Date Nights, Friendly Fruits and Life in the Garden of Egypt's Blue Lily Eden

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London Times writer Howard Marks, a self-described Mr Nice author, hedonist and ex-drug smuggler takes us to Egypt this morning, in search of the blue lily.  Just between us, we’re going to smoke it.

Seriously now, do you think women are allowed in this place?

Blue Lily Water Trio via Señorashutterbug at FlickrI’m in high gear, drinking French Roast and eager to get on the road. Not so fast says Marks. Slow down and enjoy the scenery.

He’s right, of course. I’ve never been to Egypt and there’s no reason to rush through such grandeur in the cradle of ancient learning and a great civilization.

We arrive in Luxor, meeting George Feltham-Parish, who hands us a Stella beer once we clear customs. Thanks George.

Legend says that the god Osiris brought this beer to Egypt’s people as a medical treatment. A curative document dating from 1,600 BC lists over 100 prescriptions using beer as medicament.

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Think Different: Christmas Trees

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Creativity is about thinking different. And while I love a beautiful Christmas tree, especially in Carvesville, they’ve gotten very expensive in the last decade, especially in your passion is blue spruce.

We love Christmas trees because they can be very grounding and purely uncontaminated, noncommercial experience, assuming that you didn’t totally break the bank at Neiman Marcus for decorations.

via Flickr’s leanndraThis year in particular, I have a sense that we cannot go home again in America. The country must change, and us, too. Life these days is like trying to ride your bike backwards without falling off.

Nevertheless, this is America. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

We’re living in topsy turvy times, so why not reinvent the idea of our Christmas tree and please make those recycled ingredients, if you don’t mind. Even Martha Stewart writes about her passion for aluminum Christmas trees.

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