The New Commandments | Culture | Vanity Fair

The New Commandments | Culture | Vanity Fair

I very much identified with what Mr. Hitchens had to say here...

In a way, organized religion has not done much to help us 'stay on track' as it were - when it comes to this sort of thing.

The recent scandals in the Catholic Church only prove that those who are thought to be the holiest of holies 'ain't necessarily so'....

Adventures in living - an update

“Dressed in Ralph Lauren, wearing the latest perfume from Balenciaga, she walked into the speak easy on the arm of her dashing young man….”

On the Friday after my b-day, my husband and I decided to go to the Velvet Tango Room – one of the best places in the country to go have a martini.

We had heard the owner give a talk recently and we were both very taken by his story and his charming personality. So for this special occasion (it was not so very special) – I called for reservations for the ‘back room’. We drove down to Cleveland proper (near the West-Side Market) and literally stepped into another era. The drinks were superb and the atmosphere was great heightened by the fact that the owner himself waited on us personally.

Again thank you my dearest love for sharing these moments with me. I will remember this experience always.

*****************
(To the tune of ‘I think I’m turning Japanese – without the ‘emphasis’ on what that song is REALLY about)

“I think he’s turning Italian, I really think so…”

Yesterday, my husband mastered the art of making home-made ravioli and pasta. And when I say mastered, I really mean it. This is a time-consuming, labour-intensive task that some people never attempt, let alone perfect. We had a lot of fun in the kitchen together making ravioli. We had a nice dinner with kids which included my son and then afterwards, I got to hang out with my son and watch ‘Bowling for Columbine’.

This was the perfect end to a wonderful day – working side-by-side with my husband is always a joy.

I am grateful for all of the blessings that providence has bestowed upon me lately. Good times with people I love – there are no greater gifts in life than time well spent with loved ones.

Alluding to the 'Big One'

to answer my love...

Yes it does sound like an earthquake....I guess I'd be 5.0 on the Richter scale...but I'd always felt I was more of a hurricane.

I don't mean to make it sound awful...it's not.

The Sound of Music (with a twist)

Sound of Music | Central Station Antwerp (Belgium)

I had to share this bit of 'sunshine' with you...

Thank you Paulius

Pretty Party sans Pretty Cake

The past month or so has been a blur of frenetic activity and just general cabin fever waiting for spring.

My birthday (the BIG one – whatever that means) is tomorrow. I will be old(er)...

^_^

There’s been a certain sense of depression surrounding this birthday. I have never really cared about ‘how old’ I was – after all it’s just a number – but as I age and time (and life) seem so fleeting, I guess I long for a bit of a ‘do over’ or the guarantee that I will be here for a while and able to enjoy everything without the natural progression of age hampering those efforts.

The weekend began on nice note with Erin and I being in touch most of the day Friday. He has off every other Friday and it’s nice because he gets to photograph churches and do work around the house and we get to talk a little more and sneak visits with each other. So all day he called me as he went from place to place and he even showed up at my job to surprise me with a visit. We were able to share hugs and kisses.

That night, we went to our parish fish fry and got the food ‘to go’ so we could have a little picnic outside. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and it was very cold. But we ate quickly and then went to a Borders book store to sit and talk and share some coffee together. We left the store and invited one of Erin’s friends from his men’s group to join us at home for more coffee and conversation. It was a very nice evening.

The next day, I taught my Saturday morning Yoga class and my husband was sweet enough to leave the surprise of a chocolate bar under my windshield wiper. Luckily, the icky weather did not destroy the chocolate.

My wonderful, amazing husband was taking me to a movie that afternoon. I knew something was afoot, I had no idea what would transpire when we got to the theatre. It turns out, he had invited 120 of our closest friends to meet us and celebrate my b-day. Fortunately only about 12 showed up. I say fortunately, because the theatre could not have fit all 120 of us – nor could the restaurant. I had known Erin was planning something, but I was totally blown away by the people who showed up and I had a wonderful time. I got to see the movie ‘Last Station’ with Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer (brilliant) and then we got to go to a nearby Turkish restaurant for excellent food and fun conversation. Unfortunately, there was no ‘pretty cake’ for us to sing happy birthday to but still, I believe a good time was had by all.

Thank you my Love for an incredible present. The best present of all – the present of love and fellowship with friends.

"It’s My Party, and You Have to Answer"

An Op-Ed piece about the Death of the RSVP....

(And after this weekend's events I have to totally agree with the author)

Rabbi Kushner: An 'Accommodation' With God : NPR

Rabbi Kushner: An 'Accommodation' With God : NPR

This is indeed a comforting way to view God for such matters. Sometimes, we all need/want answers to question and there is simply no good answer.

Bye, bye, birdie....

So last night, I went out with my husband after a meeting in order to buy food for our ‘shit monsters’ (the term I affectionately use to describe my cats). I am not sure what is going on with my cats but they seems to be ravenous and simultaneously picky.

So at any rate – this particular pet store has a beautiful white cockatoo. I think it is a male – but I am not positive. Everytime I go to this store, I talk with , pet and pretty much flirt with this bird. He is adorable. I feel so baldy because he has been there for a while and no one seems to be adopting him (I am sure this bird costs well over $1500) - which means that day in and day out he is stuck in this pet store. Sure, he has human contact but not as much as he’d probably like. So every chance I get, I pay attention to this lovely bird.

Yesterday, I let him perch on my arm and being a bird, he spotted the bright shiny object in my ear (my dangling earring), and pulled it out of my ear. I pulled it away from him and he then proceeded to try to reach down and nibble on my ring. Seeing this, the alert staff proceeded to remove him from my arm and lock him in his cage. I was upset but I understand and I probably should not have been playing with him like that….

But today I am still thinking about him and wishing I could go back and spend some time with him. Owning a bird right now is out of the question. More and more though, I struggle with the idea of ‘owning’ pets. Or using pets to entertain us, take away our loneliness etc. I know that it is a mutually beneficial relationship and animals love us back. Still, I can’t bring this bird home. The fact that they live to be 80 does not help either because how do you ‘bequeath’ a bird?

I look forward to the next time I get to visit my little friend though. Perhaps someone will make the effort and decide to adopt him and give him a loving home.

8 days and counting...

...till the big '50'....but then, who's counting?

So on the verge of the downhill slide into the point of no-return, my half-centennial, I have a lot going on; a lot to ponder.

My husband has been wonderful, kind and patient with me. Thank God for him.

Writing has become elusive, not because I don't have anything to say, but because there is too much to say and I feel overwhelmed.

I was recently in a hair salon (a new one, because I am cheating on my hairdresser - I mean not really she seems to be an imbecile when it comes to the part about doing someones hair (who the F*ck takes a razor to baby fine hair?? And, since when does the term 'subtle highlights' translate into 'fruit stripe gum' highlights???)...anyway, I was able to find a young lady who listened to me AND can cut baby fine hair - as it turns out, a couple of weeks after discovering her, I find out that the spa she is working at is closing - I think I must have been cursed by a hair stylist in a past life...but thank goodness, she is at a new salon and I was able to get an appointment with her.

As I was saying....I was at this salon and literature choices being what they are in salons, I found an interesting article in the February 2010 issue of Vogue entitled: "Close encounter: The tale of an almost adulteress" - I'd link to it but I can't find the actual article...

Basically it was to story of yet another 30-something woman who needed to prove something to herself, so she decided to get her advanced degree. (Something I applaud). On her way to this degree though, she has the misfortune of falling in love with another man. Suddenly, her life isn't so 'happily-ever-after' anymore and her wonderful ('I-am-still-in-love-with-you-but-the-grass-is-greener-here') unsuspecting husband is now seemingly disposable.

The kicker to this well-written, thought-provoking and soul-searching story is that her amorous intentions are not returned by the man she has deemed worthy to end her marriage over. (The plot thickens, no?). Alas the woman becomes heartsick over this and for comfort, she breaks down and spills everything to her husband....who (wait for it)....

UNDERSTANDS AND CONSOLES HER.

I was so totally floored by this act of un-selflessness - that I struck out to find the article to share it. Alas, I can not find it and I am not going to order

How many of us could do this for our significant other? I will forgive you for the fact that you wanted to dump me and help you to get over your broken heart (over someone else???). I know I swallowed very hard over this one.

**************

Onwards....

So a couple of note-worthy things (insert stream of consciousness alert here).

Today is International Women's' Day. And, while I appreciate Jennifer Brunner (The current Ohio Secretary of State) sending me an e-mail to remind me of this - I DO NOT appreciate her using it as a means to further her campaign. I DO vote for Women, Ms Brunner, whenever and where ever I am able - thanks though for that important campaign message.

Finally, someone near and very dear to me is waiting on lab results. I am praying that they will be OK. However, I am very upset (as is she) about how all of this transpired.

The scenario:

You go to your doctor's office. You get labs drawn. The doctor's office calls you and tells you that they can not give you the results 'over the phone' because you need to make yet ANOTHER appointment to be given them in person. (HUH?) That's right kids - and we wonder why healthcare costs are skyrocketing. Who's lab results are they? YOURS. Yet the doctor can not or will not pick up the phone to talk to you. May I ask what friggin' difference it makes to have the doctor (yes I agree it should not be an admin assistant or a nurse) call you? I mean what further light is going to be shed on these results in person? Should we not as patients have a right to ask for those results the way we want them? Finally, what about all the stress involved in WAITING to get said results???? (And from my own research as a Yoga therapist 70 to up to 80% of all disease can be traced to stress....go figure.)

Idiots. How would YOU feel doc if this was YOU, your mom, dad, sister, brother, CHILD??? You'd be throwing a bloody fit.

Finally - to end on a good note.

This weekend my love and I had the pleasure of having brunch with one of our favourite people Liam (Liam's Odd Musings) at The Harp Restaurant in Cleveland . Afterwards, we went to hear a talk given by Paulius Nasvytis, at Phoenix Coffee on W 9th Street. Paulius is owner of VTR (The Velvet Tango Room) - a very upscale establishment that I plan on visiting soon.

Mr. Nasvytis was a charmer and spoke of becoming a 'Purple Cow' in an 'otherwise monochrome field of Holsteins' when it comes to drinking establishments in Cleveburg. The reason why Erin and I attended the talk was to help us to become Purple Cows in our own right - if we decide we want to become business entities. The idea hails from the Book of the same name written by Seth Godin.

Since the depressing news that Cleveland has been named one of the worst cities to live in - I am hoping to get some good news from entrepreneurs about why it's worth sticking around...

Stay tuned kids - more to come.

A bientot

Colette