Freedom!

For those of you who know my daughter, Kate, she finally got her driver's license on Thursday. My little daughter isn't so little anymore...

Some Differences Between Living in Los Angeles and Paris

When you live in Los Angeles, you are always looking in front of you, because you are mostly driving everywhere you have to go, (so you'd better be looking straight ahead, to avoid crashing into the car in front of you!) But in Paris, I find myself always looking down at the ground everywhere I go, not because I am shy or avoiding the gaze of another, but to avoid stepping in the dog remains that are everywhere!

The French also don't seem to understand the concept of a washer and a dryer being separate machinery. My machine is a one unit washer/dryer combo, and is about 1/3 of the size of a standard American model. You're lucky if you can fit in more than one bedsheet at a timeI It works well for washing, but try to dry something - it takes about 3 hours, if not more. Go figure.

I have also searched high and low for a dry cleaners in my neighborhood, and have yet to find one. Los Angeleans (including myself) don't know how to get through a week without a dry cleaners to take care of us - this has been an ongoing dilemna. I am having withdrawals...

And lastly, it is lovely that there are people out on the streets until all hours of the night, though it astonishes me that the concept of keeping their voices down at 4 am is an unknown quantity, and are oblivious to the fact that people are actually in apartments above the streets, trying to sleep.

On the flipside, I can get anywhere in the city pretty quickly and easily because the metro is so efficient, it is turly the prettiest city in the world, hands down, shopping for food isn't a chore but a ritual, a coffee at Starbucks doesn't hold a candle to a cafe creme ici, and you'll never find a better cheese, crusty bread, or patisserie than en Paris!

A Bientot!

Un Jour Sur Terre (A Day on Land)

I needed to modify my blog, because apparently this film is to be released in the U.S. with David Attenborough being the narrator. It's an extraordinary movie, with shots taken of animals and plant life and the environment from around the world; marvelous shots of a polar bear breaking through the ice, with 2 baby bear cubs to follow; birds performing mating rituals like never seen before - just captivating. A poignant reminder of the beauty of the world in which we live. Watch the video... but when it's released in the U.S., make sure your kids go and see it, and treat yourself, as well.

A Must Read!

I am currently reading, "The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears" by Dinaw Mengestu.

Mengestu is a 28 year old Georgetown grad, originally from Ethiopia, and this is his debut novel. I haven't read something this beautiful in a long, long while, and today it won the Quill award for Best First Time Novel. Well deserved. I am excited that he will be speaking at the Village Voice Bookstore here in Paris in late November.

He writes, "Where is the grand narrative of my life? The one I could spread out and read for signs and clues as to what to expect next?" What an incredibly insightful use of words - tell me that doesn't make you pause and think.

Trust me on this one, treat yourself...

Feels Like I'm in L.A.!

L.A., filled with fashion-conscious women, always searching for the current haute clothing. I came across this new hot undergarment designed here in Paris to "boost your silhouette." Talk about elevating your wardrobe! The website is www.magicpulp.com I guess when it comes to appearances, Parisians are just as crazed as Los Angeleans.

Lots to Do!

Despite living in Paris (as opposed to visiting), you never take for granted the absolute beauty that surrounds you. No matter that I take the same walk over to Les Halles each day, I never stop noticing and breathing in the allure, and charm, and grace that the city radiates. There's never a feeling of "being alone," even though I can spend days by myself. On Sunday I took the metro over to Place de la Bastille (12th arr) to the open air market, which is an absolutely delightful way to spend the day. Strolling past the meat stall, or cheese stall, seeing the produce laid out on the tables like an offering of gold jewels. Gems brought back from the market made for a wonderful feast that night; fresh cheese filled ravioli with a sage brown butter sauce, and a festival of greens.

Monday I spent a good part of the day at the Georges Pompidou Center; sorry to say that I will never get used to or like that Renzo Piano building design (and only pray that he does a better job with the redesign of the Los Angeles County Museum!) However I was excited to see the Alberto Giacometti show, and for good reason. When his work is at its' best, you can almost feel his fingers molding that parting material around his figurative sculptures, or making those beautiful gestural lines on canvas.

I then went down a flight to see the installation of the permanent collection, and while I feel it deserves another viewing, I was disappointed by the collection. The collection includes very important artists, Brice Marden, Claes Oldenburg, Phillip Guston, John Chamberlain, Eva Hesse (and a fantastic Eva Hesse at that!), for the most part, the examples they have purchased are not great examples, and there are surprisingly large gaps of important artists missing.

Each day ends with some time spent sitting outdoors at a cafe, enjoying a cafe creme, and at the american price of about $5.00 a cup of coffee, it definitely feels like a luxury, but one I just can't pass up!

Today I have the pleasure of spending the day with my girlfriend, Avis, and believe me, nothing could be better!

(Oh, and the photos were taken going up the escalator at the Pompidou - what a view - Le Tour Eiffel in one direction, Le Sacre-Couer in the other.

A Bientot!

Arrival in Paris

Moving to Paris, even if only for a few months, has been an interesting experience on more levels than I can even express.

Got to the apartment, which thank goodness, is as cute as I imagined - I like it much better than even my first apt a few months ago. However, it is more petite than I thought it would be, but clean and new in a beautiful building from the 1800's. The hallway is a bit odd, as I am on the 4th floor - well, sort of. If you've ever seen the film, "Being John Malkovich", with hallways and entrances everywhere, well, that's sort of my hallway. You get off on the fourth floor, where there is actually only one apartment, but if you go through a doorway down a sort of half level, you will find me and one other apt. oh, and if you go up a half a level, you will find another 3 apartments. So exactly what floor I'm on, I have no idea. Ask John Malkovich...

The weather here is crisp and beautiful, mostly sunny, cool, breezy, sweater weather, without a nip. The streets are much more pleasant than when I was here in the summer, because most of the tourists are gone.

The neighborhood feesl like an old shoe; I know where I am; I know where to shop, where to eat, where I like to take walks. I know where to get my hair done once a week (for those of you who know how much my hair drives me crazy!)

I can't yet quite verbalize it (shocking for me, right?), or put my finger on it, but when I leave L.A. I leave with tears in my eyes, thinking, oh my god, I'm leaving everything I know that makes me feel safe, behind, and yet when I arrive, something inside me immediately feels at peace.

I think it's going to be a good 3 months...

Oh, How the French Know How to Strike

After being in Paris now for only a few days, the metro decided to go on strike - disrupting daily plans and the usual get about town transport - such a warm welcome only the French could give. Couldn't get across town today, so instead I just ducked into the cinema. Saw the new Clooney film, "Michael Clayton" - starts out a bit disjointed, but stick with it; by the end, rest assured, it will all tie together. It was definitely entertaining, so it ended up being a nice way to spend a late Friday afternoon.

Saying Goodbye

To those that understand, it's time to say goodbye to the steps. Endings are never easy. As I leave for Europe, I will now have 3 months to think about, and try and make sense of, the draw to those stairs for the past 8 months... Each new experience has added something to my life, and I must remember that with each ending, there is always a new beginning.