The Bold Soul: A Writer's Life in Paris

Oh, Pastis... how we miss you

We've been back from vacation for a couple of weeks now, and it was a pretty smooth rentrée. I still miss the pastis, though. And it doesn't taste the same without the sunshine, heat and salt air of Mediterranean. Read more →

Surprise on the steps

Yesterday, I posted a photo of one of the flower stalls along the one side of the Madeleine. As I rounded the corner of the building to pass in front of the church, I saw that all these beautiful decorative plantings had been placed in flower boxes on the steps, leaving just enough room for a path in the center and on both sides for people to come and go. The architecture of this church is so severe and it is surrounded on all sides by traffic, and with no green space at all or even an attractive square in front, I really liked this as a way of adding some greenery to soften the entrance. Bonne idée! Read more →

Near the Madeleine

Passing by one of the flower stalls alongside the Madeleine. So pretty, these bouquets (this cell-phone photo doesn't really do them justice)... wish I hadn't been on my way somewhere, I might have been forced to choose one for my very own! I'm not "starved" for flowers, though... Georges brought me a bouquet of roses last week, just because! Read more →

To the Nines... with Peter Frampton

Each morning when we get up, I make breakfast for Georges. Well, most mornings, because occasionally I'll sleep in or maybe on a Sunday he'll want eggs and bacon. Because when I say I "make" breakfast, what I really mean is: I set up the coffee in the coffee pot and push the button, I set up cups and bowls and plates and spoons and a knife, I pour orange juice into glasses, and I saw an English muffin in half and pop it into the toaster. But making breakfast doesn't usually involve any actual cooking... unless I'm in the mood for pancakes. Which is more of a once-a-month weekend thing for me. Anyway, as much as mornings are not my favorite time of day, I like to get up with Georges on work days and give him a decent breakfast because he doesn't always have time to eat lunch. Yes, it's true: even though lunch is the most sacred meal of the day for most French people and it's a normal thing to have a two-hour lunch break around here, there are times when he skips lunch. Since he does about 75% of the dinner cooking, I have turned... Read more →

Just about tea time

Five minutes to 4 at Place de la Concorde... time for goûter! Read more →

At least they were up-front about it

Fourth item on the menu: Horse Steak? Sometimes, maybe you're better off not being able to read the menu. Psst... "Steak à cheval" is not REALLY "horse steak"... it's a "hamburger with egg on horseback". Read more →

Short, sweet... and POWERFUL

Based on a combination of feedback from Bold Soul readers and clients -- and my deep gratitude to those of you who have contributed your ideas and thoughts, you know who you are! -- and some reflection about my own personal goals and interests, I've decided to make some modifications to some of the coaching programs I've developed over the summer. Specifically, there's one big change, and that's to the Diamond & Emerald level memberships in the NO EXCUSES Coaching™ Club, and this might be of interest to some of you, or perhaps to someone you know. Instead of offering group & private long-term coaching, I feel what would work better is a more intensive short-term (3-month) private coaching arrangement. Given most people's individual goals and the current global economy, I feel people are more able and willing to invest in a coaching program that will bring them faster results in less time. Therefore, effective immediately, I've eliminated the "Emerald" level membership altogether, and the "Diamond" membership is now a 90-day private coaching program. So how does Diamond Membership Coaching work now? And why might YOU be interested? Imagine that you could be LIGHT YEARS closer to achieving your dreams... Read more →

And we thought Michelle and Carla were creating a stir?

Japan seems intent on topping both France and the United States in the "Our First Lady Gets the Most Media Coverage" department. Why? Because the wife of the newly elected Prime Minister of Japan claims to have known Tom Cruise in a previous life and says she traveled to Venus in a UFO in the 70s. Umm. Yes. Well. Need I say more? Read more →

The Dance of the Rentrée

That thundering sound you hear? That low roar of cheering? That is the sound of thousands of parents all across France as they leap and dance and cheer... because today, their little darlings go BACK TO SCHOOL! When I used to work in the corporate world with a lot of people who had school-age children, I used to wonder why they looked so happy and excited at the beginning of September, and every year they'd smile knowingly at each other and say: "The kids are in school again". And I used think, "Yeah, so?" And now I know a bit better what they're referring to. Because no matter how much you love your children or step-children, no matter how great they are, having them around you 24x7 during the summer and having to arrange constant entertainment for them can be a challenge. Summer camps. Trips to the beach. Play dates with friends. Cross-country car trips. Packing them up to send them off to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a few weeks. It takes time. It takes energy. It takes creativity. And it's exhausting. Whether you're the one spending time with them or you're sending them to spend time with someone... Read more →