I so don't care about baseball. But I do love how gracious this guy - Armando Galarraga (who's obviously a famous and talented sports-dude) - has been about having his perfect game blown by a bad call. We've all seen too many elite athletes act like entitled divas when something hasn't gone their way. It takes a real man or woman to recognize a mistake (either on his or her part or on the part of another), acknowledge that mistakes happen and then take the high road and say, "Better things to come."
This is the first baseball player I'd actually like to meet. Other than Steve Garvey of Dodgers' fame who I was in love with when I was about 10 (he had great hair).
My son, B, is a Bluegrass music fan. He's taking banjo lessons, admires Ralph Stanley, and is learning to sing harmony with one of his teachers. And I adore and admire Alison Krauss. So when B pointed out that Ms. Krauss and a lineup of bluegrass musicians would be playing at the Ben & Jerry's-sponsored music festival at the beautiful Shelburne Museum, I was all onboard.
Yesterday, we sat with hundreds of other fans on a scenic hillside and listened to six Bluegrass groups pick, strum, twang and kick butt. The music was amazing - but we almost melted. We're not used to the sun shining here in Vermont. More than the blazing sun and the huge turnout, what impressed me was the professionalism displayed by all of these gifted musicians. They couldn't have been more gracious, kind, committed to their craft and their fans.
Ralph Stanley - long-in-the-tooth and short of stature - thanked the audience many times for their patience with him. The 80+ year old sang "Man of Constant Sorrow" and "Oh Death" and the audience went wild. He also played some mean banjo - even though he forgot some parts. His band was so respectful of him - it was a joy to see. His son and grandson play in his band - he couldn't have displayed more joy in having them with him; and, in turn, they couldn't have shown any more commitment to and caring for him. Old guys always get me.
Of course, these were Bluegrass musicians, so there was lots of respect shown to Jesus, family and America (not so bad). But it was the love and respect they showed each other and the audience that won me over.
B had one worried moment when he thought Ms. Krauss was disrespecting Mr. Stanley - but once he understood she was joking and actually making fun of herself for admiring him so much, all was well. Our excellent friends are going to see George Thorogood in a few weeks: I wonderful if it will be the same kind of lovefest.
In one of my previous lives, I was a French aristocrat. Madame D'Entremont, mes amies. I had many servants (I was very good to them); I had several children whom I adored (their au pairs adored me as well); beaucoupe tres belle confidantes (many afternoon excursions including volunteering then shopping and cocktails); and a tall, blond and handsome husband (very much like D but possibly with a lot more money). And in that previous life, I always, always carried a bag like this.
What's good to know is that here, today, in contemporary middle-class America, I can, in theory, still feel like Coco Chanel or the Queen of France or Madame D'Entremont. There are tons, TONS, of rip-off websites that supply look-alike bags. Or look-alike Christian Loubouton shoes. Then why is it that I can never bring myself to buy these rip-offs? Is it that I know economically-challenged individuals in third-world countries get paid pittances (pitti?) to put these faux-leather accessories together? Is it because I am a snob and I'd rather buy obviously cheap items if I can't have the real deal? Or is it because, ultimately, I don't really care about a specific look/item/name?
Je ne comprende pas moi, mes amies. Perhaps in the next life. Au revoir!
I just turned 45. And anyone who knows me knows that I am astounded by a statistic I learned on NPR on one of those fabulous shows full of important facts: Middle age is considered to be between the ages of 35 and 54. As my friend Suzy-Q says: "What fresh hell is this?!!" Yeesh.
I think that statistic is part of the reason I started to write about what I think and what I stand for (Note to self: find out what you think and stand for). If not now, when? I'm half way to old, for God's sake!
On a tenuously related tangent, here's something I want to share: Ladies, don't wear shirts without any pants. One would think one wouldn't have to share this information, but it seems one does. Go to this blog. It's full of awful pictures of people wearing awful clothing (or lack thereof). Unless you're Lady Gaga and your life is your art, do not wear a thong leotard with butt-less jeans. Just sayin'. My friend Suzy-Q, who cares very little for fashion but quite a lot about quirky websites, turned me on to this. It's my new obsession.
The swell website I want to share with you is WhoWhatWear. They have interesting features like "Shop the Closet" where the two bloggers share the clothes they are interested in (dresses, shoes, bags) and "What Was She Wearing" where you can plug in info on a celebrity you saw (say on PerezHilton.com - not that I ever go to that site) and find out what/who she was wearing. It's a cool feature for image consultant-type people: if you see a dress on a celeb that you think might work on a client (or on you, of course) you can find out the designer.
Finally, for the first person who can tell me what classic TV sticom I stole the title of this blog from, I will answer any nagging fashion question. But you have to be willing to let me do it here, live and in front of my one follower. Oops, it five o'clock! Hope you know what that means.
I'm always interested in how professionals dress in the summer. I understand it well: I always feel caught between two worlds myself. It's beautiful out! It's only warm and sunny in Vermont for about 3 months of the year. I am entitled to wear my strappy sandals, floral skirts and cute t-shirts!! I've been covered up for 9 months - can't I judiciously show a little skin? I dress so appropriately all fall/winter/spring long!
But on the other hand, I want to look in control and turned out. Large and in charge, as it were. My knowledge and personality are fine and good, but the overall presentation sells it. Should I wear those new bronze sandals with the zipper (yes, yes, yes).
One of my lovely mentors at the London Image Institute, Sarah Hathorne, blogged on just this issue.I'm not going to waste my time recreating the wheel. Just go to her blog and read it. All answers will be revealed.
And remember, after work, at home, you can pad around in your flip flops and bermuda shorts with a G & T. Ahhh, I think I hear my name being called...I'm coming flip flops! I'm coming gin and tonic!