Lucky New Year

Yes I have my pot of Black Eyed Peas on the stove as we speak.  They bring good luck when eaten on New Years Day you know.  At least that's what my mother (raised in Kentucky) and every other Southerner I've ever known told me.

Now here's the surprise:  This is not originally a Southern tradition, it's a Jewish tradition!  Apparently the New Year-Black Eyed Pea-Good Luck connection is in the Babylonian Talmud!  When the first Sephardi Jews migrated to Georgia in the 1730's they brought the idea with them and, Bing!, Southern tradition. 

Having great respect for the strength of both Jews and Southerners, and wanting all the good luck I can get my hot little hands on, the peas will be ready about 4.  And like in the photo below, they will be served in my Mother's Franciscan ware.

As far as preparation goes, I'm goin' with the peas-fat back-onion-chopped jalepeno-salt & pepper-simmer low forever method.

Why You Could Knock Me Over With A Feather!

I opened up shop here at Felix In Hollywood two weeks ago, and according to my cunning little flag counter in that brief time this blog has been viewed over 500 times! By people from 25 different countries on 6 different continents! I also have 8 people following the blog (it's not too late to get on the 'follow' bandwagon).
Also, that crafty little widget over there >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(no, not that one; that's the flag counter, the one below it) links to my online vintage store, and it's gotten much more traffic and purchases!

Needless to say, I never expected this kind of response and to say that I'm flummoxed and quite humbled, would be an understatement.

Thank you all so very much, and may 2010 offer nothing but sparkling health, gobs of toys, beautiful lovers, and bright shiny Cadillacs. For everyone!

Holy Happy New Year, Batman!

Delightful Tricks of the Mind

I know I'm not the only one who this happens to. I hope. You look at some written copy really fast and you think it says something other than what it actually says.

For instance, once a few years back, I was parking my car on Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills right in front of The Gap. (depressing, isn't it, Beverly Hills having a Gap)
While in the midst of fishing for meter change, grabing my bag, getting out of the car, feeding the meter and heading off, I glanced at the store and there in the front window was a lineup of mannequins in jean and two or three different colors of t-shirts piled on each. The huge sign announced "Lawyers of Color". I kinda thought it was odd, but remembered it was February, and everyone knows that February is Black History Month, and this being B.H. I just figured The Gap was doing their Legal-Profession-Black-History-Month-Tribute. About an hour later I got back to the car and noticed the sign actually said "Layers of Color" referring to the t-shirts.

My dear friend Charlie and I play a game with each other called, "What It Said-What I Saw", the game can also be played as "What I Saw-What It Said" if the payoff is better that way.

So this morning, while paying my daily visit to Chateau Thombeau and looked at a sentance,
WHAT IT SAID: Farewell, 2009. You didn't kill us---you made us stronger!
WHAT I SAW: Farewell, 2009. You didn't kill us---you made us sausage!

The Musical Question

Nancy and I would really like to know.