Update: Indianapolis
flowers from my parents' backyard in Indianapolis
No posts for a while here from me, so I wanted to just send an update: I'm back in the states again visiting family--another one of those last minute trips home. I've been home since July 6th, and I'll be here until the end of August. It's hot, humid, and typical late summer weather here. I've had a chance to photograph plenty of flowers in the neighborhood, if you'd like to check those out over at
my flickr account. Otherwise, I've just been here with family. Antonello arrives in a week--I can't wait.
All for now. I hope you are having a wonderful summer.
-Jackie
Eye on the prize
I loved Jackie's description of the Italian sunset between the Cypress. We've often confided in each other our affection for the blue Italian sky. It sounds hyperbolic and over-affectionate, but the blue over the boot really is more vibrant than any other sky I've been under, and it produces some amazing sunsets. Anyway, her great description makes me miss Italia, and her, and almost makes me want to take up running. Almost...
While Jackie's getting ready for that long race, the little neighborhood market where I work is in the running for a different prize.
Goose the Market has been nominated for "Best Gourmet Grocery" on TheIndyChannel.com's A-List.Of course, I'm as biased here as the gal who judges blue skies, but the Goose gets my vote because of its commitment to quality foodstuffs. With a healthy nod to local producers who take as much care with their products as with the environment that produces them, there's also a discriminating selection of imports. Even if distance prevents an in-person investigation, you might check out the
good eats and local, all-natural treats at the Goose.
If the spirit (and/or your appetite) moves you, please cast a vote for the Goose!
- Corrie
School, Summer, and Suzanne Vega
First, welcome back to Corrie, who has been blogging again! Yay, Corrie! Lucky you with the tomatoes--that tomato pizza and chard pizza looks delicious!
The course has finally ended, and since it was such an intensive course, I'm ready for a little bit of a break. It seems like I've been running around like a mad woman since returning from Indy, so these last couple of days since the course ended on Monday have been relatively more laid back. The only problem is that it has been horribly hot here, and the fact that we live on the fifth floor of an apartment building without any air conditioning hasn't helped much. So between gulping down iced beverages and digging into watermelon, I'm just trying my best to keep cool.
Which has made me really wary of going running--outside in this heat? Are you crazy? But I'm still trying to get my miles in, and while I'm able to get my every-day 3 milers in, yesterday I did my first long distance run since coming back to Italy. It wasn't a record breaker (and it wasn't even THAT long), but I was just happy to be in the mood to run. I went down to my usual running spot, which is this long avenue lined with Cypress trees that leads into an abbey somewhat near our house, purposefully waiting until about 7:30 pm to go, so that most of the day's heat would have started to die down. And it may not have been exactly "cool," but once I got my start, running under the shade felt good after a long day of being hot under the sun.
One thing I hadn't considered was that I would get to the see the sun set during my run, something that still surprises me when it waits until almost 9 pm to happen. So there I was, doing my long run, and every once in a while catching glimpses through the Cypress trees of the golden hued countryside surrounding me, and the welcome sight of the sun finally giving up her day's battle, and slipping off to rest, leaving a whole sky filled with pink and orange glow as she left. It was quite a way to make an exit. So, I guess that settles it--seven o'clock long runs are my new routine.
One more thing that I wanted to mention, having it spotted it today in the New York Times:
this article about songstress
Suzanne Vega, and what the term 2-hit-wonder could mean for such an accomplished musician. She specifically talks about the work she put into her first Top 40 hit Luka, back in the days when talking about child abuse in music was not only uncommon, but also very unlikely to be placed in an upbeat, major key. It's quite an interesting article, and it's always neat to get a musician's perspective on their own music and how it came about--especially someone as prolific as Vega.
-Jackie
Pizza Primavera
We're so proud. Last night Bowden and I harvested our first tomato! Of course, we're biased, but it was perfect -- not a blemish on the tight skin and lots of flavor. As thin slices, it was the crowning addition to last night's Pizza Primavera with veggies from Hoosier soil not too far away from our own backyard: summer squash in two colors from
Goose The Market, Swiss chard from
Balanced Harvest Farm, and goat cheese with lots of herbs from pots on the deck.
We washed it all down with a tasty gift from Jackie's parents. (Grazie, Bob and Joy!) A 2006 bottle of
Colosi nero d'avola from Sicily was dry and spicy but nicely balanced with lots of berry flavor. Delicious!
A new world record
I wasn't sure what to think when I heard about the world's most expensive burger on NPR this morning. The story made me hungry for a good burger but certainly not for "The Burger."
Available only on pre-order from one London Burger King, "The Burger" includes "Wagyu beef, white truffles, Pata Negra ham slices, Cristal onion straws, Modena balsamic vinegar, lambs lettuce, pink Himalayan rock salt, organic white wine & shallot infused mayonnaise in an Iranian saffron & white truffle dusted bun."
All this (do you want fries with that?) for 95 British pounds or about $200, making it the new world's most expensive burger.
-Corrie
Two Things (Quickly)
Sorry for not writing anything since returning to Italy: my second day back I was placed right back into the world of crazy working hours, and I'm still there. I just have two things that I wanted to mention today, though, before I head back to work:
1.
The Celtics won the Playoffs!!! I love those guys, and I'm so glad they won. More on that when I can devote a bit more time, but just wanted to say that, if you spot a bright green KG #5 T-shirt around Macerata, it's probably me! Go Boston!
2. Work has been busy, yes, and here is some proof:
English Salad is the new blog by my little group of students (there aren't very many of us, but we're a great group!), and we're all about mixing it up. (sorry, couldn't help the pun...) Enjoy the blog, and watch as we update it! Please leave comments and participate in our fun--the students would love feedback!
That's it for now. I'm late for work...more hopefully soon!
-Jackie
Once upon a time...
So much has happened since I last posted. Granted, that was a very, very long time ago. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, right? So here's a quick visual summary...
The good folks at
Goose the Market let me work behind the counter at this neighborhood specialty food and wine market.
On March 15th, my dear Love said, "I do." And I did, too.
And Bowden planted a lovely garden of veg,herbs, and flowers that, by now, has outgrown this photo.
It was great fun to spend time with Jackie earlier this month. Here's to good friends, green gardens, catch-up blog posts, and time flying when you're having fun.
-Corrie
Tids and Bits
I've been here in Indy for 2 weeks now, and I'm leaving on Wednesday to go back to Italy. During everything, I HAVE had some time to catch up with friends, which has been a real blessing. Here are some photos of us together, and what we did. Thanks you guys!
Corrie and Cassie from a restaurant in Noblesville, Indiana, where we had dinner. More on that dinner later...
A black and white shot of a covered bridge near Noblesville, where a biker finishes the last leg of his ride
Noblesville, Indiana (the courthouse)
A little close up, but...Corrie and me on that covered bridge (before the cyclist almost hit us)
So that's a little bit of a long trip home. More later.
-Jackie
Kiss Me, I'm Irish!
Well, the Celtics have survived in Boston. After two home games (this last one, which ended only moments ago, coming down to the wire), the Boston Celtics are up 2-0, and the next game is in L.A. What an exciting series, and what a great team to be all for--I decided I was a Celtics girl since they traded for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen at the beginning of this year. When speculation about
picking up the retired Pacer, Reggie Miller, began, I loved them even more (that didn't end up happening, though--which is just as well, Reggie will always be a Pacer to me).
Yes, we're talking basketball again (do I ever talk any other sport?
Don't answer that), and here I am, creeping up on my last couple of days in the states, and of course I'm watching the Finals. All I can say is, Go Celtics! Beat LA! I'm Irish all the way!
Incidently, Boston's BiG ThREE (Garnett, Pierce, and Allen) all make it on to
the Sports Illustrated Fortunate 50 List--a list that spotlights the top 50 American athlete earners (and also makes you drool over what they earn). Number one on the list of 50? You probably guessed it: Tiger Woods. The first Celtic on the list is Kevin Garnett, at number 8. He barely beat out another favorite athlete of mine -- Peyton Manning. Guess who doesn't make it on the list at all? A single female athlete.
Anyway, it's bedtime, and I'm still on my Celtics high. Next game, Tuesday in LA.
-Jackie
stateside
Just a quick post--I've arrived in America. I got in very late at night on Sunday, and as you can see already I'm experiencing serious jet lag, as I'm writing this post at 6 in the morning (and that's two hours later than when I woke up this morning...I know, it's crazy). Wanna guess what time I went to bed?
Anyway, not sure how much posting I'll be doing these next few days (although I do have a new cheese of the week for you coming soon), but I did want to link to
this speech by Mark Bittman about a semi-vegetarian lifestyle (which my brother linked to in
this post). Check it out.
Have a wonderful morning (or, if you're reading this in Italy right now, lunch) and a great day.
- Jackie
