oclivin

Sorry folks, but Pizza Hut and Domino’s are not that good.  I hate greasy pizza, when I can see my toppings floating in an inch of oil, that does it for me.  Yuck!  I have been in search of the most authentic pizza yet.  Being from the Southern part of Italy, our pizza is known to be thin and wood fire baked.  We keep our toppings simple and sweet, fresh tomato sauce, fresh buffala mozzarella, and basil.  Yum!  So I started my quest and came down to the conclusion that here in the OC, we only have two places that make a pie close enough to what I am used to.  First there is Buca di Beppo, located in the city of Brea, CA, I would like to say that this pizza is the most authentic, however, you have to order the Margherita because in Italy we do not have toppings! The other restaurant i found to be close enough, is Pane and Vino also located in the city of Brea, CA.  Here to, the pizza has to be ordered Margherita style, which is simply sauce, mozzarella and basil, any other way ruins the experience.  That is simply my opinion.  So if you think Domino’s is the way to go, I am truly sorry!  We Italians do not eat sausage on our pizza, we put it in our pasta!

I think I have had the worst month in record history.  Well things are just escalating to a total catastrophe, besides id-theft, family feuds, bad economy, house not selling, terrible two year old, let’s add the day from hell.  My other half and I have been feuding for the past few days, obviously it is deeper than whatever we are fighting about, because our moods change almost immediately when we are around each other.  Frankly I have reached the end of my rope, then I receive my telephone bill which is $ 400.00 + dollars, I almost immediately fall to the floor hyperventilating, due to the fact that their is a serious  mistake here.  I was charged $ 275.00 for an early termination fee, and I did not even terminate anything.  So then, I go to the dentist, and she tells me that I have several interproximal incipient caries ( Cavities about to happen), how can this be, I have perfect teeth!! Then I try to calm down and go out for dinner, all I wanted was a grilled chicken sandwich, and what I got was a crispy fried loaded with fat chicken heart attack.  All I want is some peace, can’t anything ever go right, why can’t I be left alone?  All I need is a breath of fresh air, no phone calls, no bills, no problems, nobody, just me.  Does this sound like a nervous breakdown, stress, maybe in need of a drink? I did notice that when something starts going wrong, the rest of your day/month goes down to hell in a handbasket.  Please God, if you read blogs up there, can you spare me a day or two, a nice little brake?  Anyways, there you have it, it’s just not my day.

Yeah, yeah, elections are here, Obama this Obama that, McCain here, McCain there.  Just choose one America, it can’t be any worse than the poor fool that YOU elected 8 years ago!  Honestly, can this country get any worse that it already is?  I think not!  So enough about all this political talk and who will  do better than who,  at this point I am ready to elect Gene Simmons from KISS, whom I think would be a far better choice than some of these bafoons that we have seen prancing around our white house.  If you are worried about electing someone who is a cheat (adulterer), don’t you fear, I think we all learned our lesson, and honestly being a president does not mean that you are exempt from being human.  So I think that at this point any president would be better than what we have now! You know this whole attempt on obama’s life is sickening, just because he’s part black! I thought we were over this segregation issue, I think we need a change, maybe he can be the president we need, and also, our current president seems to be part hillbillie, and he’s still fine! Come on people, enough! Let’s just do this, do you really need to be politically brainwashed my campaigns and commercials, maybe we should just close our eyes and pin the tail on the donkey, we sure haven’t tried that before! Well, with only two more months to go, I think we can make it, hopefully this time the no states will cheat!

I like to think that  my life is pretty normal, however, these days I feel like I am part of a dysfunctional family.  Not so much family, but persona I guess.  I am so overwhelmed with just everyday dilemmas, the latest would be our family feud that I posted in my previous blog, another factor would be my recent identity theft, I know that it is not considered dysfunctional, but it is definitely a damper on my ordinary way of life.  I can see why some people drink themselves in to a coma, run away, leave their partners, have a nervous breakdown and so forth. I myself am drinking a very refreshing glass of fruity wine as I sit here and type.  I am not the complainer, but here in my buzz I share my melodramatic happening.  I am starting to hate the idea of family, you give them an inch, they take your whole body.  Damn it, I am an adult! I demand respect and the choice of choosing what i want.  Leave me alone you pestering aunts, if you are so worried about your kids finances, then give them some money, do not depend on others to ensure their riches.  Sorry guys, I am so sure that many of you out there feel the same, maybe not a family member but a friend, they are all the same, vicious vipers waiting to inject poison in the blood that runs through your veins.  Run, keep your distance, trust me salute them from afar, you will be much happier!

Yes, this is true, if you know what is good for you, do yourself a favor and never discuss or do business with family.  One of my family members is a realtor, a fairly new and inexperienced one.  Well, feelings got hurt when they were not asked for representation in purchasing a new home and selling the existing one. Yes my house is up for sale, however, I did give this person a chance and it just did not work. Family always holds your best interest right? Wrong! Sure they love you, but they also want to make some money off of you, and wether it be real estate, owning a liquor store, tailoring shop, being a physician, well they are looking out for themselves as well.  So yes a favor or two is ok, but leave it at that.  You confide in your family member about certain things and next thing you know it’s on the early news.  With this whole real estate thing, the best thing is to probably get a reputable agent well know in your area, yes they will know your every financial disclosure, but at least they wont phone your family and tell them that you make more than you say! Honestly, in everyone’s best interest, just stay out, leave your family where they should be in their place gathering on Holidays and what have you. I am stuck in this vicious battle that has now expanded to my cousins mother, my mother, a few of my aunts and God only knows who else will join in, I think the drama extends to the fact that these vicious women are Italians trying to defend their kin.

The reason I am sharing these stories with you guys is  because I would like the world to know what kind of hellish prison I used to live in.  Well, maybe I am being a little too dramatic, however, prison it was.  The funny part is that when I comfront my mother these days, she insists that we had all the freedom in the world and that we used to go out here and there.  Yes, yes, you are right, I had all these boyfriends, blah, ,blah, blah……yeah right! I am very angry at the thought of this, yes i do share a very nice life these days, but my teenage hood was pretty much non existant, the woman cut all communication off.  High school dances out of the question, movies with girlfriend, no way, shopping at the mall, are you crazy, high school prom, are you out of your mind! We are choosing the guy for you. Isn’t that sad!  My prom date was my older brother’s work manager, a religiously obsessed older guy, that my parents seemed to trust.  Not to mention he was desperately trying to fit in, and embarassing himself and myself in the process.  College was a big relief, I hate to even admit this, but thanks to the do it yourself class schedule and work schedule, what my parents did not know, was for the best…if you know what I mean. Hey, I am only human, you try living in a prison, you know you are of age, but you still are not allowed to do anything. I could have moved out, but Italians instill this fear in their children, where if you ever move out before getting married, you will be excommunicated from the family.  When I look back, I do realize my parents did it to protect us, however, I still did what they did not want me to do.  Don’t try to choke hold your children, the more you say no, the more they are going to do it anyways! So, to my parents, being Italian does not make you righteous, it just sets you up to be ignorant to all the things your children do behind your back!

Computer/Internet!!!!  I am sure all you guys out there feel the same.  I honestly will go mad, if something were to happen to my computer at any hour of the day.  Sure there are other things to do, but the internet super highway is another world, a world at your fingertips.  Most of the times, finding a phone number, address, directions, reviews are so much faster than the phone book, and I am allergic to newsprint! Not to mention you can buy anything you need without even leaving your home. My computer is a lifeline to the world, besides air and food, I would definitely not survive. I would definitely loose track of my financial livelyhood, my daily agenda, my bill due dates and my blogs! Maybe it is not such a good thing I depend on this so much. If the computer cooked dinner, did laundry and gave back massages, my life would be set. I think all of you guys that are codependant to this as well, need to invest in an external backup or remote server, just in case of dooms day.  If you are anything like me, you have years and years of digital photography stored in your hardrive, that has not yet been burned to a cd or even printed! That is bad! Anyways, if I shall fail to write for a few days, you know what happened!

Ok, so we all know that I am Italian. The other half is of Hispanic descent.  I clearly remember my mother asking me if mine was concidered an interratial relationship.  Of course I said, anyone who has a relationship with any other race other than caucasion or whatever race you are, is considered interracial. I loved the look on her face when her mouth dropped open.  See, my folks are both Italians, from the same town.  Their excpectations were for their children to follow in their shoes.  Reality check!  When you live in a Nation like America, you pretty much cannot follow those restrictions.  We are a melting pot of races, Mother and Father!  How can you excpect me to marry in the race!  I had to live through some tough remarks, almost saddening coming from people that supposedly loved me. As a mother, I respect and accept any decision my child should choose, granted they are happy and not doing anything that should put their lie in danger or cause pain.  I think that no matter what, an interracial couple will always have to look up to stares and comments, especially if their is a noticeable difference in skin color.  My partner is drastically darker than I am, he actually seems more Indian than anything else, however, he is a successfull business man, college educated, home owner, diamond buying, vacation taking, designer supporter, provider.  He took the ridicule from his own family and others, focused it on his goals and became successful despite all the negativity.  Now, things have changed, The Italians have finally accepted this interracial thing, because most of their children are bringing home hispanics or others. Wow doesn’t this sound familiar, just like something out of the Soprano’s.

I am stuck on this whole Italian subject because, not to long ago I had one of my patients ask me what my nationality was. For those who know me, I am often reffered to as a younger version of Sofia Loren, maybe not as talented, however, I retain strong Italian features in an Americanized life. Anyways, getting back to my story, I was asked if I had a Tony Soprano sort of a life.  What does that mean? Am I part of a mafia? Do my relatives smuggle drugs for a living? Do I or my dad own a strip club? Are we serious here? Honestly stupidity associates being Italian with the Mafia. A.) I am not Sicilian or Napolitan, these are the two most prolific mafia related individuals.  The Cammora and Cosa Nostra.  I or my family are not in any way, shape or form related to any illegal organization that includes drugs, fraud, cheats or murder.  What we own and where we live have been strictly based on our honest hard work, I am just tired of people glorifying this inhumane lifestyle due to HBO. No I am not proud of that aspect of being Italian, and yes I do know certain individuals that have family involved in that stuff, but as far as I am concerned it is not a bragging right. For all those Soprano lovers out there, it is not nice to cheat on your spouse, kill friends that have done you wrong, smuggle drugs, blackmail and then come home at the end of the day and expect dinner to be ready on the table. But yeah being Italian is interesting, and boy do I have stories to tell.

Although growing up my brother and I were well taken care of, it wasn’t always so easy being part of an Italian family. Remember the movie My big fat Greek wedding? Well my life was sort of like that, minus the greek part.  Being a child of first generation Italians was quite difficult.  Holidays were difficult, everyday life was difficult, food was difficult and dating was definitely out of the question…until we got married! So you are constantly criticized because, Italians don’t eat junk food, they are the perfect race and may God strike you down if you din’t think so.  I remember having to sneak Taco Bell and McDonalds just so my dad didn’t get mad, and those packed school lunches were horrible, everyone bought food except for me, no turkey here, a big slab of Parmiggiana in two pieces of Italian crust bread! Hey when you’re 12 that is embarassing! Holidays have always been a production, and frankly I can do without the yearly fist fights and black eyes. And do not talk to me about dating, I honestly am surprised that I even got married and had a kid, boy I could not even go out to school functions! Thank God for those College years. Well all in all, I am blessed to have experienced both cultures, living in Italy for 6 years was really fun, however, I would never do to my son what my parents did to me. Being held back from teenage activity was really sad, I know my folks tried to protect bus, but in the lomg run they kind of harmed us. So, maybe being Italian or for that matter, any race may be the best, but when you live in  America, let your childrem be Americans, trust me they will thank you later, and besides we never forget where we come from.