Parisian Cuisine
“Lunch kills half of Paris, supper the other half.” Charles de Montesquieu A three hour lunch in Paris is not out of the ordinary. Perhaps not every day, but more often than you might expect. No, people don’t eat for hours. They commiserate, laugh, discuss, pontificate, negotiate, argue, teach, reflect, flirt, cajole, tease, write and read. They refresh, restore, renew, and enjoy themselves. Not once in the time I spent in Paris did I see a single individual eating ‘on the go’ as has become the standard practice in the U.S. Even when folks grabbed a croque monsieur and Orangina from a...
Read MoreTulip Mania
“It’s spring fever. And when you’ve got it, you want—oh, you don’t quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” Mark Twain This gaggle of giggling sprites sprinkling sunshine and happiness from corner to corner remind us to rejoice for spring has sprung. Even when trees remain lifeless and bare, the happy border of crocus and daffodils confirm spring is on its way. “A tree can be tempted out of its winter dormancy by a few hours of southerly sun— the readiness to believe in spring is stronger than sleep or sanity.”...
Read MoreHandkerchief Heroes
Are people so consumed with collecting that they’ll drag blistered feet through antique stalls or hunker over a hot keyboard for hours to scroll through web auctions for watch fobs, pickle dishes, or campaign buttons to find the pièce de résistance to complete their collection? Indeed they will. You’ll know them by the pallor of their skin, and the tiny computer monitors reflected in their pupils. I used to scoff at those silly fools…until I became one. A zombie from The Walking Dead is tame compared to a gimlet-eyed ebay master trolling cyberspace 3:00 a.m. Like most collectors my...
Read MoreValentine’s Day
One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love. Sophocles Searching for just the right Valentine can be like searching for the perfect white shirt, neighborhood that feels like home, or special pet to love. Each offers something special and unique, but only one will speak to your heart. Valentines come in every shape, size and color, with far too many styles to showcase in a single blog. I’ve chosen a small sampling to illustrate the variety of ways hankies can convey “I love you.” Certainly there’s the ubiquitous Key to My Heart message. Sometimes the message is...
Read MoreThe Wedding Bouquet – Toss it or Keep it?
Ok, I’m being a bit facetious here because I’m not referring to the traditional bouquet toss, but rather to the current trend in bridal bouquets which makes me want to toss them to the curb. Rather than compliment the bride, today’s bouquets often make her look like she just breezed in from the farmer’s market. Of course styles and fashions constantly change, even when it comes to something as time-honored and traditional as a wedding dress. Bouquets used to consist of a cascade of flowers. The arrangement was formal and refined. Then in the 1970’s Age of Aquarius, things relaxed. Suits...
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