This past trip went by so fast I didn’t even get to blog about it. My schedule was so full that I never did get to squeeze in those few hours to “research” options at the store for my big trip. But the good news is that I have mentally identified the one bag I do want for this trip and all the trips thereafter…I’m crossing fingers and toes that I’ll find it over there to save a bit on taxes. More on that later when I reach my destination. I’m starting to think half the fun of getting a new bag is the chase around the world for it!
So, back to catching up on a million things for the week of being away. Until the next entry, I’ll tantalize you with something green for St. Patrick’s Day…have a cold green beer for me 
!
Tags: St. Patrick's Day
Remember when I started the FIMTSO series I referenced Imelda Marcos? Not that I find kinship in this former First Lady’s shopaholic ways but sometimes I can totally relate to why she’d buy multiples of certain things. In my case, I won’t (anymore) buy a full rainbow of one style of shoes because I like primary colors, but I would collect various colors of something that fits/travels well or stock up on a specific staple item (like a well fitting pair of jeans) that might be phased out by the label for other styles that won’t fit when I need to replace it. I’m merely thinking ahead, and isn’t preparedness a rationalization for every woman who likes to shop?!
Ok, ok, maybe I do like rainbows! But in my defense, these cardigans have been wonderful travel companions for sweater weather. This short trip was all about black, though, so this one made the cut:
The road thus far has not brought me any closer to finding the travel bag for my upcoming big trip, though this morning I woke up thinking I should go check out the wallet-on-a-chain bags since they’re small enough to hide under coats/jackets in crowded places and won’t get heavy on long days. And they’re great for going to dinner. But what do I do with maps or souvenirs or sketchbooks? Hopefully I can steal a few hours in the next couple of days to try on a few ideas at the store. Because this little fellow that I did manage to score on this trip is definitely NOT one for the road…
Tags: cardigans, Imelda Marcos, wallet on a chain
I’ve never understood our culture’s fanatic obsession with celebrity. More specifically, I don’t get the need to over-share every single detail about anyone’s life, whether you are a public figure or a figure in my private life. I know in this day of social networking, privacy goes the way of dinosaurs, but in my humble opinion, I think we could all benefit from a little mystery…revelations in small amounts, please.
For example, I was perfectly happy going about watching the recent Batman franchise with Christian Bale. I generally avoid watching or reading any celebrity interviews because, to me, they are just (lucky) people doing a job that pays well. It’s no more interesting to dig through an actor’s trash than your local high school principal’s. So by merging factoids, whether truthful or fabricated by their PR team, about the celebrities into the art they’re paid to create, it just…well, ruins it for me. I didn’t need to see Christian Bale blow up on the set during a diva moment as captured on You Tube and then splashed across headlines for days later. And I didn’t need to see him not speak eloquently at junkets he’s obliged to do to promote the movies either.
You see? To share too much the “personal” side about anyone without the benefit of actually knowing that person is to be disappointed. It’s unfair for the celebrity to be judged on such little substance, and it’s a bummer for a (superhero) movie enthusiast like myself to “see” the man behind the man on the big screen. Does that make any sense? I’m just saying, too much information is just too much.
Believe it or not, I actually started writing today’s entry about the recent firing of the enfant terrible John Galliano by the House of Dior after a raucous, public anti-Semitic rant in Paris. I assume there were many other reasons that led to this termination, but this now viral incident is not something Dior could quietly sweep under the rug, and perhaps it made the perfect reason to let him go. I suppose if you’re a racist or hater and you get outed for it, you have to live with the consequences. And sometimes a viral outing via Facebook, You Tube or Twitter makes it impossible to find forgiveness in a manageable way when everything is so loud and public these days. I don’t know what will happen to Galliano. I’m just sad that after the loss of the brilliant McQueen last year to suicide another creative genius will fade into black. Is Dior no more? I hope not. Sarah Burton has done tremendously well taking over at McQueen, so I have faith Dior will continue without Galliano. It’s just a real shame. And I wish I hadn’t seen that video of his despicable, drunken rant on You Tube. It’s an ugly episode in his life, and would we ever get/want to see the whole picture?
Tags: Alexander McQueen, Dior, John Galliano, Sarah Burton
OK so it’s been a few days since my prematurely exuberant entry about finding a great travel bag, and I’m afraid after a day of testing out the bag, I’m back to square 1. Yes, I love the size/leather/color of the vintage camera bag, but I’m not sure I can do the whole messenger style thing. Carrying a bag cross-body is still not very comfortable to me…so yikes, I’m still in search of the perfect companion for this long trip.
A sweet reader just commented in my last blog entry about her favorite travel bag, the Louis Vuitton Sofia Coppola bag, and I’ll have to go investigate (ha! another excuse to go shopping ). I think I do have a few options left to mull over during my short trip this week, and I’ll come back here to post those thoughts for your counsel. The big trip is in 3 weeks so the clock is ticking! How is it possible that after all these years of hitting the road I still don’t have the perfect solution for a bag!
