City Magic

I said, I wanna touch the earth.  I wanna break it my hands.

I wanna grow something wild and unruly.

I wanna sleep on the hard ground, in the comfort of your arms,

On a pillow of blue bonnets in a blanket made of stars...

Any good romantic gal knows those lyrics - they're from one of my favorite Dixie Chicks song "Cowboy Take Me Away."  But while I adore that song and love the idea of getting swept away by a cowboy - I surely DON'T identify with the line: 

I wanna look at the horizon and not see a building standing tall. 

I DO want to see that - I am absolutely in love with our skyscraper skyline.

I mean, I get it - I learned this truth in college, living in a house full of farm girls - the moral of the story in the children's story about the country mouse and the city mouse is something that holds true, universally.  If you're born in the country, you love the country.  If you're born in the city, you love the city.  (For the most part, anyway.)  And, yes, maybe it's my urban upbringing that has biased me, but I am in love with cities.  Never met a big one I didn't like.  I just don't see cities as dirty and loud and dangerous - I see them as edgy, lively... full of magic and life.  

The Gift of Time

The typical free time of a city gal like me is "supposed" to be used as such:  going out for drinks - OR - going out for dinner to a fun new restaurant.  And let's just talk about it - I definitely do those things.  [food blog is proof :)]

But lately I've been putting a lot of thought into how I want to use my "free time."  I have free time in quotes, but it doesn't feel like I actually have ANY free time - but the thing is, I do.  I do because somehow - amidst my crazy busy traveling life, work life, personal life, seeing my family life, staying in touch with friends life - I still somehow am caught up on all the TV shows I secretly watch.  As we know from my how-to-save-money-in-your-life-so-you-can-travel-like-you're-wealthy-when-you're-not article, I don't have lots of TV channels or DVR... but dammit, these shows are all online these days, and I'm a night owl (- which we also knew).  

The point is - if you have time to lean, you have time to clean... I wrote that just to be funny, but immediately realized it applies quite literally here.  I should be cleaning my place more often.  I should be doing a LOT more things more often...  

An American in Paris

[May 6-9, 2012]

I write to you while sitting in the Luxembourg Gardens… and not 10 minutes into my writings, I am approached by an adorable older man, offering me a hot beverage from his kiosk behind me.  It’s an overcast day, and I decide to say yes – partially because I’m a bit cold, but mostly because I’m proud of myself for understanding his French enough to know what he’s offering.  He seems a bit flirtaceous for how much older than me he is, but harmless :)  I put my computer in my bag and follow him to his kiosk behind me.  He gets me un café and asks “au lait?”  - again, proud of myself for understanding, I say “oui, merci.”  After refusing to let me pay, he then comes around to the front, pulls up a chair, motions for me to sit and says something that I don’t recognize, but believe to mean “I’ll return.”  As I’ve already accepted his beverage, I may as well oblige – so I sit. 

Stonehenge

[May 5, 2012]

While most of you were raising a toast to Mexican Independence or to the racing of horses in Kentucky, I was persuading a British colleague to drive me to see some old rocks. 

[I took this photo!!]

Stonehenge has been on my list ever since I first heard about in some history class in grade school.  Also since it turned up in fairytales I stumbled across.  I love the idea of it – huge old rocks placed in a very strategic formation – no one knows why or how... 

A Spot of Tea in London

[April 28 -  May 5, 2012]

Well.  I can finally cross another city off my “must travel to” list – I’ve been to London.  And not only have I been to London, but my job sent me there.  How lucky a girl am I?  Since it was 80% business trip, though (I extended a few days) – I’m hesitant to talk too much about the business end of my travels.  Separation of church and state, you know?  :)

A quick summary:
I was sent to help roll out a program in the UK that my company has been doing in the States (- yes, "the States." I am SO worldly) for a number of years.  The program ended up going REALLY well, and the week was a complete success.  I have so much respect for my colleagues out here – so hardworking and so kind.  I definitely developed some friendships that I am sad to leave behind.  It was also validating for me as a professional.  I feel like in the States, I’ve had to earn the respect that I have in my company.  In the UK, I walked in and was immediately regarded as an expert by people I’d never met before.  What a strange and wonderful feeling!  I had a number of opportunities to validate my worth and expertise while there, and I really can say I’m quite proud of the work I did this week.  I wonder how it will feel to return to my normal job when I get home.  But, a few more days still until then!

I had a few days before and after the program in London, and was able to do a bunch of exciting things:

* sights: Big Ben, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, a neat church with a choir, shopping squares, Kensington Gardens & Palace…