Pompeii

We went downtown to the Fine Arts Museum yesterday.... they have an exhibit of artifacts from the ruins at Pompeii. Wonderful display of gold and silver coins, gold and beaded jewelry, blown glass, pottery, bronze, silver, hand painted frescoes....... mostly everything in very good condition, considering it was buried under tons of burning debris and ashes.

It was hard to look at the body-casts of the victims, however...... mothers clutching their children, a child with arms reaching up for help that never came, a dog nearly folded in two from the intense heat. Very sad.... I couldn't look at those displays for more than a few seconds.

It's always amazing to me to see museum exhibits with items that are centuries-old..... the bronze items were very intricate, as were the silver goblets and serving pieces. How in the world did they do all that handmade ornate work way back then? There were even some surgical tools in this exhibit, which are nearly identical to surgical tools still used today.

Our museum district here always offers very fine exhibits, and we try and see all of them, both at the science museum and in the art museum. The drive from here to downtown is an easy one, as long as you time it right so you don't get stuck in rush-hour traffic.... and parking near the museum is free and convenient, so that makes it easy as well. Plus the museums are near the biggest and prettiest downtown park... and the best Greek restaurant is only a short ride from both museums. What more can you possibly ask for?

We stopped at the Whole Foods Market while we were downtown, and came home with two bags filled with prepared food, and some specialty foods that we can't get locally here. Whole Foods is supposed to be opening a market right in the area here, but it may take till next year to be completed. When that happens, I may just take the stove-top and the oven right out of our kitchen...... who would want to use them with all the home-cooked foods at the Market?! (Okay.... just kidding.... just kidding.)

My cousin L called this afternoon and we were on the phone for over an hour, talking mostly about Amy Vanderbilt's etiquette book. L says she misses the good manners and "niceness" of years ago, and is saddened that her grandchildren are growing up "too modern."

I quoted to her from the etiquette book--- that you can't control how anyone else raises their children, but you can control the children's actions when they're under your own roof.... plus the best way to teach is by example, not by criticizing. I think L is sorry that I've bought that etiquette book now, because she tends to over-criticize her grandchildren and she thinks that's okay for her to do. I suggested she go to her library and check out this book. She said she may just buy a couple of copies and give them to her daughters. (Well, I wonder how that will go over?)