Tuscan Afternoon

Today I spent the first day of the last year of my forties by staying in bed til 11, having pizza for breakfast/lunch as well as dinner, a nap, bingeing some Last Tango in Halifax, and then doing a new puzzle. (Next I plan to get dressed and head to the library, then drop off books, cds, and dvds to local Little Free Library boxes.) 

(artwork by Ana Hard)

Dreaming of Tuscany

The Bryn Mawr Film Institute posted about their contest for a stay at a villa in Tuscany for a week. It looked like a nice place but I decided not to buy into it. It was a hundred and fifty bucks and just felt like a waste of money since I was definitely not gonna win and it doesn't include airfare. But over the next two days I couldn't stop thinking about it. If I did win, by some miracle, who would I ask to go with me? It's for a total of six people but that's clearly a couples thing, since there are only three bedrooms. Okay, so which two people would I wanna go with. Instantly I thought of Kayla and Isabella. I am dying to have these ladies meet because I think they would really hit it off. What better excuse than a week together in Italy? I bit the proverbial bullet and entered, feeling at least a little better knowing that the money would go to help maintain the BMFI, which is a lovely theatre. Maybe I could convince Bella and Kay to take a longer vacay with me and we could go down to Positano for a few days and stay at Casa Giovanna, if David is still renting it out. Wouldn't that just be the trip of a lifetime?? Cross your fingers for us, kids!

One grand-prize winner will receive a seven-night stay at the picturesque Tuscan Beauty with up to five lucky guests, along with $800 cash. 

Savor a taste of la dolce vita from the sanctuary of your stunning Italian villa. Perched in the hills near Cortona, your two-story Tuscan home has been lovingly restored with three bedrooms, a private pool, and a fully equipped Italian kitchen. Vaulted wooden beams, stone detailing, and a charming wood-burning fireplace make for elegance and relaxed comfort.

A sun-flooded living space opens directly onto the outdoor terrace with breathtaking views of the valley below. Prepare an authentic Tuscan meal in the outdoor stone oven, best savored alfresco on the spacious stone terrace. Feel yourself unwind as you stroll the shaded gardens and arbors then cool off in the private pool overlooking the rolling hills.

- Unwind with a private pool and gardens overlooking the rolling hills and valley

- Discover the nearby medieval towns of Cortona, Arezzo, and Montepulciano

- Savor an optional private wine tasting or day-trip to world-famous Florence

- Immerse yourself in Italian art and culture with handpicked experiences available to add on

- Benefit from Premium Guest Services for trip planning

- Experience the timeless romance of the region with unforgettable local experiences curated by your dedicated concierge. Wander the sweeping vineyards and local wineries as you sample the finest in Tuscan varietals. Just minutes away by car the medieval hilltop towns of Cortona, Arezzo, and Montepulciano are yours to discover. Explore cobblestone streets, Roman ruins, and Renaissance frescoes, then return home for breathtaking views of the valley under the setting Tuscan sun.

Nicole Captures Italy

Here are some more photos that Nicole took with my iPod Touch when we traveled in Italy over a decade ago.

Our Day in Paradise

Always one to look back through old photos and relive certain moments, I decided to delve into my folder of pix from my trip to Italy with Nicole in Spring 2013. We became so close on that vacation together and she helped me so much during moments when I was beyond stressed-out. She was the perfect travel companion for my first trip abroad. Things were good back then. Her mother, my cousin Donna, was still alive and we were both young (I was young-ish) and our time in Positano was all about relaxing. No rush to see everything or shop til we drop. Our best times were sitting on the balcony, smoking, drinking Pinot Grigio, listening to music, and just talking. We've grown apart the past handful of years, mostly my fault, and don't see eachother any more. Life gets in the way, feelings get hurt and it's easier to not deal with a confrontation or unpleasant conversation and so relationships dissolve. Seeing us in the photos and in this video filled me up once again with that overwhelming love I have for her. Wherever she is and whatever she's doing, I hope that she is happy and healthy and knows that she is at her very core, a good, kind, sweet girl who deserves great fortune, joy, and adoration.

July 2022 Donations

World Central Kitchen 

World Central Kitchen (WCK) is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises. Founded in 2010 by chef José Andrés, WCK partners with local organizations and chefs to provide freshly made, nutritious meals to survivors of disasters quickly and effectively. Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, WCK has served millions of fresh meals to Ukrainian families fleeing home as well as people remaining in the country. Your generosity will help them provide emergency relief and better nutrition to feed the populations that need it most.

This month I entered to win a dream trip to Italy via Omaze because July was a really tough month for me. I am still adjusting to the racket caused by the feet of my upstairs neighbour, Lucifer, plus the god-awful Jersey Summer heat, and other mentally draining issues. I needed to escape into a dream of getting away from everything and turned to Omaze. Check it out:

Is wanderlust calling? Luckily for you, a dream itinerary in Italy has your name written all over it. Design your most epic adventure yet with a $30K travel budget, a personal travel concierge, and $10K to spend on all the shopping, pasta and boat days you could ever desire! 

Old-warm charm has truly never felt, tasted, or looked so good. There’s a slice of magic (and heavenly pizza) for just about everyone. In one trip, you can do it all, whether it’s skiing the sunny and spectacular slopes of the Dolomites, taking a private pasta making class, hitting the beach in the Amalfi coast, or visiting some of the world’s greatest works of art and architecture like the Colosseum, Vatican, Trevi Fountain and Pantheon. Deciding between fashion-obsessed Milan or canal-cruising Venice is like asking, “what kind of beauty do I want to marvel at today?” Not a bad problem to have. It’s time to curate your best vacay yet.

Support the work of World Central Kitchen to help them provide meals in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises.

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

Le Sirenuse Hotel

Last night I decided to pick up my novelization paperback copy of the film Only You. I bought it last year for fun, Summer reading and because I was missing Positano. For those of you not in the know, Only You is a 1994 romantic comedy with Marisa Tomei, Bonnie Hunt, Robert Downey, Jr., Joaquim de Almeida, Billy Zane and Siobhan Fallon that I saw in the old Cinemark Theatre on October 21st 1994 (for only $5.50!). The last third of the film takes place in Positano and I fell instantly in love. It became my greatest wish to one day visit Italy and especially Positano. That dream came true in 2013 with Nicole and then a solo trip in 2016. Staying at the hotel featured in the film - Le Sirenuse - was never in the cards, though. Far too expensive for this working class broad. I'd been hoping to return this year but finances and the pandemic have brought that wish to a screeching halt. So, I cracked open the book and started feeding into my fantasy of "one day...". Then this afternoon I saw my phone light up and it was an email from Omaze with the subject Dream of visiting the Amalfi Coast one day? "Um, yes. Yes, I most certainly do!" I opened the email and saw this:

LE SIRENUSE!!!?!?!?! I clicked the link and read all that is offered:

YOU AND A GUEST WILL:

Be flown out to Positano, Italy for 6 days/5 nights at the 5-star Le Sirenuse hotel 

Stay in a Deluxe Sea View Suite and soak in stunning views of the Mediterranean from your private balcony 

Enjoy a $2,000 stipend, the hotel’s picture-perfect pool and renowned spa, daily boating excursions along the Amalfi Coast, pilates classes, and more luxe amenities 

Your safety and peace of mind is our top priority, so we’ll make sure this trip is scheduled when it’s safe. You’ll have until April 6, 2023 to travel.

I couldn't sign in and donate fifty bucks fast enough! Then the daydreaming kicked in to high gear. I could see David again and visit the ladies at the Lemon Shop, walk on the beach, and eat super yummy pizza! I immediately texted big brother Dave to tell him the news:

Then when I went to pick up my book and read some more I noticed the bookmarker I chose from my vast collection and I think all signs point to Positano. Cross your fingers for me!

ps - The entry for the trip to Positano goes to a wonderful cause: Black Girl Ventures. Here's some info on them:

Our mission is to provide Black/Brown woman-identifying founders with access to community, capital, and capacity building in order to meet business milestones that lead to economic advancement through entrepreneurship.

We fund and scale tech-enabled, revenue-generating businesses (under $1M) founded by people who identify as Black/Brown and woman. We ignite civic engagement and hyperlocal infrastructure at the intersection of business support services, supplier diversity, social and financial capital.

Founded in 2016 by Serial Entrepreneur and Computer Scientist Shelly Bell, Black Girl Ventures addresses the unique challenges Black and Brown women face in accessing social and financial capital to grow their businesses. The BGV Style competition is the largest pitch competition globally for Black women founders. It uniquely combines the premise of Shark Tank and Kickstarter by activating community participation in donating to support women-owned businesses directly. We have funded 76 women of color, held over 25 BGV Pitch Programs across 8 cities and served over 170 participants. 

Black Girl Ventures pledges to accelerate 100,000 Black and Brown women-identifying entrepreneurs through Community Building as a Service (CBaaS). Shifting the idea of community building from being viewed solely as a community service to a valid and viable business offering to ensure the development and growth of small businesses. 

We believe in a world where ALL ideas have a chance to succeed. 

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

The Bridge of Sighs

Funnily enough, when Nicole and I were in Venice in 2013, we had no idea what this bridge was, we just thought it was beautiful. Apparently, the view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. Who knew?

Great Joy

Positano, Italy in 2013. I had dreamed and dreamed and dreamed of one day going to Italy and specifically to Positano. Thanks entirely to Nicole, I was able to go and I hadn't felt such a sense of joy, of having a dream become a reality since I met Ann Jillian in 1988. The entire second day of our time in Positano we walked the beach and looked for tiles and glass pebbles then went back to our hotel room to sit on the balcony where we smoked, talked, drank wine, and listened to the sea. It was an incredible experience.

Riding through Venice

A Postie from Positano!