It is not good for the man to be alone…

by Joseph Squicciarini

Well, I thought I had it down. At least at 50, you’d think I would. In fact, as I look back, I know I was together. That “bachelor” thing wasn’t me… clothes strewn here and there; the toilet seat up all the time… you know the drill. But there I was, eating penne pasta out of the pot. Why dirty another dish? Horrible.

A man is not complete without a wife. This is the wisdom of the sages. I agree. So what happened? My bride – that much better half – was at the beach. I’m home alone for a few days. I know where the wooden spoons are, even the necessary spices for good pasta.

Allyn and I had a sumptuous pasta meal (my favorite) at the beach. It’s become a tradition, and one that I am very fond of. In usual “perfect help-meet” style, she had given me a frozen container of the left over meat sauce to take home with me. Marvelous.

So here I am in the kitchen. I’m comfortable. I’m checking the pasta situation in the pantry, and it appears that we have an open bag of penne pasta! Hmmm… How much pasta does one need, if one is eating alone? Fortunately, I have a Skype video call scheduled with the beach crowd in a little while. You know, there’s wisdom in a multitude of counselors – especially women – regarding pasta quantities.

She says one cup is more than enough for me. I’m not convinced… and does she really know how hungry I am? Impossible. It’s OK though, because there is still an opened bag of elbows… I’ll be all right. Boil, cook, eat… and if necessary, boil, cook, eat again! Where’s that sauce pot? Cooking with Joe!!

Unbelievable. The reggiano parmesan cheese I picked out at Lowe’s Food store was nearly consumed during our romantic dinner at the beach. Allyn used the empty container to give me the meat sauce to take home. I had tossed it into the microwave to heat it up while the pasta was cooking. Now I’m looking at a sea of meat sauce spread all over that rotating glass platter inside the microwave. The top of the cheese container is discernable… but what happened to the sides and the bottom???

I stopped the microwave to stop the spinning… I can scrape the meat sauce onto my pasta… but where IS the bottom of this container? Is it part of the sauce?? I’ve got some stringy stuff amidst the meat, but I think that’s the reggiano parmesan that was sprinkled lovingly on top of the meat sauce. But maybe the stringy is the melted plastic? Oh my.

I’ll let the plastic harden while I finish draining and rinsing my pasta…

Nothing has changed. There is a top. There is a bottom. There are no sides. Could they really have perfectly collapsed into the bottom??

Wait! I was in the Army!! I can eat dirt and still survive. What can a little plastic do?? I’m not throwing this meat sauce away – that’s not happening. OK. Out with the top. Out with the bottom. If I tip this huge round glass deal up at just the right angle, I can use this kitchen squeegie-thing to get the meat sauce (and maybe the plastic) into the pot with the pasta…

A little pepper. A dash of salt. Stir it up well… I’m definitely going to need a glass of Chianti with this bad boy… Tentatively eating the first fifty fork fulls. You know what? It’s fabulous!! Nothing crunching – no funny aftertaste.

I’m keeping this little episode to myself… The non-military folks just wouldn’t understand… but you just can’t put food on a plate if you’re testing to see if it’s edible…

I can’t wait for her to get home… <sigh>

Semicentennial

An excellent father, who can find? For his worth is far above a Browning Citori shotgun.
The heart of his wife trusts in him, and he will have no lack of gourmet home-cooked meals.
He does her good and not evil all the days of his life.
He looks for watches and pocket knives and keeps them in a box on his dresser with delight.
He is like merchant ships; he orders his siddurim from afar.
He rises also while it is still night; and gives support to his clients and tasks to his staff members.
He considers a MINI Cooper and buys it; with his earnings he takes us out for fried zucchini at Maggiano’s.
He girds himself with strength, and makes his coffee strong.
He senses that his gain is good, and his lamp goes out earlier every night.
He stretches out his hand to the target, and his hands grasp a firearm.
He extends his hand to the keyboard, and stretches out his fingers to the mouse.
He is not afraid of the winter for his household, for his household can always put on more clothes.
Banana Republic makes coverings for him; his clothing is fine linen and cashmere (with the warmth of wool, the draping qualities of silk, and the wearability of cotton).
His wife is known in the Caribou, when she sits among the knitters of the land.
He makes a product locator and sells it, and supplies kiosks to Barnes & Noble.
Transparency and consistency are his trademarks, and he smiles at a good glass of red wine.
He opens his mouth in righteousness, and the teaching of history is on his tongue every Tuesday night.
He looks well to the ways of his household and does not eat cookies, candy, or any kind of crunchy food.
His children rise up and bless him, his wife also and she praises him saying:
“Many teachers have done nobly, but you talk more than all of them.”
“Men are liars,” “Looks don’t matter,” and “Nothing good happens after midnight…”
but a man who trains up his children in the way they should go shall stay young at heart and be cared for in his old age.
Give him the fruit of his own fig tree, and may he see his children to the third and fourth generations.
Happy birthday, Dad. We love you!

26

by Julianna Squicciarini

For those of you who didn’t know, our parents celebrated their 26th anniversary earlier this month (the 8th, to be exact). To the average American children, parents’ anniversaries come and go with barely a second thought. Who cares, anyway? They got married – a long time ago – good for them. Right? But if you think about it seriously, you wouldn’t be here if they hadn’t. So this is an AWE-FILLED, STUPENDOUS, EARTH-SHATTERING event. Besides, as the years continue to add up, they join an ever-narrowing minority. Divorce is predominate in this country.

On that very serious note, we, the Squicciarini 5, put our heads together to figure out what to do in honor of our parents’ 26th anniversary. No – not to decide what to get them or what to do for them; our parents are the ultimate romantics. They do enough for each other. On top of which, they actually “kicked us out” of the house for that evening, so they could make dinner together and enjoy it in solitude. This was fine with us – we just needed a great plan to fill four to five hours.

We came up with a list of 26 things to do. This list was a great list. I mean, the creative juices that were poured into it would astonish even the artists among us. It included mundane things, like driving for 26 miles. It included more spicy things, like drinking 26 ounces of water. It included over-the-top things, like releasing 26 balloons from the top of the Ballantyne Village Theater. Are you laughing yet? On the edge of your seat, wondering what we did? Overwhelmed by the ideas? Good. Keep reading.

Obviously, we are ambitious. Set the bar high, or it won’t be any fun trying to reach for it. So yes, we tried for 26 twenty-sixes, and some we got – some we didn’t quite attain. But it’s the thought that counts, and it certainly felt like half of Charlotte knew it was our parents’ 26th anniversary by the time we arrived back at The Residence. Here’s what we did:

• We visited 8 places. I think 8 counts, because their anniversary falls on the 8th of October. <chuckle>
• Our first stop was the Allison home, because Mr. & Mrs. Allison also celebrated their 26th anniversary this year. Congratulations to them. While there, we stole Rachel and took her with us, to be our photographer. As a result, we have tons of excellent pictures to remember this day.
• We spent exactly $26 at the gas station, getting gas for this amazing drive all over Charlotte. Christine is surprisingly good at getting an exact amount at the gas station, and we have the picture to prove it.
• We definitely drove 26 miles.
• We interviewed people on their thoughts on marriage. Anniversaries are the perfect chance to do this. Our questions (each of us had one to ask) were things like, “Do you think age matters in a relationship?” and “What do you think is the biggest contributor to the ever-rising divorce rate in America?” I have to say, that last question is quite the tongue-twister if you’re trying not to look at the paper when you say it. Can you tell which one was mine?
• We traveled with a group of 26. Since we only invited one guest to join us on this adventure, I’m sure you’re wondering how we got that number.
• We. Took. 26. Group. Pictures. Are you impressed?
• We chose a word, near and dear to our hearts, and tried to use it in conversation – naturally – 26 times. We made it to 16 without looking too obvious. The word, just so you’re “in the know” was…<whisper> cucumber.
• We had our in-house senior technician cut us a CD of great songs to which we could rock out while doing all this driving. 26 tracks, of course.
• We gave 6 hugs. And no, they weren’t all to the same person.
• We made a Roundtable List of 26 words that describe our parents and their marriage. It was epic.
• We made 7 toasts, mostly to ourselves, our parents, and the day in general.
• We broke into 7 [loud] rounds of applause – in public.
• We drank 26 ounces of water.
• We were going to leave our waitress at 26-cent tip, but that seemed a little cheap. I take that back. It was ludicrous to even think about it. So we had our in-house senior technician figure out what $0.26 SQUARED would be. That still seemed cheap. So we did $0.26 CUBED, and it was perfect.
• We froze for 26 seconds every 26 minutes. ALL NIGHT. Do you know how cool that feels? The four of us who own cell phones all set alarms to go off sequentially, and when we heard them, we all immediately froze and started silently counting. It was incredible.
• We released 6 balloons from the top of the Ballantyne Village Theater parking deck. It was sunset, and the beautiful reddish-pink sky in the background made this event so much more special. We shouted, “HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!” and let them go, our hearts swelling with love for and gratitude toward our parents. <sigh> That was really the highlight of the evening.
• We went to The Cheesecake Factory and ordered the 26th cheesecake on their menu. It was Caramel Pecan Turtle, in case you were wondering. Very tasty.
• We stuck 26 tall, spindly, sparkly candles into that one piece of cheesecake, lit them, wished our parents a happy anniversary (again), and blew them out. We very nearly started a small bonfire in the restaurant. But we didn’t get in trouble. <sigh of relief>
• And – get this – we made a list of 26 things to do. HAHA!

Thus ends one of the most wonderful celebrations of our parents’ anniversary. We had such a fabulous time, and I feel like we did honor them, even though we didn’t get them a gift, or spend the evening with them, or anything like that.

We’re so proud of our parents! I know that sounds a little backwards…but it’s true, anyway! They’re an amazing couple, and their lives and marriage are a testimony to everyone around them. May all five of us follow their example!

P.S. – not counting the title or this sentence, bet you can’t guess how many times I used the number “26″ in this post…

For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow

by Julianna Squicciarini

Well, it’s Father’s Day. Again. And that must mean we’re heading up to Boone Fork Trail for our annual Father’s Day hike on that “moderately easy” woodland path.

<chuckle> NOT!

No, readers, Boone Fork Trail was an interesting and perhaps worthwhile experience, which will not be repeated in the near future. This Father’s Day, we played it very safe and got our dad a grill. Or, rather, he got himself a grill and our mom helped pick it out. And, seeing as that gift wasn’t really from us, WE (meaning his five children) got him a monogrammed leather wine dossier to keep track of his favorite bottles. Talk about Children of the Century.

So today, instead of getting up to Boone nice and early, we slept in late and our dad cooked us a great breakfast. On his new grill. I know – weird. Especially considering that it was an egg breakfast…hmmm….well, the eggs were cooked inside. He did the sausage and hashbrowns (do I even need to say it was kosher sausage? you all know that by now, right?). It was very good.

And instead of trekking through damp forests and sidestepping cow patties, we sunbathed and swam with friends in our gorgeous 20×40′ pool. Our father graciously allowed us to have an Open Swim this afternoon. What a guy!

And as we speak (or as I type), our father is subbing for Emeril and cooking us an amazing dinner. Also on his grill. THAT gift was a hit. It’s a steak that’s bigger than my head. However, it only feeds 4 to 6 people. There’s something wrong with this picture…

On that delicious note, may I take this opportunity to wish all the fathers reading this the very happiest and relaxed Father’s Day ever. I’m sure you all deserve it.

For he’s a jolly good fellow, which nobody can deny!

Deep in the Heart of Texas: Day 4

By Christine Squicciarini

Wow. What an INCREDIBLE Sabbath!

I know we’re all still in Passover mode, so you’re probably thinking like I am, “What made this Sabbath different from all other Sabbaths?” Let me tell you. THIS was Bella Torah’s first Meetup publicized event since our move to Meetup.com on March 23 of this year! What a success! We had a healthy turn out for Shacarit morning prayers, and how encouraging to see some new faces! There was some wonderful discussion over the weekly Torah portion… another blessing. ;-)

After prayers, a delicious oneg gave everyone a chance to meet everyone else… the house was filled with laughter and conversation, and more guests arrived for Dad’s class Animal Sacrifices and How They Apply to Us. You’ll have to get on www.bellatorah.com to hear the class, ’cause that’s another post. Obviously Dad has a gift for presenting material in a clear light! It’s always a phenomenal learning experience to sit under his teaching. I got rave reviews all afternoon about how great the class was!  

Class ended and people stuck around to debrief with us, which was awesome. It’s so neat having a a congregation of like-minded believers, why didn’t we Meetup sooner?  I do need to mention that in Morgan’s absence, I took over working the coffee bar. Very nifty. I’m gonna have to do that more often. :-D I got to talk with like EVERYONE, but I stayed in one place… definitely a new experience…:-)

Speaking of Morgan, we didn’t hear a peep out of The Traveler, but that was to be expected since it was  the Sabbath. We have since found out that she enjoyed some very tasty vegetarian sushi… and she is adjusting very well to the numerous dogs (so she says ).

Well, that’s it. It was an INCREDIBLE Sabbath! And now you know why.

Biltmore: A Broad Brush

by Julianna Squicciarini

The time has come. The end is nigh. My 12-month Biltmore Pass will expire at the end of this month. But I have enjoyed it like you wouldn’t believe I have used it more than even I thought possible. And these past twelve months have shown me the beauty of the estate in every season.

For those of you who don’t know, my parents gave me the pass for my graduation last April (recommended reading includes Grad Prep, Grad Prep II: Update, Grad Prep III: Update, Grad Prep IV: Breaking News, Grad Prep V: Extra!, and Graduation – Finally!; I know, I got a little carried away…). I had put it on the Graduation Gift List, with the note that one should only purchase it if they wanted to spend some real money. It was kind of pricey. Anyway, I received it and was very excited about using it. Basically, pricewise, you have to go at least twice to make it worth it. <grin> Biltmore lost some money this year, because I went way more than twice!

1. May 2008
   Due to our exceptionally busy schedule in April, the first trip ended up in May, with Christine. We went exactly one week before her 17th birthday, so that she could get in *for free* with me (one of the many benefits of being a Passholder – children 16 and under get in free with you).
   Memories: It was absolutely freezing and we were not dressed for the weather, so we purchased matching Biltmore sweatshirts and walked around in those for most of the day. We also took enough pictures to make a slideshow
   Read all about it: May Biltmore Trip.
2. July 2008
   I also skipped June, for some inexplicable reason. Might have had something to do with the fact that I was focusing all of my attention on my friend Kelly’s visit and my huge 19th birthday party (19). For my birthday, however, Morgan gave me a trip to Biltmore to stay at the beautiful Inn together.
   Memories: It was very hot. But we tried several new things, like having afternoon tea and doing a trail ride. The together-time was priceless. It is unbelievable how much bonding takes place when there are quarts of perspiration pouring out of you
   Read all about it: July Biltmore Trip.
3. August 2008
   In the middle of August, I took Christine, Mary, and Anna Gordon. Anna was 14, so she and Mary got in for free. It was also her first time there. I love showing someone something that is completely new to them. It’s almost like it’s partly mine, and I get to show it off.
   Memories: We took TONS of pictures. We did photo shoots *everywhere*. We even snapped a few inside the house, before learning that you’re not supposed to (whoops). Driving from the house to one of the restaurants on the estate, Mary and Anna stood up and stuck their heads through my sunroof for a really great ride
   Read all about it: August Biltmore Trip.
4. September 2008
   Ever since I got the pass, I had wanted to take my piano teacher, Phyllis Teague, on a little daytrip. Turns out she hadn’t been in 30 years. Well, a lot changes in 30 years There were more floors open in the house, and many more gardens and restaurants to see and experience.
   Memories: We went on the last day of the gorgeous Carpet of Flowers exhibit. It was amazing, especially if, like Mrs. Teague, you love flowers. We also had afternoon tea (again), and spent an inordinate amount of time chatting over our scones.
   Read all about it: September Biltmore Trip.
5. November 2008
   Yes, I had to skip October. Various reasons. This November trip, though, was planned months in advance. Mary and I decided to go with Rachel & Julia Allison while Morgan and Christine were in Israel. Can’t let them have all the fun, right?! I think Rachel and I put this on the calendar sometime in May or June. I’m a planner…
   Memories: Rachel was *constantly* snapping pictures. I mean, how many scenery shots taken from a moving car do we need?? We also walked down one of the garden paths to Bass Pond Waterfall. I stayed at the top of the pond, while Rachel took Mary and Julia down to the bottom. I was able to take pictures of them, and vice versa. Then, when they disappeared into the shrubbery to meet me back up top, they really did disappear. For 10 minutes, I stood there waiting for them to show. Finally, I felt the need to go search for them, while trying to get Rachel on her cell phone. Needless to say, they were fine and had just taken some kind of really long detour :-S
   Read all about it: November Biltmore Trip.
6. December 2008
   My mother had apparently had a big hand in getting me this pass. So I definitely wanted to make sure she got a trip, too. We planned an overnight stay toward the beginning of December. Unfortunately, she was not feeling well enough to come. The day before our trip, she told me this, and we were both very disappointed. After all, we had planned it well in advance due to the hotel reservations. So, being my spontaneous self, and not wanting to lose my deposit on the room, I called Rachel Allison and asked her to come with me instead…again. Oddly enough, not only did she want to come, but she was actually able to
   Memories: Rachel and I picked up identical diamond costume rings at exactly the same time without knowing it. We held up our hands at the same moment and our jaws dropped as we realized how alike we actually are. The pictorial proof is in existence, and we’ve had fun joking about that picture.
   Unfortunately, you can’t read all about it. I didn’t blog it when I came home. Whoops…
7. January 2009
   Naturally, I rescheduled my mother’s trip for the next month. And it turned out that she couldn’t make it then, either, as she was taking Mary to the beach for a birthday getaway. So I had these hotel reservations that I could cancel or use. WHY CANCEL!? Girls’ party! We grabbed Emily Hergenreter and whisked her off to Biltmore, by way of the Tanger Outlets (!), and had a blast.
   Memories: Emily, Morgan, and I had all purchased these really cute boots. We wore them on the trip and loved matching. Also, we had planned dinner at this unheard-of, rustic mountain restaurant called The Stoney Knob Cafe. When we finally arrived, starved and exhausted, they told us there was no room and we would have to go elsewhere. Disappointed, we started to leave, when the hostess came running after us, practically begging us to stay. *Somehow* there was now a table for four. I think the all-male kitchen staff had something to do with it, personally…
   Read all about it: January Biltmore Trip.
8. February 2009
   I wasn’t sure I would be able to fit in a trip in February, but it worked out. I invited Susan Lindsey to experience the special Chocolate Tea they were offering in honor of Valentine’s Day. I know it sounds gross – it wasn’t
   Memories: Mrs. Lindsey and I split a “fried green tomato” sandwich…something I had never even *thought* about trying. Apparently a Southern thing Wasn’t bad at all – very interesting.
   Um…missed the blog opportunity on this trip, as well. Sorry…
9. March 2009
   Obviously, the final month needed to have the most special guests. I finally got to go with my mom, and we decided to do a daytrip instead of overnight, and to bring my dad along as well. The drive in the MINI Cooper was a highlight. And somehow, it seemed to me that it took less time to get there than normal…perhaps because my father was driving…
   Memories: It is an amazing and incredible day when I, with four siblings, actually feel like an only child. This was one of those days. Besides, I got to impress my parents with my knowledge of the ins-and-outs of Biltmore, since I’ve been so often Gotta love it.

So all in all, I visited the Estate nine times, and stayed overnight three times. Plus all those extra shopping and dining discounts – this was totally worth it. And now it’s time to say goodbye to Biltmore, at least for the next few months. What a year this has been!

Endless Love – the Valentine’s Day Luncheon 2009

by Julianna Squicciarini

If you have been a faithful reader of this blog for the past year, you will remember that my first post ever was about the Valentine’s Day Luncheon I hosted last February. Unbelievable to think that it’s already been a year since then! Wow. Tempus fugit indeed.

Last Valentine’s Day, after the tremendous success of the luncheon, I decided to try and make it an annual event. Actually, I already had my speakers lined up! When my grandfather heard about last year’s event, he offered to speak at the next one and give a “man’s perspective” (every girl’s dream, right!?). I wrote it down, but I didn’t know if when the time came things would work out.

Well, they did. At the beginning of January, I leapt into party-planning mode and scheduled a room at Maggiano’s Little Italy. The food and atmosphere were so fantastic last year, I couldn’t think of a better place to host this. I prepared and mailed the invitations in one day; it took me two weeks last year (!). I invited about 50 young ladies of my acquaintance; I knew with the economy the way it is right now, I could expect a smaller turnout. I ended up with 20, plus myself and my two speakers. Not bad at all…

Which brings me to the delightful subject of my speakers. My grandfather, without a doubt, is the wisest man I know (see the previous post “Defining Terms“). I made sure everyone at the luncheon knew that before he spoke. When he visits our home, we feel like we should have a tape recorder handy, because everything he says is relevant and sound. I was honored that he spoke at this luncheon.
My other speaker was my father. His 35-minute talk was pretty much everything a girl would want to know about what a guy wants and what a guy needs. In the best sense, of course – nothing sketchy or risque He had the whole room laughing several times, which was fantastic.

And for those of you interested, both speeches were recorded and CDs are available upon request. Just let me know…

Once again, the event was sponsored by Quo Vadis LLC – IT professionals servicing small businesses here in the Charlotte area – and We Light the Candles – an online community providing connection and encouragement for women around the globe. Their support was much appreciated. And speaking of support, the whole thing wouldn’t have even taken off without my family. I love to plan. It’s my passion. But the execution is sometimes beyond me. My sisters displayed their love and encouragement for the past month through things like decorating the tables, taking pictures, and unexpected gifts. I feel so loved. And isn’t that the whole point of Valentine’s Day?!

Anyway, the purpose and idea behind this event is to encourage young women such as myself to use this time in their lives to prepare to be excellent wives, homemakers, and help-meets; to let their parents lead and protect them, especially when it comes to romance – love is SO blind! If I got that message across, it was a success again! I am looking forward, as always, to next year.

And G-d Was Watching: Top 7 Happenings of 2008

What: High school graduation
Who: Julianna
Where: Christ Covenant
When: April 2008

What: New cousins!
Who: Timothy Stelzl, Scott Berlin, and Nathan Reed
Where: Waxhaw NC, Vero Beach FL, and Rock Hill SC
When: February-April-July 2008

What: Volunteer work at the USO
Who: Morgan and Julianna
Where: Charlotte-Douglas International Airport
When: August 2008

What: Driver’s license and learner’s permit
Who: Christine (fully licensed) and Peter (learning)
Where: the streets of Charlotte… watch out!
When: September 2008

What: 25th anniversary celebration
Who: Joseph and Allyn
Where: Tuscany, Italy
When: September 2008

What: Profiles on the social networking site Facebook
Who: Morgan, Julianna, Peter, and Mary
Where: Online
When: Fall 2008

What: Tour with FFOZ
Who: Morgan and Christine
Where: Israel
When: November 2008

A Tale of Two City-Girls: Day 9

Congratulations to my Brilliant Brother, Peter, who passed the test and is an official Certified SonicWALL Security Administrator!!  My Esteemed Father has also passed (of course), last Friday, so now they can both sign their names with CSSA.  Way to go!  Hoo-ah!

AND both Mary and I received an email from Christine, telling us that, “probably ,t taken THAT many pictures’We haven .parties after I return-night-late.”  Which means that they haven’t taken that many pictures, and she’s hoping for late-night parties when they return   It’s like a code.  We also got to talk to the girls for quite a while, as they called us during Family Breakfast Hour.  They are having a blast, and are doing a LOT of shopping today!  The poor things had a rough start, but we’re hoping for a smooth finish

Under the Tuscan Sun: Epilogue

by Julianna Squicciarini

And finally, we come to the close of our exciting Tuscan adventure.  On Monday, around 3:30pm, our parents flew into the Charlotte airport, made it through security without any…ahem..issues, and walked out the airport doors just as we drove up.  It couldn’t have been more perfect.

They brought back tons of special Italian stuff from the region in which they stayed, including Chianti, Pecorino cheese, and many bottles of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  Things have definitely taken a more delicious and gourmet turn since they came home.  They also brought back Italian glass jewelry for us girls and a beautiful pocketknife for Peter.  Leather products such as lipstick cases (!) and wallets were also distributed.  I tell you – when my parents are visiting another country, they spare no expense (good for us ).

The evening of their return, we all sat in the family room and looked through their – I kid you not – SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SIX pictures.  756!  Happily, our esteemed father has finally gotten the memo that scenery is never as beautiful in a photograph as when seen in person, and also that putting people in the picture makes it more interesting for those who weren’t there

It’s great having them back!  We DID miss them