Little miss Out of the Box spent the morning at the parrucchiere (hairdresser) getting a spuntata e colore (trim & colour). I should really know the word spuntata by now, yet Signor Scissors had to (once again) remind me of the word for trim, and (once again) show me the proper way to blow dry my liscia liscia (really freaking smooth) bangs. And, for f***'s sake, quit cutting them myself between appointments!
I've been to this studio three times in the last year and returned specifically to be worked over by the mad scissor & blow dryer skills of my Macedonian 'hair guy' Dian. Dian has since moved to L.A. (Insert sad face here.)
Dian, amore, vengo in italia per una spuntata e colore, ma non ti seguiro` a L.A., la terre di plastica (Dan, love, I will come to Italy for a trim & color, but will not follow you to L.A., the land of plastic) - unless I'm there visiting friends, who are the most real, down to earth people I know, ironically - so much for generalizations. Anyway, Dian - I wish you luck, and I know you - and those hands - are going to be mega-famous!
I also finished reading my first entire book in Italian. OK - it was a tiny learning text titled Mediterranea by Alessandro de Giulia & Ciro Naddeo. But it was level 4 (of 5) - but, BUT ... as I sat in a cafe I literally had to choke back the tears when I looked up from the pages and realized ... holy crap - I'm reading in this beautiful language, and I understand the whole. damned. thing! Not just the words ... it's hard to explain.
I caught the owner staring at me as I just shook my head & pointed to the book. He knows I'm full of grinta (determination) and shows no mercy when spewing Italian at me. Just the way I like it. Don't baby me and start with the condescending English bullshit. He also knows me as the girl who ha sempre fame (is always hungry). I just buried my face back into the book (and the pastry), took another sip of my cappuccino, and pressed on reading about the prince & great Norman warrior Arux who was in love with Elisa, a Sicilian girl. (Yes, another Sicilian setting ... quickly becoming my most favorite literary genre.)
OK - I'm also getting soft. WTF? And you know what? I don't care. This is my life now - oh - and hey - I'm feeling stuff - things I wouldn't trade it for all the Toma (cheese) in Val D'Aosta.
But now, I need to get to the train station, as there's a lovely lady there researching options for my trip to Cap D'Agde, France in a few weeks. This is no easy feat, and I was impressed she took my cell number & e-mail and offered to do the research for me. She just shot me a text and closes in an hour - so off I go. She also allowed - and even encouraged - me to stumble through the entire transaction in Italian - I couldn't thank her enough for her patience.
I'll leave you with this photo - my view out the library window while I'm blogging...terrible, I know.
Wishing you all a beautiful start to November - yes, it's November already!
I've been to this studio three times in the last year and returned specifically to be worked over by the mad scissor & blow dryer skills of my Macedonian 'hair guy' Dian. Dian has since moved to L.A. (Insert sad face here.)
Dian, amore, vengo in italia per una spuntata e colore, ma non ti seguiro` a L.A., la terre di plastica (Dan, love, I will come to Italy for a trim & color, but will not follow you to L.A., the land of plastic) - unless I'm there visiting friends, who are the most real, down to earth people I know, ironically - so much for generalizations. Anyway, Dian - I wish you luck, and I know you - and those hands - are going to be mega-famous!
I also finished reading my first entire book in Italian. OK - it was a tiny learning text titled Mediterranea by Alessandro de Giulia & Ciro Naddeo. But it was level 4 (of 5) - but, BUT ... as I sat in a cafe I literally had to choke back the tears when I looked up from the pages and realized ... holy crap - I'm reading in this beautiful language, and I understand the whole. damned. thing! Not just the words ... it's hard to explain.
I caught the owner staring at me as I just shook my head & pointed to the book. He knows I'm full of grinta (determination) and shows no mercy when spewing Italian at me. Just the way I like it. Don't baby me and start with the condescending English bullshit. He also knows me as the girl who ha sempre fame (is always hungry). I just buried my face back into the book (and the pastry), took another sip of my cappuccino, and pressed on reading about the prince & great Norman warrior Arux who was in love with Elisa, a Sicilian girl. (Yes, another Sicilian setting ... quickly becoming my most favorite literary genre.)
OK - I'm also getting soft. WTF? And you know what? I don't care. This is my life now - oh - and hey - I'm feeling stuff - things I wouldn't trade it for all the Toma (cheese) in Val D'Aosta.
But now, I need to get to the train station, as there's a lovely lady there researching options for my trip to Cap D'Agde, France in a few weeks. This is no easy feat, and I was impressed she took my cell number & e-mail and offered to do the research for me. She just shot me a text and closes in an hour - so off I go. She also allowed - and even encouraged - me to stumble through the entire transaction in Italian - I couldn't thank her enough for her patience.
I'll leave you with this photo - my view out the library window while I'm blogging...terrible, I know.
Wishing you all a beautiful start to November - yes, it's November already!
Yet another beautiful picture - how can you possible leave this place and go to France??? So...would you recommend the book? Was it a good story? I am always up for reading a good Italian book as long as it's not too complicated!! Ha! Ha! Otherwise, I quickly lose patience!
ReplyDeleteSo how different are Italian hairstyles from ours here in the States? I always think that you get a REALLY good haircut there, and really stylish!!!
Good luck with the planning of your French trip!
Ciao, Barbara! I think if I wasn't getting to stay in Europe (which is all kinds of beautiful everywhere) my heart would not only be wrenched from my chest, but in unrecoverable pieces. OK - that's drastic - but, yes - leaving here is getting harder and harder every time. The book I recommend - it's a tiny, quick read - but if I can do it, it may even be too simple for you. As for the hairstyles - I don't know if they are different - every woman has her preference, I guess. The clothing is definitely different, as expected. I wear things here I don't wear in CO, and vice versa. I picked up my tickets yesterday - 4 train changes: Milano, Ventimiglia, Monaco Monte Carlo, and Nice - with 2 suitcases should be a hoot... A presto!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on reading the book! I know it's not easy :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd my husband worked in Cap D'Agde for years so if you want any advice or tips I can see what I can pry out of him xo
Merci, Sara! Of course just as I read that book, I started one the next level up & was kicked right back into reality. Ergo, I have cartoons on right now - at least I can keep up with these. Thank you also for the intel resources on Cap D'Agde - I'll be there for a month, so will keep you posted. Have a great morning!
ReplyDelete