The Twitter Diaries: Sept 29-Oct 14, 2010

a new 3.4 billion-pixel image of the painting allows for an amazingly detailed look at an old master’s work #
Its a very important thing to learn to talk to people you disagree with.  – words from a true American hero #
Here’s a final word for those who went to #ghc10:  #

wasn’t Dilma Rousseff that woman I filmed on the FISL show floor with Lula? Minister of Ed or something at the time? #
one of the nice things about being an adult: if you want to have a cupcake and ice cream for dinner – you can. #
@ebertchicago FlashGot is your friend. #
two new followers with almost identical tag lines in one day? I think NOT. #
I don’t see how FB can be a threat to Google’s ad-based business when FB is so very bad at targeting ads. Has anyone seen anything relevant? #
@tpenta FB makes a lot of assumptions simply based on me being female. Dumb ones. #
Experiences in the last year have given me far more empathy with my parents. Unfortunately, that hasn’t improved communications any. #
@NomdeB classic dog in the manger! #
@seancarlos You two work together now? Cool! #
@melanierenzulli I wore a purple raincoat because it really upset everyone on the Milan metro. With yellow rain boots. #insidejoke #
Subscription-Based Firefighters Watch As Family Home Burns Down #
@craigmorgan This is new and unusual – and worrying – in the US. I believe Terry Pratchett took this to its logical conclusion in Discworld. #
When you hit rock bottom, you’ve got 2 ways to go: straight up, or sideways.  #


Oh, Fleet Week starts Thurs. Should be able to see the Blue Angels from my balcony, post-surgery. #
@NomdeB I never did track down that National Geographic centerfold of Joe… bet it was worth pinning up. 😉 #
@melanierenzulli Caution: the Air is fragile. Apple fixed mine out of warranty, hinge broke spectacularly. Avoiding class action suit? #
As for the MRI, for now assuming that no news is good news. Oh, and: god bless modern pharmacology. #
@NomdeB no she’s more on FB, I did point her o one of their posts. #
RT @OTN_Garage: Updated feature article: enabling boot from SATA DVD on SPARC systems running Solaris 8/07 or 5/08 #
Coping Strategies for the Hidden Immigrant Countries Beginning with I  #
wish I cd find Kindle editions of Camilleri and Fruttero & Lucentini in lingua originale #
RT @zaps: Berlusconi usa l’iPad – e pensare che Apple non permette le apps pornografiche #
ok, there is officially nothing wrong in my brain. At least nothing that can be seen on an MRI. 😉 #
@riccardo_iommi So am I, believe me! Now just another 2 days of pain management until… more pain! But maybe the end is in sight. #
I can now resume my normal brand of crazy. Thanks, everyone. #
RT @michaelverdi: Last day in NYC – heading home tomorrow but not before a stop at B&H this evening 🙂 – oh I love that place. Esp conveyors #
@melanierenzulli Before & during Buenos Aires-Auckland last yr, witnessed an entire fling: beginning, makeout, airport goodbye… Wild. #
@davetong Not even sure I need a first one, may give up entirely when lease is over. #
Is it time for drugs yet? #
@craigmorgan We know what’s wrong (sinuses), just needed to make sure there wasn’t something else (besides stress). On to surgery Thursday. #
It’s easy to lose weight when your appetite is completely screwed up. However, I don’t recommend it as a diet method. #
aka: if any of my American colleagues are wondering why I’m such a weirdo: Coping Strategies for the Hidden Immigrant #
@bubbva @leapingwoman There was a shortage? <big grin> #
@craigmorgan It’s amazing how much trouble these empty places in the skull can cause. #
Twitterpated – now there’s a word that needs reviving. #
@sogrady one of the best presos I ever saw was all photos, by Jim Grisanzio #
Even when I’m too ill to leave my damned apartment, I can still help people via social networks. Gladwell is just flat wrong. #
RT @jscarp: I’m a survivor! #fb – Damn right! #
I’m voting Republican because… #


Every life deserves a dramatic soundtrack, so here’s what’s running thru my mind – (having surgery, not a revolution) #


RT @Zee: Unlogo What happens when you remove logos from everywhere? – love it! #
@melanierenzulli True because United boards from the windows in rather than by rows. On others, sit in the back to ensure overhead space. #
If someone wd just grab me by the ears and slowly twist my head off… that would probably feel better than what I actually feel right now. #
@craigmorgan LOL. They tell me I cd use VirtualBox to fix that, but so far I’ve managed to get by. #
@miglsd I’m taking painkillers, but don’t like the side effects, not allowed booze because of antibiotics. Sucks to be me. 😉 #
@miglsd I don’t think these painkillers actually make the pain go away, they just make me not care that I’m in pain. Or anything else. #
@lskrocki It would be seriously disturbing if they did! #
Is there a day, week or month of the year that HASN’T been declared Official Something-or-Other Day ? We should celebrate that one. #
Vote for me, because I’m you. Huh?  #
BTW my daughter showed me something pretty effing amazing she made yesterday, but I can’t show you yet. #
Tiziano Ferro: the first Italian pop star to come out as homosexual.  #
People mag in waiting room claimed George Clooney needed translation to understand his maybe future in-laws. After all these yrs in Italy? #
RT @llcrowe: You just can’t have a campaign ad where you state, I am not a witch. You. Just. Can’t. (via @SuzyWelch) – ah, but she does! #
RT @GarlandGrey: What do you call a case of Champagne? I know there is a word for it. – A party. #
to take my mind off things, looking at photos of home – Mussoorie. I was so lucky to grow up in such beauty. #
@Flipbooks As if those employers were paragons of good behavior themselves. Oh, the hypocrisy… #socialmedia #
Need a word for obsessive imaginings which are not happy. Fantasy has too-cheerful connotations. #
RT @StopBeck: For those that don’t know: @GoToMyPC/@GoToMeeting returned to Glenn Beck. Odd decision, no? – Very. #
@NomdeB Yup, it’s today. #
I am not hungry. And I do NOT need coffee. I don’t even need water. This had better be true, because I’m not getting any of those things. #
I am not yet dead. #
The Blue Angels are in town. #
@NomdeB Too early to tell if I can smell more, but everything went fine. Now just need drugs and cupcakes for a few days (being provided). #
I guess they must have stuck a tube in me, roof of mouth and back of throat are sore. #
I have two kids, I’m not so sure I’d want them looking at these images – yr priorities are seriously screwed, lady. #
adult members of any culture are capable of deciding what they want to assimilate from a foreign culture #
An old but sadly still relevant post of mine: In America, high school is hell.  #
@vdotw Chuckle. I’m on drugs, what’s your excuse? 😉 #
@elizadushku You wear heels to assemble furniture? Not sure if that’s admirable or scary. #
@standaloneSA Why not just make a videocast, live via UStream and recorded for later? #
@standaloneSA ps do NOT rely on UStream for your video capture – crap quality on recordings. #
Drugs and cupcakes are on their way. For which I am very, very thankful. #
@lbridenne76 Hmm, how can you be sure? Maybe someone has access to my Twitter account. 😉 #
@standaloneSA Don’t sell yrself short. I’ve filmed lots engrs who think they aren’t videogenic, but are. Expressions, gestures convey much #
@ProfOrganizer This makes my brain hurt. #
@creepyed you pack an amazing amount into one night! But I shouldn’t be surprised – you’re an amazingly energetic person. #
@ProfOrganizer Hallowchrstmas #
In Italy, there’s no wind. Everything is stopped.  #
@riccardo_iommi I gave Italy 17 years, some of which I was very lucky (working for Adaptec, remotely). Finally had to give up & come home #
@Sumazi How they can help/be useful to each other #goodintros #
Daughter never heard of the Blue Angels. When I tweeted about them yesterday, she called – concerned that I was hallucinating. #
America will never reach the greatness it aspired to at its founding until it provides health care to its people. #
Made it through the day without any painkillers, for the first time in how many weeks? Don’t remember. So something’s working, tho I’m tired #
@jimpick That book just hasn’t been written – yet. #
How will I learn how the game ends? Will I hear it first from the crowd on the street, someone on Twitter, or Google? #
@myinnervoice read it many yaers ago, after seeing the film. #
Doodled around in Google maps y’day, comparing satellite pics of Australian (Newcastle) vs Italian (Adriatic) beaches. Population density… #
there must be a shortcut to get interesting blog posts onto a Kindle without paying Amazon for free content. #
@c_bright @NomdeB hmm, yes Instapaper might be it, thanks. Experimenting. Now just need a way to auto-sync over wifi w/out paying Amazon #
Actual sailors in actual sailor suits! #
Sat on the balcony to enjoy the sun. None of the birds would come near except the hummingbirds, fearless and curious as always. #
Reminder to self: you are NOT well yet. REST, dammit. #
Okay, I get why Google is showing Nexenta ads on my site. But Taiwanese egg donors??? #
Some Lesser-Known Places to Visit in Italy #
India Vlog: Jaipur Amber Fort #
Been uploading years & years of photos to smugmug. Now it will take years to get them captioned and organized… #
Post-op, the doctor said I’d tell you to take it easy, but I know that’s not in your nature. Well, I am /trying/… #
One of my favorite video postcards – India Vlog: Jantr Mantr astronomical observatory in Jaipur #
@Boh had a 2nd sinus surgery Thursday, will still take some time to resolve the mess inside my skull #
SFGMC: Rockaria #
a video postcard from Villa Monastero: Varenna, Lake Como #
Why do they come here? she asked. What do they get here that they cant get at home? #
RT @WinnieWongSF: When I think of forever, I get upset. – Don’t worry about it, there’s no such thing. #
experimenting with Calbre’s download news feature. Seems to work well enough, obviates need to pay Kindle subscriptions. #
strange to reflect that, 6 years ago at this time, I was moving house in Italy, dealing with the attendant bureaycracy  #
@TheInDecider I believe this is what you’re looking for: Christopher Columbo Song #
Using downtime to work on blog, but afraid I don’t have the concentration to do some of the trickier stuff. Someone wanna come hold my hand? #
@TheRedElm @marlitah Interesting discussion: Cultural Hegemony – Thanks, would love to see yr thoughts in the comments #
Ross wanted her juvenilia moved off her site in prep for something new, so her India Diary is back with me:  #
video: The Blue Angels Over San Francisco #
Day 4 without painkillers, though not entirely without pain. #
Seems like there oughta be an option to buy a discounted Kindle copy of a paper book you own, at least the ones bought from Amazon! #
Learn Italian in Song: Luci-Ah #T6CM #
All the knowledge and expertise I developed about Italy, what good is it now? Seems odd to have invested so much and not even miss it. #
@glynnfoster I’d have to practice to make pizza dough, but, yes, I make excellent pasta. Useful because good Italian food is expensive here #
@cote Hey, we’re Americans, these are American priorities. 😉 #
For a change, Google advertising on my site for something I actually use: kayak.com #
@timfoster needs a photo of David Korn actually wearing it. #
RT @grantimahara: Your IP address or mine? #geekpickuplines – static or dynamic? 😉 #
Caved, took a painkiller. Yes, for pain. Now not liking the stoned feeling, but it is marginally better than the pain feeling. Choices… #
@willbldrco Thanks, it did – hence the stoned. Which I don’t like. I am an absolute failure as a druggie. #
RT @wma01606 SNIA tutorials at snw standing room for virtualization. 3 more days of tutorials. Over 40 in total. Download at www.snwusa.com #
RT @Zee: Huge. The iPad is officially the best-selling gadget of all time http://tnw.to/16tJs – Dang, why doesn’t someone buy me one? 😉 #
Gonna be hot again here today, need to think of something that gets me out of my hot apt without tiring me. Yesterday it was mani-pedi. #
Hmm, judging by my twitter followers, I’ve joined the cloud crowd. #
@NomdeB Funny to me is how different SF’s weather is from everywhere else. It’ll be hot here today, after coldest summer in 25 yrs #
Trying not to worry about the things I cannot change. It’s hard. #
I have never used a pseudonym in MANY years online. WYSIWYG, and if you don’t like what you see, I probably wouldn’t like working for you. #
RT @yesthattom: USENIX first LISA ’10 Ustream chat with Matt Simmons (@StandaloneSA) at 1pm (PDT) http://www.ustream.tv/channel/usenix #
Someday there will be a political movement that is willing to say this but not that. http://nyti.ms/aEa7vs #
I’ll bet those miners have been better taken care of while trapped and in the public eye than at any other time in their careers or lives. #
videoblogger cred: I attended Vloggercon 2005 #
RT @macsun: #snwusa Join Mark Carlson, at 3:05pm in TX Ballroom 4 as he discusses Interoperable Cloud Storage w/ the #CDMI standard #
@bubbva both, of course #
RT @italylogue: On the tram, en route to see @seancarlos @rosso & @newsfromitaly & drink margaritas. – Salutami tutti! #
Learn Italian in Song: Brava! #
@ZackFord Maybe paranoid straight guys think they need training to resist all those gay advances they’ll be getting… #DADT #
@ZackFord Need to show them this #
@nico_mar Heh, I coulda done that. #iPods #
Apparently what I do in my downtime nowadays is edit other people’s writing. Which is fine. More mad skillz to revive, along with web stuff. #
trying to dress both for the heat and for possibly having something messy done to me by the doctor. No, you don’t want to know. #
For the record: ow. #
Dr says all is well. What I’m feeling now is expected after effects of him driving a bulldozer thru my head. #
Near Indianapolis? You can see The Road Home, a beautiful short film shot where I grew up in India’s Himalayas  #
@vdotw Yay for glimmers of hope! #
@marchamilton This is great new, congratulations! #
I swear I’m a friggin’ human rolodex. With a most bizarre and diverse network. Storage industry? Gotcha. Bollywood? Yup. Anything else? #
You’ll get out of high school and you’ll never have to deal with those jerks again if you don’t want to. #

@myinnervoice I am /connected/ to many people & can connect them to each other, don’t claim friendship w all. See wikipedia also #
RT @deirdresm: Great blog post on bullying (justifiable profanity, imho) – completely justifiable. #
RT @lushbucket: Love how Canadian TV reports Chilean miner rescue as feat of engineering and American TV calls it a miracle – I hate it #
RT @ruchikabhalla: Someone please give this guy a Bhangra record deal #

Apt complex water will be off 11-6 for repairs. So now I discover that my bucket leaks. Filled the tub and a large pot instead. Prepared! #
Umm, folks, if you want me to follow somebody, give me a reason besides so they can reach n followers. I don’t long to be in that number. #
Italian speakers – can anyone help Rose translate her Nana’s mysterious word? comment on Italian Slang and Swearwords  #
@myinnervoice I am fortunate to have both. Indeed, I am very rich in my friends, and happy and grateful for that. #
.@nonstick I later learned that some bullies grow up to be messed-up, unhappy people – but still manipulative and dangerous. #
Sinus Update #
@shawnferry Not as yet; I had to use the web interface. I haven’t been in the office for a while, so it hasn’t been an issue. #
@cote OpenWorld was a green conf, had an app you cd use to scan QR codes at booth into your iPhone & be directed to materials online. #
@craigmorgan Thanks, feeling mostly positive. And I really had no choices left, except continued extreme misery. #
RT @JustinHaggerty: @davidu: How not to do it:  wow – Sysadmin horror! #
I would like there to be a steady, linear progression from sicker to weller, but the facts appear otherwise. #
Replacing my classic lit (Austen, Dickens, Dumas…) with free ebooks instead of rebuying or shipping will more than cover cost of Kindle. #
…and I’ll have less paper in my home to gather allergy-inducing dust. #
Hmm. Just looking current Kindle freebies, the line between romance novels, erotica, and pornography has pretty much vanished. #
@c0t0d0s0 Maybe I should open-source my sinus treatment? 😉 #
Hyperventilating over this YouTube video of the same surgery I had. Now I get why it still hurts. #
@planspark This is a bit old, but may help: on DVD region codes #
@deirdresm This is why I don’t watch horror movies – too squeamish. And knowing it was done to my own personal nose… #
@llcrowe I think 3 times about what I even put in DMs. Or in writing anywhere. Way too many slips have occurred. #
@whitehouse Obama administration asks judge to stay ruling blocking don’t ask, don’t tell – CNN  – WtFUCK?!? #
@willbldrco I’d ask you to marry me, but I would put on 100 lbs within six months… #
sigh #
And the three men I admire most:The father, son, and the holy ghost,They caught the last train for the coast…  #


@ZackFord All I can figure is they think entire military will be instantly infected with teh gay and dissolve into nonstop orgy #DADT #LGBT #
RT @ZackFord: @DeirdreS I’ve been infected for years and I haven’t had any orgies (yet). – Slacker. 😉 #
@bubbva There are many steps to take before surgery, and I guess I tried them all. It may not be the worst option, tho #
@NomdeB @madhuri567 what do you need? I happen to know and have photographed some photogenic engineers #
@pfuetz Heh. Showing your true colors, eh? 😉 #
@bubbva If thre’s too much irritation and swelling, the rinse can’t get anywhere to do you any good. FWIW I strong recommend my sinus doc #
WTF? Postcard from AT&T says we have received your request to cancel your internet service – I MADE NO SUCH REQUEST. #
Now I’m on hold because online account management is not available for this type of account. Is there no company that gets service right? #
and if you spell out your UNUSABLE URL one more time I am going to scream in the ear of whoever does finally answer the damned phone #
Ah, it was to the previous occupant. This is what happens when I’m too ill to pay attention to details. #
@bubbva ‘fraid not. #
@Zee I found a bunch of floppy disks in Sun office moves, using them as drinks coasters now. #
RT @melanierenzulli: Eurochocolate, Italy”s top chocolate festival, starts October 15 in Perugia, a … http://ht.ly/19sie0 #
Bored, bored, bored… #

Sinus Update

…for those who are terribly concerned about the state of my head. 😉

Thanks to all who wrote or called with support and encouragement. Though I’ve had in-person support when it counted most through this ordeal, I have spent a lot of time alone in my apartment, not feeling well enough to go out for company or anything else. So “virtual” company has been more important than ever.

When we last saw our heroine (me), I was awaiting the results of another culture on the gunk in my sinuses. Pseudomonas did not show up on this one, which could mean that they simply didn’t catch it (or anything else) this time around, or that we’d finally got rid of the pseudomonas but I now had some other infection, possibly with anaerobic bacteria (which are difficult to culture). I certainly still had sinus infection symptoms (pressure, pain, fatigue). Anaerobic bacteria are easy to treat, at least, so the doctor switched me to augmentin, a milder antibiotic than the cipro I’d been taking again (with more nasty side effects) for the pseudomonas. If this worked, I might even avoid surgery.

In the meantime, I was trying to keep up a full workload including Oracle OpenWorld, my employer’s huge annual conference, which had taken over San Francisco. I managed to accomplish the tasks that no one else could do in my place: filming unconference sessions about various Solaris technologies. But it was physically punishing, especially as these were taking place about a mile from my home and I had little choice but to haul myself and equipment over there on foot. Having a full-blown migraine (which I very rarely get) on one of those days (all 24 hours) did not help.

This was followed by more, if slightly less severe, headaches which didn’t seem to be in the right place to be caused by sinus pressure. Dr. Johnson sent me for an MRI “just to make sure we’ll be cutting in the right place.”

That was a new experience. The first step was about 12 minutes of “just” imaging. If you haven’t done an MRI before, it’s like being stuck inside a car alarm: you’re in a tube with  very loud electronic noises whirling around you. Then the technician slid me out of the tube and stuck an IV into my arm to put the contrast solution – gadolinium – into me. I felt the “pinch” of the needle (why do they all call it a pinch? do they think I’ll be offended if they use the correct term, a prick?) but not much else, and he kept asking if I felt it burning going in. Nope.

He slid my head back into the machine and started it up again. Then my arm started to hurt like a sonofabitch – oh, yes, that burned. And I wasn’t supposed to move my head at all, so I couldn’t yell or swear. At some point during the three minutes of contrast imaging I was thinking: “I would rather just go ahead and die than go through any more painful procedures.” Okay, I’m a drama queen. But it really did hurt.

I later asked my friend John, who unfortunately has had a lot of experience with MRIs lately, and he confirmed that what I was feeling was the pull of the machine’s magnets on the metal in my veins. I was lucky to feel it only in my arm, and lucky that the contrast imaging didn’t take long.

The worst part was the anxious several days’ wait for results, but, as expected, these showed that there is nothing wrong (structurally, anyway) with my brain.

Meanwhile, the augmentin wasn’t doing much: the infection felt at least as bad as before, and grew steadily worse with more pressure and pain in my jaws, upper teeth, and ear, and more severe headaches (which were likely caused in part by stress).

The following week I agreed with my boss that it was time to go on medical leave. Illness is not made any easier by having to deal with scary and confusing bureaucracy, but I think we’ve finally go that sorted and, so far at least, I still have a job and a paycheck. Though the official corporate paperwork that came in the mail was careful to state that my job was guaranteed “unless your position is eliminated or there is a reduction in force.” Nothing like fear of losing your employment to aid the healing process…

I had the sinus surgery (endoscopic maxillary antrostomy) on October 7th. Normally this would be a minor procedure, but Dr. Johnson recommended that, because I was starting from a baseline of so much illness and trauma, I should take two weeks’ leave afterwards to recover. I can see now that he had a point.

I spent the night before the surgery imagining every possible worst-case scenario. It was done under general anesthesia which, as the anesthesiologist explained, differed from what I had last time only in the amount of the medication he gave me – it was the same stuff, and I hadn’t had any problems with it before, so nothing to worry about.

I remember walking to and lying down on the table in the (very cold) operating room and being bundled up with blankets and pressure pads around my legs. Next thing I knew, I was in the post-op recovery room with faces around me, but it took some time to coordinate my head and mouth to speak.

General anesthesia was different in ways I didn’t know to anticipate. It took me longer to clear my head and feel fully alert (then they put painkillers into me through the IV, so I don’t know where one effect left off and the next began). I remember people talking to me during that post-op recovery period (however long it was), but don’t remember everything that was said, and apparently I was already talking before I remember being conscious. Fortunately, I had a witness there to remind me later about the important stuff that was said to me.

I do remember Dr. Johnson saying that they found fungus inside my sinuses this time around – gross! But not unexpected when I’d been on antibiotics for so long; it’s only a wonder that I haven’t had a yeast infection yet. They’re culturing again to try to figure out what else may still be in my nose.

I guess under general anesthesia they have to intubate you, but I didn’t know about it coming or going, and had to infer it from the soreness in the roof of my mouth and my throat later on. My throat was particularly sore the next day, but this appears to be a common after-effect of surgery.

As for the procedure, there’s at least one video on YouTube, but for the moment I can’t watch it. It involves enlarging or re-opening the natural holes between the sinuses and the nose. This was done with an endoscope inserted through the nostrils, so no cutting through my mouth or face (the old-fashioned method, which I’m glad I missed out on). Still, there was cutting, and there are raw surfaces still bleeding in there. I guess in that dank, moist environment it’s harder for wounds to dry and heal. Blood only actually dripped out of my nose for a few hours after the surgery, but it’s still bleeding inside so I’m coughing and snorting it out from time to time – gently.

Once the openings were made, Dr. Johnson irrigated and flushed out the sinuses. I’m glad I was asleep through that this time.

I went home, had one strong painkiller in the evening after the IV stuff wore off, and then managed not to take any more pain medication for four days – a huge improvement.  I’ve probably been avoiding medication more than I should, as I’ve still got quite a lot of pain and, from that, fatigue. Clearly recovery will take some time yet – I tire extremely quickly.

Saw Dr. Johnson for a post-op visit yesterday, and we’re still in wait-and-see mode. The cultures haven’t shown anything, but it may still be growing. I’m off all antibiotics for the moment; it may be that the gunk left in there by the time I got to surgery was old, dead stuff that had already been killed by the antibiotics but couldn’t get out of my poor, battered nose.

Perhaps my biggest problem at the moment is boredom; I’m very sick of being cooped up in my apartment, spending way too much time alone in my own head. However, I don’t have energy to do much and, being on medical leave, I’m probably not supposed to be out having fun anyway. Dr. Johnson did say after the surgery: “I’d tell you to take it easy, but I know that’s not in your nature.” Well, my body is telling me – in no uncertain terms – that this is a time when I must take it easy. So, more or less, I am.

Learn Italian in Song: Luci-Ah

Another classic by Lucio Battisti.

   
Oggi é stata gran festa in paese si’ lo so Today has been a big party in town, yes, I know 
ma non per questo si brucian le chiese, no no no. But the churches don’t burn for this, no 
La botte era grande, il vino era buono, The cask was large, the wine was good 
lo sai anche tu You know it, too 
ti é tanto piaciuto che ci hai fatto il bagno non farlo mai piu’. You liked it so much that you bathed in it, don’t do that again 
La tua veste colore di fuoco é molto bella pero’ Your flame-colored dress, however, is very lovely 
troppo a lungo la’ sul campanile sventolo’ But it waved from the church tower for too long 
gli indumenti di pizzo ricaman la pelle ma mi sembra che tu Lacy clothing embroiders the skin, but it seems that you 
questa sera al chiaror delle stelle non li avevi piu’. this evening by starlight didn’t have it anymore 
Luci – ah! Luci – ah! Lucia! 
Di solito cosi’ non si fa! Usually we don’t behave this way 
Luci – ah! Luci – ah! (ripete) Lucia! 
Tu sapevi che il curato ogni giorno prega sempre per te You know that every day the curate always prays for you 
ma perché l’hai legato a lui intorno hai ballato, perché? But why did you tie him up and dance around him, why? 
E quando il figlio del tuo macellaio ti ha chiesto in sposa tu a lui And when the son of your butcher asked to marry you 
non dovevi rispondere che una bistecca non sei You should not have answered him that you’re not a beefsteak 
e siam d’accordo con te devi decidere tu il fidanzato che vuoi And we’re agreed that you should decide on the fiance you want 
comunque esageri un po’ con la richiesta che fai But in any case your request is a bit beyond the pale 
provarli tutti non puoi! you can’t try them all! 
Luci – ah! Luci – ah! Di solito cosi’ non si fa! Luci – ah! Luci – ah. Lucia! 
Ho l’impressione che se non smetti all’inferno tu finirai, I have the impression that if you don’t stop you’ll end up in hell 
ma se non altro quel luogo piu’ allegro ed umano renderai! But if nothing else you’ll make that place happier and more human 
Luci – ah! Luci – ah! Luci – ah! Lucia! 
Di solito cosi’ non si fa! Luci – ah! Luci – ah! Na, na na na Usually we don’t behave this way 

Deirdré Straughan on Italy, India, the Internet, the world, and now Australia