Paddling My Own Canoe

When I turned the television on at 6:00am this morning I discovered that TCM was showing a documentary called 'All About Me' about Katharine Hepburn. She has always been a hero of mine. And the older I get the greater my affinity for her. When the film was made she was still playing tennis at 85. She had a gorgeous brownstone in New York City and a full staff attending her needs. There were some wonderful scenes of her filling a giant Buick full of flowers to take her family home in Connecticut for the weekend. She said two things that really resonated with me -- one was that she always lived by her family's motto -- "life should be lived to the song of life." And the other was that she referred to Spencer Tracy as being the perfect man -- strong, yet vulnerable. And he had a really good head. I think that's exactly how I would describe the Handsomest Man Alive.

Let Them Eat Cake

Under the weather? I can't stay beneath the clouds when Julia Child is demonstrating how to make a meal. Maybe it's because I always think she's also demonstrating how to have a long life -- laugh a little!

Sip Savor Laugh

The new Julia Roberts movie, "Eat Pray Love," opens this weekend. I read the book, so I want to see the movie. Plus they cast Javier Bardem in the role of the love interest. I mean, seriously. What's not to like?

I am fascinated by these kind of books -- my favorite was Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes -- you know, the ones that are memoirs about dropping out of life for a year or two and traveling around the world and having adventures. I can't imagine it. I do know that if I was to take time to do what I wanted it would involve some food and wine. Quiet time in a garden and some belly laughs with very good friends.

There's a cat at the end of the tunnel

I bought Roxy a tunnel. It's made out of special fabric so it crinkles when she runs through it. At top speed. Usually, she goes through it one way and then turns around and zips right back through it. Now and then, I come into the living room and find her with her front half in and her back half out. It's very cute.

Do you remember the film "Broadcast News?" Sometimes I feel like I'm living it. One of my favorite parts of the film is when Albert Brooks (who's been fired for being too smart) is at home phoning in important information to the station where everyone is running full out in order to put on a breaking news program. I became involved in a breaking news event last week. Only I wasn't the smart guy at home calling information into the studio. I was one of the little rats attempting to pull on the show. It was stressful. I usually try to catch up on the relaxation time over the weekend, but this weekend, for some reason or other, the Handsomest Man Alive and I had a full social agenda. I attempted to nap in a chair yesterday afternoon during a baseball game, but then Joey (the cat) begged to get up into my lap. I couldn't resist so I sat up straight and gave him a nice flat lap to curl up in. I figured his comfort was more important. So I'm hoping that very soon I will find a place to relax and unwind and take it a little easy. I'm an optimist.

Reading THIS and THIS. Thinking about downloading THIS onto my Kindle.

Heroes Have Four Feet And Fur

I always say hello to soldiers when I see them in the airport. I think they are the true heroes in the world we live in. I saw one guy in Starbucks buy the soldier behind him in line a cup of coffee. He told him that it was the very least he could do for him.  This guy has a very warm place in my heart. And those two puppies have just fallen into a big tub of butter.

Mission: Impastable Perfection

Last night I ruined dinner. Twice. The first time was when I was at the grocery store and I bought ingredients that I thought went with the ingredients I had at home to make something very tasty and fun. Only I didn't have that ingredient at home. So I did what all of my favorite chefs on Top Chef do when they're thrown a curve -- I bunted. And it didn't turn out well -- it wasn't inedible -- but it wasn't anything I'd want to share with a friend. Or the Handsomest Man Alive -- who ate it with little to no grumbling.

Perhaps that's the reason he suggested we go to Mission Impastable tonight. Our favorite restaurant cuts their prices on pasta and wine in half on Tuesday nights. It's hard to get a table. But we know everyone there -- from the owner to the busboys -- and they all treat us like royalty and the food is beyond delicious. I've been thinking about food all day. It could've been because a box of doughnuts was passed around the office this morning. Twice.  It could also be because I went shopping last night. And I had a feeling something wasn't right.

I watched the video of Chef Eric this morning. I have no idea what he said or what he's talking about. It's just that he's so dreamy and his accent is so French -- I could watch him for hours. He's almost as good as candy. Almost...

A Tale of The Tail

It's Tuesday. I'm in a funk. But there's so much out there to read and see. There's a play in New York City. There's some very nice firefighters in Vienna. There's a very big cinamony bear hopping a fence in Montana.  There's a book that's in production to be a movie. And all I ever find at garage sales is other people's stuff. It's all good.