Whoops

One of my persistent anxiety dreams is that I am racing to get to an airport for an international flight. The rush is often preceded by trying desperately to pack my life's belongings into three or four suitcases. Items I no longer own make guest reappearances in this packing frenzy. I had just such a dream last night. There was the additional panic of being forced onto the plane which was leaving early and the children not yet being at the airport... When I got up this morning and checked my email I was a little puzzled to see a message from Delta saying "time to check in for your flight" Huh? And then I checked my itinerary and contrary to my firm belief that I was flying home on Saturday, I am in fact booked for Friday. Shit. So today was my last day as the flight leaves at 11am and I will have to set out early given the traffic mess due to the strike which is denoted as 'reconductable' which just means it is ongoing, uneven in its application, and unpredictable.

More from Paris

Amusing, non?I don't know why I never knew this, but beets are sold precooked in Europe. This would make them so much easier to contend with. Wonder if I can my local supermarket to do the same?...

Paris

It is Indian Summer here in Paris with temps in the 70s and people all out and about. Here are some pictures.

In the Tuileries

At L'orangerie
Eiffel Tower from a distance

Life with an old dog

Sometimes Zoe throws up in the morning. That is always a special symphonic treat to wake up to. It takes quite awhile for her to go from the noises to the actual production. Usually it is enough time for Craig (hello, she is your dog) to leap from the bed and arm himself with a plastic bag and paper towels. The other side of food coming up unexpectedly is that it is less easy to get it to go down. Now Zoe used to LOVE her food. She was an absolute whore when it came to anything vaguely edible. So, we know she is on the downward trend when she has to be coaxed to eat her food, one pellet at a time - see below. Fortunately, Craig (in the inimitable words of his ex-wife) will never love another woman as much as Zoe, so he is quite content to sit on the kitchen floor and hand feed her if thats what it takes.

The Mediator

More excellent tough love from the mediator, Terri Jo. "If someone is in your office talking about something you don't want to discuss, or talking about something for too long, it's your fault." Ouch. But so true. So she has given me some excellent boundary setting strategies and talked me through how to ask my dean for a raise. Stay tuned.

The Department

I am woefully behind but wanted to update all of you on the latest idea coming from the L&L co-chairs' offices. It needs fleshing out, but we think it will be a money maker.

Reality TV has brought you Big Brother, Wife Swap and Survivor- versions jungle to tropical island ... The half hour sitcom was revitalized by The Office. We bring you The Department: a cut throat, comedic romp through the pathos that is life in the modern academic department. Stay tuned for our first episode where a certain lecturer goes ballistic, half our files are carted away for use in a faculty instigated legal proceeding, and the female members of the department must wade through an inch of 'water' when using the restroom. You'll be hooked and won't want to miss week two's episode where a group of malcontents is forced into mediation. Stay tuned. This promises to be next season's smash hit.

PE in the 21st century

I had a load of overdue items to return to the library so when I got home I began gathering them up. Catherine was home with her friend Keziah, who was investigating job opportunities at McDonalds on the computer, albeit not seriously. Before I announced I was going to the library, C asked if I would be able to stop by the library to pick up a yoga dvd for them.... Huh? Explanation. When C got out of bowling it was a move to aerobics which seems to be actually a kind of cultural studies riff on exercise fads by the teacher. They have "sweated to the oldies" with Richard Simmons and all manner of other weird exercise fads. Keziah, C's incredibly extroverted friend, embraces all this with verve and I guess they had done a little warrior pose yesterday and wanted more. I went to the library and most of what was checked in was "yoga for pregnant women" which I thought wasn't quite the message for a couple of 16 year olds. I managed to scrounge up something labeled "Ancient yoga traditions," a pilates video and, for good measure, something dance funk high energy and not yoga at all. The next thing I knew they reappeared dressed in full on 80s work out gear demanding photos of them in their best warrior pose.

Meanwhile Sam is out at a party and just called to say that I could pick him up a few minutes later because they have embarked on the tormenting of homeowners otherwise known as ding dong ditch.