Wednesday Dottles
1. The price of top-quality shuttlecocks is skyrocketing. Feathers from Chinese geese - now being slaughtered by the millions to stave off avian flu - are used in all the pro lines.
2. Sorry, Mel, I don't care how drunk you are. Scathing anti-Semitism (or homophobia or racism) doesn't just come pouring out of your mouth unless it was inside to begin with.
3. Another downside to this heat wave... I can't complain about it in my blog. It does no good to whine about something if everybody else in the country is having the same problem.
4. Nine days till vacation. Did I tell you I'm going on vacation? Four nights in New York City, a night each in Cooperstown and Saratoga Springs, and three nights in Lake George. We will be pushing the envelope of White family dynamics to the breaking point.
5. Quiznos smokehouse beef brisket sub isn't half bad.
6. A chance quote at InfoSpigot put me on to Raymond Chandler. I just finished Red Wind. Now I'm thinking gold mine.
7. Name one - any one - holiday in August.
8. How do you stay cool?
K-
2) Typical anti-Semitic bigot. Had to first ask if the person was a Jew before he could launch his tirade.
4) Green with envy.
5) Had the Prime Rib & Peppercorn last night. Not bad, either.
8) I read MySpace every day.
1. If I say something about shuttlecocks here, this will be the second time we've discussed the topic on your blog. Or, maybe the third.
2. The more I know about movie icons, the less I like them.
3. True, I guess. But, do feel free to go all giddy on our asses when the weather does cool off.
4. I envy you. Take lots of photos.
8. I'm very diligent about making ice so I never run out.
2. Which will be worse -- the original hateful spew or the very public days and weeks and months of heartfelt atonement?
3. Um, OK. Didn't stop me, though.
4. What are you planning in NYC? I love the place -- a great place to walk.
6. Excellent.
7. Feast of the Assumption. OK -- it's a holy day. But we were in Paris a few years ago on the day -- the 15th, I believe -- and happened across an immense crowd outside Notre Dame. The reason: Mary is the patron saint of the cathedral, and there was a special Mass. The church was jammed, and there were thousands outside listening to the service outside. Qualified as a holiday gathering to me. ...
8. In Brooklyn, we stayed huddled inside most of the time. Back in Berkeley now, it's staying warm that's an issue.
1. Your memory rings true once again, Marie. A comment once last year and a comment the year before that. I had to search.
2. Definitely the atonement.
4. Staying midtown, NY Botanical Gardens, Bronx Zoo, American Museum of Natural History, Yankees game, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", dinner cruise on the Hudson, a couple of nice restaurants, midtown walking tour including Empire State, Times Square, Bronx walking tour, choral Eucharist at St. Thomas Episcopal 5th Ave, New-York Historical Society, more if we have time. Pictures are assured. I have enough compact flash for 1,500 pictures.
7. Maybe in France.
8. Quickly moving from one hermetically sealed AC space to another.
K-
2. Agreed.
4. Wow again. I was at the natural history museum on Tuesday -- went specifically to see the Darwin exhibit. It's beautifully done and enjoyable, despite the occasional appearance of hordes of bored summer campers being rushed through the place by harried counselors. Some might find the exhibit a bit too cute and a bit too pointed politically, too -- parts are explicitly aimed at upsetting the creationist/"intelligent design" applecart (fine by me). Having only a sketchy idea of Darwin's career and thought myself, though, I was impressed with what I saw and read.
I'll get back to you on the U.S. holidays in August.
2- Being drunk is no excuse for anything!
4- I lived on Lake George (north end in Ticonderoga, NY) for 10 years. It's an absolutely beautiful lake.
7- Holiday - August 13-National Left Hander's day.
8- Air conditioning. I know that's the wimp's way.
Have a great weekend.