Champagne and makeup 12/30/07

Sunday night-just got back from the Blue Mercury store a little while ago and felt compelled to write about the experience, even though I have no pictures.

Blue Mercury is a beauty retail store and spa that started out in DC; I think the Georgetown store that I spent some time at this spring is the first one. They have a store on Walnut St in Philly, and when the Quarter at the Tropicana opened a brand spanking new Blue Mercury store and spa on two levels debuted in Atlantic City.

About a month ago I received snail and email announcing a sale on December 30; the more you spend the more you save kind of thing, so I refrained from buying some hair and makeup items until today, when I could save some money.

I went over there about 4 PM, and was immediately offered a glass of champagne, which of course I accepted, since I would be there awhile and didn't have far to get home. I spent some money there, to be sure, but I also took advantage of the beauty experts on hand to chat and sell products to enjoy a mini-facial, some fragrance testing, Bliss testing and samples, and makeup application.

It was so much fun-I am at the point in my life where I can partake of some amenities without feeling obligated to buy-I only purchased what I needed but sampled many more items. Of course I am a regular customer at the store, and they know I will be back another day.

So all in all a very satisfying experience and I learned some new tricks with eye makeup, which are always welcome. The champagne didn't hurt either!

The evening also bought to mind an early fall walk around Walnut and Chestnut Sts with my friend Sara that included a stop at the grand opening of the Sephora store-champagne and makeup, although today's experience was a bit more laid-back. I'm so glad that I picked Sara up at the airport that day-I know I had a blast and think I can speak for her too, although I think her feet were a little sore. Sorry about that, Sara!

Thanks for the picture.

I love my museum 12/29/07

Finally took a ride today to the Art Museum; I ended up by myself but that was actually ok because I'm sure my obsessive picture-taking would have bugged anyone else no end. The goal today was to see the Renoir landscape exhibit, which closes on the 6th. I went, I saw, and was disappointed. Not because Renoir is not my favorite 19th century French artist (he's not, but I was hoping to learn something new about him) or that I don't like landscapes. The problem was logistical-there were so many people that I couldn't even implement my tried and true method of enjoying a crowded exhibit.

There were several pictures that I'd never seen before (I love seeing those in private collections and imagining them on my wall-maybe in another lifetime) and I was unable to get much of a look. I did take note of where they came from, and hopefully will be able to see some of them when they are back in their home museums. I must admit that the whole thing was partly my fault-I was supposed to go yesterday but just could not drag myself the 60 miles to Philly and I think that was my undoing. Even though a timed ticket was required to get in, the powers that be overestimated the number of people at one time-you couldn't even move through the rooms.

I'm very proprietary about this museum. I've been going there literally my whole life and get a little uppity when crowds impede my enjoyment. I'm very happy that so many people are attending any special exhibit because I love to see everyone enjoying all the great art, but there's a fine line between appreciation and mayhem.

So enough speechifying; I did get around the building and took some pictures, some in the American wing, which is really hidden from view (not intentionally of course but you have to know where it is or follow some unsatisfactory signage). I also went out to the front of the museum and took the obligatory shots and video of the iconic view of center city made famous by the Rocky movies.

I also got some shots of the Perelman Building, a 20's era insurance company building that is now part of the museum.

As I was leaving, I saw an opportunity to get some pictures of the newly restored and gleaming Waterworks complex on the Schuylkill; it was late afternoon and the sun was glinting perfectly. The views from the restaurant are spectacular, but since I didn't have time for a drink, I settled for the gazebo along the river.

A little economics 12/23/07

A friend sent me this today and I just had to pass it on. A simple (but not simplistic) dramatization but it effectively makes the point. It's not political commentary (which I am refraining from here- second blog on that link) but economic. As a matter of fact, egregious taxes are driving the tenth (and some ninth, eighth, and seventh) men out of New Jersey (where we live and pay taxes) right now, and the mess is the responsiblility of politicians from both parties! Thanks Rufus.

ECONOMICS LESSON

CLEAR EXPLANATION OF TAX CUTS

Sometimes politicians, journalists and others exclaim, "It's just a tax cut for the rich!" and it is just accepted to be fact, without questioning it. But what does that really mean?

Just in case you are not completely clear and/or do not understand this issue, the following should help, if you are a reasonable person. Let's put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand.

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.

The fifth would pay $1.

The sixth would pay $3.

The seventh would pay $7.

The eighth would pay $12.

The ninth would pay $18.

The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until on day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. "Drinks for the ten of you now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes, so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free.

But what about the other six men . . . the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer.

So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill on a percentage basis rounded to the nearest dollar, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so:

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).

The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings).

The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28% savings).

The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).

The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).

The tenth now paid $50 instead of $59 (15% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man," but he got $9!"

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too.

It's unfair that he got nine times more than I!"

"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $9 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

The nine men surrounded the tenth man and beat him up. The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered they didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking somewhere else where the atmosphere is friendlier.

David R. Kamerschen, PhD

Professor of Economics

University of Georgia

Van Rensaellar mansion 12/22/07

I posted some pictures yesterday of a walk around Rittenhouse Square, and many of them featured the Anthropologie store at 18th and Walnut. I love this building and was so happy when Anthopologie took it over in the 90's; it meant that I would finally be able to get into it.

I've always wanted to do some research on the building, but my curiosity never trumped my laziness until today. I was perusing my pictures trying to decide which ones to keep in the album and realized that not only did I still not know the first thing about the building or that kooky portrait ceiling, but I had no information to provide here other than-cool mansion with neat architectual details-I don't know the first thing about it.

I was so ashamed of my utter lack of knowledge and my inability to explain any of it I finally went online today in between errands to try to pick up some information. Well, I still don't anything about the portrait ceiling, but I did find a couple tidbits and some pictures.

The house was built circa 1896 by the Boston firm Peabody, Sterns for a financier and Philadelphia Orchestra supporter named Alexander Von (or Van) Rensselaer. I couldn't find too much on Alex, however the van Rensselaers were a prestigious Dutch family who owned a piece of upstate New York from the 1600s (Wikipedia).

I found some pictures of the house, most courtesy of this site.

The pictures. Unless otherwise noted, they were taken in 1974. Sorry they're so small.

Just in case you didn't see the 2007 photos, pages 2 and 3 of this album.

That's all the architectural history I have for today; stay tuned, though-I'm determined to find out about the portrait ceiling!

I love NY, but Philly is in my blood 12/20/07

A two day trip my mom and I planned to NYC for the Christmas craziness and some art had to be cancelled, so I was unfortunately unable to take my new camera and document the experience. I was looking forward to trying to capture the atmosphere there this time of year on film-I really don't know how well it will translate, because Manhattan at Christmastime is a whole body experience more suited for the IMAX theater.

I got some consolation today, though-I had some errands to run on my way home from Luzerne County, PA and took the camera with me to capture Rittenhouse Square on a December night. It was a beautiful afternoon and evening, cold enough to feel like Christmas, but sunny, and warm enough to eschew wearing gloves.

I don't always stop in town on my way home from the road; I should make an effort to do it more, though-seeing the city after being away makes me feel like I'm home even before I'm all the way there. Of course I love living at the shore-my home is where Mark is- but Philly is in my blood and that will never change. The city energizes me in a comfortable, intimate way that I can't even describe.

So-enjoy the pictures. I know there are way too many; so I will probably be deleting a number of them soon.
Rittenhouse Square

PS : Look for more Philly shots-I'll be in Old City and at the Art Museum tomorrow.

The passive voice 11/20/07

Just a word about my writing. When I finally decided (at 33) that it was time to get my undergrad degree, one of the many things I discovered about myself was the love of writing and editing. I really enjoyed writing papers and even taking essay exams; those little lined exam books allowed me to explain my way towards many As, with not a little bit of bs thrown in for good measure.

I also enjoyed editing other people's writing; working at the school's writing center allowed me to help others refine their own work and get their points across.

I know I'm not as strict with myself in writing and editing this blog as I should be -at this point I just want to be writing and not agonize over each piece like it's the Magna Carta. I have noticed something about my writing that does annoy me, however, and I must apologize for it to anyone reading any of my blogs.

It's the dreaded passive voice! In school I learned to avoid it assiduously in my own work and discourage it at the writing center. In writing for my current work, however, nothing is written with an active voice, so I have foundered into a passive morass. Hopefully as I continue to write here on this page, I'll pick my feet up out of the muck and write the way I should.

Feeling mellow today-a resolution 11/20/07

div>In the past couple days I resolved not to use Myspace time or energy reacting to things political, and transporting myself to the home of some dear friends in the sunny, beautiful clime of South Florida has only emphasized the point-life is too short!

My view as I write this


I don't usually talk politics in any setting; I normally don't relish elevating my blood pressure and taking the fun and civility out of everyday conversation, at work or socially. When I started this Myspace page and began writing about my thoughts, opining on the current political scene was the last subject on my mind!

Last week, however, I found myself reacting to some posts on a friend's site and it gave me that prickly, annoyed feeeling I get when someone colors my opinion of everything they say with a look into their political views. To be honest, most of the time I'd rather not know.

The world is full of so many interesting topics of conversation and I think I'll do my best to stay away from the political. So-no more reactions in writing!