If Mr. McGuire in The Graduate were talking to me today at an aperitivo in Milan, he would put his arm around me and say, "just one word: babysitting. There's a great future in babysitting."
I've discovered learning English is a luxury in Milan. It's optional, only for the most motivated, subject to last minute changes of fancy. And the schools aren't run the way I would run my business.
On the otherhand, making sure your kids are picked up everyday for school: mandatory.
Babysitting.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Mosquitos in Milan
Mosquitos take their vocation to a whole new level in Milan. Before, I lived on the ground floor. Now, I'm living on the 7th floor (8th floor by US standards). No matter where I am at dusk, whether entrenched in the internet or later sleeping in bed, I am attacked.
The fear invoked upon your first encounter with these miniature monsters is incredible. You'll do ANYTHING to avoid getting the swollen bumps and endless itching. You'll sweat in your room with the windows closed. Cover yourself with a blanklet or a sheet. You move your legs around irrationally hoping that somehow this fast-moving and irritating insect will be tricked.
No, sir. These mosquitos are a different breed from the ones in the US. They move more quickly. And they're silent---you can't hear them buzzing. You can't even feel them sit on your skin.
They're merciless--they'll bite through your clothes.
My roommate is smart. She has netting over her bed.
Why there aren't screens on the windows in Italy, I don't know...
I have begun to stop worrying about them. Mind over matter is my next move with these blood-mugging manipulators. I'll let know how that goes.
But until, then, I'm itching and moving my legs away...
Update, July 2: I'm wearing mosquito spray at home every night--it's much better!
The fear invoked upon your first encounter with these miniature monsters is incredible. You'll do ANYTHING to avoid getting the swollen bumps and endless itching. You'll sweat in your room with the windows closed. Cover yourself with a blanklet or a sheet. You move your legs around irrationally hoping that somehow this fast-moving and irritating insect will be tricked.
No, sir. These mosquitos are a different breed from the ones in the US. They move more quickly. And they're silent---you can't hear them buzzing. You can't even feel them sit on your skin.
They're merciless--they'll bite through your clothes.
My roommate is smart. She has netting over her bed.
Why there aren't screens on the windows in Italy, I don't know...
I have begun to stop worrying about them. Mind over matter is my next move with these blood-mugging manipulators. I'll let know how that goes.
But until, then, I'm itching and moving my legs away...
Update, July 2: I'm wearing mosquito spray at home every night--it's much better!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Grandaddy
On Monday night, my grandfather passed away. I wanted to share some of my memories of my grandfather and Godfather, known as Grandaddy.
Grandaddy was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. On one of my first fishing experiences with him, I think I was 4, I was holding the pole and was reeling in the fish. After it came out of the water, I took one look at it and said, “Too big” and handed the pole off to him. Too big for me! He got a kick out of that and retold that story for the next 28 years.
Grandaddy loved people. Sure, he had his moments, but he loved people. You could tell by his dedication to greet his theatre patrons at the Art Theatre for over 60 years. My grandmother sold the movie tickets, and Grandaddy took the tickets. He welcomed the guests by name, warned the teenagers, and flirted with the women.
He espoused hard work and education. He worked two jobs, running the movie theater and his advertising specialties business retiring only 4 years ago. He was forever grateful for the education that Purdue gave him. He had no qualms preaching the importance of education to anyone, anytime, and anywhere, even on the elevator at the Museum of Science & Industry or at dinner at Red Lobster, much to my embarrassment.
He was a fixture at Purdue football games; he had season tickets for over 50 years. Everyone knew him.
He loved to travel. Whether it was visiting communist Poland in the 70s, hunting in Central America, or going on a safari in South Africa, Grandaddy was up for it.
He loved collecting things. He was an avid stamp and coin collector. He collected birds from all over the world. Most recently, he collected postcards and nature scenes from calendars. He enjoyed it; he said it relaxed him.
Westerns were his favorite. He enjoyed Gunsmoke and Bonanza.
He enjoyed his grandchildren. He roughhoused with Ed and me when we were little and taught us the card games, Hearts and Cribbage, when we were older. He proceeded to beat me in cribbage most of the time, even last summer!
I loved him very much. He meant a lot to me. He will be missed.
There's no other more appropriate way to conclude this than with, Hail, hail, to old Purdue. Heaven’s got another Boilermaker. Boiler up!
More about my grandfather: http://legacy.post-trib.com/obituaries/posttribune/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=151428633
Grandaddy was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. On one of my first fishing experiences with him, I think I was 4, I was holding the pole and was reeling in the fish. After it came out of the water, I took one look at it and said, “Too big” and handed the pole off to him. Too big for me! He got a kick out of that and retold that story for the next 28 years.Grandaddy loved people. Sure, he had his moments, but he loved people. You could tell by his dedication to greet his theatre patrons at the Art Theatre for over 60 years. My grandmother sold the movie tickets, and Grandaddy took the tickets. He welcomed the guests by name, warned the teenagers, and flirted with the women.
He espoused hard work and education. He worked two jobs, running the movie theater and his advertising specialties business retiring only 4 years ago. He was forever grateful for the education that Purdue gave him. He had no qualms preaching the importance of education to anyone, anytime, and anywhere, even on the elevator at the Museum of Science & Industry or at dinner at Red Lobster, much to my embarrassment.
He was a fixture at Purdue football games; he had season tickets for over 50 years. Everyone knew him. He loved to travel. Whether it was visiting communist Poland in the 70s, hunting in Central America, or going on a safari in South Africa, Grandaddy was up for it.
He loved collecting things. He was an avid stamp and coin collector. He collected birds from all over the world. Most recently, he collected postcards and nature scenes from calendars. He enjoyed it; he said it relaxed him.
Westerns were his favorite. He enjoyed Gunsmoke and Bonanza.
He enjoyed his grandchildren. He roughhoused with Ed and me when we were little and taught us the card games, Hearts and Cribbage, when we were older. He proceeded to beat me in cribbage most of the time, even last summer!
I loved him very much. He meant a lot to me. He will be missed.
There's no other more appropriate way to conclude this than with, Hail, hail, to old Purdue. Heaven’s got another Boilermaker. Boiler up!
More about my grandfather: http://legacy.post-trib.com/obituaries/posttribune/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=151428633
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