A towering figure in fashion, YSL, has died

I just returned from a brief shopping trip and to get gas for the car, signed on the computer and saw this news.

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/fashion-designer-yves-saint-laurent-dies/20080601190209990001?icid=1616058736x1203357900x1200309557

I was sorry to hear about his retiring a few years ago (though I understood it) and am even more sorrowful to hear of his passing.

Even as a poor child who had to wear either hand me downs or sew her own clothes in order to have any fashion or selection I was aware of YSL and admired him. When I sewed my own clothes I modeled much of which patterns I selected and the "look" I was trying to achieve after him. I remember studying the trapeze look dress, and copied many of his "feminine men's wear" looks, particularly the safari look, and suits modified for feminine women. My body type is not the best match, being round and looking slightly pregnant all the time, for many of his designs, but I enjoyed his design genius and breath of fresh air enormously.

I read a lengthy interview with him a good number of years ago and I was always concerned about the depression and despair that dog so many of those in artistic careers or with artistic temperaments. I'm glad that he had a full life, but feel sad that so much of it was a burden to him, and wish he could have found more joy in all that he accomplished. The celebrity treadmill can be a merciless one, and it is easy to lose touch with even recognizing one's own goodness and accomplishments. He was a true original creative genius and I join with his family, friends and former colleagues in mourning his passing.

A nice memorial to a local TV weather pioneer

TV weatherman Bobby Nelson of Wisconsin has passed away at the age of 82. I came across the notice and a really sweet video tribute to him by WBAY, his station:

http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=8391095

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He started broadcasting in 1953. Look at him; now that's the type of guy I remember from the 1950's and 1960's. Open faced and happy, you felt good just listening to this type of man. The video about him is also great because it shows how rudimentary TV was in those days and how yet it seemed so wonderful and full of information and contact. I have to smile too because they make a lot of his short height yet he was the exact same height (and weight I reckon) that my WWII paratrooper dad was while on active service. Anyway, I thought this was a really nice tribute and I thought I'd point out how interesting it is to read about good people, even if it's in their obituaries and memorials. Condolences to his family.