Shaal Nur

It's about time for my semi-annual fragrance review, isn't it? Ok. Today I wore Etro Shaal Nur. It smelled good.

Here's more vital information from the mini-review of September 1, 2006 (jeez, I've been blogging a long time): Shaal Nur with citrus, spices, karo karoundé, narcissus, jonquil ... what I get is a transparent incense-y rose, akin to the sheer beauty of Sonoma Scent Studio's Tranquility. That same wisp-of-holy-smokeness quality, plus a subtle florality.

Earth Day 2008

I Got Something Anyway

I got a flu shot. I wash my hands religiously. I aim my patented glare at people who cough on the bus (I don't care if they can't help it). I boil pens and paper after my ill coworkers touched them and avoided them completely if I could help it. And yet, I'm in bed sick. I've been blowing my nose for two days. My head aches. I sneeze.

I'm only on this blog right now to tell you how sorry I feel for myself.

If I die, remember me as the sweet, good-tempered, never-sarcastic dear person I never was.

God, I feel awful.

A Memory of Pesach

Tonight marks the first night of Passover ... and pulls out a memory of seder with my now ex-laws. Waiting, waiting, waiting through the reading of the Haggadah for the reward of my mother-in-law's salty chicken soup and a "matzoh sandwich," the wonderful mix of charoset and a touch of horseradish on the cardboard-like matzoh. I'll never forget it or them.

Once Upon A Dream

Maleficent: It's INCREDIBLE! *Sixteen years* and not a *trace* of her! She couldn't have vanished into thin air. [to her goons] Maleficent: Are you sure you searched everywhere? Maleficent's goon: Yes, yes, everywhere. We *all* did. [the rest of the goons agree chatteringly] Maleficent: But what about the towns? The forests? The *mountains*? Maleficent's goon: Uh-huh, we've searched mountains and forests and, uh, houses and... uh, lemme see here... and in all the cradles. Maleficent: Cradles? Maleficent's goon: Yes, yes, every cradle. Maleficent: *Cradles*? [to her pet raven, talking sarcastically about the goons]

Maleficent: Did you hear that, my pet? All these years, they've been looking for a baby [She bursts out laughing, as do her goons]

painting: Arthur Rackham's Sleeping Beauty; quote: Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty

Do Not Wound If You Cannot Kill

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.

Machiavelli

AND featuring completely unrelated photo of chocolate cherries, because I want one.

Old Clothes

The plaintive theme of Simon and Garfunkel's Bookends...

Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, a time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories;
They're all that's left you

... uses photographs to preserve memories. I use my old clothes.

Try as I might to stuff history into a bag for our neighborhood's version of Goodwill, I can't let go of a certain pink robe, certain blue flowered underwear, two oversize black sweaters (threadbare and dating from 1988) and a beautiful but dated gray knit dress.

I don't know what I'm going to do with them, except let them rot in my closet and bureau. Maybe they'll serve as a shroud: bury me in them.

But I can't let them go. They comfort me.

An Ordinary Man Who Did Extraordinary Things

1/15/29 - 4/4/68

Tibet

The Soviet Govern-ment of China recognizes the right of self-deter-mination of the national minorities in China, their right to complete separation from China and to the formation of an independent state for each national minority.

Mao Zedong, Resolution of the First All-China Congress of Soviets, November 1931

photo by Elizabeth Huff

Rabbit, Rabbit!

For Doug, Ariel, Benvenuta, Winter-wheat, TSDuff, the lovely TLP and my dear Bela. And Happy April Fool's Day as well!

Also SEK, I know you're out there.