Comments on: Funny Things Italians Do … I mean, ur, Say

By: An Expat in Italy and Her Ever-so-Clever Calabrian Father-in-Law

An Expat in Italy and Her Ever-so-Clever Calabrian Father-in-Law — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:53:02 +0000

[...] He’s blamed me for my husband’s decline (his words, not mine) in appetite and tries to urge the fork forward with promises of delicious bites of Italian delicacies. [...]

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 03:26:52 +0000

You are brave to post about your 1 gray hair! I still have not posted about mine because I figure if I ignore it, it will go away. Luckily I already "paint" my hair but I still find it every once in awhile (I recently switched my part so it goes away now!). Your father-in-law cracks me up too! If I lived in Seattle I would call the rain a bastard too... but I am in AZ so I welcome the rain anytime it wants to come. Next time tell him to curse the rain here! Thanks for sharing these funny things! I always enjoy reading them. Thanks, Jennifer. He is a funny guy, what can I say? Jennifer’s last blog post..A day

By: Fern Driscoll

Fern Driscoll — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 22:37:26 +0000

I began hair-painting after an old gent went tap-tapping past me on the Rapallo Lungomare, took, a look, stopped, came back and said, "La faccia cosi giovane, i capelli cosi vecchi" (not sure if I've rendered that correctly, but you get the picture - The face so young, the hair so old). grrr. Always hated doing it (the smell, the wasted time) and finally stopped. Am now defiantly and happily grey, grey, grey! And my husband prefers it. So, take that, old man by the sea. "Old man by the sea," I love it! Ha. Fern Driscoll’s last blog post..Near and South of the Border, part two

By: Carole in KC

Carole in KC — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:41:26 +0000

I just love your stories about your suocero and how you tell them! He reminds me of my family in Sicily. You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Shame on you for corrupting Peppe and changing his eating habits.lol.

We’re going back to visit in Aug. and I’m dreading the comments about me being a little “grassa” and why I haven’t taught my husband how to speak Italian. It’s all my fault, you know?

It’s so great to have you back!

Absolutely it is your fault! Come on, now! lol Will you be swinging by Calabria or visiting Sicily only?

By: j

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:54:05 +0000

I don’t know if it is just my family or what, but Italians seem to have more “dirty” sayings than there are in the US.

I don’t know, either, but I’d be interested to find out, too!

By: Nadine

Nadine — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:38:41 +0000

I too think calling the weather a bastard is funny, but my favorite was Pepe - paint them. I laughed out loud. Isn't that cute?? Love them both! Nadine’s last blog post..On the Road Again . . .

By: Amber

Amber — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:28:43 +0000

I love this post, your suocero is funny! Ahhh sorry about your little grey hair, I gotta tell ya I’ve been there. Paint them, ha ha! Peppe is cute too, offering that as consolation! As for funny things, this isn’t really funny, but I find it charming that Italians refer to babies as cuccioli- puppies! I can’t tell you how many times little Luca has been exclaimed over “Aw, cucciolo!” or “che bel cucciolino!” I would never call an American woman’s baby a puppy- but it really sounds great in Italian!

I love that cucciolino thing, too… precious!

Amber’s last blog post..Chard and Pine Nuts

By: Sierra

Sierra — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:56:39 +0000

Too funny! I’d love to eat dinner with your family. (mind you I’d need you to translate as my Italian language skills are limited)
I need my hair painted too.

Come on over. There is always plenty of food! lol

By: Michelle | Bleeding Espresso

Michelle | Bleeding Espresso — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:53:12 +0000

That reminds me, I need to get my hair painted too.... Ha! Michelle | Bleeding Espresso’s last blog post..What’s Cooking Wednesday: Calabrian Scrambled Eggs

By: City Girl

City Girl — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:52:56 +0000

I found my first gray hair recently myself - I turned 30 in October so I am blaming it on that! I am sorry ... I feel for ya! City Girl’s last blog post..What's Cooking Wednesday - Emergency Migas

By: Stephanie Pizzo

Stephanie Pizzo — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:22:39 +0000

My dear husband thought he was speaking an english saying, “Not over my dead body”, but it came out, “you can walk on me if my body is dead”……so cute!
Cherrye, you’ve been in my prayers…

That is hilarious.

By: Laura at Ciao Amalfi

Laura at Ciao Amalfi — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:08:15 +0000

Ah... I understand number one! It is strange that the quantity of food one eats seems somehow to reflect qualities of character. Or, perhaps not the quantity, but the way one enjoys it. But you are right that quantity and enjoyment seem inseparable! For my boyfriend's family and friends here, I have become una buona forchetta... a good fork... which means I enjoy eating. It always makes me smile! A good fork! The Italians do have such funny and charming ways to describe things sometimes! Thanks for sharing the funny stories of your father-in-law! I have heard tale of people they call "the good fork," but I've never been blessed with the title. The funny thing is, Laura I *really* do eat - a lot! I don't "get it." Laura at Ciao Amalfi’s last blog post..Tempting Tuesday: Torello

By: Kim B.

Kim B. — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:05:56 +0000

That is hilarious about your father in law. Can't he see you're a tiny thing and can only eat so much?! And I know you're not just pushing salad leaves around on your plate, you're enjoying to a healthy extent. But to their eyes, it's just not enough. The funny part is about you then leading Peppe down the road of your sinful ways . . . his son being led astray by the evil American. tee hee! You are right, I don't just eat lettuce. I would make myself sick if I ate everything he wanted me to eat. And it is lol funny that he blames me for Peppe eating less! Love it. Kim B.’s last blog post..A Funny Turn of Events

By: maryann

maryann — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:59:13 +0000

I love your posts about funny things Italians say. I hope you keep doing them regularly. I'm with your FIL! Eat! Mangia! It will make you feel better! LOL Seriously. It's funny, the ties you make to bloggers you don't even know. I've thought about you a lot and I'm hoping you are doing ok. Thank you, Maryann. It is funny how the blogosphere has introduced so many people who really do seem to care about each other. Gotta love that! And btw, I would expect a fine chef, such as yourself to agree with my FIL. Bah humbug! maryann’s last blog post.."The Whole World Is Irish"

By: nyc/carribbean ragazza

nyc/carribbean ragazza — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:54:57 +0000

I love that your father-in-law called the weather a bastard. haha don't worry about the gray cara. sei e bellissima. I know, isn't that funny? Ahhh ... and thanks for the encouragement on the grays... sono sad! nyc/carribbean ragazza’s last blog post..What’s Cooking Wednesday – Pasta Rustica with Chicken Sausage and Three Cheeses

By: joanne at frutto della passione

joanne at frutto della passione — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:42:36 +0000

My favourite is *Conosco i miei polli* and I love translating it into English! I know my chickens!!!

Oh me, too. I had forgotten about that one!!

By: milanese masala

milanese masala — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:14:17 +0000

Cherrye, you have got to write a book about your father-in-law! He’s hilarious!! My father-in-law isn’t worried about my eating habits. One time over lunch he told everyone, “La Linda sembra che non mangi ma pian piano finisce tutto”. Molto piano. I am the slowest eater ever!

I told him what you said at lunch and he wasn’t thrilled with the idea of being the topic of a full-length book. In fact, I don’t think he liked being on the blog! lol He shouldn’t be that funny then, I say!