A while ago Verlyn Klinkenborg wrote about Angela Thirkell in his column and I was jealous that he liked her so much because I had tried to read her stuff years ago and found it annoying and twee. But my friend Jeanette recently hunted up a bunch of the novels and passed them on to
The Enthusiast
I was staying at a friend’s house when someone emailed me about an article she was translating from Italian into English which quoted some parts of Rameau’s Niece. The translator asked me to check some passages so that she would not be translating back into English from the Italian what had already been translated from
I have noticed that instead of hearing “no problem” (the uncooperative taxi driver’s mantra) all the time, I have started to hear a much more spiritually melodious phrase: “No worries.” This is the refrain to soothe the anxious Jew. I thought it sounded laid back and Carribean, but Janet assures me it is Australian in
Woof Patrol (click here), a great site all about, what else, dogs, has a link to a pug doing what all pugs really want to do: clean your computer screen. Go there AT ONCE. Your screen will never look better. It’s a thing a beauty! CLICK HERE!!!
I like antiquated locutions that pop up in everyday life, like signs that say “Inquire Within.” Here is a lovely one posted on in an alley in Venice.
I was walking along the other day thinking of common offensive phrases of my youth. When we dropped pillows from on high we used to cheerfully chant, “Bombs over Tokyo!” Charming. And in the family lore of there is the delightful story of a day at my grandparents’ house, some holiday or other, when my
Hector spent a week at the beach, much of it lolling in the surf, but this is not that. This is a site called wavemypic that allows you to upload pictures of, say, your dog and give it this effect. Thanks, ndozo, as always!
I usually write on this blog late at night when I can’t sleep. But in the last few months, my insomnia has disappeared, and so I have neglected it. Another thing to feel guilty about? Maybe, but on the other hand, how transcendently, terrifically, gorgeously swell to sleep at night! I think this may have
© Elliott Erwitt / Magnum Photos I go to Slate pretty much every day, (sometimes mostly to read Doonesbury, I admit,) and I almost always look at the Magnum photographs. Last week they had a particularly wonderful batch, in honor of the Westminster dog show. Lots of the divine Elliott Erwitt, of course. Other great
Mr. Henry, the always entertaining purveyor of culinary wisdom on Manolo Food, has a post about what he cooks for his wonderful dog, Pepper. Pepper’s Breakfast 3 lbs. boneless breast chicken 1 cup cooked lentils ½ bunch kale (or spinach) – leaves & small stems 1 sm. bag carrots, peeled baby ½ bag cranberries 2
