Thanks, Uncle Chas

He gave me my first ginger beer. It was way back in the early nineties, the first time I drove across country. I stopped at Chas & Chris's, and they took me in & fed me, let me take a shower, all the good stuff. Chas took me down into the basement and gave me a ginger beer out of an old freezer. That stuff had some kick. It was very unfamiliar-tasting, and I didn't know if liked it. Subsequent experiment has shown that I do like it, a lot.

He was also the first person I ever saw order hot water in a restaurant. Just plain hot water. I was bewildered. Unflavored water with a meal was a brand new concept. We drank milk with meals at home and sodas with meals in restaurants. And hot water? Why would one want that? Entwined with that marvel was another: hot water was not listed on the menu. And they just brought it to him! You can order stuff that's not on the menu!

It was a major step to figuring out that the world I navigated was a box, and that I need not stay in it.


Right now, though, I want cozy.


Today's earrings: sapphires, citrine teardrops

Bedtime reading: The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman

That was sad

Poor Jack, done in by a staph infection.

Poor Steven, done in by his own snobbery. Psst. Steven. Polyester isn't catching.

Chris is fun. Chris is nice to have around. Chris can't seem to design street clothes. Chris will be gone again soon, and Broadway will hire him to costume many fabulous shows. That part's not sad.


Today's earrings: flies, fish

Bedtime reading: The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman

Black Rose

Crows Licorice Flavored Gumdrops

Crows were invented in the 1890's. Originally to be called "Black Rose", the printer misheard the name and printed "Black Crows" on all the wrappers. The name stuck and the sweet, black licorice-flavored gumdrops are as delectable today as they were more than a century ago. 8.5oz theatre sized box measures 6 3/4 x 4 x 1".

Today's earrings: roses, crows

Bedtime reading: The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman

Guidance

It is a far, far better thing to have a firm anchor in nonsense than to put out on the troubled seas of thought.

- - John Kenneth Galbraith


Today's earrings: hands, anchors

Bedtime reading: The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman

I got carolled

They sang:

Words words words,
Words words words wo-ords,
Words words words,
Words words words words.

Very seasonal, I thought.


Today's earrings: compasses

Bedtime reading: The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman