Paris etc travel log

It's been a while since I updated my journal properly so I figured I would give it a go. So much has happened since last I posted.

October 6th - 16th
HiC and I met up in London on the 6th of October and hopped the EuroRail to Paris. That same night we participated, all night long, in Nuit Blanche - a cultural and arts festival scattered all over Paris running straight through to the morning. We rented an apartment in Paris through Thursday instead of a Hotel room and by far that is the way to go. It was right on the edge of the 4th district (arrondissement) on rue de Rivoli which allowed us to shop and be festive at just about at any hour. The main reason for the trip was to see the sold-out George Michal concert for which we had scored seriously nice tickets. The concert was actually quite good. If he comes to the US I would likely go see him again - how Gay is that?

Thursday we headed out south of Paris to a Guest-house and enjoyed the company of several new friends. The house is an old, yet very large, French Country house that has facilities for up to 24 guests. Nice and quite during the day and lots of fun at night. I recommend going if you are ever to spend time in and around Paris. Fred, one of the co-owners, is an amazing chef and the meals we were served could easily have been plated at any up-scaled French restaurant. Well worth the 75 Euros per night (which included 3 meals a day and all the wine lunch and dinner we could stand). While there we went off with one couple and toured around a bit near the demarcation between northern and southern France. We visited several Mid-evil churches and even one from the 9th century that pre-dated the country of France itself.

Back to London on Saturday to meet up with Jeff, HiC's Partner, doing the tourist thing Sunday including a tour of the London Bridge Dungeons and the remainder of the day at the Tate Modern Museum. Sunday evening Jeff and HiC managed to score reservations to Jamie Oliver's (The Naked Chef) restaurant Fifteen in Huxton. (Note the Trivia on the Wiki entry if you follow the link - classic politicians all partisianship aside). Jokes about English cooking aside, this place was very good. Even in light of our week in France. Stiff competition indeed.

It was nice to get home again Monday. The 10 hour flight from Gatwick to Atlanta went quickly as I slept at least 8 hours of the flight missing the business class meal and all of the other goodies. That's okay, All I was looking for was a comfortable place to crash the hours away which I received in spades.

October 20th - 23rd
Friday of last week could not come quickly enough for me. Even though my house is trashed from being just a trampoline point between travels for 6 weeks (mail and newspapers stacked up) I was excited to leave again; this time for Providence Rhode Island to visit Ricky. We had been apart for 23 days (tough life, I know) but it seemed worse due to the time zone difference between Europe and the East Coast. Rhode Island was a major event for me in that it was time to meet the best friends (twins) and potentially a few family members (eek! ;-) I survived and we had a wonderful time for sure. Unfortunately we were too busy partying and such with the friends (Heather and Heidi) that we didn't get the chance. The fact we also didn't have our own car played some into it too - but we can take the blame and say we were just too busy. Sunday we were to take the "quick trip" from Rhode Island to Newark and train down to Princeton. I emphasize "quick trip" because even though our flight was scheduled for 1PM we didn't get home to Princeton until 8 PM or so. In hind-sight taking the Train all the way would have been faster, and more relaxing. Traveling, especially by air, is not always fun.

Waking Monday in the AM I had to haul myself down to the Princeton train station at 5 AM to catch my train into the City (or near there abouts - Newark). It was interesting to see the crowds of commuters - people watching is a sport after all.

So I'm home again and off to Mom's for dinner tonight. Trivia Tuesday for sure and then Ricky comes Thursday for a week where we will be celebrating Halloween in Midtown and staying at a Bed and Breakfast near the park.

Well, that's all for now. I'm sure life will present new and unusual twists soon enough and I'll be back in this editor thinking it all through.

Paris

After an overnight flight into London, a train to Paris, then an all night party (Nuit Blanche) I crashed hard today (Sunday) and slept 18 hours - yikes! I guess all of the travel preceding contributed big. I feel great now and back to bed soon but wanted to post and say hello to everyone.

Live from New York

Sitting in Starbucks on the upper west side a few blocks south of Columbia University. Ricky's working on his Anthropology stuff, I'm working at nothing much at all. It's good.

We didn't make it to the game today though we spent a bit of time on campus yesterday. We're on our way to Ricky's fraternities homecoming party which shall be fun I am sure. Pirates of course, never Ninjas.

The hotel my travel agent hoked us up with is on 54th near Broadway - so not too far from Times Square and all of the touristy stuff - though we've typically stayed clear of that.
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An interesting thing happened Thursday. A recruiter called and pitched me on a position with her client's firm - Director of Professional Services for a major ERP software company. Based in NYC. This is without question what I currently do and I have about double their experience requirements :-) Shall be interesting...
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My divorce settlement is final. I was able to trade Laurie a pile of assets for the alimony so I'm pretty much a free man in those terms. I also set up an educational trust for Kristen so regardless of what happens to me, or where I'll find myself, she is taken care of. So all in all, life is truly starting anew, albeit with some really excellent advantages. A smart-funny-cute boyfriend, my kids, a great relationship with the ex, and nothing holding me back.

I want to Dance

I want to dance. I want to slow dance until the early hours of the morning.

I want to wake. I want to wake on a beach at sunrise, walk hand in hand, and share the cool comfortable sheets of an overstuffed bed for the remains of the day.

I want to walk. I want to walk through a New England wood deep in fall color, the crisp breeze bringing our hands together, our bodies closer as we smile.

I want to sit. I want to sit by a fire on a snowy day, as one, drawn to our books, to each other, to our lives.

I want to live. I want to live by the sea where the sun shines warm and the waves crash among us as we play.

I want to dance.

First Visit

Bouncing along on the train heading home, I realize how lucky I actually am. I mean, I'm not lottery lucky or anything but still, it was a great weekend and the next 11 days can't pass by quick enough for me. Ricky and I really hit it off as we knew we would having begun this weeks and weeks ago while he was in France. And soon I'm to be in France yet I to a small degree wish I were spending that time in Princeton.

Tons of travel on the horizon for me. Back to Atlanta for a software conference tomorrow. Next week I'm in Chicago the 24th-26th for another conference. That Thursday to Sunday (28th-Oct 1st) I'm in NY with Ricky for assorted fun and the Columbia homecoming game. Monday the 2nd I fly from NY to LA to attend yet another software conference, this time in Santa Barbara returning on the red-eye the morning of October 5th. That evening Stacy and I are going to go see the Indigo Girls at the Tabernacle (shall be fun). And then finally on October 6th I leave for Paris for the George Michael concert (and my last merit badge before I become a Gay-scout) by way of London and back again on the 15th. A week at home and then Ricky will be coming to Atlanta the weekend before Halloween. Halloween in Midtown - this too shall be fun.

A pretty intensive month to come :) *note to self: sleeeep*

Pretty much sums it up.

New boy

Well boys there is a new guy in my life.

His name is Lance and he really caught me by surprise. We met at the mall earlier today. He's kind of young but ya'know - I may never learn.

It's been an amazing day. We ended up over at my place and after a pretty intense day took a nap together. He was so cute laying across my chest. Such pretty eyes too.

Not to bore you but here's a picture of Lance.