the opera salad

Today was my first "opera at the beach" accompanied by the usual shrimp salad ~ shrimp cooked at home instead of brought from Dago's.  See yesterday's post for shrimp info.  While Salome (R. Strauss) sang and danced and plotted (you remember the seven veils?  the thing about the head on a silver platter?) I definitely enjoyed this little feast.  Weather lovely, slight breeze has kept the mosquitoes away.  Here's to being here.

first Friday

No Dago's tonight; about a billion mosquitos are swarming around everything.  There is a bit of a breeze so we are being saved from sunset swarms.  But still, it is not a good idea to be out and about.  We await the fumigadores.  Otherwise, all is beautiful.

Oh, did I forget to tell you we are at the beach?

God speed

when like-minds lunch

I took the train down to Berkeley today to have lunch with two wonderful young women whom I've know for about 35 years.  They are the daughters of a very dear friend who died five years ago.  The three of us get together yearly to mark the date and get caught up.  Today we had A LOT to talk about, especially the current state of political life in our country.

Before arriving at the restaurant I made a quick detour to The Cheeseboard for goodies; a seeded baguette, two loaves of City Bread, and four scones to last me until we head south next week.  Lunch was delicious, in the usual Chez Panisse manner, conversation was lively, wide-ranging, so very satisfying.  I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one . . .

By the way, that Capital Corridor Amtrak is fantastic!

chemistry lesson

I've been doing a little research on the topic of "chemistry" as it applies to people's connection with one another.  You know the saying, "They have great chemistry" or they don't.  I can think of people in the public eye who have it:  the Obamas, for instant.  And who don't: the Trumps.  Enough of politics.

Let's move from Washington to Hollywood.  I'm not a follower of all things Hollywood but I have read a bit about the breakup of the Brangelinas.  I know only the tiniest bit of their history together, but I thought it might be an interesting chemistry lesson to watch the two movies they starred in, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and By the Sea.  I had not seen either.  From what I have read about it,  the Smith flick was well received and, more important to my "research" was commented on for its over-the-top, smoke-from-the-screen chemistry.  They were having more fun that probably was legal at the time.  One was married, but after that film, not for long.  Then they took up with each other and the rest is history.  Until now.

Leap ahead 12 years and six kids and there's not only a lot of ink but this second movie, By the Sea, written and directed by Jolie.  There is not one drop of chemistry between these two, although "he" tries like anything to assure her that there is.  Now, it may well be the script, the characters they play, the story, but it was really painful to watch.  They were NOT having fun, even in their misery.  Maybe because, despite my best efforts, I know what has happened to these two admittedly gifted performers.  But chemistry?  Not one frame.  It was actually painful to watch and only partly because it's a terrible movie.

Think about Cary Grant and his various leading ladies ~ Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Eva Marie Saint, Sophia Loren.  Instant and insane chemistry based on how much fun they were all having together.  As for women, Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren, and the other above-mentioned women.  It's rare that when they are in a film there is not chemistry between them and their leading man.  Even if they are antagonists or miserable in a relationship, there's still "something" there.

Ok.  Chemistry class is over.

Now on to wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving wherever you are.  Be safe on the road or in the air, don't eat or drink too much, and give thanks that, as of yet, we are still in a world that's fairly intact and understandable.  This may not last.

an "in front of the fire" day

It's cold and rainy here in the valley today, a perfect day to sit by the fire with a good read.  That would be Strange Justice:  The Selling of Clarence Thomas.

It is about the bizarre confirmation hearing that pit Thomas against Anita Hill.  Meticulously researched and documented, the case is laid out almost day by day.  When it's all over, he has been elevated to the court and she is left out, but not down.  This book affirms what we all knew from the beginning; she was right, it did happen just the way she said it did.  Thomas comes off as a Jeckyl-Hyde character, not too bright but extremely shrewd.  If you are at all curious about how this all happened, I highly recommend it.  Authored by Jane Meyer, who writes for The New Yorker, and  Jill Abramson, one-time executive editor of the New York Times.

the magic carpet

I saw an ad for a Turkish carpet for sale in our neighborhood.  Now, my house is completely "rugged out"  and the last thing I need is another carpet.  We have carpets from Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Persia . . . see what I mean?  But this beauty called out to me and, after some serious hesitation, I said "Why not?  I'll find a place for it" and bought it.

This beauty has an interesting provenance.  It was given to the seller as a gift about 25 years ago by her anthropologist uncle who bought it in Turkey.  She thinks it is probably about 50 years old.  She has never displayed or used it; it has been rolled up in her garage all this time.  It is in excellent condition.  The colors are bright and clear, the weave is tight and clean.  It now graces the floor in our entryway, a gloriously cheerful welcome to our home.