le mie parole piu preferite nel mondo HAHAHAHAHHA
scherzo scherzo!!
Allora, sto leggendo un buon libro che si chiama La Leggenda della Redenda Tiria. mi sono dimenticata il nome del autore....ma dammi qualche secondo....sono sicura che mi viene in mente........se no mi viene in mente, significa che sono invecchiata ogni giorno in piu'!!
I actually need to get my hands on the book as it isn't in my possession at the moment...................
23.11.06
VII.2
Riassunto della seconda novella della settima giornata
Ci sono quattro personaggi importanti in questa novella: Madonna Filippa, suo marito Rinaldo dei Pugliese, il suo amante Lazzarino de Guazzagliotri, e il giudice il nome del quale non sappiamo. Madonna Filippa è stata scoperta nelle braccia del suo amante da suo marito. Il marito diventò arrabiato e lui vuole ucciderli, ma quando pensava alla punizione che gli potrá succedere a se stesso se lui uccidesse loro, lui si è fermato. Durante questo tempo, nel paese di Prato, c’è il statuto che dice che se una donna tradisce suo marito, o se lei è una prostituta, la punizione è bruciare. Poi, quando Rinaldo ha scoperto che sua moglie lo ha tradito, loro vengono davanti a un giudice. Perché Madonna Filippa è così bella, il giudice non vuole punirla, e le dice che deve scegliere le sue risposte attentamente. La donna ripose al giudice di chiedere a suo marito se lei non gli aveva dato il piacere ogni volta che ha chiesto. Il marito ripose che si, infatti, lei gli ha dato il piacere ogni volta e completamente. Allora, lei chiede al giudice che lei doveva fare con il piacere che rimane, buttarlo ai cani? E madonna Filippa dice che questa è la sua ragione per avere un’amante. Tutta la gente da Prato è stata al tribunale durante la causa e alla fine, tutti loro sono felici perché la donna ha vinto con la sua furbezza. Così, la legge è cambiata e ora, e solo la prostituzione può essere punita dal bruciare dal morte.
Summary of the second story of the seventh day
There are four important characters in the story: Madonna Filippa, her husband Rinaldo dei Pugliese, her lover Lazzarino de Guazzagliotri, and the judge whose name we don't know. Madonna Filippa is discovered in the arms of her lover by her husband. The husband becomes enraged, and wants to kill them both, but when he thinks of the punishment that may befall him, he stops himself. During this time, in the village of Prato, there was a statute that said if a woman betrays her husband or if a woman is a prostitute, the punishment is burning alive. So, when Rinaldo discovers that his wife has betrayed him, they go before a judge. Because Madonna Filippa is so beautiful, the judge doesn't want to punish her, and he tells her that she must choose her answers carefully. The woman responds the judge to ask her husband if she didn't give him full pleasure each and every time he asked for it. The husband responds that of course, she had, in fact, given him pleasure every time he asked her for it. So, Madonna Filippa asks the judge what she was to do with all the love she had left over, was she to throw it to the dogs? And Madonna Filippa claimed that this was her reason for having a lover. All the people of Prato were in the court during her trial, and in the end, they were all happy because the woman had won, thanks to her cunning. So, the law was changed and now, it is only prostitution that can be punished with burning to death.
(Note: As far as I know, this law is still in effect in the town of Prato.)
Ci sono quattro personaggi importanti in questa novella: Madonna Filippa, suo marito Rinaldo dei Pugliese, il suo amante Lazzarino de Guazzagliotri, e il giudice il nome del quale non sappiamo. Madonna Filippa è stata scoperta nelle braccia del suo amante da suo marito. Il marito diventò arrabiato e lui vuole ucciderli, ma quando pensava alla punizione che gli potrá succedere a se stesso se lui uccidesse loro, lui si è fermato. Durante questo tempo, nel paese di Prato, c’è il statuto che dice che se una donna tradisce suo marito, o se lei è una prostituta, la punizione è bruciare. Poi, quando Rinaldo ha scoperto che sua moglie lo ha tradito, loro vengono davanti a un giudice. Perché Madonna Filippa è così bella, il giudice non vuole punirla, e le dice che deve scegliere le sue risposte attentamente. La donna ripose al giudice di chiedere a suo marito se lei non gli aveva dato il piacere ogni volta che ha chiesto. Il marito ripose che si, infatti, lei gli ha dato il piacere ogni volta e completamente. Allora, lei chiede al giudice che lei doveva fare con il piacere che rimane, buttarlo ai cani? E madonna Filippa dice che questa è la sua ragione per avere un’amante. Tutta la gente da Prato è stata al tribunale durante la causa e alla fine, tutti loro sono felici perché la donna ha vinto con la sua furbezza. Così, la legge è cambiata e ora, e solo la prostituzione può essere punita dal bruciare dal morte.
Summary of the second story of the seventh day
There are four important characters in the story: Madonna Filippa, her husband Rinaldo dei Pugliese, her lover Lazzarino de Guazzagliotri, and the judge whose name we don't know. Madonna Filippa is discovered in the arms of her lover by her husband. The husband becomes enraged, and wants to kill them both, but when he thinks of the punishment that may befall him, he stops himself. During this time, in the village of Prato, there was a statute that said if a woman betrays her husband or if a woman is a prostitute, the punishment is burning alive. So, when Rinaldo discovers that his wife has betrayed him, they go before a judge. Because Madonna Filippa is so beautiful, the judge doesn't want to punish her, and he tells her that she must choose her answers carefully. The woman responds the judge to ask her husband if she didn't give him full pleasure each and every time he asked for it. The husband responds that of course, she had, in fact, given him pleasure every time he asked her for it. So, Madonna Filippa asks the judge what she was to do with all the love she had left over, was she to throw it to the dogs? And Madonna Filippa claimed that this was her reason for having a lover. All the people of Prato were in the court during her trial, and in the end, they were all happy because the woman had won, thanks to her cunning. So, the law was changed and now, it is only prostitution that can be punished with burning to death.
(Note: As far as I know, this law is still in effect in the town of Prato.)
20.11.06
small miracles
this one would be that I'm still awake........
I have determined that I have only slept something like 11 of the last 36 hours...........can anyone say exhaustion?? But I must forge ahead and write a brief (how come no matter how I spell that it never looks right?) summary of novella seconda dalla settima giornata (VII.2) del Decamerone .........This one was a particularly great one.......when I finish the summary I'll post it with a translation
so I am now officially an anarchist.......I have stolen something from somone who stole it as well........this comes from everyone's favorite Knit Witch
and now, for the theivery.........in the immortal words of Maurice Sendak: Let the wild rumpus begin!!
48 things
1. FIRST NAME? Jolie
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Not really.....My aunt had a friend whose name was Jolie, but considering how her life turned out (the friend not the aunt......although.....), I'm thinking that my parents just liked the name
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Last evening I got choked up, but no real tears......the last time there were real tears was last friday
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Sometimes, it depends on my mood, speed, ink and writing implement
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? I don't eat meat
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Yes
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Unequivocally
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cold: Grape Nuts Hot: Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? If they're my combat boots yes otherwise, no
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Cioccolato e Nocciola
14. SHOE SIZE? 36/6.5
15. RED OR PINK? Crimson
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? The fact that I sometimes hurt those that I love without meaning to
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? I miss everyone who's gone in different ways
18. WHAT FOOD WILL GET YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? There isn't much that will get me out of bed in the middle of the night, so I would have to say the food that's on fire would be the food to get me out of bed in the middle of the night
19. WHAT COLOUR TROUSERS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
blue jeans red t-shirt no shoes
20. LAST THING YOU ATE? almonds and dried cranberries
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? the refrigerator
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Violet
SIDE NOTE: I ate a red crayon once when I was little because I wanted that red to be inside me.............the crayon tasted terrible
23. FAVORITE SMELL? Lavender
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My mother
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTCE ABOUT PEOPLE? it depends, what's most apparent usually, their third eye......
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM? Absolutely....She's great!
27. FAVOURITE DRINK? Water
28. FAVOURITE SPORT? Auto racing or motocross
29. EYE COLOUR? Dark Brown
30. HAT SIZE? Small
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
32. FAVORITE FOOD? The one that's in my mouth
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Scary movies with happy endings......I especially love it when the annoying white girl with the nasal voice gets hacked to bits!! Now that's a happy ending!!
35. SUMMER OR WINTER? SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER
36. HUGS OR KISSES? Both
37. FAVOURITE DESSERT? Chocolate mousse cake
38. WHAT SIDE OF THE BED DO YOU SLEEP ON AND WHY? The outside because I need to be able to fling myself overboard in the middle of the night
39. IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE DECISION TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE A FAMILY, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING TODAY? What??? I got married?? DAMN!!!!!! No one told me!!!!!!!! I hate it when this happens!!!
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING?
Il Decamerone -- Giovanni Boccaccio
Se una notte d'inverno, un viaggiatore -- Italo Calvino
Fontamara -- Ignazio Silone
Windows -- Harald Franzen
Novelle Rusticane -- Giovanni Verga
41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? I don't have a mousepad
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? NOTHING I don't watch TV
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Good music, rain, a beating heart, my lover's voice
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? The Rolling Stones
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Italy (physically) lightyears (mentally)
46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? All my talents are special
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? New York NY
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Nobody, I stole it from another blog :-) thanks Colette
I have determined that I have only slept something like 11 of the last 36 hours...........can anyone say exhaustion?? But I must forge ahead and write a brief (how come no matter how I spell that it never looks right?) summary of novella seconda dalla settima giornata (VII.2) del Decamerone .........This one was a particularly great one.......when I finish the summary I'll post it with a translation
so I am now officially an anarchist.......I have stolen something from somone who stole it as well........this comes from everyone's favorite Knit Witch
and now, for the theivery.........in the immortal words of Maurice Sendak: Let the wild rumpus begin!!
48 things
1. FIRST NAME? Jolie
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Not really.....My aunt had a friend whose name was Jolie, but considering how her life turned out (the friend not the aunt......although.....), I'm thinking that my parents just liked the name
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Last evening I got choked up, but no real tears......the last time there were real tears was last friday
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Sometimes, it depends on my mood, speed, ink and writing implement
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? I don't eat meat
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Yes
7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Yes
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Unequivocally
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Cold: Grape Nuts Hot: Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? If they're my combat boots yes otherwise, no
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yes
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Cioccolato e Nocciola
14. SHOE SIZE? 36/6.5
15. RED OR PINK? Crimson
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? The fact that I sometimes hurt those that I love without meaning to
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? I miss everyone who's gone in different ways
18. WHAT FOOD WILL GET YOU OUT OF BED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? There isn't much that will get me out of bed in the middle of the night, so I would have to say the food that's on fire would be the food to get me out of bed in the middle of the night
19. WHAT COLOUR TROUSERS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
blue jeans red t-shirt no shoes
20. LAST THING YOU ATE? almonds and dried cranberries
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? the refrigerator
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Violet
SIDE NOTE: I ate a red crayon once when I was little because I wanted that red to be inside me.............the crayon tasted terrible
23. FAVORITE SMELL? Lavender
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My mother
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTCE ABOUT PEOPLE? it depends, what's most apparent usually, their third eye......
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON YOU STOLE THIS FROM? Absolutely....She's great!
27. FAVOURITE DRINK? Water
28. FAVOURITE SPORT? Auto racing or motocross
29. EYE COLOUR? Dark Brown
30. HAT SIZE? Small
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No
32. FAVORITE FOOD? The one that's in my mouth
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Scary movies with happy endings......I especially love it when the annoying white girl with the nasal voice gets hacked to bits!! Now that's a happy ending!!
35. SUMMER OR WINTER? SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER
36. HUGS OR KISSES? Both
37. FAVOURITE DESSERT? Chocolate mousse cake
38. WHAT SIDE OF THE BED DO YOU SLEEP ON AND WHY? The outside because I need to be able to fling myself overboard in the middle of the night
39. IF YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE DECISION TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE A FAMILY, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING TODAY? What??? I got married?? DAMN!!!!!! No one told me!!!!!!!! I hate it when this happens!!!
40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING?
Il Decamerone -- Giovanni Boccaccio
Se una notte d'inverno, un viaggiatore -- Italo Calvino
Fontamara -- Ignazio Silone
Windows -- Harald Franzen
Novelle Rusticane -- Giovanni Verga
41. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? I don't have a mousepad
42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? NOTHING I don't watch TV
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Good music, rain, a beating heart, my lover's voice
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? The Rolling Stones
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Italy (physically) lightyears (mentally)
46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? All my talents are special
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? New York NY
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Nobody, I stole it from another blog :-) thanks Colette
roots and tubers
I once wanted to become an atheist, but I gave up - they have no holidays.
- Henny Youngman
I, too, once wanted to become an atheist, but didn't give up because they had no holidays: I gave up because it gave me no sense of connection (save but to other atheists who are a rather dark and brooding bunch) to something greater. That for me is an important feeling -- the sense of connectedness, of belonging, of knowing.......which is not to say that I know which way is the RIGHT way (all capitals and italics!) but i do know for sure which is the right way for me. I think that is all anyone can ask for: knowing which is the right way for them.
I am feeling less funky by far.........and finally made it to the Hopper show at the Whitney. We tried to go yesterday, but the line was out the door and so we went to the Museum of Natural History instead. We visited the Hall of Biodiversity, Ocean Life (I LOVE squid!! and all the other tasty cefalopods!! YAY cefalopods!! I am also a fan of bracheopods, just for the record) then went to visit Geology. They have some great information on volcanoes, plate tectonics, mountain formation and all the exciting geothermal activities that we know and love.
Then today (which did start out a little funky......damn those clouds and blue hats!!) we made it to the Whitney. Hopper was great!! Also managed to see the Picasso show which was sort of disappointing, Kiki Smith who is a little weird, but some of her stuff is okay (I particularly enjoyed what has come to be affectionately known as the "Circle of Life".......just a bunch of plexiglass sperm arranged in a circle on a platform on the floor) while some of her stuff is just disturbing, and finally to the Josef Albers and László Moholy-Nagy -- Bauhaus exhibit which was really interesting. We also made it to see paintings by Mark Grotjahn which were pretty interesting as well. We discovered that you can tell a lot about a person based on the paintings they like and dislike (and also by their favorite type of volcano)..................
- Henny Youngman
I, too, once wanted to become an atheist, but didn't give up because they had no holidays: I gave up because it gave me no sense of connection (save but to other atheists who are a rather dark and brooding bunch) to something greater. That for me is an important feeling -- the sense of connectedness, of belonging, of knowing.......which is not to say that I know which way is the RIGHT way (all capitals and italics!) but i do know for sure which is the right way for me. I think that is all anyone can ask for: knowing which is the right way for them.
I am feeling less funky by far.........and finally made it to the Hopper show at the Whitney. We tried to go yesterday, but the line was out the door and so we went to the Museum of Natural History instead. We visited the Hall of Biodiversity, Ocean Life (I LOVE squid!! and all the other tasty cefalopods!! YAY cefalopods!! I am also a fan of bracheopods, just for the record) then went to visit Geology. They have some great information on volcanoes, plate tectonics, mountain formation and all the exciting geothermal activities that we know and love.
Then today (which did start out a little funky......damn those clouds and blue hats!!) we made it to the Whitney. Hopper was great!! Also managed to see the Picasso show which was sort of disappointing, Kiki Smith who is a little weird, but some of her stuff is okay (I particularly enjoyed what has come to be affectionately known as the "Circle of Life".......just a bunch of plexiglass sperm arranged in a circle on a platform on the floor) while some of her stuff is just disturbing, and finally to the Josef Albers and László Moholy-Nagy -- Bauhaus exhibit which was really interesting. We also made it to see paintings by Mark Grotjahn which were pretty interesting as well. We discovered that you can tell a lot about a person based on the paintings they like and dislike (and also by their favorite type of volcano)..................
16.11.06
a tree in a world of flowers
So since it's already November (clearly this is not the place to visit for late-breaking news stories) I have realized that I must transplant my rosemary and lavender plants if they are to survive the winter. I also must transplant myself if I am to survive the winter. But I digress............
The internet connection here has been sketchy at best recently and I'm thinking it's the icky weather (I know all these clouds for all these days in a row are sure making me sketchy) but happily, the bad connection forces me to do work and not spend time on the internet (of course, most of the time when I'm browsing, it involves some work project or other). Unfortunately, the bad connection is not conducive to updating here...............
I realized recently that I really miss writing. I mean sure, I always have lots of writing to do for school (especially with all those papers that are due) but it's not the same as writing for yourself. I also realized recently that I really detest bureaucracy. It's just one of those annoying things that makes life more difficult and is prone to constructing all sorts of obstacles and barriers to not only success, but also to general enjoyment of things that would ordinarily be quite fun and exciting.
Well, eventually I'll get out of my funk and be happy again...........
come talk to me after I've gotten some serious knitting done tonight (might I actually finish Hot Lava??) and/or after graduation, after I find a new job, after I stop eating too much chocolate, after I've managed to get a decent night's sleep, after the clouds clear up and the sun shines again.............
The internet connection here has been sketchy at best recently and I'm thinking it's the icky weather (I know all these clouds for all these days in a row are sure making me sketchy) but happily, the bad connection forces me to do work and not spend time on the internet (of course, most of the time when I'm browsing, it involves some work project or other). Unfortunately, the bad connection is not conducive to updating here...............
I realized recently that I really miss writing. I mean sure, I always have lots of writing to do for school (especially with all those papers that are due) but it's not the same as writing for yourself. I also realized recently that I really detest bureaucracy. It's just one of those annoying things that makes life more difficult and is prone to constructing all sorts of obstacles and barriers to not only success, but also to general enjoyment of things that would ordinarily be quite fun and exciting.
Well, eventually I'll get out of my funk and be happy again...........
come talk to me after I've gotten some serious knitting done tonight (might I actually finish Hot Lava??) and/or after graduation, after I find a new job, after I stop eating too much chocolate, after I've managed to get a decent night's sleep, after the clouds clear up and the sun shines again.............
14.11.06
successful sleep and other novelties
So I really believe that someday I will be able to sleep again.
Sleep is something that I really miss.....but really........So my big prediction for the weekend is that I will sleep or at least nap once in 48 hours......................I'm not hopeful that my prediction will come to fruition......SIGH
I also predict that I might (might) be able to FINALLY get to the Edward Hopper show at the Whitney Museum which is open late on Friday night (not that that really means anything) and then there's Saturday afternoon.
What I really miss is not having a full time job and going to school and actually having a free afternoon during the week in which to explore my lovely New York City and take full advantage of all the cultural bounties that NYC has to offer.........aaaahhhhhh yes, the noise, the dirt, the nuisance.....home sweet home.....kidding, of course. But not kidding about the free afternoon thing.....
So clearly I haven't had very much time to write or to go and do anything interesting (besides schoolwork and that's not always interesting) though the other night I did manage to make it to a poetry reading of my friend Christine's which was fun.
Boccaccio is fun (fun? did I just say that Boccaccio is fun? clearly I've lost my mind) and always coming up with new and interesting ways to write in Italian. (yes, new and interesting as told by the monster in the Bugs Bunny cartoons........I think the name was Gossamer......you know the big orangey guy with the fur parted at the top of his giant head wearing chuck taylors or some reasonable fascimile thereof). I think he (Boccaccio not Gossamer) really went to town on the whole "watch me construct a sentence where the subject is at the end and doesn't belong there because this IS NOT LATIN" concept......YAY Giovanni!! It makes the sentences really difficult to parse and if the sentences are difficult to parse, imagine how difficult they are to understand. But I admit, I kind of like it: it presents a challenge, and is entertaining (not a combination often found anywhere these days.....though he did write in the 1300's so I guess that doesn't really qualify as "these days" does it?)
Sleep is something that I really miss.....but really........So my big prediction for the weekend is that I will sleep or at least nap once in 48 hours......................I'm not hopeful that my prediction will come to fruition......SIGH
I also predict that I might (might) be able to FINALLY get to the Edward Hopper show at the Whitney Museum which is open late on Friday night (not that that really means anything) and then there's Saturday afternoon.
What I really miss is not having a full time job and going to school and actually having a free afternoon during the week in which to explore my lovely New York City and take full advantage of all the cultural bounties that NYC has to offer.........aaaahhhhhh yes, the noise, the dirt, the nuisance.....home sweet home.....kidding, of course. But not kidding about the free afternoon thing.....
So clearly I haven't had very much time to write or to go and do anything interesting (besides schoolwork and that's not always interesting) though the other night I did manage to make it to a poetry reading of my friend Christine's which was fun.
Boccaccio is fun (fun? did I just say that Boccaccio is fun? clearly I've lost my mind) and always coming up with new and interesting ways to write in Italian. (yes, new and interesting as told by the monster in the Bugs Bunny cartoons........I think the name was Gossamer......you know the big orangey guy with the fur parted at the top of his giant head wearing chuck taylors or some reasonable fascimile thereof). I think he (Boccaccio not Gossamer) really went to town on the whole "watch me construct a sentence where the subject is at the end and doesn't belong there because this IS NOT LATIN" concept......YAY Giovanni!! It makes the sentences really difficult to parse and if the sentences are difficult to parse, imagine how difficult they are to understand. But I admit, I kind of like it: it presents a challenge, and is entertaining (not a combination often found anywhere these days.....though he did write in the 1300's so I guess that doesn't really qualify as "these days" does it?)
27.10.06
Sorely in need of a linguistic emollient
no pun intended (seriously though)
I just read this article by John Humphries (a Brit of course) about the deterioration of English as a language (at least it seemed to me to be about English, though I don't think he specifically mentioned English.......really, what else could he be talking about?)
The most priceless quote in the whole article is this:
'There can be no more grotesque illustration of the demise of formality on television than the rise of the monstrous confidence trick that goes by the name of "reality television"'.
Ok, maybe the most priceless quote is really this:
'The simple fact is we cannot afford to be careless with our language, because if we are careless with our language then we are careless with our world and sooner or later we will be lost for words to describe what we have allowed to happen to it.'
Yes, yes, it's the latter that is the better, without doubt.
So as we all know, I could probably carry on ad infinitum about how common parliance in the American English language has devolved into a thick bramble of meaningless clauses, sentence fragments, unidentified pronouns (no, they don't fly), and a myriad of other minutae that actually make the difference between the ability to communicate one's thoughts, feelings, & ideas and being totally inarticulate and unable to string the right words together in the right order to make the simplest action or intention understood by all involved.
Last semester, when I was student teaching, one of my kids had the audacity to send me an e.mail wherein she refered to me as "u". I kid you not. She didn't even have the good sense to capitalize the u, which perhaps might have been construed by me as a feeble attempt at a demonstration of respect, an aknowledgement, since she was only e.mailing me because she was turning her final project assignment in LATE, (much like all of her other work, shoddy and thrown together) that she was indeed sorry and recognized the error of her ways. No, she didn't even capitalize the u.
Anyway, I digress: I am in no way implying that I am not guilty of some of the same offences as others (though I can freely and proudly state that I have NEVER e.mailed any of my professors and refered to them as u, capital or otherwise) ; I have been known not to identify pronouns (to which my father will attest with great vehemence, I'm sure) to dangle participles, to end sentences with prepositions, to generally break the rules of English, not to mention that I don't use the subjunctive mood nearly often enough when I'm speaking English, and, and, and, etc. etc. etc.
This is my rant for today. Thank you for your support.
I just read this article by John Humphries (a Brit of course) about the deterioration of English as a language (at least it seemed to me to be about English, though I don't think he specifically mentioned English.......really, what else could he be talking about?)
The most priceless quote in the whole article is this:
'There can be no more grotesque illustration of the demise of formality on television than the rise of the monstrous confidence trick that goes by the name of "reality television"'.
Ok, maybe the most priceless quote is really this:
'The simple fact is we cannot afford to be careless with our language, because if we are careless with our language then we are careless with our world and sooner or later we will be lost for words to describe what we have allowed to happen to it.'
Yes, yes, it's the latter that is the better, without doubt.
So as we all know, I could probably carry on ad infinitum about how common parliance in the American English language has devolved into a thick bramble of meaningless clauses, sentence fragments, unidentified pronouns (no, they don't fly), and a myriad of other minutae that actually make the difference between the ability to communicate one's thoughts, feelings, & ideas and being totally inarticulate and unable to string the right words together in the right order to make the simplest action or intention understood by all involved.
Last semester, when I was student teaching, one of my kids had the audacity to send me an e.mail wherein she refered to me as "u". I kid you not. She didn't even have the good sense to capitalize the u, which perhaps might have been construed by me as a feeble attempt at a demonstration of respect, an aknowledgement, since she was only e.mailing me because she was turning her final project assignment in LATE, (much like all of her other work, shoddy and thrown together) that she was indeed sorry and recognized the error of her ways. No, she didn't even capitalize the u.
Anyway, I digress: I am in no way implying that I am not guilty of some of the same offences as others (though I can freely and proudly state that I have NEVER e.mailed any of my professors and refered to them as u, capital or otherwise) ; I have been known not to identify pronouns (to which my father will attest with great vehemence, I'm sure) to dangle participles, to end sentences with prepositions, to generally break the rules of English, not to mention that I don't use the subjunctive mood nearly often enough when I'm speaking English, and, and, and, etc. etc. etc.
This is my rant for today. Thank you for your support.
19.10.06
khaki dreams of greatness
Now I must preface by saying that I am not usually one to care a whit about fashion, new trends, being fashion-conscious (I'm barely conscious enough for the things that matter), or what's in and what's out. I'm your pretty basic type of girl: I wear what is comfortable on my body. I have my very own colour pallette (thanks for pointing that out to me, Maritza) which I suppose works with my skin tones and hair & eye colour (stop me if I'm saying anything that isn't true, PLEASE!!) and I also like to bear the season in mind. For instance, I don't usually wear shorts in the winter, nor wool sweaters in the summer. Nor am I judgemental of others' fashion choices (ok maybe a little, but please, you cannot leave your house wearing koolats, patterned stockings that end mid-calf, uggs, and an ill-fitting sweater all in completely uncoordinated colours and expect people not to laugh at you..........and I won't even mention the whole skirt over jeans phenomenon that has New York City in it's evil grip). I am also going to take this opportunity to voice my staunch opposition to leggings and big sweaters, (also leg warmers, big shirts, slouch socks, acid-wash jeans, banana clips worn "jauntily to the side", too-big belts) and pretty much anything that screams "I'm stuck in 1985 and I can't get out!!". Flashdance has its place in the annuls of cinematic history, but c'mon people, it's been twenty years now.....it's really high time we got over it, no? Read: While I am no fashion maven, I have my own unique, ecclectic, eccentric style which by the way includes refusing to pay a ridiculous sum of money for any article of clothing, no matter whose name is on it. It also includes not wearing things together that have no business being on the same body at the same time.
I also could care less about celebrities. These people make absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in my life whatever. I don't care who is pregnant, married, divorcing, a couple, how they are spending their money, what they had for breakfast, blah blah blah. I have enough of my own things to be concerned about, I can't worry about celebrities, now can I?
Now, all this being said, I am sad because I keep forgetting about Go Fug Yourself, an artful guide to the do's and don'ts of celebrity fashions. Which is ABSOLUTELY HYSTERICAL!!!!!!!!!!! Heather and Jessica are brilliant in their commentary and writing style. Their sarcasm and wit are priceless. I can only aspire to such greatness in my assessments of others' fashion faux-pas. If you visit, please be sure to check out Ask Aunt Fugly. Thank you Heather and Jessica for making the fashion world a safer place for all of us.
I also could care less about celebrities. These people make absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in my life whatever. I don't care who is pregnant, married, divorcing, a couple, how they are spending their money, what they had for breakfast, blah blah blah. I have enough of my own things to be concerned about, I can't worry about celebrities, now can I?
Now, all this being said, I am sad because I keep forgetting about Go Fug Yourself, an artful guide to the do's and don'ts of celebrity fashions. Which is ABSOLUTELY HYSTERICAL!!!!!!!!!!! Heather and Jessica are brilliant in their commentary and writing style. Their sarcasm and wit are priceless. I can only aspire to such greatness in my assessments of others' fashion faux-pas. If you visit, please be sure to check out Ask Aunt Fugly. Thank you Heather and Jessica for making the fashion world a safer place for all of us.
16.10.06
garden grove
So I went to Central Park on Saturday afternoon, something I haven't done nearly often enough. I've decided that I need to take advantage of everthing that New York City has to offer, seeing as how I'm not going to be here forever. Of course, I can ALWAYS come back.........
I've been feeling a bit depressed lately and I'm not absolutely sure what's happening to me. My life is undergoing a sort of renovation if you will; cleaning, painting, tearing down and building anew. It's causing me a bit of stress, but hey, these are the things we must do, right? Not everything is great all the time. I consider myself lucky that I don't have to worry all the time about things like clean drinking water (mine may be chlorinated, but at least it's potable: I hear that the consensus is that NYC water is the best, though to be quite honest, I'm not too sure), or finding my next meal, or where I will sleep tonight. I am thankful for a great many things in my life; not the least of which being my health, my friends and family, the sun, the moon, being understood, and the trees.........................
I've been feeling a bit depressed lately and I'm not absolutely sure what's happening to me. My life is undergoing a sort of renovation if you will; cleaning, painting, tearing down and building anew. It's causing me a bit of stress, but hey, these are the things we must do, right? Not everything is great all the time. I consider myself lucky that I don't have to worry all the time about things like clean drinking water (mine may be chlorinated, but at least it's potable: I hear that the consensus is that NYC water is the best, though to be quite honest, I'm not too sure), or finding my next meal, or where I will sleep tonight. I am thankful for a great many things in my life; not the least of which being my health, my friends and family, the sun, the moon, being understood, and the trees.........................
7.10.06
tasty tidbits
Snacks are a good thing; so are naps. Snacking and napping used to figure prominently in my life and they don't really anymore. I think that we (the world at large that is) should revert the world that contains a snack and a nap in the middle of the day immediately (that would mean now, ahem.....I SAID NOW). These are two things that I miss most about my childhood. The easy transition between consciousness and the semi-conscious dreamy state that immediately precedes a deep sleep, and sometimes can override it. Not to mention graham crackers and apple juice (that is a good snack) or apples and peanut butter (another good snack). Maybe I should write a recipe book for life. I'll call it "Why a Return to Snacks and Naps is Imminent" hhhhhmmmmmm that's not really a catchy title though, is it? I'll have to think on this for a bit...............
And in other news: Boccaccio is getting more and more daring in subject matter and writing style. He makes all these crazy sexual innuendos (that word can pluralize with or without an e) and the main characters are monks, nuns, abbots, and other ecclesiastical sorts; for the middle ages, this guy is really quite risque. He insinuates all kinds of crazy (and often inappropriate) activities in which these ecclesiastical types are engaging. Really quite surprising. I was under the impression, prior to having read any of the Decameron, that it was rather like Dante's Divine Comedy in the sense that the writing would be heavy to convey the severity of the subject matter; the opposite has however turned out to be the case! Boccaccio treats these matters of sin in a rather flippant, and at times comical way. The book is really enjoyable because of his word play (imagine though that I have to figure out this word play in a foreign language from the Middle Ages.....scary, isn't it?) Nevertheless, the puns come shining through (puns are like that though....all shiny and stuff)
And in other news: Boccaccio is getting more and more daring in subject matter and writing style. He makes all these crazy sexual innuendos (that word can pluralize with or without an e) and the main characters are monks, nuns, abbots, and other ecclesiastical sorts; for the middle ages, this guy is really quite risque. He insinuates all kinds of crazy (and often inappropriate) activities in which these ecclesiastical types are engaging. Really quite surprising. I was under the impression, prior to having read any of the Decameron, that it was rather like Dante's Divine Comedy in the sense that the writing would be heavy to convey the severity of the subject matter; the opposite has however turned out to be the case! Boccaccio treats these matters of sin in a rather flippant, and at times comical way. The book is really enjoyable because of his word play (imagine though that I have to figure out this word play in a foreign language from the Middle Ages.....scary, isn't it?) Nevertheless, the puns come shining through (puns are like that though....all shiny and stuff)
3.10.06
hello from the planet Neptune
not so sure why I feel like I'm on Neptune today, but hey, I'm going with it. If I've learned anything so far in this lifetime, it's that when the moment presents itself, grab it because it may never reappear again (the moment, not the lifetime) and besides, I have always wanted to visit exotic places (what's more exotic than Neptune?)
I'm all tired and rueful of my own fatigue as I have to read Machiavelli excerpts from Il Principe tonight and make a comparison with Boccaccio's Decamerone with regard to the treatment of Fortuna (this should be interesting). Happily, I got an A on the first paper I submitted for this class, comparing the first three novels from the first day with each other and then with Novella #73 from Il Novellino (written by everyone's favorite author, anonimo!! but only because it rhymes with geronimo!! ok well, maybe not). I was assigned to compare only the third novella from the first day with novella LXXIII from Il Novellino. Not bad for a first attempt! The prof (in his infinite generosity?) marked up the paper and suggested that we re-write the papers and hand them in again (was this really only a suggestion?).
I made a big decision in the last few days: I am going to do a double major (Italian and Psychology....luckily the psych is already finished). This came out of my own angst about not being able to find a job once I get to Italy without some kind of documented formal education. Passing their tests will probably be fine (if not at least sufficient) but I somehow feel (wouldn't have anything to do with a working knowledge of Italian bureaucracy, now would it?), but passing tests doesn't replace formal education in anyone's mind (even I can't justify it). One of my profs (the very same that I mentioned earlier) suggested that I keep my options open, especially if I wasn't sure that I wanted to teach ESL for the rest of my life (I can't make any lifetime commitments right now)..........so that's what I'm doing..........I'm keeping my options open.......................
I'm all tired and rueful of my own fatigue as I have to read Machiavelli excerpts from Il Principe tonight and make a comparison with Boccaccio's Decamerone with regard to the treatment of Fortuna (this should be interesting). Happily, I got an A on the first paper I submitted for this class, comparing the first three novels from the first day with each other and then with Novella #73 from Il Novellino (written by everyone's favorite author, anonimo!! but only because it rhymes with geronimo!! ok well, maybe not). I was assigned to compare only the third novella from the first day with novella LXXIII from Il Novellino. Not bad for a first attempt! The prof (in his infinite generosity?) marked up the paper and suggested that we re-write the papers and hand them in again (was this really only a suggestion?).
I made a big decision in the last few days: I am going to do a double major (Italian and Psychology....luckily the psych is already finished). This came out of my own angst about not being able to find a job once I get to Italy without some kind of documented formal education. Passing their tests will probably be fine (if not at least sufficient) but I somehow feel (wouldn't have anything to do with a working knowledge of Italian bureaucracy, now would it?), but passing tests doesn't replace formal education in anyone's mind (even I can't justify it). One of my profs (the very same that I mentioned earlier) suggested that I keep my options open, especially if I wasn't sure that I wanted to teach ESL for the rest of my life (I can't make any lifetime commitments right now)..........so that's what I'm doing..........I'm keeping my options open.......................
1.10.06
happy october
seemingly, this has been a productive weekend: aside from my momentary feelings of being inside out yesterday afternoon, the weekend has proved to be one of creativity and enterprise (as opposed to laziness and vice) a fact for which i am quite grateful. Friday evening I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see an exhibit. I succeed in visiting the Cezanne to Picasso show, however I did not have an opportunity to see the other exhibit that I wanted to see; it grew late and we had to leave, so we missed the Medieval Faces (Carved in Stone). I forgot how nice it is to go to the museum on a friday evening. The rest of New York is seemingly someplace else (so that's a fantastic reason to go at all) and there's an eerie calm to Manhattan when it's not hideouslly overcrowded and obnoxious.
I have also rediscovered wordplay (thankfully, as I was beginning to fear that my vocabulary was about ready to go on permanent hiatus for want of use). I love words, I love to play with words, I love how words can sometimes play with me. I cannot imagine my life without language; without the ability to communicate my thoughts and ideas with words (as opposed to cave paintings?)
I have finished reading the fifth novel of the second day (hello Boccaccio) both in Italian and in English. I am thankful that I don't have to go into work or school tomorrow (maybe I will finally endeavor to clean the house! er, maybe not) but I really at least should wash one load of laundry
It is 5.30 on a Sunday afternoon and I am again in love with the world. It's amazing to me that my emotions can very so drastically from one day to the next. It makes me wonder about neural pathways and how they are affected but what I'm doing, the company I'm keeping and how funny it really is that the guy who was just sitting behind me is not only wearing a shirt that says "nerd" across the chest, but also has a really bad bowl haircut (and not the cute long kind, but short and weird looking as though he was recently attacked with a flowbee) just ordered a decaf latte and tripped not only over his own chair, but also over the chair behind him in his attempt to retrieve said latte from the counter, all the while hoping to impress the girl he thinks is cute.
***SIGH***
So much for being in love with the world.
So just as soon as I have some interesting pictures to post, I will..........and thanks Dana for making me your latest contact .......I have no contacts, but if I did, you'd be first on the list ;-)
Alright, I must go now, and work on parsing some sentences in Italian (parsing is actually becoming one of my favorite past-times...............hhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmm..........maybe he's right, maybe I am a nerd..........though a nerd thoroughly unrelated to our flowbee-toting special friend mentioned earlier herein.......cringe)
I have also rediscovered wordplay (thankfully, as I was beginning to fear that my vocabulary was about ready to go on permanent hiatus for want of use). I love words, I love to play with words, I love how words can sometimes play with me. I cannot imagine my life without language; without the ability to communicate my thoughts and ideas with words (as opposed to cave paintings?)
I have finished reading the fifth novel of the second day (hello Boccaccio) both in Italian and in English. I am thankful that I don't have to go into work or school tomorrow (maybe I will finally endeavor to clean the house! er, maybe not) but I really at least should wash one load of laundry
It is 5.30 on a Sunday afternoon and I am again in love with the world. It's amazing to me that my emotions can very so drastically from one day to the next. It makes me wonder about neural pathways and how they are affected but what I'm doing, the company I'm keeping and how funny it really is that the guy who was just sitting behind me is not only wearing a shirt that says "nerd" across the chest, but also has a really bad bowl haircut (and not the cute long kind, but short and weird looking as though he was recently attacked with a flowbee) just ordered a decaf latte and tripped not only over his own chair, but also over the chair behind him in his attempt to retrieve said latte from the counter, all the while hoping to impress the girl he thinks is cute.
***SIGH***
So much for being in love with the world.
So just as soon as I have some interesting pictures to post, I will..........and thanks Dana for making me your latest contact .......I have no contacts, but if I did, you'd be first on the list ;-)
Alright, I must go now, and work on parsing some sentences in Italian (parsing is actually becoming one of my favorite past-times...............hhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmm..........maybe he's right, maybe I am a nerd..........though a nerd thoroughly unrelated to our flowbee-toting special friend mentioned earlier herein.......cringe)
30.9.06
fuori della testa
i feel so odd sometimes, in my own skin and the like. i feel that i should have dedicated myself more thoroughly to something by now, as though i should be someplace more concrete in my life. sometimes, it's as though i'm spinning completely out of control, like the rest of the universe, all chaotic and completely subject to the magnetic draw of the moon. other times though, i feel completely secure, feet firmly planted on the ground and rooted like trees.......this is not one of those times
28.9.06
leoni
a me piacciono tantissimo i leoni. questo e' davanti la Cattedrale di San Lorenzo a Genova. L'ho visto queste estate quando sono stata li'. Ci sono anche leoni come quello davanti la biblioteca di NY a Fifth Avenue. Devo ricordare di fare foto di loro .........sono belli
Mi sembra che la faccia di questo sia un po' triste?
maybe not sad though....maybe concerned........forse furbo......beh, chissa' che pensa lo scultore quando l'ha fatto...........i must remember to keep the language consistent here......
i think that lions are a metaphor (unless of course they're living on the plains in Africa, in which case they are no metaphor, but rather stealthy hunters) for instance..........look at this or this to see what i mean about not metaphoric......they're just really beautiful creatures
Mi sembra che la faccia di questo sia un po' triste?
maybe not sad though....maybe concerned........forse furbo......beh, chissa' che pensa lo scultore quando l'ha fatto...........i must remember to keep the language consistent here......
i think that lions are a metaphor (unless of course they're living on the plains in Africa, in which case they are no metaphor, but rather stealthy hunters) for instance..........look at this or this to see what i mean about not metaphoric......they're just really beautiful creatures
26.9.06
i like driving......i like being a passenger while others are driving.........a friend of mine and i once drove clear across the country......the road went on for miles and miles and miles.......i have always felt that there is something magical about driving........taking trips and such, particularly in a car............there is a connection with the landscape that is acheived from a car..........even though said landscape is flying by and at times, barely visible............
when i took my cross-country sojurn, we took I-80 because I-70 was under construction and was closed at several points along the way........we nearly avoided a tornado.........it was exciting, really..........the sky was so dark in the west and we could just see the funnel-cloud hiding almost behind the mountians..........why am i carrying on about this you ask? i find that desire guides action; when that happens, it can be a magical experience. i am at a place in my life wherein i find that my desires are guiding my actions in large part these days. i'm itchy again, to take a trip (never mind that i just returned from one, that was different) i want to get out onto the highway and drive for a while.....
when i took my cross-country sojurn, we took I-80 because I-70 was under construction and was closed at several points along the way........we nearly avoided a tornado.........it was exciting, really..........the sky was so dark in the west and we could just see the funnel-cloud hiding almost behind the mountians..........why am i carrying on about this you ask? i find that desire guides action; when that happens, it can be a magical experience. i am at a place in my life wherein i find that my desires are guiding my actions in large part these days. i'm itchy again, to take a trip (never mind that i just returned from one, that was different) i want to get out onto the highway and drive for a while.....
22.9.06
a qm ditty
so i read this really interesting article on quantum mechanics.........not that quantum menchanics is for everyone, mind you....though i must admit to finding the drawings of the "paths not taken" quite amusing....only because i interpret them in a completely different way than is applicable to quantum menchanics...............but i digress..................
so for right now, i am still new to this blogger thingy and i am still trying to master the art of posting photos, links, managing the html content, and etc. though, to my own credit, i tend to learn things relatively quickly, and am pretty sure that the more frequently i use this, the more capable i will become of using it.............. so just bear with me here for these first few posts until i really get the hang of this.................hey!! who's driving, anyway?
so for right now, i am still new to this blogger thingy and i am still trying to master the art of posting photos, links, managing the html content, and etc. though, to my own credit, i tend to learn things relatively quickly, and am pretty sure that the more frequently i use this, the more capable i will become of using it.............. so just bear with me here for these first few posts until i really get the hang of this.................hey!! who's driving, anyway?
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