vilaine fille

Pensée du mercredi 13 février

Acceptance is often touted as the right move spiritually, and I think that an awful lot of us waste years trying to accept the things we are meant to change…

Accepting the unacceptable creates resentment. Resentment creates rage. Rage turned inward creates depression, and depression is a great excuse for martyrdom…

When we ask for acceptance and don’t get it, it’s not because G-d is hard of hearing. It’s because the answer is no. We are not being told “Try harder.” We are being told “Stop trying.” We are being told “Move on.”
—Julia Cameron, G-d Is No Laughing Matter

Nevicata

The peculiar quiet that blankets the city when even a light dusting of snow hugs the ground. Admiring the milky, billowing darkness from a cozy nook, reading e-mails from beloved friends. Walking up Broadway through a whirl of diamond crystals that kiss and sting my cheeks. Laughing away the evening in warm, sassy company as the sleet lashes the windows. Indulging (guilt-free) in stick-to-the-ribs comfort food. Trudging through slush and turning the corner only to find that my block still lies under a pristine, downy cover of white.

Thank you, G-d. Jai guru deva om.

Sorrisi e canzoni VI

46. physical activity and the ability to do it (a repeat of a repeat, but SO important)
47. making a difference, nel mio piccolo
48. learning to recognize and insist on what I want
49. Hello Kitty in Swarovski against a black cashmere turtleneck (f*ck yeah!)
50. making new friends in New York and Italy thanks to knitting
51. little by little, learning to set aside inappropriate loyalty
52. the ability to pretend I don’t know what the GBP is worth
53. E mi attacco alle stelle…
54. ‘Na stella guarda a luna cull’uocchie de guagliune s’interroga si ammore è fantasia do core e si nu juorno turnarrà… (translation here)

Pensée du dimanche 10 février

When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?
—Eleanor Roosevelt

Magni Fabii

The world, it seems, teems with magni Fabii. In the musical realm, we have Fabio Luisi, Fabio Biondi, and Fabio Bidini.

And in the world of calcio, we have Fabio Cannavaro—who scored in Italy’s 3-1 victory over Portugal in yesterday’s friendly—and two other magni Fabii. We celebrate them now!

Fabio Quagliarella, like Fabio Cannavaro, my nonna, and my beloved sor’s family, hails from Campania. He also scored against Portugal and is a winsome young man with a penchant for spectacular goals. Note that the Azzurri wore their new outfits yesterday.

Fabio Grosso, who tops the man-pile at left, was the hero of the 2006 World Cup. His assist yesterday set up Luca Toni’s goal against Portugal. Alas, Grosso now plays in the Ligue 1, the most sorry group ever of catenacciari (believe me, I am an eyewitness). Torna, Fabietto, torna! Ha ragione la mamma di Giò: So’ c*r*gne pour de vrai!

Rubertì del furmai, ci vediamo a Bergamo. Sarò in compagnia di un bellissimo bimbo appassionato di Magritte ed i suoi genitori. Ci diamo appuntamento al banco nespole? Pota sì!

Année du Rat

Kung hei fat choi!

One year of the rat has come to an end chez vilaine fille. She hopes and prays that the new Year of the Rat will be a good one for all.

According to one forecast,

The Rat is the first sign of the Chinese zodiac and signifies new beginnings. This year is thus an appropriate time to start new ventures, especially groundbreakings. This includes new ideas, directions, and ways of doing things. It is a time to experiment and put plans into action, as there will be plenty of opportunities to achieve success.

Get rat facts, rat quotes, and more. Read your horoscope, and don’t forget to wear red, eat sweets and fish, and enjoy the holiday’s many delightful traditions. New Yorkers, this is an excellent time to visit the Museum of Chinese in America.

New Year’s blessings to all!

VOTE * VOTE * VOTE

Find your polling place

YES WE CAN!

Italiani per Obama

Super Gloat

No, of course I didn’t watch the Super Bowl. Communists don’t watch the Super Bowl, silly! And I follow only real football. But as in 1996, the shrieks and whoops from outside my window told me everything I needed to know. (Actually, right now, I can hear a bagpipe—some hapless B*st*nian, perhaps, in mourning?)

Wipe that smug grin off your pasty faces, New Englanders. I have news for you, and for Usama, and for Gerald Ford: New York rules. (Well, the Giants are from Jersey, but whatever.)

We rule food. We were the first capital of the United States, and now we’re the capital of the world.* We own you.

Oh, and you ruddy-hosed fiends: You’ll get yours, too! Fie, damnation, and a pox upon you!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go find a pointèd stick so I can chase that infernal bagpiper out of town.

P.S. All of that said, if the d*mn ticker-tape parade suppresses voter turnout on Tuesday, I may turn the pointèd stick on our local officials.

*Come to think of it, Sinatra, too, was from Jersey, as am I. Oh, dear…

Francesco Maria Testa

I am so proud and happy to direct you to the new site of Francesco Maria Testa, who is an extraordinary photographer and an even more extraordinary human being.

Hurry—it’s a feast for the eyes and the soul. (Above you see Asciano, in the province of Siena.)

Sorrisi e canzoni V

37. real wisdom, courtesy of a gracious and sincere friend
38. gracious and sincere friends who are astonishing artists, in the visual and verbal realms
39. gracious and sincere friends tout court!
40. happy anticipation of Davis Square hospitality
41. fabulous Chococat accessories (thank you, W—and Chococat is PERUVIAN!)
42. M * O * X * I * E
43. physical activity and the ability to do it (repeat, and thanks for the reminder, AKS)
44. Estrellita
45. Sotto le stelle del jazz (che il Signore La benedica, Maestro!)