BOOK OF THE BI-WEEK: The Baron in the Trees by Italo Calvino

How the back-cover blurb reads to the 1959 Harvest/HBJ Edition:

"Long considered in Europe to be Calvino's finest work, The Baron in the Trees is yet another example of this brilliant Italian writer's gift for fantasy. Set in the eighteenth century, it tells the story of Cosimo, a young Italian nobleman, who rebels against parental authority by climbing into the trees and remaining there for the rest of his life. He adapts efficiently to an aboreal existence - hunts, sows crops, plays games with earthbound friends, fights forest fires, solves engineering problems, and even manages to have love affairs. He also has more time to read and think. His proposal for "an Ideal State in the Trees" is acknowledged by Diderot, and Napoleon pays him homage. From his perch in the trees, Cosimo sees the Age of Voltaire pass by and the dawning of a new century. By now he is old and infirm, but his ending is as graceful and unusual as his life has been."

I'll start reading anything someone suggests. If I manage to conquer my A.D.D. and actually finish the book, it's a high compliment to the author. The Baron in the Trees is one of those books. I probably won't ever read it again, for very few books receive that distinction, but the fact I finished this one means that I recommend it. I doubt that will happen much over the course of the year. I hope I'm wrong. But try me. I'll give you the link to someone else's suggestion at least....

BRAZIL OR BUST

Brazil for bust might be the more appropriate way to say it for you quintessential Fat Tuesday types. I should have been in Brazil for Carnivale, but the federal government is conspiring against me. Hope everyone had a Happy Mardi Gras.

I've lost all my beads...

OH, VALENTINO

Did you know that Valentine's Day replaced this pagan tradition of placing virgin's names in a lottery box and then having the coming-of-age men select a name from that box then deflower the person whose name they had drawn?

That was a poorly phrased question. I apologize.

I spent my Valentine's at the Grand Cafe with MoFo, who you can't deny looks stunning in red. My good friend AlMo is the sommelier there, and he hooked us up! A fantastic cabernet, steamed mussels, salmon for the lady, John Dory pour moi, cheese platter, and a saucy sauterne.

Yum.

Much better than that Medicine Eatstation we almost went to... pah - thumbs down on that place... oh wait - they're giving us a free meal for screwing up our reservation. Mmmmm... okay, I guess the verdict is still out...

FINALLY...ErSe le Goof

I had dinner at MacArthur Park, finally. I moved to the Bay Area in '94, and I've been waiting to have dinner there ever since. The steak I ate was great, but I was disappointed with the ambiance...

I can't believe it. That's the first time I've used the word ambiance on this page. Another first. Just confirmed using search. On the other hand, I've used "swanky" thrice now. I think I'm more excited about the use of the word than I am about the restaurant.

So I think I'll talk about something else instead... ErSe (above) is going to be my marketing guru. She works for a company that's big into social networking. I'm hoping the company can help me meet the big spenders from a hotel chain or airline who will want to sponsor my dream to be free and leisurely. Regarding this endeavour, I'll keep you posted...

Blog humour.

I also apparently like to use British spellings when I'm drinking gin.

SUPERBOWL

I was going to write about the game... but I woke up Monday and can't remember anything except seeing Prince's silhouette. Who won?