The wheels of Apollo: Bicycle races in Paris
What a week!
First off the passport thing is having a bit of progress. It was tough to accept that the old one is gone. It was so much work (and money) for each of those visas and work permits that I always was grasping onto the few threads of hope that it would somehow and someway show up still. That day came and left so I made my appointment at the American embassy for a new passport.
I don't think I have ever been so excited for an official appointment. After my experiences with the French administration, I wondered what it might be like so I went ahead and researched online. Everyone wrote how wonderful it was. The VIP treatment and line cutting. I was super pumped to be pampered.
Needless to say it went as opposite as I could imagine. I showed up and was told that I had to leave because I had a computer (I needed it to go to work afterwards). So I scrambled around the neighborhood till I found a nice hotel clerk who would watch my backpack while I was at my appointment (for 5 euros). I went back and waited through the line again till I was told that I had the wrong passport photos, I was instructed to exit the embassy and head to the nearest photo shop(a few blocks away). After paying 10 more euros for 2 photos, I headed back, waited through the security line and was back in time to...get in the back of the line. After waiting a half an hour, I was able to go up and turn in the 2 forms I needed to submit and they said I was free to go.
Not. I then was sent to wait in line at the payment window. After another 30 minutes, I was able to pay and was told I had to go to a third window. I smoldered there watching the set of windows slowly close for lunch. Finally, it was just me and one last clerk. Out of the 175 people in the room, I was the last one left. I stared at her unflinchingly as she continued to pretend to type. I guess she got hungry, because she called me up - I swore that the forms I submitted an hour earlier were valid and signed one more form and was able to leave. Two of the best hours of my life.
Nope. At least I said passive aggressively "Have a nice day!" before I left. Seattle be proud of me!
----
My bicycle racing has gotten more intense as well. It has turned into a super intense game of leap frog/chicken. If you have played the video game Mario Kart - then you have an idea roughly. The person in the lead works hard to maintain it, but must stop frequently for lights, the people behind try to time their approach so they can maintain as much momentum when the light turns and fly by. Honestly, it's an exhilarating meta-game on my way to work. That and racing people on the stairs. Getting a helmet though is going to be a priority for this Christmas.
----
Work is going ok. Too many hours and too much to do. We launch on the 7th of December and hopefully it will be better after that. I am struggling to work with our designer. Here is our last interaction:
Him: "I think you're depressed"
Me: "Why is that?"
Him: "The colors you are using are depressing. If people see this they will become depressed. Can you imagine that? They will hate themselves, they will hate you."
Me: "Ok I'll try to think of some happy colors"
I think I'm going to start throwing confetti at him.
----
Céline is doing well. Overwhelmed by school and suffering from a hurt back, but in good spirits. It's been great fun to see old friends again. We're starting to eagerly plan our Christmas escape.
Gaël took some steps this week with a walker. He is also starting to laugh whenever I laugh resulting in some moments where we break down laughing at each other. He is also becoming quite the problem solver. I left him alone for 5 minutes and when I came back the floor was covered with bread; he managed to find a bag - open it and get a piece. He also just repeats "Dada" over and over again. It's a nuanced language based on tone, but I am proud to share it with him.
Lastly, I want to reassure everyone that we are fine here. We live in Chatillon which is fairly far from the center of the city. Outside of some teenagers who set off some fireworks Friday night, it has been calm. We went out Saturday night and Sunday. It will be not only interesting to see how this affects the next couple weeks, but even more the election next year.
If you have any clever ideas for thanksgiving send them my way. I'm hosting a get together and I'm still working out the menu (so far it is cauliflower soup, roast duck, roast potatoes and sweet potatoes, green beans and apple crumble - we're still working on appetizers and dessert).
Love to you all,
DJ
First off the passport thing is having a bit of progress. It was tough to accept that the old one is gone. It was so much work (and money) for each of those visas and work permits that I always was grasping onto the few threads of hope that it would somehow and someway show up still. That day came and left so I made my appointment at the American embassy for a new passport.
I don't think I have ever been so excited for an official appointment. After my experiences with the French administration, I wondered what it might be like so I went ahead and researched online. Everyone wrote how wonderful it was. The VIP treatment and line cutting. I was super pumped to be pampered.
Needless to say it went as opposite as I could imagine. I showed up and was told that I had to leave because I had a computer (I needed it to go to work afterwards). So I scrambled around the neighborhood till I found a nice hotel clerk who would watch my backpack while I was at my appointment (for 5 euros). I went back and waited through the line again till I was told that I had the wrong passport photos, I was instructed to exit the embassy and head to the nearest photo shop(a few blocks away). After paying 10 more euros for 2 photos, I headed back, waited through the security line and was back in time to...get in the back of the line. After waiting a half an hour, I was able to go up and turn in the 2 forms I needed to submit and they said I was free to go.
Not. I then was sent to wait in line at the payment window. After another 30 minutes, I was able to pay and was told I had to go to a third window. I smoldered there watching the set of windows slowly close for lunch. Finally, it was just me and one last clerk. Out of the 175 people in the room, I was the last one left. I stared at her unflinchingly as she continued to pretend to type. I guess she got hungry, because she called me up - I swore that the forms I submitted an hour earlier were valid and signed one more form and was able to leave. Two of the best hours of my life.
Nope. At least I said passive aggressively "Have a nice day!" before I left. Seattle be proud of me!
----
My bicycle racing has gotten more intense as well. It has turned into a super intense game of leap frog/chicken. If you have played the video game Mario Kart - then you have an idea roughly. The person in the lead works hard to maintain it, but must stop frequently for lights, the people behind try to time their approach so they can maintain as much momentum when the light turns and fly by. Honestly, it's an exhilarating meta-game on my way to work. That and racing people on the stairs. Getting a helmet though is going to be a priority for this Christmas.
----
Work is going ok. Too many hours and too much to do. We launch on the 7th of December and hopefully it will be better after that. I am struggling to work with our designer. Here is our last interaction:
Him: "I think you're depressed"
Me: "Why is that?"
Him: "The colors you are using are depressing. If people see this they will become depressed. Can you imagine that? They will hate themselves, they will hate you."
Me: "Ok I'll try to think of some happy colors"
I think I'm going to start throwing confetti at him.
----
Céline is doing well. Overwhelmed by school and suffering from a hurt back, but in good spirits. It's been great fun to see old friends again. We're starting to eagerly plan our Christmas escape.
Gaël took some steps this week with a walker. He is also starting to laugh whenever I laugh resulting in some moments where we break down laughing at each other. He is also becoming quite the problem solver. I left him alone for 5 minutes and when I came back the floor was covered with bread; he managed to find a bag - open it and get a piece. He also just repeats "Dada" over and over again. It's a nuanced language based on tone, but I am proud to share it with him.
Lastly, I want to reassure everyone that we are fine here. We live in Chatillon which is fairly far from the center of the city. Outside of some teenagers who set off some fireworks Friday night, it has been calm. We went out Saturday night and Sunday. It will be not only interesting to see how this affects the next couple weeks, but even more the election next year.
If you have any clever ideas for thanksgiving send them my way. I'm hosting a get together and I'm still working out the menu (so far it is cauliflower soup, roast duck, roast potatoes and sweet potatoes, green beans and apple crumble - we're still working on appetizers and dessert).
Love to you all,
DJ
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