The 117th day in Sceaux...

...was beautiful, and still is, even at 4pm.  The photo below was taken this morning:

Taken from my balcony on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 11:15AM

The hill running has caught up to me a bit, all in the name of progress.  I am building good stamina in my running, so I decided to burn a little more by running uphill a little faster, and of course, I added the BIG hill (80 feet climb in 800 feet laterally), and this is what strains any one of the groin muscles (lateral movements do, also, but hill running is a known culprit).  I had to sit out of my Saturday run, hoping for a Sunday run.  I did the "readiness test" described on the web, and I failed.  So I rest another day (today).  Because of the long walks I do going to and coming from church (just to bus stops and church itself), I decided to not to go.  But I joined in for worship at the time the family of faith was gathered from my apartment -- not via the Internet, but the old fashioned way: in the Spirit.  I was surprised to find I had not packed my old Baptist Hymnal, or maybe it is misplaced, but I found my old Romanian songbook, and a few of the songs I had come to know well.  I spent some time singing in Romanian, worshiping, and then I work on my Bible study blog, where I am working through Ephesians.

The Great Cheese Experiment continues, and this week, after one of my "better eat these steaks as the expiration date is already a little past due" dinners, I had a cheese plate (the French do a cheese plate immediately after dinner, which is then followed by dessert) consisting of five different cheeses (and only a small portion of each): Camembert, Gruyere, Compte, Chevre Frais, and Saint Agur.  I left Reblochon, Babybel, and La Vache Qui Rit in the refrigerator.  Dried fruit is a nice complement to cheeses, or so I was told by my admin, Christine, who set me out on this mission (Clarissa knows squat, Christine Knows It All).  I still have three more cheeses on her list, but by then, I will be cheesed out.  Most have been nice, some I will not revisit.  I will post my report of The Great Cheese Experiment another day.

Guitar practice, with focus, has begun.  I went back to the fundamentals with Matteo Carcassi, whose works are still regarded as standards almost 200 years after their composition.  I do love the sound of the classical guitar I commissioned Aquiles Torres of Katy, Texas to make.  That was just over three years ago...the tone of this guitar is motivational in that it projects so well and sounds brilliant (not as in my playing, but tonality).

I think I am ready to begin traveling within France on weekend (Saturday) trips.  My French is still poor, but well enough to go and tackle some of the countryside.  Oh, speaking of my French, the French tutor at work, who is working with three of us, has kindly agreed to a standing "Dejeuner a parler la langue francaise" ("lunch to speak the French language") on Fridays, in addition to our normal class time.  The four of us will  sit together for lunch, and only French will be spoken, however broken.  I pity the poor woman, listening to a Brit, a New Yawkah, and an adopted Texan pummel her native tongue for an hour over a meal.  She'll probably lose weight after what she hears makes her sick...I think I will suggest to other two we buy her lunch.

Well, that is all for now, a very busy week ahead of me, and a quiet weekend almost behind me.  Thanks for coming along.

Au revoir,

Mark

PS: Follow me on Twitter @lonewillheath (it is an anagram, not a new name), as I start exploring more I will be "posting" more from my phone

Turning 110 in Sceaux

Not years, days!

September weather has been better than August, and at least so far, our cycle of nice weather has given us 2 of the three weekend days (Friday afternoon being the beginning of the weekend so I count it) being sunny.  The days are growing shorter: back in June, the sky would be lightening up around 5AM; now I can clearly see Orion at 6:15AM.  I have been warned: the days are coming soon when I will got to work in the dark and come home in the dark, even if I leave at 5PM.  Oh, my friends in the American South, relish your sunshine!  I do!

Life is getting more settled; I am picking up more of the language (FAR from fluent), but enough that I can get around in the shops, and the occasional restaurant (a rare occurrence, as I hate going to a restaurant by myself). I am pan-frying my steaks now, sorta like the French: they use a pan with nothing else on it and get it hot, throw the meat down for about 2 minutes a side, and voila!  It is ready!  My take, and I tried their method, is a bit of a hybrid: I add a little olive oil, heat the pan until a drop of water pops on the oil, throw the steak down for 2 1/2 minutes a side, and voila!  I like my steak a little more done than the French, who seem to think medium-rare is on the verge of over-cooking a steak.  I have not got the routine of side dishes into my cooking, part of the problem of being male and thinking meat alone is enough, which is ample justification, and it is a pain, almost a waste, to keep that stuff around for one person.  I make sure and eat my veggies at work, Ma.

I got my bike "street legal" yesterday.  City ordinance allows bikes on any one way or two street, the bike can go any direction, but requires the bike to have a signal and front and back lights.  The first back light I had fell apart somewhere, and I do not how, but I suspect it was me going over something and it getting walloped by too many g's.  So, I had to get a new one, and I previously had no "signal", a.k.a., a bell, to warn pedestrians or other bikers that I am about to overtake them (for me, it is mostly for pedestrians, so they can avoid being run over; haven't overtaken many other bikes), now I have one (it is not cute, it is black and ugly -- on purpose).  Today, I was planning to ride into Paris, but it is supposed to rain, and I wanted to linger and enjoy Paris, rather than make a quick round-trip.

I am experimenting with cheeses.  There are times in the course of this work that I think the reason there are over 200 varieties of cheese in this country is that no one seems able to get it right.  Just kidding, I think I do not have a good palate for cheese tasting.  Let me say a little bit of any cheese goes a long way with me, and that also guarantees much fewer calories in eating cheese.  My favorites so far: Compte (one local to the Sceaux area), Chevre Frais (fresh goat cheese, do not let it stand more than 5 or 6 days, because it becomes a stinky cheese in the worst way), Saint Agur (the only blue cheese I can eat, and again, it is nice in small quantities), Emmental, the French version of Swiss cheese, and La Vache qui Rit (The Cow which Laughs), a soft pasteurized cheese.  I have more on my list to try, but Roquefort, Camembert, and Chevre Ancien are not on the repeat list...

Thanks for dropping by, and Chez Mark welcomes visitors, should you be in the neighborhood (for Texans, that would be anywhere in Europe)...

A bientot, mes amis!

Mark

Day One-Oh-2 in Sceaux

WOW!  A couple of days ago I passed the century mark in days living in France.  This was a good week, and I think, if my numbers are correct, the LAST KITCHEN CABINET arrived, completing the kitchen, on the 100th day of me moving into the apartment here in Sceaux.  I made videos of the kitchen and other rooms, and I think you can see them on my facebook page.

That was the big move-in event, and actually completes the move-in.

I attended a men's prayer breakfast today.  There were 18 of us, and while we did have breakfast, we also really prayed.  It was a good session.  I am attending a church in Versailles, Anglican by domination (thanks, Sharon) denomination, and evangelical.  Very "casual" atmosphere for worship -- not liturgical.  It is English-speaking, and it is a good place for me to go until my language skills, and more importantly, the Lord, leads me elsewhere.  I am not saying He will; I just want to be ready for anything He has for me here, wherever He wants me to serve.  I certainly enjoy the fellowship and worship -- quite needed.

Running continues to improve, and I am grateful to the Lord for such health.  I continue to study French, and practice guitar.  Developing better habits for both, and by 'better' I also mean I have a ways to go until those habits are solid and good.  Miss "all ya'll", comment or drop an e-mail to me.

au revoir,

Mark

The 95th day of Life in Sceaux

This has been a relatively uneventful week: get up, run or goof off, clean up, go to work, come home, look for someone I know on Google Talk, AIM, Skype, or Facebook, fix dinner, clean-up, watch a little of a DVD, go to bed, reset.

But you are in Paris, France!  Yes, I am, or at least within 5 miles of it, which translate to roughly 45-minutes to an hour by public transportation.  Oh yes, you must know that the lines you take, especially the bus ones, do not stay open all night for you -- after 9:30 PM your transportation options become limited.  It is not practical to go into Paris often, and when one does via public transportation, one needs to plan both ends of the traverse in advance.  Oh?  Yes, this is a lesson learned via experience.

But today is a beautiful day in Sceaux, there are some clouds, but mostly sunny with a gentle breeze.  Fortunately, I will not have to fight the other shoppers at Monoprix or the market, as I seem to be well-stocked for the coming week (Pam thinks it is very American of me to limit my excursions for grocery shopping to once a week).  I might bike into Paris today, if it does not rain, and do what?  Hmmm, bicycle thieves are real pros here, lurking about in vans with an ample selection of cable cutters.  Wherever I go, the bike and I must stay close together...

I decided I need to be more disciplined on my weekends (hence, this time of productive activity), so I have done laundry and studied an hour of French.  I have a suite of guitar DVDs through which I want to work (I think I left off just as I was about to learn "La Grange", but it was too close to bedtime to do it justice), and that is productive time.  I just hope the neighbors do not complain, because I might not be able to explain the nature of that song...

That is all for now, I hope your weekend is a good one; love on your family, talk with a friend, play with the dog...

a bientot,

Mark

Day 88 from Sceaux

Whew!  It has been an eventful week!

On Monday, as I noted on FB, I finally had enough "meubles de cuisine" (kitchen "furniture") to move everything out of boxes and hallways and into what would be considered a civilized storage space.  The last of the moving cartons went to trash.  This occurred 109 days after our furniture was packed and moved, and on the 82nd day of being in the apartment.  Of course, the move would have been completed weeks ago had it not been for the fact that all you get with a kitchen in France is the sink -- you must furnish everything else.

I have one more cabinet coming, just to add a little needed capacity and counter space, then I will post pictures.  None of the cabinets hang on the wall, as the walls are concrete and I would have had to hire someone, which would have no doubt delayed the completion until December.  But with the last cabinet in particular (it will allow me to move the microwave OFF the washer/dryer top), it will be enough for me.

I have hung all the pictures we brought, but there is room for a few more.  I think I will get with my admin at work and locate someone who can take some of my Hole in the Wall photos and mount them, especially the panorama shots I have put together.

The sun is shining today, the 2nd day in the last two weeks to be have sun.  It has been cool and rainy, and this is unusual for me in August (to quote Kenny Downer, "We have two seasons in Houston, Summer and August").  I am told that this part of Europe can go a whole summer without much sunshine (this probably explains the mad vacation rush to the south each August), but that September is perfect.  We'll see.

I did my first global webcast this week, and the technology actually worked.  Of course, I applied the KISS principle, which does not always guarantee success, but it does reduce the number of elements that could fail.  The bad thing about these things is it is impossible to get significant instant feedback (though there are controls for feedback, it is just, as a speaker, you cannot be watching the controls, reacting to them, and giving a coherent presentation at the same time), so it is hard to judge how it went.  The number of participants held throughout the presentation, but people could have had their phones on mute and playing video games for all I know.  Those that asked questions, asked very good questions, and their comments were quite good as well.

Today, I guess because of missing some sleep this week, I missed my running window.  I had thought about riding into Paris today (on my bike), but I don't know.  Need to make a trip into market today, then I think I'll...

Day 80 from Sceaux

OK, some days you will get a chronolog, like yesterday's, and other days you will get the reflective and pensive, which I think you are about to get now.

Life in Sceaux is way more laid back than Paris.  Or at least it seems this way.  Maybe it is because it is so green out here, maybe it is because it is so quiet.  It is probably both.  I leave the windows open, all four of them, most of the time when I am home.  All I hear, for the overwhelming majority of the time, are natural outdoor sounds.  There is no air-conditioning, and the flow of air keeps the apartment feeling fresh, as though I was already outdoors.  I like that.  It is relaxing.  Adding the balcony furniture gave me another 56 square feet of living area, which pushed the apartment area to slightly over 900 square feet.  The balcony just feels like another room, because the air feels and smells the same -- and it is nicely protected from the rain.  Despite the small size of the apartment, the windows and balcony give a much larger sense of space.  Those who know me well also know this is important for my psyche.

I got lamps this past weekend.  I did not realize how much more cheerful the place is with them.  I had to depend on natural light for the living spaces, and as an early riser, I did a lot of things in the dark -- not that, silly, it is only me!  Like eating breakfast (no room in the kitchen for table and chairs, though it has a light), and getting dressed.  It made the apartment feel very utilitarian when there was little or no sunlight.  Now, with the lamps, the place is downright enjoyable throughout the day, but much more so in the morning and evening.  I still use the natural light whenever I can, because it is cheaper than the alternative.

This next week, I should get two more kitchen counter/cabinets, and perhaps the etagere, which will complete the storage suite for the kitchen, and the last remnants of "I am not really moved in" will be a thing of the past. Speaking of which, have you any idea how many power strips and plug adapters and other such things you have collected over the years?  I have!  It seemed I was always running out to get such things, because with both different voltages and plug types here versus the USA, I had to start from scratch to get all the e-toys connected.  I was fortunate enough to find a step-down transformer to run my USA DVD player (their DVD players will not play USA DVDs).  So now the new 40" LCD TV can do more than play pictures from my trips; I can actually watch my favorite movies.

On Facebook, my friend Kim mentioned the challenge of language.  Every encounter, even the simplest one, is a challenge for me, even as I study the language.  My vocabulary cannot grow fast enough, and my ear can not tune quickly enough.  The French in Sceaux have been patient and helpful (after all, they are not Parisians, just ask them), and I read what I can to build vocabulary, but the ear training happens on the fly, and it is tough to decipher what they are saying.

I am excited about my job, though it is very challenging and I would be lying to say I had my hands around it. I love having the Coulee Verte adjacent to the apartment -- it makes for pleasant runs (which are improving) and adventurous, but safe, bicycling.  I have lost weight since I have been here; I needed to do so, and I intend to lose a lot more because of smarter eating and a lot more activity.  I miss my family and friends, and most of my human contact is with co-workers -- once I get back to Sceaux it is all quiet.  And green. And open.  I like that.

a bientot,

Mark

Day 79 from Sceaux

Wow!  I have been bad!  Forty days without a blog here?!?!??!

Things have been busy in here in Sceaux, of the province of Ile-de-France, the regions of Hauts-de-Seine, outside of Paris, in France.  Last time I posted here was July 3rd.  We had some of our French neighbors over that night for a traditional "4th of July meal": BBQ pork sandwiches, potato salad, watermelon, and chocolate cake (Pam made all of the above, except the watermelon, but she did cut it).  I had a slideshow of our "Great Western Vacation", which Pam and I took in 2007, playing on the 32" TV.  It was good for conversation, and a good time had by all.  On July 4th, Pam and I saw the Statue of Liberty -- the one here in France on the Seine, and think by the 9th bridge (they are numbered).  This is the same one, you recall, which was referenced in "National Treasure 2".  I arranged a very nice dinner cruise on the Seine for us to enjoy the 4th and her being here for nearly a month at that time.  The 4th also represented the last full day of the rental furniture, for on Monday the 5th, they hauled it away leaving the apartment quite bare (our stuff was in-country going through customs).

With no furniture and therefore no place to sleep, we went into Paris to the Royale Phare Hotel, right across from the Metro stop Ecole Militaire, and the place we stayed when we celebrated our 20th anniversary in 1999.  It is a typical French, as opposed to international business, hotel.  Small rooms and no air-conditioning.  In 1999, we came in late March so the A/C was not an issue.  In July of 2010, we needed the windows open, and got to enjoy the sounds of the City of Lights -- all night long.  There was a lull at 3AM, but it started again at 5AM with garbage and delivery trucks making their appointed rounds.  Pam got to do a bit sight-seeing and lots of shopping, and I got to schlep over an hour to work on the fabled public transportation systems -- oh yeah, I was only going 7 miles.  Our three nights in Paris were enough, and we were anxious to return to Sceaux (where the only thing you hear in the morning other than my snoring is the singing of birds).

Our furniture arrived and we learned two things: one, the names of all the rooms in the apartment in French (the movers helped us learn so we could tell them where to put the boxes, and two, we had to assemble all the new stuff we purchased in the States for the apartment, because movers do not assemble new stuff.  The latter one was particularly painful for me, as I did not have access to the suite of tools normally at my disposal.  Nonetheless, the balcony furniture, dining room table, and bedroom furniture put together by day's end (although there was not enough room for both nightstands; one became the living room TV stand).

What was missing after the move-in?  TV, DVD player, a kitchen (you only get a kitchen sink, the rest you have to supply yourself).  I went to Darty for the TV, and they were very helpful, even calling a taxi for me (I went there by bus).  The kitchen stuff we ordered from Auchan, and after many shenanigans, the appliances were delivered the day before we returned to Houston -- sans counter-cabinets.  I was in Houston a little over two weeks, all business, but grateful for the family time we did enjoy together, including my grandsons's birthday party -- he's two now.

I returned to France on August 3rd, only to find that my business travel for August had fallen victim to a rather austere cost-cutting edict.  The sun is setting sooner now, so I noticed also that I need lamps -- only the kitchen, bathroom, and hallway have lights.  Surprisingly, considering all the trouble we have had getting stuff ordered and delivered, my 5 new lamps (four of them standing lamps, or "lampadaires") arrived within a week, delivered to the door of my apartment.  Contrast this to the delivery of ONE cabinet by Auchan (two others are STILL waiting to be delivered, as well as a kitchen etagere).  The one cabinet weighs 65 pounds, and  the guy did not even want to bring it from the street (over 50 meters from my apartment); I mean, c'mon, don't you ALWAYS have a hand truck on a delivery vehicle?  I picked it up and pressed it overhead and walked back to the apartment.  I am sure it was a good resistance exercise, but it was clumsy to boot -- and unassembled.  The assembly actually went better than expected, and I was able to get somethings off the floor and into proper storage.  The two coming cabinets and the etagere should empty the last box (mostly dishes), and get the canned goods out of the hallway, completing the move-in -- approximately 7 months from date of official transfer.

I have continued my running regime along the Coulee Verte (it can be found on Wikipedia), and I even bicycled into the Montparnasse area of Paris (beginning of the Coulee Verte) last Saturday.  I did this right after lunch, and had run that morning.  I had to climb over 100 feet elevation at one point before heading downhill into Paris.  Needless to say, coming home was uphill all the way.  I got nothing else done the rest of the day.

Pam has decided not to make the move; there are a lot of complicated factors in that decision which I do not question.  As an American, she come here for 90 days at a time whenever she wants, so she can take care of Hickory Mill Court, the dogs, help Michelle as her #2 is on the way, and keep her job and continue to build toward her retirement (and with the job situations these days...).  We talk almost daily by video, and she doesn't have to put up with my guitar music, snoring, or general loudness I bring along wherever I go.

I will keep you posted as I share this adventure with you, thanks for dropping by, and the "chambre-amis" (guest room) is ready and available...

A bientot,

Mark