That's Italian for b------t!
Have you ever stood in line, arrived in front only to be told that you were in the wrong line? Then redirected to another line, so you could be told which line you really belonged in? Who hasn't? Then you have met bureaucracy. The world of small minded individuals hired simply because they can't do anything else. This not a USA individually dominated field, Rome was here first and their claim pre-empts that of Washington.
By trying to make my trip to Rome easier-do the paperwork first, I almost cancelled it. My reply from the consulate informed me that I don't make sufficient income to be a viable long term visitor...unlike the thousands of "pan-handlers, musicians, pick-pockets and merchants" that dot the landscape in every city of Italy. I had forgotten our previous visit to the consulate in Boston and the joy with which we entered the building, the despair with which we left and the total feeling of unconcern that the hired guns showed us poor riff-raff trying to invade their nation.
It is the people of Rome that make me so sad to even be writing this rant. I have never felt so accepted by so many so quickly or easily. So on to plan B...you should always have at least one plan B! Small minded, cold hearted petty despots will NOT spoil my visit or change my love for my Roman family.
See you soon, as soon as I can!
This is my on line "Collector's Cabinet". It is non-profit and haphazard at best. I leave it to you to sort through and make sense of.The views are mine. The collection reflects some of my interests. But the material must be credited to the vast internet. Otherwise, I never would have been able to amass such a treasure trove. The purpose of this exercise is entertainment, naturally mine, but even more so yours. So, please let me know if anything strikes a chord with you.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
He'll never learn to read
Oh how I delight in that one. My first grade teacher actually told my Mother that. A year later, my second grade teacher made me stand in front of the other teacher and read from a fourth grade primer. Vengeance is mine!Baseball may have been my first love, but I can still read even if baseball is well beyond my skill level. And, because reading engenders imagination, I can imagine playing baseball...not that well, even imagination can't hit a curve ball.
Libraries are the best thing our government has ever done for its citizens, I think the National Park System is right beside them on the list. Both provide a free service that helps everyone learn, be informed and to use ones imagination.
Library cards are now part of a computer system. When I was young there was a slip of paper glued into each book that was stamped when the book moved in or out of the system. for this to happen the librarian had to write and stamp the same info on your card. After both sides filled up you needed to replace it. Seems cumbersome, but it worked. I was a member of the 3 card club (non-existent), that is I went through at least three cards a year. I learned to read, write and to spell. Wish more of us could say the same thing.
Question, if you can't spell, how do you make your thoughts clear to others? If you can't spell, it's not possible to use spell-check, because you would have to know which solution offered is correct!
Thanks Dominic for the chance to climb on my soapbox one more time!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Revisionary History
"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it".-Winston Churchill.
I was 15, Churchill had written his history and he had been kind to himself. My American History teacher, Mr. Leach explained the reason for his course to us- you study history so that you do not make the same mistakes as your ancestors.
It is more than fifty years since Mr Leach told us that and I find myself in somewhat the same situation as I was then...living somewhere I didn't want to be. It was less than ten years since we had moved north and I still felt southern. At that age there are no simple solutions. You have to let time and experience guide you. Now, there are choices and I will allow history and pragmatism aid in my decision making. I think that I'm close.
My problem with Mr. Leach's explanation is that over the past fifty-something years history has evolved. What were the facts that we learning in the late '50's are not so true now. Some of our most prominent leaders have become less great. Devolving from great to flawed humans. Perhaps because they are being judged by today's PC dogma, not those of when they lived. Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and Lincoln...they weren't perfect. Who is?
Perhaps the best history is the type Sci-fi author Robert Heinlein wrote of. His character was placed in a distant future looking back on the only remaining artifacts of a great culture...Earth!
I am trying to blend history with sci-fi and come up with a life solution. Good enough for L. Ron Hubbard good enough for me! Even though I preferred Jules Verne to Hubbard. Dick Tracy, a fictional comic strip cop is now history. However, he was the first to have a "Cel" phone, on his wrist yet! He and his department were using these sci-fi gadgets long before history relegated him to the ash-can. And, here I am in the present putting this before you with a gadget and medium that Dick Tracy, Jules Verne and Churchill never envisioned. Think of this, regardless of its improbability, what I am writing could actually be seen by more people than ever read Churchill's history.
History evolves as more data, more facts and more truths are unearthed. I hope that the fifty plus years since I had American history will have helped me gather enough of those facts to help me make my choice...if not I'll gather more and try again!
I was 15, Churchill had written his history and he had been kind to himself. My American History teacher, Mr. Leach explained the reason for his course to us- you study history so that you do not make the same mistakes as your ancestors.
It is more than fifty years since Mr Leach told us that and I find myself in somewhat the same situation as I was then...living somewhere I didn't want to be. It was less than ten years since we had moved north and I still felt southern. At that age there are no simple solutions. You have to let time and experience guide you. Now, there are choices and I will allow history and pragmatism aid in my decision making. I think that I'm close.
My problem with Mr. Leach's explanation is that over the past fifty-something years history has evolved. What were the facts that we learning in the late '50's are not so true now. Some of our most prominent leaders have become less great. Devolving from great to flawed humans. Perhaps because they are being judged by today's PC dogma, not those of when they lived. Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and Lincoln...they weren't perfect. Who is?
Perhaps the best history is the type Sci-fi author Robert Heinlein wrote of. His character was placed in a distant future looking back on the only remaining artifacts of a great culture...Earth!
I am trying to blend history with sci-fi and come up with a life solution. Good enough for L. Ron Hubbard good enough for me! Even though I preferred Jules Verne to Hubbard. Dick Tracy, a fictional comic strip cop is now history. However, he was the first to have a "Cel" phone, on his wrist yet! He and his department were using these sci-fi gadgets long before history relegated him to the ash-can. And, here I am in the present putting this before you with a gadget and medium that Dick Tracy, Jules Verne and Churchill never envisioned. Think of this, regardless of its improbability, what I am writing could actually be seen by more people than ever read Churchill's history.
History evolves as more data, more facts and more truths are unearthed. I hope that the fifty plus years since I had American history will have helped me gather enough of those facts to help me make my choice...if not I'll gather more and try again!
Tuesday, Feb 2
Today we are going to meet Max's friend Frank and his wife Pat. They live on the east coast and are driving over to Naples while we drive down. Frank came from Peabody and met Pat (English) down here. .
Half way there and we hit a speed trap. Ten miles over limit...$109.00! We got nailed by an airplane. Max was cool - didn't let it spoil the day.Thank god Brenda had told us about the seat belt laws, we were both buckled up. Way to go Brenda!
At first Frank didn't recognize Max...had never seen him with a beard. After introductions we crossed the street to "Tin alley Market" where Pat spotted a shoe store having a sale. Pat told me "she loves shoes". I told her that we might come back after lunch.
Lunch at "Merchants Row" on the Inter-coastal waterway. We got a table overlooking the waterway. Seafood all around.
Since Max seemed intrigued by the pelicans I suggested that he go back and get his camera while Pat and I hit the shoe shop. No luck for Pat but I found some flats, a pair of sandals and a HAT. In the next shop pat "convinced" me that I needed a cotton blazer because it would look good with the outfit I was wearing. It fit and it cost $10.00, mine! Found the guys and hit a couple more places. One was hats, where Max had to try every one...no sale! But fun. Max does have a way of making the simplest things fun (I guess I'll always be a kid...Max).
Frank and Pat are really good people. I'm constantly amazed by the quality and friendliness of the people Max has known and maintained friendships with over the years. They all seem happy to see him and accept me into their space warmly.
We ended the day with Frank and Max playing pool in an English Pub. I invited Pat and Frank to visit us when they came north in the spring. I will prepare an Italian feast. Hugs and we are headed home.
Max stops for gas and comes back with a couple of CD's and an energy bar...ice cream. Three hours and we are back to a kitchen in shambles. (OK everyone, Grace called this one, can you imagine?). Seems Stacy and a friend had been doing something but the TV got in the way. Chicken over rice, bed at midnight as Stacy attacks the kitchen.
I can't believe how fast this week is going- we'll be heading home soon.
BUMMER!
Half way there and we hit a speed trap. Ten miles over limit...$109.00! We got nailed by an airplane. Max was cool - didn't let it spoil the day.Thank god Brenda had told us about the seat belt laws, we were both buckled up. Way to go Brenda!
At first Frank didn't recognize Max...had never seen him with a beard. After introductions we crossed the street to "Tin alley Market" where Pat spotted a shoe store having a sale. Pat told me "she loves shoes". I told her that we might come back after lunch.
Lunch at "Merchants Row" on the Inter-coastal waterway. We got a table overlooking the waterway. Seafood all around.
Since Max seemed intrigued by the pelicans I suggested that he go back and get his camera while Pat and I hit the shoe shop. No luck for Pat but I found some flats, a pair of sandals and a HAT. In the next shop pat "convinced" me that I needed a cotton blazer because it would look good with the outfit I was wearing. It fit and it cost $10.00, mine! Found the guys and hit a couple more places. One was hats, where Max had to try every one...no sale! But fun. Max does have a way of making the simplest things fun (I guess I'll always be a kid...Max).
Frank and Pat are really good people. I'm constantly amazed by the quality and friendliness of the people Max has known and maintained friendships with over the years. They all seem happy to see him and accept me into their space warmly.
We ended the day with Frank and Max playing pool in an English Pub. I invited Pat and Frank to visit us when they came north in the spring. I will prepare an Italian feast. Hugs and we are headed home.
Max stops for gas and comes back with a couple of CD's and an energy bar...ice cream. Three hours and we are back to a kitchen in shambles. (OK everyone, Grace called this one, can you imagine?). Seems Stacy and a friend had been doing something but the TV got in the way. Chicken over rice, bed at midnight as Stacy attacks the kitchen.
I can't believe how fast this week is going- we'll be heading home soon.
BUMMER!
Friday, January 4, 2013
Her journal...next (4)
It's sunday, it's Florida and I am sweating! Brenda is cold! This is Florida.
Brenda takes us for breakfast at Skyway Jack's, a well known breakfast place at the base of the Skyway bridge. After a great breakfast and a lot of picture taking it's back to Brenda's for hour and a half hair routine...then more photos. We went to Pass-a-grille, Hurricane's, Sunset Beach...Brenda cold (75).Chowder at Beachnutt's and off to Mom and Dad's for an hour or so. We left there with Mom and Dad for dinner. A couple of places closed so we ended up at Outback. Good meal, bad waiter...absolutely obnoxious! From there to Sharon's for some Super Bowl time and back to Brenda's. Max's back really acting up...chiropractor tomorrow!
Lots of phone calls to start the day, Patricia, Kathy and Judy. Patricia didn't know that Max was with me...13 degrees in Salem! Britney has cold, but they are coming to Florida soon and she'll "be better"!
Chiropractor for Max , had to return at 3:30. Publix for groceries and back to Brenda's, where I did some laundry and waiter for Kim and Jake. Max left with them for Ft Desoto and I went to Mom's. Took her to Campanella's for a good Italian lunch. Got Max to chiropractor and then home. Brenda did an Indonesian pork dish for supper...Very Good!Some computer time and bed @ 12:00.
Tomorrow-Naples
Brenda takes us for breakfast at Skyway Jack's, a well known breakfast place at the base of the Skyway bridge. After a great breakfast and a lot of picture taking it's back to Brenda's for hour and a half hair routine...then more photos. We went to Pass-a-grille, Hurricane's, Sunset Beach...Brenda cold (75).Chowder at Beachnutt's and off to Mom and Dad's for an hour or so. We left there with Mom and Dad for dinner. A couple of places closed so we ended up at Outback. Good meal, bad waiter...absolutely obnoxious! From there to Sharon's for some Super Bowl time and back to Brenda's. Max's back really acting up...chiropractor tomorrow!
Lots of phone calls to start the day, Patricia, Kathy and Judy. Patricia didn't know that Max was with me...13 degrees in Salem! Britney has cold, but they are coming to Florida soon and she'll "be better"!
Chiropractor for Max , had to return at 3:30. Publix for groceries and back to Brenda's, where I did some laundry and waiter for Kim and Jake. Max left with them for Ft Desoto and I went to Mom's. Took her to Campanella's for a good Italian lunch. Got Max to chiropractor and then home. Brenda did an Indonesian pork dish for supper...Very Good!Some computer time and bed @ 12:00.
Tomorrow-Naples
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Fabrizio, Marina e Sara
When you visit a place for the first time it can be a totally visceral experience. The Campo dei Fiori is the largest outdoor produce market in Rome, the daily routine just simply put, chaotic. It resembles an urban city version of Disney's Fantasia. Grace and I have spent many hours watching the events of the day unfold. From the very first vendors arriving early in the morning to the closing of shop...early in the morning. No matter where you go, a certain group of people will be nice to you, the merchants. Sure it is transient, a fleeting moment, but, that isn't a permanent thing, that's up to you. In order to break the ice you need to establish yourselves as part of the normal routine. Not just scamper from shop to shop, site to site, etc., but really take some time to observe, to sit, to relax, to question. It worked for us.
These are our friends. At the start they were friends that we had not met. Now they and many others are much more than simply friends, they are part of our large adopted family. Accumulated over the years. Not blood, but chosen. In
many cases closer than blood. These are the people that changed Rome from a place to visit to the place where our hearts live.
It started with a simple question. Grace asked Antonio why Fabrizio was alone this day. Marina had to stay home with her husband, he isn't well. Grace got up and started helping Fabrizio. Later I helped him break down for the day. That's all it took, care, concern and a little effort. Soon the other vendors wanted some of the "cheap American help", we were now part of the routine.
Fabrizio and Sonia invited me to go to an A.S. Roma soccer game. I had watched the twins and Britney play soccer... this was different. When I returned, walking across the Campo, new hat, new scarf, etc, Grace was astounded. I don't wear hats, only as a joke. Who won? What was the score? I was not just a self-concerned tourist, but a part of the community.
Hope is with us to the end. At the risk of offending, nothing in my life has compared to the feeling of belonging that I...we, discovered here in the very heart of Rome. The many pictures of an absolutely radiant Grace visably attest to the powers this place and these wonderful people have over us. To return is a dream, to return together an unrequited one. Perhaps-later.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
My Hey Joe Cruise
After a perfectly miserable winter eating egg-burgers in Mayport, Florida we make a quick shape-up tour of the Caribbean and then across the pond to the Med. Gibraltar, Sicily, France, Italy, Spain, Greece and Turkey. Home port is in Naples. Aircraft carriers are too big for smaller harbors.
After nearly failing high school French due to a lack of interest guess where we go...Marseilles, France. A cathedral or two, a tour of the Chateau d'If and I am watching Dr. No in French of course! Discovered that the extremely talented "Bond girls" didn't really have to say anything to get their point across! An absinthe, a pernod and back to the ship. Something seems to be a little shaky...Pernod!
Cannes, looking for Bardot! But, somehow I did find a bar and a couple of English types with a car...Morris! Juan des Pins, St. Tropez and the beach, now I have to go back aboard the sinkin' Sara! Oh well, there are other places to go.
Athens, rather Piraeus (port) and I get shore patrol. Assigned to the"red light district". Everyone knew where to go the second night! The city tour includes the Acropolis. Fascinating entry to old ruins. Simply too young to appreciate this, maybe next time.
Mt Etna is spewing smoke and ash as we round the bend to Sicily. Most of our at sea time is spent practicing various drills...abandon ship, man your stations, etc. Sometimes we'll go up to the flight deck and watch take-offs or landings. I want to underscore the word "or" in the previous sentence...you can NOT do both at the same time. One pilot tried and the resulting fireball accounted for 8 birds being tossed overboard, many injuries and two fatalities. It is dangerous up there.
Barcelona was my favorite stop on the entire cruise and I cannot remember why. The walk up the Ramblas was a joy. The Picasso Museum a surprise and the Ferris wheel on the cliff totally avoided. Years later I visited again and still loved it. The third visit with Grace was still a joy. July, heat and smog a bit of a bummer, but, Gaudi rules!
"Hey Joe...", every sailor in every Navy knows exactly what those words imply...a commodity being merchandised! All perfect, unblemished and pristine! Yep! Do I here something about the "tooth fairy"? Those words are about the first and last that you'll hear in Naples, or to be fair any port. Since we were in and out of Naples six times some of the young faces became familiar. A couple of guys even knew their names. That never seemed to affect the pitch, rare, pure, unsullied each one and every visit...remarkable!
Naples as a hub is really pretty good. Amalfi, Capri, Ischia, Pompeii, Vesuvius and tours everywhere. I saw cameos being carved by artists that were probably legally blind. Ischia harbor an ,inactive volcano where the Cleopatra barge sat without Liz of course. The funicular would take you to the top of Mt Vesuvius and it was steaming a little too. Pompeii was a great stop, it was summer and hot, but seeing the streets with the ancient chariot ruts was something no one my age could anticipate. I've returned, with Grace, the fascination didn't change. We watched Vesuvio from our hotel balcony in Sorrento. Safer and infinitely easier.
When I finally returned to Naples we had just finished seeing Pompeii and were going aboard a ship. Another tour, but this cruise wasn't all guys and there was a full liquor cabinet in each bar....but, always a but, now you had to Pay!
You just can't enjoy some things as a kid! Grace was smart enough to make me return, another mitzvah!
After nearly failing high school French due to a lack of interest guess where we go...Marseilles, France. A cathedral or two, a tour of the Chateau d'If and I am watching Dr. No in French of course! Discovered that the extremely talented "Bond girls" didn't really have to say anything to get their point across! An absinthe, a pernod and back to the ship. Something seems to be a little shaky...Pernod!
Cannes, looking for Bardot! But, somehow I did find a bar and a couple of English types with a car...Morris! Juan des Pins, St. Tropez and the beach, now I have to go back aboard the sinkin' Sara! Oh well, there are other places to go.
Athens, rather Piraeus (port) and I get shore patrol. Assigned to the"red light district". Everyone knew where to go the second night! The city tour includes the Acropolis. Fascinating entry to old ruins. Simply too young to appreciate this, maybe next time.
Mt Etna is spewing smoke and ash as we round the bend to Sicily. Most of our at sea time is spent practicing various drills...abandon ship, man your stations, etc. Sometimes we'll go up to the flight deck and watch take-offs or landings. I want to underscore the word "or" in the previous sentence...you can NOT do both at the same time. One pilot tried and the resulting fireball accounted for 8 birds being tossed overboard, many injuries and two fatalities. It is dangerous up there.
Barcelona was my favorite stop on the entire cruise and I cannot remember why. The walk up the Ramblas was a joy. The Picasso Museum a surprise and the Ferris wheel on the cliff totally avoided. Years later I visited again and still loved it. The third visit with Grace was still a joy. July, heat and smog a bit of a bummer, but, Gaudi rules!
"Hey Joe...", every sailor in every Navy knows exactly what those words imply...a commodity being merchandised! All perfect, unblemished and pristine! Yep! Do I here something about the "tooth fairy"? Those words are about the first and last that you'll hear in Naples, or to be fair any port. Since we were in and out of Naples six times some of the young faces became familiar. A couple of guys even knew their names. That never seemed to affect the pitch, rare, pure, unsullied each one and every visit...remarkable!
Naples as a hub is really pretty good. Amalfi, Capri, Ischia, Pompeii, Vesuvius and tours everywhere. I saw cameos being carved by artists that were probably legally blind. Ischia harbor an ,inactive volcano where the Cleopatra barge sat without Liz of course. The funicular would take you to the top of Mt Vesuvius and it was steaming a little too. Pompeii was a great stop, it was summer and hot, but seeing the streets with the ancient chariot ruts was something no one my age could anticipate. I've returned, with Grace, the fascination didn't change. We watched Vesuvio from our hotel balcony in Sorrento. Safer and infinitely easier.
When I finally returned to Naples we had just finished seeing Pompeii and were going aboard a ship. Another tour, but this cruise wasn't all guys and there was a full liquor cabinet in each bar....but, always a but, now you had to Pay!
You just can't enjoy some things as a kid! Grace was smart enough to make me return, another mitzvah!
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