A Patriotic Short

Swimming pool ownership was held up as a standard for success and fulfillment of the American dream in F. Scott Fitzgerald's Pat Hobby Himself. Support for this correlation can be found in many luxury brand advertisements currently running, including the Cruise 2010 campaigns for Louis Vuitton & Gucci. Entering the second decade of the twenty-first century, we may not be living in the "mosaic swimming-pool age" Fitzgerald knew, but our nation still fully inhabits and perpetuates the same essential ideals.

Train of Thought & Tolstoy

New York's sidewalk grates above the subway are my favorite part of the city. I romanticize Anna Karenina as I often walk unnecessarily on them. Give me a crowd so I have an excuse to reject the traditional pavement out of courtesy for others! Now, comfortably bored by the festivities of home at Christmastime, I'm mourning this practice of mine. Still, today's trip allowed me time to think of how drama is the study of contrasts & travel is dramatic by nature. It needs no extraneous violent lurches to claim this quality. There is busyness, purpose offset by a slow progression of passing-by scenes which, no matter how fast one may be moving, come at their own leisure towards one's window with slow motion aliveness. Suddenly, the point & inherent tragedy of travel, they've passed. Made casualties by the rail.

Other thoughts (in chronological order):

1. Damn, I've missed my stop.
2. Damn, three hour delay.
3. How fated to be seated next to a poet!
4. She's applied to NYU's Creative Writing Program?!
5. I love Deborah Landau.
6. Damn, engine failure.
7. Damn you, Amtrak.
8. This man needs to speak louder so I can listen.
9. This man reads Faulkner!
10. This man needs to stop staring at me.

Reflections in an Evil Eye

In the fashion world, one should never back down from a staring contest.

Tonight was spent at Catherine Malandrino's Hudson St. store in celebration of her limited edition bottle design for Cointreau. There were some characters present, but more engaging were the clothing racks. Malandrino's use of the evil eye motif was particularly arresting. According to Egyptian legend, when the evil eye looks on a person with malicious intent it will actually injure them. I did nearly trip after admiring one dress with the design. But, maybe I was clumsy because I ate some pretty strong violets. (There were edible flowers in the cocktails).