Atoning for sins

Had a nice Yom Kippur with the family; no one atoned, exactly, but everyone at least played nicely, adults and children included.


I will devote the rest of this blog to cute photos of my nephews from the holiday weekend in the Berkshires.

Parlo Italiano

Life after the ex is good. I've gone on some dates with a nice uomo milanese and I must say, I like the Italian style. Courtly. Polite. With a touch of machismo. And sweetness.
Ciao.
Paola

Live the fantasy!

That's a cheesy travel ad for some Carribean island, but lately, I've been living my fantasy life: loving my job, writing a book that somehow comments on the culture (which is something I've kind of inarticulately wanted to do since I was 11), living in Italy, dating, getting in shape....again, all I have to say is: KANA HARRA!

Okay, got that out of my system. For the purposes of increasing the chances that yet another fantasy will be realized, I've decided that I will record it in this blog, and put it out into the world. The fantasy is this: My book becomes a best seller, and I earn enough money to buy a 400 square foot trailer on the beach somewhere in Montauk or Napeague. The trailer will have a skylight, a deck (with a screened in portion), an outdoor shower, a hammock; a small but functional kitchen in steel with a half-stove/refrigerator combo, sink and island; living room/bedroom with an Italian sofa, very minimalist, in burnt orange/red, that converts to a bed, and a coffee table that serves as the dining table. Can't you just picture it all? And of course, guests will be very welcome, even if you have to sleep on the screened in porch on an aerobed.

I like to make my fantasies doable. This could be.
Ciao--
Paola

I'm dating...and actually enjoying myself.

Remember that long-ago post where I mentioned that I was dipping my toe in the dating world, then arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! for several lines? Well, scratch all that. I was wrong. Dating is really, really, REALLY fun. I am meeting cool, interesting, sexy, smart seemingly available men who are attractive and my age. What gives?! Life is too good right now. Kana harra!
Ciao amici
Paola

Whoever said a party where people sit around opening presents is fun?

That's why my friends Pam and Marc got an unconventional, ungirly shower. Just drinks and Vietnamese food and mingling and no funny hats or estrogen drenched rituals.
Ciao!
Paola

Labor Day is a misnomer

It should really be called Day of No Labor, right? I did no labor this weekend as I recuperated from a chest cold and enjoyed the sun in Montauk with my friend Pam. Luckily, she is nearly 8 months pregnant, so she was happy to laze around and read and take slow walks on the beach and eat ice cream and lobster. What could be better? I read Ian McEwan's newest novel, On Chesil Bay, which I was first enthralled with and then disappointed with. It's the perfect subject for me--literally, the entire story is about a couple's wedding night and their various (and differing thoughts) about the consummation to come. But personally, I thought the outcome was unrealistic. Thoughts, anyone out there?

Then I was punished today for my profligate leisure-making, as work started full force. OUCH. No matter how old I am, the day after Labor Day is always painful to me. I am a summer girl, and I feel sad when the summer is over. And this particular summer has been a great one, combining Italy, lots of cultcha, interesting men--yes! there are nice, interesting men out there!--and plenty of beach time. I am truly a late bloomer. I am only experiencing the true fun of dating at age 44. Pathetic, yet strangely hopeful, too.
Tonight, saw Midsummer's Night's Dream at the Delacorte in Central Park. It was a gorgeous balmy evening, and other than nearly missing the beginning and sitting through the first half of the first act in a ball of sweat, it was lovely. Funny and light as Shakespeare gets. No death, no war, just mixed up love triangles, just like in real life.

Tomorrow, another day of labor (as opposed to a day of no labor).
Ciao!
Bunoa notte!
Paola