How much do you think the average guy spends on his gal each year? According to Best Life magazine it’s about $11,800.

In his book, “Emotional Infidelity: How to Affair-Proof Your Marriage,” author and psychotherapist Gary Neuman says “We have surely attributed the idea of giving a gift or spending money on someone as a sign of love …. But keep in mind, when we spend our money on someone there is a subtle commentary there that part of what I work for when I am away from you is to give to you, to enhance your life to some extent.”

I suspect most guys spend more money when they’re courting than when they’re married. And I suspect that Valentine’s Day ranks right up there as one of the most expensive days of the year, probably right next to anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas.

Continue reading "The cost of love" »

Posted February 16, 2006 9:24 AM by Pete Codella | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

After reading Peter's blog on the history of Valentine's Day, I was reminded that the Lupercalia festival is mentioned in William Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar. For years, I forced my high school students to read, and yes, enjoy, the beauty of the Master's writing.

Lupercalia festival was a pagan holiday when women could shake "the barren curse" and become fertile again. Now all my former students who read the blog and who also read the play have a connection to Valentine's Day and Shakespeare. Now that is cool. (Retired English teachers are so easily amused.)

Of course, the joy of the Lupercalia festival and fertility is over shadowed in the play by the death of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March (March 15).

Continue reading "Lupercalia festival and Caesar and fertility and high school" »

Posted February 15, 2006 12:29 PM by Betty Archambault | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

I did not see Lance Armstrong biking around Vegas, but I did see Tom Selleck on my last visit to my favorite spot.

When out for my libation of choice, a very dry martini, I seek out Sam-a master "mixologist." He can be found at the lounge at the Charlie Palmer Steak House in the Four Season's Hotel on Las Vegas Blvd.

Sam has mixed drinks for me at the Rio's Voo Doo Lounge and at the Paris Hotel and Casino but seems most at home at Charlie Palmer's.

By the way, the food at the steak house was amazing. (The afternoon tea is fun too if you stop off for a few Champaign cocktails and take novelist Mary Schramski with you.)

If I were to have another wedding reception, CPSH and the Four Season's would be number one on the list. Of course, I just love most places Vegas and so does most of Hollywood, it seems.

Posted February 10, 2006 2:00 PM by Betty Archambault | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email This

It was an Italian Vegas wedding with guests flying in from Jersey, Florida, and points between. The reception was held at the old Elks Lodge, which is now the new Cashman Field. The band consisted of the Chief of North Las Vegas Police and a few fellow officers.

Continue reading "Memories of a Vegas wedding" »

Posted January 13, 2006 9:06 PM by Betty Archambault | Permalink | Comments (4) | Email This