Questo è interessante!

In anticipation of my upcoming trip to Venice, I am devouring All Things Venetian, including reading histories, studying architecture, listening to novels (like Casanova, read by Benedict Cumberbatch, hubba hubba!), and watching movies set in that spectacular city.  Last night I watched a heist movie where the caper – surprise! – involves canal water. There was a funny line in it: at the moment the crime was to be set in action, the seasoned thief asked the up and coming robber how he was doing, and got the reply, “I’m fine.” But the old crook’s retort was “Fine stands for freaked out, insecure, neurotic and emotional.” Not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when I think of ‘fine’! That said, I think everyone has heard “Fine!” when things definitely weren’t, so A) I’m going to stop saying “fine” in that context, and B) I will wonder at it the next time I get that response! Similarly, I once read that “‘interesting’ is what Americans say when they don’t want to commit.” Aspiring to be a committed citizen of the world, I feel like a cheat everyone time say it!  That’s interesting!

K, another short entry: got to get back to writing my characters!

Take care, folks!

Proust Questionnaire Question of the Day: What is your favorite journey?

Hmmmm, another singular request! These are hard (but highly useful!). Once again, I cannot choose one, so here are three: stepping into a hot bath in my “soaking tub”; sitting on the right side of the plane when returning to Hawaii Island after a trip so I can see the Hamakua Coast out the window; and cruising Red Road south from Pohoiki.  Ideally in a Miata . . . with the top down . . .

FORGOT CAMERA IN CAR. IMAGINE PHOTO OF BEAUTIFUL WATERFALL HERE.

I had lots of fun today, not the least because it was spent with a friend who said to me, “You’re an awesome lady, Nancy!” at least seven times during the course of a two-hour talk-about-the-world hike to several gorgeous waterfalls. Folks, I cannot stress enough that if you don’t already have one, look for a kind and generous person to hang out with. It is such a joy to have another human being say kind things straight to your face over and over! To you who already have this person – or persons, you lucky dog! – treat her well, repay the kindness, and the world will heal, I am convinced. If anyone who reads this is thinking, “What? She doesn’t have a person like that in her life? Must be something wrong with her,” then how much nicer my friend was to overlook my shortcomings and try to make me feel good. And if anyone who reads this is thinking, “What? She doesn’t have a person like that in her life? That is so sad,” well, it’s true that I’ve spent too much time around not-kind people, but I’m obviously on the upswing!

Regardless, thank you my dear friend; it was a supreme pleasure spending time with you yesterday, and I wish you the best in everything you do. Keeping healing the world! You’re an awesome lady, Jeanne!