45 WAYS TO AVOID USING THE WORD "VERY"

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TRAVEL POST PREVIEW

In an ideal world, incidentally one in which I do not live, this would be the first part of a series, where I have somehow managed to write a travel post in the shape of a story, one that refreshes the memory of those who have already been, and inspires those who have not. 

Unfortunately, editing and jetlag and the ordinary flotsam of life (Buying groceries! Taking out the garbage!) have taken over, and instead of a post, I have managed to edit this one picture from Lucerne, in Switzerland. It's a beautiful city, set alongside a resplendent river littered with swans. 

I will figure this out. There is more to come. 

KITCHEN DIY: BRASS PIPE RACKS

Pinterest

If I tried to do this myself with my limited skills, it would probably involved double sided tape. But it's a novel idea. It's interesting, like creating a geometric maze in your home. Practically speaking, this may involve payment rather than DIY. But there is probably someone out there in the universe thinking: I wonder if Lowes carries that type of pipe...

FUN LINKS

Travel

Packing Essentials for Fall and Spring and What Not to Pack: Summer Abroad

I love these. Just love them.

Current Events

Justices' Rulings Advance Gays; Women Less So

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is slowly becoming a personal favorite. She always has incisive commentary, that cuts right to the bone, and this particular bone may belong to her colleague Justice Kennedy, aka "Mr. Swing Vote." What is interesting here, is the argument that Kennedy's decisions reflect an underlying paternalistic attitude toward women, but not gay men, that may be the ultimate deciding factor. It's convincingly argued.    

Happiness

The 75-Year Study that Found the Secrets to a Fulfilling Life

This is from 2013, but who knows? It might still be applicable one year later. Harvard researchers followed 268 male Harvard undergraduates, class of 1938-1940 (hardly a representative sample, but I digress) for 75 years, collecting data at regular intervals. The conclusions he drew were put into a book. A quick summary is linked.

Art

Figaro French by Grace Lee

This French print. It's French and it's art.

Facts

You Actually Use All of Your Brain, Not 10% 

There are two movies I can pull off the top of my head that are based on this lie - that if you were able to access your brain's full 100% capacity, you would be a telekinetic genius as well as incredibly athletic and emotionally well adjusted, etc. I know this is a lie, but so far have no reference to back this up. Here is a solid article dispelling that myth.  

Mind

4 Ways to Retrain Your Brain to Handle Information Overload

I like how this is short and to the point. Four things only, and you might find yourself less aggravated. It's a win/win.

BOOKS: EAT WELL ON $4 A DAY

Sometimes it's all in the title. The PDF of the book is free and the recipes are on the cheap. Some people are very kind. Get your copy here and maybe donate. 

MEDITATION APP

Calm Down Now

So. How's your day going? Bad? Good? Good but could be improved? All of the above? If you answered all of the above, and don't realize the inherent contradiction involved, here's an app you may want to try: Calm Down Now. This should be available for both apple and android. 

It's $1.99, so it's not free, but it costs less than a Starbucks latte, so that puts the price in perspective. I've been poking around for app's with guided meditation, which is a step above some apps that only make noise with gongs or bells. Depending on your personal preferences, this may be a good thing. Here to help!  

PLACES TO GO: ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH

Subway Pools/Flickr

I'm going to be out and about this week and the beginning of the next, so here's just...some interesting content. It's not always possible to travel across the pond (now, by "pond" I mean the Atlantic or Pacific ocean, depending on your preferred coast), so it's nice to know someplace a little closer to home that doesn't suck. 

This above image is the from Utah Zion National Park courtesy of this guy.

And here are a few others I've found...

Flickr

The Subway

Wildlife

FRIDAY BITS AND PIECES

Sacramento Street

Simple and basic, but not stiff. Not boring. It's so easy to be boring with basic. Too classic sometimes equals boring. But this isn't. It's soft. It's perfect.

Pinterest

DIY anyone?

Just a few things culled down for inspiration purposes.

NEED LESS, NEEDLESSNESS, LESS NEED

Via

The idea is simple, yet profound. However, if you need more concrete steps on the matter, feel free to consult here.

I myself, find that this is a mindset that needs changing. It's the attitude of scarcity at it again. Somehow, whenever we take into account what we have, the perception is that it isn't enough, when you could instead evaluate it as the perfect amount. And get creative.

On the more superficial side of things, I could perhaps spend less time mindlessly browsing. Spend more time on what would enrich my life, rather than deprives me of riches. 

INTERVIEW WITH HENRIETTE GREGORIO, FOUNDER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BAROQUE SOCIETY

October 31, 2010, Henriette Gregorio, center, debuting as fictional tongue-in-cheek 1760's character, Lady AuRevoir, pictured with the Haűsmusik string quartet, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The occasion is a private performance featuring Baroque composer Wolfgang A. Mozart. In an ode to Mozart’s panache and humor, Gregorio created his & hers historical couture costumes (pictured). 

Background

A lover of all things Baroque and Rococo, I am a first generation American with Saxon-German roots.  Expressing myself through design, I created over six centuries of historical clothing, to fully embody past characters while reenacting periods of history through dance, social events and festivals. I have traveled across twelve countries, mainly throughout central and western Europe, lived in five, and organized full immersion events which allow a participant to live a playful, fun role from the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th century historical eras.

Since I was a teen, I loved designing clothing.  As a historical reenactress and hobbyist in my adult life, I loved working with the richly decorated fabrics of silk, lace, velvets and gemstones and modifying patterns to recreate clothing for historical reenactment, festivals and balls. 

Professionally, I have served as a consultant for non-profit, government and small businesses with services in marketing communications, graphic design, photography, public relations as well as advocacy for healthcare causes. 

Earlier still, I stood up for drug-free sport competition, winning six regional and state bodybuilding championships, including Ms. NorthWestern America, Ms. California, Ms. San Francisco Bay Area, which stood in contrast to my eight years of training in classical piano, operatic voice and "finishing" school. 

Growing up, I studied, practiced and played a continual piano repertoire of Bach, Handel, Brahms and classical hymns for the residents of my family’s business, the Berkeley Senior Residence in Berkeley, California. This was in addition to a weekly chapel accompaniment in private grade school.

Throughout my life, I have always loved Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, the architectural richness of Baroque cities and their cultural heritage.  My heart is drawn to the opulence of the 17^th and 18^th century Europe, particularly the Loire Valley Chateaux region of France, the musical gem known as the city of Prague, and the early roots of Baroque in Italy, my favorite being Venice with its annual Carnivale.  

I fell in love with Prague during my first visit in September 2011, a city of music, a Baroque heaven. I loved every cobblestone I walked on, every wall I touched, every corner that rang with Carillon bells from churches in every quadrant on Sunday mornings. It brings tears to my eyes just remembering the feeling of standing on those streets in Old Town, a 360 optic love affair from Petřín Tower, walking in and out of the local craft shops, zigzagging from the Castle on Nerudova street, listening to classical and folk street musicians everywhere. I feel the deep pull of my roots in central and western Europe every time I set foot there.

A striking moment of connection occurred during the 2014 Santa Barbara Historic Dance Weekend. It was during the performance of dancer Bruno Benne.*  Seeing the graceful but exacting spirit of Baroque moving through his footwork, I found myself in tears remembering, for the first time in my adulthood, that I had danced this same footwork, alone, in my childhood home, at the age of 6.

With no one to witness, I remember feeling compelled to express those dance movements, the fibronacci** hand gestures and the upright posture in time with the music of the great Baroque composers.  I did not have a point of reference for these movements at that age.  In my mind and heart as a young girl, I saw myself in full court dress, dancing in the Court of the King and Queen.  No one ever knew or saw me.  No dance or dance training was in my upbringing or adult life, outside of social enjoyment at historical reenactment balls.  

Until Bruno's performance, I had forgotten that experience, which had became buried in the 'growing up' process and evolution of young adulthood.  I am very grateful to Bruno for the profound spirit that he shared, which re-awakened this burning childhood memory, a memory which had been incongruous with my young environment.   I cried for several hours while processing the emotional flash of that powerful, profound childhood memory.

L:Louis-XIV-Lebrun, public domain; R: Marie Antoinette 1767, public domain

What is the Baroque Period?

Wikipedia references the Baroque era in three phases:

• Early Baroque, c.1590–c.1625
• High Baroque, c.1625–c.1660
• Late Baroque, c.1660–c.1725

Late Baroque is also sometimes used synonymously with the succeeding Rococo (1723 – 1785) movement. This is the musical period of the great Bach composers:  Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Christian Bach. It was the time of Marie Antoinette and, earlier, the famous King Louis XIV, known as Louis the Great, the “Sun King” (Le Roi-Soleil).  It was the architectural style period of the prominent architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, who designed the Palace of Versailles.

The term Baroque is derived from the Portuguese word meaning “pearl of irregular shape.” Baroque began in Rome, Italy, embodied by religious themes of the church in art, and heavy, elaborate ornamentation in design elements. Rococo began in Paris, France in the early 18th century and was developed as a reaction against the grandeur, symmetry, and strict regulations of the Baroque.

Baroque and Rococo across all channels of art, fashion, architecture, culture, dance and music can be recognized by their complex geometric design: symmetrical in the Baroque period while being asymmetrical, curvilinear and exotic in the Rococo period.

In both Baroque and Rococo, ‘flourishes’ (dramatic, sweeping gestures), seemingly endless ornamentation, complexity of line, űber-opulence and the use of precious, rare materials were engineered with the finest craftsmanship and artistry of the time.

When you think of Baroque, think Venetian silk embroidery, laces, tapestries, French powdered wigs, Italian 24K gold ceilings, Moravian jewels, the Sun King Louis XIV of France (1638-1715). When you think of Rococo, think of Marie Antoinette (1755-1793), light colors, shell-like curves, porcelain figures, florals, playful and witty themes. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Gardens of Villandry, France also demonstrates the geometric beauty of the Baroque period. 

Examples of Baroque above: characteristics include symmetry, balance, and heaviness. Top: Chateau de Villandry, Villandry, France. Above, clockwise from left: aerial view of Baroque town, Palmanova in Venice, Italy ©2011 Ayishwariya Balagopal; Château de Versailles ©2013 Henriette Gregorio; ©2008 HiSunnySky/Shutterstock

Clockwise from top: Rococo garden in Painswick, Gloucester, U.K. via rococogarden.org.uk; abstract asymmetrical Rococo ceiling stucco at Neues Schloss Tettnang in Bodenseekreis, Germany via wikimedia; Rococo facade of Golz-Kinský Palace, dominating the northeast part of the Staroměstské Square, Prague. ©1997; AISA, Archivo Iconográfico, Barcelona, España

What inspires you about this time period?

In 2009-2010, after I created my first Baroque couture set, a lady’s formal gown and gentleman’s suit, I was hooked.  I was driven by my vision to create these pieces even though there was no event to wear them until the performance of the Haűsmusik string quartet on October 31, 2010. 

The beauty, richness of detail, colors, music, light, elegance and artistry ring to me like Carillon bells, calling me back to this period of time.  Every time I come in contact with Baroque art and culture, it rings through me with a sense of complete familiarity. I feel a sense of home.

The creation of Lady AuRevoir at the Haűsmusik performance lit a flame that would grow to eventually reveal a vision to be living, working, traveling and playing with a community that loves the Baroque period as much as I do.  This passionate vision launched in the Spring 2014, as the North American Baroque Society. To relive, travel, and be immersed in Baroque in Europe with friends who feel the same, eager to explore the Baroque experience to its fullest potential through dance, art, music, culture, cuisine and play is the foundational aspect of the North American Baroque Society.

What is the North American Baroque Society?

We are a community of Baroque lovers enjoying the 17th and 18th centuries through culture, travel, news, resources and full immersion events from around the world.  Our mission is to connect, share, explore and travel with a community of friends (online and in person) in North America and Europe who love Baroque in all of its many expressions:  art, music, dance, architecture, fashion couture, culture and events.  Think masquerade balls, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Duchess, Casanova, Amadeus and the famous annual Italian event:  Carnivale of Venice!

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