France Day 1:

After the longest flight is the history of my LIFE, we finally landed in Paris. We met other people with Go Ahead on the plane and they filled us in on their past adventures with what they affectionately refer to as "Slow-Ahead, Snow-Ahead, Blow-Ahead Tours". They also got me hooked on crossword puzzles, which I thought wasn't going to happen until I was at least 60, but hey, it was a good way to pass the time. Well, that and the gin. ;)

Our transfer assistant was almost 40 minutes late picking us up, so it took quite a while to get checked into our rooms. We dropped our bags off at the hotel and wandered around the Eiffel nabe. We found a cute little bistro and had some lunch. We attempted our French with the waiter who seemed pretty unimpressed.

Tim: Parlay Vooz ONGLAY?
Waiter: grunt
(we place our order, he walks away)
Erin: I think he likes us.
Tim: Yeah, I think he wants to hang out later.
Erin: He loves us Americans, and he thinks our crappy French is charming.
Tim: Totally. I think he wants to make out.

When we got back to hotel,some of our party (who kept yelling HAPPY BIRTHDAY every time they saw me) bought us some mimosas at the hotel bar. We chatted a bit and finally got settled in our room. SURE it has two twin beds instead of a full (we just pushed them together, no big deal) and sure this internet costs more than my computer. But the point is, that we are here and everything, even the small things are magical because it's Paris.

We are off to Ponte Neuf tonight for a boat tour on the Seine and then off to dinner at Alcazar. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go walk down the hall to the IRONING ROOM. Why yes, the French prefer to iron in a community environment. Thank you France for that fascinating lesson in our cultural differences!;)

The music in my soul...

It was my Dad. He was my biggest musical influence (and in a lot of ways still is). I Love old school rock and country. I like jazz, dance music and trip-hop, but there is something about a stand-up bass and a greaser guitar man that just speaks to my soul.

Tim doesn't always understand, but he's supportive of my rockabilly leanings. I like box electrics and driving country rhythms. I like music I can swing to and I don't like 6 minute long self-indulgent drum solos. So there you go...

Packing for Paris

In the past week, every time a client or friend hears we are heading for Paris, we get a heap of tourist advice ranging from the classic; "Pack half the clothes and twice the money (or maybe 3 times, because of the euro exchange rate!)", to the random; "Make sure you take a tour of the sewers!", and the sartorial; "Just bring a lot of black and a few scarves and you'll blend right in..."

Packing has been a bit of a stress, but I've settled on a lot of comfortable dresses and skirts all in black, white, and navy. Plenty of tank tops and pullovers, and a few light cardigans (and a pashmina or two). I'm bringing one dressy outfit (though I'm not sure I'll ever have time to go back to the hotel and change into it...) and a pair of jeans in case it gets chilly (the weather is supposed to be warm and sunny pretty much the whole time). I'm also bringing my favorite leopard coat, because every time I wear it, I feel like Brigitte Bardot.

I've been frantic trying to wrap up all these projects and Tim is still working his tail off on a few last minute things. All in all, I think we'll make it just under the wire and not a moment too soon. All the stress of the move and work is really getting to us. I think we really need a break. Where better to vacation than the city of love? ;)

I plan on having wi-fi at the hotel, so I'm sure I'll blog here and there on the trip and I'll be posting some videos to Youtube. So, I'll see you all later! I must go finish packing all my black clothes and scarves. ;)

Young Love...

I spent the afternoon today hanging out with my aunt, my cousin and her fiance. It was nice to be out of the house and wonderful to spend time chatting and catching up on the family. I was also informed that they all read my blog and never comment. I was also informed that my Grandma reads my blog almost daily! WOW. I better clean up the language around here... :)

So, HELLO Grandma Louise! And hello all the other lurkers from my family who never comment. Stop being so shy!

Here are some photos from this afternoon:

My First Album

I was thinking today about the first record I ever owned. My Uncle Bill gave it to me when I was about 7. It was a little single and somewhere my mom has a photo of me clutching it in my hands outside my aunt and uncle's house in San Diego.

The album, was "We Are The World". I remember being very moved by it. I remember thinking that giving children the job of making the world brighter was kind of a cop-out, seeings as most of us didn't even know our times tables yet, let alone how to solve world hunger.

Watching the video now is AWESOME. I still think Stevie Wonder has the best voice. I am totally cracking up at all these musicians and their fashion. Kenny Rogers is so MOVED by his own voice, it's hysterical. I love the showcase of Bob Dylan later in the song. He's totally singing a different song, just making up the tune. AWESOME.

You have to watch the whole thing... and then tell me what your first album was!

New Header & Contest!

In honor of my birthday month and our trip to France, I'd like to have a contest! As you can see, I just put up a new header for the blog today. There is a saying in the header and first 2 commenters to translate it correctly and name the author will receive a special gift from France, when I return.

Thanks for all the kind and encouraging comments and email. You all said some wonderful and supportive things yesterday that really did make me feel so much better. :)

I've got a super busy weekend planned, but no social events. At least not until next week. I've got to get caught up on some Mother's Day shopping and picking up a few final things for the trip to Paris. Tim is working his tail off trying to get together a bunch of spending money for the trip.

Oh! And Mom is giving her final presentation today for her final assignment towards her Masters Degree! Mom, I know you will do AWESOME. Good Luck!

I'd also like to thank Jenny for taking care of the kitties while we're out of town. It feels great knowing they are in such good hands!

À tout à l'heure!

Confession...

Well, I'm sorry I've been so quiet this week, but it's been CRAZY around here. I guess the first thing I'd like to address is my abrupt "blogging-break" that I mentioned earlier. Part of it was because I had a lot of work to catch up on, but part of it was also a little bit of my own personal funk. I let someone's criticism of me and my writing get under my skin.

I regret it now, especially because I know that old adage to be true. Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent. (by Eleanor Roosevelt in case anyone was wondering) I have a long history of being highly sensitive, and anyone who knows me well, knows that about me. It's my own personal struggle. But, that coupled with the crappy self esteem that seems to be my legacy can make for some touchy moments with people who criticize me. In a way all my intense self scrutiny is a method of deflection. It's like, if I'm already aware of all my flaws, it won't hurt so much if someone points them out. Yeah, it's a crappy theory and doesn't really work. :)

I think that I've come to accept what my writing is and isn't. I do this for me. I know that almost no one else is as entertained by the things I write about as I am. I try to be honest and connect with my readers, but in reality, I'm doing this for me. I could write about frivolous things all the time, I could try to spend hours thinking of funny things to entertain you with, but introspection and self examination are interesting to me and vital to my growth as a person.

When you read this blog you are getting a lot of the real me. I report on what I've been up to, so my family & friends far away don't feel too left out when I forget to call them. I write about lessons I've learned, so that maybe people will benefit from my mistakes. I write about my cats and Tim, because I love them and find them both to very entertaining. I'm not ever going to have ads, or become a superstar mommy blogger. I'm going to keep doing what I've done with this blog since 2002 and that is reporting on the world around me as I see it.

So, that's the story. I've got more updates on the week and the upcoming trip, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.

~e

Happy Birthday to me!

Hey Mom...are you there? 'Cause um... I'm ordering your Mother's Day Gift today which means Mother's Day is around the corner, as is my BIRTHDAY. Ahem...*cough* *cough* :D

Erin's Birthday Wish List by villanovababy

Signing Off -

I'm taking a temporary break from blogging. I need to focus on catching up on my work before our trip and I am being overly distracted by twitter/google chat and all that.

See you all later this week...

~e

Midnight Cowboy

To the dear friend that called in the middle of the night to "check in" with me. Yes, we love you, but maybe you need to rethink your sleep patterns. :) And, lay off the SAUCE.

And in other news: We leave for Paris in just a couple short weeks. In that space of time I am supposed to write a 15 page in-depth web proposal and complete 3 websites from start to finish. I'm officially at the "ACK!" stage of stress and having a hard time focusing on the tasks at hand. I am super psyched about my vacation, but I wish that I didn't have all these looming deadlines. So freaking STRESSY! blargh...

Also, I'm turning 29 in a couple weeks too and that has me a little freaked out. Everyone I know in their 30's says how awesome it has been. I just feel like I can see myself aging and now that motherhood (no I'm not pregnant YET) is sort of impending, I feel like my youth is slipping away. Deep down I feel the same way I did 10 years ago. (Well, I'm definitely smarter now, and less drunkishy, but that's beside the point.) I just don't want to ever find myself slipping into the status quo. Carpe Diem and all that rot. :)

I don't want to sound negative about the motherhood thing. I'm really excited about the prospects of starting a family with Tim. Part of the reason I was always opposed to having babies was just because I didn't want to lose my freedom. I guess that's why I've always been a fan of the small family unit. (Fits easily into most overhead compartments) I'm looking forward to having a family to do for and be for. I know I've gotten a tad self-centered (okay, always been...) and I think it will be a good change of pace to have other people to care for. Talk about a personal growth!

Anyway, I'm glad we're going to Paris, because that was REALLY high on my list. I really want to travel more and I'm hoping that once Tim gets to Europe that it will motivate him to want to travel as well. I just can't see myself having a baby and settling down to a life of suburban OKC living. I plan on having a baby, and not settling down at all. SO THERE. My kid is going to see the world with us. If Mighty Girl can do it, so can I!