Tall People, food blogger (not) and Crackle

- This sculpture by a French artist at the reception desk of the fine art dealer has a fancy French title, but I just call it "Tall People."

- My favorite food blogger in France, David Lebovitz, announces a Food Blogger Camp and Free Trip Give-Away. That sounds like great fun to me and I excitedly prepare to enter for the free trip until I see that you have to be an actual food blogger and put a link to your food blog in the entry. Probably blogging about Snickers bars doesn't qualify. :)

- Three smiling daughters line up in front of their mother in birth order. We are like stair-steps in height, the youngest is 5'10", the middle is 5'6" and the oldest is 5'1". Mother points at us in turn and calls us "Snap, Crackle, Pop!"

Business as usual, food groups and games

- Apparently Mr C's had a business as usual day on Labor Day. And the days are getting shorter judging from this 6:55am shot taken the morning after.

- So many appointments and so much driving around that I never have time for lunch, so deciding that a Snickers bar and Diet Coke satisfies at least one of the food groups (two if you count chocolate.)

- Bonding with a client over a mutual love of video games. She is all into that Wii thing. Me - I just love to play Mahjong, Hearts and Zuma. How about you?

Conspirators, prom queen at last and a good thing

- Spending the weekend with my father while mom is in the hospital. We are conspirators when it comes to food - at one point an ad for Krystal Hamburgers comes on TV, advertising a value meal. Discussion ensues. Fresh, Hot, Small, Square! They sure were good.

- My sister tells me of attending a neighborhood clubhouse party Saturday evening in which the only room for her in a neighbor's convertible was perching on the top of the back seat. She says she felt like a prom queen in a parade and can now cross that off her list.

- A co-worker's enthusiasm while recounting a weekend visit to a new billiard hall near his home, in which the grand opening event was watching professionals play. He begins telling me about it and stops himself, "You probably don't follow women's professional billiards, do you?" Why no, I don't, but certainly hearing how much fun it was for him makes it a good thing.

On the wane, yours aye and the SEC

- Flowers are on the wane in the southeast, a sure sign that Indian Summer is on the way. Temperatures are blessedly cooler, the back porch just begging to be used.

- Being asked to be on the officer nominating committee for my Scottish Clan (in America) and enjoying the emails flying back in forth. The New England commissioner signs off with the very lyrical "Yours Aye."

- The Today Show crowd this morning included a clump of Southeastern Conference football supporters from the University of Alabama, the University of Georgia and University of Florida. And reflecting that the major sport at my urban concrete college was smoking around the outside doors or dodging the smokers. :)

Urban garden, aroma and sequestered

- This urban sculpture garden belonging to a nearby fine arts dealer. Abandoned railroad tracks run through the property in which old warehouse buildings are utilized for office space.

- The aroma of potato chips cooking coming from the factory down the street as I get out of my car at work. We think probably sour cream and onion flavor this day.

- On the other side of town, more than 50 students at Emory University with a sense of humor. They have been quarantined with the Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) into one dormitory that they are calling "Swine Hall." :)

Nazar Boncuk, Scout and Wheel

- A visitor spotting the "evil eye," received as a wedding favor at a Turkish - American marriage ceremony, in my hurricane lamp. Turkish people believe the evil eye, or nazar boncuk, wards off misfortune and ill will from the evil eyes of others. I just like the way it looks among the other rocks.

- Another great client dog, Scout, a two-year-old yellow lab who exuberantly brought all his toys for display one by one. He mortified his owner by walking though his visitor's legs from behind. The visitor thought it was funny.

- Sitting with other visitors and patients in a hospital community room and reflecting how the ubiquitous television game show "Wheel of Fortune" brings people together.

How To Live To Be 100

Re-posting of a favorite from last year...

Mockingbird. Illustration by Talitha Shipman

- From Georgia State University Alumna Anne Marie Evans*, who is nearly 101 years old,

How To Live To Be 100

• Be Tenacious. In the face of life’s obstacles, be innovative and creative. If you’re afraid or worried, don’t show it.
• Befriend Positive People.
• Value Education. Always get a good education because that’s the one thing they can’t take away from you.
• To Thine Own Self Be True. Analyze how you act and react. Know your skills and capabilities. Then set realistic goals and produce something in justify your existence. Have confidence in yourself and say your prayers because they will bear fruit. Get plenty of sleep and don’t worry about the things that might not happen.

* Anne Marie Evans (M.A.'77, Georgia State's oldest alumna, celebrated her 100th birthday in November 2008. She emigrated from Nazi Germany in 1938, and over the past three decades she has authored five books, assisted dozens of older students with her endowed scholarship, and co-founded Life Enrichment Services, Inc., an educational organization for people over 50. She continues to work professionally as a social gerontologist.