It's now 100%, absolutely, positively, without-a-shadow-of-a-doubt, officially certain that Ariel and I are heading back to California in the next couple of months. Of course, this may not exactly come as news to anyone, so why am I even bothering to announce it (again)? Because, at long last, I finally bought my ticket. Mark your calendars, boys and girls, because my flight to San Francisco leaves on October 6, 2009, at 1:30 pm.
I have to say, I'm feeling pretty ambivalent about this flight. I've really enjoyed the past year that Ariel and I have spent here in Paris (and I'm going to continue to enjoy it up until the Oct. 6). To be honest, there's a big part of me that doesn't want to leave. I live in a beautiful apartment in a beautiful city, my work is going well (though it won't exactly be rewarding in the financial sense this coming year), and I have a whole big chunk of my family just a train ride - or even better, a 10 minute walk - from where I live.
At the same time, it's going to be nice to be back in California around good friends, close to other parts of the family, and where hopefully work will still be good (albeit equally nonpaying). Also helping the whole excited-to-go-back-to-California side: the fact that Ariel will already be there. She's leaving Paris on September 19, so that means there's going to be a little over 2 weeks here in Paris without her. If two weeks without my wife won't make me want to jump on a plane and fly 17 hours to San Francisco (with layover), then I don't know what will.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Uncle Scrooge, Minus the Scottish Accent and Money
Over the past few months, my niece Sofia has become a talking fiend. She's learning to speak in three different languages, and her words in all three make frequent appearances amid the babble that pretty much constantly flows from her mouth when she's not unconscious. Give her something to eat and she says "merci." Take her for a walk to the park and she'll chant "volta, volta!" ("trip, trip!"). Change her diaper and she starts crying "I know" (Sofia tends to cry a little when you change her, so Lee and Pegs try to calm her down by shushing and saying things like "I know," which has led the Littlest Pool to believe that "I know" has something to do with diapers and booty wiping).
Lately Sofia has especially enjoyed saying people's names, which tend to get stuck on "repeat" in her brain. A pretty big chunk of her day now is spent calling out "Daddy, Daddy, Mama, Mama" over and over again (which actually sounds like "Dadee" and "Mama"). Mixed in with her parents are Yia Yia and Papou (Pegs' parents), Mamie and Pop (Lee and my parents), Bon Papa (my grandfather), "Iki" (Pegs' sister Nikki) and her children "Adada" and "Eva" (Alexandra and Eva), and us Vandersibs. Sofia got Vanessa and Ariel's names down pretty quickly: "Nana" and "ao." Damien and I have been a bit trickier, though. I'm still not exactly sure what she calls Damien, but this past weekend she finally found some semblance of my name that's been able to repeat, and she spent a good chunk of Saturday saying over and over again: "Duck."'
To me, this is excellent knews for several reasons. 1) I have now joined the pantheon of names Sofia repeats ad nauseum, which makes me feel all special. 2) "Duck" is far better than her previous attempts to say my name, which usually ended up as something closer to "Dick." And 3) looking back on Sofia's first word, it is now abundantly clear that she's been trying to say my name the whole time - indisputable proof that I am her favorite uncle.
Damien and Young: Suck it.
Monday, July 20, 2009
When Stereotypes Come to Life
We've all heard the stories of the awful American tourist. Hell, network news programs have even produced terrible, cringe inducing "reports" on them. But they don't really exist, do they? I mean, no one could possibly be that obnoxious, right? Well tonight, as I write with the apartment windows open, I am listening to what can only be described as the platonic Awful American Tourist stereotype made flesh as he shouts and cackles on a hotel balcony across the street.
Let me add that I live on a fairly busy street, near a fairly busy intersection. It's 11:45 p.m. right now, and there are still cars regularly driving by, people are in cafés and restaurants chatting, and I can still hear this guy's every word. What's he doing on this warm Paris night in the middle of what must be his summer vacation, you might ask. Based on the amount of time he's spent on the phone, I'd guess that he's calling every single person he has ever known to tell them that he's in "Pair-ee - ha HA!!"
A selection of excerpts from his many, many conversations:
"HEY HOW YA DOIN' KEN! GUESS WHERE I'M CALLIN' FROM?!!! [Yes, capitalization and extra exclamation points are necessary]."
...
"We're staying on the sixth floor of this hotel - I need some fuckin' GARGOYLES up here, ya know? Ha HA!!"
...
"I went up fuckin' Noder-DAHM today, I ate fuckin' mussels, I went to the fuckin' market...I'm lovin' it, I'm LOVIN' it! [Noise that sounds like a cross between a laugh and a lung being hacked up]!!"
...
"Yah, we've done the whole Louvre: I saw the Mona Lisa. ... No, we've BEEN THERE ALREADY!"
...
"I'm looking at that Tower right now!"*
Maybe I'm being too hard on the guy, though. Maybe this is one of those situations when, as an American, I feel more self conscious and am more irritated by the rudeness of a countryman than the French themselves are. I mean, at least the guy seems to be enjoying his visit.
...And just as I finish writing that thought, his wife gets on the phone and shrieks, "Tom, guess what? They got fuckin' Segway scooters out here! Segway scooters!!"
*(editor's note: he wasn't. You can't see the Eiffel Tower from this part of the city)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Extension for ao!
After almost two months of waiting to get the final word from Stanford Medical Library about Ariel's job and if/when she would start up again, we finally have an answer. And if you've read the heading for this post, you know it's good.
A little background first, though. Ariel first got the okay for her leave of absence to come to Paris for the year back in August of 2008, taking effect on September 1st. The leave was only good for one full year, though. After that, Ariel would have to ask for an extension, which would involve asking higher-ups at the library and human resources, etc. Despite that, Ariel was told that asking for an extra month wouldn't be a problem, provided that she made the request well in advance (like, in the spring of 2009, for example).
Of course, that was before the global economy was flushed down the planet-sized toilet.
Fast forward to early May. Around that time Ariel wrote her boss at the library checking in and (half)jokingly asking if, you know, ha ha, she still had a job when she gets back to Palo Alto. Turns out, the answer was, "We'll let you know in a week after the big meeting." Ominous much?
Thankfully, following the scary meeting Ariel still had her job (sadly, some of her friends didn't have theirs anymore). But the question of whether or not she could get the extra month extension was still up in the air. Obviously she wanted it, but she was scared to press too hard for it out of fear of endangering her job status at the library. And if she couldn't get it, she would have to go back to Palo Alto sometime in August, which be a royal pain in the ass because a) it's already the end of June and getting a ticket for August would be damn near impossible and b) I wouldn't be able to go back with her, since I wouldn't be done with my research, meaning Ariel would have to not only be in Palo Alto alone for a month and half to two months, but she'd also have to find a place for us on her own. Needless to say, not much fun.
At first, we thought we'd hear back from the library pretty quickly. Then a week went by, and then another, and another... We started getting nervous, and I for one was convinced that she was going to have to go back in August. Ariel, meanwhile, was preparing an email to send to HR asking for the status and gently pushing for an answer if only to get a plane ticket. And then, literally as we were talking about her email and when to send it, dear sweet Marcia from Stanford Human Resources wrote to let Ariel know that she could return to work on October 5th.
Victory! Huzzah! Woot!
So, that was an incredibly long and probably boring story to say that Ariel and I will now definitely be heading back to Palo Alto at the end of September. Or, at least, Ariel will be. I still need to find a plane ticket (but that's another story). Still, we'll both definitely be back in California by early October at the latest.
In the meantime, Ariel and I celebrated tonight by drinking a nice bottle of chilled white wine along with our tasty dinner and eating some ice cream to cool down from the 90˚ heat that we had in Paris this afternoon (yet another story).
Yep, it's been a pretty good night.
A little background first, though. Ariel first got the okay for her leave of absence to come to Paris for the year back in August of 2008, taking effect on September 1st. The leave was only good for one full year, though. After that, Ariel would have to ask for an extension, which would involve asking higher-ups at the library and human resources, etc. Despite that, Ariel was told that asking for an extra month wouldn't be a problem, provided that she made the request well in advance (like, in the spring of 2009, for example).
Of course, that was before the global economy was flushed down the planet-sized toilet.
Fast forward to early May. Around that time Ariel wrote her boss at the library checking in and (half)jokingly asking if, you know, ha ha, she still had a job when she gets back to Palo Alto. Turns out, the answer was, "We'll let you know in a week after the big meeting." Ominous much?
Thankfully, following the scary meeting Ariel still had her job (sadly, some of her friends didn't have theirs anymore). But the question of whether or not she could get the extra month extension was still up in the air. Obviously she wanted it, but she was scared to press too hard for it out of fear of endangering her job status at the library. And if she couldn't get it, she would have to go back to Palo Alto sometime in August, which be a royal pain in the ass because a) it's already the end of June and getting a ticket for August would be damn near impossible and b) I wouldn't be able to go back with her, since I wouldn't be done with my research, meaning Ariel would have to not only be in Palo Alto alone for a month and half to two months, but she'd also have to find a place for us on her own. Needless to say, not much fun.
At first, we thought we'd hear back from the library pretty quickly. Then a week went by, and then another, and another... We started getting nervous, and I for one was convinced that she was going to have to go back in August. Ariel, meanwhile, was preparing an email to send to HR asking for the status and gently pushing for an answer if only to get a plane ticket. And then, literally as we were talking about her email and when to send it, dear sweet Marcia from Stanford Human Resources wrote to let Ariel know that she could return to work on October 5th.
Victory! Huzzah! Woot!
So, that was an incredibly long and probably boring story to say that Ariel and I will now definitely be heading back to Palo Alto at the end of September. Or, at least, Ariel will be. I still need to find a plane ticket (but that's another story). Still, we'll both definitely be back in California by early October at the latest.
In the meantime, Ariel and I celebrated tonight by drinking a nice bottle of chilled white wine along with our tasty dinner and eating some ice cream to cool down from the 90˚ heat that we had in Paris this afternoon (yet another story).
Yep, it's been a pretty good night.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Random ao quote: British edition
Tonight, while Ariel was flossing, she paused, looked up in thought, and then asked:
"Do you suppose the Queen of England owns sweatpants?"
Well, what do you neglected readers think?
"Do you suppose the Queen of England owns sweatpants?"
Well, what do you neglected readers think?
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Davises Have Landed
Ariel's parents are in town! Huzzah!!
They arrived safely this morning after a loooooooooooooong trip that, in addition to the normal, hellish 7-8 hour flight across the Atlantic, included a 7-8 hour layover in Toronto. Already today that have gotten to see such wonderful sights in Paris as
a) our apartment
b) the splendor that is the French grocery store called Monoprix
c) everything that is in between our apartment and the splendor that is the French grocery store called Monoprix (which, in our defense, includes a nice view of the Pantheon, Sorbonne, and Cluny Castle and museum, along with shops, restaurants, and other such day-to-day items)
As I write this post, they are bravely trying to stay awake long enough for dinner and then will probably pass out pretty soon afterward. That's okay, though, since we have the next two weeks to enjoy with them.
Woot!
They arrived safely this morning after a loooooooooooooong trip that, in addition to the normal, hellish 7-8 hour flight across the Atlantic, included a 7-8 hour layover in Toronto. Already today that have gotten to see such wonderful sights in Paris as
a) our apartment
b) the splendor that is the French grocery store called Monoprix
c) everything that is in between our apartment and the splendor that is the French grocery store called Monoprix (which, in our defense, includes a nice view of the Pantheon, Sorbonne, and Cluny Castle and museum, along with shops, restaurants, and other such day-to-day items)
As I write this post, they are bravely trying to stay awake long enough for dinner and then will probably pass out pretty soon afterward. That's okay, though, since we have the next two weeks to enjoy with them.
Woot!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
More photos!
Ginna's here! -- And she's a great motivator. Look at all these photos I'm putting up!
Here are some of us going out to, and then returning home from, delicious (late) fondue dinner; then (next day) touring le Cimetière du Père-Lachaise with Ginna, Brian, Melissa.
Chartres with Ginna, 4-April-2009
Giverny with Ginna, 5-April-2009
And this is from much earlier, but here's a view of the Eiffel Tower from behind the library where I work.
Also from earlier, here are a couple of photos of sweet Sofia.
Here are some of us going out to, and then returning home from, delicious (late) fondue dinner; then (next day) touring le Cimetière du Père-Lachaise with Ginna, Brian, Melissa.
 |
| Ginna's here! -- photos, 28-March-2009 to 30-March-2009 |
Chartres with Ginna, 4-April-2009
 |
| Chartres with Ginna, 4-April-2009 |
Giverny with Ginna, 5-April-2009
 |
| Giverny with Ginna, 5-April-2009 |
And this is from much earlier, but here's a view of the Eiffel Tower from behind the library where I work.
 |
| Tour Eiffel, 4-March-2009 |
Also from earlier, here are a couple of photos of sweet Sofia.
 |
| babysitting Sofia, 23-March-2009 |
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