Jus Sanguinis (Right of Blood)

I have been investigating a new project for months now. It is called "jus sanguinis", which is the right that I have, if I can prove it through generations of paper trails, to have a dual citizenship with Italy. This excites me in so many ways! Apparently, if you can follow your paternal bloodline to Italian soil, have the documents to confirm it, you make an appointment with the Italian Ambassador and see if it gets approved. Then if it does, I will have everything needed to obtain my Italian passport.

On that note, it was not as easy as it sounds to get documents. So far, with the help of my Godfather (Uncle in Colorado), I have gotten my paternal grandfathers' death and birth certificates. I have a short-form copy of my dads' birth certificate (which does not suffice, as the long-form is required..but at least I have the document number), and the names of my paternal great-grandparents' that were born "jus soli" (right of soil). This information will help me locate their birthing information. BUT, on top of these items, I have to be able to locate my grandparents' marriage certificate, AND my great-grandparents' marriage certificate. Did I mention that before the appointment with the Ambassador, I will have to get all of these documents translated to Italian? Yeah, that's required too. 

Bright side: I will be able to go all around Europe stress-free. Until I speak, no one will have to know I am a "rude American". :-) I want to visit L'Aquila where there are 167 other Colantonio's...the place where our name originates...on a map, almost the direct middle of the country. Truly, between here and when I am able to complete this task and get a plane ticket over there...I would like to familiarize myself with the language.I want to be able to talk to my long lost family.

To New Beginnings!

My son, Dane, just turned two last week. I have been thinking that time really does fly when you are not focused one bit on yourself. VOILA...a blog was born. Since before his birth, I have been planning what days like today would be like. And, like most moms, realize how my delusions of grandeur were...off.  


Being a mom is one of the most beautiful things, but I would tell myself how I would be able to work, work out, go back to school and still have plenty of time to raise my son, teach him how the world works, and maintain my sanity. Two years later, I find myself struggling to make ends meet, unemployed, overweight, and slowly losing my mind. BUT...I have a healthy, happy little man, and I have never felt so optimistic in my life. Why? Maybe it's the insanity setting in, but I feel like there are so many things to improve that almost everything that can happen will be a check off the list.


But where do these struggles come creeping in? The energy...or lack thereof. My mind is so ambitious, and I have so many ideas, but lack the energy and time to get anything done. I realized that I was lacking a certain creative outlet to which my soul will be energized. This is how I intend to get my life back on track. And, maybe I will gain readers who will follow me on my journey. Like times past, I know this is about to get exciting. I have a lot of things planned, and hope that you enjoy where we are about to go. Thank you for reading.