The Grinding Meat Wheel: May 2012

Friday, May 25, 2012

I'm Analog And CP Is Digital

Why is it, that when I ask CP a question, she answers me with a question? Her non-responsive answers and probing qualifying statements make me crazy.

An example of this phenomena:

Babba: Have you checked your e-mail lately?
CP: Why do you ask? What's in my e-mail?

The affirmative yes, or the negative no eludes CP.
I think this trait is related to CP's inability to watch a movie neither of us have seen without asking me questions every five minutes as if I've seen it before. It may be that her brain is wired to always seek more information while mine works on a "need to know" basis.

CP's rebuttal:

Here's tonight's scenario from my perspective (which means it's based in reality.) I walk past Babba, who has the laptop open to the email sign-on page. He asks, "Have you checked your email lately?" I find this question odd. I ask, "Why? What's in my email?"

Babba is offended by this. He believes that his every question should be answered as if I'm in the witness box and he's Perry Mason. So, after going back and forth, and my refusing to answer until I had an explanation, he reminded me he had told me earlier that a co-worker of his was going to email me a photo of her baby.

So, who's right? Was Babba's question merely the equivalent of asking what time it was? Or was I perfectly justified in seeking clarification of what appeared to be an off the wall question?

You be the judge!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Doctors DiQuattros

More Pix

What's Up Doc?

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Rome On 300 Euros A Day

Well I am back in the land of muffin-tops and sweet tea. By our last days there Americans were actually stopping us in the street for help. I almost blended, except for my weight and the sneakers. There is always something that will make a westerner stand out.

For one thing, only Americans book the seats facing backwards on the Treno-Italiano. Also they show up for dinner before 8 pm. They prefer the lower floors of the luxury hotels. They tip. They walk slow and carry maps. They can't understand the transit system (you can buy a ticket on the bus for 1 Euro, but the ticket machines are only on certain buses and even when you do get the ticket you have to go to the other machine and get it validated.) Just because a new train terminal is open doesn't mean the taxi stand isn't in a pitch black area below an underpass that's littered with construction refuse. Just because a bus drops you off on one street doesn't mean the return stop isn't a km away in some alley. When you are dining in an outside cafe keep your arms tucked so you don't hit your funny-bone on a passing car. Don't get excited when your destination is only a half Km away, you can still encounter City Walls, basilicas and a disappearing sidewalk. Always have a second choice ready for the waiter, unless you really wanted horsemeat. When you get a green crossing signal look up, look right, look left and run. Just because a bus is packed, that doesn't mean another fifty people can't squeeze in. Use English as a default mode; if the farmacia clerk doesn't understand your lame translation of petroleum jelly just ask for Vasoline F U. Don't expect to confirm your flights, the airline website has been down for two days.

The Italians are just warm and wonderful people. The only exception to this is the airport coffeshop; but let's cut them a break---half of their customers are Americans.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Last Days

Black Cherry Mini

The Last Obelisk

Asheville Chic at the Spanish Steps

Where's CP

Note the Star of David below the cross.

More Steps

Ben's corner. There is our bus pulling away. Note the pedestrian has the walk-sign but he's still looking left, right, up and down.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Trastevere

Trastevere is the old working class people's section of Rome. It's the Asheville of Rome without the "nude transvestite nun" on the unicycle. It is also the former home to the Jewish Ghetto.

Portico d'Ottavia

"This monumental gateway with columns supporting a triangular pediment was built by soon-to-be emperor Augustus. Once flanked by temples and libraries, the passageway served as a kind of cultural center. After Rome's fall, the portico housed a thriving fish market. In the eighth century, the Portico became incorporated into the Church of Sant'Angelo in Pescheria. For centuries, this Christian church was packed every Saturday with Jews — forced by decree to listen to Christian sermons."

Largo 16 Ottobre 1943

"This square is named for the day when Nazi trucks parked here and threatened to take the Jews to concentration camps unless the community came up with 110 pounds of gold in 24 hours. Everyone, including non-Jewish Romans, tossed in their precious gold, and the demand was met. The Nazis took the gold, and later, they took the Jews as well."

Synagogue (Sinagoga) and Jewish Museum (Museo Ebraico)

"In the 16th century, when Pope Paul IV forced the Jews to reside within a walled ghetto, the center of its four-square-block area was this synagogue. When Italy became unified in 1870, the ghetto was essentially demolished, replaced with the modern blocks you see today."

Santa Maria della Pietà (a.k.a. San Gregorio)

"When the ghetto was a walled-in town, Catholics built churches at each gate to try and spread their faith to the Jews. Notice the Hebrew script under the crucifix. It quotes the Jewish prophet Isaiah — "All day long, I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and faithless nation that has lost its way" (Isaiah 65:2) — but misuses the quote to give it an anti-Semitic twist."

Carol and I are at a quiet restorante when a Calabresi flash mob of about forty people shows up and raises the noise level to 88 decibels.