Please don't let me evaporate

After last night's debacle I am kind of demoralized. Everything was so heartfelt and sincere. Oh well.
Tonight is pressure cooker ragù (tomato-meat sauce) with spaghetti and then a salad and cheese. The pressure cooker is one of my favorite tools, cutting cooking time by a quarter and conserving the juices which, if you don't want them later you can just boil them off. I use it for all my long-cooked recipes; minestrone, ragù, octopus, etc. as well as when I'm short on time. It's great for quick steamed veggies or a 15 minute pot roast.
I saw Anthony Bourdain's tv episode where his host (I think he was in France) was pressure cooking something and he was very nervous that it might explode. I was kind of that way too at the beginning but now i am very comfortable with the evil contraption.
Yesterday's installment was about why I am here in Italy. I don't know if I can go through the whole story again- I was feeling very philosophical last night. Maybe at a later date.
I have my wine expert sommelier exam on Monday and I am so terrified that I might not pass that I can't even study. This is a big deal for me. First of all, it would mean a lot to me personally and professionally. It would open a few doors for me and give me a motive to liven up my work. Secondly, I have never flunked an exam that I studied for, ever. I am the classic example of the closet nerd (or maybe I am an oblivious obvious nerd but I just think that I look cool- hey man, if so, don't burst my bubble). I aim to master, not just learn, if I am interested in a subject (se ci tengo..). That has been the case with the sommelier course. I never missed a class- I sat in the front row and took extensive notes. I tried to ingratiate myself with the teachers. Even at the written exam I was front row, center to show that I was honest and wouldn't copy. My mother would have been proud.
Problem is, my nose isn't up to snuff (..sniff?) and my memory isn't what it used to be. But I am trying my hardest.
The last time I went through this was for my tour guide exams in 2003. Gee whiz that was tough and SO much info to study. I did it though, both written and oral, and I was very satisfied. I SO HOPE that Monday goes well.
After this, then what? What exactly is the point of being a sommlier? Well, it would help me start focusing on what I enjoy most, combining the two (hopefully 2!) qualifications- being an wine-and-food tour guide in an area which no other American knows better, the Cinque Terre. Eventually, as William gets older and more independent, I would like to expand outside of the 5T.
On a random note, William is really good at soccer. Thus sayeth the coaches. Apparently a 'scout' is coming to see him play on Sunday. I have no idea who this might be or why he would 'scout' a 9 year old. I didn't even realize that he was that good. He has a lot of fun and I enjoy watching him have a lot of fun. That would be too weird if something came out of this scouting thing. Ma....
OK, I'm about to post. I hope that this gets online. If not, it might be the end of this blogging experience....... Speriamo bene.