At exactly 4:00 a.m., Baloo let out some soft, tragic whimpers in the living room, the sort that scream, “I’m dying.” Naturally, I launched out of bed like some sort of barefoot superhero wannabe, convinced he’d poisoned himself again with his usual street delicacies: some dubious leftovers from a fast food bag and something that…… Continue reading Living with dogs – episode 189
Category: Arizona Life
Legenda Zilei a Patra
decât muncă în zadar, mai bine încet și rar.decât muncă fără rost,mai bine încet și prost.(din înțelepciunea muncitorilor români) Acum opt ani, după ce tatăl meu a plecat repejor după mama, prietenul Mișu a făcut ce-a făcut, m-a păcălit și m-a convins să-i promit că voi slăbi. Aveam 273 de pounds, adică aproape 124 de…… Continue reading Legenda Zilei a Patra
Pyr Paw
It was a quiet, scorching Sunday morning, the kind where the sun filters stealthfully through the curtains and plants seem to wilt to death in front of your eyes. Stan Pendula, freshly returned from his morning routine – dog walking, cabbage shopping, dog feeding, coffee making – suddenly, and without premeditation, decided to scoot over…… Continue reading Pyr Paw
The Long Game of Mr. Cosmin
My father played sports. My uncle, his brother, played sports. My cousins, my uncle’s boys, also play sports. They all have the opposite of Dad bodies. They’re the standard for their clothing sizes. You know those catalog notes: “The model is 5’9” and wears a size M”? That’s them. And then there’s me. Pear-shaped, decidedly…… Continue reading The Long Game of Mr. Cosmin
The Parsley Principle
The Parsley Principle applies when there’s no real need to buy anything. The only “need” is to escape the house. Enter the parsley. “Woman, I’m going to get some parsley!” my father’s voice would boom as he stepped out the door. Or, “Fah, what do I have to buy today?” he’d shout from the hallway,…… Continue reading The Parsley Principle
The day when I got lost in Wild West Mercantile store…
… and I played with hats. And filters. No filter Noir Vintage Instant Sepia Sepia
My Fathers “Bomb”
The so-called “bomb” is, in fact, a spherical outdoor wooden stove-slash-grill, a reasonably priced cast-iron contraption my father bought from Walmart. Hence its enduring nickname: Grandpa’s Bomb. Over the years, many movers have raised eyebrows when we assured them, “Don’t worry about the bomb. We know how to dismantle it. We’ll put it in a…… Continue reading My Fathers “Bomb”
Total Wine & More Therapy
A Quiet Toast to the Son We Will Always Carry Another Mother’s Day Without Cosmin … I knew the level of sadness would be off the charts, so I tried to make it a little better, just a little, by buying some of my wife’s favorite beers. I know that drinking isn’t a solution, but…… Continue reading Total Wine & More Therapy
Chaos, Candidates, and Cleavage: Notes from the Diaspora
As Romanians around the world cast their votes in a presidential election that feels more like political improv, this Arizona-based expat reflects on televised debates, family drama, and the unexpected power of agreeing on something, anything, in the age of outrage.
Un weekend foarte special
Weekendul meu a început joi dis de dimineață, cu o plimbare în mahala, când băieții mei cei dragi au tras de mine atât de rău încât am căzut în față și în cap. Mi-am stricat ochelarii și m-am umplut de zgârieturi și de bube. Povestea pe larg, aici, în engleză însă. Joi – Ziua 0,…… Continue reading Un weekend foarte special
Physics Of A Bungee Leash
A. The Happening Picture this: a 220-pound man, two 90-pound dogs, and two deceptively innocent 4-foot bungee leashes (stretching to 6 feet under duress). The exact spring mechanisms are unknown and erratic, but trust me, they don’t stretch without a fight. It was a peaceful early morning stroll through a “clean” neighborhood, meaning no rogue…… Continue reading Physics Of A Bungee Leash
So Much for a Quiet Evening
Tonight, I was rushed out on an urgent mission for some very specific ladies’ care items. “And nothing else, Stefan, don’t come home with half of the store”. On my way to the checkout, I grabbed a bottle of ice-cold sparkling wine. And, this time, nothing else. With just those two items in my cart,…… Continue reading So Much for a Quiet Evening
Déjà Written: Reflections
Being the considerate, polite, and well-educated guy that I am, I thought about translating the short piece on Barley and Speed Drinking Wine (which some people actually found funny), for my American friends and for my Romanian friends who just want to sharpen their English (or to sharply correct me). But as I flexed my…… Continue reading Déjà Written: Reflections
De la arpacaș la Busuioacă
Sâmbăta noastră a început de vineri, când mi s-a spus că “Ce-ar fi sa facem mâine o colivă pentru Pomenirea Morților”? Dar nu mai aveam arpacaș, nuci, lămâi, bomboane. Ba nu, bomboane aveam, dar tot am mai cumpărat, pentru că nu am văzut mesajul la timp. Fiind încă începător în ale mariajului, chiar și după…… Continue reading De la arpacaș la Busuioacă
Chicken Run
Last evening, as I returned from my errands, I stumbled upon a full-blown commotion on my street. Two rugged men, armed with brooms and wearing work gloves, were in hot pursuit of a white chicken. It was dusk, the worst time for a chicken, since they don’t see well in low light, and the poor…… Continue reading Chicken Run
Snapshots
One There was a French guy from Vendée selling his baguettes and pastries – the best of the best, not only at the Farmer’s Market, but also in the Valley of the Sun. The line was so long that he was asked to move his booth near one of the exits so it could extend…… Continue reading Snapshots
A Failed Christmas Facebook Experiment…
… and other considerations What’s a Grieving Parent to Do During the Holidays? With the holidays closing in, I pulled out my old Christmas uniform, a plaid Henley and a Santa hat. Remarkably, they still fit, though my spirit felt two sizes too small. Dressed for the occasion, I made my daily trip to visit…… Continue reading A Failed Christmas Facebook Experiment…
A Non-Hallmark Christmas Story
Cosmin didn’t like Christmas. He had enjoyed it a long time ago, back when he was younger and his beloved Grandma was still with us. They even attempted caroling at one point, but being Popescus, they quickly realized their limitations and ended up simply reading the words—plenty of feeling, but no singing. Last Christmas with…… Continue reading A Non-Hallmark Christmas Story
The End of An Era
Loving Memory of Bill The late October air was soft that year, the kind of days you find only in Arizona. At the St. Francis festival, Franciscan monks gathered to bless pets that people had brought to be consecrated. For those without a pet, there was no issue: you could adopt one right on the…… Continue reading The End of An Era
Living with Dogs – episode 122
At 5:56 AM, Baloo woke me with a gentle nose nudge and a firm shake of his head.By 5:57, I was out of bed.At 5:58, Baloo was in my spot, snoring like a lumberjack. Dog owner mystery of the universe: Why does a 100-pound dog feel like an antique dresser when he’s asleep on your…… Continue reading Living with Dogs – episode 122
Nea Fane - Un Biet Român Pripășit în America / A Hapless Romanian Stuck in The US 