glowing skin, unexpected gifts, emerson

This week I’m loving :

carrots >>> I think carrots are better than tans. Admittedly I can go without tanning. I once walked into a tanning salon and the receptionist looked at me like I was lost, wich I was. I went in to ask for directions. He looked relieved. But research shows that carrots (carotene, to be precise) makes your skin glow.

trip planning >>> I feel ridiculously blessed and grateful that I can go anywhere at all but on top of that I get to Germany in June. I have never been! I’m rather excited. I want to see these landmarks, eat bratwurst and of course guzzle beer. I might shop if the US Dollar’s not wheezing that week.

good pizza, Sunday flowers, Farmer’s markets, tart green freckled oranges with cheese, walnuts

Georgetown walks

Pedro Almodovar and his frantic narratives >>> Just re-watched the film Talk to Her (Habla Con Ella)

unexpected gifts >>> Thanks Leah from Florida :) I will be wearing that gift in the Style Section this Friday (tomorrow).

wild thyme >>> I kind of miss gardening despite all my belly-aching about it when I lived home with my parents. My mother has a green thumb and gardens 6 hours a day when she has free time! I brought this back from Florida years ago and it just keeps going and going.

These items from a Milan furnishing show tickled my fancy. The New York Times did several pieces on the designs. Check it out here. I love this imaginative teapot by Maria Volokhov. It looks more like a decorate biblot that something to use to make breakfast every morning. And, therein lies its charm.

Emerson. I never tire of him. Ever. Here’s why: Emerson is like my own personal hotline. His multifarious writing is philosophy for people who might read self-help before bed. It’s candid and gets straight to the point. Also he’s a great maker of quotes though I think he once wrote, “I hate quotes, tell me what you know.”

“There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion.” – Self Reliance

I’ve been thinking about that a lot this week, about the difference between admiration and imitation. Admiration inspires me to do as another person did but not what the other person did. Imitation seems like the loss of self-respect. What’s wonderful about you? Always harvest that.

Art Inspiring Art

The painter El Greco painted scenes so vibrant they almost look psychedelic except that he preferred soft undulating curves rather than boxy geometric shapes. Here he painted the sky in a scence titled Christ Healing the Blind. Apparently he had studied in Venice and fallen in love with the bright colors and so he always added a touch of Venice veneer to his works. He painted Biblical scenes and ordinary portraits in the same style. Everyone must be exhaled if he wished to be painted by El Greco. All the figures look like they are taking part in an ballet of earthly angels – their limbs overstretched, their eyes glazed over, transfixed.

Photo from Art Bible.net

And yesterday (Wednesday) I played El Greco on Instagram. El Greco because his family was from Greece and his name is Doménikos Theotokópoulos, unpronounceable for most of his compatriots. He was born in Toledo, Spain.

I took this pictures on the iphone 3GS with the App Instagram. A tornado watch was in effect for Washignton DC. The clouds were raging and the wind howled…