The Bold Soul: A Writer's Life in Paris

Copycat or coincidence?

When I saw this sculpture tucked into an alcove in the town of Gordes in Provence last month, it reminded me a bit of THIS massive "head in hand" piece at Les Halles just outside Saint Eustache: Kind of makes me wonder if one piece was inspired by the other. Bet that little boy was having fun climbing around up there. Read more →

Incentive

In a vague attempt at putting myself "out there" to try and meet some interesting new men in Paris, I recently reinstated my lapsed subscriptions to Match.com and Meetic.com. I say "vague attempt" because frankly I've been so busy working lately that I barely have time to even think about having a man in my life (or the lack thereof). But I have to try SOMETHING because when I finally stop working, it's just me and my DVDs of Everybody Loves Raymond and as funny as those are, they ain't gonna keep me warm at night. And online dating is what I have time for right now, and it's better than not looking at all. Some of my single friends here have been meeting some new guys this way, and I've successfully tried internet dating in the past and have no embarrassment whatsoever about admitting it. In fact, my last really serious relationship was with someone I met online, and I've got friends who met their husbands that way, so don't knock it 'til you've tried it. So far, I've seen a few profiles I kind of liked, and a whole lot more that I didn't. Suffice to say, I'm... Read more →

The eagle has landed... on its feet

I may be here in France, but to the best of my ability, I do try and stay tuned in with what's going on back in the good ol' U.S. of A. The news, of course, is rarely good, being that the news media makes a living out of focusing on sensationalizing both the most negative and the most ridiculous (Paris Hilton's recent incarceration comes to mind) stories in an effort to grab ratings and improve corporate profits. But sometimes, I catch a glimpse of a really good piece of news. Like finding out that the Bald Eagle, our national bird, has just been taken off the endangered species list after being on said list since 1972. It sure is nice when conservationists and the government actually get it right for a change. Of course, that doesn't mean the eagle's off the hook entirely, as humans (i.e. land developers) continue to want to do what's best for their bank accounts instead of the environment. But at least this is a step in the right direction, and some good news in America (and for Mother Nature) for a change. Read more →

Pompidou and Circumstance

I hadn't really thought much one way or the other about the Pompidou Center (or Centre Georges Pompidou) as a potential place to take my out-of-town guest on his recent one-day visit to Paris. I mean, I knew about the Pompidou by reputation of course, but most people when they come here for a short stay order the "usual" from the Paris Tourist Menu: an Eiffel Tower down, the Louvre sunny side up, a trip down the Seine "on a raft", Notre Dame à la mode, and if they're not too full, an extra helping of some Left-bank cafés or a side order of Galeries Lafayette. But my friend is Dutch, has lived in France, and has been to Paris numerous times. My initial relief at knowing I would not have to do the same old thing (and as great as those attractions are, it does get old when you end up doing it with each new visitor and you're trying to act excited about it for their sakes) was quickly replaced by: "OK, so NOW what do we do?" as I tried to come up with something we'd both enjoy doing and hadn't done before, but where we could... Read more →

Why I should never listen to Pavarotti when I'm trying to write

Because when he sings "Nessun Dorma", I must -- and I mean MUST -- stop whatever it is I'm doing. I mean that literally... I am physically unable to do anything other than listen. I close my eyes, hands over my heart... and the tears just flow. Like they're doing now while I watch this YouTube clip. I had to stop typing after the word "watch" because I couldn't breathe... I find myself breathing in rhythm with his singing as he builds to the crescendo, every time. Il principe ignoto Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma! Tu pure, o Principessa,nella tua fredda stanzaguardi le stelleche tremano d'amore e di speranza...Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me,il nome mio nessun saprà!No, no, sulla tua bocca lo dirò,quando la luce splenderà!Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzioche ti fa mia. Voci di donneIl nome suo nessun saprà...E noi dovrem, ahimè, morir, morir! Il principe ignoto Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle!Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò!Vincerò! Vincerò! Translated from the score, Puccini's "Turandot": The Prince Nobody shall sleep!... Nobody shall sleep! Even you, o Princess, in your cold room, watch the stars, that tremble with love and with hope. But my secret is hidden within me,... Read more →

Part of the Art

Art sculptures that use mirrors let the spectators become part of the art. (I'm just visible in the left-hand mirror). I'm not sure why a gas tank and a camping cooker qualifies as art, but the photo angle with the pastel neon lights in the background (from another sculpture) makes it look more interesting. Feeling a bit "fractured"? Once again, the "art" (for me, at least) is in the cracked, bullet-ridden reflection of the other pieces in the room. Photos taken at Centre Georges Pompidou. Read more →

Flashback to humiliation

Isn't it funny how a sight or a sound or a smell can suddenly bring up a memory when we least expect it? So, I'm at the Pompidou last week, enjoying all the funky, quirky sculptures (we didn't even get to the galleries with the paintings) and having an otherwise lovely day, when I turn around and see THIS. Oh. My. God. I'm time-traveling... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's 1975. Junior-high gymnasium. Ugly royal blue gym suit with "bloomers". Standing around with the other kids in this co-ed school, so boys are watching, too. We're doing "fitness testing". And we are being told we have to... I can't even say it... CLIMB A ROPE 25 FEET HIGH. Are they freaking kidding me? Someone tell me they're joking. It might as well be a mile high for all I care. I am a short girl with zero upper body strength. Fitness testing is my annual nightmare. I am never good enough at physical things and I don't ever play sports. I am always picked last or near-last when choosing up sides. It's been this way my whole life. And I've hit puberty and grown some not-too-shabby breasts for a girl my age, I'm already... Read more →

A little harmless self-back-patting

There is a light at the end of the tunnel-o-work in which I've been hiding out for the past month. In that time I have practically forgotten I'm actually in Paris since I so rarely have gotten out to see any of it (recent day trip to the Pompidou with out-of-town friend being the one major exception). But it's all good because lots of work means lots of money to stay here and some spare traveling cash for the summer book research trip I want to take around Europe. Today I finished one of the major projects, the second of two websites I've developed and built for my very dear friend/client and my former personal coach, Laura Berman Fortgang. If you're not familiar with Laura's three books or her work as a world-renowned coach and speaker, now is as good a time as any to check out what she's doing. Go here and here to see the fruits of our collaborative labors over the past few months. Every client should be as delightful, focused and easy to work with as Laura... maybe that's why this is probably my best design work yet (good clients = good results). Ah, it feels... Read more →

Of belfries, blue skies, and buttresses

First time I ever managed to get this shot on a sunny day... and 30 minutes earlier it was raining. Read more →

Rhino rouge

This handsome guy was probably my favorite thing at the Centre Georges Pompidou. Although I haven't seen the entire collection yet. Read more →