The 80/20 rule

In the absence of going places, I’m thinking about things again. The Atlantic had an article where a self-proclaimed clutter … More

Note to self: an experiment

I’m going to start writing more frequently, on a schedule (-ish). To see if I can write without being first … More

Where I hang my hat is home (and there’s nothing to hang your hat on)

We’ve been nowhere but home lately, with very few exceptions. This feels strange for someone whose life’s aim is going … More

Like riding a bicycle, or getting back on the horse

It has been a long and tortuous road getting French driver’s licenses.  In an absolutely unfair twist of fate, I … More

We’ll always have Paris*

So here we are back in Paris, thoroughly bewildered, 7 months after departing on a long vacation and over 4 … More

Learning to settle

Early in our winter travels I said to Mark that I realized that we had everything with us that we … More

The town that would not let go

Our winter travels have had an unforeseen bookend:  Montpellier.  We’ve always liked this town as I’ve mentioned many times; it’s … More

Random language stories, bragging, plus a bit of encouragement for all of you who have told me you’d love to do what we’re doing, but you’re bad at languages.

1. I think a big part of the reason we’re here is because I had the hare-brained idea when I … More

French Cultural Training 101

I started a project back in September which fits in so nicely with this year’s theme of traveling by staying … More

An ode to rue Oberkampf

A friend sent me a Happy Thanksgiving text, saying we probably wouldn’t be celebrating since we are newly-minted Parisians. I … More