tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288649292011-12-26T10:10:51.635+01:00TYFnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-34376091629684956782011-08-06T08:42:00.004+02:002011-08-06T08:55:10.391+02:00

Dec 8 -22, 2011 from Toronto to Washington DC plus optional extended trip through FloridaTrip Focus:Food (Regional specialties)American Cultural Experience - Christmas SeasonSightseeing

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-71255451359671008302011-08-06T06:28:00.012+02:002011-08-09T15:02:54.391+02:00

CROSS COUNTRY USA- 40 day circle by private pullman- 10, 20, 30 and 40 day increments (Entry/Exit at New York, Dallas, San Francisco, Chicago)- Spring 2012 - Three complete circles starting May 11 through Sept 7, 2012- Enter, exit and rejoin at any point by arrangement-Take 10, 20 or 30 days this year and complete the circle the following year Luxury coach - internet equippedMeals - focused on

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-22893096699141450182010-07-21T16:00:00.000+02:002010-07-21T16:00:46.871+02:00

 

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-75256076134270526362009-11-27T10:29:00.002+01:002010-08-05T22:53:28.118+02:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-68790720858539806532009-07-28T12:06:00.000+02:002009-07-28T12:07:18.020+02:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-22945828565090052852009-06-28T21:01:00.000+02:002009-06-28T21:01:10.758+02:00

Matteo taking care of Suby

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-41631583786365758732009-06-21T01:49:00.000+02:002009-06-21T01:49:19.926+02:00

Matteo decides to meditate in front of the Duomo in Orvieto. When I asked what he was doing and where he had learned that posture from...he said "Phineas and Firb" from Cartoon Network...oohhmm!

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-16101673490134096882009-06-21T01:33:00.001+02:002009-06-21T01:43:36.757+02:00

Giacomo aka Jackson attended the Foligno Scherma Club year end demonstration. He was set to intimidate his opponent. He did not crack a smile and remained serious throughout the course of the event. He will be moving onto the steel fioretto next year. He has decided to pick up the sabre, scabra instead.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-33097264764793719802009-06-03T20:50:00.001+02:002009-06-03T20:50:57.637+02:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-37925020039787769232009-05-22T07:27:00.000+02:002009-05-22T07:27:22.624+02:00

Suby hanging out with Bruno after picking cherries from his tree. The boys have been anxiously waiting for la stagione di ciliege.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-74381285532069860422009-04-18T20:25:00.000+02:002009-04-18T20:25:11.400+02:00

 

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-60609216494929829102009-04-13T12:20:00.001+02:002009-04-15T15:58:16.493+02:00

 So here we are on Easter Sunday.  I look over and I say to Shantu "Hummm... 40 kilo maximum."  So he stops, looked dejected and gets off the teeter toter.  Then 10 minutes later.  I look at there he is on the Per Perego Gaucho Jeep.  I think to myself first and then say "Hey... 80 Kilo Maximum" but seconds later, gravity talkes its toll and Shantu is flat on his back

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-50580060662115647722009-03-30T10:07:00.004+02:002009-03-30T10:13:15.204+02:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-35994187116116497692009-03-30T09:18:00.002+02:002009-03-30T10:16:15.876+02:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-23546219545065391492009-03-03T14:13:00.002+01:002009-03-03T17:41:17.600+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-45512910293535419742009-03-03T00:42:00.007+01:002009-03-03T17:45:46.998+01:00

Okay, so I joined a LinkedIn networking site last month called Fior di Risorse. It had a "dinner meeting" last night at Tavola di Cavalieri "Knights' Table" which was described as ten minutes from Assisi. Since the good people at FdR went to the trouble of having in Assisi out of all places in Umbria, I was certainly going to make it.The website of the Tavola di Cavalieri wasn't all that

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-69531077743140143702009-02-19T12:11:00.005+01:002009-05-16T11:43:04.845+02:00

This Spanish Olympic basketball team (the whole team) decided it was a good idea to do this.  There was even a photographer and an ad agency that had no one to stop and say "hey, maybe my mom taught me better!"

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-85289209129179742772009-02-16T14:26:00.004+01:002009-02-17T10:29:18.938+01:00

Suby loves mamma's cooking. Her burgers made with all local stuff. He just wishes his mouth was bigger!This is a foccacia bread thatwe saw at the new Eurospin last week. Yummmmmm.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-6490263648567794632009-02-16T10:15:00.001+01:002009-02-16T10:16:22.846+01:00

XXXX

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-47938710156111737712009-02-15T13:25:00.013+01:002009-02-15T14:07:02.174+01:00

Effective, Fast and Dangerous!The Subasio virus removes the keys from your laptop, ultimately slowing down your ability to type.  It starts with just one key and spreads quickly rendering your entire keyboard useless.Subasio virus is the younger sibling of the Jax virus which removes all the keys at once.  These twin virus are dangerous in that they are transmitted without the need to be

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-75165511559360372852009-02-11T10:19:00.005+01:002009-02-11T15:04:44.753+01:00

There is NO Dim Sum in Italy. Not in Milan or Rome either! Just the occasional potsticker. Very sad.Un nuovo amico Osvaldo mi a detto lui non piace cibo Cinese. Aspetta! Aspetta! Marco Polo portato pasta di Cina a Italia no?

TYFnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-22110814807814969102009-02-10T12:24:00.002+01:002009-02-10T12:33:53.178+01:00

Umbrian Ingedients!PeperonciniGoudaCipolaPomodoroUlivo NeroMaizSour Cream is panna, yogurt and lemon 

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-5382061863970996262009-02-09T19:16:00.005+01:002009-03-07T10:30:12.191+01:00

So you are visiting Assisi and are sick as a dog. Who ya gonna call? When we moved to Assisi 5 years ago we had the good fortune to meet Dottore Sanhthu Nguyen. Born in Hue Vietnam, raised in Paris, college educated at Cornell University and received his medical degree from the University of Perugia.What do you have? A family doctor that speaks English, Italian, French and Vietnamese who can

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-80349942283865343412009-02-09T18:56:00.001+01:002009-02-09T18:56:36.453+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-76918127208173047402009-02-06T17:47:00.003+01:002009-02-06T18:03:07.304+01:00

Helen was jonesing for some spare ribs. So on to the internet for a recipe.Fire up the deep fryer from Lidl and a half hour later, there it is!Actually she didn't have any ribs so it was Peking Chicken!

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-40324602935039691322009-02-06T16:23:00.001+01:002009-02-06T16:31:11.814+01:00

The problem is that the Italians always give directions as if you know where it is already. I am told that the Caserma Ferante Gonzaga is near the train station in Foligno. Humm. I certainly hope so. It makes me think that Columbus would have found the Americas faster had he not been trying to find India.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-57647664206628805462009-01-27T12:40:00.003+01:002009-01-27T13:08:45.579+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-73768231830807549662009-01-26T10:09:00.003+01:002009-01-26T10:29:38.157+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-32658939464079371352009-01-14T22:11:00.005+01:002009-01-20T15:24:01.539+01:00

Here is my submission. Note the use of Barn Door Sliding Hardware, the Cut Out wire racks for the sink cabinet and the recycled cut out pieces of the container used for the doors as well as the tub enclosure.Now my friends Nigel and Tamara have an interesting bathroom using some stainless steel in an interesting manner. I would like them to add a photo here too!

TYFnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-52536912115994288992009-01-14T21:49:00.000+01:002009-01-14T21:49:25.569+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-50552138154736512912009-01-04T15:30:00.001+01:002009-01-04T15:38:11.297+01:00

Being the sports entusiast that I am, I could not resist the invitation to see the Perugia vs Cesena match last week. It starred Hao Yang, the China Olympic star fresh from the Olympics who had come by our home last month with her mother. It took me a few minutes to fully understand the MINI that was emblazoned on the valuable real estate which was their asses- the MINI was for MINI Cooper

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-24073963568910884922008-12-31T16:22:00.004+01:002008-12-31T16:33:20.279+01:00

 Would you use this picture to inspire 1.4 Billion Chinese people to drink your wine?I am trying to figure out what the male on the bike is all about. Straw hat? Is he Chinese? Are Chinese men supposed to carry an arm load of wine bottles while riding a bike and wearing a straw hat? Is that chic?

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-41281664348013513412008-12-24T16:15:00.004+01:002008-12-24T16:34:45.077+01:00

Now why would I want to wrestle this little guy? If you haven't noticed, I am resurrecting or reinventorying unique/ oddball stuff I have done in order to take stock and assess where I have been and more importantly where I am going.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-7986041020346585612008-12-23T11:56:00.003+01:002008-12-23T12:47:23.052+01:00

Either I have a huge computer screen or our Italian Christmas Turkey is the size of a Costco chicken (But costs 4 times as much). But it is free range and there are no hormones! Oh Oh Oh it says 100% Italiano too!

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-22905104565165076952008-12-20T12:16:00.015+01:002008-12-24T16:35:39.654+01:00

Vic Lee from local station KRON was nice enough to come by and interview me and my dad for Freedom Bus back in 2002 for July 4. The show aired several times that week and someone was nice enough to tape it for me. Remember tape?

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-51047623678334622692008-12-11T22:56:00.028+01:002009-02-11T15:12:32.041+01:00

I just reconnected the .5TB hard drive with all the family photos. I was looking at Jax and how he was even smaller than Suby is now and thought about the detail, colors and textures of the Container House.I got an email back in September from Scott Benson, namesake of our son Subasio Scott Yuen, saying that there was an article in the SJ Mercury news about the new "Container House" concept that

TYFnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-31972588422751075872008-12-06T18:47:00.002+01:002008-12-18T08:36:25.838+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-90539265668437597982008-12-06T17:34:00.000+01:002008-12-06T17:34:31.653+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-78170015126459258322008-12-05T11:52:00.007+01:002008-12-05T12:51:42.780+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-64595965939431141512008-11-10T08:43:00.000+01:002008-11-10T08:43:54.026+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-8742338284323950982008-11-09T15:52:00.001+01:002008-11-09T15:57:42.324+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-7008081106030434482008-11-09T15:42:00.000+01:002008-11-09T16:19:07.768+01:00

Queste foto sono ad alta risoluzione. Se si desidera una copia da salvare sul computer, fare clic sul tasto sinestra del mouse sulla foto, quindi click destro del mouse sulla grande foto e salva.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-89560331180162155862008-11-07T13:10:00.000+01:002008-11-07T16:24:36.181+01:00

 

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-8205674939443874442008-11-03T19:21:00.000+01:002008-11-03T20:03:40.320+01:00

So this year we were able to meet two Olympians and we didn't even go to Beijing!It started out as a simple dinner and at the last minute we got a call from our guests to see if they could bring some extra guests. The extra guests turned out to be Yang Hao #3 and her mom.Hao played on the China Women's Olympic Volleyball Team and is now playing Professionally for Perugia. She and her mom

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-53070172340896582222008-11-03T17:54:00.000+01:002008-11-03T19:45:49.918+01:00

So today we went with Bruno to the Mulino to press his olives.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-12816870162752559942008-11-01T19:14:00.000+01:002008-11-01T19:16:13.703+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-78665164984630551822008-11-01T09:33:00.000+01:002008-11-01T09:34:06.478+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-64011558533048378032008-10-26T14:32:00.000+01:002008-10-27T16:46:55.456+01:00

Click to see slideshow

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-24177492036794084692008-10-21T17:19:00.001+02:002008-10-21T17:21:23.778+02:00

Grandpa George is here.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-8730583011720694652008-08-19T10:54:00.000+02:002008-08-25T10:25:59.607+02:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-45381539106016349952008-07-30T15:02:00.000+02:002008-08-12T07:48:16.703+02:00

At the end of the year... there is the long awaited spettacolo held at the Lyrick Theater. Kids from ages 3 to 17 from all the local schools get together under the tutelage of the the woman in the furry hat to perform.There is Jax in the front row fifth from the left. Two weeks before the scheduled performance, we are asked to find a red turtleneck.. in the end of Spring!!! Fortunately one

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-5852465548531958882008-07-10T12:44:00.000+02:002008-08-10T07:51:15.559+02:00

Here we are on Fifth Avenue in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art where they have an exhibit for the Costumes of Superheroes. No photos were allowed to help preserve their secret true identities.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-27492193969603883172008-07-10T12:29:00.000+02:002008-08-10T07:53:57.328+02:00

HHere is Suby at the Museum of Natural History

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-10156177939283704612008-07-10T12:27:00.000+02:002008-07-10T12:30:42.490+02:00

STRAWBERRY FIELDS ON RINGO'S BIRTHDAY

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-16634637960036415062008-07-03T19:42:00.000+02:002008-07-20T13:40:28.635+02:00

Who would have known that Gesu lived only 277 feet from Mystic Pizza restaurant?

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-35722104087555176172008-06-11T16:54:00.001+02:002008-06-11T17:03:10.071+02:00

Okay. So I was given a brand new Gearbox for the Gaucho. Why waste it? I am now up to my ears in gears as my friend let me clean out parts from her 11 year old sons non functioning Gaucho.So the Polaris battery was wasted and the charger in shambles as some stepped on it. Buy a new 6v? plus charger? Hummmm...I got a brand new 12v Charger and 12v Battery. All Peg!!!! Unfortunately I did not

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-74032059726687252152008-06-02T10:36:00.001+02:002008-06-11T16:54:19.727+02:00

Ok. Found the culprit. Now how to find the part?

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-79141200225583191232008-05-18T13:36:00.000+02:002008-05-18T13:52:23.978+02:00

So I finally made it to the Mille Miglia this year. It passed by the corner near our Popsicle cafe where Jax was more interested in collecting his Popsicle than in the multi million dollar cars going by.The driver's somehow made their best efforts to convince us that gunning their engines and spinning out going downhill was a good thing.Perhaps Hollywood could make a Too Fast, Too Furious 3 with

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-67186670477359545372008-05-11T12:53:00.000+02:002008-05-13T01:16:08.353+02:00

So the Festival of Kites was last Saturday at Castiglione Della Lago. Kites from all over the world.Jax was prepared by having his 1 buck kite from Bamboo he got on the beach in Pataya Thailand two years ago. It held up amazingly well.Lake Tresimeno has its own long history. Besides being at the foot of Cortona where Francis Mayes lives under the Tuscan sun, the lake is where Hannibal riding

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-46147356320541268052008-05-11T12:16:00.000+02:002008-05-11T12:32:22.125+02:00

It is finally a warm day. Unfortunately last year a cat got into the Intex Pool while I was refilling it. When I came to check, the cat got startled and clawed its way out. Fortunately, I patched about 15 holes which took up the patch kit that came with the pool and two of my bike tire patch kits. Unfortunately, there were 16 holes and I could not find the 16th. Fortunately, summer is coming

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-79014652688782438862008-05-02T20:56:00.001+02:002008-12-07T02:44:51.985+01:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-27000671238790074462008-04-19T07:24:00.000+02:002008-04-24T17:25:39.317+02:00

Gerek Meinhardt was behind on points, but scored the 45th touch of the match to give the US Men's Foil team the gold medal over Italy in a 45-42 bout at the 2008 Junior World Championships.So after our little trip to Frascati to meet up with the Meinhardts is there any interest by Jax to follow up with fencing? We found clubs in Foligno, Perugia and Marciano.My theory is that the Foligno Club is

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-64647765938680215742008-04-18T13:29:00.000+02:002008-04-30T14:16:53.419+02:00

So we are going off to JFK on June 29 through July 28. Carmen and family will be joining us on July 5 in NYC.Carmen will arrive at 6:05 PM. To get from JFK to Leo House-After clearing immigration and picking up luggage, they need to catch the AIRTRAIN ($5) to Jamaica Station 10 minutes.At Jamaica Station, they need to get Metrocard 7 day unlimited passes ($25 each) and get on the E train.The

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-72925460161410839592008-04-17T12:48:00.000+02:002008-04-17T23:26:32.992+02:00

So we are going off to JFK on June 29 through July 28. Carmen and family will be joining us on July 5 in NYC.Manhattan July 5 - July 10View Larger MapCarmen will arrive at 6:05 PM take the shuttle from JFK to Leo House located 332 W 23RD StNew York, NY 10011-2289 Phone: (212) 929-1010Family rooms go for 160 bucks a night

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-78841210022514074592008-04-05T01:07:00.000+02:002008-04-05T11:10:16.912+02:00

So I explain to the boys that fencing (scherma) is like Ninja Turtles without the black masks or the green shells. I also explain that you walk up a slap your opponent with a glove in order to get someone to fight you. Fortunately we had Kurt here in Frascati to explain these finer points a bit better to Jax.Shaun and JarrodImagine that. Down in Frascati outside of Rome at the Frascati

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-59007503624568516142008-04-01T00:14:00.001+02:002008-04-01T13:17:30.088+02:00

So today we went to the building supply place in Santa Maria to buy sand. I tried two Saturdays ago, but low and behold, the ones here do not open on Saturday. Imagine that.Finally the kids have a functioning sand box. Matteo took so much pleasure in it that he went back into it after dinner.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-23054916822976144772008-03-29T14:17:00.001+01:002008-03-30T17:43:03.597+02:00

Finally some reasonable weather. Last week it snowed and even yesterday was in the low 40s.Today it is time to sit outside and have some hot scones that Matteo, Jax and even Suby helped to make.Late today, the boys are going to a Festa di Compleanno (Birthday Party) for one of Jax's classmates Alberto. The party will be at Maca Donalds. I guess the last one we had there for the boys back in

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-55896012721346478282008-01-27T12:55:00.000+01:002008-01-27T14:20:21.738+01:00

So it's Sunday Morning. The kids are watching Creeps from the Deep Bionicles on the Internet while still in their PJs. Suby is grooving. Matteo just scored an Ice Cream Sandwich. Mommy is in the kitchen making some Chinese noodle soup.Jax is particularly proud today as he is now starting to read.This afternoon we will go to a meet the parents event for the elementary school Jax will be

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-39913944504161662152008-01-26T13:20:00.000+01:002008-02-08T17:03:21.472+01:00

So it is late January and time for another tour of Perugina in San Sisto to see the making of the Easter Eggs or Uova di Pasqua. We go this time with Marisol and her two kids Diego Matteo and Stefano. What a day. Marisol's hubby just left for Rome this morning to catch a flight to San Francisco. His flight was scheduled for 12 noon so it was early when he left assisi. BUT BU BUT. He was

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-83908778809246730082007-11-22T15:18:00.000+01:002007-11-22T15:59:33.401+01:00

I first experienced Nuovo Beaujolais back in 1989. I was in the Latin Quarter in Paris sitting in a Greek restaurant called "Octo something". Suddenly I noticed that everyone had the same bottle of wine in front of them. ME TOO was my first thought. Nuovo BeaujolaisIt wasn't for a few years later that Patrick Elliot Smith, a friend of mine and vinter from Napa Valley explained the Nuovo

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-19898073792465044412007-10-27T21:43:00.000+02:002007-10-29T01:20:50.195+01:00

So Suby's birthday is October 25. But then so is Matteo's. And Jax's birthday is Nov 5.Here is Matteo with his classmate and friend Paola. Matteo is taking her in to get her Happy Meal order.NOT BAD. Many of the parents (including us) - Genitori have never been to or used McDonald's for a birthday party. All in all, it was extremely organized and best off all, there was no clean

TYFnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-67655342549169627272007-09-25T13:13:00.000+02:002007-09-25T16:20:00.342+02:00

So here I am on the East Coast with Fred Romley and Dave Sarver.We stop by for a little R and R at Atlantic City before we head down to our nation's capitol and then off to the the Air and Space Museum in Dulles. Meanwhile Imadoodoohead is telling the world that Iran has no homosexuals.Then it was back to Fred's new apartment in NY to look at a little shopping Helen had shipped to Fred for me to

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-63172252660631982942007-09-10T18:12:00.001+02:002007-10-27T21:36:12.794+02:00

Matteo's first day in Asilo Renascita. Mom is taking the picture. Jax is in his class next door and dad is holding Suby outside the window.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-157112939557997852007-09-04T11:44:00.000+02:002007-10-27T21:37:38.552+02:00

This moment is even bigger than baby's first steps. All babies walk around 12 months, but ahhhh biking!!!!!! is different. Jax is smiling ear to ear and so is dad.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-68608844702876899822007-08-23T08:23:00.000+02:002007-08-23T10:29:35.752+02:00

"Live Free or Die" is the official motto of New Hampshire, adopted by the General Court in 1945. It is probably the best-known of all state mottos, partly because it speaks to an aggressive independence inherent in the American dream, and partly because of its contrast to the mild sentiments usually found in such mottos. The phrase comes from a toast written by General John Stark on July 31, 1809

TYFnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-49770355496356060932007-08-15T09:23:00.000+02:002007-08-15T09:26:17.173+02:00

Jax's Italian:Red White GreenRosso Bianco Greeno (Verde)ButterflyButterfala (Farfala)BoringAspettando per Sempre

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-73308189691146647042007-08-07T14:19:00.000+02:002007-08-07T14:25:27.441+02:00

So much salami, so little time. When we first came to live in Italy, we bought an whole (Intero) proscuito. I wasn't sure how to use it up and it soon turned green from mold on the outside. I bought a slicer, but it wasn't until I saw the ladies pre- cutting the huge proscuito that I got the jist. Then I saw Leo chunk up pieces into sugo for pasta sauce. Ah ha. That's how you get through

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-50432135543986136042007-08-07T13:17:00.000+02:002007-08-07T13:39:23.351+02:00

So we have been a bit lazy this summer Sagra season. It has been hot! We went to the Bettona Sagra D'Oca twice to make up for it.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-33271138644400423042007-08-07T12:19:00.000+02:002007-08-08T14:16:09.073+02:00

I have been exceptionally low on my wine supply all summer. I scrounged around and found a jug back in the closet that lasted me a few weeks. 6 bottles to a jug. I had some crappy Lungarotti Falo that tasted really cheap and weak. On the flip side, I found this bottle of Montepulciano della Abruzzo the other night that was pretty darn good. But that was it. My stash was depleted. So off we

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-55232714880387959392007-06-21T14:12:00.000+02:002007-08-30T00:40:32.856+02:00

Ucciso! That was one of the first words I learned in Italy. When we first arrived, I would pick up a lot of vocabulary from watching the news (that was before the satellite hook up). The news would scroll Italian words below the news anchor and I would rush to look up the word in my handy dictionary. That was also before the day of the Google translator widgets.Ucciso! means killed.So we are

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-53425449840351058902007-06-18T14:31:00.000+02:002007-06-18T14:46:55.652+02:00

So you think that it's just the 8 bucks a gallon for gasoline to gripe about. How about the 2000 bucks for liability only auto insurance? By accident however, I stumbled upon a bargain which hopefully may benefit other people shopping for auto insurance in Italy as well as all over Europe.While I was shopping for the Vito last year, I had the good fortune of speaking with a fellow American in

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-29233535688877536532007-06-15T18:08:00.000+02:002007-06-17T13:08:41.437+02:00

Sunday June 17, 2007 8:15 the Pope's Helicopter is landing in Rivertorto below Assisi. Time to get up. The Pope will be at San Damiano at 9 and at Santa Chiara at 9:30. He will pass the Popsicle Cafe . It will from now on be known as the Pope-sicle Cafe.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-82881954320476617772007-05-25T09:07:00.000+02:002007-05-27T17:07:36.890+02:00

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-73716108967682858062007-05-19T08:34:00.000+02:002007-05-19T10:41:39.213+02:00

I have missed it four years in a row. A perfect record. The Mille Miglia starts in Brescia up north and goes through Italy for a mille (thousand) miglia (miles). We first heard about it on some Discovery Channel or Travel Channel program back in 2002. Brandon told us that his Ferrari mechanic comes out each year for it. This year 375 cars participated.Now the first year we missed it because

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-23313600208787052652007-05-04T07:29:00.000+02:002007-05-06T09:38:12.757+02:00

There really is a Hanoi Hilton and it is very nice, but it isn't the Hanoi Hilton that housed the prison built by during the French occupation for the Vietnamese who didn't like being occupied and later used to house American pilots shot down and captured.My old friend Jim Schultz and I went to the Hanoi Hilton or what was left of it last March. It was just a few blocks from the very nice small

TYFnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-45816346047952785332007-04-17T21:33:00.000+02:002007-08-30T00:38:25.994+02:00

at 5 and a half months old and he is already wearing his big brother Matteo's pants. At two weeks he went to Germany and through Switzerland to pick up the Ka- Chowww mobile. At 4 months he went to Vietnam to meet grandpa and spent the month with him. At 5 months he is playing Italian tour guide to the Brandon, Joanna and Nikki Chin who arrived for a visit on April 6, 2007.Unfortunately, Suby

TYFnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-69542192915035434752007-03-01T03:16:00.000+01:002007-04-20T19:59:23.804+02:00

Grandpa George and Matteo on Feb 26, 2007Grandpa George and Subasio in Hue on Feb 27, 2007Not A Good Day To Be A PIGGYOR A LOBSTER!!!OR A DOG

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-74898985542447430922007-02-18T12:08:00.000+01:002007-02-18T12:17:03.944+01:00

OkaY.It is the Sunday before our Vietnam trip. It is Carnivale time in Italy. We all have the sniffles. Rosemary's power is turned off. I have a recovering case of the hives. The tower transaction needs to get done before we leave. There is some question as to the accuracy of the parcel number.Now. How will I get down to the train station on Wednesday morning for at 7:50 train? Virginia

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-74263975467828912572007-02-14T19:44:00.000+01:002007-02-14T20:00:40.816+01:00

the other day when I went to Asilo Rinascita to pick up Jax, the teacher stopped me and asked if I had a photo of Babbo Natale... that's Santa... from his visit at school last December. As a matter of fact I did.It turns out that Babbo Natale lives just a few yards away from our house. It took us nearly a year and a half to realize that this 3 year old miniature horse lived just between us and

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-84073023179430917692007-02-14T17:28:00.000+01:002007-02-19T19:08:30.756+01:00

Happy BirthdaySebastianothey design and make cool outfits for the grandkids. So last week was Sebastiano's 6th birthday. Grandma, who used to work for Armani, couldn't let her only grandchildren show up wearing pret-a-porte. Not when she had the opportunity to make costumes for all three as Peter Pan characters.Gerardo was really in character as HOOK and even sported a mustache.And what about

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-45274376202202126702007-02-08T18:17:00.001+01:002007-04-20T16:49:36.898+02:00

In the end it is best to use the internet to buy tickets. You click a button and you are done. Travel agencies will promise you one thing and put you on a waiting list and tell to call back next week. UNLESS of course you are willing to pay full fare.So we have our visas... went to Rome last Tuesday to get them.. the man at the Vietnam Embassy pointed to the calender at Feb 9... Helen said "

TYFnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-33223600135112678152007-01-03T13:02:00.000+01:002007-02-14T20:27:55.659+01:00

Let's see...Joanna, Brandon and Niccole are coming out from California to Rome on April 5 - 16. Where shall we go?We are planning our trip with Pipo and Francesca to Vietnam in February for TET.Subasio needs to get his passport down at the American Embassy in Rome on January 9. Got to get a good photo. Grow hair fast Suby!!We need to renew our Long Stay Visas and add on Subasio. Humm, the

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-21006779233583722042006-11-21T14:47:00.000+01:002007-05-19T18:45:43.952+02:00

When we first arrived in Italy back in March of 2004, we saw a VW Transporter as a vehicle that would be big enough for us and still have a bit more room to carry extra personnel should the need arise. It would be our European version of the Freedombus which was originally acquired for the ALCAN but also served us well in the lower States. We were in a rush back then and along came a deal on a

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-1161959621365909032006-10-27T16:33:00.000+02:002006-12-23T20:33:22.366+01:00

Subasio is pronounced Su - Ba - See - Oh. It sounds like a real Italian name, but it is not. It is a name that is unique to him. The name was met with mixed reactions by the Italians. Some thought we were joking. Word spread quickly around town. At the local supermarket, the Iper Sidis, a shop woman walked up and asked to see Subasio by name.Subasio was born on October 25, 2006. He

TYFnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-1154772259512839122006-08-05T12:03:00.000+02:002006-12-23T20:52:59.183+01:00

July 2006 France and Spain with Pippo and FrancescaAssisi -Florence -Ville Franche -Carcasonne -Getariano -Bilbao -Pamplona -Tossa Del Mare -Barcelona -Nice -AssisiJune 2006 GrottamareMay 2006 USAFebruary 2006 THAILAND TO MEET GRANDPA ( GEORGE YUEN) , EVA AND RAYMOND KING Bangkok -Pattaya -Siem Reap / Angkor Wat Cambodia -Chiangmai -King Cobra.. the most poisonous snake in the worldBangkok August

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-1151940671458654822006-07-03T17:25:00.000+02:002006-12-23T21:13:03.075+01:00

That's what I just said to Helen about 30 minutes earlier. Croatia? Hook a right at Venice and there you are.Last year in April we went on a road trip to meet Richard Burnley and Louise Spinelli in Budapest and Prague who were on a corporate junket in Barcelona. On our way, we passed through Venice and Trieste which is just a few miles from Croatia. We have little evidence of this Eastern

TYFnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-1151322761658901062006-06-26T13:36:00.002+02:002006-11-10T23:42:19.508+01:00

The population is currently over 83 Million. Traffic in Hanoi and Saigon is horrific. I have been eyeing the weather in Danang and learning about relative humidity. Education is reportedly poor due to a lack of facilties... hummm, but can be compensated with private tutors and home schooling. Can we make this our new home?There is some question as to whether a farang like me can own property

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-1150368606266452182006-06-15T12:49:00.000+02:002006-11-10T23:42:19.335+01:00

We just spent the long beach weekend in Le Marche. The Adriatic side of Italy is unvisited by Americans but is teaming with Italians and some Germans on the hotter days of summer.The weekend was spent with Fabio and his family in a little town named Grottamare just next to San Benedetto. It is a nice enough town and the beach was just a few hundred yards away from the centre of town. It turns

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-1149410572372913902006-06-04T10:41:00.000+02:002006-11-10T23:42:19.218+01:00

HENRY was my favorite brother-in-law. I had just met Fabrizia Renzini down at our favorite tavola calda, Il Pizzone,and exchanged email and phone numbers. I came home at about 4pm to find a Skype message... something very bad had happened to Henry. At 47 (My age), Henry had a massive stroke. I looked at Helen and asked her to call British Air to see if they could get us on flight back to

TYFnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28864929.post-1149169478240509672006-06-01T15:43:00.000+02:002007-05-24T21:03:57.716+02:00

JACKSON "JAX" MICHAEL YUEN aka Giacomo is seen here at Bayun in Angkor (Feb 2006).Jax attends asilo in Assisi, Italy where he claims he wants to marry Chiara, the little sister of Enrico.His current past times include photography, music, paper airplanes and seeing grandpa via internet.

TYFnoreply@blogger.com0