Letter-writing makes for good, old-fashioned fun

I’m a sucker for the handwritten letter. For me, there’s nearly nothing better than walking to the mailbox in front of my house, pulling open the little metal door, and finding an envelope with my name scrawled across it. (more…)

Saints Sing that Superbowl

Okay, so the moment when Porter intercepted that ball — that was sheer gorgeousness. I got confused thinking that the person throwing the ball was on the Saints team (I always get confused. I’ve had many conversations with sports fans saying that I think pitchers should throw to their own batters; it’s hard to keep track). Okay, maybe harder with three drinks under my belt (and no, I’m NOT apologizing for the two sheets to the wind post).

Anyway, Porter’s run was so UNbelievably sexy when, right after he intercepted — he’s running down the field, and so subtly you could have almost missed it, he signals a teammate, I think, with just a pointed finger. Like he was telling him where he was going — but it was so fluid, so lovely, so sure and confident.

I just thought it was beauty in motion.

And the touchdown wasn’t half bad either.

Was that NOT the most beautiful thing!?

The pass. the interception. the touchdown. holy cow. i think i’m in love.

Super Bowl Party for one … make that four!

So, I’m here at home … making some flatbread pizza with shitake ‘shrooms and goat cheese. For the cats — Einstein, Boomer, and Coco — some chicken I bought at Morton’s.

Just watched NY-born Queen Latifa belt it out. Followed by some white chick from somewhere out west. What? They couldn’t get some N’Awlins singer?

And … YES! The Saints have snagged the coin toss.

I think this qualifies as fun!

Footsie fun

Remember awhile back I mentioned that I’d been given a gift certificate to a local spa for Christmas? Well, I used part of it to have a foot massage, but then recently went back to use the rest of the certificate and have a reflexology treatment. This experience took fun to a whole new — and different — level.

I was a bit skeptical — reflexology? But my feet have been bothering me so much lately that I figured I’d try anything. (more…)

Sarasota Mover & Shaker Dick Lobo Goes to Washington …

I met Dick Lobo in December when I was up in Tampa doing a fundraising appearance on PBS/WEDU Channel 3 television program Florida This Week … . We hadn’t started my segment yet, and I saw the man himself near the coffee table and went over to introduce myself. (more…)

My best friend’s wedding

Two weeks ago, my best friend married his best girl. Married in Boston, but they came down to Florida for a post-wedding reception dinner. That was last weekend. I went up to Tampa.

And … contrary to everything I’ve ever known or thought I knew about myself … I cried like a frickin’ baby when he and his erstwhile girlfriend, now wife, re-enacted their wedding vows for the Florida contingent. Like a baby. And, believe me — and those of you who know me well know this is true — I NEVER cry. Not any more, at least. Not very often, at least. But for Brian … I cried.

Cried out of happiness. Out of something. I can’t lie and say that Oscar Wilde’s words weren’t ringing through my head — “A second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.” Maybe it was that idea — of optimism — that was making me cry. Maybe it’s because the cynic in me was thinking for a moment … maybe I’ve got it all wrong — maybe love does exist. Maybe you can take a flier on somebody. Maybe you can fall in love and maybe it will stick. Maybe Wilde wasn’t being cynical when he wrote those words (though I rather think he was) — isn’t it possible he was applauding the nerve it takes to walk that aisle a second time? I can’t imagine doing that myself. Believing in someone that much again.

So, maybe. Maybe that’s why I was crying.

But I know one thing: I was also crying because I love him. He’s the best person I’ve known over the last 17 years. We met at Bucknell.

He taught me about philosophy, in fact, he’s taught me more things than I can remember … and I’d like to think I’ve taught him something as well. We’ve been friends ever since the first night we met at a poetry reading. Friends. The kind that people don’t believe can exist between a man and a woman … but which, most emphatically does exist. At least for us. We’ve lasted. (That’s Bri and me in the photo … a couple of years back at a New Year’s Eve party I threw.) Through my marriage and subsequent divorce. Through his first marriage, and now this beginning his second.

And I imagine we’ll continue to last until my dotage, at which point I fully expect him to support me and my book, cat, and martini habit for the rest of my years. Um, that might test our friendship … at long last. But only because he’s allergic. Not to cats, but to my relentless indulgence of their whims. (He’s already got a word for what he thinks ails me — anthropomorphimania.)

Maybe I cried because Brian has more faith in humans — more faith in love — than I do. (Yes, I admit, I reserve my faith for felines and birds, for the most part.) Maybe I cried because, underneath it all, I’m a big softie (though I doubt it) and I want to believe in people too. In love.

Maybe I just cried because wedding vows make people cry.

I don’t know. But I cried. And weirdly. Very weirdly … I was having fun at the same time.

Da! как смешно! (Yes, what fun! — at least I hope that’s what it means!)

So, last week, I went to see the Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Van Wezel in Sarasota.

The tickets were fabulous — Row Six — so kind of front and center and the crowd was overflowing with lots of Russian conversation. Oh, and the symphony wasn’t half bad either. (more…)

Radio fun!

Local Matters WSLR host Joe Hendricks, along with co-host Steve Norris, and co-guest, Matt Orr, helped me fulfill my New Year resolution to have some fun … (more…)

Local Matters — Join the Discussion!

Joe Hendricks of WSLR’s 96.5 LPFM LOCAL MATTERS sent this notice around to remind folks to listen in tonight between 6 and 7 p.m. …. hope you can join the conversation! (more…)