Red-hot red-head Shaun White is heading into his fifth Olympic Games, which, if you do the math involved, is pretty damn impressive. He earns this Dazzler of the Day for his lifetime of snowboarding magnificence, and all the Olympic medals he’s collected along the way. This winter he may add some new jewelry to his collection.
During the past two years of my meditation journey, I’ve been using an imperfect piece of rose quartz, found at a little gift shop beside the Red Lion Inn in the Berkshires. At first I wasn’t sure of it – it was off-center and assymetrical, and looked weirdly off-balance depending on how one viewed it – yet in my hand it felt at home, and so it was home where I brought it, embracing its imperfection, hoping some of that acceptance would rub off on myself. Through the ensuing two years, I held it in my hands for each of my daily meditations – by the end of each it was warm and seemed to glow with the energy and spirit of the calm that came by the end of every session.
Last week, while holding this crystal in my hand, I noticed another imperfection in its surface, something I’d glossed over for these two years, which is odd for my critical nature. Also telling. It wasn’t perfection I was after when it came to meditation, and so my practice has always been forgiving and humble, something sorely needed when I first began meditating. By this point, I am open to acceptance. In a book I’m reading now one of the meditation practices involves focusing on what is bothering us, acknowledging it and giving it a moment, then accepting it, and finally letting it go. The practice also speaks to accepting what our body is telling us – whether in the breathing process, or whatever else the body whispers when in a state of meditation.
Sometimes that arrives in a pain of the ankles, from sitting lotus-style on the floor. Sometimes it’s a knot in the shoulders or back from a day of work stress in an office chair. Sometimes it’s a sense of dizziness that borders on a headache. In each instance, the practice advises breathing into each little pain and then exhaling out and letting it go. If the pain or bother persists, and the focus veers from the breathing, one is supposed to focus again on the pain and what the body is saying, then shift back into deep breathing.
As I felt the suddenly-slightly-ragged piece of rose quartz in my palm, I breathed in deeply, then slowly breathed out. Next, I listened to the body, and felt the stress-agitation in my shoulders and neck. Feeling the twinge of an ache there, I lowered my shoulders a bit, breathing deeply in and then slowly out, and somehow the pain lessened. Maybe it was the relaxation and the dropped shoulders, or maybe it was something deeper. The body and the mind work together always – perfectly imperfect.
Taking over the shirtless baton in the Winter Olympics (with a respectful nod to Pita Taufatofua) this is Nathan Crumpton, who just walked into the Olympic Opening ceremony sans shirt, waving the flag for American Samoa. Crumpton is competing as a skeleton racer, but he also works as a model and photographer, for obvious reasons. Check out his amazing website here.
Porn stars, strippers and sex workers get shamed and ostracized in so many places today that it sometimes feel like we as a society are progressing backwards. I can’t tell you how many Twitter accounts advertise ‘No Porn’ on their bios, which is fair, but it still wreaks of judgment and condemnation. In these parts, we celebrate everybody (unless you hate) and that includes those who make a living promoting their bodies. In some cases, it’s quite a lucrative living, as Dazzler of the Day Diego Barros proves. He’s reportedly the first male porn star to amass one million Twitter followers, and he’s also reportedly earned one million dollars in eight months or something, so before you go judging and critiquing how he makes his money, check your own bank account. If I could have made that kind of money shaking and quaking in a banana hammock, I’d have gone the Onlyfans route as well. Today, we celebrate someone who took his talents to the bank.
It’s been a week of comfort food, starting with this bruschetta, moving on with a chicken curry and a bowl of pho, and now we complete a meal with this chocolate chip cookie plate. Winter is made for cooking like this, with the oven doubling as a pricey space heater, and the results warming the stomach and the heart.
This chocolate chip cookie was my standard go-to version as seen here. After making my wy through the yeast and dough process for ensaymada, returning to this simple recipe was a quick and easy joy. I made enough for Andy and myself, our parents, and even Suzie’s family. Sharing is caring.
Feeling slightly whimsical and crazy, a condition brought about by the unexpected absence of the full two cups of nuts the original recipe calls for, I added shredded coconut and white chocolate chips in their place – a switch that tastes just as decently as walnuts would have. Sometimes a substitute is the best way to try new things.
‘February Gold’ narcissus don’t come anywhere near to making it out by February in these climes, so only the indoor blooms as seen here stand a chance. Such tiny blooms carry such a great burden of hope. Yes, hope can sometimes be a burden, even when it’s as beautiful as this.
Tonight marks the opening of the Winter Olympics 2022 from Beijing, China, and it is only fitting the we begin with two Winter Olympians who also happen to be gay Americans: Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy. They have appeared here before in the altogether (Adam nude here and Gus naked there) – proof that winter fun need not be draped in excess clothing.
As for this year’s games, I’ve already featured the ice dancers (Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron, Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue, and Madison Chock and Evan Bates) along with the great Nathan Chen. More to come in the near future…
Right up to this moment I was feeling rather uninspired and woefully unfabulous when it came to Valentine’s Day fragrances, so I was digging deep into the scent closet and pulling out various rose frags to lift the winter spirits. I started with the exquisite ‘Rose & Cuir’ which is a gorgeous summery bloom that somehow sparkles in the snowy crystals of winter. For the nights, when the air gets a little smoky there is ‘Oud Fleur‘ and the even more divine ‘Portrait of a Lady‘.
So the rose was very much on my mind when I let out a startling gasp in front of Andy as I read about this new trio of fragrances from Tom Ford based on a rose garden. Much in the same way that his ‘Ébène Fumé’ took me by surprise with its beautiful alignment with Palo Santo incense, this rose triumvirate may be exactly what we need right now. Here is the literature on these new beauties:
Rose d’Amalfi: Inspired by the designer’s favorite Italian coast of Amalfi, this rose is sprinkled with fresh citruses and spices. It opens with Italian bergamot and mandarin paired with pink pepper. With rose, heliotrope and almond, it blends in romantic pink magic in a scent that is sensual and intimate.
Rose de Chine: This is a more potent, smoky and sensual rose fragrance. Besides rose, it features yellow peony, labdanum and myrrh, with a hint of smoky accords. According to the designer himself, the fragrance exudes an indomitable and untamed attitude as decadent rose and Chinese peony form a gorgeous and strong contrast. It has a provocative and challenging feel.
Rose de Russie: Announced as opulent and dramatic, this edition blends Russian black leather with a rich rose scent that is nighttime appropriate. The composition also features notes of white pepper and woods for a sexy and warm finish.
These all sound intriguing, but Tom Ford and florals are a bit of a mixed bag. It began with the spring blooms of his Jardin Noir line which completely missed for me, and the Vert line he did afterward only had two of four frags that I would consider (and only ‘Vert d’Encens’ was worth a purchase). Recent offerings ‘Rose Prick’ and ‘Bitter Peach’ also smelled lackluster, with the juice veering much too sweet and sugary for my taste. That said, after the brilliance of ‘Ébène Fumé’ perhaps he’s found his way back to the dark beauty that I’ve always loved. It’s definitely that time of the year with Valentine’s Day right around the corner.
{And if Andy is looking to completely sweep me off my feet and semi-surprise me for the holiday of hearts, the most promising option would be the handy-dandy sampling collection at this link, which includes all three for a fraction of what a full bottle costs… Also, for those of you looking to purchase some yourself, the Tom Ford store is offering them for $270, while Sephora has them listed for $368 – both at the 1.7 oz size. Something to think about for gift cards as well… Not sure why there is such a discrepancy.}
This is merely an almost-bite of Andy’s perfecting of a chicken curry dish which has taken over two decades to reach this blissful state of warmth and deliciousness. It is the perfect antidote to a winter’s day, and even better during the early arrival of a winter’s night. This dish rivals that of Mom’s beef stew, to which Andy has also added his special touch. Comfort food to warm the heart.
Not so long ago, the main deterrence from me trying a recipe was the amount of chopping and cutting involved, along with the amount of bowls and utensils used. I’ve since come to find the simple enjoyment in the process – and in every step of the process – a component of mindfulness, and a way of clearing the head form distraction and worry. That’s not an easy feat with everything going on, and so I keep busy with something like bruschetta.
This version is an easy one – just some garlic and olive oil heated to the point where the rawness is gone, but no browning is happening, then the diced fresh tomatoes, finely cut ribbons of fresh basil, and some sliced scallions. A healthy dose of salt and pepper, and a few chili flakes complete the flavor index.
Andy found these toast rounds at The Fresh Market, which makes this so much easier to assemble. As much as I just claimed to be embracing every step of something like this, if there’s an easy fix, why not go for it? It allows for more serious meditation time later on.
These are just a little too crunchy at the start for my liking, but the time it takes to put the tomato mix on the toast and drive them over to Amsterdam for dinner with the family is just long enough to soften them up. Tutti a tavola a mangiare!
Acknowledging that the correct pronunciation of ‘pho’ does not work as well in this blog post title, not enough people know that to take offense. On the day that the big blizzard hit the Northeast coast, bypassing us for the most part, I took time to make a batch of pho from scratch, broiling the bones and onions, then boiling them with the aromatics for a few long hours – long because I was eager to devour the broth and its accompanying noodles.
Just as important as the bones and aromatics are the fresh accompaniments – basil and cilantro and scallions and bean sprouts. I can’t find Thai basil anywhere, which is the only shame about this situation. A drizzle of sriracha added to the heat, a buffer against the descending temperatures. While the storm skirted us this time, winter remains. A dish like this almost makes winter worth the while.
As stereotypically-expected, I am completely obsessed with ‘The Gilded Age’, the new HBO series from the makers of ‘Downton Abbey’. My favorite character thus far is Bertha Russell, portrayed in exquisite fashion by Carrie Coon, who earns her first Dazzler of the Day thanks to her nuanced and complex treatment of a woman audiences may love to loathe. She swerves from imperious to vulnerable, defiant to heartbreaking, and that’s all just within the first episode. (And her wardrobe is to-die-for.) I can’t wait to see where she ends up, and how ‘The Gilded Age’ will tell its story.
Direct counter-programming to this wintry entrance into February is found in these photos from a recent foray to Faddegon’s. F-this and f-that in a fiery floral foundation of alliteration! Yes, we are at that point in winter where we all go a little mad. I remember a trip to the Cape to see JoAnn and her crew several years ago – actually, well over a decade ago, which feels like more than several years – and on that trip her brother Wally took me out and about and described how people survived a winter on the Cape, a place well-renowned and beloved for its summer enchantments, and not known for winter thrills. Basically, it was a lot of drinking and some cozy dinners. Back then, it was exactly what I wanted and needed, and we passed many a winter weekend in such happy tradition.
These days the manner in which we trudge through the winter has evolved and matured, with warmer resonance found in subtle and quieter joys, such as the simple appreciation of the earliest spring blooms that recently appeared at the local greenhouse. For the first of February, this is a very good sign.
There will be jonquils and tulips and hyacinths soon in every supermarket, their delicate fragrance a delicious reminder that we are well on our way through the winter – over a third of the way done in fact. Do I seem anxious? Well, I am. We are craving the longer days, the extended period of light, and we are starting to feel the gentle elongation of the brightness.
It’s time for a few bouquets in the house, and more flowers on this website. Let’s go full Mrs. Dalloway and buy them ourselves.
“The earth laughs in flowers.” ~
For this very last day of January, here is a bit of greenery that was part of my Mom’s birthday bouquet. Hydrangeas have lasting power, and so they keep going, extending this bright bit of freshness for a week or two more. I’ll replace them with something else soon, as these were a reminder of how lovely it is to have a vase of fresh flowers in the house, especially in these dogged days of winter.
The simplicity of these hydrangea blooms, and the way their color could be that of fresh foliage in the spring, appeals to my thirst for greenery. Not the dark evergreen greenery that is the only sign of life around – the dull needles of the pine tree or the silver splinters of the juniper – but the chartreuse and bright green that signals the sunny seasons.
I love how they could be seen as flowers or leaves, given their color and texture and appearance. It is a luxury to have such beauty at this time of the year, like biting into a fresh piece of citrus that was transported from a tropical clime.
“I must have flowers, always, and always.” ~
Taking pride of place in this post is the gooey melted goodness of my first successful endeavor at making ensaymada. That’s really all that mattered this week. Winter raged, spring presaged, and our emotional state was gauged. It’s there in all its messiness with this wintry recap.
The maybe-not-so-minor magic of mindfulness.
The first green of a coiled spring not quite ready to pounce.
Like the whiskey that I’m not drinking, we are aged and mellow.
When and where passions collide.
The wonder of Wordle, and a little bit more.
Meditating through the madness of Mercury in retrograde.
My first attempt at ensaymada, and I did not burn the kitchen down, thank you.
Dazzlers of the Day included Heather Small and Will Bryant.
