Casey, Italy and Other Good Stuff

Relaxing in the Luberon

2009-07-05T09:06:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine, Kathy, her husband and daughter spent almost a year living in Provence--much as we did in Italy. Kelly went to the local French school just as Casey went to the Italian school. Both kids flourished and grew and are different from the people they would have been without their experiences.Because of their time in the lovely Luberon area of Provence, they now offer personalized

When the Pick Pocket Strikes

2009-07-02T22:57:00.000-07:00

We travel--have done so for years--I would say we're pretty accomplished and sophisticated travelers--kind of know what we are doing--know the do's and don'ts and how to handle ourselves. Or at least that is how we view ourselves.So, sometimes a little humility creeps in and is good for the soul. A pain? Yes! Frustrating? Totally! A memory not to be forgotten? Hopefully so that it is not repeated

2 More Sleeps

2009-06-27T20:16:00.001-07:00

In the common parlance of Slow Talk, a helpful site when planning trips to Europe and elsewhere, you mark off time to travel by counting the "sleeps"--nights before departure. We now have 2--tonight and tomorrow. Monday morning we are off and the daily grind is behind us for a few weeks. I have decided that part of my love for travel--besides the enrichment and cultural opportunities--is the

Of Men and Iron--Sequel

2009-06-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

If this leaves you puzzled, just read the previous post and all will be made clear.Enjoy!

Of Men and Irons

2009-06-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes all that can be done is laugh.First, let it be known, I do not iron or do windows. Ironing ceased our first week of marriage when my new husband discovered I could not iron his shirts and began taking them to the laundry. Since then I have raised 4 kids without ironing. Well, truthfully, if something looked too bad, I have been known to pull the board out.There was the day when the

Milestones

2009-06-16T21:20:00.000-07:00

Life is made of certain, definitive, universal--well, universal in many cultures-- milestones. Most of us have passed through these and moved on and yet, even then, continue to mark them in new ways from time to time.Many of my readers know that we raised 4 kids and shooed them out of the nest decades ago. We loved each of them but were not unhappy empty nesters--we had lifes to live and dreams

No Monoply on Patriotism

2009-06-10T15:38:00.000-07:00

More information on the Born Again American Organization

Little League and Me---Sequel

2009-06-07T19:37:00.000-07:00

Meet the eleven members of the Orioles Minor Team of the Allied Gardens Little League.Well, the party filled the day today and, in all honesty, I must admit it was a fun time. The weather cooperated--not hot but warm enough to be comfortable. The kids had a load of fun. The new basketball hoop was a hit and the newly completed "fort" provided the most perfect place for the team to dine in

Little League and Me--True Confession

2009-06-04T20:55:00.000-07:00

We had four kids, well, we still have four children plus one now. Thirty some years ago we were in Little League hell--a marathon of practices, games, snack stand duty, parties, tournaments of champions and All-Stars. One thing I never did was agree to assume the onerous title of "team mom," but somehow there were a myriad of other duties.More than one year we had kids on four different teams

Life Threw a Curve

2009-05-31T17:10:00.000-07:00

Fortunately not a serious one in terms of life upsets and problems--more of a frustrating annoyance one would say.I think somewhere back in time I mentioned that we were going to Morocco for ten days before heading into Italy for several weeks--of course we end up there as Casey needs to see his friends and we need to, too.The trip to Morocco has been planned for months and eagerly anticipated as

A Touch of Homesickness

2009-05-24T22:04:00.000-07:00

Today I was missing Italy. Then I saw these beauties that now grace my counter.They are lovely.

Gramma, I'm Scared

2009-05-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

Sunday night was earthquake time here in Southern California. I didn't feel it. Ken thought he did. Casey did. It awoke him and brought him scurrying down the stairs. He was scared, of course.Ken took him back to his bed, told him that he would be OK, that he didn't need to be frightened, tucked the covers in and came back down. We figured that was it--the moment was over--all was well. We were

The Abyss of Remodel Pergatory

2009-05-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

If anyone has wondered where I've been and why it is been longer than usual between posts and why comments have not been answered--just chalk it up to the boggled mental state that accompanies a house full of carpenters, painters, plumbers, tilers, electricians, granite men, fireplace installers, wall finishers, contractor and whomever else wandered in and out over the last few weeks. I'm half

Hopeful Signs

2009-05-03T21:07:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, before children, we were active in the civil rights struggles of the 60's and early 70's. For us these memories lie just around the last past corner--still fresh in memories. Monumental moments and experiences seem not to lose freshness as time moves on. Some things just seem telescoped in time.Living in Orange County, California in those days meant that the ultra-conservative,

San Diego

2009-04-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

San Diego calls itself "America's Finest City" which seems similar to a self-promoting social climber. If you say something enough times you will believe that it is believed. I have wondered if other cities snicker when they hear this and find a quality of hubris in the self-inflicted title.But........if you were here today, you would find the moniker absolutely on-target. Other places called

It'll Make Your Day

2009-04-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

In the event you have missed this, here it is. I think you'll agree that it's well worth 6 minutes of your time.You will smile, feel good and know that it's something special . Turn your volume up and Enjoy!Susan Boyle of Scotland

He is Risen

2009-04-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hallelujah!The Tomb Is Empty.He Is Risen.

A Good Gramma

2009-04-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

That's what I am tonight--a very good gramma. This is spring break here in San Diego. Which means Casey is home 24/7.You know I love him...but......we're in the middle of a major remodel with plumbers, electricians, painters, tilers, granite fabricators, carpenters etc., etc., etc.Ken is out of town for the week--smart man that he is. So far in the four weeks of chaos here, he has been gone

Slow Europe

2009-04-02T16:45:00.000-07:00

Not so long ago--2001--I would use the AOL travel boards to find advice from fellow travelers as we planned trips abroad--Europe, Africa, China, and the Americas. But, in 2001 a new player appeared on the internet and soon became the preeminent voice for traveling in Italy--eventually this voice branched out to other parts of Europe and the world, but, Italy continued to be the engine.The force

I Am Tired of Know-It-All Pundits

2009-03-28T09:56:00.001-07:00

There is a whole new category of people who thrive on each other and their own positions in the mix. Somehow this gaggle elevates itself to the role of our "most intelligent, perceptive, knowing, intuitive" brothers and sisters, metaphorically speaking, intent on impressing us and holding our thoughts captive to theirs.It used to be that my dislike was reserved for Rush and Anne; however, it

My Boy and The Velveteen Rabbit

2009-03-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

And when the Boy dropped off to sleep, the Rabbit would snuggle down close under his little warm chin and dream, with the Boy's hands clasped close round him all night long. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, written in 1922 I know this boy. He lives with me.Does he

Soliciting

2009-03-17T17:36:00.000-07:00

Well, yes, that's what I'm doing in this rather unusual, out-of-the-ordinary, non-entry blog entry.Casey (well, the two of us) redesigned Casey's blog appearance. He decided the other day that he was tired of the old polka dots. He picked a new template from the very limited options blogger offers. Then we doctored it up a bit with my limited editing HTML skills. And voila---a new look.He has a

Out of the Mouth....

2009-03-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

So, here's one of the reasons being a parenting grandparent brings joy--in the form of laughter. Casey was very busy reading Harry Potter last night so asked if I would type his latest writing assignment -- "What Would I Like to Tell President Obama." I promise I typed it exactly as he wrote it. I hope these excerpts cause you to smile as they did me. The first one causes rants and raves every

Reaching 100

2009-03-06T15:03:00.000-08:00

As I have written before, life brings surprises--some big, some small--some good, some not so good--some we hope for and others we fear. Everyone experiences each of these moments. Hopefully the good ones prepare us for the ones we wouldn't choose.Today more and more grandparents are raising grandchildren. We are among that group. I suspect that we are even at the older end of that spectrum. Our

Roasted Garlic Crab and Drunken Noodles

2009-03-02T17:45:00.000-08:00

Yum-Yum! So Good!If you look at the tags in the sidebar, you see that this is not a food blog. I have several friends who, on their blogs, do specialize in wonderful recipes and presentations. Our most frequent form of entertaining involves the barbecue, corn-on-the-cob, potato salad, salsa and chips. Luckily we live in delightful So Cal.But--sometimes I do end up with something worth sharing