Summer 2010 - Aestas Horribilis - Good Riddance!

"1992 is not a year on which I will look back with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'Annus Horribilus'." - Queen Elizabeth

Annus Horribilis - Latin for horrible year.

Aestas Horribilis - Latin for horrible summer.

This is how I feel as Summer 2010 races toward the record book.

I have been in a virtual fog since losing my brother in April. I have not slept through the night since his death and I feel stagnant. Unmoving.

I have been touched by the kind thoughts, gestures and prayers from so many people, a lot of them strangers. But I have been greatly hurt by some close family members and friends who have treated me like s*^t.

I just need this fog to lift.

On Friday, my friend Laura got married. A week before her wedding, her mom passed away.

It is heartbreaking to conceive how her mom can die on a Friday and then the next Friday, marry. I cried as did many other guests when her dad was introduced into the reception hall and when she had her first dance and of course, when she danced with her dad. But, she looked lovely and I wish her all of God's great goodness.

But really. Can this summer have been any worse?

I have Fall to look forward to.

Fall is my favorite time of year.

The changing of the leaves hint at a fresh start.

So, I am ready for this -
And this.And oh yeah. This.
Good riddance Summer of 2010. I will not look back on you fondly.

Match.com Mail and Mail and More Mail

Here is my inbox.

I am a bit behind in going through the "men" whom Match.com believes are my "matches."

It is frustrating.

Because these "matches" are not what I would consider "matches."

I don't exactly know what they are.

All I know is that I have a headache and I am tire of using "quotes!"

Free Finds from a Friend

My friend Marie was having a garage sale at her parents' home. Her mom passed away earlier this year and her dad is moving in with her so they needed to get rid of a lot of things.

I went by to show my support and to help with the sale. She said I could take whatever I liked.

Here is what I brought home with me.

* Milk glass jar
* Painting in a beautiful frame
* Glass bowl with curved edges
* 2 Italian Cookbooks

I collect cookbooks. I thought I had a lot but Marie's mom collected them as well. And since we are I-talian, her mom and I have some great Italian cookbooks. Here are the two that I brought home with me.
Can't wait to try some recipes. And when I do, I will definitely think of her mom!

Match.com Scam Using Military Men

Cindy over at My Romantic Home recently posted about a "man" she communicated with on Match.com. He posed as a US service member and in the end, asked for wire transfers of money.

This creeped me out. I thought I was safe until I received the following email from a "man" on Match.com.

Hello and how are you? You have a great smile! After reading your profile you had impressed me as being feminine, classy, personable, and a woman of good character.
My name is Richy, a U.S ARMY Under deployment in Afghanistan, i am among the Troops from Front Hood, Texas that was sent to Afghanistan for peace keeping... well i am a widower and a father of two kids who are presently in Ohio with my grandmother just for while i am away.. i am in Kabul Afghanistan, though things have not been really easy here, but we are trying out best. I really want to meet someone i kind spend a good time with, some one that we can both share our dreams... I am not afraid to take chances, always willing to try something new.. you can add me to your messenger list and get to know more as i do not come here often, due to patrol and other military activites that keep me busy, i read my m ails eve ryday, you can write back to me anytime, Your questions and comments are welcome and it would be so nice to hear from you... fullRichy@talkmatch.com, it is the same on messenger you can write back to me on it just to check if the email address is correct.. In my honest opinion you are not only a lady of beauty and brains, but also one with personality and that is really impressive to me my dear. i Apologize for the long mail, Anyway thanks for your time and God bless.Hope to get a feedback from you..

Sincerely,

Richy

I was immediately suspicious and reported this email to Match.com. Whether or not they do anything about it is your guess. I doubt it.

It really makes me sick.

My Dream Man - Scott McGillivray

Ahhh . . .

Recognize him ladies?

He is Scott McGillivray, host of HGTV's Income Property.

I have been watching this show recently (dating has been verrrry slow) and I gotta tell ya . . . I am in lust!

He has dream man criteria to the nth degree:

*Smart
*Handsome
*Talented
*Works very well with his hands
*Creative
*Great teeth and hair
*Hot
*Entrepreneur
*Great body
*Intelligent (okay, I said smart but wanted to throw in another adjective)
*Gorgeous (I can't stop myself)

Message to Scott

I don't expect you to divorce your wife and move from your native Canada to the US of A, but if you have a handsome hottie twin-brother, can you send him my way?

Thanks! XOXO

My Favorite Summer Reads

With so little time left of summer, I thought I would FINALLY share some of my favorite summer reads.

Here they are:

The Last Summer of You and Me by Ann Brashares. Set on Fire Island, NY, I got totally entangled in the relationship between two sisters and their male companion. Couldn't put it down.












Next up is Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. What can you say about this timeless classic written 50 years ago. I savor every word of this book.












Without Reservations by columnist Alice Steinbach, details her late-life European adventure including a romance with a Japanese business executive.













The Round-Heeled Woman: My Late-Life Adventures in Sex and Romance by Jane Juska. This sixty-something heads out into the world of personal-ad dating. An oftentimes sad yet honest account of her encounters. She was on The View a few years ago and is a woman I would like to have lunch with.










A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke. Merde, for those of you who don't speak French, means crap. Very funny "fiction" book that follows Brit Paul West as he navigates life in France. Funny and sexy romp!













An Italian Affair by Laura Fraser. When her husband leaves her, Ms. Fraser sets off on a transatlantic love affair. Feeling plump, she allows herself to show off her sexy side with the help of a European man. A sometime writer for More magazine, I love her writing and wish I were in Ischia right now!












The Buenos Aires Broken Hearts Club by Jessica Morrison. The title character after catching her fiance cheating on her the same day she loses her job, in a drunken stupor, books a rental in Buenos Aires. This book was the catalyst that, a few years ago, planted the blogging seed in my head. Took me a while to act on it but glad I did. A very fun read.









After reviewing my summer reading list, I see that I love books that take me away to faraway places.

Ahhh . . .

Dontcha just love books?!

"I find television to be very educating.

Every time somebody turns on the set,

I go in the other room and read a book."

- Groucho Marx

Eat, Pray, Love

Loved Italy. India was tough. Bali was better.

Highlighted parts of the book that spoke to me including this quote.

Can't wait to see the movie!

I'm Versatile!

I've been called a lot of things in my life - LOL.

Why not Versatile.

Jules over at AdBits gave me a Versatile Blogger Award!

Here are the "responsibilities" of an award recepient.

1 - Thank the person who gave you the award.
2 - List 7 things about yourself.
3 - Pass the award on to bloggers you enjoy (at least 5).

So, here are a few things about me, the Single Nester . . .

1 - I love jazz music. There is just something about good sax :)
2 - I can stroll through the galleries of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for hours (that is until my feet start to hurt).
3 - My favorite color is turquoise.
4 - I am a really good cook and I collect cookbooks.
5 - My kindergarten teacher made fun of a drawing of mine and I was traumitized until a few years ago, when I decided F^&K her and I started to get crafty.
6 - I was the best singer in my class all through junior high and high school, receiving many awards.
7 - I dream of visiting Greece, Turkey, Spain . . . all places with dark-haired men!
8 - BONUS FACT: My favorite food is prosciutto on fresh Italian bread with tomatoes and balsamic vinegar.

So, I am passing the VBA on to some of my favorite bloggers: (I love so many but I would literally be here all day if I listed all the blogs I so enjoy!)

1 - Carlee and Tiffany of Deliciously Organized - this blog is like a breath of fresh air!
2 - Jen of Tatertots and Jello - fabulously talented and oh so sweet!
3 - Karen of Strictly Simple Style - beyond kind-hearted.
4 - Alissa of 33 Shades of Green - another blog that makes me wish I lived next door.
5 - Maya of Completely Coastal - the ultimate source for all things beachy!
6 - BONUS BLOGGER: Jill of Sneaky Momma Blog Design - so talented and giving with her vast knowledge of all things Blogger!
7 - I CAN'T HELP MYSELF! Here's another - Mary Ellen of Lucky Little Stars - another sweetie!

So ladies, pass along the goodness.

You all inspire me!

"Each friend represents a world in us,
a world possibly not born until they arrive."
- Anais Nin

Seashell and Burlap Frame Artwork

My older niece recently turned 18. She was upset with me that I didn't make her a necklace organizer like I did her younger sister. You can see this project in this post from April.

So I promised her I would make her something else.

I gathered the following materials:

Picture Frame - purchased at Michaels with a 50% off coupon
Burlap - purchased at Joann's with a 50% off coupon
E6000 glue and Spray Adhesive - on hand (undoubtedly purchased with 50% off coupons :)
Seashells - free; accumulated from many, many strolls on my local beach
Removing the matte and glass from the frame, I cut the burlap to size and on a non-100 degree day, spray adhesived the burlap to the cardboard backing of the frame.

I carefully choose beautiful seashells and with a heart-shaped cookie cutter, I designed the heart for the middle of the frame using teeny, tiny shells. I glued all the shells with the E6000 glue. I wore a face mask because this stuff is toxic.
Here is the finished project.
I love how it came out and may very well make one for myself!

"If you surrender to the wind, you can ride it." - Toni Morrison

Help me Pick a Man on Match.com

So, after 3 months away from Match.com, I am just now getting to the loads of emails from them and various "matches."

Blogging friends, I need your help.

Help me choose.

Which of the following men who recently contacted me should I respond to?

I am conflicted.

All three sound just sooooo amazing.

Future Husband #1 -

I am Retired, I don't do field work anymore with my fellow crew, some of them are dead now and some live very far away..,I still believe in what i have done and would like to give it a try again

Future Husband #2 -

If I was on the Bachelor, they'd have to put the show on HBO or pay per view!


Future Husband #3 -

My name is Joseph. I'm a independent man who is love to entertain, people and know how have a good time. I have good head on the shoulder and I love my job looking forward going to work every day. I;m a fun and easygoing guy love meet new people. I;m looking for some one who is honest and loving and caring. To have a mutual relationship with. I'm well organized and well groomed man like the the same: I love to travel and going to movies, beach or stay home and cuddle or cook. If you interested please drop me a line.

My heart is beating so fast. I am imagining all of the possibilities with these guys.

They all sound like they could lead me from Single Nester status to Double Nesting.

What do you think?

Leave a comment and let me know whom I should respond to.

(PS - I hope you get my sarcasm :)

"Kinky is using a feather; Perverted is using the whole chicken."

- Author Unknown

You say To-may-to: I Say To-mah-to

Tomatoes. A staple of so many home gardens, especially in gardens tended by Italians.

For as long as I can remember, my dad has grown tomatoes. Fresh off the vine, they are like candy.
I am always amazed at how my dad's garden grows.

This year, I have taken a more active role in helping him with his garden and I now see all of the hard work he has done for so, so many years.

I am grateful.

Here is Dad and the first tomatoes.
A few years ago, I received the Seed Savers Catalog. Besides being visually beautiful, the fact that people are taking heirloom varieties of plants and making sure they continue to exist for years to come is just amazing.


I ordered seeds for Purple Russians. They are delicious and peppery. Love them!
Here are some other tomatoes that we have harvested.I made delicious Panzanella Salad. Crusty Italian Bread - cucumbers - red onions - basil - and of course, the star of the summer, tomatoes.I also made a Greek Salad with everything from above except for the bread. I also added capers and feta cheese.To think that in a few short months, tasteless, colorless, sweetless tomatoes will be crowding the grocery store shelves.

Ugh.

If I could only make these tomatoes last all year long!

"Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration."

- Lou Erickson