A Benatti Christmas!

Merry Christmas! It’s been a nice holiday season over here in Mirandola. This year, the Benatti family stayed home and invited me to partake in their Christmas festivities. No snow unfortunately, so I still haven’t had that ‘White Christmas’ I’ve always dreamed about, woe is me. Either way, things were relatively quiet and low key. The flu has been going around the Benatti house so everyone was a little underneath the weather. Except for me, that is. I Am Legend!

We exchanged gifts on Christmas day (video below) after a nice lunch featuring tortellini and some turkey-like meat. Pasta on Christmas, you say? Big surprise, I know. Our desert consisted of Christmas cookies, chocolates, and some sweetbread topped with powdered-sugar and/or Nutella spread- mmmm! Dinner was pretty much the same stuff from lunch. Leftovers baby!

Like I said, Christmas this year was pretty low key. It's a mite lonely being away for another year from the family and friends. But, I had the Benatti family here to keep me company this time around. For New Year’s I’ll probably just have a nice dinner with Paltro and the gang. I’ve got my Cuban ready 'cause I got a feeling ’09 is gonna be a good one. But, 2008 was damn good so it'll be pretty hard to top. Only time will tell…

Oh, and I want to say congratulations to Steven who had a baby boy over there in Texas. I saw the pics. I can't believe you're a father, man! Congratulations!

Benatti family opening gifts.

An Italian Nativity scene. Reminds me of the one we used to set up back home, albeit a little more elaborate... Nico is taller than me now.
I can still wupp Freddy, but not much longer..
What Christmas isn't complete without some kind of game console? In this case, an X-Box Elite.

Freddy is sick. We had to drag him over to open presents, but once he got going he had a little more enthusiasm. Julio is my Mexican name for those of you who don't know the story, it's kinda complicated. The boys know it nonetheless, as I addressed it so on their gift which you can't really see (it was an X-box controller).

Random Note

I watched 'A Streetcar Named Desire' last night by myself. Good thing! I was gonna show it to Nico. I guess it's not that bad, but it is one fucked up story if you ask me. I can't believe Marlon Brando rapes the sister at the very end, it totally took me by surprise. Up 'til then I was sympathizing with him, what with having to put up with a stupid, lying sister-in-law for 4 months. Of course he's gonna be pissed...

If you haven't seen the movie and I just ruined it for you- sorry 'bout that. It's a good movie though, just not one of my favorites.

Bologna With Chris

I’m sorry, I know it’s been a while but not a lot has happened unfortunately. I’ve spent my time reading; a book every two days (literally). In the last two weeks I have read 8 books in my spare time, no shit- some bigger than others. Whereas last year I spent much of my time and money on food and wine, this time around my focus is on staying in shape and reading (but not writing, yet). Trying to be more productive, see.

Work is going well. Freddy and Nico are bigger than last year… and much more to handle, Freddy in particular. But I love these boyz, they’re like my lil’ brothers, man. I’ve been getting them to watch old movies with me. The other day we watched Casablanca, and tomorrow we’re gonna see Chinatown. Others on the list include: Gone with the Wind, Citizen Kane, various Hitchcock...

I did go Bologna on Thursday to meet up with Chris Lee, his mother, aunt, and charming girlfriend. We had an apperitivo, then dinner with wine. It was fabulous to see Sharon, like a piece of home. How I do miss home... Chris is doing well, gonna be a lawyer next year in L.A. Who knows where I’ll be, but we’ve made plans to meet up again so stay tuned.

Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving. Ciao.

Ahhh, it's been a while.


Look closely at this fountain. Now, take a look at where the water is coming out... look closelier...