The Bold Soul

A House + Studio 4 Sale in Paris 18th! (and it's OURS)

BIG NEWS (and no, it's not about my SSP): for various reasons too numerous (and personal) to mention, our* house in Paris is for sale! Not only that, with the house comes a HUGE atelier/studio with storage box!

I know what you're thinking: OH MY GOD! WOW! WHAT THE HELL? and HEY, I'D LOVE A HOUSE IN PARIS, WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

We've got a web site with a full description (French and English) and numerous photos. For obvious reasons, we don't list the actual address but it's in a nice and diverse neighborhood in the 18th with easy access to transportation, shops, schools and so on. You've seen my walking tour photos of the area so you know I'm within walking distance of the Butte and Sacre Coeur as well as Pigalle, Place de Clichy, and the Marché aux Puces. We like this area a lot.

Please help us get the word out, if you feel so inclined and happen to know someone who is looking for something unique in Paris! We do ask that SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY request more information using the email on the other website.

I'm sure that this announcement raises all sorts of questions (like "Why?"), most of which I'm not going to answer. But I'll just say this in order to quench some of the natural curiosity. We're not leaving Paris and not even leaving the neighborhood. There's no rush to sell. Sometimes, moving is just moving.

Oh, and by the way. Clachat has informed us that she has no desire to change houses, and she's not moving with us to our new place when we finally DO move. Cats can be so stubborn at times. So if you buy the house and would like a 5 euro discount, we'll be happy to throw the cat into the deal.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

* Just to be clear, I am not the owner of the house or atelier and am not personally involved in the transaction.

A Bold Springtime Special Offer: Group Coaching!

As many of you know, it was not all that long ago that I was a full-time professional Life Coach, trained, certified and rubber-stamped. I put coaching on the back burner to spend more time on the writing, but I find that coaching still calls my name from time to time, and though writing is still my main focus, I enjoy doing a bit of coaching now and then. Having said that, I like to keep it interesting since I've been at it for more than 12 years now! At the moment, I am eager to try a new coaching experiment, something I've long wanted to do, and I'm looking for between 5 and 15 interested candidates to participate. Want to play? Then read on -- time won't stand still!

The economy being what it is, I know there are a lot of people who might really want, and benefit from, some personal coaching... but private coaching fees may be off-limits if you're watching your budget. However, a workable alternative is Group Coaching, where there would be a small group of at least 3 but no more than 8 participants, meeting weekly by telephone for a 1-hour coaching conference call. The groups would have some common synergy, i.e. a group of people who want to write a book, or a group who are focusing on improving life quality or attaining a bigger life dream for themselves. Participants benefit not only from the professional coaching (from me) but also peer coaching and support from the other group members. Depending upon the geographic local of the people group, I could schedule the coaching calls for a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday at some convenient time, taking into account the various time zones. We'll meet at the same time each week.

And the financial investment is a small fraction of what private coaching would cost: only $125 USD/month* per person with a mininum 3-month commitment (we can continue longer if there are enough group members interested in doing so). If you pre-pay for the three months in advance, I'll take off $10/month, so you'll save another $30. Otherwise payment will be billed monthly to your credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) at the beginning of each month. 3 months @ $125 = $375... FAR below what you'd pay for private coaching and even less than the cost of just ONE month of 1-on-1 coaching with any experienced professional coach.

I want to kick this off ASAP (starting next week, if possible -- there's no time like the present!) So here's what I'm looking for: YOUR immediate interest! Get in touch (see below for how) and in your message, please indicate what you want to focus on in the coaching:
- Author Coaching: writing a book, finishing a book, trying to get the book sold, etc.
- Life Coaching: improving life quality/balance
- Bold Soul Coaching: making a huge life change

When you get in touch, I will want you to tell me why YOU feel this group coaching would work well for you. My expectation is that participants will be prepared to show up each and every week -- no excuses barring illness, and if you miss a call there is no rescheduling or refund -- and ON TIME, be enthusiastic about their goals, and be well-prepared to share both their successes and their challenges, the progress they've made, to ask for help if they need it, and to support the other group members. I want people who are ready, willing and able to take action NOW, rather than those who are stuck in fear, who prefer to "wait and hope" things will miraculously get better all by themselves, or who are only able to take baby steps most of the time. If you're in the former group, then coaching will work well for you; if you're in the latter then this will not be a good fit for you at this time. (And remember that coaching is not a band-aid for a "quick fix", nor is it a substitute for therapy in healing emotional issues. Nor do I coach "prescriptively", telling you what to do every step of the way!)

"Wanting it badly" is not enough; you must be someone who can be IN ACTION, too! And no one really succeeds entirely on their own. Coaching, in an affordable and supportive group environment, can help you achieve what you want for your life, and in less time (and with less stress) than if you tried to go it alone. And it's fun!

I am hoping to set up at least three new groups within the next two weeks, so let's get started! Get in touch with me today!
- By Email: lisa@lisataylorhuff.com
- By Phone: +1-908-850-5411 (US) or +33 (0) 1 76 66 08 97 (France)
- By Skype: "lthwriter" (be sure to indicate this is about coaching as I normally block unsolicited Skype messages).

*PS: This low price of $125/month is valid only for these first 1-3 groups I start, so if you're interested, now is the time as the space is definitely limited. I expect to continue with this group coaching model in the fall at a higher rate (although still much lower than private coaching).

If you can't beat 'em...

In spite of my recent kvetching about the overwhelm of social networking sites -- or perhaps because of it -- I've decided it's better for my sanity and peace of mind to swim with the tide rather than against the tidal wave.

In other words, I'm on the bandwagon now and I found a way to manage it a bit better so it's more fun and less overwhelming (whew!)

I'm now using TweetDeck to do most of my Twittering. You can Follow Me on Twitter, if you like.

Or, if you prefer Facebook, I have now set up a Fan Page you can join. I've already got a Facebook account, but I decided to keep that for my personal use only. So, the new Fan Page is the place to go to stay connected with me as a writer, author and blogger. I'll post updates there about blog posts, news about how it's going with my next book (right now in the early stages), and so on. The Fan Page also has some discussion topics I've set up (and feel free to send me your suggestions for new topics) so we can really interact together.

Eventually I may become more active over at Linked-In and other social networking sites but for now, I'm mainly putting in the time at these two sites. Hope to see some of you one place or the other. And, if you're on neither Twitter nor Facebook and want to stay up-to-date with The Bold Soul, you can just subscribe to that mailing list as well so you'll know when I've posted something new. (I never give out or sell my mailing list addresses to anyone, in case you were wondering, nor do I buy addresses or "harvest" them. If you're on one of my lists, it's because you must have opted in at some point.)

And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Aces for Asus

Some of you may recall that I have been comparison shopping for a new netbook since January, to make writing-on-the-go a much more attractive proposition (compared to lugging a 7-lb. laptop around the city and on trips).

I finally got one! I decided to take advantage of the stateside trip to get what I wanted with a QWERTY keyboard, and I ordered an Asus EeePC 1000HE from Amazon.com. I got it in black because in the end I chose features and price over the designer colors, and Amazon was running a good price plus I got free 2-day shipping by taking advantage of a free trial of their Amazon Prime delivery service (which I later cancelled).

So far I've been very happy with it after one week. It's roughly half the size and weight of my other laptop. It has a 6-cell battery that can give me up to 9.5 hours of battery time (although I think it tends to run closer to 8.5 but that's still pretty good compared to the 2-3 hours I get with the laptop). The keys are a little smaller and closer together than with a full-size laptop, and I keep hitting "enter" when I want to hit the left shift key, but other than that I can type at full speed with no problem. The keyboard is quieter than that of my Dell laptop -- a real blessing when someone else is around, so as not to disturb them with the constant clatter. The 10" screen means I can see the full width of any web site and only have to scroll a little more than usual to get to the stuff further down the page. It seems comfortable and easy to use so far.

I did have one blue-screen-of-death the first or second time I used it, not sure why and it has not repeated itself. Twice I have had the mouse cursor freeze up, and have had to restart; again, haven't figured out what that's about but I'm keeping an eye on it. Other than that I have no complaints.

Looking forward to doing a lot more cafe-writing in the future now that I'm a more portable writer! Hey, if J.K. Rowling could write the first Harry Potter book in a coffee-shop, and in LONG HAND, then I ought be able to crank out a best-seller or two on this new gadget, n'est-ce pas?

 I did buy a new PINK mouse though. Because I just had to have something girly-looking to soften the netbook's sleek masculinity.

Thought-Tweet... Thweet?

How awesome is THIS: someone has figured out a way to Twitter -- using JUST HIS THOUGHTS. No typing required.

Imagine the possibilities for people for whom speaking or typing is a challenge. If it's possible to use this technology for something as simple as Twitter, perhaps it can be expanded to other computer applications such as word processors and email.

Hands-free Twitter; who'd have thunk it?

Grace

A little something to start your week off with a smile:

Il Divo - Amazing Grace / RUS from ILDIVORUS on Vimeo.

Thought you might need this on your Monday morning as much as I did. Sent to me courtesy of my mother back in New Jersey; she says it's her favorite hymn, and although I'm not a church-person I have to agree with her -- and now Il Divo's is my favorite rendition.

Wishing you peace -- and amazing grace -- as you go through your week, whatever you're doing and wherever you find yourself.

Four Years and Counting

Today, the Bold Soul is 4 years old!

It is hard to get my brain wrapped around that: I've been writing and producing this blog for FOUR YEARS. And that in doing so, I managed to achieve and even exceed my wildest dreams.

When I started, it was more as an exercise in writing more regularly and also to explore just what, exactly, this blogging stuff was all about, as I had a few friends who were less technically trained than I who had already jumped into the blogosphere with both feet. I felt I might be left behind if I didn't check it out, and so began my first blog entry.

It didn't take long for my blog to find it's true focus and purpose: as a means of keeping me on track toward my goal of moving to Paris. During Year 1 of The Bold Soul, that's what I tried to write about: my desire to move to Paris and why I wanted to do it; what I was doing both physically and emotionally to prepare myself for it; the challenges I was meeting in achieving what I wanted. I wrote about other things going on in my life as well: family, friends and occasionally work.

A bit more than halfway through Year 2, after much frustration with "WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG?", it finally happened. I got an opportunity to move with the offer of a place to stay. There were still challenges to be met and overcome, but on November 10th, 2006, I arrived with suitcases in hand. And my life began anew.

Year 3 was my dream-come-true-year. I explored Paris, alone or with visiting friends. I made new friends here. I traveled outside of Paris, in part for some research for a future book based on my grandmother's similar travels in 1956. I also helped that same grandmother make her transition into whatever happens next when our souls leave our bodies, and she passed away peacefully on December 28th, 2007.

Oh... and by the way, that was the year in which I met Georges. 

Meeting Georges happened at a time when I really wasn't sure what my next move was. Should I stay in Paris? Could I even afford to stay, the economy and exchange rates being what they were and getting worse all the time? Did I really want to live here long-term, or could I be satisfied with just having spent the better part of a year or so there? I didn't have the answers as October rolled around but I knew one thing: I wasn't ready to leave Paris YET.

I met Georges just days later... and I had my answer.

 So Year 4 for the Bold Soul was about Love... REAL Love. The "He's DEFINITELY Into Me!" kind of love. And it was also about being part of a couple. Living together. Getting engaged. Getting married. Getting established in a new country "for keeps". And becoming a step-mother. Oh, yeah... and slave to a cat (that one I could have done without, but sometimes life gives you special challenges to conquer).

Now as Year 5 begins, what's next for this Bold Soul? Well, I wish I had a crystal ball, but I don't. I have a few projects in the works, both personally and professionally, and we'll see how those turn out... and if they do, then you'll be hearing more about them. I do know that I am still "in transition" with my life here. I continue to have challenges related to not having fully mastered the French language. I have things to deal with for immigration (such as my final mandatory all-day "civics" seminar this Friday). We are planning to do some traveling and hopefully take our real honeymoon to... Venice, perhaps?

What I know for sure is this: I love writing this blog. And I don't plan to stop doing it any time soon. It has not only served it's original purpose but it's given me so much more. At nearly 1,300 posts and over 3,500 comments, I think it's safe to say it's given you something, too. What more could I ask for from something that started out as a writing exercise?

So, it's a happy day today, and I am truly grateful. And I thank all of you, the Bold Soul readers, for helping me make it possible to be here as I enter my 5th year of blogging. Let's celebrate and share the happiness with Barbra and Judy, shall we?

(Or perhaps you prefer the solo versions. Didn't Judy have great legs for a little woman? And Babs looks so elegant in that up-do.)

Bienvenue à l'Année 5, mes amis!

Bold Soul e-Store Updates

The Bold Soul e-Store, courtesy of CafePress.com, has been updated! I've added some new products with new images, changed a few images and reduced prices on a few things as well.

Here's a peek at some of what's new:

Check out the new goodies at the eStore here, or click the image at the right. Enjoy!

I know it's pink. I know it's girly-looking. I don't care. I want one.

Ever since my hard drive on my Dell laptop curled up its toes and died last July (the laptop was only about 2 years old at the time, too) I have been dreaming about buying something new. Of course Georges, a die-hard Mac user since the first Apple computers rolled off the assembly-line, would love it if I'd switch to a MacBook, and I am considering it. But that would require a major investment even for the most basic MacBook, plus I might have to pay to upgrade some of the software I'm currently using in my business. So that will have to wait a while.

In the interim, I have been thinking about these little "netbooks" that are now popping up all over. They're smaller, lighter and greatly scaled down PCs that run either Linux or Windows XP operating systems. They have no CD/DVD drive, and less memory and hard-drive space than a convential laptop, and sometimes the keys on the keyboard are smaller. The screens usually range between 8-10 inches, and they usually weigh less than 2.5 pounds compared to the average laptop weight of 5 lbs plus. And price-wise, they are typically much cheaper than a full-featured, full-sized laptop computer (although some run about the same price as a low-end laptop for some reason).

The major attraction of buying one of these miniature laptops, for me, is two-fold. First, the lower price-point would mean I could purchase one sooner rather than later, and ease the pain of working on a laptop that has a new hard drive but still has all kinds of other problems (this Dell is clearly a piece of shit and my 6-year-old HP laptop is too slow and too large to be anything more than an emergency back-up). But the second selling point for me is portability: I could stick this thing in an oversized hand-bag and take it anywhere. Which means... I could write ANYWHERE. I could sit down and write in any any cafe in Paris without straining my back from lugging the heavier model in a heavier bag. I could write in the Louvre. I could write in a public park where they now have designated free WiFi zones. Because these little netbooks come with built-in wireless capability and even an integrate webcam and microphone. I might have to install Outlook and Word on it via an external drive (we have one in the house already), but otherwise it would come internet-ready right out of the box.

So the only REAL decisions ahead of me are these: (1) what's the cheapest, easiest way to get one with a QWERTY keyboard (I'm thinking I could order it from a merchant in the U.K. and have it shipped here pretty easily) and (2) which color to choose?

Because some brands come in some pretty snazzy colors.

It may be a bit too Carrie-Bradshaw of me... but I'm strangly drawn to the girly pink and red ones. This one, by Asus, is in a sort of poppy-red color with flowers on it. And you know I LOVE the color of poppies, although I could do with out the floral "extras" on this one.

And this one by Acer is in a VERY girly pink, and oh so Sex and the City, oui? There are actually a few brands out there that offer netbooks or laptops in this shade of pink (including Dell, but like I'd give them any more of my money? I think not!)

Although Asus does have one in a very chic CHAMPAGNE color. Though it's a bit more sedate compared to the pinks and reds, can't you picture me just typing away on it on that while sipping a little bubbly?

And if I really wanted to stand out in the crowd... how about this very vibrant GREEN color that is a livelier version of the color of my wedding dress -- and the same color as my iPod?

Too. Many. Great. Choices! Can't. Decide!

However, I will draw the line at any Hello Kitty models. Couldn't you just die?

By the way, this question goes out to you anglo-expats living in France: have you purchased a laptop with a QWERTY keyboard instead of the French AZERTY one, and if so how did you go about it? If I order one from the UK it will probably come with a UK electrical plug rather than the French type (although the voltage will be the same), but I don't know how easy or hard it is to find a QWERTY keyboard in France. If you know a good web site or store where I can order or buy such a thing in France, let me know.

Episode 200

One of the best things about moving to Paris is the friends I've made through blogging. Blogging gave me opportunities to create a social life for myself at a time when I knew absolutely no one here. And on December 6th, I had the chance to celebrate a major milestone in the blog (podcast) of two of my new Parisian friends: Katia and Kyliemac!

They took their twice-weekly podcast outside the Coffee Table Studio to a LIVE (and boy, were they live!) audience at the Great Canadian Pub in Paris as they recorded their 200th and 201st episodes! They also did a live web-cast of the entire event, with Twitter comments pouring from onlookers all over the world.

Georges and I were there, and while I socialized and added my 2 centimes to the festivities by teaming up with my favorite Frog with a Blog for some debates on cultural customs, Georges took a ton of really great photos, which you can see here. And for more, you can check out the Katia and KylieMac Posse photo group on Flickr as well, where others added photos of the event (in addition to photos of past K&K events).

It was a truly awesome event... K & K outdid themselves with treats and trinkets for everyone who attended, and the program was hilarious! I loved how the Panel serenaded our two heroines in perfect harmony, and then the lovely Emily gave us an operatic aria dedicated to K&K (adapted from a selection from "Turandot", I believe) -- and she has the most gorgeous voice!

Listen to/download episode 200 here (where FWaB and I debate against K&K on "Frenchmen are the most romantic men in the world" -- and they are!)

Listen to/download episode 201 here (where we debate "Chivalry is dead" and we claim it isn't!)

If you're not familiar with the K&K podcast, in addition to the regular episodes, they also provide two additional features for you to download to your iPod or listen to online:

• K&K Tourist Tips,to help those brave enough to visit the City of Lights and la Belle France, "designed to help you avoid international diplomatic incidents"
• K&K Learn French, where, with the help of Frog with a Blog, you can learn useful French expressions you might not have picked up in your 4th period high school French class, such as "être une poule mouillée"/to be a wet chicken -- because you'll want to know how to call your French taxi driver a wuss, won't you?

Enjoy!

The "You'd have to be crazy (I mean BOLD) to read this blog" List

Well, I'm spending the day doing the final stages (oh, God, I sure hope so) of getting my new-and-improved "married lady" Carte de Séjour, including the medical exam (ick), having my French skills assessed, and assorted other things they'll want to talk to me about so that I'm integrating well into the culture. It's supposed to take a half-day this time, and at the end of it I am supposed to walk out with the ACTUAL CdS, at last! (My temporary one is good until end of January just in case... because this is France and you ALWAYS have to be prepared for "just in case".)

In the meantime, I'm adding a new permanent page to my blog, and it's called the "You'd have to be crazy (I mean BOLD) to read this blog" list. It's all the cool folks who have read my blog more than once, and then decided they liked it well enough to add a link to it in their "Favorite Blog" list on their own blogs. Which I think is really awesome and deserves some recognition.

You can find the entire list here, and if you're already linking to me but not on the list, I provide an email link on the list so you can let me know... and I'd be happy to add you to the list. When I get to 100 I'll have to come up with a special prize or something... hmmm. Will have to think more about THAT.

Thanks to all of you faithful, regular Bold Soul readers, whether you have a blog or not. You folks totally rock and make my day. I will think of you fondly today when they're making me walk around during the medical exam with no bra and holding a cup of pee. About that point in my day, I'll NEED something good to think about.

Live from Paris... it's Saturday Night!

This Saturday afternoon (OK so it's not really at night), I will be participating in a VERY fun and totally cool event: the first-ever Katia and Kyliemac Podcast LIVE VIDEOCAST for their  200th show! It's their first show with a live audience, and some of us who have appeared on the podcast (I was their first guest way back in episode 23 & 24!) have been invited to join in the general merriment and shenanigans as we record episode 200 and 201!

They'll be broadcasting from the Great Canadian Pub near Saint Michel, starting at 5pm Paris time which will be 4pm in London, 11am in New York, 10am in Chicago and 8am in San Francisco. If you're not doing anything at that time and feel like watching us LIVE, you can either come to the pub (but I warn you I think it will be PACKED) if you're in Paris or log on and watch the streaming video. If you miss the live show, you'll still be able to catch the recorded podcast later on.

And there are CONTESTS, apparently. So click the link above for details.

You'll see/hear me, as well as some of your other favorite Parisian ex-pat bloggers, and I'm sworn to secrecy about what we'll be discussing. Maybe you'll even catch a glimpse of Georges!

Join us!

Last Call for Bold Souls in 2008!

Great News! I've been having SO much fun doing Bold Soul Coaching that I've decided to extend the opportunity for 1-on-1 Bold Soul Coaching into 2009!

However, I'm doing an across-the-board rate increase in my business effective January 2009 (before you squawk, I haven't increased my rates in over three years) so if you want to get the DEEP, DEEP DISCOUNT of $995.00 for THREE MONTHS of coaching, you must enroll before December 31, 2008. After January 1st, the price goes up to $1,250.

You can get the complete coaching program description right here. If you are tired of facing another New Year knowing you aren't living the bold life you really want... maybe it's time to get started?

With one week left, I'm coming out of the closet

The political closet, that is. No, this is not going to turn into one of those sordid "true confessions" posts, sorry to disappoint.

I deliberately steer away from a lot of heavy political talk at The Bold Soul, mainly because politics makes my head ache, my stomach clench and my eyes bleed. I don't like sniping, bickering and discord under any circumstances because I feel it shows a lack of self-control and maturity; I really try to keep all forms of negativity out of my energy space as often as possible because I think it's healthier; and politics seems to be about all of those nasty things, when it is supposed to be about something else entirely -- such as serving one's country with integrity and dignity rather than playing off the fears of the masses just to win an election and seize power. I'm not good at political debate and I have no wish to engage in a heated debate with my readers about the virtues/vices of one candidate over another, as not only is this not my area of expertise but also because I think people have a right to their own opinions, even if I don't happen to agree and even if privately I think the other person's opinion is a crock of shit. But I'm unlikely to SAY that to the other person in most cases out of respect for their right to their own point of view.

Still, as I was reminded today by someone who does often write politically (and most eloquently) on her ex-pat blog, sometimes you have to take a stand for something you believe in. So here it is, despite my last post on how much I hate political ads. Fortunately this is not a paid advertisement, it's just my opinion being expressed on my blog.

I am proud to say that this is my candidate in this election.

I hope to say, in a week's time, that this is my President. And once he is sitting behind his desk in the Oval Office, I hope he will not only NOT disappoint me but that he will be the one to light a fire under America's butt so that it starts doing the right thing, both for its own people and as a major player on the world stage.

As a matter of interest, I am not registered with any particular political party, although more and more my personal beliefs seem to be more left-aligned and the Republican party no longer speaks for me or my values, not one little bit. I will not go into all the reasons why I voted for this man and his Veep partner. You can read about him on his web site or in the news to find out who he is and what he stands for, and then make your own best judgment when it's time to vote next Tuesday. It's just that it's been a LONG time since I was happy with my vote in a Presidential election, and for once I'm not voting for the "best of a bad lot". Sure I might have marginally preferred Hillary over Obama, but that didn't pan out, and I just have a feeling Obama can do the job.

He certainly couldn't do worse than what we've been dealing with the past eight years, maybe even longer. I never voted for Hillary's husband, either, but lets not go there.

Regardless of how YOU decide to vote, my fellow Americans, I profoundly hope that you WILL vote if you're physically able to do so. It matters, now more than ever.

*Image courtesy of BarackObama.com.

In case you know someone

CNN had this article online today about free resources to help homeowners or small businesses who are up against the wall financially, and possibly facing eviction. If even one family can avoid being scammed like the poor woman in this article, then it's worth it to spread the word a little.

A day late and a euro short, but heartfelt anyway

Just a quick shout out and a big Bon Anniversaire to my good friends here in Paris, KylieMac and Frog with a Blog.

They both celebrated birthdays YESTERDAY but being the spaz I am, I didn't remember to wish them happy until just now. Forgive me and know that it doesn't mean I don't adore you both.

Hope you both had great fun and that the partying continues through the weekend. And I want to buy you both a drink so just say when!

Announcing BOLD SOUL COACHING™: Seeking a few REALLY Bold Souls!

I'm about to do something I rarely do: use my blog to promote a very special (and time-limited) new COACHING program I was recently inspired to design. If this isn't for you, just skip it and we'll return to our regularly scheduled programming with the next post. But if, on the other hand, you think YOU or someone you know fits the description of a bold soul and could benefit from a little one-on-one coaching time (by phone, unless you're in Paris already!) so that you can achieve YOUR bold and audacious dream just as I have done, then I invite you to continue reading or to forward the link to a friend!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOLD SOUL COACHING™: 90 Days to Your Bold New Life!

Calling all Bold Souls!

• Do you have a really HUGE dream or goal, something so big it's even a little bit scary because it means a big change, but something you want so badly, it makes you ache inside and keeps you awake nights?
• Are you committed to realizing it, no matter what? Are you willing to be bolder than you've ever been before, in order to finally achieve this bold dream of yours?
• Are you willing to set aside a minimum of 5 hours per week for the next 90 days to be coached to make this dream come true in your life?

I am actively seeking 3 to 5 very BOLD people who would like to be personally coached by me over the next 90 days, as they work toward achieving a GINORMOUS dream in their lives. It doesn't matter what the dream is about -- and it doesn't have to be about writing, and in fact I'd prefer people with other dreams in mind for this particular program -- you just have to be head-over-heels passionate about achieving it, and 100% committed to doing whatever it takes until you get there. Your attitude should be "failure is NOT an option" and "I will regret it if I DON'T do it" -- anything less won't be enough to motivate you to success!

HOW DOES "BOLD SOUL COACHING(TM)" WORK?

Starting out, YOU get to decide what we work on during the coaching: it should be ONE REALLY BIG GOAL! It must be specific, and something you can articulate with passion rather than desperation. THAT is what we'll focus on for the next 3 months. If your goal is something that might take longer than 3 months to achieve, no problem -- but in our 90 day program you can expect to make SIGNIFICANT, MEASURABLE PROGRESS toward the finish line.

Then, we will work together, one-on-one over the phone and via email (we can even use Skype for video conferencing to be face-to-face!) to develop a workable strategy for specifically how and when you will take the necessary action steps toward creating your dream and making it a reality in your life. We'll discuss any roadblocks that are getting in the way, whatever they may be, and how you'll work through/over/around them. You'll create accountability for taking consistent weekly action steps (that YOU will choose) so that you can see, in detail, your progress as you get closer to the day when you'll reach your goal. We'll celebrate milestones of success along the way, and I'll be there as your sounding board, cheerleader and #1 fan, giving you the support and additional motivation that we ALL need in life -- especially when we're up to something really BIG!

We'll meet a minimum of 3 times each month for 80 minutes by telephone or Skype phone/video (your choice) at a mutually convenient time. The goal is to meet at least three times each month for 90 days; however if we both agree, we can meet EVERY week and accelerate the process for faster results in 9 weeks instead of 12!

THIS IS A TIME-LIMITED OFFER: I am accepting no more than 5 individuals into this program, to begin immediately (between September 1 and September 21, 2008). Space is limited and I anticipate a strong response, so please act quickly if you feel you would benefit from Bold Soul Coaching™!

Applications for this program are available upon request... keep reading for more details on how to apply and what is expected of participants in this very intensive, BOLD program!

Since you asked

A few of you have written to me privately to ask which B&B we stayed at following our wedding in NJ, so I thought I'd just go ahead and post the information here for all the wonderful folks who helped us create our very special wedding, along with links to their web sites.

First, our minister -- also my good friend, my former coach, long time former client, author of four books and an absolutely AMAZING coach and speaker -- Laura Berman Fortgang. You can learn more about her services as Reverend Laura, or if you'd like to find out more about her books, coaching and speaking, check out this site instead. I can't imagine that our wedding would have been anywhere near as lovely, had she not been there to officiate and to help us custom-design our ceremony. And she speaks very good, French, too!

The bouquet and some of the other flowers were provided by Greenway Flowers in Hackettstown, New Jersey. They stayed well within my very small budget and although the bouquet ended up being a bit larger than I'd anticipated, it was so beautiful (and didn't cost more than they'd originally quoted) that how could I quibble?

Our caterer was Country Picnic of Bedmister, New Jersey, and Sally was our point person there. The two servers they sent over were a very creative mother-daughter team (whose names I have now forgotten, sadly) who set up very attractive displays for everything. Even though I found out after the fact that one of the desserts had accidentally not been loaded on the van (not the fault of the servers), they made a phone call and someone brought them over, so no harm done (and they were delicious, too -- these mini stuffed cupcakes, which we ordered along with a brownie platter in lieu of doing a whole tiered wedding cake). The guests RAVED about the food, too. We bought our champagne, wine and beer ourselves, but the caterer supplied extra tables and chairs, all the linens, champagne glasses, and everything we needed. They really can do it all, no matter what size event, too -- they recently catered a local congressman's daughter's wedding.

And finally, our lovely little bed & breakfast in Ocean Grove, the Sea Spray Inn, where we spent our wedding night and another night after before returning to "reality". We stayed in the Venetian room which was just as pretty as described (several others were very tempting as well), and had a bed so comfortable and fluffy you could just sink into it. The live-in owners, Nancy and Tom Garson, just went out of their way to welcome us and make us feel special (they clearly love honeymooners -- we discovered chilled champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries in our room on arrival! And were they responsible for the huge oceanfront fireworks display we saw on arrival, or was that just an amazing coincidence?) The included breakfast was excellent as well. We would most definitely stay there again if the opportunity arose, and if you happen to decide to stay there yourselves, please tell them that Lisa and Georges in Paris say "Bonjour!" One note: I don't think they are a year-round inn and I'm not even sure they're open 7 days a week, but check the web site for their schedule.

So there you have it... with our heartfelt thanks, these are the people or businesses we want to acknowledge for helping us create our perfect little wedding. If you get the opportunity to work with any of them, we give them two thumbs' up!

Sex et la Cité

Grab yourself a Cosmopolitan, put on your best party dress, call your girlfriends, and get ready for the long-awaited film follow-up of the infamous series... 'cuz it's finally here!

They did it. They really pulled it off. You know how sometimes a TV series will try to spin itself into a feature-length film, and it fails miserably? Not so with this one, I'm pleased to report. Other than a few moments in the beginning where I felt the acting was a little bit stiff, the characters still had the same chemistry, and the laughs were plentiful (and out loud, too, as well as gasps and "OHs!" from this mixed Franco-American audience). In addition to Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha, and their same four beaux, many of the secondary characters made appearances as well: Stanford, Anthony, Magda and even Candice Bergen's "Enid the editor at Vogue". I think I even caught a brief glimpse of Bitsy (or was it Mitsy?) von Muffling in one scene. I swear they even got the same kid to play Brady, Miranda's son. Everyone's life has progressed in "real time", and they're all 4 years older than they were when the series went off the air. And there's a great new addition: Jennifer Hudson as Carrie's A+ personal assistant.

And is there fashion? Oh, is there ever!

Did I love it or did I hate it? I can sum this up in one sentence, uttered while the credits were rolling and Georges looked at me and said, "Well?"

Me (hands clasped to my chest, a huge smile on my visage and eyes shining with remnants of tears):

"I am just SOOOOOO happy!"

I'm not going to discuss plot points because I don't want to ruin it for anyone. I will just say that I haven't been this happy walking out of a movie since the last Harry Potter film, and I was perhaps even happier. And if you're someone who, like Georges, has never seen the series (even if you're male and straight), never fear... you'll probably like it as well. Georges did. He found it entertaining and well done, he liked the characters and could even follow who was who (they did a little summary at the outset of the movie to help the non-fans in the audience catch up with the rest of us), and he said he quickly got caught up in the story. He totally got that it's not really about "sex" at all, despite the racy title (and some nudity)... it's about relationships. And yes, I even heard him laugh out loud. More than once.

Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha and Carrie are as much themselves in this movie as they ever were on the small screen. I am already eagerly anticipating seeing it a second time (at least), this time with some girlfriends. And this one, I'll even buy on DVD when it comes out, to complete my collection (I brought all six seasons with me to France, bien sûr).

So if you're wondering if you should bother seeing it... don't hesitate (even if you don't want to wear a cocktail dress and a blond "Carrie" wig, like one very cute Asian girl I met in the toilettes -- she was there with some friends who were doing a bachelorette night; how perfect!) I don't think you'll be disappointed. But do get to the theatre early: the lines at our theatre started 40 minutes before the start time (which in France means you still have another 30 minutes of ads and previews ahead of you once you get into the theatre) and wrapped clear around the corner café (we were at UGC Danton at Odéon).

Oh, and which SATC character am I? Georges agreed with me: I'm definitely the Carrie... minus the 400 pairs of designer shoes and the closet full of couture. (But I would if I could.)

A little more mileage, maybe... but he's still Indy

So I promised to let you know how we liked the latest (and probably last... unless in another 20 years they make "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Nursing Home Medicine Cabinet") Indiana Jones flick. First thing I'll say is how much I love it when a major movie opens here in Paris at roughly the same time as it opens in America (with a happy wink to "Sex and the City" which opens here TOMORROW!)... it makes me feel much less left out when I talk to my family back home and say, "Oh I just saw such and such!" and they burst my bubble with "Oh, we saw that three months ago... old news".  Here goes (and don't worry, I won't spoil anything for you):

In short, we liked it. It moved quickly and wasn't boring. It held our attention for the full 2 hours, no problem. Good special effects, some pretty wild and far-out, too. Creepy serpents (yeah, he still hates snakes) and many lots of swarms of bazillions of insects, which you'd expect in a film that takes the characters to the Amazon jungle. A few (well, more than a few, actually) improbable plot points here and there, but as Georges reminded me, when have these movies ever been based in reality? And who cares about REALITY?

I thought Cate Blanchett was effectively intense and bizarre as the Russian psychic and power-happy scientist... and she does the accent very well. The young actor, Shia LaBoeuf (ah, now I remember where I've seen him before... he was in Transformers last year) who is Indy's sidekick this time around was excellent, and a good match for Harrison Ford. And it was very cool to see Karen Allen come back into the picture (I'll let you wonder about how THAT plays out).

If you've heard the news reports that in Russia, some prominent Communists are outraged about this film because they're not happy with how they were being portrayed in that 1950s Soviet Communism vs. U.S. "Better Dead Than Red" era of total paranoia, all I'll say about that is I think they are overreacting. If anything, I think the film shows the U.S. in a worse light on THAT topic because you've got the usual Herbert Hoover groupies running around acting like Indy might be a Commie spy, and it just reflects the insanity of that entire period in our country's history. (Remember blacklisting?) Otherwise, were the Russians in this film portrayed as the "bad guys"? Sure. But what's an Indiana Jones movie without people chasing him and trying to beat him to the prize? To me, the plot line about the Russians and the "Communist threat" was a much smaller point because most of the film is about two archaeologists competing to "get there first" (where "there" is, you'll have to watch the movie to discover) and the fact that Blanchett's character was Russian became incidental in the end. Set in 1957, long after the time when the Nazis could be set up as the film's villains as in two out of the past three films, who else were they going to cast as the "enemy" this time? It's not the first time an American film has had a hero pitted against the Russians during the Soviet era, and it certainly won't be the last. But, let them boycott it if they must; they're entitled.

OK, and just a note about seeing this movie in France vs. what it might have been like had I seen it in the U.S. I had read in the e-papers that at the previews in America, audiences started cheering the moment the movie started, that's how excited they were. I suppose I expected a bit more enthusiasm from the audience here, but they were rather subdued. So either they were mostly French and therefore more reserved, or there weren't enough raucous teenagers in the crowd... or maybe they didn't like the film well enough, because no one applauded even at the end (and I have heard audiences applaud at the end of movies here). But also I felt like I was sometimes the only one laughing out loud at some of the jokes... which is often the case when I see movies here. Again, either the French viewers are just more reserved or they don't get the jokes... I can't tell which.

What else can I say that won't give anything away? Monkeys and vine-swinging... sword-play... atomic age... Mayan temples... waterfalls... lots of corpses (naturally)... and of course, crystal skulls.

Last but not least, there is Harrison Ford, who is living proof that in Hollywood, male actors can get older and grayer and not even have a face-lift and STILL be pretty damn freaking sexy... while female actors can't seem to get work at all unless they're playing some haggard old lady. He doesn't do as many of the heavy-duty physical stunts as he used to (Shia LaBoeuf picks up the slack there), but he does his fair share. Just like the character he plays, I suspect Ford is going to be one of those classic actors who is truly "immortal". In short, not only does the film have a lot of action to keep everyone's interest, but Harrison's still got it, too.

So go and see it.

da da-da-DAH... da da-DAH

It is 9:00 am on Sunday. I have gotten online before even having my morning coffee to check movie times and reserve us two seats at the new INDIANA JONES movie for the 2pm show! Yes, I am THAT eager to see it that I am unwilling to sleep in a little longer on a Sunday morning. We've been hearing that the lines for tickets have been impossibly long so it's worth paying an extra euro per person to get the tickets in advance.

I'll let you know how we liked it (and promise not to give anything away!) And seriously, how is it possible that Harrison Ford is still a hottie at 65?

If you need me, I'll be in my OTHER office

Today being a Wednesday, which means no school for our Little Guy and the neighbor's 5-year-old and 1-year-old, and knowing they would be at home with the nanny a good part of the day since it will probably (finally!) rain later, I decided to beat a hasty retreat in order to hopefully get some much-needed work done.

It's a bit of a hike across town for me to come to my "other office", but I love being at my friend Aimee's tea shop, L'Oisive Thé, on rue de la Butte aux Cailles in the 13th. I come early, during the pre-lunch hour, to have a few minutes to chat with my friend while she and her serveuse are doing the daily preparation for lunch and afternoon tea. Coming early means I score a small table in the corner near a window. Good light, a lovely cool breeze, and plenty of room to work (and to drink tea and have some delicious food as well!)

I've visited a few times since the grand opening at the beginning of April: once Georges and I brought the Little Guy here for Sunday brunch, and then a couple of weeks ago I came by with my computer but had problems with my power adaptor and didn't have enough battery life to work, so I had lunch and tea and then had to leave. I've loved watching the little changes Aimee has made to her shop, making it even more charming than it originally was, with her personal little touches like hand-sewn tablecloths, lots of green plants and flowers, and books and magazines to read as well as teas to buy and drink!

Today, though, I'm planning to hang out for a long time, and I've come prepared to work. I desperately need to get some work done. My guilt is palpable, the guilt of knowing clients are waiting for me to deliver things but that I'm having trouble getting myself in gear to do any actual work. As you can see, my writer's block is somewhat selective; writing my own thoughts on my blog is a breeze. It's writing OTHER people's thoughts that requires so much more of my concentration. But then, that's why they pay me the "big (ha) bucks".

I wonder if I'd be this distracted if I wasn't planning a wedding?

Last night I "confessed" (voluntarily) to Georges that lately, when I am claiming I am working, I'm usually not. He being an excellent procrastinator himself (at times), he knows how easy it is to be lured away from the things we need to do by those other things we prefer to do. And since we've met, he's often had the same problems I've had, forcing myself to work when I'd rather just be in our little bubble o' love. We'd rather keep having fun and not have to deal with work. But we're grown-ups, we two, and we have grown-up responsibilities.

So today, I've got a chapter to research and write for one client, and if I get that done and done well, then I move onto editing a first draft manuscript for a second client. Then there's a third client who is waiting on a book proposal. And after that I'm sure there are other things I've promised someone, somewhere.

And now, I work. If you're in the neighborhood today, drop by and say Bonjour and have some of Aimee's homemade cookies or delicious salads, and cup of tea -- of course!

Everyone's dreams CAN come true

I am comfortably installed in what may one day be known as the table where I wrote my first bestseller -- in much the same way Hemingway was known to write at a table at the Deux Magots, only I am much less literary. I am sitting smack dab in the middle of my friend Aimee's dream, sipping a delicious cup of Yoga Chai tea. Aimee sewed the cheerful pink and white tablecloth with her own two hands... the first of many personal touches and improvements she'll be making, I have no doubt.

Today, Aimee did something incredibly bold and fabulous: she realized a very big dream. She opened her very own café:  L'Oisive Thé. It is a small and totally adorable tea shop located in the 13th, in the picturesque Butte aux Cailles quartier, on the corner of Rue de la Butte aux Cailles and Rue Jean-Marie Jégo, just a short walk from Place d'Italie down Rue Bobillot (nearest metro: Place d'Italie on the #5 and #7 or Corvisart on the #6). The street has a small park and a number of other restaurants, but it's the only tea shop in the area. A l'oisive, by the way, is a "lady of leisure" -- what a great name for a tea shop (not that men of leisure aren't welcome too!)

I am completely jazzed to say that Georges and I happened to be there at the beginning of Aimee's leap into becoming a restauranteur. I hadn't even known this was a particular dream of hers, although some of her other Parisian friends were probably aware of it. Georges and I met Aimee and her husband for lunch one day, and when we hooked up with them, they suggested going to brunch instead because they'd read about a brunch place very near where they live but at which they'd never eaten before. Who doesn't love brunch, right? So off we went, with the others giving me a little run-down on the Butte aux Cailles area, which was new territory for this ex-pat.

While we enjoyed our delightful meal, Aimee kept looking around and saying how cute the place was but how, if it was hers, she might do some things differently. And that's when it came out that she had dreamed of having her own little café for a very long time... more specifically a place where knitters could come and knit (Aimee being a very talented knitter) while they enjoyed some tea, coffee, treats and the company of other knitters. We spent a good part of that brunch brainstorming: what if you put a small sofa over there? What if you took those shelves out and did something else there? Would you put in some Internet access? Should the menu be changed... a liquor license added? Suffice to say it became the major focal point of our conversation.

I can't remember now who it was that first noticed the "For Sale" sign in the window, but by the time we all walked out of there, Aimee's husband had taken the carte de visite and written down the agent's phone number. It couldn't hurt to just call and ask about it, right? We all agreed it should be explored further because you just never know.

Well, here it is a few months later (probably the longest of Aimee's life in some ways, while she negotiated and navigated and tolerated all the hoops and hurdles thrown in front of her on this journey) -- and she's DONE IT! She owns this beautiful little café. Opening day was today!

I wanted to be there right at the opening to take photos and celebrate with Aimee before the day got too crazy for her, and I nearly made it on time... having tripped and fallen on some freaking very hard Parisian cobblestones in the Place d'Italie as I was rushing to get there (my entire body aches and my knee is pretty banged up, but otherwise no major harm done, fortunately!) I arrived just a few minutes after 11am, official opening time, to find the door open and Aimee and a helper inside setting things up. The new tablecloths were in place, but the food delivery was a bit late so the serveuse was going to pick up the salad fixin's on her way into work. After hugging and jumping up and down a bit with Aimee, I took some photos and she made me my first cup of tea -- I was the first customer!

The delivery arrived and was sorted and put away... Aimee and the ladies started chopping crudités for salads and continuing to get organized. Fortunately, this tea shop had been in operation for some time and has a regular clientele, and the serveuse is a "legacy" employee, very experienced and pleasant. When starting out in the restaurant business it's always easier to take over an existing successful business, and then little by little you can adjust it to your own tastes once you get into the swing of things.

I sipped my wonderful tea, gazing out the window at passers-by and neighborhood activity. The restau on the adjacent corner started to open up for business, the owner out front scrubbing the entry pavement with a brush while simultaneously smoking and talking to her mignon little terrier. The dog seemed to know all the neighbors, who stopped to speak to it or pat it on the head as he stood in the doorway watching his small world with great excitement: the "guard dog" of the Butte aux Cailles... at least in HIS mind. A woman walked by, stuffing a large bottle of wine into her oversized purse; I found myself hoping that wasn't going to be her entire lunch, but you never know. An upstairs neighbor shook the dust out of a small carpet... never minding the people below walking by. A typical Parisian neighborhood.

As lunch time rolled around, I decided to stay and enjoy something off the menu. The menu is very light and suitable to a tea shop: salads, small quiches, desserts and of course dozens of varieties of tea to choose from (as well as great coffee and other soft drinks) so if you're into eating light and fairly healthy at lunch, this is a great place to go. I chose a feuilleté chèvre, salad crudités et fromage, and it was just wonderful.

During the first hour or so, I was the sole customer, but in the past the café didn't open until noon so the locals probably didn't realize they could come in an hour earlier. And prime time for tea shops if, of course, afternoon tea. But as 12:30 approached, a man came in -- clearly a regular because he bise'd (uh, that's "kissed on both cheeks") the two helpers and greeted Aimee with a handshake before installing himself at a table, as comfortable as can be. A woman followed, coming in to purchase her favorite tea to take home. And so it began, with people in pairs, mostly, coming in for their lunch and some tea. I could see it was going to be a very good first day and Aimee was so thrilled to see so many people already.

After finishing my lunch I decided I should give up the table to make room for whomever might come in next and want to enjoy a nice meal or revitalizing cup of tea before heading back to their daily grind. Aimee was just glowing, and it warmed my own heart to see her happiness in having made this big dream a reality. I can tell she's going to be great at this, and I can't wait to see the little touches and improvements she will add on her own, over time.

Bring your writing, your laptop (WiFi access coming soon), your knitting or your favorite book, and go and enjoy! It's lovely, and so is the smiling new propriétaire!

L'Oisive Thé
1, rue Jean-Marie Jégo, 75013 Paris
http://loisivethe.wordpress.com/

Open 7 days a week, brunch menu on Sundays

You can also read about it on The Paris Blog. And read Aimee's account of her first day (with a photo of her first customer - me!)

No coincidences

I can't begin to tell you how I nearly peed myself laughing after I took this test after reading Mrs. B's blog and found out which Muppet Personality I am:

You Are Animal

A complete lunatic, you're operating on 100% animal instincts. You thrive on uncontrolled energy, and you're downright scary. But you sure can beat a good drum. "Kill! Kill!"

The Muppet Personality Test

Because in high school, he was my favorite Muppet and our unofficial mascot of our percussion section, of which I was the proud solo xylophone player.

However, I am not violent and have no "killer" instinct. That I know of. Just don't cross me.

Sometimes, you gotta

One of the things that helps, when you live far away from your roots, your friends, your family and your culture, is occasionally splurging on things that remind you of home. Even things you know are ridiculous. I had one such splurge today, at lunch.

I first became acquainted with the famous Kraft Mac and Cheese as a very little girl. I came home from my friend Claire's house one afternoon and raved about Mrs. Verguson's macaroni and cheese. My mother, a wonderful cook (who was a Martha Stewart-in-training long before Martha was old enough to dream of her own empire) went to all the trouble of making a macaroni and cheese casserole from scratch, with four cheeses and everything. And I wouldn't touch it. Somewhat deflated by my less-than-enthusiastic reaction to her culinary masterpiece, my mother asked Mrs. Verguson for her recipe for mac and cheese.

To which Mrs. Verguson nearly wet herself laughing, before explaining to my poor mother that her "recipe" was Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, with the powdered fake orangy "cheese sauce", that me and her own daughter loved so much. I've been eating it ever since, although to be honest the past three or four years I basically stopped eating it because just didn't appeal to me anymore. I figured I had finally "outgrown" it at the age of 44 or so.

Or... have I? Today, I do not blush to say: I ate ALL of it. The whole pot full. By myself. I did not even offer to share it with the children or Georges. And it was delicious, even considering it cost about 4 times what it would have cost me to bring a box from home (which I forgot to do on my last trip). It may not "gourmet" but it sure tasted a little bit like home.

Hey, don't judge me harshly until you've walked in my cheesy shoes.