It’s high time I got back into watches. I’ve been woefully neglectful of this opportunity to accessorize.
Thread-within-a-thread: Do we even wear watches anymore?
Author Archives: Alan Ilagan
25
May
2019
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May
2019
Too Late For Lent
The Lenten rose is one of the first plants to bloom every year, and this one proved no exception. That didn’t mean it was early. Our whole spring got off to a late start, and it still doesn’t really feel here other than in fast fits and false-starts. The lingering cool and wet weather has lengthened the duration of the spring flower show. For the most part, these blooms come and go awfully quickly, burned by a suddenly-scorching sun or torn asunder by violent storms. That we have had them stick around for so long is the silver-lining to the relentless march of clouds and rain we’ve had.
I’ve extolled the merits of the Lenten rose a number of times here, so I won’t repeat any of that. It does bear mentioning that this is one of the very first perennials I planted when we moved into our home way back in 2002, and it still comes up faithfully every year. That makes this particular specimen seventeen years old. Like the magazine.
Our baby is almost grown up now.
24
May
2019
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May
2019
24
May
2019
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May
2019
The Mom Selfie
There are several things going on in these photos that some people seem largely unaware that I do. First off, driving. Yes, I drive. Quite a bit, in fact. I think I have more mileage on my car than Andy, thanks mostly to frequent trips to Boston. And of course I wear a seatbelt. It’s the law. And common sense for those of us who grew up in the 80’s and afterward. (Andy remembers the lawless days of riding around without having to wear one.)
Second, running errands. Like a soccer mom. Maybe that’s why Suzie said this was a classic mom selfie. To be honest, I don’t know what a classic mom selfie is. If I were said mom, I’d probably be on the wine. Isn’t that a mom thing to do? On the morning these photos were taken, I was on a fern run. Found a couple of elephant ears too. The plant version. How ghastly to think of anything else.
Third, silliness. I am ridiculously silly when you catch me at the right moment. More-so than I probably convey on this website. I’m a goddamn hoot and a half.
23
May
2019
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May
2019
The Vibrant Azalea
At the height of daylight, an azalea stands brightly in the splendor of it all.
The vibrant pink is set off in striking fashion by the new chartreuse foliage of the season.
Spring should not be subtle.
It should scream and shout and announce its arrival and presence with all the brazen brilliance it can muster. It goes by too quickly to be quiet about it.
I’ve noticed that the azaleas have made a glorious showing this year. I don’t grow any at my home, but it’s nice to see when somebody else does. Personal preference only – when done correctly they make a handsome presence, especially at this time of the year.
So let us have spring, vibrant and electric and alive! Let it sing to us at full volume, let it shock us with its brassy, brazen boldness! It is but the prelude to summer…
22
May
2019
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May
2019
22
May
2019
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May
2019
Avoiding Toxicity
This online world, of which my blog has been a part for the last sixteen years, has been rapidly devolving into toxicity. A recent sample of FaceBook and Twitter trends had me shutting it all off, as supposed fans tore apart the ‘Game of Thrones’ finale and Madonna’s Eurovision performance, indicative of a general trend of hating on anything and everything that comes across the online timeline.
Why is there so much hate? Why is there such a readiness to attack and destroy? I don’t know exactly, but I have my theories, none of which I’ll bother posting or positing as they would only contribute to the unhealthy atmosphere of negativity so prevalent today. I’ll do what I usually do when it comes to comments and anonymous critiques: ignore and avoid. Let them breed their chaos and toxicity, let them wallow in their self-dissatisfaction. We’ve got happiness and truth on our side. They only have deceit.
Moving on…
21
May
2019
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May
2019
Hot Zac Efron GIFs
The title of this post says it all, and in this busy time of the year that’s a very good thing. See also naked Zac Efron, nude Zac Efron, half-naked Zac Efron, half-nude Zac Efron – well, you get the point. Scroll down and type his name into the ‘Search’ box and see what else comes up.
21
May
2019
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May
2019
Tiny Threads: An Insignificant Series
We need to stop throwing arugula on everything.
21
May
2019
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May
2019
We’ve Been Expecting You
Coming to Boston in June, the ‘Downton Abbey’ exhibition will arrive to whet our appetites for the movie, due out later this year. I’m excited about both, and not just since I’ve been looking for a proper reason for us to return to Boston this summer. This one is coming in a formal British fashion, which is not a sartorial style that is feasible or particularly comfortable for a summer outing, but we’ll do our best. I’m thinking linens, wrinkles and all.
Like its predecessor ‘Gosford Park’ there is something tranquil and calming about this series, even with all the car crashes and drama. It’s the perfect antidote for a hot summer stretch, which might actually be welcome at this point of the rainy season.
20
May
2019
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May
2019
That Naked Channing Tatum Shower Pic
A little late to the nude Channing Tatum party that went on a couple of weeks ago, here’s that naked photo that his wife posted, or made him post, because of a bet or a board game or something. It doesn’t really matter because the end more than justifies the means. Mr. Tatum has been almost naked here in posts like this, and this, and this, but it’s been a while since he graced these pages. Welcome back, old friend.
20
May
2019
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May
2019
20
May
2019
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May
2019
Breaking May Recap
May is wandering off much too quickly for my liking, even if the weather has been far from fine. We eked out a nice weekend, and I spent most of it in Boston (with an early morning run to Troy’s Landscaping, resulting in the selfie seen here that Suzie claimed is a total Mom selfie so we’re not speaking right now), but Boston is a story to tell in a later post. For now, our usual Monday look-back at the week that came before…
It started with the lilacs, which have made a wonderful showing the year, lingering a little longer than is customary thanks to the cool, wet weather.
Some #TinyThreads were meant to be pulled.
Florals for spring, again.
With all this rain, a fragrance to complement the wetness.
Our annual Mother’s Day weekend on Broadway began…
Camp and cabs and Central Park…
And a special guest appearance or two…
Until the next Broadway rendezvous.
Hunks of the May Days included Thomas Bradfield, Devon Goda, John Gregory-Smith, and James Faulkner.
19
May
2019
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May
2019
Madame Is Making Her Move
Yes, I saw the Eurovision performance, and despite a few flat notes, I thought it was really powerful. More interesting than the hubbub about it is Madonna’s roll-out for her upcoming ‘Madame X’ album, starting with a cover story on British Vogue (featuring some of these amazing photographs). She’s also released four songs, and managed to do so (more or less) without any major leaks. At first listen, I was not instantly in love with them, but in the ensuing days they’ve been growing on me. (Remember, it took me a while before I came to love both ‘Like A Prayer‘ and ‘Frozen‘ so this is a good sign.) I still like lead single ‘Medellin‘ and its laid-back, almost sparse arrangement, the best of the offerings so far. “Slow down papa!” It’s a new sonic landscape for our favorite Madame, inspired from all the corners of the world, and will likely be the soundtrack to my summer.
“The sun was caressing my skin… another me could now begin…”
