• Travel,  Uncategorized,  Writing

    My Romantic Times Day 2 — Antoine’s and What Followed After

    So, back there in a previous post, I talked about being a wannabe foodie.  I also love grand old restaurants.  So, when Jessica Freely suggested lunch at Antoine’s, I said YES.  Cold or no cold, I was not missing this. Antoine’s is a genuine New Orleans establishment.  It moved to its current location in the 1860s. Our waiter was the 3rd generation of his family to work at the restaurant.  It has 15 dining rooms, including the Japanese room which was closed on D-Day, and did not open again for 50 years.  All the Mardis Gras kings and queens have their meals here before the parade.  It has also hosted…

  • Writing

    In Praise of Villains

    So, there I was, reading away.  It was the latest book in series I love, approaching the suspenseful climax, I was in the groove, the author was in the groove.  All was right with the world.  Then it happened. The villain turned stupid.  Made a sudden,s attack for no reason than an explosion of temper  They had been something of a martinet all along, but then, in the turn of a sentence, lost their mind. I hate this.  I don’t want the villains to be weak, or stupid, or suddenly short tempered.  I want a smart villain, with their overall badness paired with a forward-thinking outlook.  I want dark intelligence. …