Lost Bikini

Lost Bikini cocktail

I'm the type of person who takes comfort in gustatory pleasures, rich meals and smooth beverages. This is especially true for those periods in my life when things have me down. Now, it is really very extremely bad to let my Epicurian delights get the better of me. So, I impose limitations, projects, and other mental diversions to reduce intake through arbitrary procedures.

Yeah, that sounds silly, but it works for me. Therefore, since grief might drive me to excessive imbibing, I'm making a point of savoring a single drink per day. Moreover, I'm limiting it to rum drinks for February. That's because rum is very filling and reminds me of happy, warmer days.

Moreover, various rum cocktails are so pretty and of delightful coloration, from the dirty green of a Crocodile to the deep azure of the Blue Hawaiian to the Psycho's lurid crimson. And they taste absolutely delicious!!! ;-)

Well, we'll see how it turns out.

Bitters to Match the Sweet

Chocolate Candy Hearts wrapped in pink and red foil

I hope you all have had a Happy Valentine's Day.

For all of my rants against holidays and the inauthenticity of modern commercialized celebrations, I really do want people to enjoy the day. That's actually a driving premise here at Paideia, the reason why I do all of these birth date notices or historical comments. There is something to celebrate each and every day, something to learn, something to cherish.

So, if you took today to focus on romance, that's great, but remember that any day can be a time for romance. Chocolate candies and flowers are wonderful throughout the year. ;-)

A shot glass filled with candy hearts. Yum!!!

So, let's give thanks for the uplifting thrill and warm comfort of romance.

Among the Purple Sage

Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia Leucantha) in front of the Huntington Art Gallery


I read Zane Grey's classic Western novel, Riders of the Purple Sage, when I was little more than a child. I had no clue as to how purple sage actually looked, but my imagination was more than willing to envision a landscape painted every shade from puce to periwinkle.

As I grew older and began to draw botanical studies, I finally came across "purple sage" in the form of Mexican Bush Sage. It was a shocking experience because, as a native of Southern California, I had been living amongst it for most of my life!!! It wasn't some mythic flora from the remote wastelands of Utah; it was in my neighbor's front yard!

So, whenever I come across a beautiful display of Mexican Bush Sage, it always takes me back to both the whimsy of youth and that moment of revelation where the legendary is recognized in the quotidian.

Close view of Mexican Bush Sage

But, just because the purple sage has become a commonplace object, doesn't mean that it has lost its place within my imagination. If anything, having a firm mental image of the sage brings greater depths to my mental meanderings. ;-)

No Matter How I Struggle and Strive

Hank Williams was born on September 17, 1923


I'm not a fan of country music, especially not most current styles. But old time county tunes are welcome at Paideia. And my favorite performer of that genre is Hank Williams. His music has a bittersweet authenticity that makes it timeless and accessible. Yeah, it may not be my "thing" but I'd be a blockhead to not appreciate it as a superb expression of the essence of country music.

It's amazing to consider the influence Hank Williams had upon American music and reflect on the fact that he died at the age of 29 years. It's sad imagining how much music he still had in him to share with the world. But the fine music that he left behind serves as a testament to his immense talent and musical genius.

Hank Williams had 35 singles place in the Top 10 of the Country & Western charts.

Let's listen to some music.