Ok. Ok. So, it has been three days and I’ve already wished you Easter blessings.
I know. I knooooow.
But, don’t you want to hear about Easter in Calabria?
I woke up early Sunday morning (around 9:00, he he) to a beautiful sunny day. Sky had predicted thunderstorms throughout Italy – throughout the weekend. Since I am yet to see an accurate weather forecast from our beloved “cable” TV -I expected the best. And, that’s what we got.
Until…
I walked out of my bedroom to find this note.
“Hmmm…” I thought.
“Death?”
“Should I go on?”
Being the risk-taker I am, I trudged onward and met my adversary around the corner.
He fought a good battle, but in the end was captured…
and, destroyed. After three karate-chops to the center, I had my surprise!
Yep. It’s what you think it is. My very own Italian Grammar Workbook – per stranierei.
The Easter Bunny had left his own notes for a special boy.
“This way…this way….” The arrows directed him.
And, there, “hidden” on top of the television, was Peppe’s Easter basket.
Ah, yes. Easter at our place is fun. We celebrate American-Italian style with both bunnies and baskets and enormously over-sized, surprise-filled chocolate eggs.
What could be better?
Note: I know this will be hard, but try not to judge the contents of afore-mentioned Easter basket. While some items were imported from the states, others, such as idolized Oreo cookies, were a rare find at local supermarket. And, the toothpaste? Well, let’s not talk about the toothpaste!
Pirated DVDs of Indian movies seized in Brussels
Hindustan Times (New Delhi, India) June 23, 2008 Report from Indo-Asian News Service brought to you by HT Syndication.
Mumbai, June 23 — Belgium custom officials have seized 50,000 DVDs of Indian films worth Rs.16.5 million at the Brussels airport.
The custom officials in the Belgium capital, acting on a tip-off by the Shemaroo Entertainment with the local distributor and Stitching Indian Films and Music (SIFAM), seized the consignment of DVDs at the airport Friday. in our site indian movies online
The consignment consisted of 25,000 DVDs of Shemaroo’s week-old film “Mere Baap Pehle Aap” and an equal number of DVDs of songs, compilations and various other movies, the entertainment company said in a release here.
Sources alleged that a company called Applewood International in Hong Kong manufactures these pirated DVDs, which are later exported worldwide. see here indian movies online
According to local distributors and retailers in Europe, for every new film in the first week itself an average of about 35,000 to 40,000 pirated DVDs are distributed in Europe, where the entry points primarily are Frankfurt and Brussels.
As Europe in size is a very big market for Bollywood titles, pirates first attack this market rather than the US and Britain, said custom authorities in Frankfurt and Brussels.
As a film is about to release, these pirates collect the film’s publicity material from theatres and keep their DVD covers ready. For a timely world wide release of any film, the prints are dispatched one week before the actual release. One of the prints, from these centres is picked up and pirated DVDs are manufactured. Later, these are distributed on the second or third day of the film release, according to sources in Mumbai.
“This whole operation is well networked and runs like an organised crime, thereby making the pirated industry worth millions of dollars,” a dealer said here.
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Indo-Asian News Service.
Have you come down from the sugar rush yet?
[Reply]
Hey Cherrye, is that the foot shredder egg that I see in the back of the basket????????? Looks like you take really good care of Pepe….lucky man…..
[Reply]
How thoughtful to give chocolate candy and toothpaste!
[Reply]
Is that a Snoppy on the grammar book? ha.
[Reply]
I just need to comment on the fact that you “woke up” and then went on this hunt. You have a picture in your jammies with your Easter goodies *and* you look fabulous!!!! Our Easter morning pics didn’t include me for a good hour or so. Glad you guys had a good day.
[Reply]
Running – Working on it. The chocolate, that is.
Stephanie – guilty!! It is. My friend brought it from the states. I was looking all over southeast Texas for one at Christmas.
J – ha ha…that’s what I thought!
Yep, Arlene. That is Snoopy. Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang are on the back.
Well, Brandi, did you see last year’s pics? I cheated a wee bit this year!! ha ha
[Reply]
What a fun Easter! The “death” sign would have scared me but yes, you ARE a risk taker to follow it,lol.
Thanks for sharing!
[Reply]
Damn. To think I was stuck in Rome in the rain minus an Italian/ Irish or American Easter. Very poor planning on my part.
[Reply]
That is an awesome Easter basket for Pep. Don’t worry, I won’t judge you about the toothpaste, I get (actually I ask for) stuff like that in my stocking at Christmas.
[Reply]
Wow!!! Looks like the Eater bunny had his work cut out for him at your place
I would kill for that Italian Workbook for foreigners 
[Reply]
what a fun Easter!! We didn’t have anything this year. So sad, but oh well. I love the Colgate – my friend lived in Turkey for a few years, so I totally get the wanting certain US products.
And I agree with maddiesmommy&daddy, you look *amazing* for first thing in the morning! Italy agrees with you
[Reply]
OOH, looks great!
You worked in Student Affairs? What area?
Thanks for the bridal shower ideas!
[Reply]
i just love the warning note
So cute. You both were very good Easter Bunnies
[Reply]
Ha ha…wasn’t it funny, Tanya. I suspected chocolate, but THAT??
Ah, yes…Red. Poor planning. Next year you gotta come south!
Andrea-I do, too. I like a combo of useful/fun things in my stocking/basket.
MM – He was definitely a busy bunny. Peppe actually had to order that book. The “bad” side is it is ALL in Italian, even the directions. I know it is better, but…
Thanks LABloggerGal. They sell Colgate here, actually. It was kind of a “joke” that they were in the basket because earlier that week, I had run out of toothpaste and he had just bought a brand new, unopened tube and I snagged it. We had been joking about it all week. So, I ran to the store the day before Easter and bought two new tubes for his basket. THAT same day, he came home and said, “Look, I bought us two new tubes of toothpaste.” So, now we have toothpaste coming out of our ears!!
You are welcome, CD. I worked in New Student Orientation and Leadership Programs (and dabbled a bit in Greek Life).
Thank you, Erin. We were good “cupids,” too!
[Reply]
Huh, all I asked for was a stupid Uova di Pasqua and Prince Charming (see today’s post) couldn’t manage that…guess I won’t show him this post
[Reply]
Gosh, what an excellent Easter. Your baskets are overflowing with goodies and love. I am especially in awe of how Snoopy now teaches Italian Grammar. lol ;D Kudos to him and to you too.
[Reply]
I just can’t get over the GIANT tubes of toothpaste!!!
[Reply]
ha those tubes of toothpaste remind me of when my grandfather gave me a huge chest filled with chocolate and other junkfood for my 13th BD. At the very bottom was a toothbrush and some toothpaste. Since we rarely ate junk food, it was a real treat. But best of all was the chest which was handmade by my grand dad. Set a tradition for the family and our cousins were v annoyed when they moved overseas a few months before they could get their 13th BD chocolate chest. h aha ha Vanessa
[Reply]
[...] up for my first Calabrian Easter celebration with my new bambino. Yes, my husband and I have done the traditional American Easter Basket vs. Italian Chocolate Egg thing in the past and we’re planning on continuing our Easter traditions, plus one. The weather is [...]