Lauriate Roly

My Comments (578 so far…)

Tourist Tales in Venice, by Judith Martin

Joan - What a fascinating story. I have been lying sleepless in my bed for over an hour so decided to get up and check-in to my computer to see if anything interesting may be going on.. I am jolted to “wide-awake-mode” reading your captivating message. This is so interesting. I can see a wonderful sequence in a film documentary on reaching the new colony of Emperors. I bet you visualize the same image and I suspect you would direct it if you could possibly get close to them. I know very little about penguins but I am somewhat familiar with the Emperors. Such incredibly beautiful creatures. It is difficult to imagine why they were created to live under such harsh conditions, away from the rest of the world. If it were not for people like you, the rest of us would never have knowledge of the existence of these beautiful beings.

You say the new colony was unveiled by satellite sightings? Unbelievable! I suppose the specially reinforced Russian icebreaker has been replaced by plane delivery systems? I wonder that they wouldn’t keep it on stand-by because such a ship will surely be very necessary some day. Planes can’t do everything to accommodate the needs of the Polar regions.

Well Joan, you have certainly given me a lot to think about, and do much further study about. I must brush up and sharpen my knowledge of this region of the earth. Also, must read more about the Penguin. I shamefully admit to my limited learning about these magnificent creatures. I will tell you that I have always been crazy about a little French (I think)? penguin cartoon character, whose name I believe is Pignu? Are you familiar with him? (maybe he’s a her- I’m not sure because there’s no dialogue to distinguish gender)

I hope you tell us more about this subject Joan and I sincerely hope that fate programs some way to make it possible for you to be the first to visit this wonderful new colony in person. LR.

Tourist Tales in Venice, by Judith Martin

Hello J Holmes - I use Joan Larsen’s recommendations too. How fortunate we are to have such invaluable direction into the world of books so close at hand. (and gratis besides that). How lucky can we be? LR.

10 Ways to Put a Feminine Touch on Your Business Savoir Faire, by Mireille Guiliano

Of course I agree with you Belinda, completely - and I do remember the Valley Girls and the horrible language connected with them. (wasn’t it called Valgil, or something like that)? Reminds me of an important incident in my life where I brought this terribly bad habit to the attention of someone very close and dear to me who by association with the wrong types, was falling into usage of the disgusting language so prominent at that time. Cured her completely. No more “top drawer” attitudes. She went back to being perfect, and still is. LR.

If you had Warren Buffett's money, in what industry would you invest?

I would set up a complex filled with the smartest and most competent people available to work at restoring sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. I don’t mean people who will help those afflicted. I only want people who will produce the remedies or devices required to cure them and restore their loss.

A New Kind of Monte Carlo, by Mary Wells

My goodness - Mary sounds like she’s in a gloomy mood. Not supposed to be like that in Monte Carlo. Maybe this year would have been a good time to visit. Maybe this year I would have found a place to park my car.

10 Ways to Put a Feminine Touch on Your Business Savoir Faire, by Mireille Guiliano

“The ones who end each sentence on an upward inflection”

Oh God - but that hurts! Just cuts so deep.

Spare me Belinda? You know what I mean?

LR.

Tourist Tales in Venice, by Judith Martin

Yes - but never spent enough time there. She was amazing and greatest collector of modern and contemporary art. I often wonder where all this wonderful artwork would have gone if she had not been able to rescue and preserve it through WW11. Amazing that of all the fabulous museums, hers in Venice is one of the most important in Italy. She had lots of artist friends at her disposal. No wonder she was so active. I know Max Ernst was one of her favourites. He was, shall we say… her DADA?- and more.

Thanks so much for the tip on “Art Lover”. Sounds like exactly what I am looking for, as a special gift for the right person for Christmas. (Someone whom I know will keep it for me to read later).

So glad to hear from you Joan. Missed you.

PS - PG would have intrigued me too !! LR

While driving? In the shower? During sex? Where and when do you do your best thinking?

Well Phyllis, I wasn’t going to post on this because I was certain no one would believe me, but if you say you often do heavy thinking while reading, then I will own up and admit that I do that also. I will read something that triggers off some thought or idea, and even though I give my entire concentration to the thinking process, I apparently continue to read on. I even turn pages without being conscious of the fact that I am reading for zero. When I finally get back to normal I realize that I have a lot of re-reading to do. However, sometimes the consolation is that my unconscious reading sessions do produce productive resolve to some of the problems I carry around. It’s kind of reassuring to know that I am not alone in this seemingly unusual method of concentration. (I was at the annual cenotaph ceremony observing the eleven o’clock moment of silence to-day - always a sad moment). LR.

Tourist Tales in Venice, by Judith Martin

I was looking forward to reading a wealth of comments about Venice, based on the fact that many tourists, and many of them American tourists, fall in love with this enchanting city. I know this because I have spent quite a bit of time in Venice and have observed the reaction of the visitors. It is such a romantic and beautiful place. For a while I spent many weekends in a small villa apartment I rented in a small town in the Veneto area just about fifteen miles Northwest of the city and though I was living and working in Zurich, it wasn’t too far to steal away for a few days every now and again and while in that area, of course I spent almost all my free time right in Venice. I had many friends there and before long, I felt like a native.

It is unfortunate that this beautiful place would be labeled a “5 star tourist trap”. Unfortunately I can sympathize with tourists who get this impression who, after having spent probably one of the most memorable visits they could experience in their travels through Europe, find that it really is an expensive place - and the multitude of tourists make it easy picking for the many who are employed in jobs there that provide the daily services which tourists need. Most of these types are transients themselves and are not typical of the very warm and generous Italians who reside permanently in that city. Many are only in Venice for the tourist seasons and they do take advantage of the fact that the tourists have money to pay for what they need, and must have. It is really unfortunate that this state of affairs often leads to disenchantment of that lovely city.

While driving? In the shower? During sex? Where and when do you do your best thinking?

Belinda, it’s 4:04 am. according to your clock. You must have been tossing and turning all night. Hopefully for your sake, if you ever get any sleep this night, you will awaken with fantastic and marvelous ideas…and strategies - galore. (and don’t say "nope"). LR.