Shoes

Hey friends!

Hope all is well with you. Ok, right to the list:

1)  I'm so thankful to have more than one pair of shoes. Imagine not being able to change shoes when the pair you're wearing becomes uncomfortable?
2)  That we are one day closer to warm weather. We've just GOT to be.
3)  Technology...as much as it gets on my nerves, some of it is way COOL.
4)  That I have some fun things to look forward to this week.
5)  Two hours of walking today. My feet hurt when I got home (see #1 above), but it felt good to walk so much.

Hope great things are happening in your world today! Please share!
bisous

Brussels Sprouts

Hi friends! Beautiful Sunday, sunshine, blue skies...lots to be thankful for including:

1)  the writings of Khalil Gibran
2)  brussels sprouts cooked in a tad of butter...mmmmm, mmmmm, mmmmm...
3)  a clean house
4)  a fresh new week ahead
5)  little pink kitty toes resting against my leg

What about you? Hope you're enjoying a great Sunday!

Flushable mice (the rubber kind)

Hi! So, I've decided to be more succinct. The purpose of this blog is to share gratitude, and I've felt like I needed to say a little something at the beginning of each post, but I've decided that unless I have something interesting or funny to say, I'll just get right to the gratitude lists. It could be that they'll contain a little more info than before, if appropriate, but we'll see. So here are some of the things I'm grateful for today:

1)  that the rubber mouse I accidentally flushed in the middle of the night when I was required to clean a little "sick" accident that Potter had didn't clog the toilet. Yay flushable mice!
2)  the cute kid on the razor scooter who stopped just long enough today to tell me that I'd dropped one of my gloves
3)  the sweet lady walking behind me who picked it up and handed it to me
4)  that I am 80% finished grading exams for the first semester
5)  pretty new underthings. ;) The soldes are still going on, and although money is tight, I can still indulge myself with an inexpensive but precious little treat now and again

As always, thanks for visiting and especially for sharing your gratitude lists!

bisous

Friday...can I get an amen?

Whew, how glad are WE that it's Friday? Seriously, I had a great week, but I was ready for the weekend to get here. Nothing special planned, and I'm not even finished with work as I have to give an exam tomorrow and grade a bunch of papers, finalize grades, work on new courses, etc. But I still get to enjoy Friday night AND sleep in on Saturday morning. Excellent.

Time for gratitude:

1)  the color yellow. It's my favorite color, and it just brightens everything
2)  a delicious dinner and now...a quiet night in
3)  bear-shaped chocolate covered marshmallows...
4)  oooh...speaking of marshmallows, French marshmallows...they are DIVINE!
5)  old friends, new friends, and especially true blue friends

Welcome to the weekend mes amis!

bisous

Bonjour mes amis!

Thanks for visiting!

Funny thing about living here...the centuries of history between France and England, especially the numerous invasions of this lovely land by warring Englishmen, have left their mark, and there are certain French folks who still hold a little grudge. When I was studying at the Sorbonne, I heard a bit of it, and I pick up the occasional off-hand remark still. For example, in one of my classes this week, someone was saying he wanted to have an English accent when speaking English, and another classmate said, "but we're not Englishmen." Then the whole group of them sat and thought for a milli-second and quickly added, in unison, "GOOD!" and shared a haughty laugh. Tonight I caught the tail-end of a commercial for something edible, and at the very end of the tagline was this:  "It's English, but it's good." Yes, the French are proud of their food, and no, the English aren't known for their cuisine, but to say as much in a commercial...hilarious! Oh how the French tickle me. When they're not being totally nasty and rude on the sidewalk and in the metro. But that's for a less positive blog (which I will refrain from creating).

Anyway, onto gratitude. My five for today:

1)  finding a 5 euro note on the sidewalk. Free money!
2)  a post from someone I've never met but really hope to meet because I know she's an amazing woman just from what her husband has said about her. Ginger, I'm looking forward to it...one of these days!
3)  my warm apartment...it is SO cold!
4)  that the weekend is almost here
5)  funny people

Hope you're all having a great day! Look forward to hearing from you!
bisous

Wednesday? Already?

Hi friends!

Boy, time flies when you're super busy, doesn't it? ...whether you're having fun or not. Fortunately, I've been having fun, but time has really gotten away from me this week.

I started with my new client this week--these people are so much fun! The CEO of the company is an adorable French/Italian guy who is like a teddy bear. Shhhh...don't tell him I said that. Who describes CEOs as teddy bears? Anyway, he's a great guy but has a hard time sitting still in class! Fortunately, his other classmates keep him and me entertained. Between that and grading journals from my funny German student and my almost as funny Spanish student, I have laughed a lot today. Interesting aside, my French students seem to take school much less seriously but are also a lot less fun...interesting, non?

Ok, so to gratitude. Today I'm grateful for lots of things including:

1)  my fun new clients
2)  the few (very few) fun university students that I have
3)  chocolate truffles...mmmmm...
4)  warm bedroom slippers hand knit with love by my Mom...they are keeping my tootsies toasty, Mom!!!
5)  comfort food à la Francais...with a nice glass of wine, mmmmm...

What about you?

bisous

Fast Five

Hi friends!

Today's it's gonna be a fast five from me, so here goes:

1)  that our new vet is open on Sundays, so I can now buy catfood 7 days a week...G & P are thankful for this one too!
2)  a night in after five nights out on the town...whew!
3)  spicy French mustard
4)  my crazy Parisian friends who make me laugh, and laugh, and laugh...
5)  the end of my Friday 4-6 class...woohoo!

Hope you're all enjoying your Sunday. Let me know what's on your list!

bisous

Saturday!

Hi friends! Welcome to Saturday, the day that makes all the other days jealous.

My Saturday started off with a little sleeping in...always a nice way to start a Saturday. Of course, after eating breakfast and checking email, I spent the next several hours grading papers and reports...and catching plagiarists. The sad truth of "university" life...these 20 something students think their professors are too old to know how to run a little text through a plagiarism checker. "What's that you say, sonny? Internet? Never heard of it!" Anyway,at least today was a rainy cold Saturday so staying in and working didn't feel like punishment.

Tonight I am going to a friend's house for homemade oeufs mayonnaise--eggs with mayonnaise! These eggs, lavished with generous dollops of freshly made mayo, and which may be the ancestor of deviled eggs, are one of my favorite things to eat here...a bit surprising to me as I am not a mayonnaise person. Of course, I wasn't a butter person before moving here either. After our dinner of eggs and other tasty meal-appropriate things, we're having galettes des rois for dessert. My friend has promised extra crowns so we can all be kings and queens...or just queens as the case may be! ;)

So my gratitude list for today includes:

1)  oeufs mayonnaise with delicious homemade French mayonnaise
2)  great friends to share them with
3)  the sense of accomplishment I feel at having finished grading all those papers and reports
4)  a week in which I don't have to leave Paris...not even to just go to the burbs!
5)  and last but not least, those of you who share in this blog with me by reading and especially by sharing YOUR gratitude lists too. Thank you!!!

Now, speaking of you, it's your turn!

bisous

baby bellies

Hi friends and happy Wednesday!

I've had two marathon days. This is what happens when you work for yourself--you have to take the work when you can get it, and some days it all comes at once. Exhausting, but in a good way.

As I started writing this post I looked over to see Gracie taking a little bath, and there in all its glory was her soft, fuzzy little white belly. The sweetest kitten in the world (6 year old kitten, but still my kitten) has the sweetest little baby belly too. Awwwww...I wanna give her raspberries on her little belly, but unlike human babies, cat babies don't let you get away with stuff like that. She does love kisses though, so I'll smooch on her a bit instead. I know, I'm weird. Say it...you were already thinking it. ;)

Today I'm thankful for lots including:

1)  sweet little baby kitty bellies and kitty smooches
2)  madeleines...yum
3)  the work that I do (and loving it)
4)  the job that I had last year this time (but hated) that allowed me to stay here
5)  the fact that I don't have to do that job anymore!
6) bonus:  my super-hot French hairdresser (don't get excited; he's gay, but man is he HOT).

Et toi...tell me something good!

bisous

Time

Hi friends!

How are you today? Hope all is well.

Today the cold returned. Not freezing cold yet, but they're calling for snow later in the week...who knows if it'll come to Paris or not; too soon to tell, they say. It's just January, so none of us expected the warm snap to last, but boy was it nice!

I'm calling this post "time" because I've realized that I need to adopt a more French approach to time. To them, it's no big deal. I feel like I'm always rushing to get from one place to the next, never wanting to be late and always feeling stressed. They, on the other hand, have a much more relaxed approach--yes, even Parisians. Can't do anything about the metro, so why worry. I wish it were easy for me to have this attitude! But I'm going to work on it, stress less (I hope), and be there when I get there.

On to gratitude, today among the things I'm grateful for are the following:

1)  that I moved to a country that is less worried about time instead of moving to one that's more worried about it!
2)  my electric toothbrush
3)  Desperate Housewives in French. Equally amusing.
4)  a new cell plan that should save me money
5)  a very funny story about Christmas a present gone WAY wrong

And you?

bisous

Oops

Hey friends!

Well, if you came here yesterday looking for a new post, you obviously didn't find one. Slacker that I am, I got caught up in Saturday doings and didn't post. Did a little shopping (window shopping; didn't buy anything), walked around and enjoyed having nowhere to be and 50 degree weather, then met a friend for dinner. Guess I'll just have to double up on the gratitude today.

So here goes:

1)  a beautiful weekend with sunshine and blue skies
2)  sweet potatoes...baked with a little salted butter...yum.
3)  the road less traveled
4)  catnaps
5)  fresh, clean laundry
6)  reasonably quiet neighbors
7)  kisses from Gracie and head-butts from Potter
8)  French yogurt
9)  the little boy with the crazy laugh who I passed on the street whose laughing made both his dad and me laugh out loud
10)  Parisian dogs who wait patiently on the sidewalk while their parents do their shopping. No leashes required.

That's my two cents for today...your turn!

bisous

Jiggity Jig

Hey mes amis!

Yes, it's finally here. Friday. Thank the LORD. I appreciate having lots of work, and I appreciate having things to do. But man, how much do I appreciate Friday when the work week is over? Well, I'm sure I don't have to tell you.

I feel like I've been running a race since Tuesday morning. (And, by the way, I believe I won.) By the time tonight rolled around, I was "stick a fork in me, I'm done" done. Home again, home again...jiggity jig. Or bring on the wine. Or whatever the saying is.

So, in addition to having done everything that I was supposed to do this week and the work part being over, today I am grateful for:

1)  the pizza place across the street. I mean DIRECTLY across the street.
2)  that I finally get to sleep in tomorrow. Cats willing, of course.
3)  Saturday night plans, so I don't feel guilty about postponing my Friday night plans to another time
4)  several social invitations, in fact
5)  my good health and my parents' good health.

So tell me...what about you? Happy weekend!

bisous

And now...we wait.

Hello world!

Welcome to Thursday. I hope you're all well. I, for one, am pooped!

First I'll update you on the carte de séjour. After spending a few hours on the internet, I finally found the place that could give me the one document I was missing. So immediately after teaching my 2nd class today, I sped over and was helped by an extremely nice man who even told me that I had a credit on my tax account because they had started out billing me incorrectly. Yay! Anyway, he gave me the wayward document, and I sped to the préfecture where I went directly to the woman with whom I had met on Tuesday and handed said document over. She told me that my file was now perfect (can't hear THAT enough) and said she'd pass it onto the people who make the decision. Uh, ok...so no card today? (I wasn't stupid enough to actually ask, but that was my thought.) How long, I asked, does it usually take to hear back? Three weeks to a month. So, I jumped the gun. My excitement on Tuesday was WAAAAY premature. In other words, keep those prayers, good vibes, and crossed fingers coming.

So what to do? Eat. I was starving as it was at least 2pm by the time I left the préfecture, so I went to a nearby place where I knew I could get a good salad. I figured I deserved wine with lunch, so I indulged myself. And then...on the way to the metro...I encountered the signs:  SOLDES!!! SOLDES!!! SOLDES!!! which means SALES!!! SALES!!! SALES!!! And since I haven't indulged in the sales for the last two years (TWO!), I decided to take a peek inside the shoe store where I found the cutest (and most comfortable) chocolate cowboy boots for half price. (Chocolate colored, not flavored...although I haven't tasted them, so I could be wrong.) Something had to make up for the disappointment of not actually getting the card today, and while the chocolate cowboys might not totally do it, they're a step in the right direction. Ba-dum-dum. ;)

Among the things I'm thankful for today:

1)  to have finally submitted ALL of the paperwork and to have been told that it is perfect. Let's hope!
2)  well chocolate cowboy boots, of course! Too cute.
3)  that although I have to wait to have an answer, the race to collect, copy, submit, defend, etc. is over or at least on hold for now
4)  that tomorrow is Friday. Girl needs a Saturday morning to sleep in!
5)  the nice man at URSSAF and the fact that the woman at the préfecture was nice to me too
6)  and a bonus one today. I'm thankful that I can do something as simple as click on this site & help feed animals and support other causes that are important to me:
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3

Et toi? What are you thankful for today?

bisous

Trains, trains, and more trains

Hi everyone!

Hope you're having (or have had) a wonderful day! I had a busy one...first to Suresnes, just outside of Paris, for a half-day coaching session, then to Bois-Colombes, also just outside of Paris, for another half-day coaching session. Full day for sure! All of my trains (except one) ran close to on time, and the one slacker didn't cause me any problems. I even had ten minutes to stand on a sidewalk and eat some crackers for a mini-lunch. Yes, it's a glamorous life. :)

No news on you-know-what, but I'll keep you posted when there's posting to be kept. Hoping for a good outcome tomorrow.

Today I'm thankful for lots, including:

1)  great clients
2)  relatively reliable public transportation
3)  rotisserie chicken and potatoes, cooked and ready to be eaten
4)  the days are getting longer! I could tell today!
5)  the light that I think I see at the end of the tunnel

What's up in your gratitude world?

bisous

One document away

Hi friends!

I hope all is well with you. I know some of you are snowed in, some of you are iced in, and some of you got rained on most of the day--like me. The rain backed off this afternoon, so as I was making my way to my appointment at the préfecture, I only had the wind to deal with.

So, as for the appointment...I am 99% sure that I am one document away from having this card that I have spent so much time working toward. One document! The woman even had me sign the paper that you sign so they can make the card, so I'm VERY hopeful that when I go back with the paper, I'll get the card. As for the paper, well, I have to get it from a French organization, so that's another hurdle. She told me to come back asap, so the race to get the document is on! Wish me luck, & send those prayers and good vibes again please!

I'm thankful for many things today including:

1)  the fact that I am possibly (maybe even likely) getting this carte de séjour
2)  the rain stopping before I had to do much walking outside...in a suit
3)  pistachios
4)  warm showers
5)  moisturizing lipstick (boy does the wind do a number on my skin)

I'll update you when I have news. In the meantime, tell me something good!

bisous

Monday

Not a very interesting title, huh? Sorry. I've been working on copying and putting into order the mountain of paperwork that I have to present to the préfecture tomorrow, and I think I filed my creativity somewhere in there. Or perhaps it heard the word préfecture and hid. Not the worst idea, creativity.

Anyway, today was another sunny one. Still cold, but just having the sunshine around makes such a difference, doesn't it?

So what am I thankful for today? Well...

1)  the possibility that I have gathered all the necessary paperwork for tomorrow and copied it
2)  the knowledge that if I haven't, I should have ample time to gather any additional documents...and copy them
3)  that Potter loves snuggling with me. He's lying across my leg now watching me type and purring.
4)  that Gracie's cough is pretty much gone...fingers crossed that the pills aren't causing any ill effects
5)  that the sun came out for us again today

Will keep you posted on tomorrow's appointment! Now, what about you?...

bisous

My shiny yellow friend

Hi friends!

Today the sun came out! It has been mostly grey here lately, so I was happy to see my shiny yellow friend instead of those heavy grey clouds for a change. The temps were only in the mid-40s so it wasn't warm, but it wasn't "blue cold," as I heard someone say lately, either. I wandered around a bit, bought some fruit and a baguette, then came home to organize my week which is going to be a bit hairy. Ah a relaxing Sunday...nice.

Today I'm thankful for, among other things:

1)  sunshine and blue skies
2)  having the time to get organized for a busy week ahead
3)  I think I am ready for my appointment at the préfecture on Tuesday.
4)  my red (Italian) coat that makes French people look at me and wonder. Red...how dare I? :)
5)  new friends and dodged bullets.

How was your Sunday?

bisous

Two years!!!

Hi everyone!

It's official...today is my two year anniversary as a resident of Paris! Two years ago today, Dad and I landed at the airport, each with a cat in a carrier and two suitcases and headed to my sixth floor apartment with a beautiful balcony in the 18th arrondissement.

I remember when I first moved here...meeting people who had been here a year, two years, more. I always wondered, "wow, will I be able to be here that long?" Sometimes I'm amazed that I'm still here, that I've been able to do it this long. Tuesday is my appointment with the préfecture to submit my paperwork in hopes of getting a carte de séjour that will let me work full time and continue my life here. Say prayers, send good vibes, & keep your fingers crossed for me!

In case you're wondering, yes, I do still love living here. I am comfortable here. I feel at home. It's not perfect. I met an American man this week who has lived here since July, and we talked about some of the baffling things Parisians do. He said he thought that it was just kind of an international rule that we walk on the right side of the sidewalk. When he realized that Parisians weren't following that rule he decided to try walking on the left, but that didn't work either. I explained to him that Parisians walk in the middle, and as for where everyone else walks, well, that's not their problem. I could go on, but I won't. In spite of these types of things, I know many wonderful Parisians, and I've got friends from all over the world. I love living in an international city, and that's what Paris is.

Among so many things that I'm thankful for, today I am particularly thankful for:

1)  my wonderfully supportive parents who understand my love of this city and who have given me their full support -- from helping me prepare my house to sell, to moving me, to storing my stuff, to managing my US connections, ...again, I could go on and on
2)  this gorgeous city that is so full of beauty that I still find myself awestruck on a regular basis
3)  all of the great friends I've made here...friends definitely are the family you pick
4)  the opportunities I've had and have to work here and the connections I've made
5)  that I've never for one second regretted my decision to sell most of my belongings, pack up, and move here.

This move seemed like the thing I was supposed to do, and it still does. And I'm thankful for everyone and every circumstance that helped me along the way and that still helps me.

So that's my list today...what about yours?

bisous

Somehow...

Bonjour mes amis!

It's just a little before 3 a.m. in Paris, and I've been out celebrating. See, tomorrow is my anniversary--two years living in Paris! I didn't have any plans, so I gathered all the makings of a nice night in, and as I walked home after my shopping, I got an SMS on my phone from my friend Palmer inviting me to join he and another friend at one of our favorite places. I figured that everything I had bought would keep, so I came home, put it all in the fridge, and headed back out.

L'Avant Comptoir is a fantastic local hangout. There are no seats, and the whole place is probably the size of your bathroom, but the food is great, the ambiance is fun, and the service is fantastic. We ordered some food and some wine--and then some champagne, and we were having a blast. All of a sudden I heard, "Gina!" and I turned around to see my friend Kerry and a friend of hers just as they were walking into the restaurant. They joined our little party, more wine and champagne were served, and before we knew it they were closing the place down and we were rushing to catch the last metro home. Ah, unplanned parties...aren't they the best?

My friend Philippe has a funny habit. Whenever he drinks more than one glass of wine, he always says to me, "somehow, I am drunk." It always makes me laugh...somehow. We don't know how, but somehow this has happened. So tonight, the title of my post is somehow because somehow, I am a little drunk. Oh well. It happens. ;)

Among the things I am thankful for:

1)  champagne. I know I've said it before, but living in the country of champagne, I have the right to repeat it.
2)  impromptu celebrations
3)  friends that are also tickled to share in impromptu celebrations
4)  Eric at L'Avant Comptoir...he takes SUCH good care of us!
5)  catching the last metro home....or the next to the last. Just not having to walk after last weekend's trek!

And you? Even if you're not somehow a little drunk, I'm sure you have things to share!

Pharmacy love

Hi everyone!

Today it was in the FIFTIES in Paris! If Paris is finished with winter, it's ok by me. The cold can part until next winter, and I promise not to miss it. Although, that won't be the case--the cold will be back soon, I am certain of it.

One of the first people I fell in love with in Paris was my pharmacist. I found him early on--probably needing something like Sudafed, and he remains one of my favorite people. The day I lucked into this pharmacy I wandered in and spoke to the pharmacist in my very bad, very broken French, and he responded. In English. Et voila, love at first sight. His English isn't perfect, but at the time it was a million times better than my French. Since then, every time I have been back I have been welcomed and treated well by everyone there. In short, they're all awesome. And now I speak French with all of them except him because he prefers to practice his English. Anyway, today when I went in he helped me as usual, and at the end of our transaction he said, "wait a minute." Then he disappeared and came back with a little candle in a pot...a new year's gift, he said. How sweet!

I left the pharmacy and went to the boulangerie (bakery) and asked for a sesame baguette. (YUM!) The woman behind the counter, who waits on me almost daily, took the two remaining sesame baguettes, looked at the semi-burnt bottoms, showed them to me and told me I didn't want either of them. I confirmed that I did not, and we found a nice multigrain baguette for me. Several times I've gotten home with a fresh baguette only to realize the bottoms were burnt...and I've only eaten the tops of those. But the bottoms are usually tasty and good for toast, so I was happy that she was looking out for me!

A little longwinded today, but I'm grateful for lots of things including:

1)  my pharmacist and everyone who works with him. They ROCK!
2)  the lady at the boulangerie who has my back when it comes to baguettes
3)  that I found someone who could translate my diploma by Monday and didn't charge me a fortune
4)  that I get to sleep in tomorrow
5)  a nice glass of wine at the end of the day.

Hope you're all having a good week! What are you grateful for?

Perfect timing and, unrelated, the gift of toilet paper

Hi everyone!

Today I went to Bois Colombes just outside Paris to work with a client who happens to work for one of the big paper companies--paper as in tissues, toilet paper, etc. I love the work, but getting to his office is a bit of a trek. I take the metro to one of the big trains, then I take a train to the town. Then I take a bus to the office. It's easy but for the timing of it all. See, in Paris, things "run" more frequently. Not so in the little towns outside of Paris. The problem is that the buses are supposed to run on a schedule...but they don't. My return trip is generally the longest, but today I waited just two minutes for the bus, the train was pulling into the station as I walked onto the platform, and when I got to Paris, I waited just 1 minute for my metro! Perfect timing for once. What a thing of beauty.

As for the toilet paper (are you wondering?)...same client gave me a package of it as a gift today. Seems they've come up with a toilet paper roll (tube) that is biodegradable, and he wants me to...well, let him know what I think. Ha! Toilet paper tester...gonna have to add that to my CV! :)

So, today I'm thankful for many things including:

1)  perfect timing coming home this afternoon
2)  free toilet paper! :)
3)  the warmth and coziness of my apartment
4)  the humor in everyday life
5)  my new resolution to laugh more at the frustrations of life instead of getting frustrated.

And I'm so thankful to all of you for being here. Thank you! Now, tell me what you're grateful for!

S'good to be the Queen

Hi friends!

It's Tuesday, and I have an event to attend tonight, so I'm posting here a little early. I'm sure more fabulous things to be grateful for will happen this afternoon and evening, but those will just have to wait for tomorrow!

Do you know about the galette des rois? In New Orleans they're called king cakes. They're delicious cakes that are traditionally served for Epiphany, but we eat them here pretty much all of January. Flaky and filled with almond paste (or fruit fillings), each cake contains a tiny little trinket called a fève. These can be little dolls or other tiny favors. I've seen the baby Jesus fève, a gorilla fève, a baker fève and other little things like a tiny bottle or toaster. Mine was a tiny little ceramic Eiffel Tower. There's a little game that goes along with the cutting of the galette des rois, and the person who is lucky enough to get the slice containing the fève is king or queen for the day. Today, c'est moi! That's right; I am the queen today. I've been buying little individual galettes for two years now, but today is the first time that I bought one from a patisserie that includes fèves even in the individual ones. So the game was fixed; I'm still the queen. Here's a picture of a galette and a fève exactly like the one I got:

And I don't know how on earth to make these two pix appear beside each other, so...here we are.

So, today I'm thankful for:

1)  being the queen. ;)

2)  delicious patisseries...I eat such delicious things here

3)  no car so I can walk them all off

4)  a social gathering tonight that I hope will be fun

5)  speaking of social events, public transportation...when it's just too far to walk...or you're wearing heels

Your turn!

bisous

Back to Work!

Hi everyone!

Today was back to work day for many of us, and like many others, I am quite grateful to have work! I love it when I have enough time off to almost miss working.

Also, I was stopped by the head of one of the programs I teach in and asked about a conflict one student has with the time of my final exam. We discussed options and came up with a solution...all in French. I didn't even think about it until I was walking home, but then I realized that I went from two weeks of mostly English right into a full-blown professional conversation in French without so much as a hiccup. I'm miles and miles from fluent, but boy it feels good to respond normally instead of getting nervous and having to think about every syllable of every conversation.

So I'm grateful today...grateful for:

1)  easing my way back into work
2)  French! It has become my friend!
3)  the technology that allows me to keep in touch with family and friends AND do lots of work from home
4)  my super-duper French washing machine that gets everything super clean
5)  my favorite hand lotion on sale: two for the price of 1!

Happy Monday to you...do tell what's good about your life today!

Les Clémentines

Hi friends!

Two days into the new year, and I have a cold. But I also have the most wonderful source for vitamin C - this beautiful fruit, la clémentine. They are so much easier to peel than oranges, and they're delicious. I bought a box for Mom and Dad's stockings over Christmas, and the "soculentes" are in all the Paris markets right now. I bought ten today...I figure I'll eat at least two a day! Don't mind the photography; I'm quite the amateur, although I think the colors are nice.

So today I am grateful for:

1)  sweet, juicy clémentines 
2)  another day to rest before a whirlwind January schedule moves into high gear
3)  soft tissues
4)  the company of Potter and Gracie
5)  new years resolutions still shiny and new...and not yet broken! :)

What about you?

bisous

Happy New Year!

Hi, and happy new year, bonne année to all!

I hope you had a safe and fun new year's eve. I enjoyed a lovely dinner with mostly new friends...the food was delicious, the champagne plentiful, and the laughs many. In spite of the metro closing early (ahem), it was a great night.

So here we are....2011! A friend told me about someone saying to her that he wished he could have a do-over for his life. She replied by saying, "well, you've got 2011...see what you can do with that." I thought that was great advice. A brand new shiny year to do with what we will. Today I am grateful for:

1)  the feeling of being given a fresh start
2)  new friends who make me laugh
3)  having someone to trek through Paris with last night after the metro closed prematurely
4)  champagne...it's not just for new years! :)
5)  the freedom to create the life that I want to live

And I'll share one resolution with you:  to continue this blog and continue sharing gratitude with those of you who are so gracious and wonderful as to be here sharing too. Bisous (kisses) to you all and warm wishes for a wonderful 2011!