<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8350" rel="attachment wp-att-8350"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-8350" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PC120028.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>I've never been showered with gifts by a man.  Ever.

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Well...I suppose that's not entirely true.  My father has always been extraordinarily generous.  And so has my uncle.

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You get my gist.  It's a bit on the pathetic side.

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I've never brooded about my fate because I'm not someone who wants lots of things.  Just this past week, my mom put pressure on me for my Christmas Wish List for <em>days</em>.  I couldn't think of anything.  I called my sister for ideas.

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<strong>Me:</strong>  What did you tell mom you wanted for Christmas?

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<strong>Sis:</strong>  Nothing.  I couldn't think of anything.

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I finally wrote a list of four things:  another pair of my favorite Gap PJs (they're the most comfy I've ever worn!), a book, and I honestly can't remember the other two.

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See what I mean?

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So....in my past, when the romantic interests of my life failed to lavish me with gifts, I didn't think about it.  Too much.

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<strong>Although maybe these romantic interests should have thought about it a little more.  Because all women enjoy gifts of "just because" every now and then.  It's not the<em> things </em>that make us feel special.  It's the thoughtfulness.</strong>

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This is one of many attributes that I adore about my Man from a Land Far, Far Away.  He's thoughtful.  About many, many things.  Including showering me with gifties almost immediately upon arrival during his recent Thanksgiving visit.

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After 25+ hours from doorstep to doorstep, I was concerned about the welfare and physical state of my Man from Far, Far Away.*

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Did he sleep?  No.

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Did his 6'2" frame lock up in sardine-like conditions for ungodly amounts of time?  Si.

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<strong>We all know airline food is crap, but how does a man from a culinary culture survive for 25+ hours without cheese, pasta, gelato and espresso???  Wings and a beer in Philly!  That's how!</strong>

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I had a cheese plate with a smorgasbord of Italian meats ready to eat in the car.  He opted to wait for home.

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Once home, I insisted that he "mangia mangia"!  He asked me to wait a few minutes as he plunged into his suitcase.

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He ignored his growling belly and sore, sleep-deprived body while hauling out numerous gifties.

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It wasn't my birthday.  It wasn't Christmas.  It was "just because".

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Sigh...

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<strong>I'm not sure who was more elated, me or my Man from Far, Far Away.  It may not have been Christmas, but he acted like a kid on Christmas morning.</strong>

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My first giftie (pictured above) was made especially for me.  How incredibly sweet is that???  I sense that all women reading this blog are letting out a collective "Awwwwww!!!" right about now.

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It gets sweeter.  The apron -- with our shared motto of "Carpe Diem" -- was custom-made 50 feet from Juliet's balcony.  Yes, girls, I'm talking about <em>that</em> Juliet.  From Verona.  Could you die?!?!?!

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Awwwwww...

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If you'd like to visit the website of where the apron was made, please <strong><a href="http://ricamiverona.it/punto_vendita.php" target="_blank">click here.</a></strong>

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8383" rel="attachment wp-att-8383" target="_blank"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8383 alignnone" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: 0px;" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PC1200341-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>

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The next gift was for the woman who craves espresso nearly as much as the Italians.  As my Man from Far, Far Away describes it, this mini chocolate filled with caffeinated bliss is the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.  Now that I've tried it, I agree.  Buonissimo!

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I was thrilled with the apron and the chocolates, but apparently there was more!

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8388" rel="attachment wp-att-8388"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8388 alignnone" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PC120035-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>

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A glass carafe just like the ones I drank water and wine from during my visit to Italia!

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8389" rel="attachment wp-att-8389"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-8389" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB180020-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>

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2 liters (yes, LITERS!) of fresh pressed olive oil from <strong>the olive oil mill that makes the best soup on Earth.</strong>   (And a cute wee can to store it in!)

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[caption id="attachment_8390" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="9-23-11: Lost in Amsterdam. But guess what? I now have more olive oil than I can handle! Terrorists, you can kiss my olive-oiled grits!"]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8390" rel="attachment wp-att-8390"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8390  " title="IMG00614-20110921-1017" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG00614-20110921-1017-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

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Take<em> THAT,</em> terrorists!  I may have been <strong>too sleep-deprived and hungover</strong> to remember to transfer my olive oil from my carryon to my checked baggage in Rome which resulted in confiscation of my olive oil in Amsterdam!  But we lovers of freedom take care of one another, and now I have two liters!  TWO LITERS!!!!

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What else did my thoughtful man from far, far away bring?

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Olive oil needs a canvas.

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[caption id="attachment_8397" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Yes, it tastes better than any imports I&#39;ve purchased at Whole Paycheck."]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8397" rel="attachment wp-att-8397"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8397" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PC130007-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

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And pasta needs seasoning.

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[caption id="attachment_8393" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="What he calls &quot;Magic Powder&quot;. It is, in fact, so magical that I&#39;m currently addicted to it. I&#39;ve had pasta almost every night since he&#39;s left. I better stop that pronto."]<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8393" rel="attachment wp-att-8393"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8393 " title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PC120038-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

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And the his inner techie/Mac Worshipper couldn't resist treating me to Apple TV.  (The actual "TV" is the streaming device, not the flat screen.  Mom and others who have been wondering, "What the heck is Apple TV?" go <strong><a href="http://www.apple.com/appletv/" target="_blank">here</a></strong>.)

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<img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-8394" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PC120040-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" />

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Now he tells me that there's absolutely no reason why I shouldn't cut my cable like I've been threatening to do for eons.  EEEeeeekkk!

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It will be good for me.  I know it.  Has anyone else out there cut the cord?  I mean, cut the cable?

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What else . . . .

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Oh, yes.  What Italian would show up without wine?

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8398" rel="attachment wp-att-8398"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-8398" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PB2400281-224x300.jpg" alt="" width="224" height="300" /></a>

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I saved the best for last.

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<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/?attachment_id=8399" rel="attachment wp-att-8399"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-8399" title="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" src="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PC130008-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>

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You're probably wondering what could possibly top the apron from Verona?

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One week before his arrival, my man from Far, Far away sent me The Most Special Gift of My Life via snail mail.

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When I opened it, I thought it was a homemade CD of Italian music.  I popped into my computer to find a DVD with eye-catching graphics entitled "Our Carpe Diem Wish List".  I gasped out loud upon stumbling upon my discovery.  Each chapter included slideshows (set to Italian or French music) of his own photos from places he would like to share with me and Carpe Diem together:  Toscana, Corsica, Les Trois Vallees, Torino, Venezia and Cinque Terre.

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I may have waited a looooonnnnng time for a man to bestow gifts upon me, but it was well worth the wait.

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**********

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* I've decided that my Man from a Land Far, Far Away needs a new nickname.

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Firstly, it's too long to write out every time.

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Secondly, you've probably surmised from very obvious clues that he's from Italy, so I'm not sure why I'm still using the oh-so-dramatic-and-romantic "Land from Far, Far Away" reference.

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I will consult the source and ask if he would like to christen himself with a new nickname.  You may also take a shot at it in the comments section below.

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