Uncategorized Ten-minute break March 22, 2020 11 Comments Tweet I need to take a deep breath at least once a week. Let’s all do that. “I thought it was love, but instead it was Saturday.” Cats are always cool with “sheltering in place.” As for self-isolating, they invented it. Our neighborhood boating/fishing supply store manages to cram everything anyone could ever rationally need into a fairly small space. Among everything else, this display contains one exceptionally important piece of nautical equipment. A corkscrew. “You’d be amazed how many people ask me if we’ve got one,” Mattia told me. I doubt that they ask for “Red Wine Opener,” as it says on the label; I understand specialization, but if by some wild chance I were to want to drink some Soave, or Bianco di Custoza, or Verduzzo or Malvasia, would I be forced to buy a corkscrew somewhere else? “Red Wine Opener” — what the heck kind of category is that? Via Garibaldi at 7:30 this morning. There is NOBODY, and yet: A dog has pooped, and somebody has rolled right through it. (My brilliant powers of deduction lead me to suppose this is a relic from yesterday afternoon — the width of the wheels implies a shopping trolley, as does the direction of the tracks, toward the Coop supermarket. But that still means that with scarcely anybody on the street, the person still went straight through it.) It’s enough to make you believe in fate. Henry James said that the two most beautiful words in the English language are “summer afternoon,” but I’m going with “morning sunshine.” The only thing that could make these pansies more wonderful is the thing they’re hanging from: The old bell-pull attachment (see the handle amid the petals) that once served some upstairs apartment. You still see some of these bits around, and very occasionally one that still works, like this one in our neighborhood. I have actually heard little old ladies complain about this cat; they say it’s dirty and shouldn’t be permitted to do this. All I know is that the cat is obviously the owner — as all cats are — so you can see that there would be no point in lodging a complaint. Mariska and Luca had just re-affirmed their wedding vows and half the neighborhood showed up to surprise them when they came out. The streets may be empty, but we’re still here. Previous Post Next Post You may also like December 3, 2010 Acqua alta: Reprieved May 24, 2011 Venice situation report January 31, 2013 Swallow this 11 Comments Dear Erla, We mostly use screwtops here, but we have a few corkscrews somewhere at home, and could send them to Via Garibaldi express delivery. Reply Erla, Thank you! Keep posting. Love it – such a different experience from being sequestered in rural mountains! Reply So glad to see you are still in good spirits! Reply It’s a conscious effort but I’m glad I can still do it. Reply So smugly proud that I know the Italian for corkscrew. Reply Erla I love these snapshots of Venetian life….❤️ Reply Love your posts!!!! Thank you so much for your continued insights on Venetian culture and beauty! And dog poop! 😘👍 Reply Oh, Erla, you provide my only smiles. Your photographs and cat commentary are wonderful. And I want one of those t-shirts! Reply Wonderful pictures—made me laugh! Reply Your blog has been invaluable, especially your translations, and your sense of humour. Thank you! Reply I’m so glad! How are you — and where are you? Did you leave Venice early before the airports closed? Reply Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Notify me of followup comments via e-mail Name * Email * Website Notify me of new posts by email. Δ
Dear Erla, We mostly use screwtops here, but we have a few corkscrews somewhere at home, and could send them to Via Garibaldi express delivery. Reply
Erla, Thank you! Keep posting. Love it – such a different experience from being sequestered in rural mountains! Reply
Love your posts!!!! Thank you so much for your continued insights on Venetian culture and beauty! And dog poop! 😘👍 Reply
Oh, Erla, you provide my only smiles. Your photographs and cat commentary are wonderful. And I want one of those t-shirts! Reply
Your blog has been invaluable, especially your translations, and your sense of humour. Thank you! Reply
I’m so glad! How are you — and where are you? Did you leave Venice early before the airports closed? Reply
11 Comments
Dear Erla,
We mostly use screwtops here, but we have a few corkscrews somewhere at home, and could send them to Via Garibaldi express delivery.
Erla, Thank you! Keep posting. Love it – such a different experience from being sequestered in rural mountains!
So glad to see you are still in good spirits!
It’s a conscious effort but I’m glad I can still do it.
So smugly proud that I know the Italian for corkscrew.
Erla I love these snapshots of Venetian life….❤️
Love your posts!!!! Thank you so much for your continued insights on Venetian culture and beauty! And dog poop! 😘👍
Oh, Erla, you provide my only smiles. Your photographs and cat commentary are wonderful. And I want one of those t-shirts!
Wonderful pictures—made me laugh!
Your blog has been invaluable, especially your translations, and your sense of humour. Thank you!
I’m so glad! How are you — and where are you? Did you leave Venice early before the airports closed?