The Best Laid Plans

Determined to start a book club, I placed on an add on craiglist to recruit members. Within in hours I had positive responses, and in a matter at days I had reached my maximum of 10 members. Reluctantly, I had to turn some folks away. This was three weeks ago. I then proceeded to draft a mission statement and guidelines. Like Dr. Jordan in the first book I selected, Alias Grace, I had lofty and somewhat pompous ideals for my book club. Commercial books were banned, only extraordinary books were allowed that challenged our perception of ourselves and world around. Such and so forth. Each member was assigned a random number to determine their turn to select and lead a book discussion, and then were assigned to either of two deliberately vague themes of LIGHT or SHADE. Ooh, I was so proud of myself. I was organized and this was going to be the book club to rival all book clubs. I found the perfect venue at my friend's house, and our meeting dates were to be determined by a democratic process via -- doodle. There, there, not only was I was organized, I was also modern. I was even contemplating starting a blog for our book club and recording the sessions.

More than 2 weeks ago I sent out the official email about our first book, venue, date, guidelines. It was set, blast off date would be Wednesday, January 27 2011. Overtaken with excitement, worry, anxiety, I regularly sought out my partner in crime for reassurance. Tuesday I ordered a dozen cupcakes from Caroline's Cupcakery: 4 death by chocolate, 4 red velvets, 2 banana chocolate chip and 2 toasted almonds to be exact, and baked my world famous walnut cream cheese puff pastries. I was all set. But January was thinking otherwise.

Unlike last winter when we had at least 3 blizzards, we haven't had a single one this season. But then of all the days in January -- of all the days, Winter chose the day of our first club meeting ti snow like the dickens. And like the dickens it snowed. All day and all night.

I had to postpone everything. The cupcakes were supposed to be picked up yesterday, but I couldn't make it to Locust Point. So now I'm worried about the cupcakes.

Once again, my best laid plans were thwarted. I have to do a better job at anticipating disasters.

Even though the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, dreams deferred are not necessarily dreams denied.

Angelique

The name of daughter #3.

Matchmaker

Like a fisherman makes catches

a matchmaker makes matches

she fashions her bait

then lays it in wait

for some poor unsuspecting mate

whom she must equate

to an overzealous, very eager, ever-anticipating bride-to-be

or husband-to-be

who've been ready for an eternity

to dive in and raise a family

climbing Mt Everest involves more sanity

hence a matchmaker is no coward

with many tricks in her cupboard

she has the ability to discern

a reprobate weed from a resilient fern

she has learned

employing force

makes it worse

and a little bit of honey

brings the money

her aim

is to get them on the same plane

with seats next to each other

then human instinct will take it further

or maybe not bother

as a good matchmaker she knows

it's not just about chemistry

it's also about history, trajectory

and electronegativity.

to be continued...

One For Gregory Isaacs

When I was a child

living without guile

My father used to play

Gregory Isaacs all day

Night Nurse

about the thirst

and Rumors

about gossip tumors

Hush Darling

brings the calm after fighting

a Red Rose sent for Gregory

Shrouded in mystery

And Teacher's Plight

about a student's unorthodox delight

so Cool Down the Pace

we're not in a lusty race

too soon Gregory

too soon

I am a little Euphorious

No Doctors Today, Thank You

They tell me that euphoria is the feeling of feeling wonderful,
well, today I feel euphorian,
Today I have the agility of a Greek god and the appetitite of a
Victorian.
Yes, today I may even go forth without my galoshes,
Today I am a swashbuckler, would anybody like me to buckle
any swashes?
This is my euphorian day,
I will ring welkins and before anybody answers I will run away.
I will tame me a caribou
And bedeck it with marabou.
I will pen me my memoirs.
Ah youth, youth! What euphorian days them was!
I wasn't much of a hand for the boudoirs,
I was generally to be found where the food was.
Does anybody want any flotsam?
I've gotsam.
Does anybody want any jetsam?
I can getsam.
I can play chopsticks on the Wurlitzer,
I can speak Portuguese like a Berlitzer.
I can don or doff my shoes without tying or untying the laces because
I am wearing moccasins,
And I practically know the difference between serums and antitoccasins.
Kind people, don't think me purse-proud, don't set me down as
vainglorious,
I'm just a little euphorious.

--By Ogden Nash the Coy

Misconception of the Day

"... it feels archaic to hold values of submission and obedience above conscience, independence, and achievement." Lisa Miller (Newsweek Contributor)

The problem with Miller's argument is that her statement is conditional on the "who" to whom one is being submissive and obedient. Moreover, submission and obedience does not preclude consciousness (self-awareness) and achievement. When are we going to learn that individualism and supposed "independence" are not only insular, but is rendering us more depressed and socially inept creatures?

Baking the Proverbial Cake

You can't bake a cake without cracking the egg. Of course you can make dairy-free cake, but no one's going to eat it.