How Embarrassing

First off, I have to reiterate how much I am loving Skype. After "meeting" Valeria through my blog last year, we started off our relationship by commenting on one another's blogs. Next, it moved to exchanging emails. The next step was chatting on MSN. As of late, we have started Skype-ing. It is just so neat to finally hear Valeria's voice and to be able to see where she lives (she took me on a tour of her Italian home by walking the computer through her house). We are both learning so much about each other's way of life...I am the only person Valeria knows who lives in part of the world where the temperature can drop to -50 in the winter!

Earlier this year, Valeria and I were chatting on MSN while Mike was cooking supper. When I mentioned this, Valeria asked what Mike was cooking. As soon as I typed the word "spaghetti", I immediately regretted doing so. I just knew the question of "How does he cook it/what does he put in it?" was going to be asked next and I did NOT want to answer it. I was too embarrassed to give the list of ingredients to a bonafide Italian woman. How was I supposed to admit that our spaghetti is made up of hamburger, canned tomato sauce, canned tomato soup, canned mushrooms, packaged spices AND our secret ingredient...a huge dollop of good ol' Cheez Whiz?

I honestly thought Valeria was going to end our friendship after finding out how badly we Westerners have massacred a traditional Italian dish. Lucky for me, she didn't seem to be too offended. I do know that when we finally get a chance to meet each other, I won't be offering to cook spaghetti :-)