Hotel Marienlyst

Oceans views and a casino! Woo hoo! You can watch the waves as you lose your shirt. It actually looks lovely. Has anyone been here? It has an indoor pool. Love indoor pools, the humidity, the warmth. Just like good 'ol San Diego. Our recipient is Inga. I'm sorry, but that is a classic European name, gotta say it. The only Inga I have ever met was a masseuse. She gave me a deep muscle massage while carrying on a conversation with a very European Inga-ish accent. Also classic. I noticed that our sender writes in all capital letters. I wonder if it's a penmanship thing? No one can read your cursive, therefore, you print? But why all capitals? They say that people who write in all capital letters are trying to hide who they truly are. And, most handwritten ransom notes are written in all capitals. Just throwing that out there. You're totally going to start watching people who write in all capitals now, aren't you? My only complaint about this card is that it's a tad boring. Shouldn't postcards show you a view? The wonderful, wish you were here, but not really, beautiful view?

Itty Bitty Santa Stamp

This is a little unique, because it's a USA stamp, and a recent one at that. I am having a momentary lapse into the holiday spirit, so I thought I should jump on it and post this little guy. Oh, shoot! That reminds me, Christmas cards! Well, there goes another year they aren't getting sent. Remember when you were younger and people would always tell you that time goes by so much faster when you get older? They weren't kidding. It feels like just yesterday I was forgetting to mail out last years Christmas cards.

Chocolate!

I have no idea why someone would keep this. It's cardboard, and I would think someone cut it out of a box, but the lines are absolutely perfect. No one can cut that straight, can they? Chocolate. I love chocolate. And these look so interesting. Don't you love going to new places, different countries, and finding all sorts of new ways to eat chocolate?! Or any food for that matter. What I hate is coming home. You find all these amazing candies or foods on your vacation and become a complete addict, yes it can happen that quickly, only to come home and find that your new addiction is nowhere to be found. Oh, the frustration. I was in London this summer, loved London by the way, and I found fresh shelled peas. I ate myself sick. More than once. They actually said they were from Africa, so why aren't they being shipped to the US? We live in a world of amazing shipping capabilities! This shouldn't be an issue. Really. When I become fabulously wealthy, I will travel the world, find the best of the best, and make sure they are available for the masses. Sure, why not.

Walking in the Garden

You can tell this picture was not posed. Love that. No date, which is a stinker. Could be anywhere from late 30's to mid 50's? This is just so classic, everyone is dressed exactly as you would picture them in, say around 1940, right down to grandma's pearls. The child is the center of attention, obviously, as children should be. Cute kid, too. Look at all of that dark, curly hair. Mom is pure Hollywood. Alright, I'm sure it's the sunglasses, but still, she's got a great outfit going on. The dress could age her, but she's thrown that black scarf in her hair, and boom, she just got ten years younger. Ok, it's the shades, too. Nobody looks old when they are wearing cool shades. Great picture. Has the number 49 written on the back. The year? Things like that always make me curious.

A Letter

This letter fell out of a book with no envelope or anything else with it. It's beautifully written, and I can't make sense of it as usual. It did remind me of something. Look at that margin on the left side of the letter. That is leaving some serious space. I can remember being in elementary school and learning about leaving that left side margin. Yes, it's a stretch, and sometimes painful, but I do remember moments from that long ago. I say moments because that's the truth. I have a terrible memory. That being said, I do have a the faintest memory of putting my ruler up on my paper on the left side and lining it up just right to make the perfect line for my left sided margin. Concentrating hard, using a pencil, and actually drawing a very faint line so I didn't go beyond the ever sacred margin. At least I think I remember doing that. Or maybe I saw it in a movie. Dumb memory.

Christmas Present Tag

I debated whether or not I should even put this on here. It appears to be a very small present tag. It's only about 2 inches tall, and an inch wide. I just thought it was so cute, and with the holidays just around the corner, I decided why not. Although, I will say, I was in a store today and they were playing Christmas music. And for reasons unknown even to myself, I absolutely hated it! I found myself pulling a face at the Christmas decorations, and at the Christmas candy the store had out. Maybe I am becoming a Grinch! Everyone keeps asking me what I'm getting my kids for Christmas, and asking how my shopping is going, etc. Truth is, haven't even started. Not even thinking about it yet. I'm sure some of you are in shock! I should have something done by now, right? I'd like to put an orange in each of their stockings, have a nice turkey dinner, and call it good. Oh my, I am the Grinch!

T. S. Eliot Turns 70

It's September 26, 1958 and T. S. Eliot is turning 70 years old. This article is actually pretty long, but I didn't feel like I had enough room to put the whole thing on here. I did include a couple of the cartoons, they were too great not to. The picture of Mr. Eliot looking all dapper with his hat and cane says, "there was always something timeless about him" under it. You can't look at that picture and think otherwise. The cartoon where he is standing next to the desk says, "he progresses on a rising track," and the last cartoon says, "the leading word of his criticism is precision and tradition." I could ramble on about T. S. Eliot's life, but I choose instead to share a few of my favorite quotes from him. Enjoy.

This is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but a whimper.
Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal.
You are the music while the music lasts.