Paris Parfait

Shades of the 1930s

1930s mural, Coit Tower, San Francisco.

In 2011, ominous echoes of the 1930s...

"Our government has now given up the concept of right and wrong..."

Little twin stars

Little twin stars, Paris. These flowers remind me of the Sanrio Japanese characters, my daughter's childhood favourites when living in Jordan and San Francisco.

And more lovely flowers encountered en route home from the Parc des Princes brocante that was cancelled, thanks to fuel shortages and blockades by French strikers. Never a dull moment!

Check with your airline before traveling to or from Paris. The pipeline supplying fuel to Paris airports has been blocked, forcing some flight cancellations at Orly. French news reports suggest Charles de Gaulle Roissy has enough fuel to last two more days, before flight disruptions begin.

Off we go

Overhead electrical rails, Centraal Station, Amsterdam.

"He who would travel happily must travel light".- Antoine de Saint-Exupery. 

Between a family concern and the Google-Verizon attempt to undermine Net Neutrality, it feels like I'm traveling with the weight of the world on my shoulders. The companies' proposals would maintain both a "public" and "private"  Internet, effectively giving telecoms more control over speed and access.

In 1999, I worked with a group of academics, engineers and tax specialists in San Francisco and Berkeley to determine how the Internet could remain a level playing field for all. What Google and Verizon propose would make Internet access - in many cases - subject to payment, similar to cable television. Such a plan clearly is aimed at lining the pockets of the corporations involved, not any altruism to keep the Internet free for all. President Obama needs to honor his pre-election promise to support Net Neutrality.

Please write President Obama, the Federal Communications Commission and your senators and representatives to urge they stand firm and stop big corporations from dictating Internet traffic.

Reactions to Google-Verizon pact

“The agreement between Verizon and Google about how to manage Internet traffic is nothing more than a private agreement between two corporate behemoths and should not be a template or basis for either Congressional or FCC action,” said Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge. ”It is unenforceable and does almost nothing to preserve an open internet. Most critically, it sacrifices the future of the mobile wireless internet as this platform becomes more central to the lives of all Americans.”

Progressive Change Committee co-founder Adam Green: "Google, a company that I've long admired and currently hold thousands of dollars of stock in, just "went evil."" ... "There is no reason in the world for Google, which has made smart investments in the future, to find common ground with Verizon on the issue of Internet openness. None. Zero. Zilch. Today's deal was unneeded, uncalled for and incompatible with Google's "don't be evil" mantra. Google's decision to cut a deal with Verizon wreaks of either impatience or fear."

Google-Verizon plan: Why you should worry

Web plan from Google and Verizon is criticized

Verizon and Google propose web traffic rules

Google-Verizon Pact: It Gets Worse

Senate Democrats Press FCC to protect Internet from corporate takeover

If you missed this article about our collapsing empire, I urge you to read it. As we pour money into wars, schools are closing, streetlights are turned off and our infrastructure crumbling.  Some cold, hard facts simply can't be avoided.

________________

So much angst: visit my friend Christina at Soul Aperture to be instantly cheered by her lovely photos and tales from her day.

Off to the Netherlands by train. See you later this month.

Clearing space, earthquakes and travel

Musician in Petra, Jordan.

I have spent the entire weekend sorting through my antiques and collectibles, preparing for an antiques dealer's visit this week. The husband-and-wife team are bringing a big truck, so I'm hoping they'll take away certain pieces of furniture, as well as many other items. Then I'll have more space to breathe and fewer items to move early next year to Amsterdam.

I've also been going through my closet, gathering summer clothes for a French relief project for Haiti. Have donated money, as well, but wish I could do more. Having been through the Lomo Prieta earthquake in San Francisco in 1989, I've been struck by horrific photos showing the marked contrast between that damage and the current devastation in Haiti.

Most San Francisco residents will agree that if you have to be in an earthquake, San Francisco is the place to be: they know what to do. Fire, rescue and emergency services and much of the population are prepared for such an eventuality. Also, many buildings have had "earthquake-proof" retrofitting or renovation. In the '89 quake, I was on the 36th floor of the Pacific Telesis Tower, which swayed on giant springs, but didn't fall. In contrast, Haiti's across-the-board destruction is a stark reminder that most of us have much for which to be thankful.

The last few days I've been watching and reading the news from Haiti in small doses. In between, I've been escaping into Robert Mitchum films of the 1940s and '50s and trying to clear the never-ending email backlog.

I've also prepared some surprises for our upcoming trip to Jordan March 1-8. Registration is closed, but I'm planning another journey there in November. Two people already have signed up for that trip, which will involve off-the-beaten track travel, photography and more. Enrollment will be limited to ten; details will be announced later this spring. Hope you can join us!

As the world turns

As the world turns, Selfridges, London.

Ten years ago today, David and I met in New York. A few months later, my daughter Jordana and I moved to London. A year after that, we moved to Paris, for David's job with an international organisation. Jordana attended high school at the American School of Paris and I resurrected my college French and struggled to adjust to French logic. It was my first experience not working for a salary since age 16; initially I didn't appreciate the loss of steady income and control. To lift my spirits, I began frequenting brocantes, flea markets and antiques shops. Soon our apartment was filled with an eclectic collection of art and antiques.

After discovering the endless bureaucracy required to get married in Paris, Jordana, David and I flew to Santa Fe, N.M. Our wedding ironically was at (French) Archibishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy's private chapel. Jordana's friend Vince played acoustic guitar, while she sang Bruce Springsteen's "If I Should Fall Behind."  A dozen friends witnessed the happy occasion and later joined us for dinner at the Inn of the Anasazi.

We traveled to many, many places in Europe and the US.  At home in Paris, David honed his cooking skills as we hosted hundreds (!) of guests. I became a fan of rugby and horse-racing at Longchamp (although I never bet on horses; just admire and photograph them).  My daughter went off to college in the US.

I started this blog and picked up a camera for the first time in many years. I took Eurostar to London at least once a month. I worked on my novel. I wrote poetry. I campaigned for Barack Obama and worked on human rights initiatives. I had a few health woes, but was lucky to have quality medical care in both Paris and London. I studied Spanish in Seville, Spain and photography in London.

I have lived in Paris longer than any city in my adult life (followed by San Francisco and New York). Ten years ago, when David was a guest speaker at an e-commerce conference (at the World Trade Center) and I a writer, covering the conference, I wouldn't have imagined this life. It's had its ups and downs, but for the most part, it's been rich with blessings. While Paris has never felt like home to me, I know we are fortunate.  Having traveled as a journalist for much of my adult life, I've learned, as John Cage said, that "we carry our homes within us, which enables us to fly."

Balancing act, Selfridges, London.

P.S. Don't miss your chance to win a copy of Leonard Pitt's new book Paris Postcards! Go here to enter.

No pain, no glory?

Painful shoes at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp, Paris.

Time to leave the glamour of Longchamp and come back down to earth. Tyler Perry's personal story brought tears to my eyes. I'm looking forward to seeing Precious, although I expect it will be difficult to watch the abuse. But perhaps this movie - based on Sapphire's book Push - will make people pay attention to nearly-invisible or overlooked people in society, who all too often suffer in silence.

War photography and ethics

I've been reading The Bang-Bang Club written by the acclaimed conflict photographers Greg Marinovich and Jaoa Silva. The book talks about their harrowing experiences, as well as those of their friends and colleagues Ken Oosterbroek, killed by a stay bullet while working and Kevin Carter, who committed suicide weeks after winning a Putlizer Prize for his powerful photograph of a starving child in the Sudan.

"...The picture had caused a sensation. It was being used in posters for raising funds for aid organizations. Papers and magazines around the world had published it and the immediate public reaction was to send money to any humanitarian organization that had an operation in Sudan. The heart-wrenching image of a starving, helpless infant being scrutinized by a vulture had inevitably raised the question, "What happened to the little girl?" and, followed close on that, "What did the photographer do to help her?"

"The barrage of questions had begun to get to Kevin. He could not answer that he had simply left the child there; that the child was not in any direct danger from the vulture, since it is a fact that vultures will never attack anything still showing signs of life. Nor was the child likely to die of starvation, as the feeding-centre, with its ability to administer emergency nutrition, was barely 100 metres away. Kevin at first had told people that he had chased the vulture away and that he had then gone and sat under a tree to cry. He did not know what happened to the child. But the questions kept coming..."

Parts of the book's raw honesty are painful to read. But it's absolutely fascinating to learn more about the dilemmas photojournalists (and print journalists) often face: to engage and try to help in a dire situation or to take the photo, get the story and walk away?

At a photography class in London last month, we discussed this predicament. All of us agreed we'd find it nearly impossible to walk away during a situation in which someone was suffering, without doing what we could to help. Of course there are times when one's own life is in danger and a choice may not be possible.

Recently I was at the French hairdresser, anxious about the way one can never quite pass muster in the intense scrutiny of certain impossibly thin, chic French women. Reading The Bang-Bang Club put it all in perspective, as the women around me chattered and gossiped about trivial things.

Open Shutters: Iraq

Seems silly to be concerned about the opinion of strangers, when far more important things are going on all around us. Open Shutters: Iraq is a new documentary by filmmaker Maysoon Pachachi. It traces the stories of 12 Iraqi women who meet in Damascus to learn photography. They then take their newfound skills and return to Iraq, telling stories with their photographs. Later, they return to Syria to edit their photos and write their stories.

One child even participated in the project, taking photos of her friends. Learn more here and here. The film begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 at the Opera Plaza Cinema in San Francisco.

A book featuring the Open Shutters: Iraq photographs will be released soon.

Poverty and human rights

A new book stresses the link between economic rights and human rights. The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights is written by Irene Khan, the outgoing secretary-general of Amnesty International.  In a profile in The Independent, Khan talks about her disillusion with Amnesty's current role in human rights work.

Fall preview

Bikes, boats and canal houses at twilight, Amsterdam.

You may not be ready to kiss summer goodbye, but the prospect of fall fills me with excitement. In September, it's not just a birthday that makes me happy; it's the sense of possibility; the first hint of a chill in the air; the colours; the clothes. To mark my birthday, I'm joining other September babies in donating to Charity Water, which helps provide clean drinking water around the world.

My fall diary looks promising. First, there's a week-long photography course in London, fall clothes-shopping and chatty dinners with old friends. Later in September, there'll be teas and dinners with friends visiting Paris. I'll meet my blogging buddy Marilyn for the first time.  My friend Joan, the fascinating proprietor of San Francisco's Timeless Treasures will be in town.  I'll also be escorting my partner-in-crime Di Overton to the brocante at Chatou, hunting for goodies for Ghost Furniture.

Photo shoots in both Paris and the Loire Valley are planned for an upcoming book about French antiquaires and their private spaces. Early in October, David and I will holiday in Scotland and various points in England. In Northumberland, we'll visit Di and Harvey. Can't wait to see their renovated cottage (and sneak a few photos)! In Oxford, we'll visit David's daughter Marie-Claire, as well as Barbara and Barry, the lovely couple whose wedding the gorgeous Gillian and I were privileged to witness last December in New York.

November kicks off with the usual brocante at Bastille. I'll be brushing up on my Arabic in preparation for  spending Thanksgiving and early December in Amman and Petra, Jordan, working on interviews and photo essays. I'll also make sure arrangements for our expedition March 1-8, 2010 are exactly as expected.

We still have two or three spots left; want to come along with Alex and me for an unforgettable adventure? Check out our Journey to Jordan website, then email me with any questions.

This fall I'll also be making a concerted effort to walk and bike more to build up my stamina (to carry heavy photo gear around for extended periods of time); to clear more clutter by selling some antiques and collectibles and to read more and worry less.

What's kick-starting your fall? Any plans for travel or launching new projects or creative ventures? Do tell!

P.S. If you like books and appreciate Brit humour and irony, you may enjoy Me and My Big Mouth. I especially like his criteria for getting rid of books. Note to self: Must do this!

A helping hand

Photo of Kelaya and her two-month-old baby Marcus in San Francisco by Julie Michelle.

Kelaya's story is a poignant one. After fleeing an abusive husband, she's struggling to house and care for three children. While numerous social programs and shelters in San Francisco are designed to help in such instances, those shelters currently are full and social workers are unable to offer immediate assistance. Kelaya and her family have little choice other than to wait.

Meanwhile, Kelaya attends domestic violence classes and makes sure the two older children get to school and after-school programs, as well as necessary doctor and dentist appointments.

Soon, Kelaya will begin receiving assistance, including a small monthly stipend, food stamps and health care. But until she met my friend Julie (Tangobaby),sadly, begging on the street was Kelaya's sole option to pay for a room and food for her children.

As Julie says, "...until she can find a stable home and work, anything we can do will help her and her family immensely. Kelaya doesn't smoke, drink or take drugs. But she had a husband who almost killed her ... and it's taking all of her strength and bravery to get through this difficult time."

To learn about many ways you can help Kelaya, please go here. If you can't help financially, there are several other opportunities to assist Kelaya, not least by sending email to help boost her morale. Please direct all messages for Kelaya and any offers of support to tangobaby2@gmail.com. A Paypal link for Kelaya has been set up at Tangobaby. Thank you!

Photo of Kameko taken by her brother Dorian.

Up close and personal

Orange ranuculus from a bouquet on my dining table.

Am hosting guests this weekend, so will leave you with these photos and food for thought here, here and here.

Coveted curiosities

Antiques and vintage musical instruments, Salmagundi West, Gastown, Vancouver, B.C.

Miscellaneous items, Salmagundi West, 321 West Cordova Street, Vancouver.

Antique puppet, Maison d'Etre, Oakland, California.

Plush toys, Maison d'Etre.

"Dear John" vitrine, Shop SCAD, Savannah.

Vintage library card catalogue, The Paris Market, Savannah.

Antique safe deposit boxes, The Ballastone Inn, Savannah.

Timeless Treasures, San Francisco.

Grooves Records, San Francisco.

Tara Bradford is traveling. In her absence, timed posts should appear.

Do it for you

Frida Kahlo image in tiles, Mexican restaurant, The Mission, San Francisco.

"I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration." - Frida Kahlo, 1907-1954.

"Sacred"cape by Megan Fluegel at the Fibers Exhibition, the Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, Ga. The cape is made of reclaimed wool suiting and fur collar, wool, raw silk and various cottons, with free-motion and hand embroidery, sewn construction.

Tara Bradford is traveling. In her absence, timed posts should appear.

An anti-Twitter stream of consciousness

A corner of my cabinet d'curiosities, Paris.

Update March 26: Read Di Overton's take on the subject: "Twitter away, I'm not playing."

Lately, I've been feeling completely overwhelmed by the tasks at hand. Book rewrites that are taking longer than expected, forcing me to revisit old wounds; an apartment that feels claustrophobic, after spending too many hours at the computer; a family situation that's made me realise how little control we really have in this life.

So today, instead of doing what I was supposed to, I went for a walk. I had tabouleh and coucous and yoghurt with cucumber and olive foccacia for lunch. I wondered if having breast-reduction surgery might make it easier to carry heavy camera gear around - but when would I have the time? Of course, the real reason to consider that surgery is back pain from being top-heavy. Can you imagine what it's like to live in a city filled with glamorous lingerie, but all the bras are the sizes we wore as teenagers? Sigh. But I am very reluctant to undergo surgery that requires anesthesia, unless absolutely necessary. Have you had this surgery? Were you pleased with the results?

OK, that was an unexpected diversion in this stream-of-consciousness post. And here's another: Why are girls still being force-fed in Mauritania? This is child abuse, not to mention barbaric!

Last night I watched the DVD of The Tudors until 3 a.m. (and slept in today). All that palace intrigue - thank goodness women no longer are subjected to having their children housed elsewhere, at the whim of their husbands.

I also edited some photos for a magazine piece and played with my camera. I talked to my husband, who's in Vienna for a conference; then answered some email. Why do companies keep emailing about "unique partnership opportunities with Paris Parfait," which really means they want me to link to their company, without them paying for a text ad? Do you get such requests?

I read the news with skepticism, dismay and delight and curiosity. And I am still hopeful - really hopeful - that things will improve for us all.

But don't ask me to Twitter - I get lots of those emails too - because if you've waded through this post, that's pretty much like a day's worth of Twitter feeds. I don't have the time for Twitter - and how do YOU find the time? And who really cares about the minutia of my life? Isn't that just too much information?

I was at a BlogHer seminar in San Francisco last July and the girl next to me spent 90 minutes "twittering" to her friends about buying clothes online. I wondered why she bothered to attend the session, as she obviously wasn't interested in the subject. But all you Twitter followers, don't let me dampen your enthusiasm. Twitter away! If you find the time, please tell me why you find the Twitter trend so appealing.

P.S. Some of my dearest friends have enthusiastically embraced Twitter; please don't take my opinion as a personal affront. It's not you, it's Twitter!

Thoughts for the weekend

Pamper yourself. Really. You deserve it!

Sit for a spell, as we say in the South. Read; write; play a game; chat. Or just sit and think.

Relax and stop worrying about things you can't control.

Take your time; stop racing around as though your hair's on fire, as Condoleeza would say.

Think about it: Life is too short not to indulge yourself once in a while!

All vignettes are from the uber-talented and utterly charming Joan O'Connor at her fabulous store Timeless Treasures in San Francisco. More photos from Joan's incredible selection of treasures coming soon.

I am anxious to get back to San Francisco to see what Joan has come up with lately, as her shop is constantly-evolving with delightful curiosities old and new! If you're in San Francisco, stop in and say hello. Joan and/or her talented staff will make you feel very welcome. And you'll find it difficult to resist the tempting treats on offer!

Scroll down the page for another post today.

Bits and pieces

A little "corner" of my workspace. The painting and bird are by Vanessa Valencia. The globe is Napoleon III, the basalt candlestick holders are Empire and the books are 18th-century French.

I am dealing with a family issue that is causing stress and wreaking havoc with my concentration. Will answer your email and catch up with your blogs soon. Meanwhile, I'm trying to remain calm, keep an objective outlook and an open heart. My friend Julie has posted some lovely San Francisco photos for me today. See for yourself!

Thoughts on creativity and deadlines

From Julia Cameron's The Sound of Paper:

"...Many of us set an impossibly high goal of productivity for ourselves. We want to finish the novel by next week and if we can't do that, we're a failure. We want the energy to work all night, to burn the candle at both ends, no matter how exhausted and burned-out such behaviors leave us. When we set our creative jumps too high, we often refuse to jump them. "Not today," we say and defer our creativity one more day.

"It is better and healthier to set our creative jumps within our creative reach. Take pen in hand. Is there an arena in which you set your goal improbably high? Write about this. Having done a thorough inventory of your creative self-sabotage, set a new creative quotient that you will be able to meet with some ease. Take your creative goal and plan it out. What do you want to have done a year from now? Six months from now? One month from now? One week from now? Working "backward" in this way allows you to set realistic creative goals."

Where's the real story?

San Francisco Chronicle readers have to go elsewhere for the real story behind the newspaper's perils. Read David Cay Johnston's insightful piece in the Columbia Journalism Review.

And the Rocky Mountain News is the latest longtime newspaper to bite the dust.

Just write.

Window-shopping, North Beach, San Francisco.

An excerpt from Bonnie Friedman's book Writing past Dark:

"In New York I saw a Buddhist monk making a sand mandala. He had six or seven bowls of colored sand - egg-yolk orange, midnight blue, dusty gray among them - and a metal cone the size of a bull's horn, which had a tiny hole at the end. The monk scooped a bit of sand into the cone and when he tapped, a trickle of sand beaded out of the hole a few grains at a time. With this he painted elaborate, complicated scenes: a procession of elephants looped tail to trunk, many-tiered palaces, flying birds, regal tigers, each intricate quarter of the design mirroring the opposite quarter in byzantine symmetry, the entire disk perhaps four feet across.

"In the hour I watched - this was in the Museum of Natural History, at the raging height of an apocalyptically hot summer - the monk shaped the tail of a lion. First he used yellow. Then he shaded with an echoing curve of red, then white. The tail shimmered like a flame.

"It was a meditation to construct this mandala. It was being drawn for the spiritual benefit of the artist and of those people who would see it. The monk leaned intently over his trickle of sand. It would take three months to finish the work. It would take hundreds of hours of steady focus. Then, when it was done - kaput! He'd throw it to the wind. Or he would take it and toss it into the sea "for," a sign explained, "the spiritual benefit of the fish."

"This is how it is with mandalas. With them, it's all in the doing. When they're done, they're gone. How can he bear it? I thought. In every tap of the funnel there is farewell. In every moment of the wrist, good-bye, bood-bye. The reward for the effort is giving it to the wind, giving it to the fish in the sea, doing it to be doing it, not to have it done."

It's up to us

It seems to me that every writer and artist experiences much the same thing. We create art, then release it to the wind. We can't know how people will react; if their thoughts will be the same as ours when we wrote the words, put brush to canvas or picked up a camera. All art is subjective. People see what they want to see, according to their unique philosophies; their life experiences and travels; their cultures and traditions. To worry about reactions to our work is futile. Our job is simply to create.

In his novel The Dork of Cork, author Chet Raymo writes about the importance of following one's passion, rather than listening to the opinions of others. "Just paint," one character tells another, who repeats it to herself like a mantra. And she paints.

All too often we censor ourselves, worried what others might think. Instead, we should focus on creating work that depicts truth and beauty.

Just paint. Just write. Just create.

Store in Chinatown, San Francisco.

Bon voyage, Tina!

Buddha statue, North Beach, San Francisco.

My friend Tina is returning to the United States next week, after a six-month secondment in Paris. I am sad to see her go. Today we had our last "outing" - shopping at Tresors de Chine, a renowned Asian antiques shop on rue Marcadet near Montmartre and lunch at a perfectly-delightful Art Nouveau-style brasserie. Comme d'habitude as of late, I managed to create quite the spectacle - as we were leaving, my totebag hit the edge of a waitress's tray, causing it to topple and scatter coins all over the floor. Of course she was very kind and said "It's not important," in response to my apologies. I was relieved it happened as we were departing, rather than as we entered.

Guess it was my day for minor mishaps. Early this morning, my husband arrived from Washington and went straight to sleep. As I was leaving the apartment, I tripped over his luggage, my foot got caught in his briefcase strap and I landed hard on my knee, with my head slamming into a wooden chest. After inspecting the damage, I sorted myself out and limped to the metro to meet Tina at Sevres-Babylon. Despite my late arrival, she was patiently waiting and we had a lovely shopping expedition and lunch. I bought a 19th-century hand-painted wooden sewing box. Tina admired the unusual pieces on offer, but decided nothing else could fit in her luggage.

Originally from Texas, Tina is bright and beautiful, with a wicked sense of humor. She tells wonderfully-entertaining stories of her varied travels and her life. And she's a good listener, who always seems to know exactly what advice to dispense, when needed. She's one of my few friends who truly appreciates my collections and asks questions about the background and provenance of everything. She's always up for exploring something or someplace new. And she's become a faithful reader of my blog, so this is for you, dear Tina. Wish we'd had more time together in Paris. I'll miss you, but will see you in Washington!

Scroll down the page for another post today.

News and views

North Beach, San Francisco, viewed from Telegraph Hill.

Today has been a valiant struggle not to let French bureaucracy get the best of me. Frankly, I'd rather be in San Francisco at the moment, having dinner at my favourite trattoria in North Beach. Anyone have a Bay Area writing or photography assignment that requires my presence there toute de suite??!!

Even a horse wanted to run away from Paris today.

Racism cloaked in the guise of "humor"

So disappointing to read that once again, Rupert Murdoch's "newspaper" goes too far.

McCain's former economic advisor fails to help UBS

Yet another reminder that we dodged a bullet by defeating the Republican presidential ticket. Remember John McCain's chief economic adviser, former US Senator Phil Gramm? The one who received big bucks in his role as advisor to Swiss bank UBS? Seems UBS has been forced to admit its role in conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service. The bank will pay $780 million in damages and close all offshore accounts of its American clients. Apparently, secret accounts of about 19,000 Americans are being exposed and investigated.

When Gramm was chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, he helped pass banking deregulation laws. One of them was the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which in 1999 removed Depression-era laws separating banking,insurance and brokerage activities.

The Creative Entrepreneur

Don't forget to go here to enter the giveaway for a copy of The Creative Entrepreneur.

Coit Tower at twilight, San Francisco.

Ordinary Sparkling Moments

Painting from the Southern California-based artist Christine Mason Miller's "Cuba" series.

If you're not familiar with Christine Mason Miller's wonderful art and writing, here's a tip: buy her book Ordinary Sparkling Moments! It's an absolute treasure trove of inspiration and beauty.

I met Christine last July at a brunch in San Francisco that Alex and I hosted for bloggers. When I saw Christine's painting (above), I immediately asked if I could buy it. I was attracted by the aqua (one of my favorite colors) and the ethereal image of a saint, but especially by the quote, "Who I thought I was is crumbling and I have yet to discover what is going to emerge." I was thrilled when Christine said yes. Happily, the painting fit in my luggage.

You can order Ordinary Sparkling Moments and/or Christine's art here and here. Visit her blog for regular doses of inspiring art, images and musings.

Now, voyager.

A vignette of 19th-century ivory opera glasses, an ivory notebook,lined with aqua silk moire - a gift from my friend Gabrielle - and sea shells on a French creamware platter.

Now, voyager is one of my favourite films. An early 19th-century pocket-sized bibliotheque du voyageur or "library" of essays that a French explorer read on his travels in Africa.

My Banana Republic Correspondent's Bag from San Francisco has accompanied me on most of my journeys as a journalist for more than 20 years. I also have a Banana Republic leather passport case that holds travel documents and several currencies. The latter is looking rather the worse for wear, so I no longer carry it on assignments. Still, I can't bring myself to part with it!

Recently I was looking at camera bags and discovered that Billingham in England manufactures beautiful, yet functional camera bags remarkably similar to my correspondent's bag. Since that bag was made in England, perhaps Billingham produced it for Banana Republic.

The Banana Republic logo. These days Banana Republic sadly has abandoned its travel and safari-styled gear for more pedestrian fare.

And I've linked this award-winning video before, but can't resist doing it again. This short film artfully expresses so much about journeys and their impact on our lives.

What's your most memorable journey? Do tell!

Don't forget to go here to enter the giveaway celebrating three years of blogging at Paris Parfait. Three winners will be drawn on Tuesday, Feb. 3rd.

P.S. It snowed again. Here's the melting remnants from a rather bedraggled palm on my balcony:

Super Bowl mania

No matter which team wins, remember, it's only a game. I'm just sayin'.

Here, have a mini banana split; you'll feel better.

If football's not your thing, take a look at Christina's beautiful photo of Nikki Giovanni, with the bonus of a poem.

Photos (top) from Farmers' Market, Embarcadero and Andalus, San Francisco.

Give peace a chance

Laughing Buddhas, Chinatown, San Francisco.

Marilyn of Delights of the Heart is the winner of the giveaway for Pema Chodron's book Practicing Peace in Times of War. Thanks to all who participated! It is hoped you'll have better luck during the next giveaway.

Thankful...

My cousins Pam (left) and Jenni (right) and my daughter Jordana in July in San Francisco.

Today we Americans pause to give thanks for our many blessings. I am thankful for my family and friends; for long-awaited dreams unfolding and for a smart new president to lead our nation forward. I am thankful we can hope for brighter days ahead, ripe with possibility and opportunity.

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving filled with lovely, memorable moments and good food.

Please spare thoughts and prayers for the people of Mumbai.

Your voice matters

"Your voice matters." A tiny collage by California-based artist Christine Mason Miller is displayed in a French miniature scientific globe. Visit Christine's etsy shop to see her latest creations or to order a copy of her inspiring book Ordinary Sparkling Moments. Also pictured is a Sevilla processional crown made of Mexican silver, against a backdrop of books.

Irish actor Gabriel Byrne inscribed his Pictures in my Head book for me when we met in 1996 in San Francisco. Salon has just bestowed Byrne with the title of "rugged intellectual" in their "sexiest men living" list.

In memoriam: Miriam Makeba 1932-2008

Sad news today that a powerful voice has been silenced. Singer Miriam Makeba died of a heart attack after performing in a concert organized in support of writer Roberto Saviano The writer has been forced into hiding in his stand against the Camorra, a mafia-like organisation in Castel Volturno near Caserta, Italy.

I had the great privilege of seeing Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela perform in 1994 at the Warwick Theatre in San Francisco. Ms. Makeba's music was once banned by South Africa's apartheid government. In San Francisco, she talked about living in exile and her great joy that for the first time in her life she was able to vote in Nelson Mandela's South Africa.

Not only was Makeba an outstanding musician, she was a tireless human rights activist. In 1960, Makeba tried to return to South Africa for her mother's funeral, but her passport had been revoked. In 1963, she testified against apartheid before the United Nations.  Subsequently, her South African citizenship and her right to return were revoked, until Nelson Mandela came to power.

Makeba won the Dag Hammarskjöld Peace Prize in 1986, as well as numerous other awards and recognition for her work, both as a singer and an activist. Read more about Makeba's remarkable life here and here.

Venom-packed emails and fighting back

Be afraid. Be very afraid. The Hate Talk Express is speeding down the track, trying to distort and suppress truth and skewer reason. On Tuesday I received another email filled with hateful nonsense about Obama - lies that have been thoroughly debunked by numerous independent groups and fact-checking organisations. The message was sent to my business account, from a high school friend's second husband. I've never met him and didn't know he was a right-wing Conservative. And he apparently didn't know I have a blog and am an Obama supporter.

After reading the innuendo-strewn missive, I wrote him back, saying such idiotic allegations have been disproved. I directed him to some fact-check websites. I told him "I'm proudly voting for Obama, because he's the best man for the job. And all the smear campaigns in the world can't change that fact." After sending my response, I made another online donation to Obama for America. So there!

Speaking of which, the McCain campaign's conference call Monday with reporters called for transparency about individual donors making small donations. I think the Obama campaign's transparency is not an issue. Last week, Obama campaign headquarters in Chicago phoned me in Paris, asking for my passport number to verify I'm a US citizen. Because, unlike the previous donations I've made online to the campaign, the last one (before Tuesday) was made via my friend Tangobaby's Movie Marathon in San Francisco, a fund-raiser for Obama. As I couldn't attend the event in person, I sent money via Paypal for a donation in my name. Hence the Obama campaign's call to confirm that I was an American citizen abroad, as it is illegal to accept donations from non-American residents of other countries.

Bob Herbert writes in the New York Times about the Republicans' attempts to suppress votes. An excerpt:

"...Even better than demonizing opponents is the more powerful and direct act of taking the vote away from their opponents’ supporters. The Republican Party has made strenuous efforts in recent years to prevent Democrats from voting and to prevent their votes from being properly counted once they’ve been cast.

"Which brings me to the phony Acorn scandal.

"John McCain, who placed his principles in a blind trust once the presidential race heated up, warned the country during the presidential debate last week that Acorn, which has been registering people to vote by the hundreds of thousands, was “on the verge of maybe perpetrating one of the greatest frauds in voter history.”

"It turns out that a tiny percentage of these new registrations are bogus, with some of them carrying ludicrous names like Mickey Mouse. Republicans have tried to turn this into a mighty oak of a scandal, with Mr. McCain thundering at the debate that it “may be destroying the fabric of democracy.”

"Please. The Times put the matter in perspective when it said in an editorial that Acorn needs to be more careful with some aspects of its voter-registration process. It needs to do a better job selecting canvassers, among other things.

“But,” the editorial added, “for all of the McCain campaign’s manufactured fury about vote theft (and similar claims from the Republican Party over the years) there is virtually no evidence — anywhere in the country, going back many elections — of people showing up at the polls and voting when they are not entitled to.”

"Two important points need to be made here. First, the reckless attempt by Senator McCain, Sarah Palin and others to fan this into a major scandal has made Acorn the target of vandals and a wave of hate calls and e-mail. Acorn staff members have been threatened and sickening, murderous comments have been made about supporters of Barack Obama. (Senator Obama had nothing to do with Acorn’s voter-registration drives.)

"Second, when it comes to voting, the real threat to democracy is the nonstop campaign by the G.O.P. and its supporters to disenfranchise American citizens who have every right to cast a ballot. We saw this in 2000. We saw it in 2004. And we’re seeing it again now.

"In Montana, the Republican Party challenged the registrations of thousands of legitimate voters based on change-of-address information available from the Post Office. These specious challenges were made — surprise, surprise — in Democratic districts. Answering the challenges would have been a wholly unnecessary hardship for the voters, many of whom were students or members of the armed forces.

"In the face of widespread public criticism (even the Republican lieutenant governor weighed in), the party backed off.

"That sort of thing is widespread. In one politically crucial state after another — in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, you name it — the G.O.P. has unleashed foot soldiers whose insidious mission is to make the voting process as difficult as possible — or, better yet, impossible — for citizens who are believed to favor Democrats.

"For Senator McCain to flip reality on its head and point to an overwhelmingly legitimate voter-registration effort as a “threat to the fabric of democracy” is a breathtaking exercise in absurdity..."

• Meanwhile, John McCain appears delusional; insists his campaign is about the economy, yet talks about Bill Ayers and other stupid distractions.
• After two Republican congresspersons - both McCain supporters - make abhorrent statements, they lie about what they said - even though the video evidence is clear for all to see.
• Keith Olbermann calls McCain out for his silence, as Republicans try to inflame hatred against those who disagree with their narrow-minded "base."
• Sarah Palin still doesn't understand the vice president's responsibilities, as evidenced in her incorrect response to a third-grader's question. But she does know how to get the State of Alaska to pay for her children's travel expenses! Also, she knows how to shop, while someone else is paying.
  

Looking for a socialist? Uh, that would be Bush.

McCain and Palin, desperately trying to find smokescreens to detract from their lack of ideas, keep casting aspersions about Obama having socialist tendencies. Not only are their claims ridiculous, they're dead wrong. It wasn't Obama who nationalized America's banks: that would be the sociaist George W. Bush and McCain as his biggest supporter. I've said it before: Bush + McCain = More of the same. What a shame, McCain.

Paris Parfait featured by the International Museum of Women

On Monday, I was thrilled to receive a message from the International Museum of Women in San Francisco, saying Paris Parfait has been included in their online exhibition:

"We are pleased to announce that Paris Parfait was selected to be featured in the Women, Power and Politics online exhibition at the International Museum of Women. Her recent posts about U.S. Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin were included in a story with other women bloggers from around the world who are discussing Palin. View the story here: http://www.imow.org/wpp/stories/viewStory?storyId=1698."

Women, Power and Politics is a multi-media, global online exhibition available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. From March 8 to December 31, 2008, the exhibition focuses on a provocative new topic each month and features submissions from artists, activists and organizations doing work related to exhibition topics.

You can get involved in Women, Power and Politics by reading the exhibition stories, signing up for a profile in the community, participating in a conversation, submitting your work to an exhibition topic, or taking a recommended action to support women's political participation around the world. Start exploring the exhibition at www.imow.org/wpp.

The Yes We Can banner

In case you didn't notice, there's a new banner here, reflecting my optimism that by working together, we can help elect Sen. Barack Obama as president of the United States. The "Yes We Can" fence belongs to a family in San Francisco's Inner Sunset. I'd really like to meet them, because I admire their bold, audacious statement, reflecting the courage of their conviction.

When my friend TangoBaby told me in March about the fence, I asked her to take a photo and she kindly obliged. Recently she agreed I could use the photo in a masthead. She's also written about the Obama fence. Brian Rowan, the talented IT guy who puts together my banners, has lately been working on a new batch. I asked him to use the Obama fence photo, along with other images to create two pre-election banners. He got the logo from the Obama for America website and combined it with the "Yes We Can" fence. Et voila! YES WE CAN!

Read more about Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Joe Biden's plans for improving our country at Obama for America.

The Aga Khan's Zarkava expected to triumph at Longchamp

The winner of one of the Arc weekend races last fall at Longchamp.

You may have noticed my banners lately reflect a horse-racing theme. That's in honour of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Europe's biggest flat race on Sunday, Oct. 5 at Hippodrome de Longchamp. The Aga Khan-bred filly Zarkava is expected to win the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe. Top-class three-year-olds are hard to beat in the Arc. After a mid-season break by trainer Alain De Royer-Dupré, Zarkava should hold her own, guided by popular French jockey Christophe Soumillon.

In the Observer, Eddie Frementale writes about Zarkava's chances. Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien's Soldier of Fortune and Duke of Marmalade are also expected to be strong contenders for the Arc title race, along with Jaber Abdullah's Youmzain and Sheik Mohammed's Schiaparelli.

The Arc weekend festivities are the jewel in the crown of French racing. Races begin Saturday, Oct. 4, with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday afternoon. That's also the day women wear stylish hats, so I shall be there with my camera (and wearing an Italian hat purchased in San Francisco).

Europe's largest flat-race was inaugurated in 1920, in celebration of the Allies' victory in World War I. Racing at Longchamp began on Sunday, April 27, 1857. Napoleon III and his wife Eugénie sailed down the Seine on their yacht to watch the third race. Until 1930, many Parisians came to the track on steamboats via the Pont de Suresnes. These days they're more likely to take the metro or a bus. Luckily, for me Longchamp is just across the street! And thousands of Brits either take Eurostar or chartered buses to cross the Channel for the special occasion.

A little ray of sunshine

Flowers, San Francisco.

The wonderful sunshine girl Anjie - aka Ms. Studiowellspring - is the proud mother of a beautiful new baby!

Alesia Marie was born September 22 in San Francisco. Both mommy and baby are doing well. Stop by Anjie's blog to welcome her precious little peach.

Hard to believe that less than two months ago, Anjie was taking Tangobaby and me on a wild ride in her lemon-yellow Mini, tearing up and down the steep hills of San Francisco.

Another night Anjie unexpectedly had a starring role in Christian Cagigal's fantastic magic show. I'm betting little Alesia will share her mother's spirit of adventure and zest for life!

Julie Michelle's remarkable photographs of Chinatown

Stockton Street view, Chinatown, San Francisco. Photo by Julie Michelle.

This week I was thrilled to receive a copy of Julie Michelle's Chinatown: San Francisco Series, Vol. 1. The photographer - luckily for me also a very good friend - sent the book as a birthday gift.

Julie's book has made me wish I had a room with blank walls, so I could order prints of these outstanding images and frame them in a photo montage.

Even if you're unfamiliar with San Francisco's Chinatown, you'll appreciate the artsy and unusual views off the tourist track, beautifully captured in Julie's photographs. She's spent so many lunch hours in Chinatown with her trusty Canon, seeking out hidden whimsy, I daresay she knows her way around better than many locals.

To order a book for yourself, visit Julie's website here. She'll soon have her site arranged to sell her photographs too, so check back when you can.

Lawsuits against NSA, AT&T for warrantless spying

Temporary facade, Chinatown, San Francisco. AT&T's new customer service agreements might as well be in Mandarin or Cantonese - for non-speakers - as it contains so much legal language buried within its 2,500 pages.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has filed a new lawsuit againt the National Security Agency (NSA) and other government agencies and officials, redoubling their efforts in the fight against warrantless wiretapping. Jewel v. NSA is aimed at "ending the NSA's dragnet surveillance of millions of ordinary Americans and holding accountable those responsible for creating, authorizing, and implementing the illegal program, including President Bush and Vice President Cheney.," EFF said. For more information, go here.

New book explores Cheney's role in spying

A book about the NSA's illegal spying program has just been released. Barton Gellman's "Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency," reveals new information about the warrantless wiretapping scandal and Dick Cheney's role in it. Cheney and his lawyer, the book reports, were so intent on keeping the spying program behind a veil of secrecy that details were withheld even from top national security officials - including Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice and the "Gang of Eight," the ranking senators ordinarily kept in the loop on national security matters.

Lawsuits against AT&T continue

EFF's litigation is continuing in Hepting v. AT&T, the first case filed against a telecom for violating its customers' privacy by allowing warrantless surveillance. Several months ago, Congress passed the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, which was intended to force the dismissal of Hepting v. AT&T and numerous other telecom lawsuits. EFF is working to challenge this law and hold the telecoms accountable for their illegal behavior. More here.

AT&T actions draw ire of California regulators

Meanwhile, in California, AT&T is being questioned over its customer service agreements. The Los Angeles Times reports AT&T has sent customers an 8,000-word service agreement that says customers will be given 30-day notice of price increases only when "commercially reasonable" and that you can't sue the company.

If you don't like AT&T's terms -- contained in the company's 2,500-page "guidebook" provided only online -- your only recourse is to cancel service.

State regulators are considering whether the AT&T service agreement violates the law and unfairly limits customers' rights. And the California Public Utilities Commission's Division of Ratepayer Advocates is protesting AT&T's attempt to remove numerous services from regulatory scrutiny, before they're offered to customers.

An analysis of the agreement prepared for PUC staffers found fault with several AT&T provisions, including this one: "You also agree to pay for all charges for services provided under this agreement even if such calls were not authorized by you." The analysis said this "is in direct violation to cramming laws," which protect consumers from unauthorized charges on their bills.

Political cartoons

Check out the tragi-comic political cartoons of the week.

And who knew about Sarah Palin's direct association with a Kenyan witch-hunter?

The Anchorage Daily News points out that Palin has surrendered important gubernatorial duties to the McCain campaign staff. Is that even legal?

Lost in London

Travel Bookstore sign, Upper Market Street, San Francisco.

Lost in London? Deliberately lost, of course. For the next few days, no American politics and no French bureaucracy. Instead, I'll be taking care of business - and having fun - in one of my favourite cities. See you soon!

Scroll down the page for two additional posts today.

Artistry created with natural woods

A buckeye burlwood pottery bowl inlaid with turquoise, handmade by San Francisco artisan Bruce Abbott.

Bruce Abbott in his One of a Kind shop and studio at 900 Northpoint Street, Ghiradelli Square, San Francisco. In 1994, Abbott opened the shop where his unique wood creations are showcased. The work of other local artists is also sold here. (Ed. note: I had trouble taking this photo, as there were so many sources of bright light in Abbott's studio.)

This buckeye burlwood piece has natural edges, with two gold nuggets worked into the design.

Kelly Rae Roberts: Taking flight

Taking Flight: Inspiration & Techniques to Give Your Creative Spirit Wings (and a limited edition print) by the wonderful and talented Kelly Rae Roberts. Her story - and her art - will inspire you to jolt your own creative spirit wide awake.

Tracey Clark (left), Kelly Rae Roberts and Marianne Elliot pictured at a brunch Alex de Souza and I hosted in July at Samovar, San Francisco.

My signed copy of Taking Flight arrived on Thursday, along with a limited edition print of Kelly Rae's painting Harmony. Such an inspiring book! Not only does it encourage the artist in each of us, it reminds us to be fearless and unafraid when trying new things.

An excerpt:

"Taking action against fear also means embracing the notion of unlearning ourselves - breaking down the walls we've built to keep us safe until we see ourselves as we did when we were eight years old: brave, creative, curious, alive. So often, we think the older we get, the more answers we'll have. We associate wisdom with age. While there's some truth to this, perhaps we can, in reality, best appreciate our true, uninhibited selves with who we were when we were younger. I think we knew who we were in essence and in pure creative spirit, when we were eight, nine, ten years old, before we let fear enter our world and spoil our vision. Who were you in those years? What did you love to do? What made you happy? What would your life be like if you reclaimed that spirit, that childlike wonder and made it part of who you are today?

"...We can begin to see and remember the best parts of ourselves and in turn, begin to surrender ourselves to our very own possibility. We can remember our fearless selves, our inspired selves, our joyful selves. It's all possible. One step at a time. We were born for this journey - fears, struggles, love, inspiration, all of it. And we were born with a set of our very own wings. Sometimes, we just have to rediscover them."

The book also features contributing artists including Christine Mason Miller and Mati Rose McDonough, both whom I had the pleasure to meet. Taking Flight offers guidelines to many creative projects, as well as space to write your own notes and ideas. You can order a copy directly from Kelly Rae or from Amazon.com.

Kelly Rae, Christine and Mati also host various art workshops. The next one begins Wednesday, Sept. 10 (which just happens to be my birthday) at Squam Lake, New Hampshire. I'll be in London, but would rather be at Squam!

Kelly Rae and Mati are hosting an art retreat Oct. 25-Nov. 1 in Cortona, Italy. How fabulous is that - not only art, but art in Tuscany??!! If I didn't have to be elsewhere, I'd sign up! Go here to find out more and register.

Meanwhile, help kick-start your creativity with a copy of Taking Flight! You won't be disappointed.

Lessons from limited space

Birdcage art doll by Sandra Evertson.

Despite my steadfast rule about "one thing comes in, another goes out," I have collected lots of treasures, with too little space to house them. Lately I've started to feel suffocated by all the "things" around me, beautiful as they are. So in a quest for more space - and room to breathe - on Tuesday, my friend Di Overton is coming over with a van and we're going to fill it with items, possibly for her Ghost Furniture line or for whatever use she sees fit.

Among the items departing are four stained-glass panels (from a circular stairway in a 19th-century Paris apartment building); two tall wooden folding screens; an Art Deco chair; a Napoleon III table; a Directoire table; an English Arts & Crafts table; a small wrought iron daybed; a child's wooden Windsor chair; a wooden stool; a large mirror; four lamps and assorted curiosities. Many of these items have been stored in the cave (wine cellar); taking them away will enable me to move furniture - that I want to keep - from the apartment to the cave.

I must say seeing all these things grouped together awaiting pickup is a bit disconcerting. And I'm reluctant to bid farewell to the Art Deco chair and the Directoire table. At the same time, I feel as though a burden has lightened - it's freeing to let these things go.

For many years I lived like a gypsy, traveling from place to place as a journalist. Very few things went with me - clothes, jewelry, toiletries, a few favourite books, music and framed photos. That's the way I liked it - easier to move around, without worrying about the fate of expensive treasures. In the US, whenever I started to feel too comfortable and settled, I'd sell my furniture and move.

In 1993, I left nine suitcases behind in Jordan. Having traveled to the US to visit family, I'd intended to return to retrieve the bags. Then I was planning to move to London with a man with whom I was involved romantically. But he disappointed me; instead of returning to Amman, I flew to San Francisco. I expect someone took advantage of our left luggage, wearing our clothes and using our things (I do regret losing Jordana's childhood collection of about 30 Barbie dolls, although she later collected a few more).

During the 1989 earthquake, I was living in San Francisco for the first time. I'd sold my furniture and all my precious and sentimental things were packed up and stored at a friend's apartment, in preparation for returning to the Middle East on assignment. Two days after the earthquake, a colleague went to the Marina district to retrieve whatever belongings she could in the few minutes allotted (as the structures were considered unsafe). She'd loaded her car and started the ignition, ready to drive away when a policeman motioned for her to come over.

As she started walking towards him, an electrical pole crashed down on her car, flattening it and destroying everything inside. Of course her attitude was that she may not have her material things, but she had her life.

One New Year's Eve, friends in Virginia had gone to bed early and taken night-time pain medicine for aches and pains of the flu. About 2 a.m. they were awakened by someone pounding on their door. They stumbled downstairs, still drowsy from the cold medication. Just as they opened the door, a stranger grabbed them and pulled them off their porch, shouting, "Get out, get out, your house is on fire!"

At that very moment, the roof collapsed and the house burned to the ground, taking all their possessions, including some special art pieces acquired during their postings around the world. The stranger - who was lost, driving through the wrong neighbourhood - stopped when he saw flames licking the roof of my friends' home. His intervention literally saved their lives.

So I tried to embrace that "at least you are alive to tell" philosophy months later, when on assignment in the Middle East, my so-called friend in San Francisco disappeared, taking my valuables with her (or maybe she gave them away). I was distraught about losing my grandmother's quilt, some special gifts, photographs and love letters. Since then, I've tried not to get too attached to things. I frequently give things to Jordana or to friends. I give clothes and household items to charity. My decor is ever-evolving, although a few old favourites I hope will remain.

But I don't count on that. I think about the monks who spend 15 years building a magnificent temple, then destroy it and start another. I think about refugees around the world who are driven from their homes, forced to flee conflict and war. I think about the victims of natural disasters, such as the flooding in India or the hurricane currently bearing down on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast - a cruel trick for an area still recovering from Katrina's devastation.

I think about the beauty of our hearts and minds and that material things can't hold a candle to nature's wonders. The reminder is it's the journey - what we DO along the way and how we touch people's lives - not the things we have collected by the end of our own.

The heart-shaped tomato on a tea towel was found at a local greengrocer's.

Cinnabar and a Chinese restaurant

I photographed this Chinese restaurant near Boulevard Saint Germain, Paris, because its exterior reminded me of the cinnabar I bought in San Francisco's Chinatown.

Exterior decoration of the restaurant, with a bicycle reflected in the plate glass.

Hand-knotted cinnabar beads and bracelets and silk from Chinatown, San Francisco and from the Victoria & Albert Museum shop, London. I may wear the bracelets on occasion, but red is not my colour, much as I love it. So the cinnabar beads and tasseled necklace are part of a tableau featuring Chinese antique objects d' art. Does anyone remember the Estee Lauder fragrance "Cinnabar," which was heavy on spice notes and seemed very exotic?

Scroll down the page for three additional posts today.

Time to unite

Clock, Farmers' Market, Ferry Building, Embarcadero, San Francisco.

"No way, no how, no McCain!" Thank you, Hillary, for an impassioned speech. On Tuesday Sen. Clinton reminded die-hard supporters that what's more important than personal feelings is fighting for what's best for our country. "I ran to stand up for all those who have been invisible to their government for eight long years. Those are the reasons I ran for president. Those are the reasons I support Barack Obama. And those are the reasons you should too," she said.

"John McCain says the economy is fundamentally sound. John McCain doesn't think that 47 million people without health insurance is a crisis. John McCain wants to privatise social security. And in 2008, he still thinks it is okay when women don't earn equal pay for equal work," she reminded delegates.

On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton formally nominated Barack Obama. "With eyes firmly fixed on the future, in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory, with faith in our party and our country, let’s declare together, in one voice, right here, right now, that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our President. Madame Secretary, I move that the convention suspend the procedural rules and suspend the further conduct of the roll cal vote — all votes cast by the delegates will be counted — and I move Senator Barack Obama of Illinois be elected by this convention by acclamation as the nominee of the Democtaric party for President of the United States.”

I stayed up until 3:45 this morning to watch Bill Clinton address the convention and was not disappointed. His spirited speech - preceded by a five-minute standing ovation - reminded me of the Bill Clinton I know and admire. "People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power," he said. "Look at the example the Republicans have set. In this decade, American workers have consistently given us rising productivity. That means, year after year, they work harder and produce more.

"Now, what did they get in return? Declining wages, less than one-fourth as many new jobs as in the previous eight years, smaller health care and pension benefits, rising poverty and the biggest increase in income inequality since the 1920s. American families by the millions are struggling with soaring health care costs and declining coverage," Clinton said.

"They (Republicans) took us from record surpluses to an exploding debt; from over 22 million new jobs to just 5 million; from increasing working families’ incomes to nearly $7,500 a year to a decline of more than $2,000 a year; from almost 8 million Americans lifted out of poverty to more than 5.5 million driven into poverty and millions more losing their health insurance.

"Now, in spite of all this evidence, their candidate is actually promising more of the same. Think about it: more tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that will swell the deficit, increase inequality, and weaken the economy; more Band-Aids for health care that will enrich insurance companies, impoverish families and increase the number of uninsured; more going it alone in the world, instead of building the shared responsibilities and shared opportunities necessary to advance our security and restore our influence.

"They actually want us to reward them for the last eight years by giving them four more!" Cinton said.

Kerry and Biden remind voters of key issues

John Kerry made an absolutely brilliant speech, contrasting McCain's constantly-changing positions to Obama's measured choices. He talked about why Americans can't afford four more years of Republican bad decisions and failed policies. Read the transcript here.

Vice-presidential nominee Sen. Joe Biden also made a powerful speech. Biden spoke of the need for change; of a government that addresses the needs of all its citizens, rather than favouring the privileged few. He said he's "never seen a time when Washington has seen so many people knocked down and not helped them get back up."

And on Tuesday, Sen. Bob Casey reminded convention delegates that “John McCain calls himself a maverick, but he votes with George Bush 95% of the time. That’s not a maverick. That’s a sidekick.”

“The Bush-McCain Republicans inherited the strongest economy in history and drove it into a ditch. They cut taxes on the wealthiest of us and passed the pain to the least of us. They ran up the debt gave huge subsidies to oil companies and now they’re asking for four more years? How about four more months,” Casey said.

Only 68 days until the election. We've already seen John McCain embrace Rovian-style politics. Sadly, rather than talk about the problems facing our country, he appears prepared to do and say anything - even if untrue - to try to cast doubt about his opponent. What I doubt is McCain's ability to lead; he can't even keep his facts straight and needs geography lessons. Further, it's alarming how in this campaign he's reversed his positions on nearly every issue that as a senator he endorsed - including an immigration bill he wrote!

Let's get busy. We've got the important work of winning an election!

Les lumières

Photographing these chandeliers at Macy's in San Francisco cost a small fortune. I tried to photograph them from the Union Square main entrance, but had only my small pocket camera with me. This meant my daughter Jordana and I were forced to take the escalator to the next level, so I could have a closer view. Naturally, this sent us off to explore what was behind the partition. Lo and behold, a dazzling array of shoes encompassed practically the entire floor! Then there was that fabulous silk-knit dress that folds small enough to fit into a 5"x7" envelope - perfect for travel. Ahem...well worth the diversion, we agreed, as we left the store carrying extra parcels.

Lanterns and a skylight at Ghiradelli Square, where we met a very talented artist. More about him in an upcoming post.

California Street portico, with hanging lanterns reflecting the influence of early Spanish settlers.

Street lamps in Chinatown. Go here for photos of lanterns galore in Chinatown.

Maison de bonheur

Maison de bonheur, Church Street, San Francisco.

How could this "Painted Lady" not be a house of happiness, when adorned in bright colours, accented with lovely floral murals? For a story about more houses, go here.

An excerpt from Paulo Coelho's book Like the Flowing River:

"William Blake said, "What is now proved was once only imagined." And because of this we have the airplane, space flights and the computer on which I am writing this. In Lewis Carroll's masterpiece Alice through the Looking Glass, there is a dialogue between Alice and the White Queen, who has just said something utterly unbelievable.

"I can't believe that!" said Alice. "Can't you?" the Queen said in a pitying tone. "Try again: draw a long breath and shut your eyes." Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said. "One can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes, I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

"Life is constantly telling us: 'Believe!' Believing that a miracle could happen at any moment is necessary for our happiness, but also for our protection and to justify our existence. In today's world, many people think it is impossible to do away with poverty, to bring about a just society and to lessen the religious tension that appears to be growing with each day."

Two San Francisco icons

The Transamerica Pyramid (left) and The Sentinental Building, home to award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope postproduction facilities, as well as to Zap Zoetrope Aubry Productions. Although in this photo the buildings appear side by side, they are actually a considerable distance apart. The nine-story 1930s flatiron building, an historic landmark at 916 Kearny Street, borders North Beach and Chinatown. It also houses Coppola's Cafe Zoetrope.