Dog Days Of Summer

It's just one of those days. The kind that makes you look for the silver lining. The kind that forces you to count your many blessings. The kind that makes you start to hum the song, "My Favorite Things." And that not necessarily a bad thing.

The Scooby-Doo Mystery Van Heads North

Last night the Handsomest Man Alive looked at me and asked, 'what are you doing for Labor Day?" I didn't know what to say. "What are YOU doing?" I responded. The whole thing dissolved into a flurry of Internet searches and tentative plans to go somewhere for the three-day holiday weekend. Only we usually only go one of the days. Maybe -- if we can decide on a plan and a place to go.

One of the places that I'd like to stop is called "Bellosguardo." It's an ocean-front multi-million dollar mansion in Santa Barbara that's been abandoned since the 1960s. The HMA discovered the mysterious story on MSNBC a couple of weeks ago. The first part is HERE and the second part is HERE. And now there's an update (with lots of wonderful photos and videos -- watch them all) about criminal charges...could this story be more delicious? Not possible. That's what the HMA thought when he first stumbled across it -- it involves a mysterious heiress and empty mansions around the world that are worth millions that haven't been lived in for years.

Once I saw a photo of the Montecito mansion that is called "Bellosguardo" I had to know where it was. And that wasn't too difficult. This lovely Santa Barbara blog even included a Google map to guide me right to the beach in front of the empty mansion. Are we having fun, yet? Oh boy!

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.