Musings about Edward Gorey or Another reason to visit Cape Cod

The World of Edward Gorey by Clifford Ross and Karen Wilkin (2002). This book is a MUST for all Gorey fans. It contains numerous illustrations, showing the Gorey humor, and an insightful interview by artist Clifford Ross and an essay by art critic Karen Wilkin. For me, Gorey has that appealing quirky humor that many viewers remember from his introductions to the PBS mystery series. A series of odd scenes juxtaposed—people in black having cocktails on a lawn while a dead man slides into a pond. A lady sighs atop a building while police inspectors beam their flashlights on the ground. . . . Wilkin characterizes Gorey’s stories as “disorienting,” not macabre or grotesque but more like “Victorian nonsense.”

The book provides an overview of many of Gorey’s works--the odd collection of drawings where boundaries are blurred between animate and inanimate, humans and beasts. Take the Doubtful Guest, a penguin-esque creature with a red and white scarf and sneakers, who arrived 17 years earlier in one household. . . .where it continued to reside. Sound like any of your guests? Or the curious Gashlycrumb Tinies, an alphabet of disasters that happened to children (“C is for Clara who wasted away” with drawings of a small child whose arm then head falls off). Not to mention those numerous drawings of contented felines. The interview reveals a non-assuming Gorey, someone with whom you would like to spend an afternoon. For people like me who are fascinated by this world, Gorey’s house in Yarmouth Port, Mass., is open to the public.

One of Florida's Best-Kept Secrets

When I moved to the Melbourne area years, people in the know called it “Florida’s best-kept secret.” When I mention Melbourne, everyone assumes Australia. . . . .No, I explain, the “other” Melbourne. . . .

What I like is the small-town appeal , numerous high-tech companies and a university combined with the coastal environment. We have wide beaches, many of which are nesting grounds for sea turtles, and the city lies on the Indian River Lagoon, the most diverse estuary in North America.

Other coastal communities offer more activities (yes, I would like more restaurants, tango halls and museums but we take vacations for that), but on a daily basis we have sea breezes, bike and pedestrian paths along waterways and spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Maybe not as many as St. Exupéry’s Little Prince claimed to have seen in one day from his tiny planet. . . .

And we are in the midst of a recession. But all that is missing is that critical mass (and some much-needed funding) and a smart-growth policy to get innovative projects launched and still maintain the identity of what has been one of Florida’s best-kept secrets.

Morning Run or Musings from the Back of the Pack

Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda won the marathon at the London Olympics Sunday with a time of 2 hours, 8 minutes and 1 second. . . . How many hours of training? Pairs of shoes? Anecdotes? I was always at the back of the pack on those morning or afternoon runs. . . .

Years ago, the morning run with the Florida Track Club in Gainesville took us from the track, along Southwest 34th Street , by Lake Alice and to the old museum. Most runners did a second loop. The afternoon run usually went through University of Florida agricultural test fields beyond No Name Road, through a pig farm and past houses with lots of mean dogs. Any of you beginning runners can empathize—you have barely enough energy to complete the run and hope you will not have one more, hill, curb or untied shoelace. Plus, many of the people on these runs were Olympians or world or national champions—Frank Shorter, Jack Bacheler, Marty Liquori, Jeff Galloway, Dick Endris, Barry Brown, John Parker, Ken Misner and Byron Dyce. . . to name a few. I was so far at the back of the pack that I only learned of the memorable moments much later (my sister Margaret was a distance runner and kept the pace). Why Jerry perfected his elephant call. What happened to the new guy who challenged Jack to a fast-paced workout. Who carried the eggs to throw at swerving drivers. And who left the fake rubber snake on the running trail. . . . I would love to interview Kiprotich and hear his training anecdotes.

Summer will be hot, but not just anything goes on the Côte d’Azur

“Summer will be Hot,” Performed by Eric Charden Hey Even if it rains, it will be a hot summer In t-shirts, bathing suits From the Cote d’Azur to Saint Malo "L'été s'ra chaud" Hey Même s'il pleut l'été s'ra chaud, Dans les t-shirts dans les maillots, D'la Côte d'Azur à Saint-Malo Summers on the Côte d’Azur evoke topless beaches, a glass of rosé and a dip in the Mediterranean at the end of the day . . . pebble beaches . . . and the ubiquitous dog! But wait. . . a recent article the Nice Matin pointed out rules and regulations and fines.

For example, indecent exposure (bare chest or bathing suit) in town can lead to a 38-euro fine. And there is a reason for this. Some years ago, seaside business owners complained—scantily clad beachgoers walking around town were driving away business. Most likely, this was not in reference to supermodels. . . . And that glass of wine . . . . No drinking on the beaches in Nice between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. However, right across the boardwalk, you have plenty of restaurants and bars, particularly in the Old City. A late-night dip in the sea. . . .That too carries a fine. In Nice, the beaches are closed between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. (1,500-euro fine).

And the pooch—France, which is a dog-friendly country, has set limits (38-euro fine unless dogs are allowed, and 35-euro fine for dog litter). And probably the most surprising rule, you can be fined 38 euros for picking up a souvenir beach pebble. Although readers complained about the lack of restrictions on the towel-to-towel vendors, who tread among bathers, hawking massages or hats, sunglasses and bracelets, some cities now have rules that prohibit these activities.

Yes, it’s one hot summer. And as one reader pointed out, to enjoy a glass of wine or a beer on the beach in the evening and a dip in the sea would cost him 1500 + 38 euros in fines. Most likely, these rules will be nearly impossible to enforce. Still, you might want to keep some euros in change. . . .just in case you pocket that beach pebble without thinking. What do you think about restrictions? Photos: Crowded public beaches v. private beaches at Juan-les-Pins.