Do I dare to eat a peach?

Good afternoon, friends & fans,

I read this question somewhere and it caused me to reflect on one of the most important factors of my life: food. When, what, how, where and why food is served to me daily are matters for due consideration and many grave aspects of my life depend on the answers to those (almost) overwhelming questions. I will answer some of those questions below (and I will ask others). I hope you will write to Mama and Papa with suggestions for some sorely needed improvements. (use the comments section below)

When & What: generally I'm served an early morning hor d'oeuvre, followed by a breakfast of high end dog food at 8:30AM. There follows a dry spell until mid-morning at which time I share Mama's tinned salmon, humus and olive sandwich. Mid day crunchy snacks are occasionally served up but I can count on an ample early, i.e. 3PM, supper (yet again the prepared high end, if dry, dog food).

Once Papa returns from wherever he spends his day, the menu improves markedly. I share at least a morsel of each item on his dinner plate and also any of his later evening snacks. As well, tempting doggie cocktails & treats are generously profferred -- as they say, it's always 5 o'clock somewhere. [Doubtless it's Papa's contributions to my daily diet are doubtless what have prevented many of the diseases associated with insufficient caloric intake.]

How: one ceramic bowl and one plastic water bowl --albeit with pink scull & cross bones around the side. (and yet, there should be time to "lift and drop a question on [my]... plate.... before the taking of a toast and tea"...)

Where: I'm served in my own dining area (it can hardly be called a room), no table (therefore no table cloth), no chair, no candle sticks, no center piece (no--- you fill in the blanks).

Why: this is the most difficult question to answer since it encompasses so many aspects. I will name only four.

1) Why am I segregated from the dining table with its aura of deluxe?
2) Why don't I have full table service, chinaware, sterling silver, crystal goblets, linen napkins, lace doilies on a damask table cloth, etc., in other words the niceties of dining, those aspects that create pleasure out of need?
3) Why do I not receive a menu to be approved daily?
4) and finally, why am I not served on demand? (after which I'd have time to "wear white flannels and walk upon the beach...." instead of the dull routine: get up, eat, rest, eat, rest, eat dinner, snack, bed)

I hope you will give weighty consideration to my situation. (I have omitted some of the more objectionable problems, in favor of try to address those that seem more likely to, in fact, be solved.)

Please help me send a message and sing with me The Love Song of Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir.

Hope

Dear Friends & Fans,

This is a meditation on Hope. I celebrate the quality of Hope which passes by all depression, sadness, dire circumstances and bad behavior.

Hope leads me to expect many meals and more desserts each day. Perhaps I'm not altogether worthy; I certainly get more than my share. But, beautifully prepared and served is the food that I enjoy each day.

Hope springs eternal (or very close to it) that Maman will not force or even encourage me to wear doggie clothes. Doggie clothes are not really for doggies nor are they really clothing -- they gape in embarrassing places.

Each month I hope that I won't have to go to Doggie Shapes. For as much as I like Kelly's company, unspeakable things happen at Doggie Shapes. Enough said.

Hope is the light that lets me imagine that I will spend all the days of my life with Maman et Papa and that each day to come will be as joyful as those already lived.

My wish for you is that Hope also lights your life and shows you the way through any darkness you may encounter.

Love, Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir

Mercury's Breakfast

Now that I'm attending university, it's imperataive that I nourish both mind & body before embarking on my arduous day. I asked Maman to snap this shot as it exemplifies Every Morning.

Note first of all the coffee cup to my right. Maman presented it to me upon admission to school because she acquired it at a scholarly conference in New Orleans many years ago. In fact, it was a gift to her, a recognition of the value of her participation at that conference. Of course it's Papa who prepares the coffee. He uses a percolater which makes the coffee very strong and very hot. He also feeds me either buttered toast or crumpet with marmalade.

Then there're the morning papers. Because one needs to know, I first read the Athens Banner-Herald. While perhaps lacking in general news coverage and incisive editorial comment, the AB-H describes Athens happenings thoroughly indeed. The New York Times covers its deficiencies.

Luckily for me I've developed the skill of doing several things at once. For I also watch the national news on CNN and/or NBC. If you look carefully you can see the CNN logo in the background. And sometimes I choose to read a book or substitute a video (vintage Perry Mason?) for the news. You can see my dvd collection behind and to the right.

I sometimes wonder if you, my loyal fans and friends, enjoy an equally pleasurable morning each day. I can only hope that you do and that you'll take the opportunity a blog affords of sharing your experiences. Please click the Comments button below.

With my kindest regards, Mercury Murphy Roushanzamir

Pal JPEG

Finally, after an unacceptably (and unaccountably) long delay, Maman et Papa invited JPEG, Amy and Peter to dine. Amongst the toasts, mutual admiration, and critical commentary (that seems to be how humans communicate, i.e. lots of talk-talk), JPEG & I were able to relax and simply enjoy one another's company.

We sniffed each other, exchanged a few bawdy stories, commiserated as the humans blandished endearments towards us, and so forth.

The pickings were good: pistachios, Mexican beef, Iranian-influenced tofu, chips with cheese, ice cream. Trust Maman et Papa to provide a copious spread.

JPEG teaches me new tricks, patiently taking my size into account. And he runs wildly, exuberantly through the house, locates lost toys, and in short, is a firm friend. I admire him more than I can say.

Cheers, JPEG, this one's for you. Please return soon & frequently to your friend, Mercury

Dinner Date

JPEG and I share common concerns & interests: chilled drinks with tapas after a challenging day's work; a hand (or two) of bridge accompanied by sandwiches and coffee; Mah Jong, daiquiris & some delicious (catered) titbits. On this particular evening, we sparred over raw hide, shared my Christmas snowman toy, mixed it up over presidential politics, and generally enjoyed ourselves til the people involved (Amy, Peter, Mama et Papa) called it an evening much too early. [note my red crystal drinks glass]

For more on my friend JPEG, click the subject label below.

Welcome, 2008

Conscientious bloggers incessantly search for the appropriate combination of words & visuals with which to express their sentiments. Therefore, as you will imagine, the hunt for an image to precisely express my new year message began some time ago.

I was looking for something bold, an object of beauty, yet a useful thing, for something extravagant and simple.

And yet, that hunt went unrewarded until last night: New Year's Eve. Here's the story:

Mama et Papa Call It A Day everyday at the cocktail hour and late-night partying is, for them, passe. [BTW, Mama insists that "to party" is not a verb that belongs in the English language; she's so mid-20th century, pauvre Mama.] Thus, our new year's eve party was scheduled for 5PM & restricted to a highly select [eccentric?] guest list.

The drinks offered excluded champagne [not only the norm at new year's eve parties, but my favored tipple, although I occasionally indulge in an inspirational pre-blogging vodka martini] but included ginger ale and Fuze (don't ask), as well as the old standards, i.e., beer, scotch and vodka. The menu: roast pork loin, roast potatoes, steamed green beans, yogurt-wth-cucummber, garlic bread, and mixed greens with honey-truffles-mustard-oil&vinegar dressing. Cheeses, nuts and dried fruits. [The surprise featured chef: Mama]

Here's The Kicker

Was it sheer serendipity that Ruth & George brought me the most gorgeous gift I've ever received which simultaneously provided the perfect representation of my new year's message?

[caption: my new year's bone!]

[Expressed in Words:]

Dear Friends & Loyal Fans, May 2008 bring you health and happiness, prosperity and peace. And in the fulness of time, may you exprience every blessing in joyful abundance .

with love, Mercury Murphy/M²/Roushanzamir

post script: I will deliver soon on my promise to describe my Christmas dinner party. It was one of the best parties I've ever attended & certainly serves as ballast to Mama et Papa's peculiar approach to entertaining.