Pete Seeger, Eleanor Roosevelt and sailors? How cool is this?! I love Shorpy.com!

http://www.shorpy.com/Pete-Seeger-1944?size=_original
I like to think he's singing A Froggy Went A Courtin'.

And for a giggle, check out this link to a picture of a "Chest Developer: Woman at dressing table holding electric vibrating machine against her chest."
http://www.shorpy.com/node/3361?size=_original

Moving on to an ebay round-up. A focus on very good deals - Go forth and buy these so they trouble me no more!

I already have a naval flag cardigan and really shouldn't have another. This is about half the price I paid for mine though!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=370046572619

Likewise, I shouldn't buy another warm coat, even it has a faux leopard collar - and it's probably a bit too big for me. Even if it is only $20!!! Gah - it kills me...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=350063158018

SO cute - a little 1940s suspender skirt outfit. Seller admits there's stains on it, but they might come out... and $10!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200220168701

Charming 1950s house dress from a super seller, but alas too big for me:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=380030675337

And last - I've been thinking of New York. I want to go back. Dr Smith doesn't know I've been machinating on this topic today. But look at this hotel, and yes, yes it does have a "James Cagney" room!
http://www.bluemoon-nyc.com/

This last link to Big Apple Greeters actually made me cry. I read some of the reviews on TripAdvisor.com for it too and cried a little more. How beautiful! What a heart-warming thing - a free day with a person who loves their city.
http://www.bigapplegreeter.org/

This time last year Dr Smith and I went to Rome for my birthday. This year, we went to Paris. I like this trend!

drhaggis and veritate accompanied us to the City of Lights for a one week stay. We rented an apartment in the the Marais/Beauborg district that was utterly fantastic. Central location, very large (2 floors!) and had a rooftop terrace with a stunning 360 degree view that was jaw-dropping. Arriving on the first day, climbing to the terrace to be greeted by the bells of Notre Dame, was a memorable moment. I hugged veritate with glee!

In this post I'll just include some of my favorite city scenes from the week. You'll notice this one doesn't have pictures of us in it, that's so I'll be able to have this post public. I'll post a couple other sets later with more personal photos that I'll friends-lock.


Notre Dame. It was spring in Paris. Not like here at home - where it has snowed almost a foot today!!! Grrrr!!!
( Click here for more Paris photos. )

Busby was the choreographer behind the surreal musicals of the '30s, such as my beloved 'Footlight Parade', '42nd Street', and the 'Golddiggers' series. All those fountains, geometrical dames, ramps spiralling into the sky... it looks like he found himself a little Palm Springs hideaway to bask in his success and dream up the next Depression era confection. And it seems to be for sale! I discovered it while doing a little research on the upcoming Palm Springs vacation:

Real estate listing with photos here:
http://tinyurl.com/2cjz42

I'm finally feeling better and ready to rumble on teh interwebs once more! After more than a week of no-cocktails while on antibiotics, I am finally allowed a wee dram.

I'm commenting on LJ!

I'm listening to Lounge!

I might try on my fantastic new (to me) Tiger Striped Bikini tonight!

I'm at 70% of all James Cagney's movies watched!

I am NOT thinking about how I'm going to Saskatoon this Sunday!

I'm planning a trip to Palm Springs!

Dr Smith and I have been at a loss for our next vacation - we knew we needed one to a warm place, and one that was a single flight away. But while out for supper the other night with our friends Mo and Lisa (who we have previously travelled to Mexico with) inspiration struck in the form of Palm Springs: the desert (Joshua Tree National Monument) AND Mid-20th-Century vibe, what could be a niftier destination for a 3-4 day short vacation? I guess if we golfed, it would be even more perfect... ( Swell images of Palm Springs behind the cut. )

During the trip to DC Dr Smith and I spent time with some of my family who also made the trek to Washington, and the day we spent the most time together was none other than July the 4th. We chose to come up to DC specifically because we knew we'd be in the neighbourhood on Independence Day and figured this was a unique chance to see the festivities in the US capital. ( More behind the cut. )

It's my 1st LJ anniversary! Happy LJ Day to me :-)

How fitting that this entry is about my trip to the DC area and meeting up with jkg_vader and Ron, artnouveauho and speedlime in Real Life (tm).

Reading someone else's journal is a unique and unusual way to make friends. It's at one and the same time more private and more public than knowing someone in real life. I know I'm more likely to share certain things about the weirdness in my soul on this LJ, but I'm also always more aware of the fact that, even when friends-locked, it's being read by others - I have an audience and I know I tailor what I say because of that.

But there are personalities that one gets the sense of even through this strange and somewhat artificial medium, and some of them glow and beckon with the promise of real kindred spirits... jkg_vader and artnouveauho are certainly in that number. It was a great priviledge and pleasure to be able to share a bit of their real lives with them this summer. (I wish that time and schedules had permitted me to meet up with more of you! But that just leaves us something to look forward to in the future!)

I mentioned in my last post about getting to know the suburban side of Richmond, Virginia at my sister's wedding. The beautiful drive south to North Carolina to spend the night at jkg_vader and Ron's home was a voyage into the small town. Wow - it's just gorgeous in this part of the world. Green fields, produce stands, huge deciduous trees, deceptively tranquil lazy looking streams (Dr. Smith was mightily impressed with learning that the reason you don't go canoeing or rafting without great caution was because of the 'gators and water moccasins!! Coool!), gracious old brick houses with pillars and front porches... ( Click here for more! )

Why can't we sing at hockey games like this?



Ahh "Romantic" Trevi Fountain! ;-)

Came in from Rome last night. Travelled from Delhi to Rome on April 11.... the earth still feels like it's shifting, unsettled, heading off beneath my feet in some diagonal direction. Woke up at 5:30 am this morning and staying awake past 8:30 pm tonight has been a monumental task. Barely coherent, I am forcing myself to post a couple photos from the trip.

Commuting in Delhi (you probably can't tell at this resolution, but the ads on the wall behind them are for a Call Centre):


Statues in Rome (suspect this one is from the Vatican museums. I have a thing for taking pictures of statues with them looking at the camera):


( A couple more photos behind the cut. )
A few stories to share and some photos with me and family in them for the f-locked posts to come.

(note: other DragonCon entries to come - with pics. As is my way, identifying pictures will be kept in friends-only posts.)

There was a moment on... hmmm... I think it was Friday night. The Alberta posse had been pared down to smaller parts, and 4 of us were taking in the Cruxshadows concert. This spirited, dark, spiky-haired he-creature was tearing around the stage and his band was making the sort of music I imagine a darker, harder, very early Depeche Mode might have made (ahh, the music of my youth). He growled out "Hello DraaagoonCon!" And I thought: wow. Here we are.
( I'm not done with you yet! )