As my days here dwindle in number, they lengthen by about 2 and a half minutes daily. On this 118th day of the year the sun rose upon Rome at 06:09, according to the curial calendar. It will set at 20:07.
The Ave Maria Bell remains in its 20:15 cycle.
In the traditional calendar we celebrate St. Peter Canisius, Doctor of the Church.
I have a line on an apartment…. in my same building. Pray.
Welcome registrant:
Delphine C.
I left you, yesterday, with views of the preparation of the spaghetti alle vongole. Now, the finishing touches for the sake of being complete.
Having ignored their pleas for mercy, into the boiling bath they went wherein their pitiful cries were inexorably overwhelmed and silenced. I had for a while simmered down some white wine and veg broth with several smashed cloves of garlic and the stalks of parsley I would chop for the final plating. You want enough liquid, hot, so that it remains hot upon the addition of all those shells.
Having extracted the clams I finished the half cooked pasta in the same juice.
Ecco. Reassembled.
I’m working through my little list of final errands. I found something for Mother’s Day, which is coming up. I am also investigating getting a new phone for the sake of even better Rome photos next time (October/November… if not before). I learned that the version of the iPhone 15 here in Italy still has a slot for a physical sim. You can use both physical and esims. The US versions have only esims. Also, here all the phones are “unlocked”, unlike in the US where they are all locked to a company except by paying an “eye out of your head” as the phrase goes in Rome. I don’t make snap decisions, however. It is still a pretty hefty expense, but a “working” expense. At some point I have to upgrade… and maybe change US carriers.
I went this morning on the hunt for reliquaries. I have reason to obtain a nice pair of good sized units, for the sake of what I hope will be coming soon. Here are some small ones. Usually you can’t just walk into a store and find lines of reliquaries… except in Rome.
Meanwhile, this guy is delivering firewood to the local pizza places near the Campo de’ Fiori.
Alas, the wood won’t be used in a certain traditional way at the center of the Campo. 🎶 I have a little list. 🎶
I have an apron, too, which I keep here in Rome, given to me by a distinguished canonist.
You can get one of those t-shirts, btw, from my swag store. It has the Memorare in many languages on the back, to be recited daily for the overturning of a certain cruel act.
Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links. US HERE – UK HERE WHY? This helps to pay for health insurance (massively hiked for this new year of surprises), utilities, groceries, etc.. At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.
For lunch, caprese. So simple. So good. Thank you, Lord, for this day.
A good ball of mozzarella will ooze when you press or cut into it.
Meanwhile, in cheesy news…. In Malmö, Sweden The TePe Sigeman & Co tournament underway. It is an 8-player single round-robin featuring. Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Arjun Erigaisi, Vincent Keymer and women’s world champion Ju Wenjun along with defending champion Peter Svidler. I like that Ju Wenjun is in the mix with the men.
Black to move and mate in 3.
Nice people! Great service!
NB: I’ll hold comments with solutions ’till the next day so there won’t be “spoilers” for others.
Priestly chess players, drop me a line. HERE
Remember the Summit Dominican’s. Visit their shop. And you can perhaps find courses to begin or to improve your chess game, which all of you should be doing.
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Father, I have to say that I love what you do. I call it Faith and Food.
If you get a chance, please look up the CLEAN comedian John Pinette. Devout Catholic who died too young. Video called Italian Food.
Appreciate the illustrated recipes, Father — they add to the already considerable variety of your blog.
As to the chess problem, it appears to be straightforward:
1. . . . Qa1#
2. Kd2 Qxb2#
Then, whether White plays 3. Ke3 or 3. Ke1, Black responds with Qxf2##.
I want that apron.
Fr. Z:
Looks like you have had a good trip.
Say, a few years ago (you discussed phones in this post) you did a post pertaining to a connection device that can be purchased for internet and phone access while traveling and/or working abroad. I recall it was very helpful to cut down on data plan access fees. Do you remember what it was called and/or what do you recommend using? The device reminded me of say, a “hot spot type box” that was configured for say, a student studying in Rome (years ago my youngest brother did a semester in Rome program back in the days of snail mail being normal).
Fr. Z., have a safe trip home and hopefully your mail didn’t get misplaced.
hwriggles4: It is a “Keepgo”. I still have and use it now and then, although the terms of use of phones overseas has changed and become more favorable. Now, in some old building here with thick walls I can park it in a place that does get good data and then use the phone within. However, now also there is widely available wifi… if you trust it. I don’t.
I’ve used my Keepgo for Zoom. I’ve connected my DMR (digital ham radio hotspot made from a raspberry pi) through it. If you use my link, they give me more data. A GREAT back up.
KEEPGO!
You’ve inspired me to make a caprese salad! I’ve never had one.
acard: The tricky part is getting good mozzarella. Most of what is labelled mozzarella in the USA (especially not in a large city with a place that has daily arrival from Italy) isn’t worth the plastic it is packaged in. Even in Italy, there’s the mozzarella that arrives the same day and the stuff that is from the day before. Night and day.