In early 2003 while visiting my friend Maurice in Amsterdam, I met his boyfriend Jim, an American soldier stationed in Europe, either in Cypress or Crete or Corsica–a Mediterranean island starting with a C. Lee had come with me; it was our first trip together! The four of us met up at The Ghetto, a quirky bar in a seedy neighborhood (also the home to my favorite cat in Amsterdam, a white Angora named Elvis), Jim gave Lee and me each a t-shirt with the word NAVY emblazoned across it. One was blue with yellow letters, the other was gray with black letters. They were great, albeit a bit butch for my day-to-day active-wear. Read More
Life
My last Polaroid
Filed under Life
This year over the Christmas holiday I turned forty. It’s an awkward time to have a birthday actually, not because of joint Christmas/birthday presents, but it’s the time of year that people are unavailable. Either friends or family are traveling for the holidays, or they are simply seeking refuge from Christmas pudding and saving up for New Year’s festivities. Whatever the reason, the 27th of December is generally a very quiet day. Read More
Swan for Thanksgiving
Filed under Life
Our friend Willy has a lovely place in the Cotswolds that on occasion we visit. Set amidst the fields of “rural England”, it is a great escape from the city. This year, Lee and I decided it would be a great place to go for Thanksgiving. Read More
Bleeding Canker
Filed under Life
The first time I saw a horse chestnut tree was when I moved to Seattle in July 1992. I had been beating the pavement tirelessly looking for an apartment on Capitol Hill and decided to cut down a street I hadn’t tried. It was one of those rare Seattle summers where it was actually hot. At the bottom of the slope, on the northeast corner of the street was a little park with a giant tree. It was quite apparent that the tree was the reason for the park, as though there were smaller trees around the perimeter of the park, at the very center was this majestic, perfect tree. It’s leaves were broad and deep green and it reminded me of the Family Tree House toy that I had as a child (complete with pop-up canopy, exposing the various room). Read More
Bathing Oberon
Filed under Life
Just had the annual ritual of bathing our cat Oberon. Never much fun for anyone involved, but strangely, he seems to be way happier afterwards. Sort of like a kid who just hates washing behind his ears…
Autumn in West Drayton
Filed under Life
Nestled in the shadow of Heathrow lies the town of West Drayton. Our friend Jo Baxendale lives in a cottage on the green. It’s an oldy-worldy place smack in the middle of the jet age. Lee and I popped over for Sunday lunch and were dazzled by the beauty of the day.
