Month: November 2010

In Which I Do Not Discuss Politics

Sarah Bringhurst Familia
So I, um, forgot to (register to) vote in the American election. This is not at all funny. My only excuse is just having moved from one foreign country to another. I got no mail about the election, no phone calls, not even a button on Facebook! I was forced into complete personal civic responsibility, and I totally dropped the ball.

The real problem is, even on a good day I always have to psyche myself up to actually vote for someone. You see, I never learned very well to color inside the party lines. So I’m always getting stuck with double deal-breakers.
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Bicentennial Bash!

Sarah Bringhurst Familia

That’s right, faithful readers. This is post number 200 on Casteluzzo. And you are here to see it. I took a trip down memory lane today and went back and read old posts (yes, I’m afraid I spend way too much time reading my own blog). I thought for today we’d go on a little treasure hunt through the archives and I’d let you know what are some of my favorite posts of various sorts.


I started this blog as an occasional outlet for the profound thoughts I just had to share with the world. After all, it had been only a few years since I was in college taking philosophy classes, and I was still full of profound thoughts at the time.
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Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

Sarah Bringhurst Familia

After a long morning deep cleaning and organizing the house, we had finally piled everyone into the car last Saturday at noon, almost two hours later than I had anticipated. Coats were off, our lunch was stowed in the back, and the children were buckled when we looked up and saw our 62-year-old widowed neighbor out chopping a gigantic pile of wood. She had her automatic splitter hooked up to the tractor, but still. Tony and I looked at each other, hesitated a moment, and then acknowledged we’d better get out and help her. So much for our already postponed outing.… Read more

To Facebook or Not to Facebook

Sarah Bringhurst Familia

We skipped Halloween this year. There are people who celebrate it in Italy, but it’s more of an American fad, not a culturally entrenched tradition. Not one person has asked my children what they’re going to “be,” nor have I seen a sudden overabundance of pumpkins appear at the supermarket. The good (bad) news is, in Italy nobody seems to need an excuse for giving my children candy. Everyone, from little old ladies to policemen to shopkeepers, has a stash of caramelli in a pocket or purse, ready to be relinquished to children. And there’s no need to beg or threaten tricks.… Read more