Positives

I haven't done this exercise for a while. I should do it more often, specially in difficult times. When I forget, I am bogged down by the stench emanating from the underbelly of our society and that feels pretty crappy.
Here are the positives for this week:

* Good day today at the shop - no A******ls trying to get something for nothing, rather some nice new customers and some of the regulars I like - appreciative, well spoken, kind. All in all the sort of people I want to come to shop.

* Some first rate items coming in and leaving as soon as I put them on a hanger, even before tagging. I like that.

* The pool at the Y is open again, I got a couple of great swims this week - a lane all to myself after a long read in the sauna. What a privilege.

* Sale items leaving the shop in a steady pace, off to live in people's wardrobes, clearing space for new things to come in. Still a way to go in that department.

* A good movie - Farewell My Queen: Set in Versailles during the last few days of the Queen's life before she lost her head and her kingdom, from a point of view of a mysterious young woman who adores her and lives in the palace, her Reader. Interesting take on an old theme. Well designed, well written, and well acted. And the clothes, to die for. Well, they did...

Day of Atonement

This is a serious day, in which we are supposed to suffer hardship of hunger and thirst, to remember the sins we have committed all year, and to ask for forgiveness.
I admit I have sinned. We all do, if we are alive. I sin with relish. I sin with dedication, and I sin with joy. Sin is the essence of life.
Granted, most of my sins are mild. I do not get up in the morning with the intent of harming the universe, but I'm sure I contribute in my own special way, like the rest of us.
Forgiveness is overrated. God himself never seems to grant it or believe in anything but punishment. And if it's a Goddess - well, don't all females know how to hold a grudge forever?
In light of this statement, it would be hypocritical of me to atone, and get up tomorrow morning and continue living in exactly the same way.

This is what I'm doing today:
I commit myself to a joyful life of sins, without regret or whimpering whining about forgiveness.

New Year's Flowers and Food

Colourful stuffed peppers, before and after:

Samba for the New Year

Vinicius De Moraes - a creative bad boy/poet with all the qualities we want from such a figure: eloquent, romantic, long dead but not forgotten.

Fabulous Finds at RM

A sample of the magnificent pieces on display this week:

A Burberry trench coat/raincoat in sand colour, size M:

Canali sports jacket in perfect blue.

Canali checked tweed in fall colours, over delicate striped Burberry shirt and a Holt Renfrew tie.
And a Next tweed sports jacket in size M, with an Etro raincoat draping over it. The pink tie is also Etro.

Neo-Renaissance Order

Renaissance Man, an oasis in the desert of malls, chain stores, and urban ugliness, a place of calm, culture and beauty, where fine clothes can be bought and ideas can be discussed, has been of late a target to the lowest of the low - shoplifters, thieves and robbers.
Some people can't leave something good alone, they must try and destroy it. Those who do it are surely the most miserable people among us. Let the universe bestow on their small insignificant souls as much misery as they spread around them wherever they go. I know it will. The universe knows who you are, and so do I.

But in the meantime, until the universe gets rid of you, here's what's going to happen:

From now on everyone coming in should know - you're on a video recorder everywhere around the shop, even though you can't see it be sure it's there, and a still photo of you will be taken for the record. Don't like the idea? don't come in. Don't even stand by the window.

We are starting a collection of identified offenders, and the downtown business association will share it with all business owners. Be warned, m***erf***ers.