Letter #1

Dear Penelope,

Am just now getting settled into the hotel room they've booked for me. Twenty two hour journey in total because of a three hour layover delay in Prague on top of a ridiculous fiasco in customs over some guy who was in line just ahead of me trying to bring in fireworks and body wash. Naturally this was right after I switched into that line. Why does that always seem to happen to me? All those times at grocery stores, bookstores, as soon as I switch lanes that seem to be going faster, then and only then does that line seize from moving all together.

The book you recommended to me has been wonderful. I'm really relating to the character Howard a lot in his manner and way of seeing his place in the world. I like how he doesn't take any of the mediocrity being pushed towards him, no compromises. He does it only for himself and I like that. I like the quote, ' I don't build to have clients. I have clients so I can build.' This Peter Keating fellow is such a wreck. How can he live like that? Soulless charlatan living on the surface. He reminds me of the masses. The skimers, the easy-goer's. Never really contributing anything to society but merely feeding off the past, what's be done before. There will always be lots of those.

Going to be meeting with Charles tommorrow evening for dinner at some a la carte restaurant overlooking a giant fountain of Posiedon and nymphs he highly recommends. Charlie said they have a wonderful selection of Sangiovese and a Penfolds Grange that is to die for. I'm expecting they do. Charlie always knows the best places for out of this world wine and dining. Prior to that I'm scheduled to meet with the curatorial staff of Oriental Antiques at the The Louvre to advise them on acquiring a 6th-7th century Phoenician 'Grinning Mask' for their collection. Also they want me to take a look at some new alabaster figures one of their buyers purchased in Sumer not too long ago, they want my opinion on if they're authentic or not. Can't wait! Alabaster as you know is one of my favorite materials to handle.


Yours truly,

Odysseus