New Year...
Jan 28, 2014 A fairly slow start to the new year:
-- I've planned three trips for the summer: (i) Decadence: Schloss Elmau in S. Germany for my birthday in August; (ii) Windswept: southwestern Ireland in mid-summer for golf with my father; and (iii) Annual: Sea Pines in late-May / early-June with my wife and daughter.
-- I just finished The Painted Bird. What an astonishingly sad and tragic story. I'm still exploring this rich vein of eastern european literature. It never seems to disappoint. The stories are usually tragic and have a common theme of traditional societies violently tossed about during the turbulent modern era. Other recent books include Patrick Fermor's two books about his 1930s walk across Europe. His third book becomes available this spring. I cannot wait.
-- It snowed in Atlanta for the first time since Jan 2011. My little daughter had never seen snow. What a treat for her! It was a treat for me too.
-- Coming back inside from the snow, we decided to make a frittata (mushroom, asparagus, potato, spinach). It's always better the next day for lunch. Regardez:
Happy birthday to me...
Aug 27, 2013 
I always get myself the best gifts!
Err... wrong! My charming wife surprised me with a new timepiece this morning:
