A singer I admire and read daily reports on last night’s double bill on Charlie Rose – Ross and Alsop  BTW you can catch them again at the CR website.

A recently transplanted Boston Designer reports on his ankle recovery and new beginnings in NH.

Our gal in London reports on Tasmin Little, whose free download The Naked Violin went live on Monday and promptly attracted so many hits that it briefly crashed the server.

OperaChic brings us the latest on the latest from Milan

What would you say to the Goldberg Variations?  Read one conversation

Hear about the plight of children without homes with Bob Edwards.

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i am in the midst of ORGANIZING, with all caps, yes.  does that strike you too?  it seems the new year brings a fit of organizing tendencies – although i find that this year i have less to do as i had been much more careful in the last year (and since moving here) to “have a place for everything” which makes it much easier to put things away and keep them there.  probably cause i am working from home these days – when you live in the mess you can’t stand it, or at least I CAN’T.  so one good effect of that.

I have used Filofax for many many years (uh, since I moved to NY)  and love their products – so much so that I have collected several organisers thru the years. (I love love love pretty notebooks and journals and pens).  My first one was a pretty red one with a nice textured grain to the leather (no zip) and its still in use – as a permanent address book in my secretary desk.  (I like the zip ones for using daily as things don’t fall out including my pretty pens!) 

I have had some birthday money burning a hole (since November!) and decided finally to upgrade my Organiser and really wanted a zip red Personal size to replace the worn green Personal Windsor – so after a bit of browsing on the Filofax USA website I found the ONE!    (Personal is the size – about 4 by 6 and is the most popular one – like a small paperback).

Its perfect!  See all the details here   After considering this for a few days (you know spending gift money is a big decision), I decided to order today and called Filofax cause their shipping offers are a bit lame (Fed Ex overnight for $30! and two day for $20 but no other option – like UPS?)   Anyway, it turns out it could be 5–10 business days unless I fork over the extra money.

BUT I am such an impatient person … so I went a Googling and about 40 mins later found a site with this exact one AND on SALE!  and they are in Manhattan (on Grand Street!) and so with the extra money I saved, I was able to buy a pretty new red pen to match! 

Off to set up my 2008 filofax refills and transfer dates, etc …and WAIT (impatiently!)