Things that Suck.
My quest to be home should games 6 and 7 occur at Fenway, as well as to vote and cheer the sox in a victory parade are not looking good. Getting home - no problemo. Catching a flight back Tuesday (voting day and day of proported VICTORY PARADE!) in order to be guaranteed in suburban London for a must-attend meeting at 2pm Wed. - trickier. On my frequent flier miles? Dodgier still. And I don't want to plan for this until we know more how it's going (say, if we're gonna sweep - then I'll get home too late to catch anything). I can't spend $1000 or more on this, but still!
Sigh. Anyone own a jet plane?
If It’s Thursday, This Must Be Paris…
On the Eurostar again…this time returning from the first of the GE Market Reviews about which I was so nervous. So far, they seemed to go well – mostly because I’m there more as a chaperone (oddly) than anything else. Much smaller groups than in the states, where there are often 60 people or so. Here, there have been 12-20 – smaller room, less formal. But all the speaking in French makes me feel even more of an outsider than I am. The slight awkwardness with the company we used to partner with is odd, but I sense that they feel defensive professionally, not personally, where well all got along very well – these are nice, friendly, and like-minded people and I’m sorry that I’ll not be working with them more directly, as was the original plan.
Indeed, three of us had a very nice dinner out last night at Chez Rene in the Left Bank, then a stroll across the Ile de St. Louis and up the Seine to the Metro. I was truly exhausted and wanted to sleep, but am not at the point yet where I feel I should be “wasting” nights in Paris that way. I’m still quite exhausted and looking forward to a nap on the train.
I like the way these people eat, as well. Last night we had a full three-course meal with bottle of wine – very heavy French cuisine highlighted by a Boeuf Borginuoine and Crème Brulee. The bill for 3? About 130 Euro (or $170). Ditto today at lunch!
When we arrived at Gare du Nord to catch the Eurostar back to London, there was an “unattended luggage” alert that had cleared the check-in area for a half hour or so. Then an interesting announcement came that the security team was commencing ‘luggage destruction’ along with a warning that it might be noisy. So I guess someone won’t be retrieving his or her duffel at the lost and found…le boom!
Anyway, so the weekend is on, which is good. Will probably consist mainly of errands again as I try to get settled in. The new TV has to go back for one that is NTSC compatible – I am ever in search of watching my DVDs in color…then I guess I will put my new desk together as well – very fun. Hopefully, I will sleep a lot and watch some of the Red Sox in the world series (YAY!). Maybe a museum or bookshop on Sunday and early to bed, because there is a 7 am flight to Prague on Monday, where I shall stay over and hopefully have another nice dinner, and then early rise to fly from there to Stockholm on Tuesday. Rest Wednesday, and back to Paris again on Thursday (hence the title of this entry – that’ll be 3 in a row!).
Nap time now…
Au revoir!
Sweeeeet! Go Sox!
its 4 am in london and it must be zero hour in Kenmore Square!
This is the last game I'll be able to catch...and staying up was sooooo worth it!
sheila and kathy - you lucky dogs! do you -get it- now, kathy?
good night!!!
edited from...
It Better End Like Last Night
Bottom of the 12th...tied...3.10 am in London. Can't a sox fan get some sleep???
Staying Awake for Armageddon is Harder than You'd Think
35 minutes until the Red Sox-Yankees Game 4 may or may not be on Channel 5. This may be my last chance (heck, anyone's last chance) to see them for the season, much less on broadcast TV over here, so I'm trying to stay up to at least -see- if this is indeed the game they are showing.
But it's hard. Because I'm sleepy. And it's 1 AM. And, the worst part is, I'm quite sure that despite all my Sox-cap-wearing-staying-up-late-ing, they will likely lose anyway. Yawn...
Edited to add... 1.45 am
Boo Matsui double, but YAY! Red Sox!
Go Sox!
Edited more...at 3.38 am
Damn Yankees are now up 4-3.
Belhorn sucks.
Posada is a bitch.
I can't bear to watch more...I'm going to bed hoping that I'm turning the game off just ahead of a remarkable Red Sox comeback - hope y'all enjoyed it.
A Lovely Dinner Party
Well, I'm finishing up a very low-key weekend in London ... still a bit unsettled ahead of these big meetings with our largest client later this week - it will be kind of my first test. I have to keep reminding myself that I have nothing to lose here - that the worst that can happen is that I move back home and actively start up with the rest of my life and try the other paths I've been struggling with. I'm certainly not married to this - perspective...can be a nice thing.
Anyway, got in late Friday night from Paris, where I had a leisurely afternoon walking through the Pere Lachaisse (spelling likely very wrong) - otherwise known as the cemetery where Jim Morrison is buried. It really is beautiful - Chopin, Oscar Wilde, and Edith Piaf, among others, are buried there as well, but without a map, it was difficult to find their spots - to find Jim Morrison, however, just follow the first hippy-looking backpacker you see.
In the afternoon, I met up with my friend Betsy and her boy Quinn in front of Notre Dame and had a leisurely late lunch. So odd that we were in Paris...it felt very Disney. Hum.
Saturday, I slept in (delightful), did some light random errand shopping and headed over to Alexis' for a dinner party. Which was sooo nice! First, Alexis' new condo looks great - she recently got in all of her furnishings, uphostlery, etc. - fabulous. She cooked a tasy and wonderful meal, and has some really nice and interesting friends. We had great conversation ranging from American politics (natch) and Iraq to real estate markets to how missy elliot and j.lo are denigrating the Bentley and Burberry brands . There was Alexis, her friend Suzanna and Suzanna's friend Yoni, as well as Suzanna's ex-flatmate Stuart and his boyfriend Alex. Stuart brought champagne, even. It was just a wonderfully enjoyable evening and it felt good. Moreover, plans were made for a trip to Ikea with Suzanna's minivan (sweet) and a further dinner party at Stuart and Alex's. Very nice.
Slept in again today and hung out inside for most of the day (as it was raining - again). But happily found an episode of The O.C. !, followed by Friends and Smallville - so plenty of american trash tv to waste the day with. Then went for a long walk in Hyde Park as evening fell, and have since been measuring, shifting, and searching for a desk and sofa and TV that will fit. I have a TV currently, but the connections are such that all DVD's play in black and white. Hopefully the new one will be better! I'm preparing to order it now. But have also realized that I don't have the requisite screwdriver, etc. to put the desk together when it arrives. Hum.
Anyway, that's the most of it from here. Looks like I'll not be home for the World Series unless the Sox pull out a miracle. They may be showing Game 4 on tv tonight, and I'll stay up and try to see if it is indeed on, but this might not be something I want to watch...have fun, Sheila!
In the meantime, word is that Madonna lives a few streets away. Stay tuned to see if the stalking is successful...
Cheers!
