Hello, all! For those of you who didn't grow up on a ranch in Texas, surrounded by dozens of other Martino's, a word of explanation about the name of this here bolg may be in order. It comes from just one of the many nicknames I have aquired from a family so generous in giving them. In fact, it comes as part of a long line of nicknames, and in order to aviod a nickname revolt, I will give them each their day.
"Carma" rolls off the tongue a little better if you say it "Carm-ee-O-luh." This has long been a favorite from my mother. My little sister Emma sometimes calls me "Carmy" but this arrived long after my mom's version. And, as the case often goes, since mom's get 51% percent of the votes in most matters of importance, the family has ruled that "Carm-ee-O-luh" has more official sway than simply "Carmy." (Sorry, Em.)
"Carm-ee-O-luh" was truncated to just "Mola" which is where the name for this emaculate specimen of a blog comes from. It is thus far unclear which family member started that one (you can rock-paper-scissors for the right to call it yours). Then, at some point it was shortened to the much more linguistically favorable "Mole" (Thank you, Joseph), to which Greta has added her contribution by calleing me the very un-nick-ish name of "ten-point-O-two-times-ten-to-the-twenty-third." (An ode to chemistry, for those who haven't dusted off their high school chem books in a while).
There have been others, but none have garnered the same fame. My friends in middle school tried to make "Fantasia" stick, but to no avail. At one point there was also "Caramello," and one of my personal favorites "Carmina Buranah" after a wonderful piece of music! There was a college roommate who called me "Carmita" because in addition to sharing a refrigerator, we also shared a spanish class. This was very close to "Carmelita" which was started by an exchange student from Sicily, and honestly, who doesn't like exchange students from Sicily?
Then there was "The Executor" from the eight grade volleyball team. If you say it "EX-e-cyu-ter" it makes a little more sense. We didn't know at the time that this word was really "eg-ZEK-cyu-ter," meaning a person who executes wills and not opponents on the court--not exactly as fear-inspiring as one might hope. "Executioner" would have been more appropriate, but hey, we were in eight grade. What did we know about grammar?
For a while, there was a particular brother who called me "Roach." (Ahem. You know who you are.) Teenagers can be funny, can't they? Thankfully, that one stamped out a little more easily than the pesky critter that inspired such a name. But you know, they say that roaches can live inside microwaves, so if there ever is a nuclear holocaust, I may just have the last laugh.
Don't mess.
I've seen them finish races at speeds reaching almost 50 mph--not in a car, mind you. Fifty! I've seen flip over guard rails down winding descents, wreck into a 35-biker pile-up just before the finish. Then I've seen them get up the next day and with 60 stitches in their knees and elbows get up and do it again.
