So, I know it’s a little early to talk about Thanksgiving but I’m seriously happy. The hubster and I are going to Atlanta for the 4-day Thanksgiving weekend! (Thanksgiving is usually the holiday we sorta nicely ditch the families and go gallivanting around on fun mini-vacations. One tip: Vegas — truly fun during Thanksgiving. Dinner-you-didn’t-have-to-cook and a show?? Priceless.)

Now, why does going to Atlanta make me happy? Well, since you asked, I’ll tell ya. I’ve been wanting to go to The High (Atlanta’s art museum) ever since they announced their three-year deal with the Louvre in Paris. For three years, the Louvre will send over selected masterpieces to be viewed by the American public. The High is the only museum that has this honor (its been dubbed Louvre Atlanta) and once the three years are up, that’s it. Even though I’ve visited Atlanta several times (faux school, plaster school, sporting events, concerts not playing in Florida, etc.), I’ve never had the time to make it to the High. Now, Year One is gone (sob!) and the pressure is building for me since they are now on Year Two. The theme for this year is The Louvre and the Ancient World. One of the key pieces of this exhibit is a sculpture entitled The Tiber. It is a 7-ton, 10-foot long marble piece depicting a river god (for the Tiber River) and it is said to have inspired Michelangelo. It used to be paired up with another sculpture depicting the river god for the Nile but they were separated — that piece currently resides in the Vatican. It’s amazing that these works of art can be seen and appreciated in America. It’s definitely not to be a deterrent for visiting Paris and seeing the Louvre in person but it’s a beautiful opportunity to have close by. (My hubby says I have to go see the Georgia Aquarium with him in exchange for the museum, but I think we’ll both enjoy ourselves.) I’ll be posting pics that’s for sure.

Here in Orlando, the Museum of Art has some wonderful exhibits as well. I truly wish I could go more often than I do. They have two exhibits currently that I’d like to see: Points of View and Puerto Rican Art. The Points of View exhibit has some great works from artists such as Ansel Adams, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. (In fact, it looks as though they have an edition of Mr. Warhol’s famous Marilyn Monroe screenprint.) The Puerto Rican Art exhibit features almost 60 paintings by notable Puerto Rican artists — I mostly love their lush, passionate colors.  Both those exhibits look to close at the end of this month, so I guess I’d better get a move-on, no?