But it kinda sucks when 99% of the population already knows it anyway.
Anyway, I should have brought my camera to the National Gallary because the picture outside looking into Trafalgar Square was something to behold. Dramatic clouds, pigeons flying all over the place, the occasional tower or monument, lions, etc. Inside, no cameras were allowed, as usual. You could buy all the pictures you wanted at the store, which is a possible reason for the ban, although I suppose flashes are bad for paintings and too many people don’t know how to turn their flashes off.
Anyway, the immaculate conception: that was the birth of Mary? I always thought it was the birth of Jesus. But then where does Joseph come in? My education in sorely SORELY lacking. I am embarrassed about it and will be sure to address my shortcomings as soon as I am done with my romance novels.
Wait a minute - wikipedia says that the Virgin Birth was how Jesus was conceived. So I wasn’t entirely clueless, it was just the names I had wrong. I feel so much better.
Anyway, regarding the Aperitif Incident, it involved going into a fancy French restaurant and being in over my head, and of course, being clueless. Here’s the email I sent to one of our friends that I held personally responsible for the whole incident:
Sue and I just got back from our trip to London, 1 week without the kids. One night we went out to celebrate Valentine’s day and our undying love for each other. We ended up at a fancy French restaurant although I am not sure either one of us knew what we were getting ourselves into. The hostess greeted us at the door with a happy English accent but once we were inside it was nothing but crazy French accents. No sooner had we sat down then some nice man, who looked just like you only 10 years younger, asked us if we would like an aperitif. I should have said, “I don’t know - what is an aperitif?” but instead I had a blank look on my face, shrugged my shoulders, and looked really stupid for a minute or two there. (I think they took that opportunity to turn up the thermostat 5 degrees for no good reason.) I am not sure what happened next but Sue and I eventually decided that we were going to get the “Chef’s Choice, 7 course sampler meal for a mere £75 each” and that we wanted to drink champagne that night. I think it’s entirely because of (1) my initial embarrassment and (2) the gentleman’s likeness to you and (3) our overall extreme feelings of fondness for you, which led us to agree to - how shall I say? - “a wicked freakin’ expensive bottle of champagne”. It all made complete sense: the mushroom flavors of the 20 year old champagne would go well with the truffles, and blah blah blah would go with the blah blah blah of the meal as well. Of course, I have never smelled, tasted or otherwise recognized any flavors in a bottle of wine, champagne or otherwise, so why did I think it was worthwhile going with this bottle? Because YOU recommended it to us, or at least somebody who looked just like you.
Now that I know what an aperitif is, I still don’t know what is a good one to order. So I am still screwed. The rest of the meal, by the way, was excellent. No regrets.
But the moral of the story is, We are just one of life’s experience away from having a clue about something we didn’t previously have any clue about. And for some of us that is a very good thing.
Regarding the National Gallaery, we unfortunately picked a period where some of the works we wanted to see are being moved to another part of the gallery and we were unable to see them today. Monet, Rembrant, van Goph, etc. However, looking at them in the store made me realize I am not sure they are going to do it for me. A whole class of painters and I might just not really care for. I seem to like cheap red wine as well. It’s just my lot in life. Bummer.
The Great Aperitif Incident… revealed! :)