December 12, 2004
Well, I think I have lost my mind. My mother would certainly think so. I have just purchased $300 worth of coffee today. Yes, that is absolutely true. I bought three $100 gift cards from Starbucks to give away to special folks who love to drink the pricey stuff. And, I bought the last gift cards the shop had; they'll have to get more. They have been selling those gift cards very fast. I read somewhere that Starbucks CEO
Orin Smith is getting compensation of nearly $3.7 million for 2004. Ah, the wonder of it all! Who said there is no money in coffee? Seems to me that designer coffee
is liquid money! Personally, I am a big fan of decaf lattes with cinnamon, so I have certainly contributed my share to Mr. Smith's very good year.
* * *
While driving through Dunwoody, I noticed a Christmas tree lot that was selling fresh-cut trees for $159 apiece, any tree-you choose. Can that be right? One hundred fifty-nine dollars was the price for a 12-foot cut tree? They were very nice looking trees, but amazing is what that price is! People were buying them, too, snapping them up. My husband and I have decided once again not to make the 45 trips to the basement that it takes to set up our big faux Christmas tree with its 38 years of ornaments. We looked at each other and swiftly agreed, "Nope!" I found a couple of beautiful little trees at my favorite florist, the Courtyard at the Forum, (770) 446-7389, that were already strung with lights and pine cones and berries, and we are elegantly making do with those. Cleanup after Christmas will take about four minutes. Our adult sons are considering being scandalized by this departure from tradition for the second year in a row, but none of them are ever around when put-away day comes with the 45 trips to the basement, so this may be our new tradition.
* * *
I have a new favorite restaurant in Panama City Beach, Florida. The Saltwater Grill on Middle Beach Road has a fabulous 25,000-gallon aquarium that is so big that schools of fish can do their hypnotizing ballet swim thing. Owner
Roy Centanni is going to corner the upscale dining market in Bay County; he already operates the white table cloth Canopies on the bay and two locations of Montego Bay Seafood House and Raw Bar in the Shoppes at Edgewater and on Thomas Drive.
Suzanne Durden can organize both on and off-premise catering for any special occasion. The Saltwater Grill's Mermaid Room has the only piano bar in Panama City, where
Michael Rorah does a great job of entertaining. You get to hear wonderful music, have a lovely candlelit dinner, and watch fish.
* * *
There were three whitetail deer in the front yard this morning when I went out to bring in the Sunday newspapers. I scared them as badly as they scared me because it was still fairly dark and I did not see them at first, just heard them when they bolted. They were very close to my front porch. We haven't got any pansies left for them as they have been over the garden many times by now and have discovered even the pansy plants that I tucked into odd places. Atlanta has cold weather on the schedule for about the next ten days so I guess winter has finally arrived and we are finally in the resting garden season. The funny thing about winter in the South is that an awful lot of folks do not bother to wear coats, or appear to dress for the weather, preferring to shiver when outdoors. This must be a regional thing. The cold temperatures have driven squirrels into our attic and my husband is playing hide and seek with them. These destructive little creatures prefer anonymity, but they are too noisy to achieve it.
* * *
I shall be kicking into high gear any day now to get ready for Christmas so I shall wish you all the best of merry seasons and abiding love. Give the gift of your time to someone who needs you. Hope all is well and thanks for reading.
121204
Archives |
