the Scared is scared

This is simply one of the sweetest videos I’ve ever seen.

And now I know what to do when I’m scared.

Not every new year feels particularly, well, new, but this one truly does. So much is shifting in my life right now. I think it’s all for the good and I’m mostly excited by all the changes – and completely fascinated to find out where I eventually land.

Sometimes it’s easy to get a little scared when the ground is slippery, though.

And so, what a welcome delight to find this treasure today. Thanks to Numero Cinq for posting and drawing my attention to it.

Creativity, imagination, young wisdom, the ancient wisdom we know in our hearts, overcoming fright, chocolate chip cookies. Could you really ask for anything more?

Enjoy!

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Expat Blog Awards and Amazing Synchronicity!

Happy 12.12.12!

As many have noted, this is the last repetitive date we’ll see in our lifetimes (unless you can hang on another 88 years to 01/01/2101).

I’m a bit of a number nerd. Not so much into math, but a person who keeps strange little superstitions, making wishes at 11:11 and imbuing certain combinations with meaning. Hey, you never know!

Sometimes life does offer amazing moments of synchronicity, though.

After posting my James Baldwin essay yesterday, my fabulous roommate revealed that her uncle was close friends with the author. “Jimmy” was her cousin’s godfather!

James Baldwin and Robert Cordier (photo from Wikimedia Commons, posted by Acting123)

WHAT? I’ve been living with someone with a connection to my literary hero?!

“Yeah, we should all get coffee sometime,” she said casually.

“This is amazing!” I said.

She shrugged. “I wasn’t even going to mention it, but you keep talking about him.”

Sure enough, her uncle’s name sounded familiar. I went to my Baldwin biography and found several mentions of Robert Cordier. Then I googled him (of course) and found more: playwright, director, famed acting teacher, etc, etc. Whoa!

Mind officially blown.

In other fun news, I’ve been nominated for an Expat Blog Award!

The contest has been going on for awhile, but I was too shy to mention it before. But along with my slight number fixation and surprise connections, I must also have a competitive underdog streak somewhere in there, too.

If you want to help create a last minute surge in the rankings, nice comments here by Friday count as votes for my blog. Hop on over if you’d like. Merci!

Stories of synchronicity to share?

The Pillow Project

David Barnes of Spoken Word Paris reading while a member of the Pillow Project riffs

Hello friends,

Here’s your helping of a random (art) happening around town.

This past Tuesday The Pillow Project paid a visit to Shakespeare & Co. The Pittsburgh-based troupe plays “freejazz,” an improvisational form they describe as “using the body as the instrument playing visual notes.”

The experimental group is starting to forge deeper ties to Paris. On hand for this week’s event were members of the city’s active spoken word scene.

For non-French speakers, there’s a lot of blood and torture in the text!

Happy Halloween from Henri the Existential Cat

Halloween isn’t a big deal in Paris, but I can think of no better hommage than “L’Haunting” by Henri the Existential Cat. I first posted about Henri way back in 2010. I’m glad to see he’s out with a Halloween edition.

My thoughts go out to all affected by Superstorm Sandy. I hope some humor helps!

Best Proposal Ever!

I just couldn’t resist posting this proposal. It made me so happy! (And cry tears of joy).

Have a great weekend and enjoy!

Allo Allo (A Rock ‘n Roll Paris)

Enough slow, elegant, black and white montages of Paris for the moment.

I’m still after adrenaline. I want to be shook up. Give me some rock and roll.

Well, voila! A quick cut Paris.

Enjoy!

Everything Counts

I rarely post about anything that’s not Paris, writing, or, well, me-related, but I just had to share because this put a big smile on my face today.

An awesome dad (handsome, too!), cutie-pie kids, and Depeche Mode?!

Everything counts, y’all.

Have a great start to your week and enjoy!

How to Fake French

This video has been making the rounds of my friends in France. Probably because it’s true!

#2 cracks me up the most. The examples may seem a bit exaggerated, but I can vouch that all of these “mouth gestures/sounds” have a basis in reality. (Oh la la! Pfff!)

Funny thing is, I *do* speak French now, but I unconsciously make the mouth sounds, anyway. Guess I’m really authentic!

Enjoy!

Quick Poll: Subway Poetry?

"Published" in the metro station

I’ve been getting into the holiday spirit by taking care of lots of administrative tasks (insert sarcasm here).

On my way to one of my errands, I got off at the Saint Ambroise metro stop and paused as I was bit surprised: I was reading the stairs.

Getting a little vertigo trying to read the poem as I walk up the steps

Living in New York and then Paris, I’ve always noticed the poems they sometimes place in the subway cars. I hadn’t gotten off at the Saint Ambroise station in awhile, though, so I’d never seen the poem “published” on the actual steps before.

Do you think this is an honor for the writer or kind of sad? I guess I like the idea, but with the graffiti and general grubby feelings I get underground, I wasn’t sure whether it was actually cool. What do you think?

Que Veux-Tu? (Most Random Video Ever?)

Granted, I don’t watch a lot of music videos anymore, but this has to be one of the most random I’ve ever seen.

Happy Monday, folks. Have a great week.

Throw off the coils of self-consciousness and dance everywhere!