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It hasn’t made the biggest headlines, or been blogged about much.  But by far it stood out as the best for me.

Enjoy: Parisian Love.

Funny sports fans.

- Jean AAR

I was in for a rude shock, when, in third grade, I received a grade of C for an art class. I thought I’d drawn just a lovely cat, but my teacher, not recognizing it as such, gave me the horrible C (and I was pretty much a straight-A student).

I kept trying, but finally, by 8th grade, when everyone — including my parents — discouraged me in my art, I gave up. Now don’t go thinking everyone was mean to me. I was just bad, really bad.

Since then, I’ll have occasional moments when I think I might actually be artistic. All it takes is the purchase of some paints, paper, and brushes, and a few frustrating hours for me to recognize once again, that the talent just isn’t with me.

But, if I can’t be an artist, I can appreciate art. Over the years, I’ve spent many a happy day in art museums. I usually gravitate toward the impressionist or modern art sections of museums. I’ve even wandered into a number of contemporary art museums, but often find myself laughing more than anything else at some of the constructions.

But even more fun, has been the time I’ve spent at various art fairs in the summer. I’ve never been able to spend a lot of money on art, but each summer, I treat to myself to one piece of art. I have to shy away from the “award winners” at the shows (way too expensive for me), and search out some of the first-timers.

But just as I don’t have any formal artistic talent, I also don’t have any formal training in art appreciation. I just know what I like. And for the most part, what I like are bright splashes of modern art or beautiful pastel impressionistic paintings.

However, in the last few years I’ve also picked up a couple surrealistic South American paintings, including the one pictured here. I don’t have a clue what it’s supposed to represent, but I find it pretty intriguing. I even thought it was rather cheerful, with it’s pretty blue sky. Then, a few weeks ago, a friend saw it for the first time and told me it was scary, and asked how I could feel comfortable with it on my wall.

Hugh? Clearly she saw something in it that I didn’t. I’m going to go on thinking it’s cheery, but am not going to spend too much thought on just what might be escaping from those giant eggs.

So what about you, what do you like to hang on your walls?

LinnieGayl

In the past, clothes were far more coded than they are nowadays: Certain colors and styles were for unmarried girls, others for matrons, others for spinsters, others for widows. If you were an old maid, after a certain age you just couldn’t wear pink or apricot, even if it was your best color and suited you very well. If you were a widow, you needed a very good reason not to wear black.

Among many other things, what I like about living in the present is that these rules do no longer apply. Anyone may wear that skirt from two years ago and not care about where the officially sanctioned hemline is this season. You may combine it with the ballerinas you’ve had for five years, and the jacket from 20 years ago is actually vintage by now. And there’s no sell-by-date on you these days, either. I see older women in bright colors, I see a great variety of shades and cuts and materials on women of all ages, and I really enjoy it. My great example here is Elizabeth II. If she can wear any color she pleases, so can I. Or look at Michelle Obama’s outfits. Part of her (fashion) appeal to me is that she wears any number of different styles, and all are smart.

When I go shopping, although I would like to I am not entirely free from self-doubt. What woman is in the changing room? I do ask myself, occasionally, “Is this appropriate for my age?” (early forties) when I put on an ensemble that is very colorful, or very trendy. I am slowly learning to stifle this voice. This winter, probably the most “youthful” item I bought was a pink tulle petticoat, and it’s been a major success, garnering me a number of compliments and going ever so well with some other favorite pieces.

If I lived in a Regency romance, at my age my fashion choices would be limited to black (if I was a widow), drab colors and a cap (a spinster), or dark purple and a turban (if I was a matron). As neither of these colors suit me, I am very pleased to be where I am. Looking forward to my next shopping expedition, assured that I can buy and wear anything I please.

What clothes are there in your wardrobe that you thought were daring and that proved a great success?

As you probably know, musicians were honored at the Grammy awards this past Sunday night.  There were a lot of people looking fabulous, a lot of people I wondered why they were invited (Snooki?!), and a lot of people who weren’t looking their best.  Among my favorite Red Carpet looks:

Lady Gaga.  We all know she’s unpredictable, and while sometimes her outfits are just weird, I thought this one was surprisingly glamorous in a crazy-Lady Gaga way.  Er, minus the hair. Also, her shoes are ridic. How does she walk in those things?  Gaga’s sartorial choices are always controversial, this one included, but it’s one of my favorites of hers.

Lea Michele.  I love Glee, and I love her, and I love her dress.  Enough said.

My girl T-Swift (who may or may not be dating Lea Michele’s Glee co-star, Cory Monteith.  Swoon!)

And the worst dressed of the night, in my opinion:

I don’t believe words are necessary.

What are your favorites and least favorites of the night, fashion and otherwise?

Sadly, I can’t read print books at the same time, and can’t even listen to audio books while I enter ballots (just too distracting). So, I’ve resorted to more TV.

Fortunately, sometime in January each year, we begin to get some new TV shows, as well as the return of non-reruns for other shows. So, I’ve had quite a selection to watch out of the corner of my eye.

Happily, a new season of Project Runway has just started. This has always been one of my favorite reality shows, but last season (in L.A.) was a big disappointment.  So far, I’m really enjoying the new season. It’s back in New York where it belongs, and Nina Garcia and Michael Kors are back as regular judges. Overall, the quality of the designers seems pretty good this season, with some interesting personalities.

In fact, the only irritating aspect of the season so far was the non-elimination of Ping two weeks ago for the dress posted above. I wish I could show you the back of the dress. Believe me, it showed way more than anyone wanted to see. But, Ping was booted this week, so I’m happy again.

I’ve never been a huge American Idol viewer, but have even watched the auditions the past two weeks. It looks like there are going to be some good singers this season. However, I just can’t get over strange feelings about the season. First, Paula Abdul is no longer a judge, and instead, she’ll be replaced by Ellen DeGeneres. I have nothing against Ellen, have even enjoyed her show a few times, but she was just awful as a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance a few seasons ago, and I am not looking forward to seeing her on AI. And then, the news that Simon is leaving the show, leaves me wondering if this might be the end of the show.

On a brighter note, I’m continuing to enjoy Castle. In particular, I love the growing banter and friendship between Castle and Beckett. Admittedly, some of the mysteries are convoluted to say the least, but the cast is so enjoyable, that I keep watching.

Yes, I’ve even watched some truly dreadful things to entertain myself. Just what are those women thinking on The Bachelor?And The Real Housewives of Orange County? Yuck! I’ve actually enjoyed — in a guilty pleasure type of way — the New Jersey and Atlanta versions, but the O.C. version is just too much even for me.

Okay, back to entering ballots, and to a What Not to Wear marathon.

Any guilty TV pleasures for you? Do you like Castle?

LinnieGayl

The baking book is from the 1970s, I guess, and it is comfortably old-fashioned. There is no thought whatsoever of calories, and very little of using wholemeal products. No mention is made of cake mixes and batter mixes. Instead there are loads of classic German and international recipes for cakes, tarts, pies and cookies. Some of them are too rich for present taste, but the great majority holds up very nicely.

What is my grandmother’s legacy beyond the recipe book itself? I still bake cheesecake using her recipe, and I have never come across a better one. I am not afraid to try new recipes, although nowadays I do more cooking than baking. I never ever use ready-made mixes and batters, mostly because I know how incredibly fast I can mix the fresh ingredients myself. I love the sensuous experience of touching ingredients with my hands, be it kneading yeast dough or peeling almonds. By now my older nieces have started baking, and I hope that the cheesecake will delight another generation.

What recipes or other traditions have been passed through the generations in your families?

There’s a time and a place for sartorial experimentation.  I don’t know if your wedding day is it, though.

One of my favorite time-wasting websites, Wedinator.com, posts pictures of weddings at their un-classiest with snarky commentary.  A recent photo was this one:  a woman whose gown is, ostensibly, made from toilet paper.  Honestly, being not too far off from those mummy-races where you wrap someone in toilet paper then make them hop to a finish line, my first thought when I saw this was, “How the hell did they keep it from ripping?”  If they managed that feat of engineering, I can’t help but be impressed.  I just wouldn’t get too crazy on the dance floor, if I were her.

Another option, for those environmentally conscious: the Cake Dress.

And after this flight, two days ago, you can bet I’m disappointed.

I flew cattle class, of course, and the biggest improvement, supposedly, are these fixed-back bucket shells that allow you to move your chair without disturbing the person behind you.  The problem is, the way they do it is to shift the bottom of the seat forward.  Which shortens the already miniature leg room to miniscule.  And added to that, their so-called ergonomic chairs are lumpy and bloody uncomfortable.

Point number two.  Compared to other airlines, their food is far, far inferior.  You know, these aren’t the days where airplane food is compared to sewage.  It actually can be good, and for testament I point to Air Canada, Air France, and boy oh boy, Air New Zealand (triple points for the honeycomb ice cream).   But Cathay was greasy and gross.

Lastly.  They got rid of the foot rests.  ARGH!

Conclusion: Next time I buy a plane ticket, I’m not flying Cathay. 

- Jean AAR

Instead of doing what we’d planned for the weekend(visiting family, playing, and heading down to Destin, Florida for the day), we ended up stuck at home, inside, laying in bed, and not feeling like doing a great deal of anything.  The boys and I have survived on popsicles, Gatorade, and Sprite.   I can’t even get the little guys to do chicken soup.  I can’t wait for a grilled cheese sandwich, a cup of coffee, and the ability to move without getting dizzy and sweating.  Also, I want my little boys to act like little boys again – loud and boisterous.

Not only do I feel guilty when my kids are sick, I also feel guilty about missing work.  In the world of pacing guides and AYP, there’s a great amount of pressure when you get behind and even though you try really hard, it’s almost impossible to catch up again.

Maybe I’ll get some papers graded today and maybe next weekend will be much better.  I hope so.  How do you handle being sick?