| Well, its Friday, after all and its our time too meet at our Sunflower Cafe. Well, as I parked my Jeep and walked towards the cafe...I didn't see any familiar cars...so just walked in and there was our ol' SAM...the bartender. Lila: Hi Sam...anybody here yet. Sam: Hi there Lila, no...its too early, I guess, and YOU are always early. Lila: Yeah...I know. Sam: So, what will it be, a short one or a long one. Lila: Make it a long one, Sam..tx. Why the hell do I always have to come first...hate that... Sam: Here, Lila...what ya wanna listen to. Lila: TX Sam...ummm leeettmmmeeeseeee how about "Its a woman's world"...eh. Sam: Sure , why not...well at least until all the gang arrives, you can listen to what ever you want! Sam: There goes Ana. Lila: Hey BABY....was wondering what happened to you. Ana: Fu**...just hate finding a parking place... Sam: Hi Ana, one Martini comin!!!! Ana: Fu**... Sam: Hey babe, it was your mom's choice! Ana: GAAAWWWWDDD....ok ok, never mind. MOOOOMMMMM...??? Lila: WHAT?!!!! Ana: You really like listening to all that crap...don't ya? Lila: mmmhhmmmmm Ana: Hey, look, ther's Greg! Lila: WHAT!!!!!!!!!!! Ana: Just kiddin..... Lila: Hey.,......that was way below the belt ya know...baby! Watch it! Ana: Hey there's CY. Now, for real.... Lila: Hey CY...you ended locked in that library last night , or what? CY: Hi, Lila...Hi ANA....nawwww just this parking gets me so annoyed! Lila: Yeah...you guys must use the Murphy law , more often. HAH Ana: Fu** Murphy law! CY: I agree..... Lila: Oh boy, there they go...look its Jeff, Lynn, Sheila, Eddie, Mame and Java...how the hell did they manage to come together. Jeff: Hola Lilita, Ana, CY! Lila, Ana,CY: Hey u Jeffito! Jeff: Damn...that parking lot....HEY SAAAMMMMMM....did ya speak to your boss 'bout them parkin lot spaces for us??????? Sam: Jeff.....wanna a CUBATA or, what will it be today? Jeff: Yeah...w/e.http://planetlila.multiply.com/"soplapollas"..mourmours to himself/...and I don't wanna park and have all 'em birds squirtin on my car..... Lila: Lynn...damn it girl, you look great, how's that pneumonia? Lynn: Hi there , babe, awwwww I guess once Dick showed up with his 'silver tray and all the offerings' I decided I'm MUCH BETTER! Saaaammmmmmm, get me a drink...will ya! Sheila: Oh boy, it looks like we're slowly gathering up...eh? Lila: Yeah, real SLOW...what's the matter with all 'em guys...its Friday, isn't it?Hey how was your ball room, today? Sheila: Oh, just the usual...seems like most of 'em have both left legs, anyway...so we kinda did the SALSA...makes their butts move...at least! Saaammmmmm, where's my drink? Sam: OMG...this IS Friday, and you guys need them shoots or two...maybe three.... Eddie: Hey ya all...hollly s*it, I found some great graffitti along the way, just had ta stop and make pics. Java: Hey Eddie-HO...thats how you recover from showing lotta skin...eh...now it's graffitti? Hi there everyone! Lila: Hi thereJava, you look GREAT! Been trashing some a**es lately. You go girl...you RULE....you know, like Phil likes to say! Java: Yeah...so where's Phil? Mame: Who, Phil, yeah, saw him a couple of mnts ago, he was busy 'YO PHIL - councellin..dunno who was it, this time. Sam: Jeff: HEY...looks who's here...well you guys are LATE...ya know! Phil, Missy, Lee, Merri, KJ ......joining the crowd. Phil: YOW gang, srry, just been Yo-Phillin' on the way...well at least I wasn't on my blades! Phew... Missy: Hey there MATES, Everybody: Heya, Phil, Missy!....Yeah...Sam hates Fridays! Lee: Just a sec, everyone... Merri: Hi...so you all already here..omg..must be the rush hour and I just can't find Sheldon...he kinda dissapears on Fridays...OH MY GOD...he must be on his way to my house , now.....HEY SAAAMMMMMMMM give me a shot....I must hurry, Sheldon must be waitin for me! KJ: God damn it...I always say behind these walls is so much crap...and I still come here every Friday. Lila: So, you guys , OK? Yeah...I guess so...its just this Friday kinda mood....Oh there they are...., Danilo, Donna, Cyn, Bia,Hippers,Lucky Lisa,Red, and Sail. Lila: About , time...you guys showed up. Phil: Common, Lila, give 'em a break...every Friday, same story. Lila: Yeah... I know, but if they could just come on time...for once. Ya ya ya...hey Sail, had trouble sailin in and dockin at the peir? Hows the Zen house...bought it yet? Sail: Just a nother boring day at the factory...Lila, don't ask. Lila: K Donna: Wow, ya all shoulda seen my show room today...it went whoooopppp with the sales...I'm so glad. Lila: You should be, Donna, great work , you did there! Cyn: Hiya! Boy, ya guys don't haveta worry about the weekend...and I haveta wake up at damn fu**in 5 am for the restaurant! Wonder why don't we all just meet there for a change. This is a loooong drive , ya know. Everyone: Sure, Cyn, but its all worth the drive! Danilo: Well, Thank God no one died on me today! I need a break and no WALZ for a change! Hippers: WOW, ya all look so beautiful, today. Isn't it just a great day! Everyone: YEAH......ITS FRIDAY! Lucky Lisa: Common guys, be positive, just can't figure out why ya all brag so much on Fridays! Red: HI ALL! Hey I'm making some corn bread tomorrow...would ya all like to come and visit? Lila: I would! Everyone: SURE, why don't ya make it on Friday, for a change and bring it with ya while we all get pi**ed drunk here. Cee Cee: Hey...srry I'm late, did I miss anything. Everyone: NAAAAAWWWW! Myk: OMG, I'm never late, just that I had to post some more games, ya know, the sports, movies and all that jazz...oh boy and did I get a million of requests for posting songs...btw, who's DJ-ing here, today! Everyone: DUNNO....its all crap, just wait till SUCKA gets here, it'll get better. Sucka: I'M HERE.!!! Everyone: Well about time you did some DJ-ing ....oh Dream: Hey ya all...your dream lover is here! Lila: OH, boy! Dream, why don't ya change your name...you can't be a dream lover to everyone...ya know... Dream: Yep, DUDETTE...I just love it...so can't help it. Lila: thought so... Ellie, Julie and Lilac show up. Lila: OMG, Ellie, you girl rock with 'em mails...TX! Ellie: Rather like it, and I love staying in touch with my friends. Lila: I appreciate it. Lila: Hey Julie, you feelin better. Hope we make that trip to London in June. Julie: It would be just fantastic, Lila. Lila: Hi, Lilac. How's the patio lookin? Lilac: Hi all. Oh the patio, just great, Lila, and a lot of work still left to do. Lila: FRANCESCA!!!!!!! Boy I missed you! Did you fix that study of yours , yet! Francesca: YES, I'm typin on my knees for a change...you all should try it! Lila: ZUS!!!!!!!!!!! Hey LADY did ya quit or didn't ya quit? Zus: I just had enough! Lila: I know , Zus, I've been there. Oh, when do ya plan to see all of 'em 56 houses????? Zus: NEVER! Brought it down to 15, and still subtractin'!!! Rich: Hey ya all......any food here? Lila: Common, Rich, after all we had ta bring to your house and eat, you expect MORE...have adrink! Rich: Sure, Lila! Lila: Ooops!!!!!! Jeff:...what????? que pasa Lila? Lila: Shut up, Jeff, its Oops...look! Oops: Here I am, guys! Everyone: Ya know what time it is...common, no Ooops for you next Friday...you better be on time! Everyone: Sam: Everyone: WHAT HOME....THIS IS OUR HOME. Sam: Yeah, we're turning from a bar into adoption center! Lila: Michael!!!!!!!! OK, you are excused, I know it takes some time to catch up on us , was it Tuscany or Finland...where the hell have ya been? Michael: Everywhere, Lila. Alaskarap: Yow, guys! Lila: Damn it, Alaksarap, can you just stop gazing into them Alaska skies, ducks, Rudolfs and the rest of the population. Been fishin' lately? And you should try to be on time every Friday, ya know...its a rule! Alaskarap: Nawww...to early yet, Lila Lila: Just because we spent our childhood in Jakarta, doesn't mean I'm gonna excuse you next Friday, hah! SAAAAMMMMMMM, bring Alaska a Rudolf on the rocks! Everyone: O M G!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT- AN- ENTRANCE.....Hey ya FairEst! FairEst: You don't mind me showing late guys, do you. Everyone: NOOOOOOOOOOO....anytime is a good time, as long as you show up! FairEst: Awwwwww Everyone: Sam: Lila: INNABOBOLINNA....OMG, I missed you. Hey Girl! Inna: Yeah, Lila, ya know the SF traffic...ya know all ya wanna know about SF??? Lila: No...but I did read about it, though....so whats up? Inna: Hate going with the flow, ya know, Lila, and I just happen to pass by a place where Angelina was givin a lecture on adoption, care, help-the-world-stuff, then saw a Godard movie...just can't miss THAT, can I....so here I am. Inna: Did I miss anything? Lila: Nawwwww...they're all drunk by now...its Friday, ya know...just the usual. Hey Inna, what ya drinkin? Inna: Oh, I'm in a tequila mood.....hey ther's even a bare shoulder I can use to put salt on...who IS that? Lila: No idea, babe, just wipe it with a damp Kleenex and use it. Inna: Sure.... Sam: 1 tequla, 2 tequila, 3 tequila, FLOOR....I hope they start fallin soon! Lila: Hey pass that canuto over here! Everyone / except Eddie and a couple of more/ : LILA, you SMOKE?????? HEY IT'S BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH!. Lila: SURE IT IS....just pass it on...its Friday! Sam: Everyone: YEAH YEAH YEAH, you quit every Friday, Sam, shut up and get those drinks! K, guys ...so where do we meet next Friday? Please do inform us on time! I know Sam realy loves us, but we should give him a break! |
Thursday, 27 April 2006
SUNFLOWER CAFE
SAAAAMMMMMM get me a Maritni!!!!
Hate Fridays...just hate them.......commin' rite up!!!!!!!
omg, isn't it time you guys went home.
I QUIT !!!!!!!!
Sunday, 23 April 2006
Lila and Dr. House
|
Lila: So, you here for some confession or just counselling. Dr House: I was expecting you in my office 20 minutes ago. Lila: You think I'm crazy.
Lila: I’ve got a few minutes, though. Feel free to say something like, ‘What’ll we do with the time left over?" Dr. House: You alienate people. Dr. House: You know, there are other ways to manage pain, depression and meno-pause. Dr House: How can you just sit there? Lila: Oh, I wanted to talk about that..what's her name, nurse, you've been sending here. Lila: She must be all the talk around the holy water cooler. Dr House: The nurse, err the nun, tends to believe in things that aren't real, but she's having problems believing there are people like you.
Dr House: She's seen five patients in the last two hours! ****Silence**** Lila: The other day you left this file on my condition, on my chair, so I was thinking, Clever - forces me to either deal with the file or never sit down again. Dr. House: How would you describe my medical skills? Lila: When guys have brain/crotch problems, it’s usually the result of using one too much and the other too little. Dr House: Ok Lila, can we get back to your state now? Fever?
Lila: OK, am I suppose to be angry now. Dr House: ***sight***
Dr.House: You know what, Lila, why don't we just exchange places, you be the shrink and I'll be the patient. Dr.House: OK, bye Lila. Lila: Hey,how's your hooker doing? Lila: Mmmmmm, ok, see ya Doc!
|
Friday, 14 April 2006
Mid-life-crisis
| This blog is not for my Young Friends, on the other hand, why not, its always good to know what lies ahead. And if you think you'r gonna skip any of this mid-life-crisis, let me tell you one thing for sure..YOU'R NOT. It may come in various forms, but it'll come. Some of you who are familiar and still remember their imagionary friends from their childhood, well, you see, there is a certain connection there. If you ever had them, then you'll surely recognize the feeling in your mid-life, when they either reappear or, for those who had never experienced that feeling, they will suddenly start having imagionary friends, feelings, situations, just simply put, they will need them badly...fantasy land...when we're young its easy to fight with ghosts, when we reach the mid-life-crisis, confronting or surrendering to those ghosts and wind mills is a story of its own. And believe me, its not what we like so much calling 'serendipity' now days, meaning - abductive reasoning - finding something unexpected and useful while searching for something else entirely. No, no, don't be fooled by that definition...it even kinda sucks, but strange things will start happening. Its not about age...its not about waking up one morning and realizing those little lines on your face where not there yesterday, its not about : 'Hey, I wanna be 25..30 , again'...its about sudden consciusness, its about finding closure and filling the gaps...we forgot on the way. Its not about :' OMG I can't go to a disco'...ofcours you can,... its not about: ' I hate this everyday routine'...change the routine....its not about: ' omg I'm having a nap in the afternoon, and I'm starting to wake up so early'...common.. its not about : ' all my holidays look alike, all my friends look alike, I even spend more time in the kitchen'....no, no, and no. Your favorite quote you use on a daily basis starts sounding like: ' Oh, everything's sooo much up in the air for me, rith now'.The biggest problem is, that you start being aware of your thoughts deep inside, there is 'another you'...that 'you' whom you lost somewhere on the line...that 'old you' starts buggin you and hopefully kicks you in the bu* ...wake up /if you'r ready for it/....or just die trying /if your just fooling yourself/ !!!!!!! After all, maybe your life doesn't suck at all...and after all, maybe you just deserve it. So, go hit the sack and stop bragging.......HAH, SEE....NOW THAT'S MID-LIFE-CRISIS! Thats you talking to yourself...or that imagionary who ever. Both women and men experience this type of crisis, they start revaluating their lives, they start analysing, and reviewing, now and then they touch base, but this game is much more complicated then baseball. Most seek changes, wether their lives have been good , fair or bad. Most get this sudden feeling of : 'omg, I've wasted so many years, I've been so occupied, I've always worried for others and always gave everything and I don't recall getting anything back...at least not when I needed it most...NOW...cuz I'm in mid-life-crisis! I've been busy making my social status, building up my empire, I've got everything any men can think of....why do I feel so EMPTY then? What am I missing? Am I happy, is THIS MY LIFE? These are the questions you'll be asking yourself on a daily basis, when you'r not trying to go with the flow and hide in your fortress of a secure and cozy life.Don't wait for devine intervention..its all up to you. I've seen massive men and women live lives in quiet desperation, only in mid-life-crisis this desperation can't be quiet anymore. A lot of people have accounts they have not reconciled, things they are not ready to share. Every now and then, they come back, I have this snapshots of how they've changed along the years, the ones that changed the most, finally bought that boat, Porsche, bike - forgetting about their sciatic problems, or moved to that island, those who haven't changed I suppose they take comfort in knowing what course their lives are on, they like to know they believe in what lies ahead, they will end up living as they always did, and eventualy just give in. Maybe, that's a succesful mid-life-crisis...and, maybe not. They are on a strange journey of redemption...and a very long one, indeed. " THE REST IS UP TO YOU...I SAY...THE REST IS UP TO YOU" / quote from Shall We Dance
Memorable Quotes from *Charlotte: You're probably just having a mid-life crisis. Did you buy a Porsche yet? *Bob: I was feeling tight in the shoulders and neck, so I called down and had a Shiatsu massage in my room... *Lydia Harris: [over the phone] Is this a bad time? *Stills Photographer: Are you drinking, no?
p.s. don't worry to much about it, though, you can always go to a chat room , blog, or play some games on the internet...meet people and lead a 'double-life' ...that's a therapy too, you know the drill: asl....whattcha wearing...and that kinda stuff..., but be sure to make a deadline...like: ok this is fine, at the moment it is JUST WHAT I NEED, as long as it doesn't go out of controll and my coping and untill I get back to my old senses and realize who I am and what I want , hah, sounds faililar ...eh? |
***all Photoshop pics by Lila*** / I simply adore this photo
Tuesday, 11 April 2006
Three coins in the fountain
Three Coins in the Fountain
It was the Spring when Lia and Mel moved to their second house in Ealing, London W5.
It was the Spring when their business was blasting into new horizons.
It was the Spring when Lia turned 21.
It was the Spring when Mel gave her a Tissot watch for her birthday.
It was the Spring when they ate at Gino's just accross their office, and spent their nights at the Mayfare Play Boy Club.
It was the Spring when they went to Devon, and after spending just a couple of hours decided to get back to London and go to the Kensington Hilton Piano Bar, Lia was still trying to get used to Whisky Ginger Ale, while Mel had no problems with his shots on the rocks, they ended up finishing an entire box of Campari Soda.
It was the Spring when Mel drove his first dark blue Jaguar and Lia got her first sports car, a red Alfa, with what she called an opposite wheel drive and such a fantastic sound of engine, that made her proud driving and making sure everyone knew it was her.
After that, nothing would ever be the same.
It was the Spring of 1978.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lia and Mel met in 1977 at a birthday party of their mutual friend , Mickey, who was later to become their best man at their wedding and The Padrino to their daughter Katarina. Ofcours, Katarina ended up being called an entirely different name, as well as they never called each other Lia and Mel, they always had this game of calling themselves and everything else in their own special way.
That particular birthday was in many ways a life changing occassion. From that night on a new page was turned in both Lia's and Mel's life.
The day after, Mel decided to spend his afternoon at The Rooster Cafe, when Lia showed up with Mickey. Non of this was ever planned, as Lia was about to hit for the Adriatic Coast with her friend Mickey and a couple of more people but from that moment on, Lia would never believe in coincidences.
The three of them spent their afternoon chatting and injoying their company at the Cafe . Warm summer night was falling as Mickey stood up and aksed Lia:
- ' So, I'll see you tomorrow morning then, you better go and pack.'
- ' I think I'll stay , you guys go on and have a great time, I'll be in touch ', at that moment Lia knew she made a decission that would change her life in so many ways.
From that exact moment in their lifes, Lia and Mel never separated. Young and beautiful, they were the talk of the society, they were admired, envied and loved. They were on their way to conquer the world, and as life can be good sometimes, everything they wanted was served on a silver plate for them to enjoy.
Months flew and winter arrived. They were making plans for the Celebration of the New Year. Driving thought the city, late one night, they both had the same idea on their minds.
- ' Lets get married ', they both said at the same moment, and after a while laughted. Now, wasn't that just the perfect idea, they thought. Mel got out of the car, and walking in deep snow wrote I LOVE YOU, which stayed there in unspoiled white snow for many days.
Lia and Mel got married on the 22nd of December 1977. Mickey, as their best man and just a few more friends were present. Lia wore a beige raw silk skirt and jacket, while Mel was in his black Italian suit. They bought their rings in Munich, very near Schiller Strasse and carved their names. Lia bought him a Paco Raban shawl and a bracelet that had enscripted on the plate ' from someone who loves you' , and Mel bought her a white gold ring with 4 dark blue saphires. There was another strange thing, they decided not to inform their parents, as they thought of this as their own private matter...their families were not informed untill Lia's mother got it out of Mickey some months later and called Mel on the phone:
- ' Well, hi there, my son-in-law, how are you ', which took Mel completely off guard, wondering why in the first place was that decision of not informing the family made, but all was well.
They had a fascinating dinner at the famous ' La Terrasa' where all of their guests wrote them a message on a white silk napkin, and Lia and Mel wrote their wows . There were many white roses, champagne, finest proscutto, cheese ,aspic, grilled mushrooms....
They spent the New Year 1977 / 78 in Mayfare Hilton, where the pianist played for them 'Girl from Ipanema', 'One Note Samba' and songs from Jino Vanneli. The rest of the night took them to Trafalgar Square and ended up in a near by Bar, where for some strange reason they decide not to stay, and walked on towards the next Bar, when a bomb exploded in the one they decided not to stay.....those were the days of dangerous living, but what did they know, they were just married, too young and too much in love to give it a second thought.
Their first apartment they rented from some nice Polish people. But after staying just a couple of months they moved to their second house in Woodville Rd.
They travelled all the time and especially loved Zurich, where once Mel bought her a huge San Bernardine toy dog from whome she never parted during their travells. Sometimes they stayed at the Holiday Inn in Kloten , where their frined Mickey ordered an ice cream, and when they saw the waiter bringing a huge tray of ice cream, fruit and the Christmas sparkle in it...they wondered which idiot ordered that...only soon enough to find out it was their best man, who by then was so embarrased that he immediately left for the mens room and came back apparently with a bit of wet trousers and Lia coundn't stop herself from asking what the hell ever happened in that mens room. So the story was, when you begin to do what you've gone there to do, the water would start flushing the music would start playing and the lights would change...this being late 70s was a hit and, ofcours Lia just had to go and check it out.
The crossing of the British Channel was an adventure of its own, wether by overcraft from Dover to Calais they used to laugh watching newbies try to have their drinks untill they hit the first 'bumpy waves' and pured over their drinks all over, there was laughter and jokes. Or they just took the Ferry to Ostende - Belgium, a 4 hrs crossing, depending on the current and 'the traffic' where Lia always made it straight to the bar and emptied 4-5 strong drinks as seeing all the vehicles and huge truks on board and on a couple of floors that served as parking space, she just freaked out every time, after the drinks she would feel much better. They would watch the passengers try to walk past them, everyone who went from one side to the other was 'in a normal' condition, the ones who walked 'straight' also had a couple at the bar!
They bought their first Sony Trinitron at Shiphol airport in Amsterdam, their first Whirlpool washing machine in Bayswater, their first duvet and bed sheets came as a present from their best friends Pat and Mick. Lia made her first cooking attempts and ended covering the kitchen floor with white butter beans, while the first washing machine experience was the entire floor covered with foam, as by mistake, Lia never read the washing powder box correctly and ended up puting the hand washing powder in the machine. But life was never better, they were the happiest couple, they enjoyed every minute of their lives, lughted, played tennis, went to see Saturday Night Fever, listened to Manhattan Transfere, got their first JVC receiver, Technics record player with a 'Shur needle' then Uher reel-to-reel tape recorder, JVC amplifier, and ofcours JBL loud speakers. She started smoking Benson and Hedges while he smoked golden Winston. Lia's first parfume was Amazon from Hermes and Mel's was Eau Sauvage from Dior.
They made a record in leaving Dover at 5 am and arriving at Slovenia boarder at midnight, and Lia waking up from the back sit of the Jaguar, asking if they'v passed Germany, yet! Lia, on the other hand loved driving at night through Belgium, as their highways had orange lights, Mel would take over in Germany as Lia would couddle back with her San Bernadine...France, Austria and the Sport Hotel, they both loved so much, they even enjoyed Bulgaria back in those days with only Hotel Sofia, with one of the worse breakfasts you could imagine, all together with the communist odour and ambient, untill they bulit the new Novotel.
Lia and Mel spent their summers at the Adriatic Coast, they had their special and favorite place, they refused going anywhere else. Lia would get tanned faster then Mel, he would burn, and later , only get the most fabulous bronze tan, she loved so much, making the hair on his hands golden, she would carress them and call him Panda...which had nothing to do with the actual Panda, it was just another game they played.
She would do his nails and he would just freak out if she passed her fingers on his freshly cut nails, as he couldn't stand that movement, she made sure to repeat it as much as possible.
He adored her and made sure they were never separated as they both needed each other all the time, they were like air and water, they were essential. If ever Mel travelled alone, Lia would go to their friends place as she couldn't stand it being without Mel. Their Italian friends, Gino and Victoria had a grand dane, called Cleo, very much grown up but yet a baby in behaviour, Cleo always slept with Lia and one or the other kept falling off the bed, during the night.
Somewhere in September of 1978 Lia was surprisedas she skipped her monthly period, and went to check it out. Not that they ever took any precautions, but they never spoke about it, so she went and checked it out. She didn't know how she felt at the moment, she only knew she felt confused, so she decided to brake the news to Mel, that evening.
- ' Hey, you know what, I'm pregnant ', waiting to see his reaction.
- ' What do you mean, pregnant ', was Mel's reaction.
- ' Well, pregnant like in we're going to have a baby ', Lia was getting nervous.
- ' But, we never discussed this...did we..', Mel was watching her, while standing beside the other end of their bed.
- ' No we didn't, and what's the big deal, anyway, I'm pregnant, we're going to have a baby and that's it...which part didn't you understand ' , Lia was starting to yell by now, but so was Mel ;
- ' Listen, Lia, we didn't plan that , yet, did we...', Mel was yelling too.
Lia was getting more then unconfotable with this turn out of events and just yelled back at him;
- ' Well, sooner or later it would have just come up..rite..or did you not have that in mind'
- ' I just can't deal with that NOW, we're leaving tomorrow, if you care to recall our trip...'
And at that moment Lia coulnd't deal with the situation either, she took a jar of face cream and threw it at him, hitting his ankle, and cryed out;
- ' Well, deal with this ! '
He bent down to his knees in sudden pain, she walked passed him ran down the stairs took her car keys and rushed out of the house. The sound that her little Alfa engine made was more then anything yet heard in the neighbourhood as she wroomed out into the night. She stopped at Gino's and picked up Mel's best friend Ben, just telling him she needed to go for a ride and someone to talk to. Lia knew Ben for some time now, as he was Mel's friend from high school, they often spent time together and Ben was one of their regular guests at their home. Lia and Ben ended up at Play Boy Club, where on this specific night Lia, whos weak point was rulette, won a disgusting large amount of money, had one of the most unfogettable moments in her life, she'd always remember from that day on, dropped Ben at his place and arrived home just about time for her and Mel's trip.
She found Mel worried to death on her missing the whole night from the house. Lia was in no mood to argue or give explanations, she just finished packing and they left.
Things changed as her pregnancy evolved. She loved Mel dearly as Mel loved her too, but the difference was he loved her even more, which made it hard for him to accept her change and the coming of their baby, because he wanted Lia more then anything in this world, and he was not prepared to share her, or even think she would have someone else to take care of, except him.
They never stopped travelling, working or changed their lives, as she carried their child. In her late pregnancy, they went to Rome, where Lia wanted to buy all the necessary stuff for the baby. They sat near Fontana di Trevi and Lia walked towards the enge of the fountain, searched her pockets for some coins, found three coins, walked back a little turned her back towards the fountain and threw the coins over her head in the water. She, then walked back to the fountain and watched all the glittering coins in the fountain and wondered how many wishes lay silently in that clear water at the bottom of the fountain. Then she remembered, she never made a wish...well, she had no coins left, maybe next time.
Lia felt a little sick when they went to see the Coloseum, and just sat on the ege of the pavement while waiting for Mel to come back. He would never have gone alone, before, she thought, and left her sitting there feeling sick.
Their beautiful daughter was born in May 1979. Mel sent a card expressing his love for both Lia and their daughter and a huge basket of flowers. Lia spent the first month with their daughter at her mother's home, Mel came to see them after one month.
Life was not the same, anymore...they continued seeing each other frequently, but not regularly. They spent that summer holiday at their favorite place in the Adriatic, leaving behind their daughter with Lia's mom. They were not a family, they loved each other, Mel couldn't cope with the new situation, Lia couldn't forgive, but yet loved him still. Lia's mom suggested to take their daughter to the Far East, so they could get on with their lives and try mending what was left. They agreed. After some time, Lia took sides in their business and went against Mel, he could never forgive her, while she thought she was only doing the right thing at the moment.
Lia's and Mel's marriage lasted four years, it ended as it began. They were at a restaurant and decided to get a divorce. After signing all their papers and leaving the lawyers to do their job, they went and had a fabulous dinner, checked in their favorite Hotel and stayed there for many days. Their love didn't stop at that moment, it continued on for many years to come. They spent only one holiday together as a family with their daughter at Lake Bled in Slovenia, and a couple of birthdays.
More then 10 years passed after their divorce when they stopped seeing each other. There were many occasions when they could have worked out their past problems, sitting at their Restaurant called Georgio's. There were chances when they met at their old friends places, when Mickey, who was now The Padrino to their daughter got his first child, son Lucas, or when they both coincided at Cavtat, Lia leaving and watching Mel arriving at the airport, or even when Lia got her second divorce and they both talked over if anything was left there as a possibility for them to get together again.... what were the reasons that kept them from being together...why...and they never stopped loving each other.
Many years have passed since, I heard Mel got married but has no children with his second wife, Lia married too, and has two more sons. They never saw each other again, and Lia never made another wish in Rome trowing coins in Fontana di Trevi.
As my friend Danilo says, memory is a 7th sense...how true!
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-bEodqKI1eqifudrJlOtIEzc4vEJB9A--?cq=1
Sunday, 9 April 2006
ANY GIVEN SUNDAY
Any given Sunday in my village Valsequillo de Gran Canaria
Its market day in my village, so first look for 'aparcamiento'
......then the market
see below pic of products of Aloe and behind it in the upper corner...yeah its a guy playing electric piano...so we have music too..hah
...and lots of cheese
...then to La Esquinita for some 'dulces' ...sweets, cakes...etc...then the video club..
La Piazoleta, and just behind it a game for the 'pension plan guys'......
...the church of San Miguel
and for the end of this tour...THE STRAWBERRY FIELDS OF VALSEQUILLO DE GRAN CANARIA
mmmmmmmm, yes I'm feeling better, now!
Sunday, 2 April 2006
AMANTES DE LOS SUEÑOS PERDIDOS
It was her birthday, but she has stoped counting somewhere in her 30s. The first traces of lines were hidden below a large straw hat and dark sunglasses,waring a black and white polka-dots silk dress and her favorite Manolos, she had to break all that fancy style with her own personality adding an orange 'Pucca' bag...it was just one of her ways...just one of her ways.
Arriveing at Genoa airport, mid of May, the crowd seemed like the summer season had begun. She was to meet with her daughter and son, both in their late 20s, rent a car and drive to the Ligurian Riviera, just some 38 kilometers from Genoa, to Portofino, a place she admired, a place where she was at peace.
She felt a sudden change in her heart beat and her smile was welcomed by their crazy shouts and laughter, as they kept hugging and kissing each other. She was alive and happy again. As they all talked at once as if everyone wanted to tell his own story, joy and laughter surrounded her as they all walked to the car rental and within minutes headed to Genoa.
Just driving through the city she recalled the beauty of Genoa, an amazing city containing many beautiful wonders. Palaces and galleries, bursting with fine art, set around one of the loveliest streets in Italy, Via Garibaldi. Extravagant rococo rooms with wonderful paintings, sculptures, tapestries and Oriental ceramics contained in the luxurious 17th-century Palazzo Reale. She wanted to move on towards their destination, there was no reason to stop now and wonder through the city, taking her straw hat off and letting her shinny blond hair fly as all three of them sang their favorite song that echoed through the autostrada: 'YOU'R JUST TO GOOD TO BE TRUE, CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OF OFF YOU, YOU'D BE LIKE HEAVEN TO TOUCH, I WANNA HOLD YOU SO MUCH, AT LONG LAST LOVE HAS ARRIVED AND I THANK GOD I'M ALIVE, YOU'R JUST TO GOOD TO BE TRUE, CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OF YOU...' which followed by the crescciendo of klapping hands and yelling : 'I LOVE YOU BABY AND IF ITS QUITE ALRIGHT I NEED YOU BABY...' Her smile, not fading away, she listened to their singing and laughter, while they passed San Fruttuoso, she watched the vineyards, orchards and slopes covered in cypress and olive groves of this wonderful fishing village, where she remembered was an ancient Benedictine abbey, and where you could take a boat trip on a calm day and attempt to spot the bronze statue of Christ, immersed 15 metres below the surface in memory of divers who have lost their lives.
How she loved this part of the Riviera, as she took deep breaths filled with the smell of the sea and the cypress trees. She closed her eyes, and kept the glitter of the image ...for just a moment, so that after she's gone, she would recall the smell and the image all over and over again. This was one of her secrets of how she practised to remember places she loved...with their smell and image all together in her treasure box of memories.
As they reached Portofino they drove up the hill towards Hotel Splendido which had one of the most beautiful views overlooking the bay. She loved this hotel with its extraordinary beauty, the quiet, precious, and secluded atmosphere, a combination of intimate style and international tradition. It could tell her things about nature and man which, if accurately observed, could be viewed from a privileged stage, cosy and unobtrusive enough not to encroach upon the scene with the flow of events. It always offered her the atmosphere as the overall image of Portofino which, in a symbiotic relationship with the surrounding environment, through encounters and confrontations with the nature, history life, and the diligent work of man, one may draw back from or be enticed by, enhances the fascination of sensations and seems to offer witnesses to observation .
Always upon her arrival at this fascinating place she would think of…Guy de Maupassant “ A little village spreading like an arch of the moon around this quiet basin… Never have I felt the way I did when I walked into that green indefiniteness, with such a sense of peace and fulfilment".
As they settled in their rooms, she decided to have her Martini on her favorite terrace, and wait for her daughter and son. After a quick shower, she changed into her white long Ozbek dress that gave a rather nice and provocative view of her bare back, she pulled her hair under a large white straw hat with a flower-pattern-scarf hanging and touching her bare back, slided in her Prada's sandals that had the same flower pattern as the scarf, ofcours the 'Pucca' bag, last glimpse at the mirror and she headed towards the terrace.She could feel the sun and the Spring breeze on her face as she put her sunglasses on.
As she sipped her Martini, the taste of it on her lips brought back more memories, as she slowly slided back in her chair, folding her legs together towards the side...a sudden smile on her corner of her lips, whenever she made this move, she would remember her mom saying:'Never cross your legs in public, its not lady-like'...oh, wasn't she the one who always broke all the rules and went against all manners, or were those some long lost days in her past, has she grown up suddenly...or did she just age...no, she wouldn't think about age, and, anyway she didn't decide to grow up, just yet...maybe later, maybe tomorrow...
So, Portofino was same, it was one of those places that kept its style and tranquility, and strongly fought for its uniqueness, and somehow managed to keep its image throughout all these years. The tiny village of Portofino (which means "port of dolphins") is located just 10 miles down the road from Camogli. The crown jewel of the Italian Riviera, Portofino was always a magnet for jet-setters and celebrities worldwide along with regular tourists who flock here to experience the heady ambience. The term "Upscale" is evident everywhere you turn in Portofino from the fancy designer shops (Gucci, Armani, Hermes) and boutiques to the assortment of luxury yachts and pleasure boats vying for space in the small harbor. Much of Portofino's appeal is due to its magnificent location at a point along the Riviera where the rocky cliffs tumble down to meet the azure waters of the Mediterranean. Houses dot the hillside above the village, and the buildings in Portofino itself are decked out in a spectrum of colors ranging from pink to yellow to orange.
During the day,people like to hang out in the trendy restaurants and cafes around the main square soaking up the sun, a short and easy walk up to the Church of San Gregorio or the longer 90 minute hike to the 13th-century abbey of San Fruttuoso. The famous “Piazzettaâ€Â, delimited by the little houses, slopes down and ends in the water of the harbour. To this day, sailors still draw boats out of the water upon it as if upon the edge of a beach.Nowadays it is still of possible to see women working at the lace pillow to make the very famous and refined laces. Portofino is thus a haven of peace in a place of unequalled beauty where, while one is sipping a drink or tasting a typical dish, one can see famous actors and actresses, artists from every part of the world, writers, scientists, men of finance and industry, and the protagonists of our dreams passing by. A kingdom ruled serenely and with a lot of love by king colour and Queen light.
The bay is delightful and sunk in a perennial greenery, and if one walks along the quay, one can breathe the salty fragrance of the sea which combines with that of pittosporo, pine trees, and junipers coming down from the mountain (610 m. above sea level), which is now the Parco Regionale (regional park), which one can reach through panoramic trails.
The Church of San Gregorio, at the time of the post-war reconstruction, the excavations brought to light a square-planned chapel, which was believed to be the little church around which the Longobardic Arimannia was gathered. A memorial stone placed inside the church commemorates the first reconstruction in Romanesque style of 1154. In 1691 the church was completely rebuilt and, on that occasion, also the road coming up from the village was widened. After being modified and enlarged again in 1760, this road was eventually struck right in the centre by a bomb in 1944. In 1950 the church had already been rebuilt after its former structure, some altars were restored and new furnishings replaced the old ones which had been destroyed. Here are kept the relics of Portofino’s patron Saint, brought here by the seamen returning from the Crusades.
She heard and recognized the voices and the laughter of her daughter and her son approaching her table. Turning her head towards the sound of their laughter she suddenly cought a glimpse. She shivered. Nothing had changed from a few minutes ago, the sun was still shining, the air was still warm, as her heart stirred with nervousness, and gave a lurch, she saw him sitting at one of the tables. There were a couple of other people there, but she could just see him...how long was it, was it two years or more, thoughts were rushing through her mind, while she tried to controll her breathing and hold the chair with her hands, afraid she would make a move, but she was paralized. He looked at her, and his deep, almost soulful eyes seemed to look right into hers.
Her daughter immediately realized that something was wrong, looking at her mother's pale frozen face and trying to follow her gaze, she saw him too. She knew, she had known for some years now, but they never spoke about it, in the past year, and she respected her mother's silence. She was about to ask her mother if everything was ok, but knowing that there would be no answer, because there was no answer to that question, she saw him stand up, while her mother's face reminded of a marble statue by now, she took her brother by the arm and lead him through the terrace to a table near by.
Just as she'd feared, as she watched him walking towards her, she was aware of how deeply affected she was by him. It was threatening to make it almost impossible to be objective, or even altogether rational, for watching him now, she was only able to see him as the man who laughted and teased, the man she talked endlessly with, who made her feel what she thought she could never feel again, glad to be alive at the time she'd actually wanted to give up on everything in her life, the man who she loved and the man who loved her dearly. When he was close enough, she still couldn't stop staring into his deep blue eyes. She felt disadvataged sitting in the chair, but since getting up was an undignified manoeuvre these days, she bore it out where she was. She looked up at him, standing tall and slightly dishevelled in the breeze, and thought all this was just a dream. He was still searching her face, as though making sure of every detail as he sank down in a chair next to her.
She couldn't look away,adrenalin was pounding through her vains now, her breath felt suddenly short and ragged and she finaly looked away, giving herself a moment to assimiliate. She was unsettled by how dense his eyes seemed, feeling unsteady she lifted her head to watch the sun glinting on the sea, while shapeless white clouds scudded through the sky. His eyes were still on her, and for one long excruciating minute she was afraid he might touch her. She looked at him thinking of what an extraordinary way the world sometimes had of bringing people into each other's lives, and how capricious the timing could be. No words were spoken, there was no need for words, they knew it all, how many times have they talked about this moment in their lives...until they stopped talking and left their lives to unfold.
He placed his hand over her and she felt an unstedy beat in her heart, they both smiled, then without really thinking, she reached and put her hands around his neck and kissed him softly, the feel of him kissing her back spread, a warmth all the way through her. Then she pulled away slightly and they gazed into each other's eyes, him still holding her hand, and her with arms linked behind his neck, untill he took her hat off, going through her hair with his fingers and placing her head on his chest. They sat in silence...time didn't matter, time did not exist anymore. The night was slowly falling over the bay of Portofino, as their lives continued to unfold in a mysterious way.
