Congratulations Westport Pizzeria Celebrating 45 Years

 Westport Pizzeria Celebrating 45 Years With 25 Cent Slices -
This Saturday, October 12, 11-5 p.m. counter service.

 I well remember the early days at the pizza place on Main Street in Westport when I was a teen.  Pizza there was 25 cents a slice - I had mine with mushrooms and extra cheese so that brought it up to 45 cents - add a diet coke and I was in pizza heaven.

 Frank Mioli was barely out of diapers at the time when I first met the Mioli family.  Frank hit me in the head with a spit ball and got in big trouble with his mother, Carolyn Mioli. 

Today, when I look at Mel and Joe, it is hard to believe 45 years have passed.  They look so much like they did then.


Rita Mioli and a family relation Nina worked the counter on Saturday’s.  They delivered what is likely the first pizza delivery from Westport Pizzeria. The location? It was to the VFW Hall on Riverside Avenue on August 19, 1972. Rita and Nina were both invited to the wedding but only one was able to take the day off – Both gals worked and together delivered a large pizza to the party. It was a great and memorable surprise.

Rita Mioli Carolini and her late husband, Lino are Godparents to our first born. The Mioli Familia is very near and dear to our hearts. John & Tina, Rina, Alicia, Kerri, Gino, Lina, Anthony, all of you are what makes the Pizzeria THE place to go for a slice! Congratulations. 

Ciao – from the Costabile’s

Photos from Mioli family photos.

Thinking Something Is True Doesn't Make It So

I thought I was being kind to myself when I let up on the self care routine I had been following. Using angst as a pass to consume ice cream and food items that are not in my best interest in lieu of healthy carbohydrates was dumb.  As I tried to reign in sadness of loss I lost sight of important truths.

I do not need the ice cream. I do not need the extra bagel in the meal plan either but I wanted them, immediately.  An occasional splurge is okay but it is not okay for me to have a daily reward system in the name of self soothing.

Food is not my friend. It is not my comfort. It is fuel - period.  Any other tag I want to put on a high carb count food it is a lie. I've had enough swings up and down the glucose meter and weight scales of obesity to know the difference between serving sizes, calories, fat grams, fiber, points, carbohydrate counts and so on. The pass I gave to myself was not binge eating, it was out of control eating, it was irresponsible weight monitoring and blatant disregard for my health.  I was screwing around where a smart woman should be proactively faithful.

Have you ever fooled yourself into believing you are not 'cheating' on your plan of eating?   I switched to many organic products. That's a good thing, right?

My dairy is free of hormones and the meat is fresh from local farmers. I'd tell myself "I'm doing a good thing." But, to be completely honest  I admit to you (and myself) that I have not been thoughtful or kind to my body, period.  My type 2 diabetes is not under good control.

I started this blog early in September while I continued irresponsible self care practices a while longer. My average BG #'s increased enough to put my A1-C at 6.4 or average of 160.  A "normal" reading would fall below 99 points. Twenty points above the range I have tried keep to reads failure.  Two hours after a meal when glucose numbers are generally at their highest level, I aim for 140. It is recommended by my doctor that I not swing more than 20 points either way in a day.  If the numbers are too high, cardio exercise and drinking water are the immediate aid to lowering the number.

A return to 'normalcy' began after several daily blood glucose tests were made. I was guided from one step to the next using the tools I already had available to me.  I turned to these: Friends,  Glucose monitor, test strips, exercise 30 minutes a day, low carbohydrate meals, blood work with a follow-up appointment with the doctor on the calendar.

Type 2 diabetes takes work and cooperation with my higher self. I used to think I will beat this diagnosis but I never have quite believed it.  I am working on those thoughts.  I want to BEAT this diagnosis.  I pray I will.  Some have been able to, so I am told.  In the mean time, I will not take time off for the good behavior. A successful run of good habits doesn't add up to a 'spending spree' of carbs and calories. This can be done a day at a time.

A Process of Recovery

It has been four weeks.  A flash in the pan on the road to recovery - but progress is being made. Life has the audacity to go on while I just want to stop and think about the good old days.  Were they really all and always the good old days?

No not all - in fact, I came across an intended blog post I wrote early in July when Blue was still with us and taking a lot of time and care.

I backed down on posting it because I was censuring what to put out there.  I may post it one of these days - in the mean time you get this one.

When I re-read the un-posted blog post it set me off crying for a good 2 hours. I mean I was boo hooing all over again - the depth of the angst takes my breath away at times.  Folks, I am, so sad without our Baby Blue - So is my dear "huzbin" Vinny.

To be honest, this grieving business is hard to handle. Vin and I have taken turns with our bad moments and on occasion we are both a mess at the same time.  We have been cheating on Blue and looking at web sites of breeders.  I even put our name in with one for future updates.  We are dog people. And it is only a matter of time before we bring another dog into our home.

My desk looks out over the front yard at the magnolia tree Blue often sat under.  I could keep an eye on her and get work done at the same time. With the window open and the blinds up, it was like being in the same room. Blue held court with everybody.  If you walk by here - she'd bark at you until you'd stop.  Blue's pals come by here still - not daily as they used to but they come.  Some of my neighbors walk in front of our house at a good clip while the dogs peer back at the house.  The dogs obey keeping up with their people but I know they want to stop.  I tell myself its okay - time will heal the raw edges of hurting.

Until then, I will jump up from my desk on occasion and call out to my neighbors who may be a tad uncomfortable around the fact that their dog is trying to drag them over to visit Baby Blue.  Also there are the regular walkers, people walking without a dog who are bowing their heads as they pass. Blue may not be under the tree - but I'm still here and Blue's sweet spirit is too - It's okay to let the dogs be dogs and stop - and it's okay to look up and wave if you see us outside.  It's good for all of us.  I miss my neighborly visits.  

I hope it is okay that I posted this picture. I do not know who to give credit to. I posted a link to where I found it  @humorflip.com

Another Beautiful Morning

"After losing Mom to heart failure in 2004, I remember thinking how dare life go on as if nothing had happened.  The days were gorgeous, the skies were blue - nothing seemed changed - each day's routine an unflappable reminder that we are so small in the scheme of things.  Yet, we are one another's world - and that is quite a thing to conceive.

When I am photographing the flowers in Ptown or Norwalk - I am trying to capture the deliciousness of the moment - the flowers' dew, the fragrance, the way the light falls - I'm trying to capture the feeling, taste, smell, and vision  - If I capture it to my satisfaction and I print it out - the photo doesn't do justice to the moment. I cannot return to recapture what I was grasping for - how can I recapture it? 

When I look back over the shot on screen - I must be still to allow the miracle of memory come into bloom - Ah,  Remember... 

Remember - I am with you always - even to the end of the earth. 

At a younger age, my faith was like the morning dew on the lily in the garden that draws me in.  I do try and hold onto it, an amazing faith that empowered me & seemed to encourage others. My faith has it's own gifts and lessons that come.  It's awake at times and at other times asleep. There are days, weeks even, when faith seems to go on a journey and getting lost leaving me to wander seemingly alone for too long.  

In my 20's I was cocky and positive of what I knew .  Oh I knew that I knew.  

With time, memory fades and so do the powerful emotions of youth - along with a bit of estrogen - the I know that I know is still within - but I also know I don't know squat compared to what there is to learn.  Sound confusing?  Yeah, grieving is like that for me. I get all these words and ideas in my head and they scream to be let out."  ~ Denise Costabile

~A Valentine to my Body

“I'm loving my body with fuel-food, exercise and rest every single day.

I am calm ~ I am content ~ I am walking in my truth ~ I'm dancing with Mary J. Blige.”

~Denise Costabile

~Valentine to my Body

Body,

I love you.  While I have not appropriately expressed my love for you in the past, I am sending you this message today so that we both know how much I really appreciate and adore you.

Thank you for giving me close to 60 awesome years so far – and thank you for blessing me with good health.

Thank you for sharing sunny days, rain, storms and seeing me through it all.  Thank you for laughter that can is contagious. Thank you for spontaneous smiles.

Thank you for producing two beautiful human beings  and providing the stamina and ability to watch them grow. . .

Thank you for being strong and carrying me through this wonderful journey .

Thank you for muscles that enable me to shovel piles of snow when needed.

Thank you for helping me to get up and walk away from things that are not good for me. 

Thank you for the aches and pains that remind me to take care of you because our time together is precious.

Yes, for all this and so much more, thank you – I love you!

Happy Valentine's Day!