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Color Break

A few brave purple crocuses have emerged. Otherwise sky and earth are blurred into April gray on our Vermont foray. The economy has taken its toll as stalwart sandwich shops in Wilmington and Dover have gone away. Boarded businesses up and down the byways. But, thriving treasures are still to be found.

DunberryHillDesigns was our primary destination for this side trek. Recalling a beloved artwork from Fillamento in San Francisco, I searched for a similar painting to adorn our newly refurbished hardwood. Cameron Howard’s studio is filled with breathtaking color and artistry. Sratton Mountain vistas where vibrant hues live year-round. Can’t wait to create masterpieces for our floors.

Finished MadMen5 marathon. Still say MadEnd. MadMen6 begins. Yay.

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Shelburne Falls Movie Set

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Another film to be set in SideTrekFalls, our favorite tableau. The Judge, starring Robert Downey, Jr., Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, is rumored to start production in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts this summer. A drama/comedy.

Still haven’t seen Labor Day come to the screen yet. Jason Reitman’s movie set, starring Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet. Based on J.D. Salinger’s paramour’s book.

Dr.Husband’s Shelburne Falls header photo above.

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Waste Land

It’s almost porch reading season. Help! Good books wanted. Best Sellers. Either, I’ve read most of them a year ago. Or, they are 50 shades of insipid romance. And, I don’t follow Patterson or any other mystery serials. Any ideas? Donna Tartt’s third book in 30 years, Goldfinch, doesn’t come out until October.

Passover-Easter. Second week of Spring break continues. If you don’t like basketball, you are screwed. Sweet 16. Still have 3. FGCSU. Who? Golf delayed. Johnny Miller livid, a Tiger Sunday gone with the wind. Golf Channel today.

Too cold to take Sugar Shack Side Treks. Maybe next week.

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Spring Board

King Abdullah of Jordan gives a controversially candid interview to Jeffrey Goldberg in April’s the Atlantic. As he trashes his neighbors’ response to the Arab Spring, Abdullah pines for his days at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. He has even built a school in Jordan modeled on his happy boarding phase.

Spring edition of MSKCC’s Bridges newsletter compares cancer survivors’ resiliency and the long journey of recovery to the plight of Sandy victims.

New York Magazine’s cover RetroWife captures the current phenomenon. Women choosing to be the modern version of a 50’s wife. I get it. They were brought up by absent moms, the feminists who tried to have it all. It’s a nostalgic nod to June Cleaver and Donna Reed. The ideal misses the reality of women who stay home all day. Mother’s “little helpers” are also back in vogue.

I’ll say it again. Richard Engel’s spellbinding account of his kidnapping in Syria is a must read. VanityFair, April 2013.

Il Papa Francesco will celebrate Holy Thursday at a juvenile prison in Rome. He may be the real deal. Zeffirelli’s Brother Sun, Sister Moon comes to mind.

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Tango Papa che

Italiano-Argentino. Buena suerte, Francisco, che. Los desaparecidos notwithstanding. Gay marriage, birth control? More of the same? Sí and No. First Jesuit Pope. Traditional though. Worse than Benedetto? Espero que no. Taking the throne on Feast of St. Joe. May the blood of Malbec be with you.

Anderson Cooper found dos Argentinos guapos in the Vatican crowd. Chris Cuomo clueless. Shut up and let’s hear the bells, prayers, Latin. Por favor!

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Ecu Meniacal

Old men in red yarmulkes, pointed hats, lace skirts. Patriarchal hoarders of financial assets protected by lack of inheritance. No marriage allowed. Holy See! Pomp and circumstance. Incense. Gregorian chants. Anachronistic opiate. Centuries of secreted debauchery. Can a new Pope cure this?

And we have the resurrection of Paul AynRyan. Oh boys.

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Late WinTer

Sun warmed longer days as clocks click ahead. Hotel Giraffe’s roof mid-afternoon. Delectable late winter root vegetables and pork offal at Washington Square’s Blue Hill. Braised hake the winner. Birthday treat to remember.

Tiger took charge of the last tourney on the original ‘blue monster’ at Miami’s historic Doral. Trump is blowing it up for redesign. Sightings… Johnny Depp on West 14th. Jim Parsons Park Avenue South. He and Alan Alda dined at Ciano.

My final four picks. Duke, Indiana, Kansas, Gonzaga. Huh? Or, is that il Papa.

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PiSees

Life of Pisces. Best astrological season. Winter waning. Spring nigh. Snirt melt. End of Feb. Happy 88th to Betsey Strahl. Birthday brunch at Anthony Bourdain’s Brasserie Les Halles. Steak frites. Flatiron fun for all.

Remember that Turkish guy who died in Mary’s bed? TV’s new Golden Boy. Theo James. James Dean meets James Franco. Whoa. Another British actor takes America. When I think of Golden Boy, it’s the 60’s Broadway show. Starring Sammy Davis and Lola Falana with Daddy Joe.

SoHo’s finest, Lure Fishbar. Tried and true. Go fishes!

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Shakey Ground

Hagel staggers into Pentagon today. Diminished by his own performance, just as sequester negotiations peak. Obama’s weak presence on the Hill will seal another fractured financial fate. Trickle-down redefined as reality in the States.

Women in the workplace hits tectonic plate. Yahoo’s mommy CEO rattling feminist base. Face-time still important in the office. Work-life balance teetering.

Girls on the cliff. Enough Lena butt already. Graphic testimony in crazy Arias slut trial, too. Eeeyu. Beyond Fatal Attraction. HBO’s Parade’s End a plodding facsimile without Downton’s appeal. Cummerbund mumbles and waggles.

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A Maaay Zing

Amazing! If you took a swig every time this word was exclaimed on the red carpet, you are already drunk. If you keep slugging as it’s said at the Oscars show, you will be comatose. It means nothing. It means everything. Dresses. Performances. What it really means is that movie stars have no vocabulary. Amazing!