ich Kalliope

Sworn Witness

 


Do you know where I'm going with this???  I was sitting in a meeting with seven other people, facing the window and witnessed the sum of these parts drive by.  No kidding, swear to god.  Readers of this blog know how I feel about teal cars, PT Cruisers and wood panels on automobiles.  So there would be no surprise to know that my mouth fell open, the meeting stopped, and I checked with my colleagues to confirm if any of them had seen the same thing or was it a figment of my imagination.  It wasn't, the sum of these parts is driving around in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.  Be warned.

Heart Skipping, Palm Sweating, Face Blushing

LOVE. OK, not face blushing, but I like things in threes!  I've met a car I love. 

The long and winding road to finding a car that I absolutely crave and covet, has taken more time than I could imagine.  Along the way, gas prices rose, the economy dove, doing more with less, and mindful spending was being bantered about as if it was some new age philosophy. 

So in the spirit of spending mind-full-y, my mind is full of the 2007 Maserati Quattroporte.  Pinenfarina designed, understated, powerful and luxurious.  Preowned by someone who was living the dream, a dream they could afford, or not.  Modena built, meaningful lineage and brings a smile to my face as a driver or a passenger.  This is going to be a sweet relationship.  Worth waiting for. 

Easter Eggs for Real

There's a quote that those of us in design and color use often.  It's from Henry Ford, and he said when asked about color options for cars "the customer can have any color he wants so long as it's black".  It's kind of like Easter Eggs for a Greek Orthodox kid, "you can have any color you want so long as it's red".  It's not easy being a Greek kid at Easter time.  Your Easter falls a week to four weeks later than the "other Easter".  Chocolate bunnies are hard to come by, the dinner includes a soup that is made with lamb guts, and your eggs only come in one color!  Happy Easter.  Well actually, Χριστός Ανέστη.  Christ is Risen. 

There are probably many stories about the meaning of the red eggs at Easter.  The one that I have always heard since I was young has Mary Magdalene as the central character (this was way before the DaVinci Code made her even more intriguing).  In my book she always played an important role, because of the red egg connection, so the DaVinci Code just hooked me from the get go!

Story has it that Mary Magdalene had a basket of eggs which she took to Jesus' tomb on Easter morning.  When she arrived she discovered the tomb was empty and met with the risen Lord along a road near the tomb.  As a sign that it was truly Jesus, the eggs turned red.   Makes sense, I like it, and my Easter eggs red please.

What other stories are out there for the significance of the red eggs?  

Glass Act

Realizing that I had not posted for many weeks, I guess I officially took time off from blogging.  Plain and simple, it's been a bit of a lull period, where nothing compelling or not-so-compelling or even a bit compelling bubbled up as it normally does.  It happens.  I hope I'm back!

 

This morning leafing through the latest issue of Sunset magazine I saw a photo featuring the current exhibition at the Desert Botanical Museum in Phoenix, "The Nature of Glass" by Dale Chihuly.  I am a big fan of this glass artist, extraordinaire.  I am also a big fan of the desert.  Especially during spring.  This Kalliope's allergies and Portland are at odds.  Not to mention sun deprivation, rusting instead of tanning, and all the other symptoms that arise in early April, let's say it makes for a love-hate relationship with my current hometown!

Many years ago, my husband, my dear in-laws and I spent an afternoon in the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens, and I loved it, in spite of 105 degree plus temperatures, in the middle of summer and fear of heat stroke!  So be still my heart when I saw the images of Chihuly glass, throughout the gardens.  The exhibition runs until May 31st, and I think it may be worth a trip to the desert to experience this once in a lifetime matching of pure beauty and inspiration.  Wow. 

  

   

     

Just Can't Stand It

I was appalled to see that CNN's John King, had former Vice-President Dick Cheney as a guest on his show State of the Union today.  I'm not too sure why I linked to Mr. King's show, only to ask that it be boycotted for inviting Mr. Cheney as his exclusive guest, and to allow him to warn of the dangers of the Obama Presidency.  Really, how much more can we Americans be endangered then we are in the aftermath of the Bush-Cheney regime? 

The man who could not even get himself to STAND for the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. 

I know, it's about ratings right?  In ordinary times, these are anything but ordinary.  It was Cheney's first interview since leaving office.  I'm curious, who was waiting to hear from him?  But I truly believe in my heart that Mr. King has underestimated the anger of the American people at what was done to our country over the past eight years.  Our anger is extraordinary.  Many of us, or at least I, believe he is a criminal.

Bad call John King, bad call.  We can't stand for it.

Two Timer

I love cars.  Over the years I've had a few of my own, and have been an admirer of many.  But when I sat down to write this post about my all-time favorites, two came to mind... then blank.  Have I forgotten?  I've got favorite brands, Audi is at the top of my list with Porsche.  The list of cars I love is good sized, Aston Martin DB9, Porsche 914-6, 1968 Mercury Cougar, Mercedes SLK, Smart, the original Fiat Bambino... no trouble coming up with cars I love.  But all-time favorites, not so easy.

So I'm a two timer, 1996 Porsche 993 and the 1972 Gran Torino.  What are you're all time favorites, the cars you longed to have in your garage?

 

Ritual of Excellence

 

In just four short weeks, I have developed a new Saturday morning ritual that I absolutely love.  It's very simple really, but relies on absolute excellence, greatness actually.  No compromises, and no mediocrity.  A lofty order, but one I can commit to with head and heart. 

It includes a great cup of coffee.  Black, so the spoon in the image is for effect only.

An excellent computer, in this case my beloved Apple iBook G4. 

President Barack Obama, and his weekly internet (a.k.a. radio) address, which is truly the new must-see-tv.

So grab a great cup of coffee, your computer and listen to excellence, www.whitehouse.gov

SooooooooHo Lovely

This amazing loft was featured in the NY Times this past week.  I find it absolutely amazing, livable, and could imagine moving in, in a New York minute!  A few details may slow my move down, like the price tag, $6.9 million pre-renovation, and 7,200 square feet... I'm into smaller spaces these days.  But there is much inspiration to be had in this beautiful space designed and inhabited by architect Natalya Kashper, partner in DUB Studios, and her family. 

The woods create a warmth that is glowing and natural.  I can just picture it filled with friends and family, cooking, drinking, and with a corner big enough to practice tap dancing.  Heck, could be a tap studio.

Ultra-modern yes, with a high-dose of cozy.  I could call this place home.  Agree?

Cruisin' Warnin'

   

  

I'm always aware of random coincidences that become patterns.  You know... those observations that make you go hmmm?  It's definitely a trick of trend tracking, but most times, it just pieces things together to make me realize that something is occurring that is worth registering. 

The latest for me is what I'm calling the attack of the PT Cruiser.  The "gangster" Chrysler.  I don't know enough about the design of the car to understand what the consumer profile was for this car.  Who were they designing for?  But whoever they were designing for, is not happy.

As of late, they have realized their car is an albatross, no vroom, a ridiculous exterior... and they are angry.  At one point last week, I got cutoff by three different PT Cruisers in the short span of 10 miles!!  These are not happy people.  And they're taking it out on the rest of us.  Within the past two weeks, everywhere I look there's a PT Cruiser on the road, doing something PT Cruiser-ish, including trying to pass a Porsche 993 on an incline.  Silly car!

Yes I'm a car snob.  I love well designed, preferably German cars.  I make assumptions about cars and drivers without knowing who they are.  That's why I'm going on the record to say that those people in the "gangster" Chryslers are none too happy with the stereotype and out to prove it wrong. Silly drivers!

Next Act of Equality

Eighty cents does not equal one dollar, the current gender gap in pay.  A twenty cent difference, often more, sometimes less.  An improvement over 1980 when the difference was forty cents.  Progress yes, but sometimes progress is just not good enough. 

Eight dollars a week.  Thirty-five dollars a month.  Four hundred and fifteen dollars a year.  Two thousand dollars over five years.  Often more, sometimes less.  Bottom line, one dollar should equal one dollar, for a man or a woman, even in these crazy economic times.

What a thrill it was to learn that President Obama signed into law the Fair Pay Act, his first piece of legislation signed into law.  As the president signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act he said:

"I intend to send a clear message: That making our economy work means making sure it works for everyone. That there are no second class citizens in our workplaces, and that it's not just unfair and illegal -- it's bad for business -- to pay someone less because of their gender, or their age, race, ethnicity, religion or disability."

This law reestablishes the incentive for employers to correct discriminatory pay practices.  As part of the Civil Rights Act the Ledbetter Act restores the period of time plaintiffs can recover back pay from 180 days to two years.  Lily Ledbetter did the same job as her male colleagues at Goodyear Tire and Rubber for twenty years.  Over that period of time, she lost more than $200,000 in salary over her tenure, and even more in pension and Social Security benefits. 

The law signed by President Obama will certainly be incentive to pay fair, plain and simple, equal pay for equal work.  We shouldn't need laws to protect this right, but until that time comes it's good to know that our president prioritized this next, great act of equality.  We knew he would!

Gadgetmania

I've got two kitchen gadgets that I couldn't live without.  Both of them I was skeptical of, until I had them in my kitchen drawer... now I can't imagine my kitchen without them. 

The first, an apple slicer.  I thought ahhhhhhhhhhh, what do I need with this.  I can just as easily cut up an apple myself.  But my friend convinced me this would be worth it, and it is.  Less waste, easy to clean up and more apple munching, a win, Win, WIN!  I chose the one from OXO, an great company who places function and form at the same priority.

Second is the citrus juicer.  For a Greek girl who uses lemon in just about everything, this is priceless.  Heavy in the hand, and gets as much juice out of a lemon as I've ever seen.  My sweet husband came home with the big orange one on the right, and it works for everything.  Try it!

What else can't we live without in our kitchens?

Once in a lifetime

We had a great day in the United States yesterday.  A great, great day.  We deserved it, I believe that.  And now the work continues.  But yesterday, was a great day!

A man of intelligence, vision and eloquence is our President.  He loves his wife!  Aretha sang, and her hat was absolutely, positively fabulous.  He knows his daughters, and they know him.  Bush left D.C. for good.  

We are a lucky country in the midst of it all.  We the people, were at the beginning, the end and the middle of it all!  We did it, we believed, and it happened.

 

A new day has dawned

Our day is here.
We are the change we are looking for.
Welcome back America.

Mr. President.

Change has come to America!

Thank you President Bush

On the eve of the inauguration, a day filled with excitement, promise and tribute, it's time to thank President Bush.  On the eve of the end of our eight year national nightmare, it is only fitting that something be said on the pages of this blog that recognizes the role W and his administration played in what we will witness tomorrow, 20. January 2009.

_For without George W. Bush, an Obama presidency would not have been possible.

_For without George W. Bush, we would have certainly accepted mediocrity as a result of the election.

_For without George W. Bush, we would not have been tested as a nation to how far low we would be willing to go before we said - enough.

_For without George W. Bush, the promise of America would have only remained in our history, and not in our future.

_For without George W. Bush, we would have never experienced our collective hunger for intelligence, curiosity, compassion and science.

So I'm only going to say this once, thank you President Bush.

Cherished Book

Last month I added a sidebar here on my site with books I think are great.  One that didn't get mentioned, but admittedly is #1 on Kalliope's Bestsellers is FACEBOOK.  And there is no indication that it will drop in the ratings in the near future. 

Facebook has allowed me to connect with so many friends, near and far.  Unlike the privacy and relative anonymity that my blog ich Kalliope offers me, Facebook gives my friends a glimpse into my day and me into theirs. 

Reconnecting with lost friends, deepening connections with those closer to me and staying in touch with family, Facebook gives me what the best of intentions, the most updated address/email book and love of travel never could - an easy way to do it!  Sometimes the connections are more deep, sometimes it's just a quick read of what my friends are up to at that moment.

Where else could I learn in the course of a day that:

An old friend was running her first half-marathon

Another was considering getting a teeny, tiny tattoo, which I had been considering too

Someone I hadn't seen in twenty years liked the same music and artists I had listed as my favorites

As I sat drinking a glass of wine, another friend cracked open a bottle too, cheers!

My friend's husband wasn't sharing the guitar with her when they played Rock Band on the Playstation

And so it goes, the little things, and sometimes the big ones too!  This is one book I'll be carrying with me for a long time, no matter what city I call home.