the fifth child

Some of you may know my reasoning behind the idea of having four children: a divine of some ilk ~ priest, rabbi, pastor ~ to look after your soul; a doctor to look after your body; a lawyer to look after your interests; an airlines employee so you can get out of town free. All your life's needs are thus covered. I have decided we all need a fifth; one who works in a book store. Why? Just look at the Mother Lode that landed in my mailbox yesterday, compliments of my darling niece who is the Children and Young Adults manager and buyer for R.J. Julia, an indy bookstore in Madison, CT. I hardly know where to begin ~ Richard Russo? Elizabeth Rossner? Isabel Allende? Sarah Gruen? Oscar Hijuelos (I loved "Mambo Kings")?

No, I think I'll start with "Claude & Camille" by Stephanie Cowell, a novel about Monet and his wife, Camille Doncieux (think Susan Vreeland and Tracy Chevalier). Two reasons: I'm about to go to Paris where I will definitely make a pilgrimage to Giverney and see the Monet show at the Grand Palais. Already bought my ticket; 1:30 PM on October 6. Two hundred pieces, some rarely if ever shown. I realize that tout le monde will be there and it will hot and stuffy and jammed, but we'll all be there for the same reason; to be awed by such genius. As for Giverney, this is not the ideal time to go; the gardens will be a bit faded, but nothing can spoil the beauty of the house and its situation.

Thank you, dear Kaley, for this wonderful surprise. The readers at the Mexican library will also thank you. I also thank the gods who invented Paris. What a brilliant idea!

Paris weather: 64º and partly cloudy.

a new blog on the block

L to R: Megan, Candy, Krissey, Caitlin, and Peggy

Over there on the left you'll see a new addition to the People to Know, Places to Go list. It's Destination Everywhere. This is daughter Cait's blog about a Delta Airlines-sponsored fund raiser for the United Way campaign. Great reading. These Delta Dollies are having a fine time in this contest. Come along on their adventure. Start at the very beginning with "What We're Doing" to get the full picture of their challenge.

Paris Weather: 57º and fair

don't let this one get away

I watched this sweet, funny, imaginative and tender movie yesterday. It's a Southern Gothic fairy tale about fathers and sons, estrangement and redemption, ego and love. It's told through the eyes of the son, played by Billy Crudup, about his father, Albert Finney. The father, a traveling salesman, was a great storyteller and would tell anyone who will listen (yet again) to his imaginative descriptions of the experiences of his life. Wonderful cast including Jessica Lange plays his loving and patient wife; Ewan McGregor, Helena Bonham-Carter, and Danny DeVito in a great role. The DVD had been sitting around here for a few weeks and I was about to send it back unwatched. But then I decided to give it a look. I'm glad I did. I liked it very much.

Paris weather: 70º and clear.

Tinker to Evers to Chance

These are the saddest of possible words:

"Tinker to Evers to Chance."

Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds,

Tinker and Evers and Chance.

Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble,

Making a Giant hit into a double –

Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble:

"Tinker to Evers to Chance."

Franklin Pierce Adams - 1910

Baseball has taken over the household. Well, it could be bed bugs instead. Will it be the Giants or the Padres? Will the Reds prevail? Can the Twins hold their lead and eventually unseat the dread Yankees? There are only 20 more games until we know the answer. Meanwhile, it's knuckle gnawing time.

Forget this Movie

I'd forgotten that Debra Winger is my least favorite actress. Then I saw this movie and was reminded all over again. Paris is absolutely beautiful, the star performer. Oh yes, Joe Mantegna is as yummy as ever. All else can be forgotten.

the amazing journey

I have just watched Ken Burns' "Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery." I was prompted to see this after our car trip from Bozeman to Portland, past the Bitterroot Mountains and along the Columbia River, part of their route. Except they went over the Rockies, in the winter, without really knowing where they were. The film, shown on PBS in 1997, is well worth attention, not only for its heart wrenching story of bravery and courage but also for the gorgeous scenery Burns' has filmed and for all the usual historical documentation and commentary he so brilliantly weaves through his work. Got it, on 2 disks, from the Flix®, of course.

our newest scholar

It's hard to believe but grand niece Ruby has started school. She went off to her first day of kindergarten like a real pro. She had been to an "orientation" this summer so she knew what to expect.

She catches the school bus right at the end of her driveway.

All aboard for the start of a great adventure!

She's in the morning session and is back home for lunch. It looks like she survived her first day in fine shape!

My only regret is that Vic is not here to witness this big event. I remember when my daughters went off to school, both so eager to get going and see what this school thing is all about. According to her mother, Ruby feels the same way. She is a very articulate, smart and curious little girl. She'll love it!