I hope it's not this cold in Paris

It's been cold here - a bit colder than we're used to - 47 degrees Fahrenheit, 8 Celcius - cold. Doesn't help that I just got my hair cut and the protective layer around my neck is gone. At least I got one other thing off my list, getting my hair cut.

Picked up a 2 gig SD card for the camera, finally got a Paris map. Still need to pick up one of those plug things so I can charge stuff there, get some euroes (sp?), I need to make a list of all these little things - I thought I had but I can't find it.

Remember how I said I was going to fly to Brussels, I changed my mind. A friend told me that the train ride would be far more enjoyable and convenient. So I looked into the train again and found a great deal, 25 Euro! The plane was about 150 euro. Made that decision easier - got the train ticket online.

My class project hasn't been working out too well. I knew I could never do that painting justice but I am doing a horrible job, don't know enough about the program to do a good job with it. So I think I will be abandoning that one and starting with something else. Something not so ambitious. Aside from that project, I have one more project to complete and then I am done.

Progressing

I've been making a steady amount of progress both with my class work and the trip to Paris.

The unfortunate part of doing my class work on a PC vs a Mac is that I don't have all the fonts that are available with the Mac, so I will have to complete the text portions in the lab next week. I picked my wild card project - Van Gogh's Starry Night. It's a challenge but any project I picked would have been.

So many decisions on the trip. Decided to fly to Brussels, vs taking the train. The train will take me to the other side of town from the Airport and where I am staying and I am really overwhelmed with all the other decisions to make and want to skip wondering about how to get from the train station in Brussels to the hotel. Although the train would have been nice.

I think I will go to 3 museums - Louvre, D'Orsay & Pompidou. Of course there will be the standard sites - the Eiffel Tower, the Arc, Siene, Notre Dame. I've got many links and emails to go through that I've been saving on places to visit. I will try to go through them Sunday. I want to keep this leisurely - with sites in the morning/afternoon and strolls/shopping in the afternoon-evening. Taking trips is so much work!

Braved the crowds today and picked a few things at a great sale. I picked up gloves and thermals.

Also working in a knitting project - cat blanket - the kitties have so many sleeping spots and not enough blankets.

So much to do

I definitely need to cut out all the extracurricular activities between now and the trip. I've got so much to do and I've been busy reading and crocheting.... just like me isn't it?

I am done with Son of a Witch, since I had no expectations, it think I liked this one better in a way. Would have liked a happy ending though but in it tied up many things.

I was contemplating on what project to start on next but like I said, got other things I must get to before the trip. I've still got to wrap up the projects for my illustrator class. I will be spending a better part of the long weekend working on that. I have yet to figure out how I will be getting from Paris to Brussels - train or plane??? Probably be the train but since I haven't researched that, it's one more thing I've got to do. Time is ticking away.

Thankfully this year, I get to go to someone elses' place for Thanksgiving, minimal cooking, some driving though and it's on Saturday.

I suppose blogging is extracirricular as well, huh?

Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the eats, drive safe and happy shopping.

The second book, crafting and more

I had my annual holiday stamping workshop over the weekend. It's just an afternoon of holiday projects to get the creative juices going for the holidays - unfortunately, I am the one who had the creative block and was stumbling through the process. I guess in a way it was good that I had trouble, that way the others got to see that I too, like them, have trouble with the creative process sometimes (often!).

K, Tania and Smariek came over. Smariek has never been to one of the stamping dates and appeared to enjoy it - it's always fun to be around other creative people. Smariek brought over her completed caps and we got to admire her handy work. Tania shared her wire wrap jewelry - very pretty rings - Tania had both Smariek and myself pick one out for ourselves - I wore mine all weekend. I will have to remember to take a picture and share it here. Smariek also got to try crocheting a bit with Tania - I don't dare teach anyone to crochet given my incredibly poor technique - I crochet like one knits. I haven't seen K in a while and she's been busy with all that lifes throws at people but it was good to see her and I am glad she was able to break away to come by.

Smariek bought me a French at a glance book for my trip - just what I needed! Now all I need to get is a map. Couldn't find fog in there though - found "it is foggy". I have a feeling that while I am there, I will be mixing in some Spanish in my attempts to communicate.

Also picked up a handbag that may comfortably carry these books, a camera and my wallet. Most of the bags I found were either too big or too small and for some reason I didn't seen any bags with long shoulder straps - I guess they aren't fashionable anymore? Forget that they may be practical. Still need some gloves - will try to take advantage of the Thanksgiving sales....

I've started reading Son of a Witch, the sequel to Wicked. So far just building up the story - not bad.

Picked up a new cat toy today and they're actually playing with it! Most often, the toys bought just sit around collecting dust with no interest from the little munchkins but this one was definitely popular - at least for this evening. That's Hobbs in there, getting all wide eyed.

The plans are set!

Drum roll please!

After much consternation, the big details are set for the trip next month, tickets, hotels & dates all done. 6 days in Paris and then to Brussels. The only detail I need to finalize is getting from Paris to Brussels - there is a 1 hour flight at 7:30 am (7:30am!!!!!!) from Paris, and I am thinking maybe the train would be better.

Picked up this book today - lots of photos on just about everything. Funny, just read an email from S suggesting something like this.

I've been told it will be cold, so need to prepare for that - I have a nice cashmere scarf but need to get some gloves & some thermals. I don't know about a cap or hat, never been my thing but I may need it.

I need a tote/handbag that I can stuff the scarf and gloves into when I am not wearing them, along with the camera(s). Should I take the camcorder? Maybe I should leave all the shopping for when I get there? A coworker suggested I go with an empty suitcase and shop there for clothing - I am not sure that' such a good idea in many ways.

But that's enough about Paris and the trip. Got a nice card from one of the interns that worked with us over the summer. He moved on to Daytona Beach to be a pilot. It was nice to hear from him again. Was it only 3 months ago that he headed back to school?

I am done with Wicked. I am not sure what I had expected but I have mixed feelings after having read it. Some parts I really enjoyed, ie the times in college with friends, Elphaba's sharp wit, some parts were a bit depressing and some plain strange. Too many parallels with the real world. I had heard so much about the musical and figured it to be a good read and it was but maybe just a bit too descriptive and complex. I don't think I've ever seen the Wizard of Oz but know the story some what, but I guess I never knew a house would fall on the sister! I checked out Son of the Witch at the same time, assuming it's the story of the son. Didn't much care for his character in Wicked.

Better get to bed at a decent time tonight.

The cat will find the yarn

A corner made for the cats which they never used. So I took it over for the air purifier and stashing yarn.... now a new cozy napping spot - how do they know?

It's been a while

Gosh - it's been a while since I've posted anything here. Where did the time go?

I've been busy with the every day things. The time change has gotten the whole routine off a bit, especially since it's dark even before I leave work. Been knitting/crocheting caps and keeping up with Cap-Karma. Read a book - Prey by Michael Crichton. Starting Wicked tonight.

Other than the normal things, I've been trying to finalize my trip to Paris. Yes, I am going to Paris next month. I am pretty excited about it, a little anxious about being in a strange place by myself but that's what adventures and traveling are all about, right? It should be lovely there, right before the holidays - the city of lights in the season of lights. The extended family are all going on a cruise at the same time - got invited to join them but it was out of the question given my plans - but honestly, 11 days on a boat is probably way too much for me.

Before I get on that plane, I've got to complete my illustrator class - I am getting way behind with the assignments. This second class exercises are much more involved and challenging. I've also got to pick a "wild card" project, which is basically a free choice project that we pick to illustrate using the many techniques we have learned. Choice is not a good thing for me as it takes me forever to make creative decisions. I supposed I should decide on what I want to do this weekend since I have less than a month to finish it.