Paris, Revisited

Paris is gorgeous, as always, but the weather has been drippy gray and I've been slowed by a cold. As usual, I've been pushing myself to go-go-go, and I'm quite exhausted. Yesterday and today, I walked and walked, taking pictures of buildings and scenes that caught my fancy, stopping to eat when I got hungry, and seeing as much as possible. The people I've met have been very forgiving with my French, and the food has been divine.

The apartment I'm renting has a computer (awesome!) with a French keyboard (frustrating). It's mostly similar to an English one, but has a few differences that slow me tremendously and force me to "hunt and peck." If I were to type as I usually do, here's how this paragraph would turn out:

The qpqrt,ent Iù, renting hqs q co,puter 9qzeso,e1à zith q French keyboqrd 9frustrqting0: Itùs ,ostly si,ilqr to qn English one; but hqs q fez differences thqt sloz ,e tre,endously qnd force ,e to hunt qnd peck: If I zere to type qs I usuqlly do, hereùs hoz this pqrqgrqph zould turn out:

So, this post will be short! :-) I look forward to sharing pictures when I get back stateside.

Travel Time

It's been a relatively quiet 6 weeks so far in 2011 with only a couple brief trips. But the next couple weeks will be on the road. Tomorrow, I go up to Chicago for the day. This means a 6:30 a.m. flight out and coming back around 10 p.m. A very long day.

On Thursday, I leave for Paris. Yep, going back again! I just love that city, as well as my friends there. I'm looking forward to a few days off and just enjoying everything Paris has to offer.

I get back on a Tuesday evening, and take a 7:00 a.m. flight out the next day to Seattle for work. I'll only be there a couple days, and I wish I could stay the weekend to visit my family up there, but I've already committed to staying with my niece & nephew, Anna & Colin, while their parents have a weekend getaway.

And then it will be March! Does anyone else feel like time is flying by as if we're on a rollercoaster? I'm enjoying the ride, though!

Keeping Fit

When I joined the gym, I got some "gym bucks" that you can choose to spend on a variety of activities. I chose to use all of mine for some sessions with a personal trainer. And she's kicking my butt! (in a good way)

She's a triathlete, too, and has already given me suggestions on how to improve my time. (My goal each year is just to beat my previous time, and so far, each year I've done that.) I also told her I wanted to tone up in general. And I may have mentioned I don't like my upper arms...hence the incredible arm workouts she has added to the cardio and strength training.

Most days, some muscle group feels a bit sore. But overall, I feel so much stronger, have more energy and am sleeping like a rock. It's great!

My gym workouts are also supplemented by my sister's Bollywood aerobic class on Sunday nights, too. I'm feeling stronger (and more confident with the steps) there, too, and it's fun!

Celebrating Victories

I went on a hike/walk today. That may not seem like a big accomplishment, and normally, since I consider myself in training for my next triathlon, it's not to me. But I got felled by a nasty case of food poisoning this week, and it knocked the...well, everything out of me. I'm rebuilding slowly, and today was the first day I felt a little stronger. So the walk felt especially precious, and I enjoyed it immensely.

As I walked along the uneven path, I couldn't help but think about how similar it is to life in general. Some really rough patches, but some easy and smooth. Sometimes there were others on the path with me, and sometimes I was all alone. At one point, while I was alone, I came to the end of the path. I looked up and down but couldn't find where the path went. It seemed to have disappeared. I decided to cross over what looked like a dried up river bed, and it was challenging to walk over the rocks set in different angles. I got to the other side, and I found a new path open up to me. I smiled and thought how that has happened in my life so many times. Just when I think the path has disappeared completely, I find a new path.

Ten years ago, I was recovering from my second divorce. Part of that recovery included filing for backruptcy. Part of the debt was truly mine, and part of it was from each of my exes. All of it was overwhelming. But filing for bankruptcy wasn't easy. It affects your credit rating for seven years, but it stays on your record for ten. During that first seven years, there were many times when I was travelling for work and was expected to cover my expenses, filing an expense report afterwards for reimbursement. I had a credit card with a $300 limit, which doesn't go far when you're travelling often or to large cities. More than once I relied on my colleagues to help, but that meant explaining to them why I needed the help. It was a humbling experience, but it guaranteed that I wouldn't make the same mistakes again. I built up a positive credit rating slowly, and learned how to live within my means.

And this month marks the 10 year anniversary when it will be off my record for good. I am proud of what I have accomplished. And I'm really glad that's over! On to the next path...

When You'll Meet "the One"

I watched an indie movie tonight called "Timer." It's set in the future, when a technology has been developed that allows you to know when you will meet your soul mate. People get a timer implanted into their wrist, and when their soul mate also has a timer, it provides you with a countdown -- the days, hours and minutes until you'll meet -- and both people's timers beep when you meet "the one."

Would you want to know?

Some characters in the movie want to fall in love "the old fashioned way" and refuse timers. The heroine goes for most of her life with a blank timer, meaning her soul mate hasn't gotten one, and she drags numerous guys in to the store to get their timers, only to discover they aren't her "one."

It's an interesting premise for a movie. And it sets up some interesting situations. If you know you won't meet anyone for years, what do you do with your time until then? Do you get a lot accomplished, such as degrees or marathons? Do you "save yourself" for the one or enjoy the people you meet in your life and live in the moment?

I think I would want to know, even if I was disappointed with the answer.

What Happened to January?

I feel like this month just disappeared somehow...I can't believe it's already over. Guess I've been keeping busy, so here's a random assortment of thoughts and activities:

At the gym: Although I love the amenities, I've always been shy about changing in public. (And yes, it's women-only in the dressing room, but it still reminds me of junior high days when everyone was looking at and comparing to each others' bodies.) Some women have NO issue with this however, and quite a few I would suspect are exhibitionists. I politely keep my eyes averted, but I couldn't help overhear a conversation between two young moms where one showed off her boob job. Really?! I guess she was proud of the work and maybe had to justify the cost to herself by getting external approval.

On the learning front: I'm taking a tele-course by Martha Beck, best-selling author and life coach, and I'm LOVING it. Of course, there's quite a bit of homework to factor into my busy weeks, but I'm learning so much about myself and gaining new perspectives. More to come on this.

On life and death: A friend and former colleague of mine passed away last week after a hard battle with pancreatic cancer. He was just 41 and was diagnosed just after his wedding 6 months ago. Ray was one of those energetic, charismatic people that draws people to them, and although I am saddened by his death at such a young age, I truly admire how he lived his life.

On crazy Texas weather: We had a beautiful, spring-like weekend. It was unbelievably warm and sunny. But in just a few short days, we will be hit with another winter storm. The extremes are amazing, so I had to share a iPhone visual for those who won't be here to experience it in person (and I've included the Celsius version for my European fans):



On creativity: One of my colleagues is pregnant with her first, a baby girl, and she has been one of the most welcoming to me on my transition to the Austin office. I enjoyed making her a baby quilt (this pic was taken in progress), and her reaction to it was truly touching.


So next up: February! More winter weather, travel, personal victories to celebrate...2011 is off to a roaring start.

And with my Chinese food lunch, my fortune is "A lifetime of happiness lies ahead of you." I believe that's true. :-)

Hitting the Gym

I joined a new gym. It is Texas-sized HUGE! The facility is really impressive with so many classes, equipment and things to do. It's close to my place, and I'm enjoying going. Being January, I start to think about my triathlon in June -- just five months away! So I have to ramp up my exercise program to get ready.

I've been finding it's not too difficult to motivate myself to go. Partially it's because there is a lot of eye candy (although not everyone is perfect, so I don't feel intimidated), but I'm also drawn to the steam room. I LOVE IT!

I think I might need a steam room in my dream home...

Some are Gold

Anyone else remember this song from Girl Scout days?

"Make new friends, but keep the old,

Some are silver and the other gold."

I had an amazing time visiting with some great friends yesterday. First, I flew up to Dallas for a few hours to reunite with my gal pals and have our belated Christmas Lunch Bunch. One of them said we've been doing this for 13 years or so now, and because of my insane travel schedule in December, I had to push it to January. But we wished each other a merry Christmas anyway and had a lovely time visiting and catching up. It's always interesting to me to hear what everyone is doing with each at different stages of our lives: one is actively raising 3 little ones while another is about to send her second to college and one is about to get married (time for a shower to celebrate!). Lots of joy, and I value our strong friendship bonds.

Facebook is great to catch up with people from years past. Of course, there's always the ones I don't remember (we went to high school together? And you remember that?), but many people I've enjoyed catching up with and seeing what they are up to now. One former colleague who actually did go to high school with me (although we didn't know each other then), emailed to ask if we could get together while she and her husband were in Austin this weekend. So after landing, I met up with them for dinner. We had a great visit and caught some live music that Austin is so famous for on 6th Street. I got home after midnight with a full heart.

The Rest of Paris

Belated, I know, but here's a quick summary of the rest of my amazing trip to Paris.

Irish Parisienne and the French Guy both had to work come Monday, so I was free to do my own thing. I started most days with a walk down to the bakery to grab a croissant and a coffee. My bits of the French language improved each day, but I was still limited to "This please" and "Merci!" However, seeing as I didn't go hungry, I guess I did fine.

I decided to do some shopping on Monday, and IP met me later that afternoon for a movie. I find the Metro system easy to navigate in Paris (probably learned behavior from my years in NYC), and I'm good with maps. IP told me to meet her outside Saint Eustache Church, by the statue of the head in a hand. Her description was perfect, and as I sat near the statue waiting for her, a bum came up and asked me something in French. I politely explained I didn't understand (one of my key learned phrases), to which he angrily asked something like "you don't speak French?" in French. I said No, and he threw his hands out to the sides and asked, "Cigarette?" As a devout non-smoker, I had to again say No, and he walked off in a huff. I was so tickled by the interchange, and had to suppress more giggles later when he walked by and looked at me withcontempt again later.

After our movie, IP went home to do some more work, and I met French Guy for dinner. It was lovely. We ate at a typical brasserie, and I had a delicious roast chicken with mashed potatoes and French wine. Afterwards, we went by the Eiffel Tower so I could get an obligatory picture.

Tuesday was my last day, and I went to the Musee d'Orsay. Monet is my favorite, and I had been told they had the most of his pieces. I decided to save his work for the end, and I really enjoyed the sculptures. When I got to the Monet section, I was horrified to find a paltry four or five pieces with a sign saying the majority had been leant to the Musee National Grand Palais. I looked it up and took the subway over there, just to learn they were closing the exhibit at 2:00, precisely the time I had arrived. I was very disappointed.

Later, I met up with IP again and did a little more shopping (where we both bought the same dress, even in the same size!), and we stopped for a Kir Royale. We had a lovely dinner together. It's so easy spending time with her. She is definitely a soul-mate kind of friend.

French Guy offered to take me to the airport the next morning, which was sweet and very helpful. We arrived extra early to accommodate for any morning traffic, and after checking me in, we grabbed a coffee and croissant. Then the police started moving everyone back away from the eating area. At first, it just seemed annoying. We could hear announcements that a woman had left a bag unattended. They continued to move us back across the terminal, and we heard a loud BOOM that made me scream (and French Guy jumped), which was probably the police and security blowing up the bag. I was also getting nervous as the clocked ticked by because I still had to get through security. French Guy was sweet and gave me lots of kisses and hugs, saying this was his "best New Year's ever. And January 1, and January 3..." I didn't want to leave.

Since being home, I have emailed with him and asked if I could see him again. While some of my friends expressed some dislike when learning he's Jewish, it didn't bother me, but ironically, my not being Jewish is why he won't consider me as anything more. Rejection is never easy, but I wasn't that invested. And we'll always have Paris...

A Day in the French Countryside

(Well, maybe that's stretching it a bit. We were in a Parisian suburb, though.)

Irish Parisienne got an invitation to a friend's for lunch on Sunday, and they graciously extended the offer to me as well. Her friend is an Irish artist who married a French woman. They were absolutely lovely. She made a fantastic feast for us -- vegetarian in respect for I.P. -- and I was surprised by all the courses! First, there was miso soup, followed by roast vegetables and a stew made with eggplant, tomatoes and chick peas. I thought this was it and was completely satisfied. Then she brought out salad and cheeses (blue and brie), and finally an apple dessert made with hazelnut flour with coffee and tea. It was all so delicious, but I didn't have to eat again for the rest of the day!

After the meal, I took a walk with the two Irish, and we saw this beautiful chateau:

The time is flying by too quickly.

A Most Unusual First Date, and then some

A couple weeks ago, I got an email from a friend in NY asking if I was going to be in Austin as he was thinking of visiting a warmer climate. I replied yes, I would be in Austin until my trip to Paris. That piqued his attention, and he asked if I was travelling with anyone. I explained I was going on my own to visit my friend Irish Parisienne, and he asked if he could join me, admitting it was a crazy request. (This is all over email.) I agreed it was a crazy request, especially since we had never even gone on a first date! So he proposed coming to Austin, taking me out on a date or two, and if it went well, accompanying me to Paris, at least for a couple days. I said that sounded okay, but then when he went to book his flights, he realized if he didn't book all the cities at once, he would have unused tickets so he just decided to do the whole thing. I felt a bit pressured at this, but I didn't say anything other than to insist that he not "expect" anything from me and that getting his own accommodations was a requirement.

We had a couple dates in Austin as we had planned. He's very intelligent and I enjoyed showing him around a bit, but I didn't feel anything when he kissed me. (Just pecks, nothing sloppy.)

When we arrived in Paris, I was predictably jet-lagged and not wanting to do much sight-seeing the first day here. (I knew this would be the case and had explained that to him, however, since he was only here for 2 days -- had to get back for work -- he was eager to pack in as much as possible.) Things got a little tense, but we split up and did our own things.

The one thing the NYer really wanted to do while in Paris was Disneyland, so we spent the majority of New Year's Eve day there at the park. (See pictures below.) That night, Irish Parisienne got us invited along to a party of a friend's for New Year's Eve, and we arrived with our obligatory 10 Euros for food and a bottle of champagne each. It was a great party, and the Parisians were friendly and spoke English fluently. We drank much champagne, feasted on smoked salmon and other hors-d'ouvers and danced to American music. And then I kissed a Frenchman.

I think that pretty much took care of having to explain to the NYer that I wasn't interested in him as more than a friend. I did feel bad that I hadn't had "the talk" with him prior to that, and to be honest, I guess I chickened out. However, I didn't plan on kissing another guy, it just happened. (He was cute and nice and we just clicked.) Anyway...a bit of drama. More drama was involved as there was a French girl at the party who has quite a crush on the French guy I kissed. But said French guy insisted he isn't interested in her and only thinks of her as a friend, so something like this was bound to happen.

The NYer was very good about the whole thing. I apologized, but he said "no worries." He left New Year's day to go back to NYC as planned.

And me? I got a cute new Frenchman to show me around and take me to lunch on New Year's Day.

Disneyland Paris

What better way to spend a day in Paris then to go to Disneyland! Okay, not really my first choice, but a friend wanted to go. (I still have to explain this friend, but now I must rest a bit before going to a New Year's party.)

So here's a few pics to tide you over:

Paris!

I'm in Paris! A couple months ago, I got an email from Delta about their fare sales, and I wrote to my girlfriend Irish Parisienne who lives here. When she said she would be around for New Year's, I booked the trip.

Irish Parisienne and I met through our blogs, and we estimate we've been reading and commenting on each other's dating odysseys for 3-4 years. When I met her in person back in April (my first ever trip to the City of Lights), we instantly clicked and solidified our friendship. Since then, she's been encouraging me to come back, and as I find New Year's Eve depressing on my own, I decided this was a good occasion.

Today, being my first day here, was a bit rough from the jet lag. Although I got a few hours sleep on the plane, it always catches up to me my first day here. I'm renting a lovely little studio apartment from a friend of IP's, and the comfy bed and shuttered windows were ideal for an afternoon nap.

Every meal I've eaten in Paris has been delicious, and today was no exception. For lunch, I had a quiche lorraine, and dinner was exquisite: pumpkin soup with a creamy blue cheese for starters, and beef tenderloin cooked to medium perfection with baby potatoes and a scrumptious wine reduction gravy. And French wine, of course!

Now it's off to bed for me. I'm too tired to tell you the rest of the story, but there's more... :-)

A Lovely Holiday

Christmas definitely snuck up on me this year, but I finally managed to finish all my shopping and get my gifts wrapped just in time. (Although my cards went out just two days before Christmas, so most people are just now getting them! Those of you in England should get them by next week, I hope.)

Here are a few pictures to cherish the memories:

This one the kids called "the sandwich." Nana decided to join in on the fun.

A three-generation hug:

Decorations, Texas style:

Colin as one of the wise men and Anna in the background as Mary in the church pageant:

Nana taking advantage of the mistletoe:

A brisk walk to burn off some of the Christmas calories:

Disconnected

Despite my last post title, it's difficult for me to believe that Christmas is just days away. Maybe it's because this year my December has mostly been spent on the road, on planes and in airports. I just have a sense of disconnectedness...

My parents arrive tomorrow, and we get out of work early. Maybe that will make it feel more like Christmas!

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

My sister Steph hosts a beautiful Christmas tea every year, and it's a wonderful occasion to dress up and enjoy some champagne while catching up with family and friends. This year was bittersweet as Steph and her family have moved to California as of last week, but before she left Houston, she put on a fantastic fete with amazing food, a string quartet, a harp, and beautiful decorations. Here are some pictures from the day.

Abandoned, but only temporarily

No, I haven't given up on the blog. I just haven't had time or energy to write. I've been working an insane amount -- work/life balance what? -- and since I don't write about work and haven't been doing much else or had time to do much else...the blog suffered.

Beginning with the second week of November and on through December, I've travelled every week except the week of Thanksgiving and now this coming week, the week of Christmas. While business travel sounds interesting to those who enjoy travel and don't do it for work, it is actually quite draining and you see very little of the places you visit. I generally end up working more hours on the road, since I don't have my recorded shows or family or friends to catch up with in the evenings, and lately, I've had to work until the wee hours just to keep up with the overwhelming workload.

Where've I been? Chicago three or four times, Boston twice, NYC twice (forgive me, jman, I didn't have time to catch a drink), Indianapolis and Houston once each. I've reestablished my priority status on at least one airline carrier, and I've also racked up my loyalty programs with hotels and rental cars. And I'm exhausted.

Meanwhile, as readers of my sister's blog will know, my longtime companion -- my 17-year-old cat Sabrina -- broke her leg Thanksgiving night. I'm still not sure exactly how it happened, but I think she was startled and bumped into her water bowl and then slipped on the tile. The result was a break in her femur, which required surgery. It was extremely stressful for her, and pretty darn stressful for me, too. The worst was having to leave her for two weeks after her surgery. Thank God for my sister Dr. Jenn and her caring staff. We kept her in a kennel at the clinic, even though the clinic doesn't do boarding anymore, and that helped to keep her calm and still and allow the bone to begin to heal. For the last week, she's been recuperating at home with a petsitter visiting daily. And she's starting to use the leg a bit and is happily purring beside me as I write.

So again, I apologize to my loyal readers and thank you for coming back! I do enjoy blogging and enjoy having a life for that matter, doing more than just work. I know we can never go back, but I want to have more balance like I did a few months ago, so I'm taking steps to make that happen.

Music - Our gift to Sudie

When my sisters and I were asked to sing at Sudie's memorial, we all wanted to do our best to honor her, but we were nervous that we hadn't sung together in many years and that you can't sing properly if you're crying. Fortunately, our previous singing came back to us, and we were able to keep the tears at bay long enough for the two songs, one at the church service and one at the gravesite. I asked my dad to record them if he could do so unobtrusively.

If you'd like to hear the songs, you can find them on my dad's blog. (Sorry, I'm too tired to figure out how to embed them here and must pack for a trip tomorrow.)

A True Gem

My beloved great aunt Sudie Pearl died last week. She was 95 and leaves behind many nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and even great-great little ones. She was universally loved and respected by all, and although she didn't have children of her own, she was regarded by many as the matriarch figure of our family.

Sudie was born to Baptist missionaries, and spent her childhood in Brazil, where she learned how to speak Spanish and Portugese, as well as how to climb a tree and sleep in a hammock. Unfortunately, hers was not an easy life, and there were times in her childhood where her parents were told she wasn't expected to live. (Obviously, she defied those predictions.)

For most of her working career, she was a professor of Spanish at university. Many of her students later returned to tell her how much she meant to them, and Sudie was always so modest and gracious, never one to laud her accomplishments.

To me, she was an example of what I want to be, in so many ways. She had severe scoliosis, curvature of the spine, which caused a physical deformity most noticeable in her shoulders. I have slight scoliosis and know the near-constant pain that accompanies it. I can only imagine her pain was even greater, but she never complained. She always had a radiant smile and bestowed all her attention on the people around her.

She was a Christian, which she showed through her gracious actions and loving demeanor rather than showy words or condemnation of others.

She was fiscally responsible and generous, providing me and my sisters with incredible gifts and support, especially through our college years.

But mostly, she was full of love and freely gave it to us.

Sudie and I had so many talks over the years, and she often urged me to have kids. I know she was regretful that she didn't, having married late in life. She told me, "Don't wait." But I explained I wasn't consciously waiting, and that she had shown me how wonderful an aunt could be.

And although she didn't have children of her own to name, she did name me. My parents didn't give any of us girls middle names, assuming we would take our maiden name as our middle name once we married. When I was divorcing [the first time] and reviewing the legal documents the lawyer had drafted, I got to the part about legally changing my name back to my maiden name. Abruptly, I asked if I could add a middle name. He thought it was an odd request but confirmed I could. "What name would you choose?"

I knew immediately. Sudie always called me "Emily Jane," after my mom "Beverly Jane" because I reminded her in many ways of my mom.

Without hestitation I told the lawyer "Jane." And I couldn't wait to show my new license, with my new full name, to Sudie. I told her she named me, and I always carry that with me.

I am so grateful to have had her in my life, and I know I was blessed in countless ways to have had Sudie Pearl as my great aunt.

Apologies

I feel like I've been doing that a lot lately -- apologizing -- I'm just stretched too thin.

It's not that I've abandoned my blog or am too depressed to write. I'm just overworked, and since I work online, specifically with social media, the last thing I want to do when I'm done after an especially long day is get on the computer at home and blog.

I do have random thoughts of brilliant blog posts at times when I don't have computer access...like while I'm on a plane or in a bathtub...but then I land and rush off to a meeting or get out of the tub and crash into a deep sleep.

So, apologies for ignoring you, dear readers. I am grateful that you read and comment.

This month, I have a total of five trips for work before Thanksgiving. And in between, I'm still expected to keep up with an abundance of email and other work deliverables. Some of that is getting done. Some of it is barely getting done, and I'm sure I've forgotten things that I'm supposed to be doing. It's nice to feel needed, but I have a difficult time saying "no" to colleagues I like and respect. I also want to do a good job on things. But lately, it's not my best work. [sigh]

I'm still struggling with the concept of balance. I know it's impossible all the time, but I also know I need to firmly stick to my boundaries and take care of myself.