Tag: friends

Safe as houses

I think the phrase “safe as houses” may be more familiar to my British friends. I’d never heard it until I read Alex Jeffers’ novel Safe As Houses in 1995.

Jeffers is allegedly the grandson of one of America’s (often underrated and overlooked) great poets, Robinson Jeffers, who himself was the builder and inhabitant of one of the places I’d most like to visit in the U.S., Tor House and Hawk Tower. I came so close to it on my trip up the California coast in 1998, but my fear is that if I ever visit it, I might not leave. My grasping of rocks with fingers of steel might be a problem for the Foundation and the Jeffers family.

One reason I enjoy reading about Robinson Jeffers and his wife and contemporaries is because, as is so often the case, a group of gifted and intelligent individuals–poets, painters, photographers, writers, musicians, teachers–befriended, nurtured, and inspired one another. I think these groups are best when they’re organic, unforced… That’s really all I want to say about that.

I do want to publish the entire set of photos I took for Lindsey in West U yesterday–because she knows, as I do, that our friends are “safe as houses.”

hoping the spirit of Robinson Jeffers forgives me for the urban view

Leaving on a jet plane

In a little while, Mark G. Harris will be departing The Compound. Even though he’ll be blindfolded and driven in an indirect route to the airport, I have a sneaking suspicion he’ll be smuggling out some photos on his cell phone.

It’s been such a good visit, with a lot of conversation about writing and a lot of not doing much of anything, which is what he wanted. We’ve watched a ton of movies while eating Puterbaugh Popcorn–for some reason, all mushy romantic stuff, including Falling in Love, Heartburn, Crossing Delancey, Baby Boom, and Juno. One night we watched Across the Universe, which I thoroughly enjoyed because of the Beatles music and its look back at the tumultuous Sixties, but it made me miss Riley very much.

Last night, it was All Mark Request Night. Since he wanted to eat corn on the cob before he left, we had that with steak and this fabulous salad:


baby bella mushrooms and red bell pepper on a bed of baby spinach, with walnuts, crumbled bacon, and a choice of crumbled feta or blue cheese.

After a farewell visit from Rhonda, Lindsey, and Sugar, we watched Mark’s movie choice: Working Girl. I don’t think I’d ever seen the beginning, but I always relish Sigourney Weaver’s character (much the way I like Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada). I also appreciate all the views of the World Trade Center. Seeing it makes me happy and sad, which I guess is nostalgia. In fact, it feels like the theme of Mark’s visit has been nostalgia (even though I learned the shocking fact that MGH has never seen The Way We Were!).

Now I know what’s on the movie list for his next visit.

Friends: Random

1. In my kitchen, I have these two small, framed pieces of needlework that my mother did for me ten thousand years ago. EVERY time I see them, I think of Lindsey. Why? Because one is constantly askew, and I adjust it, knowing that if Lindsey were in my kitchen, it would drive her crazy. Here’s Lindsey getting a little R&R in the kitchen dog bed.

Edit: On second thought, maybe Lindsey is curled up in the fetal position because she noticed the crooked pictures.

2. This is a really low-quality photo shot with my cell phone of Lynne holding Lila.

I include it here so I can talk about Maggiano’s. I’d been trying to get a lot of errands done in a short period of time, and one of them included picking up something from Lynne. Rather than let me just dash in and out of the restaurant, she bought my lunch and made me sit and relax with her, Laura, and Lila. Sometimes a friend knows what you need better than you do. But here’s the thing about Maggiano’s. They have these columns covered with signed photos of various celebrities, sports figures, and such, many of them Houston locals. I’ve long threatened to send in a framed cover of A Coventry Christmas and write some gushing remark on it like “Thank you for hosting us after my signing!” (never happened) just to see if I can make the wall–even though I’m about as far from a local celebrity as there could be.

3. This is Mark G. Harris’s last full day at The Compound this trip. I’m already missing the idea of movie-and-popcorn nights. But I know my loss will be the Internet’s gain, because no matter how I’ve implored, he has refused to post in his LiveJournal until his return home. He’s a stubborn man. But a good dishwasher.

4. It’s one week until Lenny Kravitz’s and Stevie Nicks’s birthdays. If you don’t know what that means, you haven’t been paying attention. For quite some time, Rex has been daydreaming about what kind of cake I might bake.

Saturday in the hood with Mark

Saturday, Mark G. Harris asked if I had some fingernail clippers he could use. That led to a discussion of manicures and pedicures. I never get manicures because I began keeping my nails cut as short as possible back when I was still seeing clients. Even though that’s not a concern anymore since I “retired” (Lindsey’s word), I’ve found that letting my fingernails grow even a little creeps me out.

Pedicures, however, are a treat I allow myself whenever I’m feeling stressed, when I’m traveling, or when we have a booksigning. However, MGH wouldn’t even consider a pedicure (he apparently has foot-esteem issues), so I offered to take him for a manicure. The place I usually go has no bells and whistles–it’s very basic–but MGH said that would be fine with him.

Mark’s first time

The Lindsey Post

Lindsey’s on her way out of town and she won’t SEE this until everyone else has. Heh.

Last night, The Brides came over for dinner (ham and spinach casserole; fresh, steamed broccoli; salad; and rolls demanded by Mark G. Harris). For dessert, Lindsey made us GOOP. What is this goop, you ask? It is undercooked brownies, hot from the oven. Served alone, goop is fab, but with Bluebell (“The Best Ice Cream in the Country”) Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, it’s better than that time the strapping young Jones boy from next door lost his swimming trunks in the Presbyterian College pool.

In tribute to Lindsey and goop, this post is all about her.

of course there are photos!

Happy birthday, Lisa!

Inspired by the badger video, this is the cake I made yesterday for a belated birthday celebration for rhondarubin. I’m sure Rhonda won’t mind sharing it with Lisa (dogrl), whose birthday is today. I can’t believe in a few hours I’ll see Lisa in New Orleans!

I can’t believe I’m up this early.

It’s not because we’re about to hit the road, but because I have an eight a.m. appointment. I’m not sure what time we’re leaving today for the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival, but as longtime readers of my LJ know, I’ll find a way to update even though I’m on the road. I’m not like that slacker markgharris.

To all my LJ friends

Only LiveJournal members can support a nomination to the LJ Advisory Board. As it happens, Timothy J. Lambert and his running mate, Rexford G. Lambert, are hoping you will support Timothy’s nomination to the Advisory Board. His key issues are creativity, content, inclusiveness, and goofy dog pictures. You can read his self-nomination speech and vote for him at this link right here.

As you know, in Becky World, it’s all about Tim, and it doesn’t hurt that he has a cool dog. Thanks for your support, and you are more than welcome to ask your LJ friends to support Timothy’s nomination.

Monday night

Monday night after a visit with my mother, I was supposed to run errands, but I just didn’t feel like it. I wanted to be home. When I came in the back door, I was fiddling around while Tom got Tim so we could all watch Y&R. When Tom came back in, he asked if I’d been in the living room yet.

I hadn’t. I immediately knew why he’d asked, but I delayed gratification as long as I could, because I knew it was going to be wonderful.

and it is