Whats in a Name

Ciao a tutti amici,
Since my vocabulary of Italian words is expanding, the names of Italian Americans I know and am aware of have started to take on new meanings. This is quite funny to me sometimes so I thought I would list a few of those starting with some folks I know personally or have met.

I have met:
Donna (my mom) = a woman. Tom Botte, a childhood family friend = a barrel (and he WAS too). Agnes = a lamb (hardly). Sharon Dubbiago = the doubtful one. Lou Canavarri = a cannon. Doug Bosco = a forest or woods. Larry Capitano = the captain of the ship. Felice = happy Pace = peace. Luciano = a bright shining person. Ella = a cap. Wes and Kate Juliana (or Guiliana) = a person who makes one laugh (a clown or jester). Vince Ferrogammo = iron leg or a game played with iron, like swordplay. J. Tony Serra = a hothouse or greenhouse. Norma Malecreda = a woman with an evil oath. Bob Gagnon = not very robust (but he was!). Joey Racano = the harvester. Sonda = he/she who makes a sound. Shannon and Cassie Taglioferro = an iron cutter or a ransome paid in iron. Mercy Siciliano = a man from Sicily. Suzy and Bob Barsotti = caskets underground or a cemetary. Annie = years. Robie Tenorio = a singer, a tenor to be exact. Gil Gregori = a shepard. Tony Selvaggio = a savage or something wild. John and Carol Bruno = a dark brown haired person. Mica = not too bad. Mary Giardino = a garden. Paul Bassis (some of you will like this one, sorry PB) = a rude, shallow, crazy and/or vulgar person. Fossi = a ditch. Marco = to sign your name.

A few celebrites:
Mario Battaglio = a battle. Christina Ricci = curls. Antonio Bustamonte = someone who loves breasts hahaha. Art Castello = a castle. Madonna = our lady. Arsenio Hall = the arsenal. Pinocchio = eyes made of pine. John Travolta = to pass the time. Frances Ford Cappola = the dome of a church.

Blessings:
- Rhiannon my roomate and her unusual form of Italian. She has been studying for 12 years and her Italian is quite good. I understand her very well because she speaks slowly, and with a very prominant Australian accent. Nice!

- MTV Italia. It only comes in to my TV occasionally. But But unlike the American version is still plays music most of the time. not many commercials and rarely game or reality shows. Another new favorite Italian singer is Jovanotti. I think he is awesome! check it out.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3ZY3bm93Wk4
America are you ready for something new? I think it is time for the "Italian Invasion!". Like the British invasion of the late 60?s.

Curses:
- The wind again. it blew so hard the other day it blew all my little basil plants off the window ledge to crash 3 stories below. my neighbor did managed to save of few of them for me.

- Worsening brainflip! For example (per esempio). I like to (mi piace) write like I think (scrivero stesso pensavo). Io non prendo sbagli (i don't catch my mistakes) fast enough ( abbastanza veloce). ora (now). La mia testa po (my little brain) is not fast enough (e non abbastanza veloce). perhaps soon (forse presto). Ho desidero (i hope). SEE WHAT I MEAN!!!

Sunday was the hottest day we have had here since my arrival. Rhiannon, Juli and I took a long hike about 3 miles to a swimming area. We walked and walked till we found the beach called "Divers Paradise". The beach was only 30 feet wide but we were the only ones on it. I had not intended to swim because Antonio had told me it takes 2 weeks of warm weather before the water starts to warm up enough to swim. But after traversing hill after rocky hill in the heat. I stripped down and got wet. I ended up having too much of a day (troppo oggi). too much heat (troppo caldo), too much walking (troppo piaggio), too much sun (troppo sole), too much pizza (troppo pizza), and too much ice cream! (troppo gelato!). I am feelin the pain today, yikes.

I think that despite all the exercise I am getting I may have gained a few pounds. I am going to have to get stronger and better at saying no, NO! NON GRAZIE! But some people just don't take non grazie for an answer lol lol.

basta per ora (enough for now). love you all!