Name Days for July

Greek Name Days for July

July 1 - Kosma & Damianos
July 3 - Yakinthos
July 7 - Kuriakis, Kiriaki
July 8 - Theofilos, Prokopios
July 9 - Pagratios
July 11 - Eufimias, Olgas
July 12 - Veronikis
July 14 - Nikodimos
July 16 - Athinogenoss
July 17 - Marinas, Marina
July 18 - Aimilianos
July 20 - Profiti Elia, Ilias
July 22 - Marias Magdalinis, Magdalini, Magda, Magdalena, Lena
July 26 - Parakseuis
July 27 - Panteleimonos, Pantelis
July 29 - Kallinikos
July 31 - Iosif Arimatheias, Iosif, Sifi

Appliance Alliance

I have been having a difficult time with my teeth this year. Years of bruxism, together with some less than top quality dental care performed overseas in a small village, have taken their toll, leaving me with no choice but to enter into a long term committed relationship with my dentist. The grinding has cracked roots and done untold damage, my jaw muscles are so highly developed I could be a circus performer flying through the air with a bit in my mouth. Truly. So this last time, after the consult when he told me how much it would cost and how long it would take to put my mouth in order, he closed the deal with the promise of a new night guard. I was not impressed. ?But wait?, he said. ?This one will not be like the others, trust me?. So I did. And, from the very first night, for the first time in years, I could finally sleep through the night.
And I woke up with this love song in my head...

Appliance Alliance: Love Song to My New Night Guard
-by Skorda

I never wanted the likes of you
one more worry, the care

the maintenance needed
to make it work beyond a day or two.
Always the possibility of loss,
the guilty pain that follows.
I never thought I needed you,
until, lying in my bed,
with you inside me
I knew at last
how great my need had been.

O!
Night guard
night guard night guard
brand new night guard
Yes!

There were others before you,
many,
and each I welcomed,
to save me from myself,
unknowing
of the damage I could cause.
And every one I loved, for their time.
The newness of each a promise,
a perfect fit, alas, short lived.
Some caused pain,
others, so smooth in the beginning,
revealed their sharper edges,
or began to irritate
until I would dread the thought of night.
I must admit I have broken a few,
or cast them out before the light of day
they were not made like you, so strong,
yet soft where I need you to be, up against me.

I think of you when you are not with me
times when I need you
today, in traffic
stopped thirty minutes
my hands clenching the wheel,
I missed you so
had you been there on the seat beside me,
I would have leaned down low,
where no one could see
and taken you in my mouth
in broad daylight.

O!
Night guard
night guard night guard
brand new night guard
Yes!

Sometimes the need is greater than want
I can say this now
thinking how night after night
grinding only against my own self
I was wearing down,
becoming old before my time
and not knowing how simple
the answer can be.
But this morning I knew.
I woke up refreshed and renewed
You had stayed all night
hard in my mouth, but comforting
and I loved the way that felt
having you to protect me
and I knew that I would keep you
here, to be mine.

O!
Night guard
night guard night guard
brand new night guard
Yes!

©Skorda 2008

Family Dinner (a true story)

Family Dinner
(a true story)

My sister is older
(I'm sure that I'm bolder)
She's certain she's wiser
(sometimes I despise her)
She now owns the house that at one time was mine
She's made it all fancy, now she thinks it?s fine
My acre of garden's been left to go fallow
she says she's been busy
(I think that she's shallow)
it seems that whatever it is I might say
She looks and me, nods,
then says "what does THAT pay"?
Should I acquiesce just because she is rich?
(when inside I'm thinking (My God, what a bitch!?)
But then we start talking of all that we share
I can hear in her voice that she really does care
We speak of our mother, we?re thankful she?s well,
we love her, although she still makes our lives hell.
I'm not always quiet, and is that so bad?
(depends I suppose, on how much wine I?ve had)
I opened my mouth during dinner to say,
Daddy, did you never know that your brother was gay??
My sister looked over, her face filled dread
I didn't back down from the words that I'd said.
My father said No, though I knew he was other
I thought he just liked to take care of our mother
My sister stood up, looked right at him and said
But Daddy the two of us know that its true.
Everyone knew it, except maybe you.
Then I made it clear if he votes for McCain,
It will be a mistake causing everyone pain
I went then to open just one more champagne.
We are all a bit tipsy,
(I try not to show it)
Taki's feeling better, and playing the poet.
We're all laughing now, cause he really is funny
we've moved past resentment, the shocks and the money.
my sister gets up then and brings back a sweet
my childhood favorite, I so loved so to eat
I think no one knows me as she knew me then.
But then we get fighting all over again.
Oh, not really fighting, it's just how we act
like children again, perhaps not exact
in the roles that we once played, but still it is plain
in sisters grown up, childhood still remains.
And so when it came to the end of the night
we saw that we really did not want to fight.
I looked and I saw her, my only sister
then I got up, went over and kissed her.

Nikos Gkatsos, "Dark Mother"

translation by Marios Dikaiakos

"Dark Mother"

I brought you up with soil and water
a young swallow to be and yet a wild creature,
to have you as my alphabet-book in the times
and as my unfading nightlight in memory.

But you, looking for the source of dreams
near the Virgin Mary,
developed wings, refused the land
our dark, our first mother.

Favorite Places: le Bistrot

This is where I want to be on this lovely Saturday night in June. The Bistrot, is often our last stop of the evening-or should I say morning- high on the hill overlooking the old harbor. Although we had passed by the Bistrot every summer evening for years, we had favorite and regular places to go, and had never ventured in. We met the owner, Marco, in the festivities following Greece's victory in the EuroCup in 2004. He invited us to come join him for a drink one evening, and a few nights later we took him up on his offer. We have been regular, loyal customers ever since. It is where we often take guests for dinner, the food is among the finest on the island, and from the balcony there is an amazing view looking out over the harbor. Go for dinner, or go for a drink, it is a great place!

Rembetiko (English Subtitles) exiled derbederis

Athens Pride

From Athens News:

On June 7, gays and lesbians from around the country and across Europe will gather at downtown Klafthmonos Square to participate in the fourth annual Athens Pride Festival. Participants will parade through the city's historic centre and outside the parliament building. For more information email contact@athenspride.eu

Greek Kids

Greek Kids vs American Kids

Here is a post that arrived today via the Eagle:

American kids: Move out when they're 18 with the full support of their parents.
Greek kids: Move out when they're 28, having saved enough money for a house, and are two weeks away from getting married....unless there's room in the basement for the newlyweds.

American kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings a Bundt cake, and you sip coffee and chat.

Greek kids: When their Mom visits them, she brings 3 days worth of food, begins to tidy up, dust, do the laundry, and rearrange the furniture.

American kids: Their dads always call before they come over to visit them, and it's usually only on special occasions.
Greek kids: Are not at all fazed when their dads show up, unannounced, on a Saturday morning at 8:00, and starts pruning the fruit trees. If there are no fruit trees, he'll plant some.
American kids: Always pay retail, and look in the Yellow Pages when they need to have something done.
Greek kids: Call their dad or uncle, and ask for another dad's or uncle's phone number to get it done...cash deal. Know what I mean??

American kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get only cake and coffee. No more.
Greek kids: Will come over for cake and coffee, and get olives, feta cheese, homemade wine, pilafi , Kalesonia Choice of two meats, salad, bread, a baklava, fruit, little coffee, and a few after dinner drinks.
American kids: Will greet you with "Hello" or "Hi".
Greek kids: Will give you a big hug, a kiss on your cheek, and a pat on your back.

American kids: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
Greek kids: Call your parents Mom and Dad.
American kids: Have never seen you cry.
Greek kids: Cry with you.

American kids: Borrow your stuff for a few days and then return it.
Greek kids: Keep your stuff so long, they forget it's yours.

American kids: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
Greek kids: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together.

American kids: Know few things about you.
Greek kids: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

American kids: Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on soft mushy white bread.
Greek kids: Eat Moussaka or crusty bread dripping with olive oil.
American kids: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.
Greek kids: Will kick the whole crowds' butt who left you behind.
American kids: Are for a while.
Greek kids: Are for life.

American kids: Think that being Greek is cool.
Greek kids: Know that being Greek is cool.

American kids: Will ignore this.
Greek kids: Will forward it