SNOW!!! After a relatively light winter of temperatures in the 30s and mostly rain rather than snow, we are being blasted by a noreaster which has stalled over the area and is now predicted to dump 15-20" of snow before ending this afternoon. My snowblower cannot handle that much snow, so we will likely be outside a long time today trying to clean our driveway–which is very long–as well as the walk, porch, and deck. I am anticipating a lot of aches before this is over.

I wonder if I will get a snow day tomorrow? ☺

I watched some of the opening ceremonies of the Torino Olympics Friday night and, as usual, I found myself rooting for the Italian team to do well. My parents grew up in an Italian-American atmosphere very similar to many of my immigrant and children-of-immigrant students, but they raised us as totally American with only the most tenuous connection to our heritage. So while I am very proud of having Italian heritage, I realize I am not Italian at all in any form or manner. I wonder how I will feel when I step onto Italian soil this summer? It will certainly be exciting finally connecting with my roots, but I wonder if I will also feel out-of-place and a bit anxious lest any Italians discover my Italian surname and resent the fact that I have absolutely no Italian culture myself.