Me Bad
21 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Daily Life, NabloPoMo Tags: Daily Life, Na.Blo.Po.Mo
So I think I can officially say that this year I have failed miserably in Na.Blo.Po.Mo.
You can’t win them all I suppose.
Things have been up and down this month. One of the up things? A new bed thanks to Leah. My back is certain to appreciate it.
I also made candied citrus peel yesterday. The recipe is soon to follow I promise.
I also promise to be better with my posting, hopefully by the end of the month things will be a bit better.
Toodles, for now…
11/11/11
11 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Canada, Daily Life, NabloPoMo Tags: 11.11.11, 11/11/11, November 11 2011, poppies, Remembrance Day
Today is the 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year. Who knows if something special will happen today? A lot of people put some credence in numbers, in the alignment of stars. Heck, a couple coworkers and I are even going to try our hand at the lottery today, playing, of course, with numbers derived from today’s date.
But besides the strangeness of today’s date, it is also Remembrance Day in Canada, and, I believe, in the UK. Every year I put up a post about Remembrance Day. This is because, like Thanksgiving, it is a tradition that I don’t want to forget. Even though I can’t wear a red poppy today, I can still take a moment to remember all the people that have died – especially at a time when the world is rent with strife, violence and disasters of all sorts. Let’s take a moment to hope for some peace.
Mourning
07 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Daily Life, Italy, NabloPoMo Tags: alluvione Genova, flash flood, flooding Genoa
Today is an “official” day of mourning for the city of Genoa. All flags are flying at half-mast in honour of those who lost their lives during the flood. It is a good thing, but let’s hope that they aren’t forgotten and that their deaths bring about some changes to this city’s urban planning and cementification issues.
Today’s post is short and sweet. I let it speak for itself.
When Violence Overshadows the Message
04 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in Daily Life, Greece, Italy, NabloPoMo Tags: 99%, economy, Italy, Na.Blo.Po.Mo, protest, Rome riots
I’ve been wanting to write this for some time now, but as I mentioned before, I haven’t had much time to do so. And in a way maybe it is good that this has happened, as, had I written this when this was all over the news, it would have been submerged by all the other bits and pieces flowing in. Now, maybe it will be a singular voice, or at least not one of too many.
A couple weeks ago was the worldwide protest of the Indignados, also known as the Other 99%. A wave of protest that is taking over most of the Western world protesting what we have become, or rather what out financial and governmental institutions have become.
As happened in other countries, many cities across Italy also protested. The most important protest took place in Rome. And so did the violence. You can read what happened, briefly here. The aftermath of all of this was the following: Not one news channel broadcast the message that the peaceful protesters were trying to say. They all focused on the violence and the destruction, and catching the guilty parties. It’s been weeks, and they have yet to mention the reasons of the Italian protesters.
Conspiracy theory may make you think that it is the government hiring thugs to commit crimes so that the public will be distracted from the real issue. This is a technique that has been used before here (not the violence, the distractions), and I don’t think only in Italy to be honest. But unfortunately it is a short-term distraction, as I have a feeling that things will get better before they get worse, and if Italy doesn’t want to find itself in the same position as Greece, they had better get their asses in gear and do something. If people see some action being taken, real action, not just words, and action that involves EVERYBODY, maybe they will be more willing to make the sacrifices necessary to keep things afloat, but only if they see that it is fair, or else it is just more punishment for the 99%.
Sexy Zoagli
03 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in Italy, NabloPoMo, Things to See Tags: hiking in Liguria, Sexi, Zoagli
About a gazillion weeks ago we went on a hike with my lovely hiking group. I have finally just gotten around to processing the pictures and sitting down to write a few posts, including this one.
Up we go
Our hike started off on a lovely, sunny day, a little cooler than the previous hike (which was like walking through the Sahara desert), from the town of Zoagli. After our usual hunt for coffee and a bathroom we trooped off to the hills. The goal was to see the five bell towers.
Enjoying the view
Our first bell tower/church was St. Peter’s, where we stopped to take pictures and relax a bit. Then, a slightly confused hiking party decided to follow a sign.
Dazzling sun
A very very steep incline later a kindly old gentleman emphatically told us that we were going the wrong way. The leaders convened and the vote was to take a path nearby and see where that would lead us.
As the path got more and more overgrown there was another quick meeting. Clearly this was not the right one. Backtrack. We took another path, and walked and walked. The sun hit noon, one, then snuck up on two. The noise of grumbling stomachs could be heard echoing off the hills, protests began. It was time for lunch.
A quick lunch on a dried river bed and we were off, only to find that had we walked for a just another few minutes we would have been in the town we were looking for!
We went through the town where we saw a sign saying that yes, this was boar hunting day, so watch it. About twenty minutes later we heard dogs barking and bells tinkling. Loud conversation erupted as we tried to warn any potential hunters of or presence. We walked past two very disgruntled-looking ones. Note to Fearless Leader: Next hike, check hunting days!
Abandoned house in Sexi
We found another bell tower and then moved on to the highlight of our hike – the abandoned town of Sexi. Sexi (pronounced se-ji – sort of) is actually dialect for salice, which means willow. But you cannot possible take a group of English-speaking hikers to a town with that name and note expect at least one person to make certain allusions.
More abandoned house
We found Sexi, and it was sort of spooky. It had been completely abandoned. Houses were crumbling and vines were creeping in. One house, looked like it had been abandoned in a hurry – there was still a kitchen table, a bed and a china cabinet. It appeared that there had been a fire in the kitchen at one point, maybe the reason for abandoning the house.
Wine bottles
After ooing and awing we went on. At a fork in the road there was another debate. Go on to the next bell tower or back down to Zoagli for ice cream and a swim. The ice cream and swim won out.
Fishing in the sunset
Down we went to enjoy the gifts of the sea one last time before the cold weather set in.
It’s November!
01 Nov 2011 2 Comments
in Daily Life, Italy, NabloPoMo, photography Tags: Leica 24x36, Na.Blo.Po.Mo, photography
That’s right, it’s November and my one month of incessant blogging is about to begin! Well I have a lot of backlogged information to share but, I have all month for that, right?
For anyone who is interested in participating in National Blog Posting Month, you can click on the link to the side of the blog, and register with the site, then it is up to you to keep the challenge going. Last year, I almost managed to blog everyday. So, even though this year is twice as busy I hope to be able to … I have technology now..I just have to learn how to use it!
And, just because this is a random post about random stuff, I think I will use it to beg you all a HUGE favour. I know I said I wouldn’t do any more photography posts, as those have been shipped off to my Photography Blog, but I will do this anyway because it is a personal competition so to speak – I entered into a photo contest where public votes have some sort of effect on what the judges decide. But, what is really nice about the contest, and what could sort of have something to do with this blog, is that the winner receives a lens to use for one month to take pictures of his/her city, and these then get published on the Leica website – so you see, I would be taking more pictures of Genoa, and would be sharing them with you wonderful people 
So vote me please! All you have to do is “like” the page, or tweet about it and share the love, er, photographs, ya….
No Fear! I am Still Here!
26 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
in Daily Life, NabloPoMo Tags: Daily Life, NaBloPoMo, november
Hey, that rhymes… anyways, yes I have been AWOL, but I must say, after a slow start to the year, things have gathered momentum with an unexpected onslaught, and I have been officially trampled.
Courses starting at the school, lessons for me to teach, translations, transcriptions, husbands, cats and all else in daily life have caught me unawares. Every night as I shove “nutrition” in my mouth I say, OK, after this I’ll relax a bit on the couch then maybe I’ll write a post, then I wake up on the couch with infomercials running on TV and a snoring husband beside me. Fail.
Because I have things to say, lots of things, recipes to share, hikes to tell, opinions and random news. It’s all there, in my head. Now I just need to time to share it.
November approaches. That means National Blog Posting Month. Last year, I was pretty good. Mind you, I certainly wasn’t as crazy busy, but I also did not have the technology I have now (oh yes, I’m talking about the iPhone…). So I will do my best to keep you updated on all the latest.
Just be patient…pretty please!?
Day 30: Na.Blo.Po.Mo. – The End
30 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in NabloPoMo Tags: Na.Blo.Po.Mo
“This is the end… my friend...” I remember I forced to suffer through that song as a teenager by an evil-person-whose-name-shall-not-be-mentioned but as I thought about what to post today, it was the only song that ran through my head. Why? Because today is Nov. 30th. Important because? It is the last day of National Blog Posting Month!
I have made it! I’ve survived. I have faltered (twice) but have managed to more or less post everyday for a month. Mind you, many of those posts don’t make much sense I’m sure, but still…so it is with pride that I post my last post about posting.
Now I need a holiday!
Day 29: Brain Freeze
29 Nov 2010 2 Comments
in Daily Life, NabloPoMo Tags: Na.Blo.Po.Mo
I am writing because I must, but the brain is frozen – as are my fingers. The heat in the office isn’t working and I am bundled up. For the first time this year I’m complaining about the cold…but indoors not outdoors! It seems these stone buiding are really good iceboxes. Great in the summer, not so great in the winter.
Well that be it from me today folks. Sorry it’s so short!!
Day28: Snow and Christmas Decorations
28 Nov 2010 6 Comments
in Daily Life, NabloPoMo Tags: Christmas, Na.Blo.Po.Mo
This morning I rolled up the blinds and saw…white stuff! Snowww! It wasn’t sticking on the ground, but on the hills and on the rooftops there was a definite layer of white stuff. I was ecstatic! When Andrea and I left the house I actually put on a hat, which I rarely do, and enjoyed looking around all happy…of course this fantastic weather led us to decide that it felt Christmassy enough to *gasp* take out the Christmas tree and decorate it.
When we got home I pulled down the dusty box and unwrapped all the decorations and baubles, and just had fun! We now have a tree glowing in our living room. ‘Tis the season!
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