Oooops

Oooopsy ... I can not believe that is has been 2 weeks since I have written. Man oh man, I am just not keeping up with things the way that I should be. And well the thing is I have a list about a mile long with things I want to write about on here!! I guess the last couple of weeks have been so jam packed that when I get home or have a few minutes typing or even sitting in front of my computer is not what I want to be doing, we can thank work for that!! I have been one BUSY BEE!! Next weekend I leave for Philadelphia for the event that has been running my life (well one of the events, I am currently working on two, which has turned out to be quite a balancing act - yikes!) and since it has been running my life it has essentially grounded me from writing here!! Ok, excuses, excuses but planning an event totally remotely has been quite interesting. Lucky for me I have made it a priority to fill my weekends with at least one day totally away from work stuff (yes I have been working on the weekend for the last few weeks. Talk about dedication baby)! Last weekend, I experienced my first indoor swimming centre here and as nervous and well not excited at all about trying it - I grew up swimming outside with my cousins and friends in Grammy's above ground pool with floaties attached to our matching watermelon bathing suits- so a public pool and all the unknown people in it is a bit intimidating - it turned out a-ok and I actually really enjoyed myself. I forgot a few things, one being how much I enjoy being in the water and two what a great little workout swimming is. Especially when you are trying to keep yourself afloat in the deep end with two little kiddos (the partner in crimes kiddos were the reason to be at this pool) jumping all over you and asking for rides to the lane markers and back! I am definitely planning a return trip, I may even bust out the old goggles and swim cap for old times sake... This weekend I will be indulging in some LONG OVERDUE shoe shopping and on Sunday I will be attending the Rugby World Cup at a Pub in the 8th district with some good friends, who I know will make waking up at the butt crack of dawn on a Sunday totally worth it (if you are reading this, take this as your warning to be sure I have a good time) plus they promised that the rugby men on the tv will be worth it just on their own... !!

So rest assured, even though I have been a bit quiet on here,  I am not being boring and staying holed up with nothing exciting going on, it is just the opposite, I haven't had much free time to update, but I'll work on it. Promise!!

*details about the shoes I purchase today and the rugby event tomorrow to follow!!!

Rain... rain... GO AWAY

AHHHHHHH!! I don't know what has happened to Summer in Paris but it has OBVIOUSLY left town to and has no apparent plans to return anytime soon. I am not sure I can actually remember a weekend in the recent past when rain and gray haven't been present. Today is no different. It is quite demotivating...  So in order to try and remind myself about what sunshine actually looks like I am going to sit and stare at the photos I took during my weekend get a way to Marseille (which I continue to pronounce horribly wrong even after a lesson from a friend yesterday.. Yes, while typing I tried to get it right but I think that word and I will just never be friends!!) Here are a few happy little shots for your viewing pleasure....

Looking for sunshine

Well since the sun that normally resides over Paris has apparently up and left for summer holiday, like the rest of the city, I have decided to take matters into my own hands. On a last minute whim and in serious need of some vitamin d in my life the PIC (partner in crime - it has been awhile since my last post so I figure a reminder might be necessary) and I booked a last minute trip to Marseille leaving tomorrow evening and returning Sunday night. Go ahead take a little peek at the forecast ... No complaints there at all!! No I am not crazy the temperature is in celcius so you have to do a quick conversion. Someone taught me this trick awhile ago and although it not exactly the conversion it should get you within a few degrees. Take the temp in celcius multiple by two ( or add it to itself whatever explanation you find easiest) and then add 32. See easy peasy!!! So with that we are looking at a weekend staying in the high 80's. There is actually a chance I won't return from this trip and will stay baking in the sun for the rest of the summer...,

To shop or not to shop... that is the question...

It is a cool, grey day here in the city and I have already taken great advantage of the fact the sun is not shining by staying tucked up in bed for quite awhile longer than I normally would once my eyes pop open in the morning. But since I have been up and roaming around, sipping coffee (CONFESSION: I have started using instant Nescafe coffee because even after a year of experimenting with the espresso maker in my flat, I am continue to be the WORST coffee maker EVER), munching on some breakfast I can't help but think about the Soldes. It is that time of year again one of the two big SALES of the year. I will be honest, I have held off even going into a store since they began, knowing that the damage could be quite significant. But I am not sure I can control the urge any longer... so the question remains .. shop and fight the Saturday crowds or remain cozied up in my apartment saving all that hard earned money in my little French bank account???? 

Want to learn how to work the sales?? CLICK ME!!!

Silly Strike.

Back to the grind this week. I just returned form a lovely two week s back in the lovely US of A and I have to be honest, it felt fantastic to be home, have a break from work and the crazy fast paced lifestyle I have been playing with for the last few months. Although I did not keep up sufficiently with blogger updates I, as I always try to do, will make up for it now that I have returned and am almost back on the right time zone. Even though it is the first weekend back, I wasted no time booking it up with delightful activities. It was all SUPPOSED to start tonight with a trip to Parc Villette to a Cirque du Soleil type event - the NOUVEAU CIRQUE DU VIETNAM. But in true European fashion the show this evening is on hold because well there is a (gues what and drumroll please…..) STRIKE. Yeah that is right – Vietnamese clowns on strike… who would have thought… Ok I don’t actually think it is the performers but the people who work at the venue, but then again everyone seems to like to strike here so who really knows… update soon on the outcome of the strike and to let you know whether or not the show goes on!!!




UPDATE: PIC just called and the weekend has been rearranged. Cabaret show at Opera this evening and Cirque tomorrow…details about how fantastic this weekend was as soon as they are available : )

The reason you stayed tune...

The weekend :: A beautiful (and quite honestly my favourite) part of the week, as I am sure most people would agree. I know I have said (again and again) that I had the most amazing weekend ever, but seriously they just keep topping the one before!! Although I feel like I could write pages and pages about this past weekend I will keep it to a quick review. I do call the right to have the possibility of a follow up post. Let’s start with Friday – a night in a new area of town I have never explored – The Zenith, a lovely little concert house in the 16th. Where I was given the great pleasure of seeing Ben l’Oncle Soul… anyone who knows me is aware that I have been in love with this singer since the first time I heard his music. It is an incredible mix of jazz and soul with a nice mix of English and French as well. Allowing me the opportunity to practice my French language skills (always a plus). The show was just unreal. The set up was like a big band show complete with dancers, guest appearances and a totally random crowd – making for great people watching… not only was Uncle Ben awesome but the opening act Imany was a great new discovery. Her voice is gorgeous and soulful and I highly recommend you Google or YouTube or whatever it is you do to find her music. As most of the things I do here in Paris are – it was also a learning experience. The first lesson was just a reminder about how important it is for me to improve my speaking skills – within minutes of being seated Annee had an ice cream salesman (I have no better term to describe him) going down to the floor to buy us a beer, he didn’t even ask for the money upfront – fantastic start to the evening. The most interesting part came next though., I was completely shocked that everyone stayed in his or her seats for almost the entire show. Even the people on the floor were just standing and sitting where they chose. It was crazy – especially with such good tunes blasting all around us!! Being the party package we are though Annee and I made it a point to get up and bust a move. Ensuring that we had nothing but a fantastic time. Now I said before that this concert was in an area I am not overly familiar with but the walk back to the Metro was filled with some serious characters – most of them being men trying to pick up anything that walked by. My favourite catcall/pick up line of the evening goes as follows “Mademoiselle your face is so much prettier than your boots” normally this being spoken in French would have me flattered and at my feet but after having three other randoms tell me their address to go sleep with them I just wanted OUT OF THERE. I will keep that gem of a line in my repertoire for a later date though… The rest of the weekend was simply filled with the typical spring/summer activities’ including shopping (for the two beautiful babies I am so excited to meet in a week!!!), drinks on a variety of terraces and lots of walking in the sunshine. Oh and an incredible little dinner with some very good company - which is the reason I was out past my bedtime last night... 

The longer I stay here and the more weekends that pass the deeper in love I fall with this city and the friends I have made in it : )

Stay Tuned

Sunday is always a good day for review but this Sunday was so gorgeous that I managed to stay outside until just now... a perfect reminder of why I loved summer last year so much and am SO EXCITED for this summer. The weekend was perfect weather wise and packed so full. Unfortunately "Responsible Heather" needs to go to sleep for a bright and early start to the work week. So recap tomorrow... like I said, stay tuned!!!

**DISCLAIMER:: I was apparently so tired I didn't even manage to click on the publish post button last night... oops!!!

In review...

It was quite the week not only here in Paris,but, back at home where two beautiful (and healthy) little baby girls have blessed us with their presence (thanks to two of the most amazing couples I have ever met). I can not wait to meet these two munchkins ... soon enough ; ) Let's see what else happened this week ... the team at worked was awarded the ISO certification we had been working towards (working very hard) and it was a great accomplishment. This was followed up by a spur of the moment shopping spree and dinner with my girlfriend (the spring wardrobe is coming along nicely, thank you). All topped off with a lovely weekend where I was introduced to a new card game and spent a gorgeous Saturday afternoon having a picnic in the park and laying in the sun. It was relaxing and more than enjoyable. I can't wait for summer to arrive so I can spend more of my time that way... The weekend is seeing itself out with a rainy Sunday afternoon, perfect motivation for some French homework and maybe even possibly a few bites of Ben & Jerrys (I stumbled upon a pint of Chunky Monkey - a rare and exotic find as I was leaving the grocery store, score one for me!!)...

A Parisian Weekend

This little weekend recap post, should have gone up yesterday but in evidence of a VERY good weekend. I fell asleep, computer on my lap with not much typed at all. So here it is today. After being here for almost 10 months I am still having lots of firsts. Including my Friday night adventure to my first Parisian nightclub… interesting and awesome to say the least. I had to dig way back into my college days of not even leaving to go out until after midnight, but I pulled it together like the champ I am, got myself dressed up and made it happen. We then spent the night in the VIP area with our own bottles, mixing our own drinks and dancing the night and the morning away. The music selection was a bit interesting for me – at one point the DJ really had me concerned when he began a medley with “We Will Rock You” not at all what I expected, but I think it was just to get everyone warmed up and that it did. I think one of the craziest things was the fact that this little club (ok, it wasn’t little at all but… ) is pretty much underground and so there are no windows, making it very easy to not pay any attention to time. What I am trying to say is that it was actually light outside by the time we left to have our nightcap (I guess it was technically a morning cap at that point). Yup – that is right, no last call at 1:45 for these crazy Parisians. It really was a lovely way to kick off what ended up being one of the best weekends I have had since my adventure in Paris began. After a brief nap – because there is no way you could say I went to bed at 930am on Saturday… it just sounds wrong – I woke up and made my way to a basketball game with some friends and ended the evening feeling about as Parisian as one could by going to the movies on the back of a little scooter. Yes my dear family – I had a helmet on and no it is not as scary as it might seem, buzzing in and out of the cars and busses on the incredibly busy streets of Paris.  I wrapped it all up by soaking up the sun reading all day Sunday in front of my huge windows with the pigeons happily chirping in the streets. It is funny how the littlest things like dancing all night and cruising around on the back of a scooter that make you feel like you have finally accomplished things the same way someone who is from here would.

Parentals and Strasbourg

For the last 5 days or so I have two rather fantastic house guest. They go by the names of Ma and Pa and are one half of my sets of parents. Yes - lucky girl here - two sets of parents. Wooohoo (and I say that completely genuinely)!! What a great time it was to show them around "my" city.  I never realized how much I wanted and actually need people to see my life here until they arrived. It made things seem so much more real and it also made me realize how much I have grown and accomplished since I have been here. Six months ago I could barely find my way back to the Metro station, and for the last week I have played Parisian Tour Guide. We fit about as much as three people can fit into 3 days (we spent two of their full days here in Strasbourg - details on that will come). I think my legs are still sore from all the walking and exploring.  We experienced a little bit of it all - from waiting in line at the Tour Eiffel (just to decide there was NO way we were waiting that long), to wandering the Jardins de Luxembourg, cheering to a Thanksgiving Pizza dinner and getting snowed on in Monmarte. Truly fantabulous. Yes, I am pretty sure that's a word and if it isn't it's the only thing I can think of to describe how great the last few days were, so too bad!! We finished off our time together by venturing off to Strasbourg - in the East of France for the weekend. We chugged through snow covered farmland on the TGV (thanks Alstom!) and arrived to discover a gorgeous little German influenced town. This weekend was also special because it was the first weekend of their annual Marche de Noel festival. Essentially the entire town looks like it threw up Christmas, in a very beautiful and charming way. We ate traditional food - most of it covered in cheese and bacon and saw Christmas lights and decorations like I have never seen before. Wandering through these themed markets which covered the entire city centre  you could find pretty much anything you would ever want, from smoking Santa shaped incense holders, handmade ornaments, any type of Christmas light ever known to man, hats and mittens and every other knick knacky arts and crafty type thing you can imagine. I was almost sure I would run out of memory space on my camera - but it made it through, meaning as soon as I reflect and get all the photos on my little computer the best ones will be shared for all to see - Sharing is caring, as I like to say. All in all the last week was one of the best I have had here in Paris, I can't wait for more of my family to visit so I can share this experience with them. Maybe if I get enough practice, I can start my own tour company..... now that's a thought!!!

PS. The air mattress was a serious success. Perfect size and no leaks and the guests seemed comfy and cozy!!

Trick or Treat

Ahhhhh... what a lovely feeling when Sunday rolls around and you don't have to start to prepare to go back to work the next day... three day weekends are just necessary sometimes.  This one works out especially well because Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year and I was lucky enough to be invited to a little costume shindig this fine evening. Making Nov 1 the best day to have off!!  Halloween here in Paris isn't nearly the occasion it is at home in the US. So I am VERY interested to see what kind of people - if I see any- are walking around dressed up tonight in the city. I have to say that the advertising for Halloween is pretty non-existent here. There are no monstrous displays of candy bars and candy corn in the stores when you walk in and from the bit of research I did there are approximately 3 stores in Paris that sell costumes. I took advantage of this knowledge to help create my own costume and tracked one of these stores.  The store wasn't hard to find once I was in the right area- the crazy masks covering all the windows and the flashing lights were the clue - then I saw the line of of people which was out the store and down the street.  I didn't have many options though so I waited. When I went inside I think I experienced my first true feeling of claustrophobia. There are days when I though the Metro was bad this was like shoving 50 people into my closet and then surrounding them with creepy masks and fake blood. I don't think I have ever made a choice on a costume so quickly in my entire life- actually scratch that - I don't think I have ever made any choice that quickly in my entire life.  I am now the proud owner of my very own "Le Petit Chaperon Rouge" - I will save you from going to Google Translate and tell you what it means -  Little Red Riding Hood.  Should be good times. With all of that said - it is time for me to get my things in order and get ready to head out. Before the costume party I'll be decorating creepy cupcakes and making popcorn balls with my girlfriend and her kiddos. Pictures and details of how the first Halloween in Paris played out to come soon.....


Happy Halloween Everyone ...