I put the fizz back in fizzle

[radfrac_archive_full]

Lately, I've been trying to practise thankfulness, not because I think there's anyone to thank, but because I want to remind myself that things-going-right is not the natural order. Convenient good fortune is not the normal state of things, with misfortune a horrifying deviation. They're equally-weighted outcomes of the same unpredictable processes. So when I find that, for example, my paycheque is not lost, but just folded up in the change tray, I want to be thankful, not just accept it as ordinary and forget about it. I figure that way stupid minor things-going-wrong won't bother me nearly as much, because I'll be so excited when they don't.

Sad things are happening, but they are the good sort, and I am also thankful for those.

The Importance of Second Drafts

"Lately, I've been trying to practise gratitude, not because I think there's anyone to grate,"

Chemistry in the Kitchen

Impromptu theorem: Flat soda water, when combined with an acid (like orange or lemon juice) and a base (like bicarbonate of soda), will re-fizz.

Results: [1st trial] Unusual, slightly medicinal, but not entirely unpleasant. And probably very good for the digestion. I may be drinking home-made carbonated beverage from now on.

[2nd trial] I do, however, encourage a light hand with the baking soda.

A lovely thing just happened -- a neighbor somewhere in the building or the street below started practising the saxophone, at just the level that I could hear it, but not be overwhelmed by it -- just scales, but the sound was perfect for the golden Paris evening -- and then a charmingly hesitant version of "Fly Me to the Moon".

That reminds me of my one grievance -- the Art Gallery is putting on a "Parisian Cafe Evening," and I can't go. I'm working, of all the absurd things. But if anyone wants to go see the French Masters show, or whatever it is, I'm Game. (Probably a Role-Playing Game. Certainly nothing too rugged, like Stratego.)

{rf}

Comments

Pick me! Pick me!

[(Anonymous)]

I want to go and play roles at the art gallery! Pick me! Swedish role playing worked so well. I'm sure I'm up for French. Don't worry too much about the cafe evening. It's most likely to be a good idea very poorly executed. It's a good way not to worry about missing it in any case. Let's have our own.

Good work with the soda water, and I'm sure the baking soda is very good for you. You are, indeed, a better man than I, Gunga Din. Kitchen chemistry is fun. See Alton Brown.

\i/

Re: Pick me! Pick me!

[radiantfracture]

Lars, darling, I started to get really enthusiastic about this idea, and I went to check the Art Gallery website, whenupon I discovered that they are charging a special rate for this exhibit -- $12 for unstudenty adults. There's no way I can afford that, and I imagine that y'all aren't *that* much in love with Degas. We'll just have to get some postcards and put them up around Paris.

Doubly bummed. I would have at least liked to see the paintings, even if we couldn't drink the wine and listen to the accordion.

Perhaps we could put together a fake-Parisian tour of Victoria, if that's not too incredibly pathetic. I realize Fake England is what V. is all about, but that's what makes it a challenge.

For example, we could go to the cathedral and pretend it's Notre Dame. Dog knows the bells are loud enough. (Do they let you tour the cathedral? We could bring a French guidebook and try to find the key sites within the church... "Oh, look, here's the twelfth-century foundation stone!" (Pointing to magazine rack of religious pamphleture).

Accordion would be trickier, until that guy who plays at the Moss St Market shows up -- or the other one who pretends to be an accordion-playing statue until you put the money in the bucket -- ! -- could they be One and the Same?

Hmm...

{rf}

Re: Pick me! Pick me!

[(Anonymous)]

I was about to pooh pooh the notion that $12 was too much to spend on getting my dear Fracture into the gallery (and it's not - and I am rather fond of Degas) but I like your alternative so much better. Now where did I put my beret? Guess I'll have to break out the clown white and retouch my Bip makeup.

The bells! The bells! The accordions!?! (they're all around, just staying dry through the winter).

Adjo, farvell (sans umlauts - seems they don't work anymore. Sacre bleu!)

Lars P.

Re: Pick me! Pick me!

[radiantfracture]

Yes, I s'pose I should have specified Lars Peacock. Je m'excuse, mon paon fabuleux. (Does only Lars get to call you Lars?)

I have a reprinted antique map of Paris. I think we should all dress up, take a little bit of coin for emergencies, and try to follow it from an agreed starting point to the Sights, stopping off in key cafes, etc.

Saturday?

{rf}

Re: Pick me! Pick me!

[radiantfracture]

I suppose really we should start at Shakespeare & Co., n'est pas? If we can find it on my map -- 12 rue de l'Odeon, by the Internet's reckoning.

{rf}

Paris tours

[(Anonymous)]

I have a beret. It is black silk with Chinese characters in silver. It's really very lovely in all ways, but for the fact that when i put it on i look like a confused stripper. One needs long straight hair for that sort of thing. Or short hair. Or pretty much any hair except what i currently call my own.

On another note ( i am /sooo/ funny), it makes me feel good that you liked hearing your neighbour practice the horn. Maybe i'll take mine up again. It's not that i lost my inspiration, it's that i gained neighbours and i'm terribly shy about playing when/where people can hear me. Of course, i've been threatening to take her up again for a year or so.

I have many other things to comment on in your previous posts, but i'm so horribly behind that they would simply get lost in the shuffle. Hopefully i will see you and can catch you up in person - perhaps i should take notes...

leirdal