long island for a year

As much as I promised myself NOT to follow the Advent Calendar tradition, as much as I tried to avoid stuffing my daughter with presents she doesn't need, you can be sure that she is having this year too a nice treatment. Which she doesn't deserve, because she doesn't do anything to make ME happy. But is it the role of kids or the role of parents to make one happy? Bet you know the answer. And it's nice to see her smiling face every morning when she gets up - usually she would be in a very bad mood, no matter if she has slept 7 or 12 hours!!! - because she knows there is a small packet waiting to be open by her anxious hands. She really gets small stuff, like Xmas stamps, a colorful soap, small books, stickers... But this year I've got a present too. We. No, me. It's me the "at home" parent, so I am the one using that more often. It's an internet radio, so I can listen to my favorite programs. I love some Italian radio programs. Some. Some I hate....

I am very bad at counting, very bad in sticking to plans and schedules, in a word...busy mom of two kids. We had a quite intense week, even though we didn't do unusual things. Bastian is very active, which means he tries to walk along any walls, or just crawls away to be found in the most inappropriate places of the house, so whatever I am doing there are interruptions and lot of running around involved. It's fun, but it always seems there is no way to finish what one begins. The weather was also kind of crazy lately, one day you needed to wear just a sweat-shirt, the next day you needed a winter coat, so we had to plan our activities accordingly. Yesterday was a wonderful day, one of those that makes you want to walk along the beach and collect pebbles - how many did I collect in the last months I don't know - but the wind was so strong that in the end I decided to just have a walk in Port Jefferson, which is one of the nicest towns on the North Shore, with a harbor and so...

Two, like two shots against the flu...

December OMG!!! That's my blog-advent calendar. Traditionally, I would have a Xmas Tree... But when I moved to Berlin I had a brilliant idea, look at that!!!For Ralph's happiness.

No, if this is what you are asking yourself...I am not, but in a season of movies like "The Santa Clause" with Tim Allen - whom I love in Home Improvement , btw - and various versions of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" I also want to spread a word of joy. Did you know that Tim Allen was arrested for cocaine possession?And for drunk-driving? Word of joy, excuse me. Because we are somehow waiting and hoping for the Saviour, even if we are not personally oppressed. This gets me back on my trail: oppression, that is. And something I want to share with you, as lately I have seen a parody of Maya Angelou on SNL - very amusing indeed - and she happens to be one of my favorite poets. You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like ...