The sure thing is, her expression and body language are priceless.

The lady with the girl ( grandma, mom .. ? ) seems quite amused at the sight of .. whatever it is ..
I need to ask Francesca what they were looking at...

Frankie took a compact camera with her, it almost fit in her hands, and so she was able to take many "street candid" shots, some of them are quite interesting.

More soon.

Be well.

I am back ( again )

2009-09-29T15:29:00.011-05:00

July 24th to September 29th .... how long is that ?

There is definitely a number that you can attach to those dates, and for those of you of mathematical personality, I will tell you, it is 68 days.

In Internet or blogging time, it is an eternity. I almost feel like I should start all over, but then again, I ask myself, why ? I think I got something here, it's good. Not perfect, but good.

And, as the movie quote goes, " everybody loses a couple, but you either pack up and go home, or you keep fighting" or my other favorite quote, from the same movie: " You don't throw away a whole life just 'cause it 's banged up a little."

Recovering from the wreck has been a *lot* harder than I ever expected.
Physically and mentally.

I was gone from blogging for a long time, simply because I didn't care, and it didn't make much sense to me, considering all that I was going through.

Until a friend ( a blogger, mind you) told me that blogging is better than therapy, 2nd only to gardening... Hmmm, there was an option for me that I didn't even consider. Central Texas has been in such a state of drought for a long time that gardening is a thing of the past, so blogging (again) could actually be something I should try. Now it started to rain, so gardening is an option as well, but blogging ... I really like it. I don't know the direction this blog will take in the next few weeks, but if you read me, leave a note.

Some friends came in yesterday from Italy, and they brought a *fresh* Corriere della Sera, still with that smell of Italian newsstand that you know only if you grew up in Italy...

So, this morning, I enjoyed an ancient Italian ritual: early morning newspaper, and espresso.

Oh, yes, even in the mist of adversity, finding small joys in little rituals, helps.

See you tomorrow.
For real.

Steel - Acciaio

2009-07-24T21:17:00.005-05:00

Just few miles west of Austin, on Hwy 29, immediately before the small town of Fredricksburg,
on the right, one can see this amazing view.

A bull of steel. It's the entrance of the "Benini Ranch" a "ranch" of artists, they often have art shows, and things of that nature. The bull itself is full life-size scale and is just amazing.

I had no choice but to stop and click.

There is more here.
(click on the picture for a better view)

Still recovering

2009-07-21T00:25:00.004-05:00

Well, I am still here. Recovering from spine surgery, with a neck brace on 24/7 and painkiller at close proximity.

After the car crash, I went to a neurologist for a visit, since the pain in my back, neck, left shoulder, arm and leg, was getting really bad. To make it short, after a sequence of MRI, CT scan, and X-ray( I was glowing in the dark!), three different doctors, concluded that I had three cervical vertebrae fractured, C5, C6, and (barely) C7. The neck collar was not going to be enough, and immediate ( as in urgent) spine surgery was a must.

So I went in, on July the 15th, and came out the next day, and right now i am at home, recovering. Depressed, groggy, plain old grumpy, with a gorgeous scar on my neck.

More tomorrow, I will do my best to post something FUN, UPlifting, and bright ! Promise !

vdp

CRASH

2009-06-24T07:16:00.009-05:00

It happened. One of those unavoidable, sudden, life changing, painful events in life.
A car crash. Rather bad one too. Car is a total loss, we are hurt but a lot less than what "could have been".

June 19th, 2009, Friday afternoon, Highway 53, East of Temple, Texas. On my way home from the kid's camping trip, with Isabella and other friends. It was a caravan of cars, all friends from church.

From the opposite direction, an incoming car, suddenly jumps into my lane, I try to avoid it, it hits my car in the left side, my car gets thrown off-road, in the ditch, and rolls. I have no recollection of how may times we rolled. According to the State Tropper, from 4 to 6 (!!)

Remarkably, of all 5 kids in the car, and me, there are only few injuries. One girl has two broken ribs, bruised lungs. My daughter has bruises all over her face, I am beaten up like a steak, left arm, back, shoulder and hand VERY painful and sore, not to mention thorn muscles and other parts of me that hurt all over.
But we are all alive.

That's it for now, typing hurts and this is all I can do. (click on the pictures )

Be safe,

Summer, scorcer, heat.

2009-06-11T23:43:00.004-05:00

It's summer, down here.
Hot, skin peeling, scorching, sweaty humid, Texas summer.
This weekend we should reach 107 Fahrenheit ( about 40-41 Celsius) and it just rained 2 inches of rain, with one of those Texas hail storms, with 1 inch 3/4 of hail, wind, thunder, the whole nine yards. And now, it is even hotter than before the storm. And it's almost midnight.

It's the time of the year when one learns quickly that form of art that is driving with one or max. two fingers, since the steering wheel is so hot that no way one puts the whole hand on it.

When you walk in the parking lot, you actually think "if I fall down, I will stick to the asphalt ... "

In Texas, summers are hot, and long. There is, however, one small revenge, for us humans.
It's called "Ice Tea" and it is THE official drink of Texas, trust me.

Ice tea is everywhere, in Texas, during summer months. Any restaurant without Ice tea in the menu, might as well close right away. And it must be huge, tall, glasses, overflowing with ice, frosted on the outside .... hmmmm I can feel it now. And off course, free refills.

Few years ago there was a candidate for the office of Governor of Texas. I can't remember his name, actually his ideas were quite good, but he had one great proposal.

If elected, he would have proposed an amendment to the Texas Constitution, and make it so that during the summer months, it was a constitutional right, for every citizen of the great Lone Star State of Texas, to have a free glass if ice cold tea. Big one, mind you.
Unfortunately , he did not became governor, so we still pay for our ice teas.

Oh, well, maybe next time.
In the meantime, be well, and stay cool, and have an ice tea on me.

For Shutterbugs only.

2009-06-08T15:59:00.002-05:00

OK, I know, I have been missing in action for ... ever it seems. Life has gotten very complicated, but things will get sorted out, they always do.

I wanted to let all my followers [ both of you guys .. ;-) ] know that a Facebook friend of mine, photographer ( a real one, not a goofball like me ) is a member of NAPP , and is currently giving away some great stuff that any shutterbug would love to have

Click here, check it out, and good luck.

As usual, I will leave you not empty handed: my wife's sister-in-law daughter, is a perfect target fro a camera. She is just just adorable !

Thursday Sky

2009-05-20T23:56:00.006-05:00

It finally rained. After months of no rain, the worst drought in Central Texas in the last fifty years, we got some rain. A full blown line of storms, actually.

Unfortunately, it all came on Isabella's birthday, so we had to change all the plans at the last minute, as it sometimes happen.

The storm, left us with a gorgeous sunset, ( passata e' la tempesta, odo augelli far festa ... )
so I grabbed my brand new Nikon D200 and headed out. Here is the result ...

Foglia

2009-05-17T10:58:00.006-05:00

Life is a bit overwhelming right now, so as much as I wish to blog, too much else is on the plate.

Perhaps next week will settle down. Sorry.

Others blogs every day, but I can’t seem to pull that off and still attend to all the voices crying for my undivided attention.

My advice to myself (and to you for the next few days): Be at peace.

I leave you with a picture taken by my talented daughter.

Mi digo che ...

2009-04-28T22:52:00.006-05:00

Questo e' un post per triestini. Solo un triestino puo', per motivi ovvi solo a noi, finire questa frase: "Mi digo che i scrivi sta roba..." .. solo per insempiar la gente ... "

Ora mi spiego : Lasciatemi cantare...
NO, ho sbagliato l' attacco, com'era ?

Ah, si ecco: lasciatemi parlare, con la tastiera in mano, sono un che si e' scassato i maroni con sta influenza suina.
Diciamolo, lo diciamo ? Ma si che lo diciamo: Questa volta, i mass media l' hanno fatta proprio enorme.

Non ho mai visto un circo mediatico di queste proporzioni. Chiaramente, dopo settimane, no, MESI, di articoli su articoli della crisi economica, articoli cupi, neri e digeribili come un mattone, si sono visti arrivare questa ventata di aria fresca. UNa bellissima epidemia che germoglia...

Cosa c'e' di meglio di un virus "nuovo" ma anche vecchio, in un certo modo ( ricordate l' influenza spagnola, 50 milioni di morti..) un nemico senza faccia, inarrestabile, per un giornalista e' una manna !

E ci sono andati giu' con mano pesante. Panico a livello globale. Compagnie aeree in fibrillazione, scuole chiuse, dichiarazioni sempre piu' cassandriane ( ma e' una parola ? ) mercato azionario che crolla, un casino mai visto prima.

Poi, oggi pomeriggio, l' OMS ha dichiarato che .. veramente ... di casi certi, "verificabili" di influenza suina nell' uomo, ne abbiamo ... 64. Di decessi dovuti alla "suina" ... solo 7 Non 70, no 700, neppure 7mila, no, solo 7. Per carita', anche uno solo e' uno di troppo. Ma teniamo in conto che in ogni anno "normale" muoiono negli USA, di influenza, circa 36mila persone. 500mila a livello mondiale e muoiono senza titoli sul giornale.

Allora, io per fare la mia parte, e per sdrammatizzare ancora di piu' vi annuncio in anteprima, che ho scoperto la fonte dell' influenza porcella ... eccola qui:

"Mi credo che i scrivi 'sta roba solo per insempiar la gente".

Venezia

2009-04-14T14:57:00.003-05:00

(Grazie, Francesco, per la bellissima canzone)

Venezia che muore, Venezia appoggiata sul mare, la dolce ossessione degli ultimi suoi giorni tristi, Venezia, la vende ai turisti,
che cercano in mezzo alla gente l' Europa o l' Oriente, che guardano alzarsi alla sera il fumo - o la rabbia - di Porto Marghera...

Stefania era bella, Stefania non stava mai male, è morta di parto gridando in un letto sudato d' un grande ospedale;

aveva vent' anni, un marito, e l' anello nel dito: mi han detto confusi i parenti che quasi il respiro inciampava nei denti...

Venezia è un' albergo, San Marco è senz' altro anche il nome di una pizzeria,
la gondola costa, la gondola è solo un bel giro di giostra.

Stefania d' estate giocava con me nelle vuote domeniche d' ozio.
Mia madre parlava, sua madre vendeva Venezia in negozio.

Venezia è anche un sogno, di quelli che puoi comperare, però non ti puoi risvegliare con l' acqua alla gola, e un dolore a livello del mare: il Doge ha cambiato di casa e per mille finestre c'è solo il vagito di un bimbo che è nato, c'è solo la sirena di Mestre...

Stefania affondando, Stefania ha lasciato qualcosa: Novella Duemila e una rosa sul suo comodino, Stefania ha lasciato un bambino. Non so se ai parenti gli ha fatto davvero del male vederla morire ammazzata, morire da sola, in un grande ospedale...

Venezia è un imbroglio che riempie la testa soltanto di fatalità: del resto del mondo non sai più una sega, Venezia è la gente che se ne frega!

Stefania è un bambino, comprare o smerciare Venezia sarà il suo destino:
può darsi che un giorno saremo contenti di esserne solo lontani parenti...

Venezia.
Francesci Guccini

46 -

2009-04-05T09:50:00.002-05:00

Oggi ho 46 anni.
Today is my 46th birthday.
Oggi ho piantato un albero di quercia / Today I planted a oak tree.

Song for today:

Gli Anni ( Roberto Vecchioni)

Cos'è rimasto delle gioie
e dei miei improbabili dolori?
dov'è finito il tempo
dei miei straordinari batticuori?
avessi inventato qualcosa,
si fa per dire una pietanza;
fossi stato un genio
o almeno un terzino dell'Atalanta;
mia madre mi diceva sempre:
"Smettila di bere!"
e non sapeva ancora
che dovevo ancora cominciare
io mi toccavo freneticamene
pensando alle sue amiche
ah! le idee già
da allora le mie preferite
Gli anni t'inseguono
quando sei solo
gli anni ti parlano
ma non è vero

Gli anni rimangono
silenziosi, leggeri,
stanno dove li metti
e si nascondono
negli odori, nei fogli,
nel wysky, nei cassetti
gli anni si impigliano
e si aggrovigliano

Vorrei parlarti
vorrei spiegarti
vorrei lasciarti
e poi cercarti

Vorrei sognare
che è stato solo un sogno
che mi hanno raccontato
senza dormire
perché il mondo non c'è
quando io sono addormentato
e poi dormire
con una poesia
che da sempre so a memoria
senza sognare
e la ragazza usciva
lentamente dalla storia

gli anni continuano
telefona almeno per dirmi
come ti va la scuola
fatti guardare
come ti sei fatta bella,
è vero, il tempo vola
gli anni t'imbrogliano
io non so più se
sono buoni o cattivi gli indiani
però non vale
che stavo in piedi a vedere
con chi usciva lei domani
gli anni sorridono
e un'altra donna leggera
leggera danza sulle dita
corrono avanti
e colori, persone,
giochi giorni, l'Inter, la partita

Gli anni che passano
non sono mai tanti
gli anni miei...
gli anni, gli anni, gli anni.

(Grazie, Roberto Vecchioni )

Camping !

2009-03-17T01:35:00.012-05:00

In the States, when you go camping, you can:

Rent a Tepee, and see how it feels like to eat, sleep, and live "almost" like a Native American... ( it's a lot of fun, and the tepee works very well ! )

You can also go canoeing on the lake:
( I am not the one in the canoe)

And at the end of the day, build a fire, and grill some burgers on it...

A ton of fun !

All pictures were taken at the Arkansas Petite Jean State Park.

Ciao !

Carnevale, Trieste, e Piazza Unita.

2009-03-16T10:20:00.011-05:00

Carnevale a Trieste, e' uno spettacolo nello spettacolo.
Piazza Unita' e' un palcoscenico perfetto per una sfilata di carnevale.
Poi, lo spirito dei Triestini ci mette il resto...
Questa bimba era impegnatissima con la sua bacchetta magica. Dolcissima.

Queste due "signore triestine" sono cosi' tipiche, classiche, favolosmente triestine.
Perfette.

Questo tizio, era cosi' spassoso ... (qualcuno mi spiega il "acegas no grazie" sulla pietra tombale ? )

Due maschere di stile veneziano, stupende nella cornice di Piazza Unita'.

E dulcis in fundo, a Trieste, solo a Trieste, vedi due cessi che camminano sulle Rive..
( due cessi intesi come ... vabbe' lasciamo perdere, via )

Arco di Riccardo

2009-03-15T09:24:00.003-05:00

Arco di Riccardo.

In Trieste, in the middle of the oldest part of town, you almost have to go out of your way in order to find it. The city has grown a lot around it, and some have forgotten it is there.

It was built, they say, in the mid-first century AD, when a Roman colony called "Tergeste" was founded by order of the Roman emperor Augusto.

Sections of the Arc are now part of the buildings around it, it kind of melted in to the city, common fact in Italy. On one side, there is a restaurant that under different names, has been there for a long time.

I wonder how may people the Arc has seen walk by, how many changes in the city. If you are in Trieste, go and see it, it is worth it. And while you are there, go for a walk in old town Trieste. Walk up and down the old cobblestone narrow streets, turn a corner, and you might discover a different Trieste.

Have a great week you all.

VDP.

I almost missed it ...

2009-03-07T00:43:00.007-06:00

I almost missed this story, and I almost missed the pictures I had of Charlie's Pastry and Ice Cream shop in Pula (Croatia). You see, I was born there, and last year I visited Pola again, and found myself going back 35something years ...

Charlie's is an institution in Pola. If you have lived in town for anytime, you have been there. The place is at the corner of the fresh produce central market square, and everybody knows it.
Fantastic coffee, great pastry, however, that is not the reason for this post.

Francesca, my daughter and I were there, for a coffee and a poppy seed pastry ( a local delicacy ) on a Monday afternoon. The place was almost empty, it was just us, and a loud group of French tourist, arguing over the menu. The waiter came outside to take our orders, and chat a little. I had recognized him, from my childhood, he and I, same age, I remember his eyes looking up from behind the counter, when we both were much younger. He was a child too, back then, and he was and is the owner's son. Family run business. He came out, took our orders, glanced at the French, and went back inside to make our orders.

That's when they came. Big brother and little younger brother, that's what they looked like. We had seen them few minutes before, in the main street, they were on their bicycles, riding around, in the small town.

The waiter saw them seating down, he came out with a smile, they were, after all, customers.

It was his experience of a lifetime behind the counter, and waiting tables, that allowed him to asses the situation in a fraction of a second. In the meanwhile, the French kept clamoring over virtues of a small cappuccino over an espresso. The waiter's focus, eyes, and attention, instead were all for the new customers that had just taken place on the outdoor table, by the entrance.

Everything in them, from their clothes, to their body language indicated they were in a bad shape. Ragged clothes, broken shoes, older brother unshaven, extremely skinny and clearly from an ugly diet, all in them, called out "misery".

It was clear that this ice cream shop visit was something new and rare for them. The waiter seized the situation in a microsecond, and he knew this couple was a "low budget and no tip" kind of customer. The French did not know yet what they wanted after all, and the waiter glanced at them, and his attention went again on his new customers. And here, I witnessed a small miracle.

He approached them, wide smile, greeted them as they were pure royalties, and asked if he could be of any help. The older brother opened his left hand, revealing a few coins, barely enough for one scoop of ice cream. "If you could, one small cup, one scoop of ice cream"

The waiter smiled broadly, he was a man on a mission, at this point, and nobody was going to stop him now. Not even the French guys that in the meanwhile had decided that indeed, they wanted a coffee and pastry.

The waiter run back into the ice cream shop, and with one scoop of ice cream, he built an ice cream cup full of wafers, fruits, whipped cream, everything he had and then some, went in this ice cream cup ... it was more like a trophy, than "one scoop of ice cream". It was a masterpiece.

He came back out, smiled again, presented the giant ice cream trophy in front of the two brothers, with a smile and a look on his face that was like a presidential speech... The older brother looked at the ice cream, looked at the waiter and there was a brief, quick, intense exchange of non spoken words between the two.

The waiter nodded, and his eyes said "it is my honor to give this to you, don't say a word"
Little brother was speechless too, he too knew they did not have enough money for all that.

The waiter smiled again, said "Oprostite" "excuse me"and finally went on to see what the French had decided to order.

The two brothers ate their ice cream, then called the waiter, paid him with the few coins they had, got on their bike, and left. I heard the little brother say "that was the best ice cream I have ever had". The waiter heard that too, and that was enough for him. He looked at me, and in Croatian said "my best kind of customers" , then he left to take some cakes to the French.

As long as there are still men like him, out there, there is still hope.

Have a nice weekend.

Happy Birthday, Oliver !

2009-02-27T23:59:00.000-06:00

Today, Oliver is 14 years old. At the risk of being "cliche" I need to say: "where has the time gone?" Where did this 6 feet and then some, teenager came from and what happened to my boy?

Oliver is a sweet boy, with a big heart for people, and is always ready to help. A few weeks ago when we moved, he worked like a professional mover, carrying, loading and unloading, moving stuff, big, strong, always with a smile on his face.

But that is not why I love you, Oliver.

Oliver has three sisters, and with all three he as a different, and awesome relationship. Francesca is his big sister, counselor, movie-watcher buddy, and friend. Isabella is his little sister, and with her he is more protective and acts like a guide whenever she asks for advice.
Angelina is Oliver's youngest sister, and for her, Oliver is a big, good, giant. He adores her and she worships the land he walks on. For her, "oller" cannot do wrong.

But this is not why I love him.

Oliver is my son, my only, sweet boy. I remember the day he was born, like yesterday. I remember the weather when we were running 85mph to the hospital ( it was an emergency c-section ) and how wonderful he was, so little, so identical to me it was not even funny. The nurses at the hospital looked at him, looked up at me, and were stunned.
He was ... me, only way smaller, and without glasses.

And even this is not why I love my son.

During his first ten years of life, he had two eye surgeries, and one brain surgery. I have to say he was extremely brave in all this occasions. Grown-ups often don't behave as brave and calm as he did immediately before his biggest surgery.

Oliver likes to cook, and experiment with it, and he is surprisingly good at it (great profiterols !). He enjoys family life, good friends, likes to read comic books, watch movies, and he quotes them all the time. His spirit and his heart are in the right place, and he always looks out for the "underdog" Ready to smile, give a hand, help, give a glass of fresh water to a homeless man at the corner.

Family counts for him, and counts a lot. He understands more than he lets us know about, and even if he usually does not speak a lot, he does think about a lot of things, and when he thinks he is ready, he tells us.

For ALL the things above, and for many more, Oliver, I love you. You are my son, my little boy, and sometime I think you, at the young age of 14, for some things have more judgment than me.

I feel sorry for all the dads that do not have you as a son. I think it is fun to do stuff together, and we need to do more, and we will.

Happy Birthday, Oliver.

Love,
Dad.

Dry Land

2009-02-27T06:17:00.004-06:00

We run aground. Siamo finiti in secca.
In my last post, I was hoping to resume regular posts, and that indeed was my intent. Little did I know we were about to get hit by the flu, and the situation at work was going to require more and more of my time. Lately it seems there are very little moment to spare for blogging.

And that is not something I want or like, since, trust me, blogging is like therapy, only cheaper.. ;-) .

Anyway, to all of my loyal followers, all three of them, I tell, do not loose faith, for "I will be back" (tomorrow). Really.
Ciao.

Asparagus ...

2009-02-23T21:31:00.003-06:00

Asparagus, asparagi in Italian, "sparesi" in or dialect. The ones I want to tell you about are the "wild" ones, the ones that grow in Istria, in early spring until May, and you can find them in the bushes, in between thorns and poison ivy, gathering them is a challenge, and a badge of honor ... Once cooked, either with eggs, or alone, usually simmered in oil or butter, the taste is somewhat bitter. Some say definitely an "acquired taste". My three oldest kids, born and raised in Texas, tried them once and were "hooked" forever. Unfortunately "wild asparagus" do not grow in Texas, only in Istria, and right now we can only dream of long walks in the countryside of Istria, stick in one hand, and asparagus in the other one... If ytou are there ( Rob, mi senti.. ? ) have some for us too.

Alla prossima !

Campi

2009-02-13T23:51:00.002-06:00

Campi
rossi bianchi gialli
trame tessute
dalla mano ruvida
terra amara
avara
ostile
amata
tra i muretti
campi
casolari
brughiere
ginestre gialle
campi ulivi fichi
profumo di fieno
doline
erba al sole
venti irrompenti
odore di donne
campi
sforzo quotidiano
pena amore gioia
pane e vino
canto felice
campi istriani
dei miei piedi scalzi

Romano Farina
Scrittore e poeta istriano.

A spasso per il Texas.

2009-02-10T13:28:00.008-06:00

Salve a tutti !
No, non siamo spariti nello spazio dell' etere informatico .. (bella questa!)

Con l 'esclusione di Francesca, tutti noi ci siamo beccati un virus gastrointestinale di quelli con i focchi. Ora, dopo una settimana di tormenti e corsa al Pronto Soccorso con la piu' piccola, Angelina, siamo ritornati alla normalita'.

Quando sono in Italia, mi chiedono spesso com'e il Texas, ed oggi voglio dare una risposta a quella domanda ... Ecco, il Texas (Centrale):

Dopo pochi chilometri, subito dopo un cartello di "Proprieta' Privata" e "Vietato l' Ingresso", troviamo questo cartello (molto chiaro) che indica l' uscita:

A questo punto, una svolta a sinistra era .. d' obbligo :-)
Alla prossima, a domani ! Ciao !

Vela !

2009-02-03T12:37:00.007-06:00

Mi ha tolto il fiato. Con una foto, semplice, Rob di Trieste Daily Photo ha risvegliato il (ex) velista che sonnecchiava in me, dopo 18 anni di Texas. Ricordi di scuola vela, a Sistiana con la Pietas Jiulia, Optimist, Flying Junior, Dutchman, Laser .. Il neverino che colpi' Trieste e Sistiana una mattina di Luglio,con molti di noi subito fuori a vela, approffittando delle raffiche di vento, planare un Flying Dutchamn e volare sull' acqua e' un esperienza che non si dimentica. Quando partii dall' Italia, nel Gennaio1991, un amico triestino, velista, mi fece un piccolo regalo. 18 anni dopo, 13 traslochi piu' tardi, quella piccola barca a vela e' ancora con me, sempre sulla mia scrivania, vicino alla tastiera.
Chissa' forse se qualcuno lascia una porta aperta, una raffica di vento ci arriva pure. Io sono pronto.
Enrico, Gianna, Franco e Paolo, grazie per la "mia" barca a vela, non ho dimenticato.

Cold, Boxes, coffee...

2009-01-28T07:42:00.005-06:00

I have been "missing in action" for11 days, that's a lot to be gone from a blog, in cyberspace !

Our move is 90% done. Right now we are living in a sea of half-opened boxes , with stuff everywhere.. I can hardly find my stuff. Oh, well, just a few more weeks and everything will be back in its proper place, including my blog. I just found my Bialetti Moka, and my coffee.
Life is good.

In the meantime, here in Texas, believe it or not, we are experiencing a cold, arctic air blast that for Central Texas is unusual. What happened to global warming ? Where is our 110 degrees heat when you need it ?

Today there is no going to work in the morning. Just have a look at the (company) truck I drive these days, it's coated in ice. Now, don't laugh. I know in Trieste, my home town, things like this are more the norm, along with the bora. Here, all radio stations are broadcasting special emergency programs becasue the temperature is just below freezing and there *could* be some thin ice on some bridges and overpasses. In Trieste, life as usual.

See you all tomorrow.

Moving !

2009-01-17T09:44:00.004-06:00

Yes, we are moving, it is a rather sudden move, it is not fun, but we are moving. I know, I know, I had a post about moving few weeks ago .... don't tell me... At times, life has a weird sense of humor.

I will be off the Internet for a few days, new house, new ISP provider, fighting with boxes, furniture, trucks and stuff. I leave you with two pictures, one of the two items that got put in the moving truck FIRST, as any good Italian would, and one of the moving truck.
Yeah, it's a rather dull, gray day.
Let's go move.

Ciao, ci vediamo tra un paio di giorni.

Ecco a voi, Cowboy !

2009-01-17T00:21:00.004-06:00

Vi presento il mio alter-ego, ed il gatto "dietro alla foto" di questo blog.
Cowboy e' il primo gatto nato "qui", sui 20 ettari dove viviamo, ed e' anche il solo sopravvissuto ad una miriade di gatti.
Tra falchi, civette e sciacalli, questo e' un posto dove sopravvive il piu' forte,e lui si e' meritato il titolo di gatto piu' furbo, e svelto, pure.

Cowboy e' un gatto estemamente indipendente, non si lascia ccarezzare quasi da nessuno, all' infuori di me, mia figlia Francesca, ed i bambini piccoli, che sopporta con stoica pazienza .. .felina.

L' altro giorno sono uscito di casa, ed ho trovato Angelina che letteralmente stava sollevando Cowboy per la coda, mentre il poveretto tentava di mangiare ...

Di tanto un tanto e' un cacciatore spietato di scoiattoli, che qui sono onnipresenti ed in quantita' allarmanti.

A small piece of home....

2009-01-14T00:01:00.001-06:00

Here we are, in Houston, at the front door of the Italian General Consulate. For most people, a Consulate is a small thing, almost meaningless.

To me, however, it always "triggers" something when I go through those doors. I know that in there, there are people that speaks my language, have the same cultural background, and, that can help me, if needed.

I often got myself in troubles, with documents and deadlines. My own laziness and distraction got me often to the point of calling the Consulate and asking for a "rescue" with bureaucratic deadlines . I got to say, that in the last17 years, the Consulate in Houston, has always come through and did save me from my own stupidity, and they did it with kindness, efficiency, and competence.

Their record was a passport for one of my kids, issued "on the fly" in 20 minutes, as I was going to the airport, and the US passport was lost in the mail.

I know, there are many things in Italy that do not work, but I need to "give credit when credit is due" to the Consulate for doing what they do, and doing it well.

On the Road again

2009-01-13T07:26:00.002-06:00

Jut like Willie Nelson, today I will be "on the road again" for the entire day.
We are going to Houston, to the Italian Consulate for some bureaucratic things to take care of.

Didn't want to leave my audience (both of them ... ) empty handed, so here is a quick one, my always sweet and smiling Angelina.

Rob, can you tell me where I took this picture ? ( it's easy....)

Ciao !

Venezia.

2009-01-12T00:01:00.000-06:00

Venice is an absolute masterpiece. Must see, words cannot really describe it, you just got to go there. It is also a heaven for anyone even remotely interested in photography at all.

I will tell you a secret: in Venice it is really hard to take a bad photo. Go, and try. One advice: try to stay away from the "touristic Venice". As soon as possible, take a left, then the 2nd right, walk 300 meters, then the 1st left. You have, probably, just arrived in the REAL Venice, the one "owned" by venetians. The one they try to hide from tourist, the beautiful Venezia most tourists do not see.

I have been to Venice truly countless times. And there is still stuff to discover. The last time I was there, I was (off course) taking pictures. Lots of them. I found this one, it looked interesting, I made some really minor corrections for colors, and this is what it became (left)

I love this picture because when I clicked, this is exactly what I saw, felt and what I wanted to take away with me.
Perfect. I love Venice.

Quick Friday

2009-01-09T09:42:00.010-06:00

Today is very busy, so you have to forgive me for the "shortness" ( is it a real word ? ) of this post.

When I am back home, in Italy, often friends and family, ask me the question I fear the most:

"So, ... (pause) how IS life in America ( or Texas ), anyway ... ?"

This is a super loaded question, and to answer it correctly it would require .. Wikipedia. There is no way to summarize how "life is" in Texas. Then comes the 2nd question, the one I HATE the most: "So, is it true that in Texas everyone has guns ?

Well, ... a lot of people, actually ... do own guns. This is going to be the subject of another topic, I just wanted to introduce it, with a picture.

One day we go and visit some friends, in south Austin, (and for Texans, this alone has a meaning of its own) . I have a cheap digital camera that I wanna test and play with to see how it works. I take a lot of pictures,and the next day, at home, I review them, one at the time, and I come across this one:

It's my girl, Isabella, on the left, with her friend.
I give you three seconds to tell me what's ... peculiar in this picture.
Welcome to Texas.

See you tomorrow...

Ciao.

Una mattina, mi son svegliato .... Texas Thursday

2009-01-08T00:01:00.001-06:00

Una bella mattina, mi son svegliato e ... no, non ho trovato nessun invasore, anche se ci e' mancato poco che mettessi il piede sopra, letteralmente, a questo serpentone qui a destra.

Non chiedetemi che cosa e', so solo che 'e brutto, con i sonagli, e stava acovvacciato sul marciapiede davanti alla porta di entrata di casa mia.

L' incursore e' stato fatto fuori a colpi di pistola, presa a prestito da un vicino per l' occasione (!!)

Siccome non riuscirei e colpire la porta di un fienile, ho dovuto scarica l' intero caricatore prima di centrare il serpente, che a quel punto stava per morire dalle risate.

I miei figli invece se la sono fatta sotto dalle risate a vedere il loro padre tentare di uccidere un serpente a sonagli, ad un metro di distanza, e proprio non riscivo a fare centro !! Il mio vicino di casa, Texano al 100%, con un' armamantario in casa, si e' nascosto nel garage per poter ridere senza offendermi...
Qui in Texas, i serpenti sono (purtroppo) comuni, e dove viviamo abbiamo una fauna abbastanza variegata ed interessante. Si va dalle tartarughe (enormi e bellissime), ai falchi ( ce ne sono circa 5 ) alle civette, che sono piu' grandi di quello che pensavo.

Poi ci sono scoiattoli a migliaia ('na rottura che non vi dico), armadillo (bruttissimi), procioni (orsetti lavatori), opossum, volpi (ne ho vista una in 5 anni) ma so che ci sono...

Gli sciacalli li sentiamo ogni sera, nel boschetto dietro casa, a decine. Aironi blu vicino al torrente e tortorelle e colombe concludono la lista.

A volte e' interessante avere tutta questa fauna, letterlamente alle porte di casa, una specie di lezione di scienze naturali 24 ore al giorno....

Pero' quel serpente, e' proprio brutto ...

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-07T00:10:00.000-06:00

Lasagne by Flavio - Food Tuesday

2009-01-06T00:01:00.002-06:00

There is nothing to do, an image like that triggers anyone's taste buds. Salivating yet ? You should.

My sister is an excellent cook, my brother in law is an outstanding cook, and their 2nd boy, Niccolo' now a teenager, is in chef school.

If you sit at their table for a meal, you are in for a treat. I was there last June, immediately before my trip back to the US.

Flavio had prepared his "lasagne alle polpettine" all done strictly from scratch and "buy hand'. He cooks with music, while singing, with anything from Paolo Conte to Guccini to anything he can dig out from his Cd collections. And he cooks, boy, does he cook, with love, fun and passion, they way it should be done.

Year after year, trip after trip, I have seen some constant differences between the relationship that Italians and Americans have with food. For a host of reasons that I cannot explain here , I strongly believe that Americans seem not to enjoy their food. The overwhelming amount of processed food and junk food that is everywhere, seems to confirm that. Most of the time is just a matter of feeding yourself until the next meal, then repeat.

Italians try to enjoy their food more, at times they do not succeed (work, little time) but as soon as it's possible, eating is an important social event, that must be tasted, savored, and, most importantly, shared with friends, family, and sometimes even with people we do not like much, as well. What better way to know each other, and try to solve differences over a plate of lasagna, and a glass of "red" ?

Italians love food, and this is a big topic to come back to another time.

Movie recommendation: "Mostly Martha" with Sergio Castellito. Watch it, then come back here and let me know.

Buon Appetito.

Grocery

2009-01-05T00:06:00.003-06:00

Feeding a family of 6 without "breaking the bank" is a challenge and recently has become a real necessity to save as much as possible, and still eat good food.

In the USA, the Sunday paper is the gold mine of store coupons, if one wants to spend little time cutting, clipping, slashing, and then going to one or two stores. It is worth it.

So our Sunday afternoons are filled with the sound of scissors "clipping coupons", and my wife is the specialist, the coupons ninja, the Jedi Master of "special of the day" ...

My wife went to the store, tonight, armed with a stash of coupons that would have made a Louisiana gambler cry in shame... When she came home, her total grocery bill was $ 317.40, and the coupons saved $127.18, so she ended up paying $ 190.22. Not bad for one hour of clipping coupons... ;-) Here is the loot:

Back to the box, back to the office.

2009-01-04T08:01:00.007-06:00

It's warm in Austin, Texas. Yesterday it was a stunning 82 f. In Celsius that is in the mid 20s, summer temperature, and it is ... January. Today it should get back to almost "winter" normal.

It's the first Sunday of 2009, and it's time to put away all Christmas decorations, back to the box, for the next 11 months.

As for me it's the last Sunday before going back to a normal work schedule. For a while I have been working from home, but now it's time to go back to the office.

I spent most of Saturday working on my wife's car, changing break pads and stuff. Dirty, dusty, smelly and .... fun. I really enjoyed doing it. My car is next.. It saves some money, I have fun getting my hands greasy, and it kills the routine. A very good friend came over to help and very generously, offered his time and know-how, so the project was finished on time. Thanks Kevin !

On another note, I think I will slowly change the feel and object of this blog. Don't know how, yet, but I want to do something different. Not sure if I should ask my audience what they think about it, they could disagree, both of them ;-)

Oh, well. Happy Sunday to all, see you at the other end of Monday !

Fratello e Sorella.

2009-01-03T00:16:00.000-06:00

Il mestiere di genitore e' allo stesso tempo il piu' difficile che esista, ma anche quello con piu' ricompense. Noi, con quattro pargoli, e' dal 1993 che non abbiamo avuto una singola notte di sonno ininterrotto. Io, forse qualcuna, grazie a mia moglie che si e' prodigata a dismisura. Lei, no di certo.

Ci sono, come dicevo, i momenti unici e assolutamente da ricordare, ed oggi ve ne presento uno.

Oliver, avra' 14 anni a Febbraio, e Angelina ne fara' 3 a Marzo. Fratellone e sorellina, sono uniti da un legame di amore-adorazione che e' raro. Per lei, Oliver e' il gigante buono, quello che ha sempre una sorpresa in tasca, un abbraccio, ed un sorriso per lei. Per lui, Angelina e' la sorellina piu' piccola, quella che ha preso il posto del fratellino, che lui voleva disperatamente, ma che non e' riuscito a nascere 5 anni fa.

Angelina non potrebbe avere un angelo custode migliore. Per noi genitori, lui e' il migliore baby-sitter che esista, affidabile e con una pazienza infinita.

Oggi, Oliver ci mostrava alcuni trucchetti con le carte, ed Angelina voleva vedere anche lei. Oliver, le ha mostrato il trucco e quando lui ha "indovinato" la carta che lei aveva "scelto", la macchina fotografica era gia' pronta. Un clic, uno solo, ed un momento imperdibile e' stato immortalato, per i posteri. L' espressione che corre tra questi due, e' unica. Cliccate sulla foto per ingrandirla.

"E se la vita continua diventero' vecchio" con la gioia di vederli crescere.

(la frase tra virgolette non e' mia. 100 punti premio a chi la conosce )

To the eyes of a child.

2009-01-02T00:01:00.000-06:00

Next to my house, just behind it, there is a wooded area, few acres of trees, and it is used by my kids to play and have fun in it.

My third child, Isabella, loves going out and exploring the "forest". "It's magic, dad, like the Secret Garden... !" she says often.

As an adult it's easy to forget how a child's fantasy can transform the mundane into something extraordinary. I still remember my pure, sheer enjoyment of the "Tigri della Malesia" saga, by Salgari, a "must read" for all Italian boys.

I imagined adventures and dangers around every corner, from my house to the Boschetto behind my house.

Wait, so I had a Boschetto too, just like Isabella does... Go ahead, Isabella, enjoy your adventures, growing up comes too fast anyhow.

Welcome, 2009, FACCI SOGNARE !

2009-01-01T00:01:00.002-06:00

Angelina's expression, to the right, summarizes my joy in welcoming 2009 in.

2008 has not been a great year. At least it has not finished good at all.

We all desperately need a 2009 of recovery, hope, change, and better things for all, across the board.

Have a happy, merry, e wonderful 2009 year.
... and if you feel down, just look at this picture to the right... ;-)

Buon Anno Nuovo a tutti voi !
ne abbiamo bisogno...

I want a better year !

2008-12-31T07:09:00.002-06:00

I have been noticeably gone from the blog for a week. I had decided to take a break, and spend some more time with the family. Well, the day I wanted to start to post again, I got a phone call from my sister ... She told me that my mom had a brain blood cloth ( brain stroke ? ) and is at the Hospital in Pula (Croatia) where my parents currently live.

My parents were at the market, getting groceries, and having a coffee, when suddenly my mom felt dizzy, had a short loss of consciousness and lost use of her right hand for several minutes.
The ambulance was called, and she was admitted at the local hospital for what appears to be a transient ischemic attack (ITA) Now, she seems to be doing fine. The doctors are going to run the usual tests for this situation, CatScan, MRI, and attempt to find the blood cloth, and decide the appropriate course of action.

My sister ( who is a volunteer paramedic ) says she thinks the doctors at the Pula hospital seem to be quite good, however she will talk to them again after all the test are done, and decide if a transport to Italy could be needed.

I am stuck here, at the other side of the ocean, and quite worried. I hope she will have a full recovery. January the 17th is going to be their 50th wedding anniversary.

This year has been not a good one, and 2009 better get to work fast, and improve some.
Normal posts will resume soon.

Happy 2009 to all.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-24T00:01:00.000-06:00

Food Tuesday: Fusi

2008-12-23T00:06:00.000-06:00

If by now you have already said: "Fusi, off course" your taste buds are already salivating, and most likely, we are originally from the same geographical region. Rob, off course, from Trieste Daily Photo already knows fusi, I am sure of that.

By posting about fusi, I completely expose myself and my origins, for fusi originally are from a small area in the northeast of Italy, then over the Italian border, into Istria, a region in northwestern Croatia. Land of simple people, farmers, small towns and villages, along the seas, fishermen.

Of all the food I have ever eaten, fusi is by far, the one with the most evocative power. Home prepared egg-pasta, dressed usually with "old-chicken, sauteed a looong time" sauce, fusi has the power to bring me back into the past, immediately.

My grandma's hands, white with flower, rolling the dough, while the smell of chicken cooking invades her small house. My grandpa, Bepi, the sweetest, kindest grandpa you have ever met, ready with the tool to roll up the small squares of pasta, and obtain fusi. He was the only one trusted with that step of preparing fusi. You roll to little, and the fusi are too big and get loose in boiling. You roll to "tight" and they do not cook well. It's a form of art, and nonno Bepi was a master. Off course, every time there were arguments between nonno Bepi and nonna Roma, but it was their way of being. Yes, my grandma's name was "Roma Italia Libera". I definitely had a great-grandfather with a sense of humor.

Fusi is easy to make, sauce is easy to make. So what all the fuss ? Simple because, as any good cook can tell you, the master of a chef can be seen in how he/she prepars the simplest of the dishes. Never underestimate the complexity of something simple.

Besides, fusi used to be the food of holidays, important events, guests in the house, and ruining the main dish was a smear of shame.

Fusi was the main dish, the we usually had radicchio, a local bitter salad, with hard boiled eggs sliced in it, onion razor-thing sliced in the salad, vinegar and oil.

A simple meal, comfort food, uncomplicated as the times were back then. Nonno Bepi and nonna Roma would be proud to know that their great-grand-children, in a land as far away as Texas, so far they could not even imagine, one day would make fusi, and eat them, while listening to stories of a place far away, the only link, the food they were eating.

Buon appetito.

Trieste's Elderly

2008-12-22T00:20:00.008-06:00

Trieste is an old city, not only historically, but by its own demographics. The last time I checked, over 50% of the city's population was over 65, and for Italy, that is quite a record.

One interesting characteristic of this segment of Trieste's population is that they so get around, more than their counterparts in other Italian cities. There are ongoing Universities studies that try to understand how is it that Trieste's elderly population, is the healthiest, most socially engaged and more active in most of Italy.

The sure go around. Cars and buses, some on foot, but the city bus is the cheapest, and more convenient mean of transportation they often have. It is fun to meet them, and to observe them. They are almost always quite vocal, so one can hear even if you don't really want to.

We lived in Trieste for a year without a car, so we had to use the city buses quite often, to go around, and we had our share of "close encounters" with "i veci de Trieste".
Old ladies started up conversations with us, every single time we had little Angelina with us.

Trieste must be a city with a big "baby deficit" for everywhere we went, our youngest kids were "old ladies" magnet. There was one, that we met two or three times near Piazzale Rosmini, she was all over us, went to the store and bought candies for Angelina, she was incredible.
She told us the story of her life, in 15 minutes.

Arguing over who is the oldest and who should give the seat to whom, is one of the funniest things you will hear. "No, you see, I was born in '29 so, I am practically young, don't worry, you take my seat" "NO, YOU don't understand, I remember when we had that bad cold winter, Mariuccia, when was that ..? " By the time they have settled the age argument, it's time for them to step off the bus, so you will never know who should have given up the seat to whom. Until they meet the next time on another bus... ;-)

Quick weekend post.

2008-12-20T10:56:00.009-06:00

Today is a dog-day. Fridge broke, and off course it's full of food. Olive oil spilled on the floor tops this Saturday morning. That's why today is going to be a different, quick blog.

I was browsing at pictures from last year, when we where in Italy, and I found my favorite sequence of "clicks". No, they are not technically perfect any way or form.
It's what they represent that counts more than anything. These two in the phots are my Dad and my youngest daughter, Angelina, having a blast of fun at Christmas eve's (Vigilia di Natale ) dinner last year.

They are the oldest and youngest of a the Italian side of the family. I have four kids, my sister has 4 as well, that makes for a respectable size family gathering. Last Christmas, when these pictures where taken, my Dad and Angelina were inseparable.

She adores him, and for my dad, she is the youngest and the last grandchild. No wonder they "sparkle" together.

Memories of a fantastic family reunion, when laugh, smiles, plenty of things to share and remember, in the future, when things will be different.

I will let them have fun, while I clean up the oil ...

Take me out to the Ballgame !

2008-12-19T00:06:00.000-06:00

Baseball: per il 99% degli italiani, un mistero. Noi, maestri del calcio, fischietto, zona cesarini, calci d' angolo, arbitri ciechi, palle impazzite, partite roventi su campetti di periferia, fango, polvere, ginocchia sbucciate, ed alla fine, il ghiacciolo (oppure la birra) in oratorio.

Il baseball ? per quanto ne capiamo noi, potrebbe anche essere in cinese, guarda. Abito da 6 anni a due chilometri da uno dei campi di baseball piu' belli e "pro-famiglia" del Texas centrale, ci vado spesso, ma il baseball devo ancora capirlo. E' una filosofia, non uno sport.

L' estate, in America e' sinonimo di baseball. Hotgod, zucchero a velo, fuochi artificiali, una partita che puo' durare anche ore ed ore, con interruzioni praticamente ogni minuto. Non' e tanto un evento sportivo, quanto un avvenimento sociale, una gita. Ecco, una gita. Si parla, litiga, si mangia l' eterno hot-dog (ma quanti ne mangiano gli yankee, di 'ste salsiccette ? ) patatine fritte ricoperte di formaggio fuso ( moooolto dietetico il tutto ) ed ogni tanto si guarda la partia, sperando di acchiappare una palla volante ( occhio, devi saperlo fare, con il guantone, altrimenti ci rimetti le dita...) e di vedere un "home run" ( Ma perche' devono correre a casa... ;-) ?

Poi, ci sono i tifosi. Sanno tutto. Il tifoso americano non puo' vivere senza un armamentario di statistiche da far impallidire un computer, per ogni giocatore. E se le ricordano tutte, questo e' stupefacente. Altro che le nostre discussioni alla Birreria Dreher ( non fatemi pensare a cosa c'e ora li' che mi arrabbio) su sfiga e arbitri fessi, giornate nere e "andra meglio la prossima volta.
Noi, la speranza, una bestemmia, ed un sorso di birra. Loro, le statistiche, precise.

Il fatalismo latino/mediterraneo contro il pensiero quasi matematicamente "binario", preciso come un rasoio.

In ogni caso, andare al ball park, per uno che non e' americano e' uno spasso ed una radiografia sulla societa' americana. Ci si diverte. Hotdogs a parte... ;-) La coreografia e' assicurata da una regia perfetta. Giochi per i bimbi negli intervalli (moltissimi) , pubblicita' , concorsi a premi, spezzoni di film, e' veramente uno spettacolo nello spettacolo. Da non perderlo, se capitate vicino ad un "ballpark"

Are we moving yet ?

2008-12-18T00:01:00.000-06:00

As a general population, Americans move way more often than Italians. I know something about that...

In the States one moves following a job, a family member, or, sometimes, ... just because, almost for no apparent reason, following a nomad genetic instinct that pushes people to wonder from state to state.

In the last 10 years the general consensus has been that Californian are escaping the high cost of living in California and moving to Texas, where generally speaking, the cost of life not so high.

It's not that simple. I often wondered how can they do it, so easily. Talking to them about it, it' s like nothing. Pack your stuff, rent-a-truck, drive and you are gone. It almost seems like the truck or a trailer has replaced the wagon, from the Old West.
For Europeans, Italians, we see things quite differently. Moving is usually done in the same city, or at most in the same "Regione". More than that, it is a life long trauma. We are so tied to our land, our food, smells, the sound of our dialect, oh my gosh. Just writing "un spritz de bianco e un ovo duro, una de sardoni" makes me salivate. The smell of Bora in winter, the sound of the sea... Don't get too nostalgic here.

A friend told me once, that I need to "bloom where you are planted"
Then, she run to load up her moving truck and moved back to Texas, from Arkansas.
The picture in this post is living proof of that ... ;-)

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-17T00:02:00.000-06:00

Food Tuesday

2008-12-16T23:32:00.009-06:00

BREAKFAST TIME:
I know, I am late.
Hey, here it's 11:33PM, on TUESDAY, so, technically, I am still ok.

Well, food then. I start the food Tuesday with Breakfast, Texas style. Every now and then, my wife's grandparents invite us over for breakfast, and it is a sweet moment. They really enjoy having us and the rest of the (big) family over in the morning to have some coffe, and a full size breakfast.

And while it is really neat to see my youngest daughter ( 2 years old) eating across the table from her great grandfather (84) , if you are on a diet of any sort, this is a breakfast not for the faint of heart. The final result is above, let's see the ingredients one at the time:

Sausage and beacon:

Then we add the eggs:

Now the biscuits:

A little bit of gravy ( Rob, si tratta di besciamella) on them biscuits, a hot cup of coffee, and you are set. It's good if you are a lumberjack, not too good if after this you go and seat at a desk for 8 hours... Either way, for us, dieting consideration aside, "breakfast at (great) grandma is a treat not to miss. It's a moment spent together, as a (big) family, and in this world that seems to be spinning out of control, it's not a small thing, is it ?

Ma scherziamo ? - You got to be kidding me.

2008-12-15T00:01:00.001-06:00

Me lo permettete uno sfogo ?
Grazie, ora vado...

Insomma, ero a Roma con la famiglia, non mi ricordo piu' nemmeno perche', ma sono andato in farmacia ad acquistare della vitamina C. Fino a qui, semplice, no ?

Arrivato a casa, apro la confezione della vitamina C ( marca Cebion ) e c'e' la prima sorpresa: "oh, ma il tubetto con le compresse effervescenti e' piuttosto piu' piccolo della confezione .... A questo punto le scatole girano gia' , al minimo, ma girano... Apro il tubetto, stupefatto, guardo, controllo, ri-controllo, non c'e' la possibilita' di errore. Mo' le palle girano stile turbina a reazione.

Vedete anche voi dalla foto, non servono commenti, vero ? Non ho rimosso neppure UNA compressa, quello che vedete e il contenuto del tubetto, intonso, senza essere toccato se non per metterlo sul ripiano.

Ma ci prendono veramente per idioti ? E io credevo che Beppe Grillo a volte esagerava !
Questo e' solo un piccolo esempio, ma indicativo. E continueranno a farlo, fino a che noi (fessi) continuiamo a stare zitti. Chi tace acconsente.

Scusate lo sfogo, vi auguro una buona settimana, a tutti voi.

E mo' ?

2008-12-14T17:05:00.003-06:00

E adesso, che cosa faccio ?
Finita la pellicola, finita la batteria, aspetto.

Non so cosa, ma
aspetto.

Il mare davanti, le possibilita' infinite,
io aspetto.

Ci fosse una barca, una vela, a portarmi via,
andrei come il vento.

Aspetto, forse verra'.

Click.

Blue Ladder

2008-12-12T00:01:00.000-06:00

I don't know what it is, really. We helped some friends to repaint a room in their house, and between painting and chatting, someone took this picture, and since then, I have been looking at it, and I still try to understand what is it that makes it so compelling ( to me )

In short: I like it, but I don't know why....

Any help out there ?

BTW, it's Friday, finally !

MY bench.

2008-12-11T14:27:00.004-06:00

Camping Stoia, just outside of the city of Pola, in Croatia. Place where I was born and lived for the first six years of my life, before moving away.

I came back every summer for many years, until 1997 when I moved (again) to Texas, USA.

This photo was taken last summer, when I had the opportunity to spend a few days there, truly "back home".

I otherwise grew up in Trieste, and for many aspects that city is home as well.

Istria and Pola, however, are encoded in my genes, and I cannot escape my destiny of, someday, going back.
If anyone has read "Gli dei torneranno" by Sgorlon, and its message, then you will know why.

That bench is waiting. That sea is waiting. Someday, I will be back, fishing line, cold beer, smile.

I can almost smell it ...

TT Texas Thursday

2008-12-10T21:16:00.002-06:00

Texas, land of big spaces, is a State full of surprises. Last week I was on my way back from camping with some friends, when on the side of the road I saw one of the symbols of Texas: The Texas Longhorns.

In Italy we have the Marchigiana, in Istria there is the "Bue d' Istria", Texas has "Texas Longhorns". No need to explain that name. Off course the pictures are not that clear.

No way I am getting any closer to THOSE horns...

Ciao !

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-10T06:10:00.002-06:00

Food Tuesday

2008-12-09T08:49:00.002-06:00

Starting today, every Tuesday I will post about food.
Food is another of those things that has the power to reconnect us with something that is inside us, since childhood. Like the food critic in the movie Ratatouille, at times a smell, a flavor is enough to dig out distant memories. And remember, I said food. You will find recipes, pictures, suggestions and fun stuff like that. We start the "food day" with a picture of my littlest one eating ice cream in Austin, last summer.

When is the last time you had ice cream this way ?

Hot Texas ? I don't think so ..

2008-12-06T09:42:00.004-06:00

Everybody always says it's hot in Texas, and yes, in the summer you really don't want to have to live without Air Conditioning. Winters are "usually" mild and rather short.

Winter 2003, however was a different one and it brought us a cold spell that lasted a while ( a week of cold in Texas is long and it brought us this ice that was collecting all around.

My daughter Isabella was having fun with the ice !

Best Friends !

2008-12-05T13:31:00.003-06:00

With 4 kids, and their friends around quite often, there are plenty of opportunities to observe how they interact, and the dynamics of their relationships, not much different from ours, really.

Here is Isabella (left) , my third child and 2nd daughter, with her best friend Morgan (Morgan is the one with the UT logo painted on her cheek) These two kids are like twins separated at birth, they cling on each other, laugh, argue, spend time, and creating memories that will follow them for a long time.

In these times of uncertainty and depressing news all around us, it is sweet to see how friendship is, pure, loyal, and sweet.

TT: Texas Thursday

2008-12-04T17:33:00.003-06:00

The cows, Texas cows that is.
In Austin, Texas there is a place called "The Arboretum", it's a shopping center with a small park. In the park, there are some cows. Stone cows, that is. Marble, actually. Even better, Italian marble.

These cows have been here for more than 20 years, and they are a favorite "kids portrait" spot.
Next door, a fantastic Ice Cream shop "Amy's Ice Cream" and a fabulous book store ( one of my favorite way to "kill time" is at a bookstore).

My kids have grown between the cows, ice cream, and books. Not bad.

Wordless Wednesday - Mercoledi senza parole

2008-12-03T01:48:00.001-06:00

Pioggia

2008-12-01T09:38:00.005-06:00

Barcola is a beautiful long seaside walkway in Trieste, as I already posted in this blog, and as Rob from Trieste Daily Photo showed us.

What is not much known to people outside of Trieste is that Triestini are avid "outdoors" people. Hiking, biking, you name it. One of the outdoor activities that triestini do not give up easily, is the "andiamo a Barcola" ( Let's go to Barcola for a walk )

Not cold, rain, sleet or snow will stop them. Last year I was back in Trieste for a while, and off course I too run to Barcola as often as I could, no matter the weather. One of those days, I saw this mom and her little girl walking in a day that usually kids are at home.. It was cold, rainy and just "one of those days" that you think you should have staid home... And here they were, happily walking. My daughter Francesca was with me, she took the camera and "click" ...

What have we become.

2008-11-28T18:24:00.006-06:00

Fall, dead leaves, change of season. Moods change too, and today my mood is really "fall" like.

I just heard on the news about the Walmart employee that has been killed by hundreds of "shoppers"running over him to get "first" to the discounted stuff... What have we become ? For a discount on a Tv or an Ipod we trample over a human being, for Christmas ? I can imagine the scene, on Christmas days: Merry Christmas, my son, I hope you like the Wii game console, I run over a man's head to get to it first.

Not to mention the 2 people shot to death at "Toys R us". Not to mention the terrorists attack in India.
Stop the "Season", I want to get off. We have learned nothing. There is no meaning left in what we keep calling "Cristhmas"

The one thing that would really be nice, right now, would be being in Trieste, with a friend, a birretta or a glass of Terano, un panin de cotto da Siora Rosa, going to sit at the end of Molo Audace, and shut everything else out just for a few hours, that would be good. Here, somehow I cannot do that.
Rob, have a good "Spaten" for me, please.
I am going to bed, hug my kids and hope for a better day tomorrow morning, maybe una fresca bavisela ....

VDP

Don't make any noise ....

2008-11-27T20:03:00.002-06:00

There is absolutely nothing on earth as sweet and as innocent as a kid asleep. Total abandon, total trust, no fears. Sleep and rest at its best. Sometime I wish I, at the age of 45something, could have just one night, just one, of sleeping like this. No surprise we say "sleeping like a baby".. Today is Thanksgiving day here in the US, and I truly am thankful for my kids and for the fact they have a life that allows them to sleep like this. Don't make any noise ... she is dreaming...

Ciao.

Let's go to Ischia !

2008-11-26T23:56:00.001-06:00

My oh my, how have they changed ... These cute kids are my now
15 year old daughter Francesca and the son of some friends of ours from Naples, Italy.

We were visiting our friends in Naples, and decided to take the ferry and go to see Ischia ( gorgeouse place, BTW ) Francesca wanted to sit by Lorenzo, I grabbed my camera, saw the opportunity come up and .. click.

Lorenzo and Francesca are now both 15 years of age, and, overall things have not changed much ....

Are they cute or what ?

VDP.

Camping Surprises

2008-11-25T10:31:00.002-06:00

So, I am off, somewhere in West Central Texas, hundreds of miles west of San Antonio, almost in the middle of nowhere, camping with some friends.

We arrived in the evening, it was late and dark, I setup my small tent, my friends setup his trailer, and we all went to bed. The next morning, I was awaken by a noise that for an Italian, is unmistakable. No possibility of error, and there was the smell too ...

I could not believe what I was hearing and smelling, it was like ... no way, there was no possible way ...

I looked out, and there it was in all its magnificent glory, the rescuer of my mornings, the one small item that makes an ordinary morning into a wonderful camping experience.
How it got there, it was a mystery, but my friend's smile and his "surprise" was enough !

Moka e Illy.
Sorry Starbucks, you have no game here.

VDP

Piazza Unita'

2008-11-24T22:24:00.006-06:00

Piazza Unita' has been for over a century the "salotto buono" , the formal living room of Trieste.

It's a gorgeous piazza, square, that overlooks the Golfo di Trieste. Century old historical buildings frame three sides of the square and are house to Trieste City Hall, the local Prefettura and other government and business headquarters.

What Piazza Unita' really is, however, is a fantastic meeting place for all of Trieste, almost 24/7.

Here, a diverse crowd, is just hanging around, with kids, having ice cream, and just enjoying the fact of being in one of the most fantastic piazza in Italy. Kids, people, fun, Piazza Unita' is happy.

Mamma, sono stata promossa !

2008-11-21T07:08:00.004-06:00

My Isabella, on her way home from school, last June. It was the last day of school and she was happy, for she had passed the school year with full grades. That was no easy task for an "American born child" that spoke relatively little Italian, and was dropped in third grade elementary school in Trieste at the beginning of the school year. As a father, I must say, I am very proud of her.

Experimenting with ligth.

2008-11-20T23:06:00.001-06:00

My daughter, experimenting with *my* camera ( a cheap Canon G3, "point and shoot" , and with "writing in the air with fire" , playing with long exposure and stuff like that...

I got to say, not bad... She is the *real* photographer in the family.

Got to go...

Drop - Goccia

2008-11-19T10:35:00.002-06:00

It's just a drop ... on a small clothesline stretched on a balcony, 4th floor, somewhere in Trieste.
How often happens in life, inside small things, there are big surprises.. look carefully, or click on the picture, and you shall see .. the building next door, upside down.
Picture taken by my oldest daughter, Francesca, 15 with a Canon G3.

Ciao.

Advertisment - Pubblicita'

2008-11-17T23:52:00.003-06:00

The usual bus stop, Via Locchi, for a while there was this big advertisement-poster for a local Bank. My bus was late ( or I was early ) so, I had time to really look at this picture, and I noticed it was a unique case of "big mistake" in advertisement history.

Look at it: the lady is stirring a pot on the stove, gas flame going full blast. Next to the pot, a pot holder, just inches from the flame. Immediately below, a little child, smiling and looking up at mom, unaware she is about to start a fire and dump a hot pot on him... In the meanwhile the other kid is sitting on a small shelf connecting to cabinets, and he is looking at the laptop mom is using always while stirring the pot on the fire ( off course she never looks at the stove).

So, on a matter of seconds, the pot could fall on the child below, the pot holder catch on fire, the laptop falls down, the kid on the shelf falls with the shelf on top of the dog .. all in a day's work... ;-)
Who on earth signed off on this advertisement ?

Come closer ...

2008-11-12T15:00:00.004-06:00

This picture was taken by my oldest daughter, at the Castello di Miramare in Trieste.

The Castello is located at the end of one of Trieste's most loved attraction: the "sea-walk", aka by triestini: Lungomare di Barcola. It's a long, beautifully paved walkway that goes from Barcola to the Castle, all along the sea.

The castle has a park, with a small lake and some ducks and swans. This beautiful swan was about to attack the camera and the photographer, however, my daughter managed to "click" it and get away safely in time.

If you are in Trieste, you can get to Barcola with the bus # 6, it will dop you off at the "capolinea" (end of the line) and from there you get to walk ( wear good walking shoes) The walk alone is worth the effort. Park, food vendors, view of the Gulf of Trieste, it's all there for you to take in. Just take it slow, this is no place to be in a hurry. More on this tomorrow.

Ciao !

What am I doing here....

2008-11-11T11:48:00.003-06:00

Well, I realized I haven't done any "formal" introduction of me or what my purpose is here.
I am an Italian guy that has lived in Texas for the last .... oh, well let's say 17 and some years.
I am happily married and have 4 fantastic kids, and you will see them around here, on the blog.
Working with technology and IT has been my "gig" for a long time, I love books, photography (need a new camera!) and spending time with my family.

This blog wants to be a place where I rant and rave about Italy, US, life in either one or both, my kids, cooking, and all things that happen to cross my mind. I am absolutely new to the blogosphere, so be patient. You could see changes, for I do not adapt easily to routine and boredom, and like to "tweak" things that often should be left alone... In a small bar in Muggia, once I spotted a sign that could be the motto for my blog. Off course I was carrying my cheapo camera and "click", here it is:

You can loosely translate it like this: "Here nothing works, but we are all so nice"
Although, I am not sure "nice" is a fitting translation for "simpatici" ?
Help anyone ? ( Rob?)

Ciao !

Texas !

2008-11-10T10:21:00.006-06:00

A little bit of Texas, for a change. We could have a blog on Texas alone, and it I would have to blog for a long time... ;-)

These are two completely untouched, straight "out of the camera" pictures of a gorgeous Texas sunset, taken years ago at the Georgetown Park, just a few miles North of Austin.

Texas does have some stunning sunsets and skies !

Ciao !

Why ?

2008-11-09T08:26:00.006-06:00

In August of 2007 I took my family back to live in Trieste for a school year, so my kids could spend a little time immersed in the "other side" of their heritage, and have an Italian school year. As soon as we got there, I grabbed my camera, a few bus tickets ( more on buses in Trieste later on..) and off I went to re-discover my city...

Then, as soon as I got off the capolinea of bus line # 9, my heart stopped, in horror. I had been told the new city-built swimming pool was an .. eye opener, but I had no idea it was this bad.

How on earth has this been allowed to happen ? Rob of Trieste Daily Photo gives us every day a gorgeous photo of Trieste, and the city permits a nightmare like this ?

Italy is the country of art, style and design, Ferrari, Pininfarina, Ferragamo, Venice, and I could go on.. Who signed on the project of this building, the Joker ? I also heard that the building has been "cursed" with problems from day one .. I can see why. Happy Weekend.

Ciao !

2008-11-07T17:00:00.001-06:00

Last July the Italian Navy Traning Ship Palinuro came to Trieste, and for my son that was something he had to see ...

Generations

2008-11-06T11:55:00.011-06:00

Today is a bad day. I have been hit by a huge migraine, with no end in sight. Blogging is the last thing in my agenda for the day, however I don't want to leave you all empty ended.

These two pictures are separated by 45 years. That's my father, holding me (left) and my sister, on the balcony of our apartment in Pola where we lived back then.

The other picture is me, 2007, in Trieste, holding Angelina, on the balcony of another apartment ...

She is my last child, 3rd girl, and fourth kid.
As you can see, she is an absolute cutie and knows how to get her dad to melt like ice in a hot Texas day....

These pictures go hand in hand, separated by 45 years, generations, kids, travel, Istria, Italy, Texas, but the love and the pride are one and the same.

Ciao!

Come Eravamo - Memory Lane...

2008-11-04T16:34:00.004-06:00

Yes, I am indeed in there. Trieste, school year 1974 (??) in fourth grade. No, I will not tell you which one is me. Some years ago I started to talk via email with a guy from Trieste, and he and I started to tell each other where we went to school, and so on.. The next day he sent me this picture, and I recognized .. him and me. We were together in 4th grade, and 33 years later we cross paths again in a newsgroup on the 'net...
It's a small world after all.
How were you, 33 years ago ?

Catch of the Day - Pescato..

2008-11-04T09:01:00.004-06:00

Muggia is a small town near Trieste. It is the last "shred" of Italy on the eastern border.
Town of fisherman and towns people it has a distinct "venetian" flavor, quite different from Trieste. Last January we visited Muggia and I happened to "catch" this cat, that was sizing up the local's fishermen "catch of the day". It looked like he was not new at this, for he sure looks strong and definitely "well fed" .. ;-)

Memories

2008-11-02T08:40:00.002-06:00

It is a gorgeous day in Texas, today. It brought back memories of our camping days last year, while overseas. This picture was taken at the site that has a special place in my heart. It's home, casa, the only place where my entire being feels like it belongs to.

A special "well done" to whoever is able to tell me where it is ... ;-)

Have a great Sunday !

VDP.

We are back ( again )

2008-10-31T13:03:00.002-05:00

It has been almost a year, and so much has happened ! I am determined to keep this blog alive and fed with posts. Now it will be a "how life in Italy was" , since we are back in Texas, and yes, we miss Italy and not by little...

See you tomorrow ! ( for real ! )

What's Bobici, anyway .. ?

2007-12-11T15:32:00.000-06:00

Someone wrote ( Hi Paul ... ! ) and reminded me I haven't yet fully explained the name of this blog. Right on, so here we are with a full explanation.

I have lived in Texas for almost 17 years, and I adore barbecue. Right now my family and I are living in Trieste, north.eastern corner of Italy, and that's the city I grew up in. Bobici is to Istria and Trieste what Barbecue is to Texans....

Let's talk about Barbecue: If you do not know what this is, well, I am so sorry for you, looks like your "gastronomic" life is not complete just yet.
There is a solution: run, don't walk, to Cooper's in Llano, Texas, ask for forgiveness, and let them introduce you to one of the gifts of Texas. After all, Texas Monthly wrote in 2001:

( If you are not a Texan, there is still hope. Just go to Cooper's and they will take care of you )

"50 Things Every Texan Should Do:

1. Read William Barret Travis's famous letter while inside the Alamo.
2. Raft down the Rio Grand through Big Bend's Santa Elena Canyon.
3. Pick your own piece of meat from the giant pit at Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in Llano."

Now, for the Bobici, part. That is *my* heritage ...
Bobici is a delicious soup typical of the Istria Region, in the North-West of Croatia, or, if you prefere, in the North East of Italy...
My birth place, my home, and a beautiful place to see....
Bobici is a soup made of corn, beans, and, well, just have a look:

* 50 g, (2 oz.) young corn from the cob
* 300 g, (10 oz,) beans
* 600 g, (l lb. 5 oz.) potatoes
* 100 g, (4 oz.) smoked bacon
* 100 g, (4 oz.) smoked meat or prosciutto
* 3 cloves garlic
* 1 bunch of parsley and celery
* 50 ml, (2 fl. oz.) olive oil
* salt and pepper

Clean the beans and set to soak 24 hours before required. Wash the smoked meat or prosciutto. Then make the pesto - finely chop the bacon, garlic and parsley to a paste-like consistency. Chop the celery leaf. Peel and slice (or dice) the potatoes. Place the beans and smoked meat in water to cook. As soon as the water boils add the prepared pest. When half cooked, add the corn, chopped celery , potatoes, oil, salt, pepper
Continue cooking until all ingredients are soft. Let it "rest" for 10 minutes, serve, eat, enjoy.

The corn *must* be young at the point that if you press on the kernel with your fingernail, it will "bleed" its milky juice.

Here you have it, from Texas to Trieste and Istria, or if you like, from Barbecue to Bobici ...

See you next time.

Bolina Stretta.

Thursday Challenge

2007-12-10T08:39:00.000-06:00

Thursday Challenge: Red.

August 2007, Trieste, Barcola Park.

Angelina's red dress. Simply red.

The Photographers 1st Post...

2007-12-06T11:43:00.000-06:00

This is one of my more artistic pictures, over our balcony. I missed a great opportunity, as a mom in a black coat was walking her small child home, who was wearing a bright red coat. the photo was so perfect, yet our camera so slow, I almost felt like yelling at them to 'please don't move for a second!' ... I'm sure you can think of many reasons for me not to do that.
Well, I would like to introduce myself. I am the...er... semi-official photographer for the family blog.

(this is me and yes, the headphones are always there, 'music, my daily medicine'...more like my hourly medicine. I can't get enough music. And my dad will affirm that.)

Me and my dad will sign our posts so you know who is who. Anyway, as already mentioned, mom got back yesterday and I made dinner that evening... Please don't ever let me in a kitchen again. =) It was nice to eat a mom meal again today. Heh.

Anyway, TTFN,
Frankie.

We are back ...

2007-12-06T11:16:00.000-06:00

Sorry for disappearing from cyberspace for almost two weeks ...
My wife had to leave in a hurry to go back to the US, for a week or so, and I really did not have time to blog, caught between managing a house with 4 kids, their schooling, cleaning, my work, and all that jazz ... She came back yesterday, so we are back to a full house, laundry is caught up, and the kids finally ate a "mommy-cooked meal" so the house is a huge smile today ! ;)
I know how to cook, however, I also know my limitations. It's nice to have her back with us.

In the meantime, Angelina's new glasses came in , and she started to wear them. The first few times it was NOT an easy thing to do, on top of that she has to wear an eye patch for 3 hours a day, and she especially doesn't like that... Here are some pictures of her first two days with her new set of glasses .

Hugs to all of you from all of us ...

Cousins.

2007-11-21T14:21:00.000-06:00

Isacco and Angelina, cousins from one side of the Ocean to the other. Isacco is my oldest of 4 nephews, 19 years of age, just graduated from High School in Trieste. He is staying with us, for a few days, while he finds a new apartment for himself. We feel fortunate to have the opportunity to share our apartment and our lives with him for a few weeks.
He and Angelina, one evening on the couch, and she got him to read some stories to her. It was the sweetest thing... Francesca could not resist from quietly taking some pictures. Isacco got a job last September, 2 months from his High School graduation day, and in Italy, in this economy, that is a big thing, considering that the job itself is in his field of studies, and it is a full time, permanent position.

Isacco graduated from the Technical Nautical Institute of Trieste. 5 years of grueling 38 to 40 hours/week nautical school that prepares the students to be "Ship Captains" and other highly specialized professions in the nautical / marine industry. He now works as an "Agente Marittimo" ( Ship Agent / Port Agent ) Basically , whenever a freighter comes in, he goes aboard to inspect the ship and make sure all documentation is OK, and does other administrative duties related to a ship's arrival. He loves it, even when he has to go aboard at 3:00AM, in the middle of winter ... in the middle of the Trieste Bay.
He is a good kid, with a great heart, and we love him.

Angelina's Eyes.

2007-11-20T10:43:00.001-06:00

Today was an interesting day. We finally took little Angelina to the pediatrician, since her left eye had been crossing a little too much. Surprise ! The pediatrician told us we had to take her *immediately* to the local Children Hospital ( one of the best in Italy) for an eye specialist to see her right away.

So off we went, and after two buses, we managed to arrive. It all went rather smooth, if it wasn't for Angelina not really enjoying getting the "drops" in her eyes, an she had a dislike for the doctor and for what he was doing to her eyes, and she let him KNOW about it...

After 15 minutes of screams, she calmed down, and the doctor told us she needed glasses ( isn't that ... wonderful ... ) How on earth are we going to keep GLASSES on *her*, I really do not know. Oh, well. She also needs to have the "good" eye with a patch for 3 hours a day, and after 4 months, another checkup visit.
Another two ( or was it three ? ) buses and we got home, just on time for lunch....

See ya tomorrow !.

What to do, what to say ... ?

2007-11-19T11:07:00.000-06:00

Oh, my .. It is mid-November, already, and this is the first post.

I promised to have this thing up and running sometime in August, a whooping 3 months ago. You all must think Italy gobbled us up, and we disappeared in a black hole, somewhere.

Nope, we are still here. Thanks to the "customer-disservice" of the main Italian phone company, Telecom, we have been waiting since August the 11th for a DSL line to be installed, but so far, nothing, nada, niente.

Internet Points in town are few, expensive, and sometime with weird hours or even weirder customers... Anyway, the local city library finally got up to the 21st century, got a sweet wi-fi "reading room", just acroos the streeet from a local old-timer snack place ( more will follow, and it is worth it, trust me...)

So, here we are, back in cyberspace from Trieste (Italy) , the town I grew up in, trying to spend some (quality) time in the old-continent...

More tomorrow, for real!