Been Around the World and I-yi-yi-yi

Yes my people, I am back from my whirlwind word tour. As much as I would love to just leave my lovely Parisian dinner as the top entry, I realize that fresh content makes the world go around...so I am back, blogging my life away.

A few things I learned:

• Paris is a good time even when you work an 80 hour work week (including the 4th o' July, Saturday and Sunday).
• Fois Gras makes everything better...and wine makes everything better than fois gras.
• Flying 12 hours with a hangover is the single best and worst way to travel. The whole "I can't sleep on a plane" issue really becomes a non-issue. However, the whole "need to stand in a 45 minute line to get through passport control" issue really is much more difficult than you could have ever previously imagined.
• The Foo Fighters ROCK...I mean serioulsy. They rock.
• Even if it's sunny and warm in Paris and Seattle it can still be mind numbingly cold in Anchorage. Always bring a sweatshirt and coat. Even in JULY. You will need it.
• Driving an F-150 kinda suits me. Srsly. You really can't take the Alaska out of the girl.
• A day trip to Homer, Alaska is not all it's cracked up to be
• Baby moose and bald eagles are all they're cracked up to be.
• I have a deep seated fear of pretty much everyone shopping at the Safeway in Homer.
• Freaks and Geeks does live up to the hype. I am now joining the ranks of those who are very sad there were only 18 episodes. Pure television awesomeness.

That is all.

Last Night's Dinner in Paris

Skipping over the calf's head and the pig ears, we went for a bit of a more mainstream meal.

On the recommendation of a lovely person named El Jeffe, we ate at Le Cafe du Commerce and enjoyed every lovely bite. A smattering of what I ate from either my plate or the plates of others is below:

• Foie Gras
• Crab Mousse avec avocat puree au harcort verde
• Tendre grillade du Commerce au sauce Marchand de vin (Steak with wine sauce)
• Creme Brulee
• Profiteroles with chocolate sauce.

It's not anywhere central so you have to make an effort to get there but make note for the next time you are in Paris!!

The Reason I Love Paris...

...is because it's Paris. Cherry, Titus, you were totally right. What the hell was wrong with me? It's PARIS.

Today we got out of the hotel to the opening event ceremonies at the Hotel de Ville (city hall) and as we drove past the Tour de Eiffel and le Louvre and the shops de Tabac, Le Poste, the Seine, I remembered how much j'adore Paris.

Regardless of the fact that I spend most of time in the staff work room and the hotel conference center...the traffic and honking cars. The history. The tourists. The locals. The variable weather. It's Paris. It's awesome.

And I forgot that Paris looks so...Parisian. I know it's a lame statement, but it's true. The level architecture with cream colored buildings, the iron wrought window patios, the shops along the street. The people walking everywhere. Napoleon would be proud. His boulevards are very much in tact and his city remains as vibrant as it ever was.

I ate carpaccio and frites for dinner and drank vin rouge de Cote de Rhone. My salade vert avec fromage from the non-descript bistro was super yum. In fact, I am already looking forward to tomorrow's dinner...but for now, it's off to bed.

Vive la Paris!

"I Bet They PARTY on the 4th in Europe!"

That sentence was actually uttered by one of my college roomies. Bless her heart. It took a moment of explanation before she realized why the 4th of July might not be the biggest party Europe (and especially the UK) has ever seen.*

So yes, I am off to Paris today for work and will spend the next week or so working my butt off. We have some great locations for our event - a hotel in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre - but I won't see much of either one. Long days, long hours in press rooms...I can actually already feel that ache you get in your legs when you have been standing all day.

Hopefully, I'll manage to have at least a moment or two to peek my head outside. The one good thing about having to go to Paris for this event is that I've spent quite a bit of time in Paris, so at least I won't be sad about not having any play time.

The thing I am most sad about is missing the 4th of July again. This year was to be my first 4th spent in the USA in over 3 years. I actually have spent the 4th of July in France more recently than I have spent it in the USA. It was with my mom, on a beach in Nice, eating fresh mussels and caprese salad while the sun set behind us and a big bottle of wine chilled next to us.

Yes, my mom and I do take some good holidays...

And yes, I know that the Fourth Of July brouhaha is really celebrating the fact that a bunch of slave-owning, aristocratic, white males didn't want to pay their taxes...but I was looking forward to the fireworks over Lake Union, a bbq of some type at a friend's house somewhere, and also a day off of work (instead I will be working the 4th and Saturday and Sunday too). The 4th of July is my type of holiday - it involves rest, relaxation and a party with food and drink. No gifts. No guilt. Just good times.

I know, I know, I will be in Paris! I don't expect your pity. I know I don't really deserve it. But on the 4th - do me a favor - watch at least one firework for me...I'll eat some cheese for you. A baquette or croissant if you prefer?

*Although, in my 3 years in London we did manage to get the office on board with celebrating Thanksgiving - how can you not love a holiday that's main purpose is to eat and drink?