ROME 25/10 – Day 31: Natalis Dies

Firstly, thanks to everyone who wished my happy birthday. I hope you will pray for me.

I had a good chat with my mother.  She sounded good.  She is attending a party today with over 20 of her friends.

On this my natal day, the sun rose at 7:36 in Rome and it set at … meh… whenever.

The Ave Maria Bell… I guess it was suppose to ring.  I’ll care more tomorrow, it’s late.

It was the Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude.  I have 1st class relics of BOTH in the Chapel of the Two Trinities back across the pond.

Today was… calm.  I ran errands and met a famous person for a drink at the Campo.  I later said Mass for a famous person and a distinguished Vatican journalist later.  Supper followed involving as the main act a ball of mozzarella just delivered at my usual point of purchase.  Mozzarella should, ideally bleeeeeed milk when you look at it.  And when you cut it it should mooo.

Does that look like the “mozzarella” in your local grocer?

Caprese… I kept it simple.

Really.  Not more than that.  That is what I had today, other than a piece of toast this morning.  Period.  I’ll go to bed hungry tonight and that’s okay.  As Scarlet shouts as she pulls up roots, “Tomorrow is… another shopping day and all my favorite places are open and, if I really wanted to I could – right now – make myself better spaghetti all’amatriciana than you will get in ANY Roman restaurant and it’ll take me about 15 minutes and I’ll enjoy it with a lovely bottle of organic Brunello given by the proprietor of my favorite watering hole at Campo de’ Fiori, the great Carlos of Taba. And I would never be hungry again!… Until tomorrow sometime.”

“But Father! But Father!” you modern Manicheans are squealing like the hogs they want to ban so Muslims can more easily dominate your neighborhoods”, you implicitly mentioned guanciale when you mentioned, no, scandalously promoted “amaticem.. ametrer….” … WHATEVER, you are against our sisters and brothers who clearly believe in the same God – ’cause Vatican II and I SAY SO –  and if you don’t detract that and eat… only … pasta and … and pesto… though that hurts Gaia by killing plants.. you will ONCE AGAIN show that you are not with FRANCIS… er um… uh ??… LEO… and you are…….”.

Go ahead… and FIND OUT.

There was as big do at a place here in Rome – unique – called Wisdomless – to feature the THREE beers of the monks of Norcia.  I should get photos from friends.  I had planned to go.  My spies who dove in before I did said the crowds were so big that it was untenable.  I don’t do packed rooms, so I waited until I got the report that it was still so jammed that it would not be pleasant.  I am not one of those people who like hot, noisy and everyone up against you.  However, I am super glad for the monks at Norcia, because this was to promote their beer with venders, distributors.

You won’t believe how good their beer is, especially with savory meats and cheese, or as with a big steak or slow BBQ…. unmatched.  Try it.  You will be a believer.

Then, as evening progressed, I met up with The Great Roman™.   A couple of guys who are involved with sundry interesting US alphabet groups for cigars and drinks at a nice smoking room with an excellent bar happily just down the street from where I live.   Great talk about American history and world issues, both edifying and fun.  A couple of Italians who came in to smoke after us got a real ear full and a few eye openers judging from their reactions which I obliquely monitored.

All in all, a good day.

If you must now, Hoyo de Monterrey.  I should have gotten a large one.

Now this.  I would be much assuaged were Leo to disavow his heresy and go over to the North Side.

This is worse than the 1054 schism. https://t.co/iA4jBmdSJi

— Eric Sammons (@EricRSammons) October 27, 2025

I found about a hundred other things I’d like to post.  But, rats, I’m tired and it is late.

Chess news.  Magnus, Gukesh, Hikaru and Fabi playing for lots of money in St. Louis.  Do I care?   Sort of… the games are instructive for me at my level.  Purse?  $412,000 prize fund.

Puzzle… gah… sorry.

Just do me a favor and buy LOTS OF BEER from the monks.  And pray for me and for my mother.