A Typical Work Day

Someone asked me to describe a "typical" day for me in Paris. I tried to explain that no two days are the same. Something different happens each day and no two days have ever been the same, similar or even "typical" since I have arrived.

Today is Friday...This morning my phone rings, it's my boss, Adrian; which means I did not sleep in until my normal 10AM.

"Hello, FLORENCE! I can't find the documents you scanned last week! Where did you file them after they were scanned ?! I need them. We need to get the filing completed!...Do you think have the documents in the stack of papers you took with you? I can't find them. Do you know where they are? I need you over here, I need you in the office. Can you come over today?"

"Uh good morning. Let me see if I have them..." I replied. "What you think you have them with you?!?" she asked, excited at the possibility. I looked in the clear plastic folder I had with me. "Uh, no, I don't have them here..., I'll be right over to help you find them...." I assured her.

That's how my Friday morning began. That's not a typical morning, because each morning like I said is unique....and exciting. I guess I could say it is a typical "un-typical" morning.

I showered, stopped by the wine store to pick up a bottle of wine to take to Adrian, since today she is also completing the official paperwork on another great real estate deal, then I jumped on the metro and headed off to the office.

Since I usually have my camera now (for Kristin), the only follower of my blog brave enough to post comments and admit she actually reads my crazy blog and tells me that she cannot read the blog without photos...I've taken a few pictures on my way to work.

Who actually takes pictures on their way to work? Sometimes I think there's something seriously wrong with me, but I'm not going to worry about that too much right now. There are important documents that need to be found...besides, the main reason I blog is for my own kind of "therapy"...so I will eventually recover from taking pictures on the way to work....

So, Here they are, a few pictures on my way to the office....

French Lunch Hour

Always faster to take the quiet back alley...

Back on the main street...past the little sidewalk shops

The View from My Desk at Adrian's Office

"Here's the file where the documents should be...here, look through these...I've looked through them a thousand times already...You didn't find them at your apartment did you? " she said, dropping the files in my lap as soon as I sat down. "No" answered. "I didn't think you had them." she said worriedly.

I opened the first folder, turned two pages and could it really have been that easy? "Here they are." I said as I handed a stack of stapled papers all in French to her. But then I doubted myself, everything is in French, how the heck can I tell this document from the others....so I took it back to look at them closer....besides, she looked a thousand times, it couldn't possibly be that easy for me to find them.

"What?!" She glanced over...to look. "That's it! Let me see...Yes! Oh my God, that's it!" A flood of relief washed over her face. Wow, it really was that easy. I really can read in French...(the name of a company....)

"Here. Congratulations!" I said as I gave her the bottle of wine. (A Rose from Provence) Her face lit up..."For me?!" "Yes, you signed the official documents this morning right?!" "Yeah!" She replied with an excited smile she couldn't hold back, followed by, "I bought you something too..." "For me?!" I asked. "Yeah, it's on the front table by the door."

Peanuts! My face lit up. Unsalted Asian peanuts! I'm always eating all the ones she has stored in her pantry when I come to the office to work. I promised her two weeks ago, that I would buy her more. She bought me a brand new bag! My very own bag! I don't know which is better the pancake mix she gave me for my birthday or the big bag of peanuts!!

I spent the next few hours scanning, sorting filing and listening in on conversations as she wheeled and deal her next business ventures via teleconference. She is truly an amazing business woman, boss, mentor, friend, etc. Only God could have arranged for me to be working so closely with a woman who is living my dream (of living in Paris) and working my passion (Real Estate).

I could not have planned a better typical, un-typical Friday (workday) even with the best Daytimer or Franklin Planner notebook available.

Have a great un-typical weekend.

President Obama

On the newstands this week...

I remember the day last year when Adrian and I filled in our absentee ballots at her office and walked to the Paris post office to mail them off...

THE AMERICAN WE LOVE

Little Girl and My Best Friend's Visit

"Hey Florence, I read your blog all the time!! Will you mention my name in your next blog?" were the first words from Little-Girl's mouth when I saw her. I call her "Little Girl." Why? because she's so cute and adorable, just like a little girl. Who is she? My best friend from elementary school's - younger sister.

"I don't like to mention other names on my blog." I explained to her. "Well, then can you tell every one that you love me? You can mention my name, I want you to write my name in your blog! Will you write my name?" She asked with the same excitement that a child asks for a new toy on Christmas.

"Okay Victoria P. I will write your name in my next blog." I promised her. Her face lit up with the most adorable smile. She was satisfied.

Me and "Little Girl" Victoria P. "I Love You...Little Girl"

Today my best friend from the 6th Grade, Athens Greece (many, many years ago) and her family were stopping through Paris and spent a few hours visiting. It always seems as if no time has passed since we last saw each other. Our fathers were stationed in the Air Force at Hellikon Air Base, Athens Greece together. We have kept in touch ever since, through the good times and the bad.

Marilena, Victoria "Little Girl" and Mr E. (their Dad)

For many, many years Marilena has been my childhood friend, almost a sister and sometimes my THERAPIST! We've known each other since running away from boys in elementary school, running towards boys in High School, attending college, graduating from university, Military for me, Corporate World for her...

She knew me when I got engaged to be married, un-engaged and almost engaged again. She's coached me through melt-downs, break-ups, career transitions and moving to Paris...every step of the way, she's been there...

We've spent summer vacations in Miami, weekends in New York and attended the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the pouring down rain in New York City, returning to a wonderful Greek-American Thanksgiving Day Dinner prepared by her mother who is missed now every single day. (Heaven will now have the best stuffed grape leaves ever on Thanksgiving Day...I just know it!)
Marilena , Victoria and Mr. E. are like family....

Me and Marilena (High Maintenance)

"Florence, Do you have any shampoo?", "Where's your hair conditioner?" "No, not that kind, I don't want Pink Oil, I want Mizani...", "Do you have an extra towel?" "Do you have any Q-tips?", "What about perfume?, I need some perfume." These are only a few of the questions that poured out from my best friend Marilena, before I replied, "Uh, you're a little high maintenance...?!" The questions stopped just as I told her, "No, you cannot use my toothbrush!" She's high maintenance, but I love her anyway....

A Beautiful Family


A Beautiful Day in Paris

Marilena and Victoria "Little-Girl"

Today, we only spent a few hours together during their whirlwind tour of Europe, but they will be back for a few weeks this fall. I can "officially" announce now, the guest room is ready! Which actually, literally means the "top bunk bed" is ready for visitors. Hope to see you soon!

Wednesday Afternoon in Paris

Here are another few reasons why, I love living in Paris. I woke up this morning...10AM, the usual time I get up without an alarm...or earlier if Adrian happens to call.

This morning just after I made my coffee, the phone rang. It was Adrain, we needed to discuss advertising, and other small things since she's finally going to take a real vacation next week. A co-worker and I are going to completely "make over" the apartment website...so make sure you take a look at the before: http://www.parlerparisapartments.com/. (feel free to make a reservation if you're planning a trip to Paris soon) Anyway, so that was my "morning staff meeting". Work?! I love it!

I decided to go to Carrefour (my Wal-Mart equivalent shopping) in the area of Saint-Denis (a little like the ghetto, but I like to visit every now and then because there are lots of Africans and I blend in well with my sista's and brotha's) I went to pick up a few things for my apartment.

The reasons I love Paris,

Unexpected Gospel music (in French) filled the air of the shopping square

A small flea market along the shopping square just outside Saint Denis Basilica Cathedral

(in the background)

With the gospel music filling the air, I had to walk to towards the Cathedral to take a closer look...

Saint Denis Cathedral

Saint Denis Basilica Cathedral stands on the site of the Gallo-Roman cemetery with the tomb of Saint Denis, thought to have been the first Bishop of Paris, who was martyred circa 250AD.
This place of pilgrimage was built in the 5th century. Pepin the Short was crowned king here in 754( info from the brochure I picked up).....wow!

The Five Atrium Windows

This Cathedral became one of the most powerful Benedictine abbeys in the Middle Ages. Most of the kings and queens of France were buried here from the 6th century onwards.

Abbot Sugar's stained glass window were spared during the Revolution, but later were damaged and reassembled in the 19th century. Absolutely beautiful light fills the room.



Why I love Paris? The metro was delayed, so after I finished shoppoing, I decided to take the bus back to my apartment.

Inside The Bus

Outside the Bus

Okay, once on the bus I realized I was going in the complete opposite direction of my neighborhood, so I got off at a random stop, crossed the street to get on the same bus number going in the opposite direction.

The tree-lined street was so beautiful, and just as I was about to stand in the middle and take a great photo...the bus came from around the corner, so this is the best I could do.

This bus was also going no where in the direction of my neighborhood, so I got off at a metro stop, the metro was still delayed but two very friendly French women helped me find my way back to neighborhood on the right bus.

That's just another thing I love about Paris, the transportation system is amazing, if you know how to use it and it's easy to find a few friendly people to help.

Tomorrow, a friend I have known since I was in the elementary school is passing though with her family on their way back to NY. There's never a dull moment in Paris...just one more thing to love about living here!

Adventures on the Paris Metro

Paris has one of the best (if not the best) public transportation systems in the world. The only time I think of my car back in the states is when my sister calls to remind me that my 17 year old niece wants to drive it, or my mom calls to tell me she just washed it....

Every ride on the metro is like a little adventure from point A to point B.

The outdoor stops make me really feel like I'm in Paris...

Cute puppet show with funky soul music inside one of the cars

One of the only times I've actually dropped a few coins in the hat!

This day, the metro was stalled, lights were out and I almost panicked as I thought I saw both sides of the walls closing in, but thank God it started to move again after a few short moments.

A typical walk along the metro platform

I think it's strange that no one really talks on the metro...except me...until my friends say, "Shhhhh". I used to ask, "Why, am I talking too loud?" Then I realized that no one was talking at all...except me. Most of the time the entire car is just looking at me. So now I just read a book or don't talk at all. I still love it anyway.

Last week, I saw a real live high fashion model on the metro. She was very tall and amazingly thin. Her legs were the size of my arms. She stood right in front of me and I could see her bones protruding at her joints. She did have an exceptionally beautiful full thick head of hair that almost touched her elbows.

She was very pretty, even with little makeup on her face and her clothes looked effortlessly chic. She wore a simple cream ruffle layered silk spaghetti strap dress that stopped just above her knees and a royal blue short cropped sweater that hung slightly off her bony shoulder. Her shoes were green strappy gladiator style sandals, with straps that went up her ankles and 4 inch heels. I thought, Wow! She looks great in green shoes! Who wears green shoes?

But she was so amazingly thin as I looked at her, my stomach started to growl....really loud! Still no one was talking or saying a word, just my stomach. I don't know if people were looking at me or her...Have you ever seen anyone so thin that it made you hungry? Thank goodness, my stop was next. I got off and bought a sandwich at the boulangerie.

I will always love riding the metro in Paris.

A Day with Adrian

Who blogs about their boss? I know it seems strange, but I really am lucky to be working for an amazing woman. She does not mix business with "play" which is something I admire.

This afternoon we (me and another co-worker) met in the office with Adrian for business and more training. The more I work with Adrian, the more I admire the spirit of a true entrepreneur. Many people are losing money, faith and hope in this economy. Adrian uses her mind, body and soul to figure out ways to succeed in an economy where most people have fear. I see in her...faith. Even though faith is something that cannot be seen.

One of my co-workers outside the office today

I see that Faith is what moves Adrian. She shared with me today, that I must have faith and not try to force things to happen. She told me to have faith, allow opportunities to open up and "Let the cards fall where they may." She said that without so much as blinking an eye, as I tried to explain my stress of trying to figure out which resident visa, work permit, and permanent apartment to choose or work towards.

In my life, I don't let the cards fall where they may. What if one or two hit the floor? I must stop them from falling on the floor. Or what if some are turned upside down? I try to catch them and turn them the way I want them to be, or what if I don't think the cards are suppose to fall in the first place, I try to hold them all together...but it's so much work, so much stress, so much moving around, and in the end, when I try to arrange the cards they way I want them, I'm not satisfied. I'm not truly happy, so I open the window to let in a cool breeze and all of my efforts arranging the cards are blown in different directions. And in the end, they still fall where they may.

I realize now that it's so much more easy, natural and truly joyous to let it all go. It's so much easier to live life without trying to force anything.

I've also learned from Adrian, that it's easier but not all easy and sometimes there will be a struggle. But when we are not pushing our own agenda in the end there's a reason for the struggle, a lesson, and a gift waiting to be recognized and accepted. Sometimes the gift is overlooked and missed, but there will be others. Adrian is a person who recognizes the gift of so many opportunities.

This moment, right now is really the only moment we have in life. I am learning to enjoy every moment as it comes along. I am learning more and more how to "Just Live."

Beautiful moments are everywhere - On the Seine with Adrian

I could not have planned a better place to enjoy dinner this Monday evening

Life is so much better when I don't force anything, but just let the cards fall where thy may.

Paris Plage - First Day of the Beach

Today was the first day of the "Paris Plage" (Paris Beach). For July through August, sand is loaded onto the banks of the Seine to create the beach along the road and river from Ile St. Louis to the Jardin des Tuileries. No cars, taxis, buses or motorcyles for now.

The summer beach is created as something to do for the Parisians who stay in the city during summer (20 July till 20 August) since most leave the city for vacation. I am looking forward to my first quiet "August" in Paris.

Walk, run or take your scooter...but head for the beach today!

The sand feels cool between my toes as I snap this photo!

The view form the beach - Pont Nuef

There are many types of boardwalks and seating set up along the Seine

Sitting on the beach sand in Paris...does it get any better?

Sand and Umbrellas...what more do we need?...uh, You..of course!