Phenomenal French Basque Country: Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bayonne, Biarritz, France by da-AL

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da-AL in France

Gorgeous fine sandy beaches, magnificent architecture, and like everywhere else in France — fantastic food! Our vacation had started in beautiful Barcelona. From there we drove through wonderful Huesca (note: my upcoming novel is titled, "Flamenco & the Sitting Cat"), pretty Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, and enchanting Espelette. We were headed further into French Basque Country... Now we overnighted… Continue reading Phenomenal French Basque Country: Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bayonne, Biarritz, France by da-AL

Seaweeds of the Irish Coast by GaiaInAction

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Photo of Irish seaweeds by GaiaInAction
Photo of Irish seaweeds by GaiaInAction

Love eating seaweed (aka sea veggies)? They’re delish and massively awesome for us. Leave it to former branch librarian GaiaInAction to capture their beauty…

gaiainaction's avataragoyvaerts

Yesterday saw a whole bunch of us interested folks going to explore the arboretum at Ardnagashel in Glengarriff, West Cork, but apart from admiring the wonderful trees we also received lots of information on the seaweeds and lichens along this stretch of coast. Ardnagashel was established by the Hutchins family and it was as part of the Heritage Week of Ireland that these activities took place, in memory of Ellen Hutchins (1785-1815)who was a remarkable Irish Botanist. The talks on the lichens and seaweeds were given by Howard Fox, who is the State Botanist (National Botanic Gardens) and by Maria Cullen. This ‘life’ introduction to the seaweeds and the lichens of the coast of Bantry Bay was so very interesting. a true first introduction in this field for me. Later in the afternoon Madeline Hutchins (Ellen’s great great grand niece) took us through the forested area of this garden and…

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Sneak Preview: I’m in Connie DK Lane’s Art Show

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da-AL wearing Connie DK Lane red latex tunic

Here I'm goofing off while my fine artist friend Connie DK Lane fits some of her designs for her upcoming show, “Bravura.” Too shy to model? Visit us anyway. Connie's art will be displayed the entire week.

Upcoming Art Show: Connie DK Lane

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photo of clothing made for Connie's show, made from painted latex

Art lovers -- join me at artist Connie DK Lane’s show, “Bravura.” She's asked me to be one of her models. You can be one too! “Bravura” in Connie's exact words: A large number of hand-made anthropomorphic forms made out of latex rubber, a simulation of apparels for all genders, will be displayed throughout the window case, from… Continue reading Upcoming Art Show: Connie DK Lane

Guest Blog Post: “How to Be All Classy and Shit,” in DGGYST’s exact words

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Photo of woman at beach
Photo thanks to Ryan McGuire of Gratisography.com

What’s classy to you? Here’s how ‘Damn, Girl Get Your Shit Together: Unsolicited Advice for Shit You Didn’t Know You Were Doing Wrong’ defines it…

DGGYST's avatarDamn, Girl. Get Your Shit Together.

I have been thinking a lot about class lately. My thirtieth birthday is right around the corner and I have really been trying to hone my style. I’ve always been horrified by my mother’s butterfly bedazzled bell bottoms and the ever presence of “big gulps, tractors, and pink camo” in my sordid memory bank. But what makes someone classy? The internet has nearly convinced me that the whole of classiness is kept in the human cuticles and if they aren’t on point, I should just hang myself with a length of the Confederate flag while standing on a crate of Pabst.

Not one to believe everything the internet tells me, I thought about real life. Who was the classiest person I know?

For me, that person is my dear friend Betty. Betty is a landscaper and ironically has the most mangled cuticles I have ever seen. When she comes by…

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