Archive | March, 2008

Next Stop Paris!

By on March 5, 2008 in France, Paris

We’re packed, the housesitter’s instructions are printed, the refrigerator cleaned out, plants watered, cats hugged and kissed enough so they’ll be glad to see me go so they can get a little peace.

We have a 6 am flight to Salt Lake City, then Atlanta, then into Paris at 8 am Friday. It will be a long and uncomfortable day in coach seats, but we’ll survive.

I have my usual plan to learn French on the plane. Wish me luck!

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Still waiting…

By on March 4, 2008 in France, Paris

One more day! I know there are people who could write entertainingly about the wait, but apparently I’m not it.

I’ve been checking the Paris weather. I’m glad I packed the raincoat!

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Leaving home

By on March 3, 2008 in France, Paris

I love to travel, but I hate to leave home. And the sweetest part of any trip is the moment I get home again.

There are the cats, my dear pampered sweeties who know I exist to indulge their every wish. And most of the time, it’s true. I’m afraid they’ll miss me almost as much as I miss them, although they’ll have a substitute slave here the whole time.

My garden. We often travel at the end of April or beginning of May and I hate to go because I’ll miss the first bloom of the roses. This year we’re going early, and I’m worrying about missing the dogwood, and worrying about that lettuce I planted which should be thinned about next week.

My stuff, my pillow, my shower, etc. No place else is ever quite as comfortable as home.

On the other hand, I’ll be in Paris, so what do I have to complain about?!!!

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Pre-packing

By on March 2, 2008 in France, Paris

I start months in advance making mental lists of what I’ll pack for a trip.

This time it’s complicated by my fantasy of being tall, slender and très chic in Paris, when in reality I’m … well, not and never will be. When I wake up in the middle of the night and go through the lists of possibilities, it seems like maybe if I can just come up with the right combination of Land’s End sweaters and jeans, somehow it will all come together in some magical way and transform me.

Not likely. So, I need to settle my internal argument over whether I need three or four pairs of shoes, when in reality I know I’ll wear two pair 95% of the time. I need to settle on a reasonable number of sweaters I know I’ll wear, as well as lighter things just in case spring comes while we’re there. My raincoat, my leather jacket, do I need my black hoodie? All my best jeans and my good black slacks. Since we go from airport to our apartment and don’t move again until we go back to the airport, I can use my 26″ suitcase, which I don’t like to haul around if we’re on the move.

And my mother reminded me to bring gloves and earmuffs. I think my mother brought earmuffs to Hawaii!

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