10,000 and Tripendicular!

The goal has been reached – we have had 10,000 views on our blog!!  Thank you for your faithful reading.  We appreciate it very much.

Now, about two weeks ago, I asked for ideas with regard how to celebrate this milestone.  Creativity was never a strong point with most of our readers, that’s for sure.  But we did get a few suggestions.  Which brings me to our invitation: we will be hosting an Open House blog party, complete with gourmet viands, here at The Residence from 7:00-9:42pm tonight (10,000 seconds).  I know it’s impromptu, but the Squicciarini family is nothing if not famous for being spontaneous   We hope you will drop by.  And remember that an extra perk will be spending time with the newly-returned International Travelers, and getting to view pictures and hear funny stories.

On a different note, when we particularly like something or someone (like Maggiano’s, or our Uncle Fred), we do a Round Table List.  Morgan created this concept; it stems, of course, from the Knights of the Round Table, and the equality associated with that legend.  We sit at a table (and no, it doesn’t have to be round), and pass around a paper or notebook on which we make a list of all the things we love about the subject.  Per a suggestion from a valued reader of our blog, we have done a Round Table List on Mr. Rick Hergenreter:

What’s so cool about Mr. Hergenreter?

1. One word: military.
2. Deadpan humor
3. Gives hugs
4. No memory whatsoever
5. Has a pretty great family…not to mention being like the youngest grandfather we know (!)
6. And even with that great family, still retains relatively good looks
7. Feels perfectly at ease playing cheesy charade games with kids in which one’s maturity and self respect are compromised
8. Plays the guitar
9. Is a terrific conversationalist
10. Can actually moonwalk!

We love you, Mr. Hergenreter – thanks for reading, and we hope to see you soon!

P.S.: this invitation is for real, people.  If you’re free, do drop by anytime between 7:00 and 9:42pm.  We’re always open to spending time with our friends!

P.S.S.: seize the opportunity, because I think we’ll hold off on the next milestone party until we’re up to 25,000… which, who knows, could be next month!

Under The Tuscan Sun: Day 9

Well, the long week has drawn to a quick and concise close. Our parents definitely seem to be enjoying themselves, as is expressed almost bi-daily on the phone. While they leisurely drove through ‘soft-shaped, serene hills of Chianti’, on the way to one of Tuscany’s oldest wineries, we were up getting gas. Readers should keep in mind the 6 hour time difference and realize the probability of extreme early departure on the American side.

Although many of our closet friends and beloved relatives stressed that conserving the gas was the most prudent decision, we decided to drive to dozens of those same friends and relatives. This may have seemed ludicrous, or even at the least slightly dangerous, but it made our visits that much more special.

We are now anticipating the bittersweet arrival of our parents in just a couple days. And until then: the partying continues!

Under the Tuscan Sun: Day 8

Pizza Police Pull Over…
By Christine Squicciarini

While our parents explored local cathedrals and quaint pottery shops, we spent the day preparing for an all-out, all-Italian PIZZA PARTY! While the guests would probably say that they did most of the work, there was still a lot of prep to do before they got here: the acquisition of various vegetables and pizza toppings; decorating the house; and most importantly, making the dough. 

Our guests arrived at all hours of the night, adding to the sponteneity of the evening! Because of the gas shortage, a few of our guests were not able to make it (we missed you!), but we ended it up with a nice healthy crowd, only slightly hesitant about diving into the abundant mounds of dough.

Having lived by the saying, “Better safe than sorry” all our lives, we discovered halfway through the evening that we had made enough pizza to feed a small army! So, just as leftovers are so abundant around Thanksgiving, I have no doubt we will be dining on pizza dough cuisine for the next weeks.

Everyone’s pizza looked… inventive, although several smacked of Southern BBQ, rather than traditional Italian seasonings! Thank you all for coming… ciao!

Under the Tuscan Sun: Day 4

The cats are still away; the mice still play.

The tour continues; the party continues.

The absent parents enjoy an unceasing Tuscan vista; the children invigilate small toddlers with much the same predicament.