Happy Birthday to Me.

Another year older in the City of Light.

"What did you do for your birthday?" everyone asks.
"Nothing Special this year." I reply, "Just lunch with a few friends at a cafe near the Champs Elysees."

Another year to stop and smell the flowers.

Another year of saying "Cheese" in my favorite place to be.

Another year of moderation. 

There were no candles to blow out this birthday, yet I couldn't have wished for a better place to be in Life.
Thanks to everyone for all the warm Birthday wishes.

Gay Pride Parade Paris 2011

This is has become a "must see" event of Paris, as my friend and I enjoyed the sights.  We were definitely outnumbered as a male-female couple, but I don't think anyone really cared. These photos, speak for themselves. 

 Beautiful Parisian buildings stand in the background of it all.

 

 The Crowd.

 

 The perfect view.

Sights and Sound Video ( press > to start )

 Spyce Indeed!

The End.

Until next year, we'll never see this many "happy" people in one place. The weather was perferct as we kick off another Summer in Paris.

Just Living...again.

Every year in the Luxembourg Gardens it's the same thing that I love. My motto: "Just Live". Doing nothing sometimes is the best thing to do.

Even the grass gets a chance to "Just Live" (for this week...until the sign changes)

Just Live. (and have a picnic while you're at it)

Just Live

The best time of the year.

Taking a Chance

Tonight, while having drinks, I've decided to take a chance on him...(again).
then we shared a wonderful dinner at Le Fumoir.

Cozy wonderful cafe restaurant

 Steak Tartare (Raw Filet Mignon)

On this night of taking chances, we were served Steak tartare as the chef's amuse brouche. It would be considered rude to send back the raw steak or not to eat it, so for the first time, we both experienced the taste of steak tartare with a small piece of toast and a tiny sliver of lettuce...the best way to take a chance on this delicacy. 

Falling in love with Paris all over again.

 

Priceless Words

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, I wonder if a few words from my girl friends are priceless?
As I struggle with a decision, today I opened two separate emails from my best girlfriends here in Paris.
I can't resist sharing the opening line of each email, as they shared heartfelt advice,

From Friend 1: "You are gorgeous and intelligent period."

From Friend 2: "First of all let me tell you how much I love you and value you as a friend."

Friend 2 Robbin and Friend1 Ana

Girl friends are priceless and make living in Paris that much more special.

I forgot to add, the advice they shared was exact polar opposites, leaving me to still wonder on my decision. 

Fête de la Musique 2011

"Oh I don't wanna to be the 5th wheel tonight." I told my friend Ana Maria. "Don't worry, my French friend knows a thousand people! You won't be alone." she assured me.
So with that promise, I agreed to go out and celebrate Fete de le Music tonight with 2 girlfriends and their guy friends.

Ten minutes later, my cell phone rings. "Florence! It's Florence! what are you doing tonight!?! When did you get back? Oh my gosh, my day has been so crazy...I'm on the metro now...." it's my French friend Florence who's always enthusiastic.
"Meet me at Palais Royal at 9:00 for Fête de la Musique. I'm meeting a few other friends." I told her.
"Okay!" she agreed.

I always believe everything happens for a reason, and for some reason, Florence and I couldn't mange to find my other friends. (is there such a thing as the 5th and 6th wheel?) We did manage to meet several friendly strangers while enjoying Fête de la Musique 2011, the celebration of the beginning of Summer! 

Florence and Florence lost in the crowd

The crowd

The best band of the night. Music from the French territory of Martinique

Sounds of the night

Florence and Florence 

(I'm still happy to have a friend with the same name!)

It's just past midnight, reminding me of the movie I saw last night, "Midnight in Paris"

Me and my favorite boots, waiting for the metro home

Fête de la Musique 2011, the beginning of another wonderful Summer in Paris!

A Movie and the Bus.

This is one of those days where there's not much to blog about. Especially since I just got back after being gone for so long! I still have jet lag and have not unpacked completely.  Instead of doing anything productive, went to see the Woody Allen movie: "Midnight in Paris" with my friend the Chef (as I like to call her) Chef Robbin. Of course I loved the movie since it was filmed in Paris and made me realize all over again why I love this amazing city.

After the matinee movie and drinks, I took the bus home and decided to share a few photos from the ride.

Bus Billboard

The gold flame memorial (now for Princess Diana) in the background

The Arc (an almost daily site)

Riding past rows of Haussmanien Buildings

A random tree lined boulevard

Riding the bus in Paris is sometimes a refreshing change to taking the metro.

a Day in Spain

Our trip back to Paris include a stop in Spain where sunshine and bright sunflowers greeted our arrival at Moron Air Base.

 

Lodging in Spain for a day.

Fields of Sunflowers

A quiet, calm, peaceful and relaxing place to be.

View from my room.

Note: Spain has very attractive and friendly men. 

(Just a slight observation after landing on this military base, clearing customs, catching the shuttle, and checking into the hotel. Sorry, photos would have been awkward to take, but just imagine, nice smiles, fit bodies and long hair pulled back in a pony tail or just hanging down all surrounded by a laid back super cool casual attitude. Ah, the men of Spain. First they speak Spanish then quickly switch over to English when looking in your eyes.)

Delayed by Air Force One

Heading back to Paris, our flight is delayed. (I decided to travel back to Paris, via a military flight)
"Is that the real Air Force One?" I asked the young man in uniform.
"Yes." he answered.

I wanted to know more.
"Can we fly on it?" since I was waiting for the next available flight, it seemed like a good question.
"You most likely do not have the clearance required to get on that plane." he replied.

That was the end of our friendly conversation as we waited for the President to board and take off to somewhere down south.

Waiting outside for Air Force One to take off.

The President Arrives.

President Obama running up the stairs of Air Force One.

The President at the top of the stairs. 

And here's where I could kick myself, as he turned to wave at the crowd, I dropped my camera to wave back. When would I ever get the chance to wave to President Obama?! I waved and waved and gave him two thumbs up. By the time I thought to snap a photo, he had disappeared into the plane.

So this is my best photo. (I'm not perfect)

The Presidential Helicopter departing after the President boards his plane.

The delay was well worth the wait for a glimpse of President Obama.

an Afternoon at Mt Charlston, Las Vegas

One day after retirement, we spend the afternoon with mom at Mt Charlston, Las Vegas. A cool place to be on a June afternoon in Las Vegas.

 

Mt Charlston, Las Vegas

A nice place for mom to relax after retirement.

I have a feeling she's going to enjoy not working.

Mom's Retirement Ceremony in Las Vegas

June came quickly and it seems suddenly I've left Paris to return to LasVegas once again to be among friends and family.  

Totally unplanned me, my aunt and my sister decided to wear black and white on this special day.

 Mom's Retirement Ceremony after working 35 years for the Federal Government.

3 June 2011

 A Special Letter from President Obama!

 Dad get's recognition too.

 

More presentations. A Huge Shadowbox.

 

 Mom's Farwell, Thank-You speech.

Job Well Done! It will be exciting to watch the second half of her life unfold.