LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Back in the Deep Freeze

Dayem, it's cold! I knew today would be freezing the moment the invitation to NL's annual Christmas party arrived, because her party is always on the coldest night of December.

There's another party tonight as well. These two parties are on opposite sides of town. The hitch is that I have a marvelously sleeved black satin, silver trimmed thing which I've been looking forward to wearing to such events this year. It will be fine inside, but in-between the parties, well, the shoulders are nearly bare.

I was going to wear high boots and tights with it, but considering the temperature will opt for velvet trousers and ankle boots instead. Strange styles we have these days.

2 comments:

Frank Partisan said...

Very stylish.

Foxessa said...

So I was told -- by the hostess of the second party -- the annual Christmas party she gives has many guests from the fashion industry as she's a very successful designer - label in own name. So I thought that compliment meant something.

I don't often think about being stylish, but at this time of year when surrounded by people who think about it 24/7, if you're a girl, you can't help trying.

Nevertheless, at both parties last night -- one made of hostess and her guests out of the Art World, and the second one the Fashion World (and the political too, since the hostess belongs to a very politically influential family back in her home state, and she's done fund raisers for liberal / Dem candidates here -- with Vaquero performing, on occasion) -- anyway, I was starting to say:

You can see the economic crash in effect at these parties. People are not quite as dressed and glossy as years past, as the women are not managing weekly sessions with their stylists, etc. and cutting back on new clothes. The food isn't as lavish -- no beef on the groaning board this year, only ham and turkey for the carnivores among us. The plethora of chocolate offerings cut back to a single, enormous chocolate souffle cake. And so on.

Love, C.