Showing posts with label Meme. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meme. Show all posts

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Meme and More

My dear Elizabeth tagged me for a meme but in her normal gracious manner left the decision to play along up to me. So play I will and as as well as answering the questions I've included a few photos from the museums in the Castello Sforzesco in Milano and a gratuitous puppy picture (of course) .

Meme Rules:
1. Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention; add a question of your own.

2. Tag eight other un-tagged people.
  1. What is your current obsession?
    That would have to be Nicky and Nora. And why not they are now the two most important creatures in the world.

  2. If you could have any super power what would it be?
    Healing hands.

  3. Which animal would you be?
    Well if I were choosing the animal I most closely resemble I would say a jackass. But as to which would I prefer to be - a dog, go figure. Or maybe more specifically my dog, 'cause then I know I'd be spoiled rotten.
    The lion was a very potent symbol in early Christian art - it was regal, the king amongst beasts and there was a strange belief that they were born dead and then sprang to life three days later. These two struck me as more pussy cat than lion!

  4. Who was the last person you hugged?
    Laurent and not nearly tight enough!

  5. What’s your favorite food in the whole world?
    French fries

  6. What’s the last thing you bought?
    First Take by Roberta Flack on I-tunes. It had been years since I heard it - it is still as wonderful as I remembered.

  7. After awhile you get to recognize the attributes of the various saints (and sinners); in the middle panel the man at the right with those oriental looking buns? Actually those are rocks - St Stephan was stoned to death.

  8. What are you listening to right now?
    The rumble of a distant tram on Via Regina Margherita and an ambulance heading to the Policlinico. Laurent is still sleeping so I haven't turned any music on.

  9. If you could buy one object right now, what would it be?
    Good health.

  10. What’s on your beside table?
    Seven books, a photo of Laurent from the 1980s, a photo of our first daschies and a suede glass case.
    Even a bellows had to sing the glories of the Sforzi and the Church. And a portable chapel was a nice thing to have for private devotions while on the road.

  11. If you could have a house totally paid for, and fully furnished, anywhere in the world, where would it be?
    Somewhere in the South of France - its always been my dream.

  12. What would you like to have in your hands right now?
    That's a rather personal question!!!!!!

  13. What is your favorite children's book?
    Little Men, though its been years since I read it. Hmm... add to summer reading list?

    I am always amazed by the woodcarvers' art - whither it be a chest of drawers, a tabernacle or a life size statue.

  14. What is your biggest fear/phobia?
    Flying: take-off, landing and the bits in-between

  15. What's the bravest thing you've done in the past year?
    Get up every morning.

  16. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
    Funny I've never wanted to change my name - well except when I decided I was going to become a famous cabaret singer and my name was going to be Florien. Simply Florien - don't ask me why, maybe because Fabian was already taken?
    There are some rather strange paintings in the pinecotta of the Castello. The Infant Christ and a few of the others around him have a slightly Botero quality to them. And the gentleman sticking his finger up his nose is a decidedly unconventional portrait pose.

  17. What did you want to become as a child?
    An actor, lord how I wanted to become an actor. Or an opera singer, or the aforementioned cabaret singer. What ever I did I knew I was going to have an adoring public. Hell I even practiced my curtain calls.

  18. What posters/pictures do you have on your bedroom wall?
    This lithograph by an artist called Kas Sable hangs over the bed. We bought it in Provincetown about 25 year ago. The problem was bringing it back through Canada Customs. It was summer and the young female student working the border crossing was lost as to how to classify it. I do remember her rather astonished - and loud - exclamation: They've had him tied to the bed! Something I hadn't honestly noticed until she drew it to my attention.

  19. What were you wearing at your 21st birthday?
    For god's sake who the hell can remember back that far? Yes I know someone who's 22!

  20. Say something to the person who tagged you:
    Liz, I don't think I have to say it. Baci e abbracci

  21. Post a favorite childhood photograph of yourself.
    I'm sure everyone my age group has one of these around somewhere. The gentleman came around with the pony and parents were pressured into having their kids photo taken - sort of the Nike runners of its period.

  22. What is your plan for tomorrow?
    Other than a rather mundane work day I plan to attend an evening conference at the Accademia nazionale di danza. Its hosted by the wonderful Alberto Testa and they'll be showing a film of the legendary Zizi Jeanmarie dancing Roland Petit's Carmen. And I'll be with my dear friend Simonetta. Not bad for a Monday night.

  23. Does time really heal all wounds?
    I'd like to think so but often there is still the odd ache or pain to remind you of a battle or a love lost.

I am not going to pass this on to anyone in particular - but I would enjoy seeing childhood photos of EG, Dora, Cowbell, Sling and a few others. I'm just saying.

24 maggio - Santa Maria Ausiliatrice

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Food! Glorious Food?

Okay I stole this from Sageweb who stole it from Sassy and I've followed her example. Everything I've tried on the list I've bolded - what I have no intention of ever trying again I've put in italics. And, of course, being a smart ass I've added a few comments.

Venison
Nettle tea
Huevos rancheros
Steak tartare (Raw beef and raw egg – never again thank you!)
Crocodile
Black pudding
Cheese fondue
Carp
Borscht

Baba ghanoush
Calamari (If I wanted to chew rubber bands I’d chew rubber bands!)
Pho (A good pho can be breakfast, lunch or dinner.)
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich (Toasted, whole wheat bread, forget the jelly.)
Aloo gobi
Hot dog from a street cart
Epoisses
Black truffle
Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
Steamed pork buns
Pistachio ice cream
(small body shaking orgasms)
Heirloom tomatoes
Fresh wild berries
Foie gras
Rice and beans

Brawn or head cheese
Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
Dulce de leche
Oysters (If I wanted to put disgusting slimy things in my mouth I’d… never mind.)
Baklava
Bagna cauda
Wasabi peas
Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
Salted lassi
Sauerkraut
Root beer float
Cognac
with a fat cigar
Clotted cream tea (Oh god yes – home made scones, clotted cream, fresh strawberry preserves and a good strong cup of tea – God is in her heaven and all is right with the world.)
Vodka jelly
Gumbo
Oxtail

Curried goat
Whole insects (Crunchy deep fried ants taste like… crunchy deep fried ants.)
Phaal
Goat’s milk
Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more (strictly for politicians and priests.)
Fugu
Chicken tikka masala
Eel
Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut (I would court clogged arteries why?)
Sea urchin
Prickly pear
Umeboshi
Abalone
Paneer
McDonald’s Big Mac Meal (a quarter pound of beef, my ass!)
Spaetzle
Dirty gin martini
Beer above 8% ABV
(I thought all beer was over 8% but then I remembered that American beer tastes like panther piss – sorry guys)
Poutine (I have never, will never eat the national dish of Québec! Why would you ruin perfectly good french fries and gravy with cheese curds?)
Carob chips
S’mores

Sweetbreads (Do you know where they come from? Ain't nothing sweet there baby!)
Kaolin
Currywurst
Durian (The smell is truly disgusting – think dirty socks or worse – but the taste is sublime)
Frogs’ legs
Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
Haggis (Nothing like oatmeal cooked in a sheep's stomach - those Scots know how to do it up fine.)
Fried plantain
Chitterlings or andouillette
Gazpacho
Caviar and blini

Louche absinthe
Gjetost, or brunost
Roadkill
Baijiu
Hostess Fruit Pie
Snail
Lapsang souchong

Bellini (If your order one at Harry’s Bar in Venice where it originated its $35.00 a pop – so yeah once but never again)
Tom yum
Eggs Benedict
Pocky
Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
Kobe beef
Hare (Sorry but I keep thinking Bugs Bunny or Peter Rabbit.)
Goulash
Flowers

Horse (Come on now if I'm not going to eat Bugs do you think I'd eat National Velvet or Black Beauty?)
Criollo chocolate
Spam
Soft shell crab

Rose harissa
Catfish
Mole poblano
Bagel and lox
Lobster Thermidor
Polenta
Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee

Snake

Like Sage I'm a picky eater and I was surprised by how much on the list I had actually tried and enjoyed. And I've pondering over the Roadkill item - who knows maybe in one of those roadside diners - nah they wouldn't do that. Would they?

23 agosto - Santa Rosa di Lima

Friday, March 21, 2008

4 X 10

So here I am in the middle of working on a few posts appropriate to Holy Week and doesn't Lorraine come along with a bit of memish distraction. Well I'm easily distracted and I wanted to post a few pictures from Athens so:

Coffee Frappe
There isn't a cafe in Athens where you won't find a Coffee Frappe - sweetened ice coffee with a delicious foam on top. My favorite is at the Cafe Metropole in the Cathedral Square.


Four jobs I’ve had in my life:
Airline Employee (33 years) - Clerk, Customer Service Agent, Training Instructor, Project Manager
English Teacher to the Polish Armed Forces Chiefs of Staff
Web Editor of an English Language Business Paper in Poland
Security Screening Officer with the Government of Canada

Four Movies I Watch Over and Over Again
The Dead – a beautiful, simple, touching film - Walter Huston’s last based on the James Joyce short story
Raise the Red Lantern – a classic of the Chinese cinema with the incredibly beautiful Li Gong as a young girl brought into a merchant's household as the fourth wife.
Dumbo – What you ain't never seen an elephant fly?
Some Like It Hot – Well no body's perfect!

A tinsmith in Psiri
This tinsmith's shop is located just on the edge of Psiri.


Swan Windows
These iron work swans grace the balconies of the Spanish Embassy on Dionysos Areopagitou; and yes, that's the Acropolis across the road reflected in the windows.


Four Places I Have Lived
Toronto, Canada – born and bred
Ottawa, Canada – home base for most of my adult life as I travelled around the world
Warsaw, Poland – our first real diplomatic post together, I was more a visitor in Mexico City, Amman, Cairo, Chicago and Beijing.
Rome, Italy – our current home

Four TV Shows I Watch
(We have 500 channels here – 100 in Arabic and 50 of those are for sex chat lines???? - and there is still nothing to watch)
The Simpsons (I Simpson)– you know its reruns when you can say the English dialogue over the Italian dubbing.
Ugly Betty – reruns on Fox here and we still don’t have this season yet!
Family Guy (I Griffin) – you know its reruns when you can say Italian dialogue over the original English
Law and Order: SVU – reruns but who bothers with dialogue when you can watch Chris Meloni or Mariska Hagerty for that matter.

Organ Grinder
Sunday around noon the cafes near the Agora where filled with a few tourists but mostly locals enjoying those wonderful frappees and early lunch. Adrianou St. was crowded with street sellers and entertainers including this old man with his antique hand organ.


Open Air Cinema
An open air cinema on Apostolou Pavlou. Its like a drive-in without the cars.


Four Places I Have Visited
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
Aix-en Provence, France
Mount Sinai, Egypt
Skagway, Alaska
Okay I’m not bragging here but on one of those map programmes I’ve clocked up 195 cities visited, now mind you that includes a restaurant stop at St. Tite so maybe I should make that 194.

Four People Who E-Mail Me Regularly
Linda Gagne
Charlie Knight
Bev Toomer
Robert Mickens

A darelict house on the Plaka
Many of the houses on the upper reaches of Monastiraki and the Plaka seem derelict.


However this building very close to the Cathedral has been beautifully restored.


Four Favourite Foods
French Fries
Mashed Potatoes with Gravy
Scalloped Potatoes
Roast Potatoes with Rosemary and Olive Oil
And yes I am Irish and yes there is a theme here!

Four Places I Would Like to Be Right Now
(Okay I’m going to cheat on this one and going to include places I'd like to be in the coming months)
In Punta Cana for our nephew Andrew and Jessica’s wedding in April
At Mount Tremblant for our friends Martin and Robert’s wedding in June
In my old garden, once the 52 cm of snow has disappeared, to watch things begin to grow
In Rome with Laurent – oh wait a minute I am but I honestly can’t think of a 4th place.

Mosaic Trypanium
There were many small chapels and churches throughout Athens, many like this one adorned with mosaic tympanums.


Cub Scouts playing
This group of cub scouts where playing a round game of some sort on Dionysos Areopagitou on Sunday afternoon. I'm still not sure how the guy in the Asterix helmet was involved.


Four Things I Am Looking Forward to this Year
Our trip to Salzburg in May
Our trip to Venice and Vicenza in April
Maybe, just maybe, a trip to Malta
Celebrating our 30th anniversary in November.

Four People I'm Passing this on to:

Evilgnome
Tater
Subtle Knife
Cowbell

Pöppies at the Theatre of Dionysos
The area surrounding the Theatre of Dionysos was a mass of poppies and the gentlest breeze sent them dancing.


21 marzo - Venerdi Santo

Monday, January 07, 2008

10 Dull Details about a Dreary Canuck

So my dear Doralong has decided I'm to be the next victim of this evil plot to destroy character and heap humiliation on honourable heads - hey I alliterated! I feel so inadequately Canadian when I see other friends response to these questions. Here goes.

1) Three Exes I would pretend not to know today:
I am one of those people who's always spoken with my Exes - so damned civilized us Canucks eh? - because there was a time when they meant something in my life. Though I would probably be cool with Corey - after all he had me totally convinced that I was an uneducated dolt because I didn't have a University degree and he was ashamed of our relationship because of it. Alan I would embrace warmly because the red colour his face would turn would compliment his black cassock and purple cincture. Sadly George and Lawrence were early victims of AIDS and I only wish I could see them again. Blake - well damn it he took the pictures at my wedding this past year. And Doug - he introduced me to Laurent so when I do see him I have to thank him for the past 29 years. Okay this is getting a bit too much. Next?

2) The most scandalous rumor to pass through my high school.
Which one? Which one? Bill Bennet doing it with Meredith Wright in her living room when her parents came home - nope that was Junior High. Ricky Braithwaite doing it with Rosalind Pritchard in a box car down by the railway tracks (hey I'm not making this up you know) - nope Junior High again. Me doing it with Bob Reynolds or Billy Gale or Harry Price in the school washroom - nope we kept that fairly hush hush. It would have to be Mr. Crozier feeling up Valerie Carter in the lab storage room and her reporting it to her parents. Mr. Crozier went on a realllly long sabatical after that.

3) The time I Knew Santa didn’t exist.
When I was home from school sick and I overheard my mother on the phone ordering my Walt Disney Theatre set from Eaton's. I would have been about 8 or 9 but I didn't break the news to my mother until I was 20.

4) The funniest thing I did in a house of worship.
Doug Morse

5) Best excuse I came up with for being out past curfew.
It was 2 in the morning and I was throwing up on the front hall carpet: It was all Malcolm's fault - he made me drink the Southern Comfort. My mother really didn't like Malcom so she half believed it.

6) Saturday cartoon character I had a crush on.
We didn't have television until I was 14 - I think I may have mentioned my father thought it would be the demise of the family unit so I didn't watch Saturday morning cartoons. Sadly we only got a television after he died and at that point Saturday morning was a work day.

7)Cartoon character I wanted to be.
Peter Pan - in fact there is a picture somewhere of me in a Peter Pan costume my mother made for me. To further my humiliation I should dig it out and post it. And the first person that makes a crack about Tinker Bell is going to get such a dousing with fairy dust!

8)Foods I can no longer stomach.
Southern Comfort - see answer 5. Wait that doesn't really count as food does it. Beets and fava beans.

9)Tacky pick up line you used that worked.
Its been 29 years and I'm old - what's a pick up line? Well okay to a guy at a bar in Toronto about 30 million years ago: Ya wanna? He did and we did.

10)Secret Hangover recipe.
If one drinks in moderation there is no need for a hangover recipe is there?

There - save for the Peter Pan picture I have debased myself for all and sundry to read and hold up to ridicule. Plus the damn spell check has suddenly switched to Italian and I don't know why so I've made more spelling mistakes than I normally do.

And I now pass the torch to one of my oldest Blog Buddies (in terms of reading only) the Evil one in Boston and to a new Blog Buddy SageWeb on the Pacific Coast. Got to it guys.

And Dora my darling - thanks this was that much needed diversion. And Tater I will be asking RG and EG to meat out suitable punishment when they see you in New York - and I want the pictures!

07 gannaio - San Raimondo