work and play

Megan on the Brooklyn Bridge

Here is the building I work at, under the supervision of Vishnu

and Joan

Here I am at a procession for St. Antonio on Mulberry Street

Paesano

Today I took the Bronx 2 bus across town to Arthur Avenue, home of the Bronx's Italian neighborhood, a neighborhood which I found far less touristy and more Italian than Little Italy in Manhattan.

I enjoyed some delicious mozzarella and I sauntered the streets for an hour or two, but the highlight was a conversation with Maria, a 35 year transplant from Napoli.

Although Maria had been in America for over three decades, she had failed to really learn English...except for some phrases, some gems. Occasionally throughout our conversation Maria would end a phrase by turning up her nose, showing her palms and shrugging her shoulders while saying "whata you gonna do," or "foget about it." Great ItaloAmericano stuff.

Soon Maria and I were joined by her friend, Fortuna. After about 45 minutes, by the time a third friend arrived I surrendered my seat on the park bench and proceeded on my way with satisfaction.

I had a good day today. Porca miseria.

Tha Brawnx

The Bronx: a far cry from Sacramento or from Holladay.

My assumption is that the Bronx is a different area than it was thirty years ago, when it seemed to develop a dubious reputation in the minds of everyone who was around in the '70s. For us, in 2008, so far so good.

Megan started on her cadaver and I started at work, which gives our lives a degree of normalness. Cadavers however, are not normal.

Target is normal though, and we found one. I also found an Autozone. I have yet to see a Video Vern's.