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I love it when I come across good writing when I least expect it. And I especially love it when the writing is on a topic that is near and dear to my heart.
It happened today. I was just about finished with my Chicago Sun Times. I'd read my favorite columnists, the news about the former Nazi just elected to be the next Pope, the local news about the current Nazi running the city of Chicago, and the Cubs box score.
I was about to toss the paper away when this headline caught my eye:
'Martini imitators should put a cork in it.'
Now, I've been complaining about the bastardization of martinis for quite some time now. How it's hard to even find a decent gin martini mixed in among the Appletinis and Chocotinis and Cosmolinis and Puckertinis that the Yuppie scum are swilling these days.
I've even written about the topic before . . . but not nearly as well as columnist Ted Pincus did, in the Sun Times. His lead is one that can make a martini lover weep:
"Shaken or stirred, with olive or twist, it's the dickens.There it once stood, unchallenged in its pristine purity. Glistening in its funny, funnel-shaped glass perched on a delicate stem.
It had always been a shimmering silver lake of limpid, languid solace, the ultimate civilized sunset companion.
The essence of grace. To legions of us, it had been the messenger of quiet bliss, providing a wet, gossamer curtain that descends over the cares of the day, washes them deftly away, and draping our entire psyche in the glow of euphoric serenity.'
Oh, that's beautiful, isn't it? A shimmering lake . . . a gossamer curtain . . . the ultimate sunset companion.
My God, I want to marry Ted Pincus, so we can grow old together, sitting on the porch at sunset, holding hands, swathed in our gossamer curtains, aimlessly adrift in our shimmering lakes of Boodles gin . . . .
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Feels like Total Recall. Er, Philip K Dick?
Actually, with Steve's example it's a bit scary --- standing at the urinal...
Comments (18)
First, enough of Pope Bennie and the Jets.
Second, I'm in total agreement about the real topic - great writing. The martini piece was wonderful - great visuals, good flow. It drew you right along until the end. Exactly what good writing is supposed to do.
By the way, Steve, I'm looking forward to seeing you next month in NY.
Posted by Colleen | April 20, 2005 10:04 AM
Posted on April 20, 2005 10:04
Congrats, Steve. You've sunk to a new low. "Former Nazi elected to be the next Pope"? I'm not sure how that's relevant to your piece about martinis, but it seems like a gratuitous slam to me. Considering what tremendous ability you have with the written word, I can't believe that you repeatedly stoop to the easy aspersion, which in this case is unnecessary and flat-out offensive.
Still love you lots!
Kasia
Posted by Kasia Chalko | April 20, 2005 12:35 PM
Posted on April 20, 2005 12:35
Dude, get help.
Posted by Dan | April 20, 2005 12:36 PM
Posted on April 20, 2005 12:36
DATE: 04/20/2005 10:44:1P AM
Wasn't offended by the pope comment, btw. I don't think you're the first or the last person to say something along those lines, just the first to say it here. Lots of people are worried about the sphere of intolerance that surrounds this man and that's how I took it. Just my two cents.
Now, as for Ted Pincus. The question is, is my filthy dirty vodka martini in the shee-shee-foo-foo faker martini category?
Posted by Rebecca, Julie's friend | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/20/2005 11:10:3P PM
The guy WAS a member of Hitler Youth. He can say he didn't want to be, but calling him a former Nazi is not factually incorrect. Let's all take a breath, folks.
Rebecca...what's a filthy dirty vodka martini? Lots of olive juice and served by a Chippendale's dancer?
Posted by Meredith | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/20/2005 11:74:2P PM
Hey, hey, hey: My remark about the Pope was not gratuitous, and neither was it a reference to the fact that "God's Rottweiler" as he is known, will probably set the Catholic Church back 80 years.
It was, as Meredith says, just a fact. He served in the Hitler Youth. He also served, according to the USA Today (today) in other areas of the German army in World War II. By his own admission, he stood by and watched Jews herded away to camps. That's what HE says. So don't yell at me about it, Kasia dear.
And no, Rebecca, filthy dirty gin or vodka martinis are most certainly NOT sheee-sheee-fooo-fooo martinis. I like mine a little dirty from time to time.
Posted by steve C. | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/20/2005 13:95:6P PM
Just when there was finally something interesting back on the blog- drinking- we need to tie in religion and news....blah blah blah..... lets stick to the good stuff- martinis- which i have given up over the years for my new favorite, the marhugie- this is a triple martini- vodka all the way!
Posted by Cathy | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/20/2005 19:00:7P PM
MARHUGIE!!!!!!!
Cathy, I don't typically drink vodka martinis, but in honor of the Marhuguie, I am going to have one. Tonight. I just got back from a session where a CEO brought me in to convince his top managers and VPs that they need to do a better job communicating. It was trench warfare. Falling two feet back for every foot gained. Hand to hand combat, practically. But very rewarding. I'm going to blog about it tomorrow, because there was some cool lessons to come out of it . . . but first I need to wrap myself in a Gossamer Marhugie and unwind.
Steve
Posted by steve C. | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/20/2005 22:75:4P PM
Hell, I laughed out loud at the pope comment. And setting the church back 80 years means they will now be 620 years behind the times, rather than only 540. A piddling difference, I'm sure you will agree. Have I deflected enough hatred from our fearless leader yet (Steve C, not the pope, that is)?
And yes, I was raised catholic. Eight years of nuns, four years of priests, twelve years of therapy, and here I am!
S Neruda
Posted by Steve Neruda | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/20/2005 23:12:8P PM
You and I both, Steve. Raised Catholic, I mean. I'm working on a story that I'm going to pitch to the PR magazines, comparing the Catholic Church's public relations strategy to that of Disney.
Think about it: Both of them, when faced with scandals, choose to just kind of ignore them in hopes that they go away. And both have a HUGE customer base that will forgive them any kind of bad press, so they feel they don't even HAVE to do any crisis communication.
What do you think?
Steve
Posted by steve C. | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/20/2005 23:80:8P PM
Always wondered when religious thought would be included in business discussion. Seems to me Benedict XVI's intent is to set the Church back 2000 years, which would be a good thing. Meanwhile, on the Nazi crack: did you notice that he was still preteen when WWII broke out?
Mike
Posted by Mike | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/20/2005 30:41:8P PM
Love the Disney/Church link. Just think of the possibilities - One has a cast, the other caste (OK, I know its primarily a Hindu thing, roll with me here...). Both use guilt as a primary motivator (or demotivator)... both require 10% of your income (tithe or ticket cost) to get past the gates... both have their biggest marketing impact when you start em young...
And both are just a little bit Goofy.
I'm here all week - try the veal!
SN
Posted by Steve Neruda | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/20/2005 40:45:4P PM
Mike: Of course I noticed that he was a preteen when WWII war broke out . . . . that's why he joined Hitler Youth instead of the SS or the Luftwaffe . . .. ha ha ha ha ha ha just kidding, just kidding.
Of course you're right. There's no room on a business blog for religious debate . . . not even this goofy-ass blog, where we've discussed everything from American Idol to 80s Big Hair Bands. I apologize if I offended everybody with the Pope thing.
But hey, how come nobody was offended that I called Mayor Daley a Nazi, too? I mean, mayors have feelings, too. And Daley never even served in Hitler Youth, so it was REALLY unfair to slam him like that. I mean, it would be unfair, except the man really is a Nazi at heart.
Steve
First of all
First of all,
Posted by steve C. | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/20/2005 58:62:1P PM
Left you speechless, have I? Yeah, that can happen...
SN
Posted by Steve Neruda | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/20/2005 61:94:2P PM
My favorite martini quote: "I think I'll slip out of these wet clothes and into a dry martini."
--Robert Benchley, I think.
Posted by Glenn | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/21/2005 53:80:1A PM
Colleen:
You're going to be at the Engagement Conference?? It's going to be fun. When do you get in?
Steve
Posted by steve c. | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/21/2005 68:40:5A PM
Yep, I'm coming to the conference and to your Wed. a.m. class. and looking forward to both. I get in Tues. evening.
Posted by Colleen | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31
DATE: 04/26/2005 28:92:0P PM
About the martinis... Just thought I'd throw in there that it's okay for girls (and gay men) to drink frou frou martinis...or whatever they're called. Straight men...hmmmm. And if we're Yuppies for doing it, so be it. We look cool when we're drinking them. Drinking a Cosmo is my homage to my Sex and the City gals.
About the Catholic comments...won't go there. I dated one once, and it was the last time. :)
Jill
Posted by Jill | October 16, 2006 4:31 PM
Posted on October 16, 2006 16:31