I've sat on this picture long enough, trying to find time to load it up on the Traveled Blog (too much grading and jetlag have delayed things).

So here it is: the Saone River and Vieux Lyon (Ancient Lyon) bank in shadow and when the sun came out.

Although it looks like two more of the same below, when you click on them, they are larger versions of the same photo. (I have mine on my computer desktop, and needed a larger size.)

Enjoy Vieux Lyon.

And yes, the tower to the right of the white church is made by the same guy who made the Eiffel Tower in Paris. This is Lyon's petite version.

This showed up in my emailbox tonight. Very interesting. I tried to get a totebag, but they were sold out. I just got my yard sign today from the local DNC, but I'm not putting it out until I build a contraption of fishing line from the sign to the tree. I worked too hard to have it lifted. They're so hard to get around here that people have taken to making their own home-made Obama signs. Guess you can tell we're not a battleground state!

While most of the pictures from our recent trip to Lyon, France are over at the other blog, I thought the grouping of napkins from Paul Bocuse's brasseries deserved a spot over here.

Le Nord has a cuisine of typical Lyonaise specialties, as well as inventive dishes.

L'Est is the "cuisine of voyages" and the restaurant's menu reflects that sense of delicious adventure.

L'Ouest--the West--is more business-style with a sleek interior, and lots of suits at lunch the day we were there. I

Le Sud's photo is from last year. They've changed the napkin: it's now yellow and blue, indicative of the south. Food cooked in tajines are a part of the menu here every night--dishes with a Moroccan/African influence--dishes south of France.

Newsflash!!

Washer died.

Taylor's Appliances delivers same day.

New washer. Now I can climb Mt. Laundry.

One Day More (Obama Election Spoof)

(Couldn't resist this.) 

[Background: From the legendary art director and graphic designer Ruth Ansel, this spoof of Les Miserables comes from the Ultimate Improv troupe of Los Angeles.]  

[2021 Update: You'll have to watch it on YouTube.  Google it.}

Thank for you calling. Person this is jetlagged and phone cannot get. Morning try back in the please.

I'm currently posting to our travel blog. Click on the picture above to head over there.

Thoughtful commentary today coming out of Britain, from The Guardian newspaper. Here's an excerpt:

The world needs the United States to get over its cultural civil war, and get over it fast. Not that these moral, cultural and social issues are unimportant. They are among the most important things. But they are also among the most private things. The business of government and the law should be confined to providing a liberal (in the classical sense) framework in which men and women can make personal choices about private goods. That should be only a small part of what government does. By contrast, the central business of government is to provide public goods such as national and personal security, the regulation of markets in which private enterprise can flourish, the international development that is in all our national interests, and a clean environment using diversified, sustainable energy supplies. That's what the United States needs from its new president, and that's what the world needs from the United States.

Read the whole thing here.

I was impressed also by David Brooks' commentary on much of the same thing. The Republican party I began in has drifted, if the screed from the Palin/McCain rallies is any indication. I thought the Republicans were the party of high ideals, culture (in a good sense), and obviously healthy elitism. I formed this idea in my teens, as I was the first generation to be able to vote at age 18. The Dems, by contrast, were noisy, boisterous, a bit out of control. It seems to me that in this election, things have reversed. Read Brooks' words here. Of special interest to me was his narrative about interviewing Obama one evening and discussing Reinhold Niebuhr's thoughts on power. (Caveat: while the Huffington Post misquotes Brooks' words in their headline, it's the only easy source I have-- watch the video at the end to hear his thoughtful musings.) And his column today echoes much what of he said at the Atlantic luncheon (read it here.)

I'm almost ready for the trip. I was trying to finish up the last of the wash yesterday and came downstairs to a tub full of wet, drained clothes, but no spin. Water all over the floor. The neighbors came to the rescue in letting me use their washer, and I scheduled a repair man for the week I return.

As I thought about my washer breakdown, some courses of actions, or options, were limited: no more washing up the mop-up towels--let them hang-dry. No need to strip down the bed linens and wash those before leaving.

I unearthed an old article from my archives about choices and options. Here's a sample:

“Closing a door on an option is experienced as a loss, and people are willing to pay a price to avoid the emotion of loss,” Dr. Ariely says [author of Predictably Irrational, an entertaining look at human foibles like the penchant for keeping too many options open.] "In life, the costs are less obvious — wasted time, missed opportunities. If you are afraid to drop any project at the office, you pay for it at home.

“We may work more hours at our jobs,” Dr. Ariely writes in his book, “without realizing that the childhood of our sons and daughters is slipping away. Sometimes these doors close too slowly for us to see them vanishing.”

“I’m just as workaholic and prone to errors as anyone else,” he says.. “I have way too many projects, and it would probably be better for me. . . if I focused my efforts. But every time I have an idea or someone offers me a chance to collaborate, I hate to give it up.”

This idea bore in on me. Maybe it's time to go and escape from some responsibility and get a perspective on my options, my doors? Time to open some new ones? Time to let some old doors close?

This is all over the blogosphere. I guess it's because the Obama-McCain match-up was a fairly gaffe-free debate, so that when there was one interesting and odd phrase, it just stood out.

I'll be in France for the last debate, and unlike my favorite blogger, who lives in England, I'm not going to stay up and watch the debate. So last night was my last one. (I'll be posting from overseas to The Traveled Mind, if you're interested.) If something interesting happens, write.

I saw my first McCain-Palin yard sign yesterday, right at the corner, tucked in next to their cable box. Looks like we're going to have an election here soon.

Fashion Week in Paris, and Other Sundry Places

So what looks are big this Halloween Season?
Mummy Wraps are In!

As long as you have heart. . . and spaceman shoes

For this spooky season, I once took a cloth doll, wrapped it in strips and painted a weird face on it to be the mummy for our decorations. I think Balmain has copied that look for their pants here.

Wraps are in for shoes--

And hair.

Well, some people's hair. This model has the Electric Socket method of styling hair.

Georgio Armani has been a favorite of mine since my tailoring days in college. I'm also a sucker for blue.

I think the drape of this coat is so intriguing--a sharp-edged collar with striped satin binding for emphasis.
Larger View of that collar business.

I like how the lining--in a sheer fabric (which, by the way, is really really popular this season)-- falls out from the front edges of this drapey jacket. (Armani again)

Queen Elizabeth meets the . . . the. . . Origami King?

From the ruff far above, to this chunky set of beads just above, necklaces are big. Especially if you're reed thin--it's the scale thing. Teensy models/oversized necklaces. This one's from Georgio Armani as well, but it's about the only one he did.

Frankie Morello's big necklace. Elegant in a twisted, Home Depot sort of, way.

Frankie Morello spells out his name on her chest. Remember when we used to wear our boyfriend's huge chunky class rings on a chain? In order for our guy to brand us his?
Updated version of Guy Branding.

This is the "more youthful inspired Armani Line that markets for younger adults" according to Wikipedia: Emporio Armani. And they have big necklaces! Veritable chandeliers!

One in every color for your fashion needs--I can just see this as the next Enrichment Night craft. Kind of like those bunches of glass grapes.

They're starting a new program for the runway models: Meals on Heels. Care to contribute to your favorite emaciated model?