THE TIME…1673
THE PLACE…
A 100 acre farm in Portsmouth, RI (currently the site of The Valley Inn, pictured on the left.)
In romantic fiction, opposing points of view often threaten a couple's future. Here are three real-world point-of-view obstacles. Will romance prevail? Answer key at the bottom.
1. Hanging pictures
A widower new to dating offered to hang wall art
in his ladyfriend's apartment.
She: "I've had bad experiences with men helping me hang pictures. I'm very particular about the height of each
piece."
He: Don't worry. I've brought a level and a pencil. Show me how high you want them."
He: "I hung them at eye level."
She: "Not my eye level."
He: "I marked the top of each where you said to mark it."
She: (under her breath) "I'll have to paint that whole wall to cover the holes."
He (gruffly): "Don't forget to buy spackle."
2. Purchasing power
Two singles about to merge family lives walk on the beach in summer. The couple hold hands and stare out at boats on the water.
"You know, at the end of the
season, we could get one of those for three hundred dollars."
"Really?" the other asks. "How great
would that be? We could have all the kids on it for parties. We
could swim off the sides. They could invite their friends!"
"What the hell are you looking at?"
The other points to a pontoon boat.
"I'm looking at that rowboat!"
3. Wedding day priorities
"Chris wanted a band," my balance instructor Jacqui said last week. "I thought that was great, even if it ate up a lot of our budget. I looked for things to cut back on—like flowers. I'm repurposing artificial bouquets for table arrangements."
She showed me a photo of her arrangements. "And here's a picture of Tucker trying on his tuxedo."
I've never met Chris but have spent many hours in the Cova Church gym with the pretty bride-to-be and her Brittany spaniel. I'd just thrown Tucker a chew toy to chase. "What does Chris think of you spending money dressing Tucker for the wedding?" I asked.
"You can't go naked to the wedding, can you, Tucker?" Jacqui cooed. "It was Chris's idea to make him Best Dog."
"No worries," she assured me. "He's practicing every day. He'll be fine."
"Does Chris have a best man?"
"Of course. He'll stand next to Tucker."
At that moment, the 'best dog' held a spit-slathered toy in
his mouth.
"He's not holding the ring, is he?" I asked.
I swear Tucker gave me a dirty look.
Answers. Romance prevailed in all three scenarios. 1. When she realized she should
tell men where she wanted the bottom of the picture rather than the top, the woman apologized. We're still dating. 2. Twenty years later, whenever financial reality testing is needed, one or the other will say, "Never mind. It's a three-hundred-dollar
boat." 3. The wedding is today. I hope Tucker's ready.
The Krewe of Boo! |
Around the world, Carnival—a/k/a the Mardi Gras season—starts on January 6th—the Twelfth Night—and continues until Fat Tuesday. EVERYONE knows about the “official” Mardi Gras. What many people don’t realize, however, is that the Spirit of Mardi Gras is a year-round phenomenon in New Orleans.
In March, it’s St. Patrick’s Day (New Orleans St. Patrick's Day
Parades (stpatricksdayneworleans.com)). In spring, it’s the Krewe of Cork’s
Royal Street Roll (Home - krewe
(thekreweofcork.com)). And throughout the year, if you’re lucky you catch a
random Second Line. Wow!
But come October, it’s the Krewe of Boo!
Beginning at dusk (around 6:30 p.m.) today, October
21, 2023, is THE premier Halloween Event in the Big Easy (and maybe the world)—The
Krewe of Boo! Parade. (Krewe of BOO! New
Orleans' Official Halloween Parade).
Since 2007, the Krewe of Boo! has been the official Halloween Parade in New Orleans. The parade launches at Elysian Fields in the Marigny and progress through the French Quarter, passing along N. Peters and Decatur Streets, to Jackson Square and then towards the Warehouse District, all the way to the Convention Center. With 450 riders, 15 floats, and 35 marching bands and dance krewes, Krewe of BOO! has grown from a single parade into a weekend full of events. Krewe of BOO! is the official Halloween parade of New Orleans.
Halloween themed throws include candy, plush toys, and beads. So, get ready
to yell, “Throw me something, Monsta!”
And if you can’t make it in person, maybe you can catch the Krewe of Boo! on live stream at one of the internet cameras focused on the French Quarter, like:
earthcam.com/usa/louisiana/neworleans/bourbonstreet/?cam=catsmeow2
or (earthcam.com/usa/louisiana/neworleans/bourbonstreet/?cam=bourbonstreet).
Can’t do that? Take a look at the Krewe of BOO!'s cameo in the Tom Cruise
film "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back."
Strychnine, arsenic,
morphine, atropine, cyanide, oh my
You’ve probably seen those
tea cups that have the writing that says ‘you’ve been poisoned’ inside the
bottom of them. So, that after you have finished your lovely cuppa afternoon
tea (otherwise known as your treat) you get your trick! Yes, even mystery
lovers need a source of amusement once in a while.
I don’t think it’s a surprise to Christie’s fans that poison was her absolute favorite means of murder. In sixty-six stories, forty-one were as a result of one of these poisons: strychnine, arsenic, morphine, atropine, or cyanide. Her favorite? Cyanide, which she used to kill off eighteen characters.
2. Also by Asmodee, in Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective, you can step back in time to help Scotland Yard solve ten cases that get
I love Murder on the Orient Express.
I have read the book more than once, seen the 1974 movie starring Albert Finney as Hercule Poirot, seen the 2017 movie starring Kenneth Branagh as the same character, and in my own travels I have stalked the train (or what's left of it) itself. In the early 20th century the Orient Express carried the well-heeled of Europe from Paris to Istanbul in high style. Today, the Venice Simplon-Orient Express now owned by Belmond, takes well-heeled tourists from London to Venice in nostalgic Art Deco luxury.
Any kid can tell you where Santa Claus is from—the North Pole. But his historical journey is even longer and more fantastic than his annual,...