"I" is for Island - the Catalina Kind

I always thought there is one thing I am not, and that's a romantic. Who's a romantic? Or should I say, What's a romantic? Actually, either one will work. At least the online dictionaries don't state much difference between the two.

Romantic ~ adj.

1. Inclined toward the feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love; as a romantic candlelit dinner
2. Relating to love, esp. in a sentimental or idealized way; as a romantic comedy
3. an idealized view of reality 
4. relating to the artistic and literary movement of Romanticism 

After reading through those definitions, I would still tend to believe that I'm really not much of a romantic. But...I'm also starting to realize that I may have been lying to myself. 

Cao Yong ~ The Vision Beyond

Why? Because of these other definitions I found: 

• passionate and imaginative, rather than structured 
• a soulful and amorous idealist to the extent of being impractical 
• a visionary

These insights reveal why I might also be part of that illustrious group of dreamers called romantic, and perhaps this also explains why I would choose Catalina Island as my #2 choice for a vacation. 

It was our first real vacation -- the kind that you actually go somewhere other than visiting family. All the plans were in place -- two complete days of fun at Knott's Berry Farm, Movieland Wax Museum and Disneyland, then over to Long Beach where my husband and I would board an early morning ferry headed for our romantic getaway on Catalina Island. 

Although there are actually two towns on the Island (Two Harbors being one of them) Avalon is the port of entry. It has a very beautiful bay, especially at night when the entire beachfront comes alive with its inhabitants seeking fresh fish cuisine or an evening stroll.

We chose the Victorian-style, historic Glenwood Hotel for our 3-day stay. They offered a wine and cheese social every evening, and a continental breakfast in the same courtyard where luminaries such as Amelia Earhart and Teddy Roosevelt often sipped their tea. The crowning touch was our room, which pleasantly depicted a bygone era, along with a very comfy bed. 

The best Italian restaurant I've ever eaten at was Prego's on Catalina Island -- an ultra tiny, family-owned taste of Italy on the waterfront, all done up in red checkered gingham on the tables and in the windows. I asked if they were connected to the grocery store sauce, and was informed they were one of a kind...no others...including the sauce.

So...maybe you're wondering why I called Catalina my #2 choice for a vacation. Maybe, just maybe, you thought for a moment and wondered what my #1 choice might be. Answer? The Grecian Islands...sigh. 

Okay. So...no...I'm not a romantic. Me?! Uh-uh...not at all. That's why I write NON-fiction...right??! ...HA!

"H" is for Hennessy - Mixed by Ray

This is not my normal subject or purpose in writing, but I simply have to tell someone about this new drink I invented...well, me and Ray.

Last night, my husband and I simply had to take one of our best friends (visiting from out of state) to this super cool speakeasy-type jazz bar under the historic Armstrong Hotel, called Ace Gillett's. Their house band, John Olson's Subterranean Jazz Trio, was setting up as we were being escorted to our table. That's when we asked for our favorite server.
 
Kelly has the looks, charm and personality that appeal to both men and women -- a very rare quality. She brings half the fun of the night to the table, and makes you feel like she's the genie in the bottle, saying, Your wish is my command.

When Kelly asked for our first round of drinks, I was utterly stumped. I knew the master bartender was nearly a drink genius, so I told her I was in the mood for something with brandy or cognac, mixed with kahlua and topped with Gran Marnier. She replied, "Martini?" I nodded and she headed for the bar to talk it through with Ray.

In the end, I received one of the yummiest martini drinks ever, that even included a reasonably yummy price tag. I began with Korbel Brandy, but switched it up to Hennessy Cognac VS for my 2nd and 3rd rounds.  

This is paradise, I thought. Smooth to the palate, tingly-warm going down, and an almost chocolaty finish. I decided to call it my:
                     Kahlua-Cognac Gran Maritini.

This is why "H" can only be for Hennessy...at least for now :~)) 

NOTE: The pictures of Ace Gillett's and Ray are courtesy of Ace Gillett's on Facebook.

Impact of a Tiny Impression

Near the end of our four days of minuets (i.e.the She Writes blog hop) I met Julie, who has a really nice blog, What Else is Possible? Long story short, she chose my blog along with 14 others, for the One Lovely Blog Award. Thank you Julie!

This is my first recognition of this type, so of course I had to put it in my sidebar, right? Right. And when this writing becomes one of my "Older Posts," and readers will no longer be able to easily access her link, they'll still be able to discover the wonderful person who gave me my first award - because clicking on that sidebar image will take them to her site. Cool, huh!

Here are the rules for this award:

• Accept the award by posting it on your blog together with the name of the person who granted the award and their blog link.
• Pass the award on to other blogs that you have newly discovered. 
• Contact each of those bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

If you're wondering what all of this has to do with the title of this post, you'll need to read the one I posted on Feb. 17th: Tiny Impression With an Impact. If you still don't understand this title after reading the other post, then please write to me...I check my comments every day...even when I don't publish a post :~)

And here are the recipients of this "One Lovely Blog Award" from me:

 1.  While the Dervish Dances
 2.  The Slight Detour
 3.  OEBooks
 4.  Janel's Jumble
 5.  Anne K. Albert
 6.  Anglers Rest
 7.  A Few of My Favorite Things
 8.  Margaret Atwood: Year of the Flood
 9.  Mary Akers
10. Mystic Mom
11. Lessons from the Monk I Married
12. Healing Morning
13. Good To Grow
14. The Feminist Breeder
15. The Riddle of Writing

P.S. Just don't ask me what happened to the comment box on this particular post (??) It's a *v-e-r-y* long story, but long story short, it's gone.

Tiny Impression With an Impact

Welcome to all She Writers!

Such a splendid idea initiated by Meg Waite Clayton (her newest book, The Four Ms. Bradwells, to be released this March) for the She Writes' bloggers to have a "blog hop" or "group ball." Why do I say that? Because visiting one another's blog sites is very much like a dance. 

Writers, coming together, lightly touching...with words...as if each were moving in time to some inaudible minuet by Mozart. Passively engaging, pausing...turning...now forward, and back...then quietly, fading...away.  

And finally, all is still, as if it never was - except, perhaps, the lasting impression left by a single comment that piques the memory of that brief yet often bittersweet interlude.

Imagine, for a moment, the impact it might have if every time I visited another's blog, I paused long enough to leave my mark in the sand - a tiny impression that I was there - a comment, or "Hi, just passing thru," or even just a :~) That single tiny impression may be all that writer needs for encouragement, motivation, inspiration, or to challenge what they know how to do best.

And for a writer, doing what we do best is...to write :~) 

For the list of other She Writes' bloggers dancing this weekend, please click here.