sssllloooowwwwwwww.....

Yeah, that about sums up the summer since returning from Paris... Sure, I am a lefty, but only the hubby and a couple select people truly know how much I do over the summer. I do not like sitting still, at all, and this has really put a cramp in things. One week with bandages and heavy pain killers. Then the sight of the the stitches made me faint. Then I got used to that - by forcing myself to shoot it! - and now I can use the right hand, sort of... Well, actually, it sucks in plain English. I have slow reaction time with the last two fingers and very limited range of motion at the wrist.

I did manage to finish three mini-books last night in my work room, but it was hard. I can take photos. I can do a little gardening... but.... I am really slowed down. This may sound like a bunch of whining but here's the thing... for 10 months out of the year I give all effort to work, some to volunteering, some to my art. Summer is "me" time, time to catch up on all that's been neglected. I'm not able to do my normal routine at the pace I am accustomed to. Of course, it's not like I am one of the art teachers out there that does no art.... ugh... And I wake up in the morning with it feeling really stiff. I was going to finish replacing the doors in the house. Then there was the plan to repair the old Grundig stereo and I have another turntable with a motor to be repaired. I badly want to go back to Miller-Kingsland to do more grounds-keeping. And then there's the neglected cemetery I wanted to take care of...

And the stitches are hanging loose at the tie point and I so badly want to trim them or pull them out... I detest loose ends... then there's this guy who contacts me about shots for the PV Class of '61 and I don't even do yearbook anymore but I agree to do this thing for him....

At least I have our birthdays to look forward to this week and then Italy on the 16th...

No type...

So I truly want to post the rest about the trip, but I need to rest the right hand, so I will post some pictures now and get to the story telling when the hand is unbandaged...

So thank you mom for taking pictures! This is me and the bundled hand post-snip snip. It is still numb and I have strong pain killers. I cannot drive or do much of anything for awhile. Mother says maybe I will now slow down. Ha! I can still type! Perhaps I will do more drawing too... Break out the pens and ink bottles!

Paris post to come later... Need to spend time with Millie before my surgery. Since they wouldn't let me have a light breakfast, I have a hunch I will be knocked out. I cannot take pictures of my surgery if they knock me out. Poopy....

I would kill for a good OJ or coffee right now...

Gulp...

Snip snip is tomorrow. I need to show up at 11.30 am. I cannot eat or drink from midnight on... holy crap!!! That's a long time without OJ or coffee!

So back to Paris...
Friday was our day on the bus. We had a grand tour of the city with witty commentary by Mario! It was so much better than February b/c the sun was out and it was not raining. We stopped to rest and look at the Eiffel Tower. I finally had a crepe. Delish! Then off to more stuff. We took the bus to Versailles. I loved the gardens. In the labyrinth, there was a cafe. Some girls got snacks and I made a friend. Lisa and I - along with two small children - saw a cat and I got to pet the cutie pie! Then into Versailles. I could have spent all day in just the gardens. I didn't have much time to walk around after the snacks and I didn't get to see Marie Antoinette's follies. Alas, for another trip.

I didn't take many pics inside the palace this time. I just looked and appreciated. Then when we were done, the girls left me and hubby so they could gift shop. We wandered back in, got curious and found a series of rooms Adoram didn't know about and were not on my brochure map! Whoa! Secret stuff! There were obviously not fully restored but I was all giddy!


So back onto the bus... to Notre Dame! Oh dear! Giddy as all heck that the sun was out, the sky was a gorgeous blue and I was going inside! I was irked that some tourists were rude and loud. There was a mass going on and they were ignorant. But, it was gorgeous and I was snapping away. Then outside to snap some more. I just love the history of these buildings and the details. I don't really think many others get it, but I love it so much that I could always go into Art History if teaching gets to be too much. We looked at the Seine and the gardens behind the cathedral. Everyone truly enjoys being outside in Europe. My neighbour never sees the light of day. I wonder if the son is even alive. But in Paris - as in the UK - so many people outside in the nice weather. The parks by me are void of people, but not in Europe. sigh...

Then dinner. We ate at a chain called Hippopotamus. The veggie meal was fabulous! Ratatouille, steamed green beans and potatoes au gratin. The carnivores were jealous, but they loved their meals too.



More than made up for last night. And dessert... chocolate mousse! We were all so content after that. Then... well, we still had energy, and I don't like museum crowds, so we opted to go to the Louvre for their late hours rather than do it on a weekend day.

Louvre report to come...

Meow...

So between breakfast and getting on the bus one morning, I open the french doors in our room, look out into the ratty courtyard and see the kitty pictured in the prior post. A resident of the nearby flat, she was on the ledge of a window, looking right at me! Even the French cats are friendly! So, naturally I gave her blinkies and she blinkied back and it went on like that for a while. We bonded!

I really want to post more about the trip but today is Millicent's 7th birthday so I will spend some time with her. Surgery on Tuesday, so tomorrow's post may be long...

Oh la la....

Day One: get off the plane, freshen up at the hotel and get moving!!! Luxembourg Gardens and the Palace. Already the weather was better than when I was here in February. We were all tired but the gals look smashing in the group shot. The skies were amazing for taking pictures. I know I will be changing some to black and white and playing with them. Hopefully I can access PS5 on the remote web access over the summer.

While in Heathrow for our stopover, I was successful in getting everyone over to the cult of Wagamama. We all looked forward to a lunch there during our return layover.

We went to dinner - it was, um, eh...

When the dinner was over, sleepy time. Dems, Dave and I went to a local cafe to discuss the day and I went over the agenda for the next day. Dave and I always like to find a local place to patronize at the end of each day, and the Convention Cafe was looking like it. Needless to say, the location of the hotel was absolutely great! Right in the 15th arrondissement! Super! But.... and a big BUT... it was under renovation and ick. We realized that it was not dirty, it was nice and the bathrooms were really clean. But the halls were a disaster. Plastic tarps on the floors and the lights hanging from the ceilings. Oof....

But then there was this...

So...

... not going out much lately because Millie missed us so much when we were in Paris she purred non-stop overnight; I have a lot to do in the garden before the surgery; well, NJ just does not compare to Europe... Arm is also currently going numb from about 4 inches below the elbow to the and of the fingers. Assuming it is connected to the carpal tunnel, so I can no longer work at Miller-Kingsland. sniffle...

Paris, gosh, I never know I could like my students even more than I did, but wow were they great! Such a varied group and no problems. They really are special. The other schools had issues - hello alcoholic teacher! - and tensions among the students, but not the PV photo gals!

I really want to post so much but they will have to be in parts because I have to water the garden. I have a couple of radishes popping up and a zucchini on the way! The red raspberries are so plentiful too... it is just so great out there! And some tomato flowers to come! Woo hoo!!!!

Returned from Paris last night. I already miss the girls and the city a lot. Uploaded my photos and rotated. Too tired to post them or even burn the cd. But lots to write and such... Even better than the Cali trip two years ago... sigh.

At least having Millie to come home to makes it bearable.