The Components of a Date

"There are three possible parts to a date, of which at least two must be offered: entertainment, food, and affection.

It is customary to begin a series of dates with a great deal of entertainment,

a moderate amount of food,

and the merest suggestion of affection.

As the amount of affection increases, the entertainment can be reduced proportionately.

When the affection IS the entertainment,

we no longer call it dating.

Under no circumstances can the food be omitted."

— Judith Martin

Just As You Are

Image via pininterest

"No, I mean I like you very much. Just as you are."

-Bridget Jones Diary

In Due Time

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” -Rainer Maria Rilke

A Random Letter of Affection

Finding the Wealth Around You

"There are many things to see, unwrapped gifts and free surprises. The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside by a generous hand. But- and this is the point- who gets excited by a mere penny? If you follow one arrow, if you crouch motionless on a bank to watch a tremulous ripple thrill on the water and are rewarded by the sight of a muskrat paddling from its den, will you count that sight a chip of copper only, and go on your rueful way? It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted in pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. What you see is what you get."

Annie Dillard-Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

Slow Bowl 2012 Kick-Off Dinner

Time for my Slowtravel friends to arrive for our annual "SlowBowl/Super Bowl" weekend. Kicked off the events with a dinner at Top Chef's own Fabio Viviani's restaurant in North Hollywood, "Firenze Osteria" last night.
http://firenzeosteria.com/firenzeOsteria.html

Me with my great slowtravel friend "Deborah" from St. Louis, Missouri

Slowtravel friends Marcia and David from Pasadena

Here' s Chris and Jen from Missouri

Firenze Osteria has a great list of inventive Martinis. This one was my choice, Rasberry Lemon Drop...mmmm

Here are two great chefs in their own right: Slowtraveler Jerry from Canada and Palma from Palm desert

It was so much fun to see old travel friends and to know we have the weekend to celebrate together. We will be going north to the Santa Barbara/Santa Maria area and joining about 50 more friends for a weekend of fun, food and wine adventures. Hitting the road soon. More blogposts on this weekend coming your way.

Brad and Palma from Palm Desert

Jen gave us all good news that Chris will be starting his new role as a Policeman to serve and protect the citizens of their town in Missouri. Congrats Chris. We're all so proud of you.

Kim and Chris arrived today from New Jersey. Kim is ready to hit the road for the drive up the coast. See ya'all in Los Alamos, California in the morning. Ciao everyone. Can't wait to see all the Slowtraveler's for this years "Slowbowl" festivities.

Self-Discovery

“Part of the blessing and challenge of being human is

that we must discover our own true nature.”
— Mark Nepo