Friday, May 29, 2009

Travel

I'm off to Galway (Ireland) this weekend, with a brief stop in Dublin tonight. A much needed respite from the city, and I cannot wait to just spend time sitting by the ocean!

I promise, pictures and updates to come soon, including on : Rennes & Epernay (champagne region) ; Roland Garros (French Open) ; Cincinnati and Houston trips ; random work and Paris observations.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Happiness

I am still thinking about the amazing sermon given at the American Church in Paris Sunday. With references to French philosophers, modern literature and consumerism and how it relates to the Gospel, it was great. The subject was ‘Resilient Joy’ and I’m still thinking of the question posed : ‘What did you pursue this week thinking it would bring you happiness?’


Rev Laurie Wheeler continued by saying the pursuit of happiness won’t cut it, but rather we must find the source of it. (Of course, as this was a church sermon, one answer is that our salvation is the source.)


What also really impressed me was that I was not too impressed by Rev Wheeler’s candidating sermon a few months ago, nor by her resume / biography. This was a pleasant surprise. For that little does of megativity, I think she speaks too fast and uses too many idioms / sarcasm in her humor (of course I love this aspect) ; but for a congregation where for many English is a second language, I think a bit is lost.


You can listen to the sermon here.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Technology

This is my very first post from my new MacBook !!! How exciting, and it even has that "new computer smell" (like a new car smell).  Of course, Macs are different, and even though I've used them before, and been very familiar with them before, this takes an adjustment. When 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. I am in PC and Windows world, coming home to MacBook and iWork is a bit tricky.

And yes, now that I have a personal computer at home and actually have internet/phone/tv at home, I will post more. It's just right now I'm still unpacking from my last two trips, and am paranoid about the load of laundry I'm doing. Why you ask?...

When I was in Cincinnati two weeks ago, I get a call from the relocation agent asking me if I left any appliances in my kitchen running (really, who turns on all their water-based appliances and leaves them running before leaving town for nine days?). Anyway, turns out some pipe leading from my boiler, that was between the floors had an issue and caused a flood in the flat below me. Through crazy key exchanges, phone calls and emails with friends in Paris, all was fixed and all is ok. My paranoia comes from the fact that "they" (plumber? relo agent?) turned some of the knobs in the boiler / washing machine area and I am hoping I turned them all back correctly.

So off to unpack now, but updates will be forthcoming on (1) my Cincinnati trip ; (2) my unexpected Houston trip that immediately followed ; and, (3) my weekend trip to Reims and Eparney (Champagne region) in France.