How To Write A Novel In A Month

I don’t really know how, but I’m going to try.
I had read about this NaNoWriMo event (I guess it is) a couple years back and thought it was really cool. Basically, you sign up and attempt to write 50,000 words in the month of November. It’s basically marathon writing for 30 days and it forces [...]

I’m A Bad French Student

I signed up for a Reading and Discussion class at the Alliance Francaise and got reminded how I’m not a great student. I mean, I have been a great student at various points in my past (7th grade?), but now I’m like the sullen misfit in the back of the room, with nothing to say [...]

I Went to the Country and All I Got…

Were these awesome, brand-new purple sandals for a whopping $1!
Don’t you just love the country?

So My Friend Wrote This Book

And it’s actually a good book.
Do you know those people who do like 10,000 things and manage to actually finish their projects—and do them well? My friend Leopoldo Gout is one of those people. He’s a painter, a filmmaker, a writer, a producer, an illustrator, etc and so on. He’s also one of the best [...]

Wine Hangover—Ugh

Last night was my friend Angie’s wedding reception. It was small and intimate and a good time. She looked beautiful, there was a magician and I drank too much red wine. Ooohh.
But congratulations to her, her husband and their baby on the way!
I’m nursing my wine hangover before heading to PA country this weekend. We [...]

Just Call Me Kato Kim

I’ve moved back into my friend T&T’s place again. Being a near-permanent house guest is a drag… but I’m lucky I’ve got good friends who are willing to put me up (and put up with me) in their lovely homes. It does make you feel a bit aimless, though, to not have your own home. [...]

The Times Gets Frenchie

This week’s T Magazine from the NYTimes was about all things French and it’s a pretty good read.
My favorite story was from an expat who was complaining about all the things I’ve complained about here on this blog and to anyone else who’ll listen. Namely, where to get haircuts, pedicures and the like in Paris. [...]

Bittersweet Birthday

I’ve had the best birthday ever.
It started at the French consulate where I finally got my long-term visa. This part was not so great. It was a madhouse at 10 am and they somehow lost the fingerprints and picture I took the last time I was there. I definitely was not ready for my close-up, [...]

My Birthday Resolutions

It’s 12:01 am so it’s officially my birthday!
I figure it’s a good time to make resolutions, another year older, another year (hopefully) wiser. So here they are, in no particular order:
1. Yoga and meditation every day
2. Learn a sport like martial arts
3. Be more loving, kind and compassionate (esp. to Dman!)
4. Get my carte de [...]

I’m a MacBook

After much waiting, anticipation, online research and a trip to the Apple Store half an hour ago, I’ve figured out which (new) MacBook I am! I’ve been impatiently awaiting this new line of notebooks for months and serendipitously, they arrived three days before my birthday. (Perhaps not so serendipitously for Dman’s wallet.)
The Airs are like [...]