An Easter Poem from my "Forget-Me-Not, Forget-Me-Never" Book

From my book: "Forget-Me-Not, Forget-Me-Never"

May Heaven preserve and keep thee,

From every sorrow free,

And grant thee every blessing,

My earnest wish for thee.

Your Friend,

Mary Gleich

June 21, 1906

Happy Easter everyone!

Continental vs. American Dining

Until the 1850's, Europeans ate in the same style as Americans, switching their forks to their right hand after cutting with their left hand. In 1853, a French chef was cited in an etiquette book that changed thie practice. This French chef suggested that those who wished to eat like fashonable people should not switch their fork to their right hand after cutting their meat, but raise their fork to their mouth still in their left hand, thus, the Continental style.
The European upper classes immediately adopted this practice. Soon, Europeans of all classes began eating in the Continental style. This easy, convenient style is also great for left handed people, and as always, remember to cut your meat in any style with your elbows next to your sides.

Unfinished Fashionista

Good for the First Lady. She is beautifully educated, beautifully spoken, and beautifully dressed. Europe is fascinated with her as she seems to be something of a young novelty from a new generation. She is tall, athletic yet thin, and can wear anything. She looks like a modern day "Jackie O." Our own classic American "fashionista."
Yes, Mrs. Obama did break protocol and touched The Queen of England on the shoulder, but only after The Queen touched her first on the small of the back. I watched the video on U-Tube and the British press is not seeing what I saw, but I invite my readers to be their own judge. Even so, our First Lady should have, after being touched by the Queen, kept her arms at her sides. Maybe next time.
Our lovely First Lady did, however, hold her own next to that rock star groupie/supermodel, not so super singer/mistress turned First Lady of France, Carla. Mrs. Bruni was, however, well dressed in Dior. I just wish Mrs. Obama would have exclusively worn American born designers through Europe.
Nevertheless, I do wish Mrs. Obama would not have run all over Europe sleeveless. Not only is going sleeveless not 'Old World,' from an etiquette stand point, going sleeveless looks unfinished from a fashion stand point. Someone, please tell her stylist to put a 'Jackie O" jacket on her.

Fashion Superstition

The Fashion Industry has an old superstition: Never place a pair of shoes on a table, desk or counter. It is bad luck. Clack. Clack.

Money Saving Tips for the Home

Today, money saving Ironing tips for the home, thanks to my Mother, a young girl during the height of the depression:

• Instead of buying spray starch (it breaks down fabric fibers), iron linens and cottons using cold water from a spritzer bottle (my Mother used an old green glass Coke-a-Cola bottle and a cork attached to a metal sprinkler at the top). Water will make your linens wrinkle free.
• After hand washing linen and cotton tablecloths and napkins, lightly wring them, spread each item out then fold. Roll up each item and place it inside a plastic bag. Place the bags in the refrigerator overnight. Take out the bags the next morning (or so) and immediately iron with a hot iron. Don't be alarmed. The iron will steam and sputter. Talk about crisp linens!
• To save your feet from tiring while ironing, stand on a nice big, wide pillow.

Oh Me, Oh My!

Oh Me,
Just when I thought President Obama had committed the only Protocol faux-pas of the day in shaking the hand of the Queen in a "Double Handed" handshake, today in many British newspapers, it is reported that our First Lady, Michelle Obama, touched the Queen by giving her a hug! The first rule of etiquette in meeting any member of Royalty is: do not touch Royalty.
Now, I will report that there is much speculation about who touched whom first. In the end, it does not matter because in the foreign press, Michelle Obama is blamed for breaking Protocol.
For the younger generations, whether Protocol and manners still matter in pagan, socialist countries anymore, who knows, but citizens of the Britain still adore and respect their Queen, and she is a woman of a certain age. The younger generation should respect her traditions of Protocol.
Even if the gloved Queen did touch Mrs. Obama on the small of the back first, Michelle Obama should have kept her hands to herself. If she had kept her hands at her sides, we would not even be having this conversation. The British press would only then be picking on Mrs. Obama's shoulder less dress and the iPod gift given by the Obamas to the Queen. Oh My!

Check out the link: www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/G20/article6022502.ece

Americans: Restrain Your Hands, S'il Vous Plait.

Pardon Mon Francais mais OMD (Oh Mon Dieu),
Here we go again....President Obama just met The Queen of England and used the "Double Handshake." Y'all have seen it. Many politicians and ministers use this double handed shake.
American Business Women consider it to be condescending. Apparently, the Queen thought so too...the British press is buzzing about this "faux pas" already. Americans will probably think this is such a stupid little rule and who cares, but it is our image. Again, the "Ugly Americans" fail in matters of manners.
Then I thought of Virginia's Governor, Tim Caine, last year when the Queen visited Virginia for our Jamestown celebrations. Front page in the RTD, our Governor was photographed sticking both of his thumbs up in front of the Queen. Y'all can use your imaginations and guess what the "Thumbs Up" hand gesture means in Britain and all over Europe. The European presses and British blogs went nuts!
Richmond also has a Preppie, young local TV reporter out and about town who reports the news with his hands in his pockets. Again, y'all can use your imaginations and guess what Europeans think about men who put their hands in their pants pockets.
I am now throwing my hands up in the air and asking: Why do Americans have such a problem with their hands? Why can we not just learn to be still? Why can we not spend a few minutes learning a few very simple rules for traveling abroad so the rest of the world does not see us as the "Ugly Americans" with our absolute lack of manners. Oh my! Au revoir, y'all.