Cape Cod

Gant Rugger Fall/Winter 2010.

Unbeknownst to me (before now), Gant Rugger has teamed up with the band U.S. Royalty to promote their fall/winter clothing line.

Check out their promotional movie Cape Cod and tell me that it's not a brilliant piece of marketing. Afterall, you can't go wrong with motorcycles, music, and the great outdoors.

Garden Fury

My garden has exploded since last I posted about it (click here).

I'm afraid that one day I will wake up in a choking forest of vines. Will be sleeping with a machete from here on out.

The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau

"The happiness of the bee and the dolphin is to exist. For man it is to know about existence and to marvel at it."
- Jacques-Yves Cousteau

That little man in the funny red stocking hat up there was the greatest undersea adventurer of the modern age, and today (were he still alive) would mark his 100th birthday.

People of my generation may have only a passing knowledge of JYC's legacy on motion pictures and of his oceanographic research, and are far more aware of the current careers of his grandchildren; Alexandra and Philippe Jr. Also of the vast references to him in popular culture. I remember reruns of The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau playing on the Disney Channel when I was a kid, and being fascinated by its scary other-worldness.

Many have marveled at the great mysteries he unraveled through a lifetime of oceanic exploration, yet still struggle to decipher the code to his private persona. For you see, not only was he an inventor/adventurer/environmentalist/philanthropist/businessman/, but he was also a very dark and haunted philanderer that physically and emotionally abandoned his own family members for years at a time. Perhaps his escape into the sea was the only way in which he could rectify the emptiness and isolation that he felt on land.

I grew up along the Gulf Coast of Texas, and to me, the sea is everything. That dark and enchanting magical mistress tempting you with its dangerous charms. That is why I am completely sickened by the catastrophic images I see daily as a result of British Petrol's little "mistake" down there. I can overlook Cousteau's 1950s offshore drilling contracts with B.P. if he could grant me one wish...

I would love to see the graceful little Calypso appear across the Gulf one last time, chugging along and bouncing across the waves with a red-topped Cousteau riding stoically at the helm. Accompanied by his merry band of adventurers they drop anchor, don their Aqua-lungs, and descend into the oily depths. He could plug this leak. I know he could.

The Aqua-lung is arguably the single greatest invention of Cousteau. Here he is as a young man sporting an early version.

The Calpyso. The Cousteau team's famed vessel.





Not familiar with the man? Read Jacques Cousteau: The Sea King. It is a fine place to start.

The Cousteau channel on YouTube has a load of historical footage.

I like this one:

How Does Your Garden Grow

I have a bit of a green thumb which I inherited from countless generations of gardeners. Maybe it's the British side of me. Every summer I plant a different array of seasonal plants and flowers, and move my indoor plants outside.

I generally shoot for the buds that attract butterflies, and have even seen the occasional hummingbird hovering around. I love to cook as well and have an assortment of herbs that keep coming back year after year.

My condo benefits from at least 5-7 hours a day of direct sunshine with modest shading from trees in the late afternoon. Once I plant these things there isn't usually much work involved aside from regular waterings.

Last summer I experimented with three different kinds of tomatoes, green peppers, and cucumbers (which was totally ridiculous but almost worked). I just about s**t the bed when my weird German neighbor told me recently that last summer he "helped" my veggies by dosing them with insect spray. I'm leery about planting edible foods from here on out.

There is nothing better in the summer than a sandwich made with fresh tomatoes. I have an awesome recipe that I'll eventually get around to posting online.

Purple Shamrock.

A random assortment that I threw together. The Persian Shield (in purple) is starting to dominate. I hate the crappy plastic chairs by the way. I keep getting outbid on eBay on vintage metal tulip chairs; or motel chairs as they are also known. I should probably try and purchase during the winter instead.

Lavender at upper left and tomatoes - which I finally got into a pot.