Marisa - who I haven't met - Has such a wonderful face!!
Very glad she shares so many of your interests.

Beautifully written. Moved me to tears.
(I guess I am a softie after all).

I remember calling my mother in San Francisco after a rather strong earthquake in Northern California. Her first words when picking up the phone were "It's not my Fault."

I had to contend with the Mr. Abeshouse's "reveal" of all your initials.

Happy Birthday, Ulysses! May your Odyssey continue for many more.

Fresh clams open up when ready - takes no time at all and garlic rubbed bruschetta is always an easy accompaniment. When I had a backyard I would prep the corn by opening the husks to the stem, remove the "silk", tie the husks back into position with two outer leaves, and soak for an hour in cool water. Never Fail Method. I miss it. Needs no butter. For meat eaters, we used to roast a turkey (standing upright) in the Weber Grill. about 12 minutes per pound. Smokey...but no gravy for those who insist on having gravy.

Yes, I go for the easiest options...

Correct. Or how the priority system is based, or the ripple effect. People say to me all the time " I recycle my garbage!" as though that was the high point of their actionable concern for the environment. Oy!

Someone once told me something about our responsibility to "Repair the World"...it is a wounded place.

Part of our responsibility as residents (or "citizens" or is it "Denizens"?) is to do what others can't or won't. Last week I picked up 8 cigarette butts embedded in the sidewalk cracks in front of the Library where I volunteer. The street cleaners - who are all really nice guys - hadn't come through yet and often their equipment will miss the smaller items. The week before someone had smashed their wine bottle on our steps, leaving tiny bits of glass everywhere. Why leave it for "someone else" to do? I can still manage to bend and pick things up. Citizenry is the Core of Corey!

New Haven is not just about Pizza. Our family-style restaurant is Skappo -Umbrian food, with much of the ingredients imported from the farms their relatives have. Anna ("Mama") greets everyone with kisses, stories, and joy; Yvette does waitressing and an occasional homemade olive oil cake; Michael is the wine expert; Marc is quietly cooking - unless he does a serranade during a break, Tom is the father who holds it all together - his artwork is for sale of course. Plus: Anna gives Italian Lessons, Marc is the Porcetta maestro, Better than dinner with Italians at home because there is no screaming or cigarette ash in the pasta.