Roma! Rick's 60th Birthday

What a wonderful experience in Rome we had for Rick's 60th birthday!


We planned 8 days in this beautiful city so we could take our time seeing the sites and "feel" the city. We loved it!  The first few days we were amazed at the artwork in the Galleria Borghese (I love Bernini sculptures), and in several "average" churches; we strolled the Spanish Steps, and Pizzia del Popolo, and ate well at every little ristorante we tried! Romans really warmed up to us as soon as Rick would tell them "Mio padre nato Castelfranco, Veneto". Instantly we became Italian to them!

The Spanish Steps:

On Friday night we met Rick's good friend, Tony Zambito, who was in Europe on a business trip, and had flown to Rome to help Rick celebrate his birthday. The three of us walked into this little pizzeria and then who followed in? Julian!  It was awesome! What a great surprise for Rick! Can you imagine? Tony had helped Julian arrange to fly in too!

Saturday, Rick's birthday, was awesome as the 4 of us spent most of the day touring the Roman Forum -- hours!  So fascinating. So much history.  We walked on the same cobble stone roads that Julius Caesar had been on and we even saw where his body was burned after he was assassinated. People still leave flowers there! We envisioned what it all must have been so very long ago.  Some building remnants were 17 centuries old!


Rome, The Eternal City. After lunch: The Coliseum. While we've seen it on TV many times, walking around and imagining the bloody battles that took place was chilling. Time to watch "Gladiator" again? 

It was a glorious, sunny, day and perfect for walking around ancient Rome, and of course, for photos. We have hundreds! (Thanks mostly to Tony and Julian who really got into using their high-tech cameras.)


After a little break, as evening settled in, we wandered back out in the City of Love mingling with Romans and tourists around the Trevi Fountain - another magical place.  There are always people just strolling the narrow streets, eating gelato, and absorbing the sites and sounds of Rome. We did the same while Julian and Tony continued to take photos.  This could be my favorite place in Rome.  Later we had a nice little dinner at a restaurant on the block between the fountain and our hotel. Rick, Julian, and I topped the evening by returning to the Coliseum to view it at night under the stars and a nearly full moon.  Julian took many photos here too.

Simionis of the World

For over a year now I have been chatting with "Simionis of the World" on Facebook. It's been a fun experience. Most of the Italian Simionis live in northern Italy, radiating from the "epicenter" near Venice. I did find two living in Rome, Daniela and Riccardo. They did not know each other. We tried to meet up with them while in Rome but it didn't work out.


Meanwhile, one of the Simionis I have had a lot of fun with over the past year, my young college student friend Silvia, wanted to come down to meet us in person. Her parents did too, and, amazingly they drove 6 or 7 hours to come have lunch with us.

map: Cartigliano to Rome

We met on Sunday in Trastevere, just west of the Tiber River, at il Duca. What a great time we had! Silvia is the only one who could speak both English and Italian fluently, but Rick and Oscar both knew enough words to make some conversation. Analisa, Federica, and I managed a bit and had fun in any case.  We somehow shared stories along with the outstanding food.   (I know you are trying to imagine ME not being able to talk..... )

Oscar doesn't live far from where Rick's father grew up, and is convinced their grandparents would have certainly known each other.
(see:  Simionis of the World Blog)




Annalisa & Nancy

The Simioni men: Oscar, Julian, Rick

We look forward to spending even more time with them next Spring when we return to Italy and tour the northern part of the country!  Thanks Oscar and Annalisa!

The next few days Rick, Julian, and I did some more visiting around the city: Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiori; a night trip to St. Peters Square, Castel St. Angelo, crossing the Tiber River on the Bridge of Castel St. Angelo, oh, and ate some more! We saw a Leonardi di Vinci exhibit that was temporarily in town, and took the subway to find the only pyramid in Rome!

Campo di Fiore

Yes, there is a pyramid in Rome!

The Tiber River at night:

Finally the last day, Rick and I were alone again and it suddenly felt lonely. We returned  St. Peter's, The Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums.  It is such an incredible place.   We'd toured it last time we were here -- we had a day and a half before our cruise left -- but there is so much to see and take in we had to come back again.

Piazza Navona -- and their annual Christmas Market.  Wish we had known about La Befana before we went.

Another panini by the Pantheon.

Inside the Vatican Museum:

Being in Rome with the love of my life for his 60th birthday was awesome.  Having our son join us was beyond words. My heart was full!


Movie to follow soon ----  I'll edit this post then....


click here for more about Rome.

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Thanksgiving Day Rock Band

Julian brought his xBox "Beatles Rock Band" game for this Thanksgiving weekend. So we got it out last night. You should have been here! I have video too but, I'll be kind and not post it! It was fun watching Julian and Rick play guitar together. Even though Julian was using the "toy" electronic game one. Rick just got out his real one.

This is the first Thanksgiving Julian has spent with us since we moved to San Diego, as he was in college at Michigan State. It was a 10 hour drive down from San Francisco. He could have flown from Michgan in less time!

Nephews Joe and Jeff came in from Utah, via Las Vegas, too. Right now we are all on different computers playing or setting something up.

Rick and I have SKYPE now -- it's amazing! We spoke (and saw) my Dad and Marie in Florida, and got to "meet" Elena and Lucas Simioni in Italy after a year of chatting online. Then today, I "Skyped" with Chris Simioni in Brazil! Fun. and best of all: FREE!

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Amber & Joel's Wedding

Amber and Joel get married!

Our family had a great time in Chicago for Amber & Joel's wedding. People came from all over the USA for a wonderful beautiful wedding. Amber and Joel -- you looked great!

We love you both!!!!

Here are some pics from activities around the wedding day. I have get on to Rick's computer to find some photos from the wedding...

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Happy 85th Birthday Dad!

This weekend my entire family is in Chicago for my niece's wedding!

Today we will have a party for my Dad's 85th Birthday! Pics and story to follow.

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Malnars at the Villa

Linda's 60th birthday gift.... info to follow.

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Stacia, George, and baby Finnian!

Congratulations Stacia & George! Baby Finnian is the newest member of our family. Born last week, his parents brought him home yesterday, and I'll post a picture soon.

Better: their family website is full of photos. George & Stacia


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Michigan

This trip to Michigan was a little calmer than some past visits. Not as much running around, helped by a couple of big family parties on Labor Day Weekend.

Chelsea Szymanski gets married. Ken looks awesome too!


Mrs. Seleno and I above; Evolas and Moceris below.


Leah, Amber, Joel, Anna:


Visiting family and friends in Michigan....
Amber and Joel's Bridal shower.
Megan Szymanski's wedding.

and of course: beautiful baby Bella:


Pesta party:



While I didn't get to visit many, I did see some friends too:

Jim, Rick, Jay, and Wil.

Mindy, Jen, me, Laurie, Yvonne.
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Lloyd & Sue visit "the villa"

....Coronado, Oceanside tour, Petco Park/Padres game, Torrey Pines hiking, lots of heat and pool time, Wild Animal Park, San Luis Rey Mission, ...
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Isabella Rose

My God-daughter Alexis and her huband Jon are the proud, first-time parents of Isabella Rose born one week ago today, July 7, 2009. Seven is a good number in our family: we have 7 sisters! and our home phone number growing up was 777-7456!

Beautiful little Bella was 6 pounds, 10 ounces, and 19 inches long. Everyone is doing fine.

Here is a paragraph about going home after your first child is born... out of the book "Four Seasons in Rome" which I just finished reading:

------- tba-------

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Lake Tahoe

Rick and I are enjoying a road trip up the State of California and are in South Lake Tahoe for a week.

It's one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The mountains still hold on a bit of snow on the peaks which makes it all the more striking against the bright blue sky.

click: LAKE TAHOE VISITORS SITE

It's amazing to us still how big and beautiful California is! (About the size of Italy). Although we have vacationed in the state many times before moving here for retirement, it's different being able to explore more intimate spots at our leisure.

Driving up was a treat all by itself and we've found several places we look forward to returning to and staying awhile at.

Meeting our friends David and Ruth in Tahoe has been fun since they have come here often. As our "tour guides" they have shown us great spots and taken us to Carson City and Virginia City -- true "Old West" towns. Real cowboy towns, not just movie sets. The gold rush was followed by the "Comstock Load" discovery of silver, which also helped develop California and San Francisco. From "Wikipedia":

Peak production from the Comstock occurred in 1877, with the mines producing over $14,000,000 of gold and $21,000,000 of silver that year (about $270 million and $400 million in "today's" money, as of 2007, respectively^[6]).

We also spent another day driving to wine country taking a scenic route even Ruth and David had not experienced before. We drove State Route 88 through Kit Carson Pass and had to pause at Silver Lake. The view was stunning -- in fact, we had almost two hours of unbelievable vistas. The wineries were fun too, but I think getting there was awesome!

On Thursday Rick and I took a short hike up to Eagle Falls, across from the beautiful Emerald Bay at the south end of Lake Tahoe. From there we explored the west side of the lake, past the home of The Don Corleone in The Godfather, and stopped at Squaw Valley Ski Resort. From there we continued on to Truckee... another old west town, had a nice lunch then cruised back down the coast of Lake Tahoe.

Pics and more to follow....

(More photos are on my Facebook page.)

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My Birthday, Our anniversary, and Mother's Day!

It's always a bit busy this time of year when my birthday, our anniversary, and Mother's Day, all fall in the same week. I had a great time!

For my birthday we met neighbors Pattie & Charlie for breakfast at our favorite "Curbside Cafe". Then for a little treat Rick and I took a leisurely drive up to Mt Palomar to see the observatory. It was a beautiful San Diego day and just nice for a drive. Julian has cycled up here but we have not even driven up before! We also stopped by Pala Casino and had a little lunch at the Noodles restaurant. Thanks to everyone for the phone calls and birthday greetings!

For our 33rd anniversary, we spent the night on Coronado, and checked out a few areas we were not familiar with. We enjoyed lunch in San Diego's Little Italy, while we waited for Julian to fly in on Friday night. It was his first trip here since starting his job at Intuit 500 miles north in Mountain View, California. ...And he paid for his own ticket! whoo hoo

It was great to have him around for a couple of days, we enjoy him and his humor - like his gifts for me: "A San Francisco Treat" -- a box of Rice-a-Roni! and a bottle of wine from Napa Valley - nice touch!

Another Simioni tradition: the 3 of us went to see the new "Star Trek" movie! He had to fly back too soon (for us, anyway). It is nice to see him enjoying life after college and new adventures in the Bay Area. What a great place for him to be!

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Day 29: Home again, outhouses?

We made it home.... but it was a horrible drive in "high gusting winds". We took the southern mountain route, not the flatter safer roads Charlie took us on the way out.
Note to self: Listen to Charlie B!


Another border patrol security check:

I do love all the giant rocks on the mountains on the pass towards San Diego:

And the miles of desert:

Then the storm through the pass:


It is good to be home.



Another story from our travels:

Here is one of the funniest things we saw on this trip. You know how Chicago started the "cows on parade" thing around the city? What, 15 years ago? Artists creatively painted them different ways, the cows were placed all around the city, then auctioned for charity. Many US cities since have copied the idea with subjects of their own. Rochester Hills did sheep didn't they? I know it was the year or two before we moved. When we visited my Dad in Lakeland, Florida, he showed us the "swans of Lakeland".

Well one of the last small Texas towns we stayed in did OUTHOUSES!!!! They call them "Thunderboxes"
Check this out here: http://thunderboxroad.com/

Rick's "last supper" on the RV: the rest of the stuffed shells and some red wine!

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