Eye Candy for Halloween

Just a little eye candy for Halloween.

Living Virtually Again with Vicki Archer and Garance Dore

Lunch at Brio is not quite Tuscany

So, here I am living virtually again.  Before I start with the French blogs though, I want to share this image taken in Birmingham at Brio's in Brookwood Mall this Wednesday.

Harriet and I had lunch there before going to Leeds to visit our 91-year-old aunt before she "goes to her reward."  (That is her phrase for "going to Heaven," which by the way a neurosurgeon has visited while in a coma.  See here.)

Now, back to living virtually.  Vicki Archer of "French Essence" has a great Daily Click today on LaDuree, one of mine and Maha's favorite places in Paris.

La Duree is famous for its macaroons, but for me the atmosphere is the draw.  For a real taste of Paris, see Vicki's Daily Click.

And then, no morning tea would be complete without Garance Dore's fashion blog.  She's in Dallas now, but the Paris blogs are the ones I like best.  This link will take you to one of my favorites.

Finished my second cup of tea, and now it's time to get back to the "real" world and go to the ATT store and see why my iPhone isn't working?!?

Lunch at the Waysider with Bear Bryant and Coach Saban

The bust of Bear Bryant which sits on "my" table at the Waysider.

Those of you who know me, know what an unlikely scenario this is, but -- wait -- let me explain:

At least two days a week I have my lunch at the Waysider, a restaurant in Tuscaloosa known for its support of the Alabama Football Team.

It is covered with photographs
of the team, the coaches, etc.  And there is a bust of Bear Bryant and a life sized cardboard statue of Coach Saban.

My favorite table at the Waysider is in a corner, by the restrooms.  It's quiet; it's a bit dark; but from here I can eat my lunch in relative calm and observe the other patrons as they come in.  If it's somebody I know, I can speak without leaving my table.

Well, for some reason, probably lack of space -- there is no more space on the walls to hang a single photograph, and I noticed the tables have been slightly rearranged to add another chair or two -- for some reason, "The Bear" has been placed on my little table for two.  And there he sits, keeping me company on those days I take my lunch there.  Coach Saban, on the other hand, is pointing and screaming something presumably at one of his players.  I don't notice him so much, but occasionally I have to move the sugar and butter around "The Bear" to make room for my lunch.

This is the view from my table into the main dining room.

By the way, Tuesday was Anita's birthday and the flowers and balloons were for her.  Anita and Dean always save me a piece of chocolate pie to finish my meal.  Thanks. ladies, and Happy Birthday, Anita.

Settling Back into my Life at Home

Juggling is a great metaphor for balancing.

I haven't posted in a week, and I want to get something new posted, but I find I haven't had much to say.

Maybe that's because it takes a while to settled back into my life at home.  I have certainly enjoyed doing that, and my life is full of love and engagement, even if it's not quite as exotic as a trip to Paris.

Anyway, this image of a woman juggler reminded me of how important it is to juggle all the elements of a fulfilling life.  It is truly a balancing act.

In Zurich, when I was feeling overwhelmed by doing my analysis and living my life, which was certainly trimmed down to the essentials, my analyst said, "It's like juggling.  You will get to the point where you can do your inner work and keep your outer life going at the same time."

It seemed like an impossible task at the time, but I am happy to say that I think I'm doing it.  Being retired helps, of course, not having to worry about bringing in the money to pay for it.  Having your children raised, also takes a few balls out of the act.  It's really quite a wonderful time of life; and it is almost as easy as it looks in this image of a woman keeping all those balls in the air while looking poised and even a bit unconcerned.  She is juggling all the aspects of her outer world, but she is definitely "somewhere else."  Like a circus act.

Schmuck's the Jewel on rue de Conde

Photo by Sandra Busby

Enhanced in PicMonkey and BeFunky

Photo by Sandra Busby

Enhanced in PicMonkey

Playing with Paris Pictures in PicMonkey and BeFunky

This is what can be done in PicMonkey with a blah shot taken on a rainy afternoon when the light was flat, somewhere in the sixth arrondissment in Paris in a store window display.

This is the original shot.  The red lazer looking light was caused by a light  caught in the camera.

This was the day it did not rain and I got a rather good shot of this fountain in the Place des Vosges.

This is what happened in PicMonkey.

And this is the watercolor done in Befunky, which I adore.

Flower Shops, Fruit Stands, and Salons deThe in Paris

Not much to say here, just a lot of eye candy.

The little tea room pictured, La Fourmi Ailee, is where I had my lunch today. Blanquette de veau, my all time favorite meal in Paris with rice and gravy.