Au Cochonnet Marin

As you probably know, I am about to publish another photo album. Why might you ask? Otherwise, what would be the point of taking pictures, or creating anything if you couldn’t show it off?

Over a century ago, Fred R. Barnard said, “a picture is worth a thousand words” and it is still true today. Pictures shape opinions and make the world go round.

One way to preserve some of your pictures is to encapsulate them in a photo album. It looks good on a coffee table, and it helps to chat and share memories. Photo albums are tangible objects, easily accessible. They tell a story and can easily be shared with others.

A precise objective usually drives every project, and so is this one. In this photo album, the goal is to show the passion, the excitement of the game, and maybe encourage more people to embrace it. The game is still relatively new in the US, but I anticipate that it will grow and become extremely popular (as did soccer) in America.

Contrary to what some people might think, pétanque is not primarily an old men’s game. Especially in France (where the game was born) it is played early by kids who try to emulate their elders (and they often succeed). The game can be strenuous, and I guarantee that after spending a few hours on the field, you will sleep well.

When choosing pictures to populate this album, I always favor shots that capture the emotions and spirit of the moment, whether it is victory or defeat. I want to see passion and excitement on the faces and bodies of the players, and a grimacing face or a contorted body instantly qualifies its owner for a spot in this album.

Pictures of course should be as clear as possible, demonstrating passion and the will to succeed. Ultimately, the most important factor is choosing pictures that represent what you want to convey.

Overall, sharing a sports photo album with friends, family, and teammates can help spread excitement and camaraderie, and give others a glimpse into your experiences.

If you are interested, you can preview this album, by clicking on the following link:

https://www.mixbook.com/photo-books/interests/blank-canvas-30114889?vk=sWbwkaLHODvN4Q53uO1C

“It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” ― Grantland Rice

Alain

Father Time is a grouchy old man, seldom kind to anybody or anything. He works a little bit like termites, silently and insidiously, and you rarely notice any change in your environment… until you stop running and assess your balance sheet. You are usually shocked. Nothing or nobody looks the way you remember it.

Yesterday, I enticed my consort to have lunch in San Francisco’s  Marina district where I previously resided for 25 years. It turned out to be a major disappointment.

Chestnut street which looked pleasant 30 years ago, now looks shabby. Due to Covid, all the eating places have hurriedly built ugly street additions, which makes the whole area look like a refugee encampment.

With cars double-parked everywhere, and cheap fast-food places encroaching the whole area, the place looked as appealing as Murder Alley. And some guy lying motionless on the sidewalk did not help to correct this first impression.

The only saving grace in my eyes was a spotless, newly opened business named La Fromagerie. As the name indicates, it is a cheese shop that features French cheeses, salads, and sandwiches. You can also buy some “saucissons, rillettes and croissants”.

I struck up a small conversation with one of the young French ladies behind the counter and she proved friendly and helpful. I would have been happy to have lunch there, but unfortunately, the place is rather small and cannot accommodate any sitting customers. It is still worth a visit. I bought a “Rosette de Lyon” saucisson and left.

We also drove through Union Street which looked a little more appealing than Chestnut Street, but ultimately, we decided to leave the city and have lunch in Sausalito instead. A wise decision. Probably due to Covid, and the afflux of homeless people, large cities are becoming less and less welcoming every day.

We finally stopped at Fred’s in Sausalito and sat down for some good old-fashion eggs Benedict. Impersonal, hurried junk food, or “malbouffe” as the French call it, is definitely not my cup of tea. Life is too short to waste a single second on bad food or bad company.

“You cannot go back in time, even if you wish it with every fiber of your being, your heart and soul, even if you think about it every day. Trust me. I know.”

Alain

Ah, a brand-new, shiny year… pregnant with good resolutions… But it seems alas that these admirable decisions (probably made under the influence) are always taken too soon. Never hurry to implement important changes.

“Once my decision is made, I hesitate for a long time.” Jules Renard

So, do I. It is wiser and more mature.

When deciding on New Year resolutions, you should not be too ambitious. Your goals should be modest and reachable, otherwise, they will quickly fall apart and leave you disheartened.

A few days ago, I was having lunch with some friends, and we discussed our goals for the new year. We are not kids anymore and we usually weigh our thoughts carefully.

My first guest quickly revealed his decision. I will continue to smoke he said. We all nodded in agreement. A reachable goal indeed. Not too ambitious, doable to be sure.

The second guest said: I will continue to eat.  Another mature, sensible resolution. To endure, you need to nurture the body.

When my turn came, I said: I will continue to breathe. A resolution that was also warmly approved by my friends.

Another friend decided to lose weight. A good, but difficult objective. When we told her so, she simply said “I will just avoid anything that makes me look fat… mirrors, weighing scales, photos…”

We thought this was very clever, and we congratulated her for a smart, feasible decision.

Friends are important. They advise you and encourage you when you need help. But there are friends, and there are friends… They all rate differently. They are kind of like boobs… some are little, some are big, some are genuine, and some are fake.
So, when you decide to befriend somebody, please choose carefully, and go along with what you feel comfy.

“To like and dislike the same things is what makes a solid friendship.”

To sum it up, let’s resolve this year to make better bad decisions! May the Farce be with you!

Alain