home 
coquelicot 
o-pine 


August 22, 2008 9:19 AM- qu'est-ce qu'elle bavarde!

Okay, the first thing we have to talk about here is the race Tuesday night.

Although I am sure the conversation has long since moved on to other things I have yet to share my commentary on the runner from Bahrain-- well, that's not entirely true as both T and Lisa were sitting right there as the white-hooded woman settled into her starting position and I said, "my god, she looks like a sperm from that Woody Allen movie."

And before you cast aspersions at me for my unkind, politically incorrect observation-- do know that I am not one to compromise on certain issues. I should be so impressed that they let her run at all? I should be so impressed that they let her run AND without a burka?

Please, it brings to mind a rather sharp and painful encounter I had with a female colleague while teaching at a tony prep school that had once been all boys and females were still second-class citizens. The woman, Kate, was smart and lovely. She was my age and had been teaching there for a number of years; I was new. We were both varsity coaches and had just gone to pick up our Fall jackets (athletic gear is a very big deal in this context) only to discover our choices were Large, XL, XXL and XXXL.

Although I'm 5'8" and have shoulders like a linebacker, the large jacket dwarfed me seeing as it was a men's large. Kate, poor thing, was barely 5'3" and quite fine-boned. When she put her arm into one sleeve it disappeared never to be seen again.

I was outraged and went off on a tear about how these jackets make us look not like coaches but like the daughter or girlfriend of the coach wearing HIS FUCKING jacket! And, what does that say about this school that they have six women coaches and they don't even order proper gear for us.

Kate, unwisely, tried to defend them and suggest I should see how far they have come and appreciate that they even ordered jackets for us at all.

Oh my god, that poor girl-- my jaws snapped around her tender neck so fast and tore her from limb to limb-- even a pterodactyl has better table manners.

Anyway-- that's how I feel about this. Don't tell me she's lucky to be running at all. Don't tell me at least she's not wearing a burka.

Go read A Thousand Splendid Suns and when you come back, I'll have a nice bowl of sharp pebbles for you to chew on.

Now, of course the second thing we have to talk about is you.

You the most darling, caring, nurturing, funny reader ever. Here's what I'm thinking. I'm thinking we should have a party. Get us all together because my god, y'all are fabulous and what a gathering THAT would be! We could call it "friends of bluepoppy"-- sort of like "friends of Dorothy" without the clandestine meetings or private emotional torment.

Meantime, that's to say, until we can all gather up together (as I think some of our lurkers are going to need some time before choosing to join our happy escapades)-- here's my best recommendation for you:

GO. BUY. THIS. BOOK.

I read it from cover to cover Monday night and began calling Swirly and leaving loooong, rambling voice mails-- one after the other after the other . . I believe a proposal of marriage was wrapped in there somewhere.

IT IS AWESOME.

And the very best part? All of my holiday shopping is done as everyone I know is getting a copy.

Two more things and then we are off in our vintage Aston Martin convertible with a bottle of Brut Rose chilling in the back seat and zipping into the weekend----

I mentioned that my friend Lisa was here with us this week, but I must tell you more. We had the most fabulous mini-vacation imaginable. Completely unplanned. Utterly spontaneous-- but I tell you, I went to bed Wednesday night saying, "this was one of the happiest days of my life." And woke up Thursday morning feeling the glow like you do the day after Christmas. (Well, theoretically, of course, as we all know how much sadness and disappointment that fucker can bring-- ooops, my FRENCH! God-- I'm blaming it all on Lisa-- hanging out with her has got me cursing bluer than a fisherman's wife).

Anyway, it was like the French Riveria around these parts with the gorgeous weather, the red wine, (Lisa drives a Mini Cooper), the farmstand veggies-- fresh tomatoes with basil and Creamery mozzerella ( the creamery is right. up. the. road. from where I live) drizzled with olive oil-- and oh god, if I start talking about food I will never get out of here. And Lisa had JUST quit her job at Anthropologie (which she lovingly refers to as ANTHRAX) so we had much to celebrate.

We worked hard and played harder and it was glorious.

Wednesday night found us in my studio painting, drinking, listening to the BBC radio streaming in-- T brought us up a plate of pan-fried wontons with his freshly made garlic sauce-- it was heaven.

Lisa, former display coordinator for one of the most allegedly stylish stores around and an artistic wonder, took the mirror from my bathroom-- the mirror I kept saying "one day, I will paint it all funky"-- the statement I had been saying now for, um, I don't know-- years-- and painted it! Decoupaged it. Distressed it. And all around did the light fantastic on it.

As usual-- my photos suck. Where it once was plain, boring, crappy wood-- it now inspires thoughts of Tuscany and stucco walls and is utterly, totally fabulous and now I am inspired to paint the currently unpainted bathroom so that it might deserve the honor of such a mirror.

This last one shows Lisa's back. It is not a particularly flattering shot as she is, contrary to how it may appear, most definitely NOT hunchbacked. Rather, her posture is due to her intent to burn through the crossword puzzle she likes to do each morning as she drinks her coffee. And yes, she was doing it in pen-- the bitch. (Again with the foul mouth! All. Her. Fault.)

Phew. So-- needless to say, what a week. What a month. What a summer.

Right now, I am on the countdown to a very big life event. I do not know how/when I will be back here with you-- but, you now have RSS feed so hey! No worries-- when I am back-- you will be the first to know.

Bisous--- I think you are all SO lovely. Please understand if I have not responded to your life-affirming comments or emails. I LOVE our connection and I am GRATEFUL to you-- please know that.

Peace. Love. Squam.



got 2 cents?



•  •  •  •

Jazz says:
A sperm! I love it! And I'm right there with you on that issue. The mirror is lovely. SAW will be great! Have a great time. Can't wait to hear about it.
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

Colleen in Candia says:
Everyone you know...............ummm all of us at SAW he he heee.......you know I skipped down thru the post to be first now I'll go finish!
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

Colleen in Candia says:
geeez Jazz how'd you do that?
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

Colleen in Candia says:
Ok that mirror is fab! um yummy fresh tomatoes basil and the freshest mozzarella hurry up lunch time......
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

Chris says:
I could really care less about track and field events - I'm a TOTAL gymnastics geek - but even I had to do a double take when I saw that girl in her head-to-toe "track suit". I promise not to rant here about religions and governments that oppress women. It wouldn't be pretty. But, I can happily say I ordered my copy of Swirly's book two days ago. I am now not-so-patiently waiting for it to arrive.
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

lizardek says:
Next time I come to visit (assuming you will still have me...is a yearly thing too much?) I would LOVE to get arty in the studio. Or just get an hour or two in there to browse. That would be lovely, too. Squam forever!
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

Bethany says:
I still get hives when I think of reading "The Kite Runner," much less his new book. I'm sure the writing is beautiful and meaningful, but the whole women-in-subjugation thing puts my heart in a panic every time. (I would have been pissed about the jackets too, btw.) Oh, uh, can I have your mirror? You know, once we move into a space with enough square footage for it?
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

otter says:
How happy am I for the RSS feed? VERY. Hug T for me.
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

otter says:
Um, not to be a RSS whiner, but...no pics with the feed (at least in Google Reader)? I needs the BP pics.
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

cornball says:
Glad to see your sense of humor is still in tact...great (sperm) line. Sometimes humor is the only tonic that can ease the burn of outrage...she said.
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

Heather says:
I'm all for a Friends of BP get-together! And isn't Christine Mason Miller going to be at Squam? Or am I thinking of someone else.
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

bp says:
Heather-- oh yes she will be there-- she is launching Ordinary Sparkling Moments AT squam!! woot.
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

Sheryl says:
Wait you have a feed now? I tried to plug you into google reader-- denied! Oh well, you're worth checking back for. :) Glad the summer is turning out to be so fabulous.
posted on: August 22

•  •  •  •

bp says:
okay people of the RSS - you get no pics unless you come here (per the webman) and Sheryl, I don't know what to say except, try again? it seems to be working . .
posted on: August 23

•  •  •  •

Swirly says:
OMG - I will be with you in just over two weeks and feel soooo spoiled that I get to have you all to myself for a short spell of time before AND after Squam. Feeling all tingly inside - should we plan a blowout wedding at Niagra Falls or elope with Elvis in Las Vegas?
posted on: August 23

•  •  •  •

catherine says:
all I can do is smile. :) see you in September...xoxo
posted on: August 23

•  •  •  •

Tracey says:
What an insightful and educational and inspirational post. For one, I'd never heard of the "friends of Dorothy" code before. Don't know if I'll ever need to use that bit of info, but good to store. Dorothy Gale and I go way back and Dorothy Parker is no slouch either. You know I'm all for a BP party! Shall we coordinate what we're to bring? I'm good for the cupcakes. The mirror is most lovely. Congrats to Swirly on the book and the upcoming nuptials (lucky girl!)!! See ya'll at SAW!
posted on: August 23

•  •  •  •

colleen says:
oh yeah! I bought the book, just could not wait til SAW
posted on: August 23

•  •  •  •

alex s says:
Oh, god. I so love you! You made me laugh big for the first time today. May the force of a million running sperms be with you! xo
posted on: August 26

•  •  •  •


Sorry, comments are now closed.




2010

2009

2008
December
November
October
September
August
29
25
•22
19
17
16
15
06

July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2007

2006

2005

2004







BP RSS

  all material on this site © 2001 bluepoppy.com design by omworks
roundabout 
email