Happy Bastille Day

Happy Bastille Day everyone. Today is the day the French celebrate the storming of the Bastille and the beginning of the French Revolution. So in honor of this momentous day, I'd like to talk about the unique relationship between the US and France. Most recently France and the US have had their differences over Iraq, but once upon a time, the US and France were good friends.

They helped us with our revolution, helped plan Washington, DC, gave us the Statue of Liberty, runny cheese, champagne, Les Miserables - the musical, french kissing, good mustard, croissants, haute couture, the films of Jean Cocteau, Truffaut, and others. Not to mention the music of Edith Piaf. Also a haven for African-Americans like Josephine Baker, Langston Hughes, and James Baldwin who were seeking to escape the racism in the United States.

We've given the French, McDonalds, Burger King, the Gap, Mickey Rourke, Jerry Lewis, EuroDisney, Johnny Depp and John Malkovich, the craziness of Tom Cruise, and the blockbuster film.

Hmm! Doesn't quite seem a fair trade does it?

The lovely lady in the picture is Marie Antoinette (okay, so she's Austrian) the last true Queen of France (I don't count Josephine and Eugenie, who were Empresses of France). I've always had a soft spot in my heart for poor Marie, we share a birthday. I hope the new movie with Kirsten Dunst is great. This is from the Barbie Collection. Can I tell you how much I covet this doll? She's $250, just as expensive as a doll as she was when she was alive. Another thing we have in common. They now have an Empress Josephine, and a Queen Elizabeth doll which I've cast big covetous eyes on as well. Hey, I need a hobby!

I've always promised myself that when I sign my first contract, the first thing I'm going to buy is a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes and this doll.

In the meantime, drink a glass of Veuve Cliquot or Perrier-Jouet, and Vive La France!