What's in a face?

Yup, that's me. A quick rendering by a friend last summer during a lunch at the charming Roycroft inn at East Aurora.
I've been tidying all day, and found it hiding in a purse. Now it found a good home.

Sting

I got stung by a wasp a few days ago.
It itches, it hurts, it swells, and it bugs me.
She crawled between my toes inside my sandal and committed suicide. It was only partially successful and I helped, once I got her out of there, and relieved her of her miserable existence. I whacked her with that sandal, I was angry. Its only natural. But her sting lingers on...
Anyone knows how to find relief? please let me know.

Fall Means Tweed

It's that time of the year when a chill in the air creeps up to remind us it's time to start dressing up like grown ups again. It is the time to look at all your jackets and realize they need some updating. That's what I'm here for: just look at this wonderful tweed thing, with the swanky Paul Smith tie (sorry, sold last week, but plenty others in stock). Size 40R. Hugs the torso like a good woman.
There are some others, but you'll have to come by and see them.
The bag is Fred Perry, a perfect size, styli gym bag.

Curious Pursuits

Some people get to play with their imagination all their lives and collaborate with other professional enthusiasts. I sometimes envy them. Here is a collaboration of the poet Anne Carson, Merce Cunningham dancers, Harvard University, and some other artists who bring it all together into one curious end.
I found it here.

Atticus

I've spent the last 2 nights in the company of Gregory Peck. We watched, yet again, "To Kill a Mockingbird", and then all the bonus features, lots of them - satisfying and lengthy.
In his last years he toured the world with a one man show about himself and people flocked to see him. He told stories from his life and carrier and people had a chance to ask any questions they wished. He promised only to give the answers he wished to give.
He was gracious, eloquent and funny, and charming. His family featured highly in his life and I was reminded of my own father as I watched him speak lovingly about them. My father also had a full head of white hair, but neglected to color his bushy eyebrows black...
One question from the audience stuck in my mind - "What do you want to be remembered for?"
It played in my mind the rest of the night. I asked it myself, and realized I don't have an answer, not yet.

The Perils of Technology

I don't know how, but someone got my cell phone, and when I called it to see if I can find it, I heard him offering it for sale to someone, so I figured it's not going to find its way back to me.
You all know how long I've resisted cell phones, I've only started to use it a few months ago, and have never used all the minutes I am paying for. Still, I've got accustomed to its usefulness and distraction. Long story short - I got a new one. I feel foolish, I must admit.
How easy it is to become addicted to a silly little toy - that's all it is really, life has been going on without it for a lot longer than any of us can remember. We will go on living without it if we have to. We might even be happier and lighter, most likely. But I suspect we are not going to, not willingly.

Bad after Taste

I happened to drive this afternoon by a scene of a bike accident after it happened. The police was still there, a yellow tape blocking traffic, the broken bike, and a telling blood stain on the road, round, probably where they cyclist head lay just moments before I got there.
People stood around, watching, talking, but the injured person was no longer there.
Like a paparazzi, I snapped a picture. I don't know why.
Maybe because I knew it could be me, or any member of my family, next.

The Fountain of Youth

The secret is being silly every now and then, for no good reason. That is exactly what I did this morning - participating in a flash mob dance thing in Cabagetown, where a neighbourhood festival is taking place every fall. I was the oldest participant, but I pretended not to care. I had my fun.

A New Qoute

Because it's been a while:

I have a new philosophy. I’m only going to dread one day at a time.
Charles Schulz, in “Peanuts”.

New Arrivals, Fresh off the Press

This Canada Goose winter coat is probably the warmest thing you can ever hope to wear. It's brand new, size small, and available here for much less than what you'd pay in retails stores. So, what are you waiting for?
There is also a great Diesel winter jacket, military fashion, fantastic condition and great style.

Must Read Books

A brilliant piece of writing in the New York Times Book Review about the evolution of reading mechanisms, which illuminates why books won't die. I hope this assessment is also a prophecy, on top of being historically informative.

Back to School

Oh, it's cold out there, and the kids are on their way to school. Summer is officially, truly, seriously gone.
This was a rainy long weekend, we sat by a fireplace instead of on a dock. Too windy out there.
Sunset was very red on the horizon as it brought our summer to a complete close. We had to document it.

End of Summer

Happy Labour Day to all the hard working men, women and children out there. We all deserve a restful weekend, by the water, in the country, or in the city, where ever you are -lets soak up the last of the warmth and laziness in the air.

As for me - I'll be sitting on a dock (if it doesn't rain) and will strive to make progress on the first non-Rankin book in a long run: A Spot of Bother by Mark Heddon.

Be well, labourers world wide.

And - Renaissance Man Facebook Page

Please visit and find a way to add your likes, stories or recommendations to the new page. They say that presence on the web is a labour of love. Let's see of that's true. Any hard core lovers hang around here? please make yourselves known, don't be shy.
After all, this blog was created for the purpose of promoting my cute little shop. After 4 years of sharing my thoughts and adventures, maybe time has come to join the 21st century for real.

We're on Twitter

I've caved in. I've been told to go on Twitter ever since it exploded on the planet. Now you can follow renaissance man to and see what's new, what's on sale, and what's on my mind.