Baby wranglers in a Paris department store vitrine.
Giant flowers...
...and a centipede help to corral the wayward creatures.
The clocks indicate it's time for platypus dreams.
But they want more bedtime stories...
,,,and keep climbing out of bed.
The bears are enjoying an old-fashioned pyjama party...
...while their friends are preparing a midnight snack.
Tea and macaroons, anyone?
Another Tara
On Thursday I had email from another Tara Bradford with the subject line "Hello - Help, I'm getting your emails." Seems her email address is Tara.Bradford@gmail.com, while mine is Bradford.Tara@gmail.com. The email link in my sidebar has the correct address. But will you please check your address books to see that you have Bradford.Tara@gmail.com, rather than the alternative? Both Tara and I would appreciate it!
Stuck in a time-warp
Seems some people remain stuck in some sort of Leave It to Beaver time warp and are unable to grasp that reality is more complex than their narrow minds can grasp. It is outrageous that in 2009, a person's sexual orientation is considered to have any bearing whatsoever on one's professional life.
So much for bipartisanship
It's pretty obvious that most Republicans have little interest in working with the Democrats. Only three have voted for the economic stimulus package. And now Sen. Judd Gregg has withdrawn his name from consideration for a key cabinet post he had actively sought. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs released this statement:
"Senator Gregg reached out to the President and offered his name for Secretary of Commerce. He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace and move forward with the President's agenda. Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama's key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways. We regret that he has had a change of heart."
It seems Gregg also has an Abramahoff problem.
As Obama quoted Abraham Lincoln in a dinner Thursday honouring the 200th anniversary of the 16th president's birth, "...'The legitimate object of government,' he wrote, 'is to do for the people what needs to be done, but which they can not, by individual effort, do at all, or do so well, by themselves." Indeed.
Update Friday night:
But the Republicans seem to be boycotting the government of which they are a part and ignoring the needs of ordinary citizens. Not a single Republican voted for the economic stimulus bill that passed the House of Representatives today. And only three Republicans voted for the bill that passed the Senate. If ever there was a case for term limits, the Republicans are making it!
Blackwater morphs into Xe
And the disgraced security firm Blackwater - now banned from Iraq - apparently thinks it can clean up its image, simply by changing its name!
Ditto. Sigh. Just ditto.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 16 February 2009 at 17:06
Sandra, thanks for the kudos! I appreciate the encouragement.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 16 February 2009 at 17:06
I know what you mean, dearest Am. On a brighter note, hope you were spoiled silly on Valentine's Day. xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 16 February 2009 at 17:05
Amen, my friend. Aren't those windows delicious??!! xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 16 February 2009 at 17:05
Thanks, Tink. Hope your day was very special. xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 16 February 2009 at 17:04
Katherine, aren't those prints great? So glad the package arrived safely.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 16 February 2009 at 17:04
Merci! The "honeymoon" lasted about five minutes, alas (see my post today about the kaleidoscope).
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 16 February 2009 at 17:04
It always stuns me, that the people we have hired to work for us think it's more important to spout trite, banal, simplistic rhetoric rather than respond and adapt to what is necessary for healing and growth for their constituents. It really does surprise me, I guess I'm naive. Now more than any other time, you'd think these simple-minded folks could be humble and just do their jobs. Drives me nuts.
Posted by: Chris | 16 February 2009 at 15:32
Your pics on 13th February are awesome, the colours are awesome and your blog is awesome...in fact word for the day....yes you've guessed...AWESOME! You just stay put in Paris..... and just keep taking those lovely pics! Have a happy day....Sandra.
Posted by: Sandra | 15 February 2009 at 14:42
These wondows just simply amaze me. When ever you show these sorts of things, it makes me think of my mom. She would have been soooo good at this. she could have done this! I bet she never even knew it could be a job...sort of makes me sad.
:)
Posted by: amber | 15 February 2009 at 06:56
This smack the republicans are talking kills me! Homie (George W.) causes all this sh*t and now president Obama is expected to fix it all in a month. Yeah, okay. : )
I love the store windows. Yum, like pink cotton candy.
xxoo
Posted by: Christina | 15 February 2009 at 01:52
Oh how adorable! Sweets for the sweet, FROM the sweet too!
Another Tara Bradford? Oh no - I hope I haven't been sending e-mails to the wrong address - I'll doublecheck my address book though.
Hope your Valentine's Day is filled with sweets for sweet you!
xOx
Posted by: tinker | 15 February 2009 at 00:21
I love those floral prints!
I got your package yesterday, love the cards and notebook, very pretty, thank you so very much!
Posted by: Katherine | 14 February 2009 at 20:04
You sure weave a great bedtime story, Tara! The whimsy of these windows is beyond beyond. It reminds me of "Ten Minutes 'til Bedtime" by Peggy Rathman.
Obama's honeymoon is officially over. That didn't last long.
Posted by: dutchbaby | 14 February 2009 at 18:56
Thanks, Patricia. Those vitrine stylists are so talented. Hope you have a great Valentine's celebration.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 14 February 2009 at 17:32
Amen, my friend. Amen! xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 14 February 2009 at 16:10
I am sorry but I am falling in love with the vitrine designer! Now I need to read your commentary!!! Have a lovely Valentine's Day.
Posted by: Patricia | 14 February 2009 at 15:21
Merci bien, Madame! Hope you have a lovely Valentine's weekend!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 14 February 2009 at 12:33
Aha, I knew you'd like these vitrines! xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 14 February 2009 at 12:33
It just astonishes me that people can be so judgmental about others' personal lives. As long as they do a good job in their work, why is their private life anybody's business? I despair over the education system in the US, if so many people are stuck in this narrow mind-set, expecting everyone to be and act the same. It doesn't reflect reality and is so disheartening.
And yes, Paris has a surfeit of beautiful vitrines!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 14 February 2009 at 12:32
Thanks, Susan. Hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day too. I agree with you that the designated holiday isn't needed for romantics (although it helps remind some fairly clueless men they should do something nice).
As for the GOP, I'd say yesterday's stimulus package vote - with only 3 Republicans out of the Senate voting to support it - confirms the Republicans have no interest in solving our country's problems. All they talk about is tax breaks, of course for the country club set of which many of them are a part. Pathetic. Term limits, anyone?
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 14 February 2009 at 12:28
You're so right, TB about the shallowness and lack of critical thinking. And it seems Judd had a little Abramoff problem about to be revealed, which may have influenced his abrupt decision. Isn't it interesting how the stimulus package finally passed both the House and the Senate and a total of three Republicans supported it - not including Mr. Sour Grapes McCain, obviously. It amazes me how since the election Obama, full-of-grace, went to great lengths to pacify McCain and give him an opportunity to save face. But McCain keeps spouting off and refusing to cooperate on anything.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 14 February 2009 at 12:25
Helen, thanks for the update on what's happening with that right-wing campaign. There's an interesting piece in Huffington Post written by a former right-winger, who basically tells Obama to ignore the Republicans and govern for the people. He said the Republicans are either the rich or the right-winger religious conservatives and neither will yield to reason or compromise.
Hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day as well!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 14 February 2009 at 12:20
I looooove those babies!! And the platypus, my heart of all hearts is full!!!
Another Tara Bradford?? Oh me oh my!! That is wild!!
You should see my luck with the other Vanessa Valencia's in the woooorld... te heee... xoxoox
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | 14 February 2009 at 02:26
What does sexual orientation have to do with anything, other than sex? Really?
And also, why would you seek a position actively within the new government only to withdraw your name less than a month out of the starting gate, unless it is some cheap ploy to draw attention to the new office in a negative way. Kind of a low blow.
Healing takes time, I know Obama will fix things the right way, in their right time. I think it's time for a Grand NEW Party, don't you? LOL!
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | 13 February 2009 at 23:30
The sexual orientation here in Portland is having some challenges right now. Our newly elected mayor is the first gay mayor in the US. After he was elected someone found out he had a little relationship in the past with an 18 year old young man. People will not let it go and many want to get him quickly out of office. He is shaken, but still trying to do the job he was elected to. I am praying it will blow over and he can do his job well. He is a good man for the job.
Love the windows with the macaroons and tea. I don't remember seeing such beautiful windows when I have been in Paris, but then I probably didn't know where to go and where to look. Maybe next time.
Posted by: marilyn | 13 February 2009 at 17:56
Oh, Tara... this brings back memories of a wonderful Valentine's Day we celebrated in Paris! (could there be a place any more perfect??) Were these photos taken at Galleries Lafayette? I always loved seeing their displays... thank you so much for sharing them with us. All we see on the television here are promotions for Valentine's Day (please spend money you don't have!)...yet another day which has descended into the black hole of commercialism. And besides, every romantic knows you celebrate Valentine's Day EVERY day... mais, oui!! Oh la la! Hope you have a glorious weekend.
p.s. I have decided the GOP has finally lost its collective mind... how anyone can support this type of vindictive, obtrusive, and "I have no better ideas but I'm against everything you offer anyway" type of politics is beyond me. I keep thinking it can't get more disgusting, but it does.
Posted by: Susan | 13 February 2009 at 17:23
When I heard Gregg had withdrawn his name, that's exactly what I thought of too.
And on the street last week, I heard two people saying this:
Man: "Yeah, he'll only serve four years."
Woman: "He's a great speaker but he hasn't exactly done anything."
Basically, after less than one month in office, people are already writing Obama off because he hasn't "done anything" yet. The shallowness of people absolutely flabergasts me. Gregg apparently falls into that category either. If the Republicans are truly pursuing the strategy to fail this new government rather than help us all in such desperate times, then my disgust for them has not bottomed out yet.
Now, back to the little platypusses for a distraction. Did I spell that right? Are the platyputti? ;-)
Posted by: tangobaby | 13 February 2009 at 16:59
What a magical window display!
Posted by: gladys | 13 February 2009 at 14:37
Thank you for taking us window gazing with you! I enjoyed the trip, as always!
Posted by: Wonders Never Cease | 13 February 2009 at 14:33
The store windows in Paris are so over-the-top fabulous. How whimsical and colorful! No pretty windows around here. Indeed, stores are closing at a fast rate and many didn't even decorate for the Christmas holidays.
The "team of rivals" theory is being discussed by the pundits today in reference to the Gregg withdrawal.
One liberal radio host I listen to has now begun discussing the ongoing campaign of a certain right wing radio bloviator and his media cronies who have launched a very extensive and organized campaign to make the administration fail. Apparently, gearing up to win the NEXT election is more important that the present problems. This is extremely frustrating and sad at the same time.
On a different note, I hope that you have a lovely Valentine's Day in Paris however you celebrate it.
Posted by: Helen | 13 February 2009 at 14:32