My kind of tree

Tuesday I took my neighbors down to their “barn” near Belley, France. We stopped in the town to go to the bank then as we came out went across the street to see if we could get a table in that restaurant.

Unfortunately not, but just next door was the tree that I want (and perhaps will make!) next year.

 

This is by far the best idea that I have seen yet and may be just the excuse I need to take all my books off their shelves – then I can sort and put them back in alphabetical order in the New Year. If only wishes were that easy to realize.

A book store in Belley, France

The Franco-American Flophouse: Amazon in the Hexagon

The Franco-American Flophouse: Amazon in the Hexagon


She says it well: in past months I have also begun to resent the fact that be it a book or a DVD series, it is easiest to just head to Amazon instead of having to actually get in the car and go to a book store (and I might add, as I live in a country where English is not the native language, there are often valid reasons such as price and availability of the original version to order via Amazon). I am a card-carrying member of the American Library as well.

Nothing is making me do this, but I am slowly waking up to the fact that soon we may have ONLY Amazon.com for all of our purchases - a monopoly. I thought that our governments were supposed to watch out for this kind of lack-of-choice-for-the-consumer type of entity (never mind that they - and I am speaking of they, as in many corporations, not specifically Amazon - then promptly take their profits wherever they are taxed the least, leaving us often to pick up the tab on that as taxpayers as well).

Nope, it again comes back to an ancient philosophy that many of us have forgotten: personal responsibility. If we don't think about our actions, our purchases, our investments, soon we have no choice and someone else is doing out "thinking" for us.

Stop and reflect - what kind of a world do we want, not only for ourselves, but also for our children and our grandchildren. I for one am paying much more attention to my purchases these days. Food - locally; clothing and gifts - nothing "made in China" (and yes, if one pays a tad more attention, one can actually find locally - or at least indigent to one's own country - items) ; gas - I have my own personal boycott of one provider; anything else, I try not to purchase imported - again personal boycotts on some countries whose political policies I find either inhumane or otherwise totally lacking in ethics.

I am only one, some say that's not enough, but if I don't start, why should anyone else?

« Another beautiful day in the mountains” and other phrases

For many of those I know it’s “another beautiful day at the beach”: for those who know me “it’s another beautiful day in the mountains”.

But before getting out and enjoying it, one does need one’s breakfast (or at least I always have – perhaps as a result of growing up in a household where breakfast was mandatory).

Those who know me also know that I can’t eat and not read: o.k. if I have company I do make the supreme effort and sacrifice, unless they too, are enamored with books and magazines whereupon we can all happily read at the same table.

It’s very rarely a book as I need to be able to at least read one chapter but it can be anything from a newspaper (yesterday’s, today’s, a freebee, a costly) to trashy magazines, to more complete magazines. Or, as today, even just advertising materials (after all I do need to get through every piece of paper with printed words on it that comes into my life (fortunately some only take seconds!)

I exchange magazines and books with a friend and in her latest lot she included an airline magazine of gifts (on purpose? By accident? I’ll return it just in case).

On top of all the wonderful inventions (and thank goodness that I am not in a buying mood as several are very tempting: I mean, a lovely piece of furniture that hides the kitty litter tray, or a padded bench for storing shoes… that would certainly be a good addition in my entryway where depending upon the body count in the house we can have almost wall to wall shoes of varying sizes and styles) there was two pages of “the best t-shirts of 2013”.

Now I love reading, I love plays on words, I love people who can use words judiciously, I love words – get the idea.  But there’s nothing quite like a short succinct sentence – one that can be printed on a t-shirt, a sweat-shirt, basketball cap, etc.

Many caught my attention, but this one stands out:

“Scars are like Tattoos, with better stories”.

I could philosophize on that sentence, but on the other hand perhaps I’ll just leave it stand for you to interpret personally, in light of your own life’s experiences. How wonderful a phrase:

“Scars are like Tattoos, with better stories”

     

It’s my birthday and I’ll read if I want to…

Read if I want to, read if I want to. (My generation knows the refrain: “It’s my birthday and I’ll cry if I want to”, but hey I welcome each one – proof that I’m still having a party!

 

But back to the “it’s my birthday and I’ll read if I want to”:  I have a new kindle and already spent an hour reading the instructions then downloading a half a dozen free books. I can see that I will quickly be addicted and splitting my time in between so many classicals that I’ll never catch up. It is going to take some good willpower to turn it off, lay it aside and get on with “real” life.

Well actually maybe I’ll answer the phone, open the cards, have lunch with my friends, including one who shares my birthday; send text messages to the other two who share my birthday, check Facebook for the lovely people who will post to my wall.

I am blessed beyond measure in my family, my friends even those acquaintances on the periphery of my life

But, hopefully I’ll also read if I want to!

Birthday and Christmas wish lists

I know that I have a reputation as being “hard to buy for, hard to do something for”, mostly because I really don’t need anything, or can obtain it myself when I want.

I also remember having “stationery” on my wish lists for about 20 years without either of my boys or husband actually ever offering me any!

As I, my friends, relatives and acquaintances age (yep, that nasty word), we find that we seem to prefer gifts that can be eaten, drunk or tossed in a week (i.e. flowers). Re-gifting is popular, but a lot of work, as one does try to re-match successfully and that copper president’s plate from Aunt X doesn’t really find many potential takers in my mind.

There have been memorable birthdays when every present was something I loved; there were the years when the boys could get trip or special events arrangements, which were greatly enjoyed; there were the small, but perfect gifts (napkins – I am a collector and must currently forbid myself any more purchases until some of the 30 packages are used; candles – also in most sizes and colors with the same limits; soaps and lotions – I find that most of us don’t like paying a lot of money, but do appreciate the name brand occasionally – hint, my current favorite is Occitane).

But, on the whole, I will admit to being difficult.

This year however I do have wishes: I have already let those concerned know that I would love to receive a Kindle for my birthday (and to my credit I have held off buying myself one until my birthday has come and gone – beyond that I know that I won’t make it until Christmas).  This has led some to question my sanity – I who have to have my newspapers delivered in paper: I who love hitting any and all used book stores regardless of the continent, country or city; I who buy magazines several times a month; I who have a pile of paper in most corners of any given room.  I however have noticed that my housemate who is every bit as much a faithful user of libraries and who still publishes her books in print, is enjoying the one she received from R. for Christmas.  It won’t subtract from my paper, but rather add to it – much lighter in the hand luggage, which if they ever weigh it I will have to dump half the contents, and a back up on those long trips. I could then perhaps (note the use of the word “perhaps” – not giving any guarantees here), limit myself to only one paperback, one newspaper, etc.

I also have requested a “real” book (oops already forgotten the author and title, but know that I do want it – so hope that someone of my pool of gift givers has noted it) and this morning discovered another “must have”.

Please, please, if any of you who read me are in my circle of potential gift givers: the latest Dave Barry “You can date Boys when you’re Forty” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Barry must become mine!

And yes, the hard cover would be appreciated.

Malta or lunch ?

Couldn’t quite decide which to blog so never mind, it will have to be both.

Today was the day that my housemate and I had picked to finally do something about our promise to ourselves.  Backing up: a couple of years ago when I had been through 9 years of visiting my mother twice a year, then having her in a private home for two and a half, then facing her death, followed a month later by my younger sister’s cancer diagnosis; when my housemate had also had many a crisis with her mom, finally losing her as well, the thing that kept us both going was our promise to ourselves that “when this is all over” we would go somewhere for a few days, not to travel, sight see or do anything in particular, but simply to rest. It needed to be a place where we wouldn’t experience jet lag, where it wouldn’t take us more than a half a day to access, and – most importantly – somewhere that neither of us had ever been! A tall order indeed and it took awhile before we chose the island of Malta. Thereafter, whenever things were particularly grim, we would whisper or sign off an e-mail with “Malta, Malta, Malta”. It became the mantra for “things will improve”. 

My sister passed away, my housemate met a man, there were more of our own crises, but a lot of good times as well: still Malta had never materialized and we were in danger of letting it go the way of many a good promise, until we set a date to do something about it – as well as an approximate time when we would both be free.

Today we finally took the step and entered my favorite travel agency: although none of the agents that I have used before were there, the one who greeted us was ever so helpful. She also was very good at determining the reason for our visit as well as “warning” us that the end of February and the beginning of March were very windy months on the island, that, although warmer than Switzerland at the same time, it was definitely not going to be a beach holiday. We looked at each other and answered: "just been through several days of the Tramontane", "see the bise still blowing outside" - then in unison: "it doesn't matter". Whereupon she proceeded to line up flights and a hotel – five star no less – at such reasonable prices that we booked on the spot.

It is actually going to happen!

That was pleasant happening number one.

Pleasant affair number two was lunch.  Now I love editing my housemates' books and have just finished yet another (is it #8, 9 or 10?) and would do so for absolutely nothing, but she insists that I get at least a good meal out of the deal. She and her husband had discovered a lovely restaurant across the border and my, oh my, what a find: from the “amuse bouche” (a starter meant to introduce the meal – always at the whim of the chef – and just as often more than excellent) to the first course where we both chose a crab millefeuille (napoleon) to the main, in my case a “quasi” or boneless leg of lamb and in her case a roasted duck, it was all perfect. Perfectly presented, perfectly spiced, a feast not only for the eyes but the palate: when I can I edit another novel?

And – a very rare thing – in both cases I forgot any of my cameras so there are only the mental pictures to remember these two amazing events.