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....

Danger... Air Conditioners Gone Wild

Ok. So... There are way too many things wrong with this picture. FYI to those of you wondering what the on earth this is a picture of - it's a portable air conditioner dangling Chuck Norris style from a building I walk by everyday on my way to (and from) the office...

Back to all the things wrong... Let me just name a few:

1. We will start with the obvious.... Hanging big and presumably heavy objects out of third floor window is just no ok. I think it's safe to say this is beyond a safety hazard.
2. Summer is on strike here in Paris. I won't lie I think I have worn a jacket more in July and so far this month than I did for all of last fall. It's grey and rainy and the last few days Mr. Wind decided to join the party so why on earth an air conditioner is hanging out of a window is seriously beyond me.
3. Ok I know I said summer was on strike but the humidity doesn't ever quit here (awesome for the hair.. HA NOT!!) so pumping cold air and having the window wide open... Yup. Pointless.
4. On the same note even if it was hot how is having the window open helping to keep the cold air that is blowing from the machine IN the building?!?!
5. I think I'll end the list here because well honestly I have spent way too much time today trying to rationalise this mystery.... Who carried this thing from their house or the store I suppose, on the metro, up the stairs and then proceeded to shove that thing out a window that only opens partially??
Thoughts? Answers? Anything...
I guess from now on I need to keep a closer eye on what exactly is hanging above my head as I mosey down the street...

Strike...

Well it seems the pilot unions are on strike again and unfortunately (well actually fortunately) I am being affected by this little demonstration. After spending hours on the phone this morning with Air France trying to find a flight that didn't force the PIC and I to have multiple layovers (keep in mind this is an hour flight from Marseille to Paris) it seems that getting back to Paris tonight is simply not an option. So rolling with the punches like we normally do we sucked it up, paid for an extra night at our hotel (which is fantastic by the way) and strolled through the harbour side market until the ferry was ready to take us back to the rocky beaches on the Ile de Ratonneau. Where we have been forced to eat hot dogs, soak up the sun and float in the salty water... Yes I know - life is tough but sometimes you have to deal with the cards you've been dealt ;)

Butts and Bikes

Now this is something I have noticed quite a bit here in Paris but for some reason this morning it really stuck out to me and got my mind a racing. How in earth do you smoke a cigarette and pedal a velib through the city all at the same time?? I wont lie I do a lot of walking and have even been known to work out from time to time but there are still occasions when I'd like to stop and take a break (for example this morning while lugging my suitcase and camera bag in and out of the metro)!! So the thought of pedaling (not so sure that is the correct spelling) and inhaling just seems a bit counter productive to me..... If you look closely you'll see the suspect in the photo is a bit famous and NO this is not who I saw this morning but managing my suitcase and trying to snap an action shot proved to also not be a good idea!!!

Photo Update (Pompier Style)

I just realized this morning - after also realizing it had been awhile since my last post (thanks for the motivation Ma and Papa <3) I never shared my Bal des Pompier photos... well here they are... happy viewing : )

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...,

That time again

It's the evening before Bastille Day here in Paris and I'm ready to go dance the night away with some champagne and my local firemen!!! Seriously this concept is fantastic and I think I'll request to start the tradition upon my return to the US. The camera is charged up and ready to rock and roll so some pictures should follow. I'm keeping the same goal as last year. Evidence I was there will come in the form of a pic with a uniformed firefighter!!! Metro has arrived. More later. Happy Bal de Pompiers tout Le monde!!!

Sent from my iPhone

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!!!

I QUIT!!!

Take this as my official resignation from cleaning. I Heather Caisse refuse to ever scrub and mop and vacuum and dust and shine this apartment ever again because it is the sole reason that I missed the opportunity for some real deal American BBQ!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Seriously NOT OK. So here is how it happened. After being gone for two weeks, then trying to get back into the swing of things this past week, I realized my little maison needed some serious loving. So this morning I turned up my  iTunes (probably  a bit too loud if you ask my neighbors, but I need to drown out the singing!!) – which was ready and loaded with the best sing aloud music EVER!!!!  And I went for it, dust, mopped, shined the hardwood, vacuumed (my mortal enemy) scrubbed and washed this place up. All the while missing emails, texts and phone calls regarding one of my favorite things ever BBQ and to rub a bit of salt in the wounds, it could have been my tribute to the upcoming 4^th tomorrow (which will be the 2^nd one I have missed….. I would kill for some fire works, corn on the cob, fried dough and burgers baby)… so there you have it. My cleaning resignation.... I can never let a tragedy like this take place ever again.  

Here is where I could have been eating this afternoon:

Click HERE!!! For menu, pics and reviews... Warning - May result in drool on your computer...

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 : )

Drunk Baking

Big week this week. Monday Alstom University was honored at the HR Initiative of the Year awards for AUtube. A handy little peer generated, video sharing platform (I really hope the PIC doesn't read this as she will be incredibly upset with my misuse of technological words) that was launched in the office last September.  We all worked incredibly hard on this project and so it was fantastic to all get together and celebrate it. Even though the ceremony was all in French, I understood just enough to understand and had a wonderful translator next to me filling me in on all the important details I was missing. For example ... that guy just said something was fantastic... It was great. We finished the evening off with a dinner at Indiana Cafe. The only place in Paris you can find proper nachos, mozzerella sticks and all sorts of dirty American style bar food!! The rest of the week continued with French lessons, Annual Report planning, meetings about communications and events and just a lot of work. Which all helped play into my excitement and anxiousness to get home on Monday - yup that's right this Monday!! YAY!! I can not wait. I am sure you are wondering why this lead me to title the post Drunk Baking but I am about to spill it. I am so excited to go home and really just spend some quality time with my favorite people in life - my family and my friends who may as well be my family. One of those lovely ladies shared this video with me and said something about it reminded her of me. At first I was skeptical until I began watching and now I fully understand where she was coming from. This is exactly what I miss about being home and I plan on reinacting this video with my best girlfriends as soon as possible ;)))))))))

Unbelieveable

127 Pennsylvania Ave in happier times....

This past Wednesday the town I was living in before I left for the City of Lights was struck by a devastating tornado. The house that I had called home for the year before my move was unfortunately in the path of that nasty storm and is no longer... well... much of anything. Even though I haven't been living there for the last year it was a home to me and it is heartbreaking to think about it no longer even resembling what it was when I left. There were a lot of memories in that house, from the first time I walked in when David was looking at it with the real estate agent, to the painting parties, arguing over shutting the hall light off (I have a very bad habit of this), whether not not to keep the island with the wine fridge, late nights with movies and wine, bbq's, falling asleep on the couch and sitting on the front steps just staring at the trees outside and that is just the tip of the iceburg.  Luckily VERY luckily no one was hurt and David (thankfully) walked away with minimal bumps and bruises. It just makes me realise how important it is to not ever take a thing for granted and truly appreciate what you have with everyone good and bad. Things could have turned out very differently and I am beyond grateful they did not. Right now David is surrounded by his family and friends as they pick up what is literally the pieces. I had a message this morning saying they found my sock monkey-unharmed, sitting in a pile of rubble.... I want to be there to help clean this up,give david a giant squish,  and in a way I guess say goodbye to that piece of my life and just see it for my own eyes. It is really hard to comprehend and for some reason I am truly having a difficult time with it... Here are some pictures and a few interviews he has done. Please keep David and all of Western MA that was touched by this in your thoughts and hearts. Some people were not nearly as lucky as he was to walk away....

David's truck and the flag that was on the front of the house...

Real Deal American Junk Food

First person to send any of the following will be my hero:


1. Cheddar and Sour Cream Ruffles (and maybe Wise Honey BBQ chips as well)

2. Sam Adams SUMMER Lager

3. Trident Gum- NOT CINNIMON ohhhh OR Grape Big League Chew

4. A Friendly’s Bacon Cheeseburger or Chicken finger Supermelt complete with a black raspberry chocolate chip milkshake and loaded waffle fries ( I know this one is a bit much but if ANYONE can figure it out I will consider being your lifelong slave)

5. Cabot Private Stock Sharp Cheddar

6. Rainbow Chip cake and FROSTING!!!!


I won't lie and please don't judge but this photo actually caused me to drool just for a second... 

 7. Snyder Honey mustard and Onion Pretzel Pieces

8. Barqs Rootbeer

9. Corn on the Cob with extra butter, salt and pepper

I suppose I could add the butter, salt and pepper here...

10. Stove Top Stuffing

I know all of the above are disgusting and extremely bad for you but I am having some serious "taste of home" cravings. I am not sure if it is because I missed all the wonders of Memorial day Weekend… BBQ’s and first trips to the beach so I think gorging on American snacks will make it better … OR … If I am really just lacking some real deal junk food in my life. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE (a bit too much) all of the treats here and the yummo food but some things can never be replaced. EVER!!!

** Anyone who knows me will be surprised that the Blue Box of Love (Kraft Mac and Cheese) is not on here but it is only becuase my loving mother has me stocked up for the next 5 years :)))))))

One year later...

This time last year I was waiting in line at customs in a lovely little (ok little is a lie) airport we like to call CDG just outside of Paris. I was about to start what has turned out to be one of the most challenging, rewarding and amazing things I have ever done in my life - and this has only been the first year. I have to admit when I left I was scared as hell, nervous I would never make friends, fit in and get over how much I was sue I would miss home - this was a huge veer off of the course I had been moving in a year ago but I have been sitting here just playing back everything that has happened in the last 12 months and I do not even know where to begin to explain it all. The amount of memories I have been lucky enough to create is almost unfair. I have been able to travel to places in Europe I had never even dreamed of being (on that note I leave for Geneva in an hour)... I have final gotten over my fear of entering a boulangerie if there is anyone else in there and hey now I can actually even order bread and treats and carry on a conversation with the lovely madame behind the counter... I can find a metro almost anywhere in this city now and can actually even wander around for days on a time with only a minimal amount of confusion and misdirection ... I have tried more wine and food and desserts than one could even imagine, but still miss a good Weber made cheeseburger and corn on the cob... I am a master of walking on cobblestone in heels and have managed to stay upright on all flights of stairs since the one incident almost a year ago (I think everyone is happy about this talent)... I have met some of the most incredible people ever since being here, really though, I know it sounds cheesy and that I have said it before but I know that I am a better person because of them and that no matter what they will be there (just like the PIC and I were there for the little old lady that had fallen and couldn't get up in my building on Thursday night... more details on this later but it was a very rewarding good deed and I think she was happy to not be stuck on the floor of her apartment anymore!) for me, I have even been lucky enough to be let into some of their families which gives me a feeling of overwhelming appreciation and happiness <3 ... I have purchased more shoes than is rationally healthy for a 27 year old girl but hey I need lots of options to go with all of the amazing clothes I have bought here too... I have been able to experience music, art and lots of long walks taking in some of the most beautiful and intricate sights the City of Lights has to offer... I have been challenged and then some personally and professionally making big changes to lots of things in my life... but now I know I can do this and come out in a better place as long as I know what I am doing is right for me... I have realised that there are also no words to explain how important my family and my friends at home (who are pretty much my family) are to me, not that I didn't see this before because I have always been a huge fan but seriously I can't even describe the amount of gratitude I have for them - they listen, they care, they support, the give me reality checks when I am being a bit crazy and they constantly remind me how loved I am... so I hope they all know how loved they are. I have had my eyes opened by a few of these people and know that no matter where I am or what mood I am in I will NEVER be able to live without them... now I just need to get the ones who haven't made the hop across the pond over here because I can only imagine the ruckus we could cause in this little ville. But seriously enough of what I have already done now it is time to focus on what is left to do and that my friends is how I will start my next year in Paris... focusing on the adventures I will be taking, the challenges I will be faced with, the laughter and memories I can't wait to start making, the food and wine I will try (I am considering a  cooking class), the new summer shoes I will purchase, the late night conversations (and occasional drunk dials) with my favorite people at home and just continuing to appreciate the opportunity I have been given and truly making the most out of it mistakes, successes, tears, laughter, kisses, quietness, singing, dancing ... all of it....  so that little change in direction I took exactly one year ago has turned out to be as far away from the wrong direction as one could possibly get...

"Perhaps if we never veered off course we wouldn't fall in love, or have babies, or be who we are. After all, seasons change. So do cites. People come into your life and people go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart. And if you're very lucky, a plane ride away."

Hotel Banke

This week has been another big one. I have been to my favourite pizza place twice (Da Carmine.. I have mentioned this lovely Italian hole in the wall in previous entries and I STILL highly recommend it when you are craving an amazing and authentic italian pizza) AND I was able to catch up with a friend over amazing cucumber and gin martinis followed by a fantastic meal. You can find these delightfully refreshing drinks at the Hotel Banke right across from Galleries Lafayette. The hotel itself is beautiful and the bar and restaurant area are relaxing and filled with smiling and friendly staff (this is not something you stumble across too often here…) In fact one of the waiters noticed how short I was compared to the table after sitting on the banquets side of a table and brought me a lovely gold pillow to boost me up higher at the table. Talk about service!!! Aside from the delightful service the food was delicious and the conversation and catch up was beyond satisfying. It was one of those moments that made me realise how far I have come since I have been here and how important some people have been in helping me achieve everything I have thus far. So a big super thanks to my dinner “date” for recommending the location, sharing your delish garlic encrusted filet de boeuf and the always inspiring and genuine conversation.

Derby Hotel - 4**** and definitely worth it - well at least the martinis are : )))

Must stay motivated ....

I find that as the weather here in this lovely little city of lights improves that my motivation to sit and write in front of my computer diminishes. Until I take a few minutes and reflect on all that has happened since the last time I recorded my adventures, it is then I realise that I write no just to share what is happening in my always crazy life with the handful of people that read but because it actually helps me digest everything that I bring on to myself. In the last week or so I have:




Thrown my first (very successful) house party, complete with signature drinks, pink shakers, glow jewellery, dancing and amounts of laughter I wasn’t sure was actually possible to reach.


Spent two lovely Saturday enjoying an unhealthy amount of food on a blanket in a park; taking photos (which I really will post soon) and really just enjoying the sunshine that we have been lucky enough to experience over the last few weeks.


Purchased 2 unreal pairs of shoes for an incredible price but simply trying (and trying is the key word here) to speak French with the salesman. It worked I paid much less than I should have… I did have a short skirt on that day though… either way, my feet are happy ; )


Experienced my first (and most likely not last) French breakup/heartbreak...But in the long run this one really will be for the better… a few tears, a short dress, one of those new pairs of shoes and a few weekends on the town should turn this one around.


Taken a silly game the PIC (partner in crime for those of you who forgot…) and I use for cheap laughs to a whole new level and introduced it to many innocent friends, bringing them down to our level of wickedness.


AND

Realised that in 5 short days I will have been living in Paris for EXACTLY one year. Bringing on huge amounts of reflection, laughter, tears, sadness, excitement and anxiousness (not sure that last one is actually a word, but we are running with it for now) …. I am sure this one will be expanded on in the next few days.

FINALLY!!!!!

I found a place to get ROOTBEER and a delish real-deal American style breakfast. Two things that have been missing from my life for almost a year now. Ok I did NOT find this, a friend had told me about it awhile ago, but I was finally lucky enough to have a delightful dinner companion who knew I was in dire need of pancakes... so alas I am now in love - with the pancakes of course!!!

Now when I say a real-deal American breakfast, I am talking, pncakes, French toast, a delightful amount of omelette combinations and BACON – not this ham like stuff they think is bacon but good old crispy, fatty clog your arteries up bacon!!! Aside from breakfast (and ROOTBEER) you can also get chilli, an endless amount of serious burgers and CHICKEN NUGGETS. I think I may quit my job and go work there… ok I won’t quit but I may become a regular at this place. It is designed to look like an old school diner and with the comfy booths, cool decoration and delish food – I can’t think about much of anything that is wrong. Maybe I am being biased because I had chocolate& peanut butter filled pancakes for dinner last night but … hey… it is the little things in life ; )

Take a look and you will see why I am so enamoured .....



Click to see the menu, read the story behind BIA and other tasty tidbits!!



Monday... really... already...

There is no way I can recap this past weekend in this blog post, for multiple reasons… I am currently trying to recap it all in my head still, some stories will never be retold and well words probably won’t be able to give it justice. What I can recap is that from about 6pm on Friday until this morning it was just non-stop. I think a list is the best way to share some of the experiences with everyone.

1. Mojitos on the terrace to start a weekend always are a good idea

2. Incredibly hot man followed my partner in crime and myself on our way to the metro to ask “ If we would take a glass with him…” a glass means have a drink

3. Getting stuck in the turnstile of the Metro because I forgot my pass and was trying to sneak through with the PIC (partner in crime) until she got stuck and the guy behind us had to try and let all three of us through at the same time. Resulting in us getting through and him only making it half way through… laughed so had I cried.

4. Flaming shots - literally they were on fire

5. Seeing a Bulgarian give PIC a great rendition of a lap dance

6. Having dinner with a group of 10 people I had just met and laughing so hard I cried – once again , while PIC went back to meet super hot “take a drink with me” man for a drink

7. Stumbling to another bar after dinner for a night cap only to almost get in a fight with some very rude men who need work on their pick up lines

8. Walking to the taxi stand in the Converse sneakers of my very kind escort while he carried my (super cute yet) super not comfy shoes for me

9. Waking up on my couch even though I had obviously been in my bedroom to find my pj’s - seeing as half of my wardrobe had thrown itself up from my closet

10. Free massage in the center of a park after a delightful late lunch with PIC

11. Impulse purchasing the sexiest watch ever (for myself) and picking up a nice little birthday gift for the one we call Mr.Cocktail

12. Meeting the same group of ten for dinner again approximately 2 hours after eating my first lunch/dinner – resulting in a bit more laughter

13. More flaming shots

14. Trying for ten minutes to let myself into the wrong building – those digicodes on the front door are great, as long as you can see straight…

15. Waking up on my couch again

16. Delight brunch with PIC and another friend – who unfortunately was forced to listen to us piece together the previous 48 hours

17. Followed by a brisk little walk through my favourite part of Paris

18. Napping. Eating. Nip Tuck. Bed

19. Waking up to remember it was Monday not Sunday and it was time to get back to reality….