By Luna, (aka Terri Giosia)

Then she asked Laura, “you don’ta think that you and Frankie too young to get married?”

Laura was stunned as they had talked about marriage, yet never discussed when or that it would be mentioned on the 1st visit to the parents.

“We’re maybe a little young now, but in a few years after we both have worked and saved some money that’s the plan” Laura responded.

“You plan on a staying home after the bambino’s come? Or you work and I have to taka care of dem”?

By Luna, (aka Terri Giosia)

I cringed and felt my stomach do flip flops. Laura and I were fuller figured women, sexy, voluptuous and as I like to describe myself Rubenesque.

Although growing up Italian being “heavier” was not a good thing. Actually for women growing up heavy, or God forbid if you were not good looking it was like a reflection on the parents and the entire family. Their sons could be assholes, not that good looking, not too bright, but that was ok. But for most Italian fathers and mothers they wanted their daughters to look perfect. Which meant, slim, pretty, dainty if you could pull that look off and of course you didn’t wear much makeup, revealing clothing nor did you smoke, as those things were only done by “loose women”.

I took down the 'how I clean my toilet' post because it was destined for another forum and not the Pocus. Forgive me. I finally started antibiotics today for a sinus infection and bronchitis.

By Luna, (aka Terri Giosia)

It was a glorious Sunday afternoon in July, the kind you love as there was no humidity and a breeze that kissed your face and put a perpetual smile on it. I was driving to my girlfriend’s home for her 40th birthday party and although in good spirits I couldn’t help but feel dread at the thought of seeing her mother in law.

You're a Post-Punk. You know 70s punk was cool, but it was mostly just a stepping stone for the greater intellectualism of what would come after. The 80s were amazing. You quite possibly have huge hair, and may wear lots of black. Snare drums need reverb. Lots and lots of reverb.

Take this quiz!

The unwritten rules of being Italian, part III
By Luna (aka Terri Giosia)

Maria put the coffee on for Carlo as Angelina walked into the kitchen. She was a vision in jeans and a loose sweater than buttoned all the way to her throat, but her figure could not be hidden and he thought again to their wedding night.

In that same instance he got a whiff of his lovers perfume and he pictured her in the motel, lying on the bed, smoking and sipping a glass of wine and he thought how much he enjoyed talking to her, her laughter, how she understood that he didn’t like talking right away, as she rubbed his shoulders and he unwound.

Would Angelina do this? She had no clue about his little habits nor did she seem very interested in his business….ah she’ll learn, he thought.

And with that thought, most marriages begin and end.

For only when Carlo and Angelina are married, living and learning about each other will he realize that she doesn’t care about his business nor does he care about her love of music and her desire to learn to play the piano. He’ll put it down like he does everything she wishes to do. And this will build into resentment on her part and she will pull further and further away and never care about his business nor will she care when he starts coming home later as she will have started her own extra curricular activities with her piano teacher.

And this will go on, and on….. After the children come her desire for sex with him will diminish and become a “duty” maybe once a month or on holidays and he won’t care as many lovers will come and go in his life.

Angelina will be a devoted mother, a great cook and maid basically to her husband and just before turning 40, will have the desire to learn another instrument or perhaps learn to play tennis….and her desires will be again fulfilled by her teacher.

How many people live this way? Too many, for they don’t get divorced nor do they even confront each other, as it’s become too easy to fall into some pattern and for a lot of people they prefer not to change the pattern, habits become a part of their life, and God forbid a divorce would make people talk.

And so they go on, living, loving others, lying, cheating, stealing moments, and lying next to a stranger “until death do us part”.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!

I was on the phone with Luna last night while my chicken, my succulent chicken with crrrrisspy skin, was roasting to perfection. Mmmmmmmmmmmm....
(I didn't do the traditional Italian fish on New Year's Eve because I was tired from work and I had a fresh organic chicken in the fridge I couldn't resist. I seriously digress -but the chicken was THAT good.)

One thing we both agreed on was that 2008 is gonna be big. BIG!

In numerology 2008 adds up to a 10=1. Luna tells me that means we are now at the beginning of a new cycle. Where for many of us, including both me and Luna, 2007 was a year of endings. I lost a job that I valued extremely highly.... The shock to the system of being let go (bastards), was the catalyst I needed to get me taking stock of my professional life and do a little introspecting, reorganizing, re-focussing, re-vamping, re-youknowwhatImean.

If you haven't joined my Yahoo! Group, Rue's Kitchen Table yet, please do. Don't worry. Whatever happens at RKT stays at RKT, will be all over the net within minutes.

BTW... I'm going on my 10th year as an online presence promoting and preserving Italian folk ways and magic , Rue's Kitchen turns 8 in July, and Abraca-Pocus! will be celebrating 5 years of Rue-minating in February. Can you believe that?

Thank you for your ongoing love and support. Thank you for the wonderful emails. Most of all, best wishes of joy, health, prosperity and love to you and all you hold dear!

~R