There's a Line for Baguettes

The stars aligned so Jeff and I got a second trip in while he was in Europe. Next destination? PARIS! With his sense of adventure and willingness to do things I didn't get to do last trip, we adapted to the city's pace and spent a fabulous long spring weekend exploring, eating, and getting cultured. But, this is his post- not mine! Enjoy!

Paris has a pollution problem right now. Several times this year already it's exceeded the maximum PPM levels for particulate matter and as a solution, the city has offered free public transportation on the weekends, including bicycles ("velos"). This was not the case during the two days Katie and I were there, and the one time we tried to rent velos in Versailles, the shop was closed. But that was probably the only disappointment of the trip.

Nevertheless Paris delivered on its promise of being big and beautiful in a rustic kind of way. Cobblestones and ancient stone buildings made a nice backdrop for the tailored snappiness of groomed Parisians. Crepes, frog legs, and truffle chicken made its way into my mouth along with a few carafes and bottles of wine in cafes and parks.

The common social bond shared amongst its residents perhaps stems from the outstanding amount of taxes that supports the French way of life. With a fag in hand, legs crossed, and a beer next to an ashtray, Parisians regale each other in sidewalk seating all hours of the day with their swooning vowels and machine gun consonants. C'est la vie, I've heard.

The Mona Lisa, the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame, Versailles, and 6 million dead bodies were all visited by my sister and I. We came, we saw, and we conquered some universal bucket list items. We en guarded against pick pockets. We discussed the ramifications of giving every US citizen 1 airstrike to call in at will. And we had croissants.

In all, a fine trip and a perfect way to cap off my stay abroad. Big shout out to my metro navigator, hotel booker, and big sister Katie!

And Now We Wait. (Yes, Still.)

It's been a week since the job I think that I really (really) want closed for applications. Now I'm playing the waiting game.

A game a suck at.

I'm so terrible at it that when I was little I would know 95% of my presents under the Christmas tree well before the 25th.

I'm the one that will start down a new path while waiting for the results of the path I just jumped from.

My nights are restless. My food choices terrible. And my credit card bills seems to spike around all important life decision.

So, imagine my shock when I received an "all hands" email today announcing that the next command event in a mere 2 weeks would be including my upcoming farewell. Lots of thoughts raced through my brain, especially since my departure was still fresh on my mind after discussions earlier in the day.

But really? End of March for an end of May departure? Sure, let's make me more anxious about a situation I'm already losing sleep and gaining pounds over.

I've got to applaud our group though as there have been several folks leaving the command lately that have left just like everyone else out the door on a Friday afternoon, not to return on Monday. But really?!?! Way to throw it in my face with streamers, searchlights, and a loud speaker reminding me that I still don't have an answer as to where I'm going in 75 days from now.

Then I got to thinking. Yes, I do a lot of thinking. It's part of the living alone and having really long commutes every day. Monterey is my default solution. Is it the preferred solution? Not by a long shot, but if it's the "worst" destination that I can think of right now? I guess it's not all that bad?

Just Another Travel Adventure

This is one of those stories that you are hearing about because it turned out okay. And it already happened. And I don't plan on doing it again, nor should you attempt it. And yes, the guys at the office have already mandated that I re-do all my trainings because apparently I did not apply the skills set they are trying to teach. I love all my big brothers that can look me dead in the eye and ask how can I be so stupid and yet smart at the same time. 

Now, with that kind of lead up...

$#!% that Happens When I'm Left to My Own Devices: 

Katie's 1st Adventure in Brussels

Bag collected, train station located, ticket purchased & platform located.

Determined to execute my plan of getting the Brussels' central train station and getting a cab for the short distance to the hotel given the late hour, suitcase, and the simple fact that I'm exhausted and have no patience to get lost I find the taxi stand.

The first guy passes me to the next car, claiming he doesn't understand the hotel name (despite me showing it on the paper, complete with address.) The original guy comes and asks and then proceeds to give me instructions because it's "really close."

I must have made him repeat the instructions 3 times, and I repeated them back to him each time. Direction number one? Cut through a dark looking park area which wasn't too long of a stretch.

At this point I didn't even mind the stairs because I was more concerned with the swaying drunk man, beer still in hand, walking in front of me. I purposely slowed down until we were on the street before passing him at which point he starting to serenade me. Fortunately, even in the late hour, our hotel was in the thick of things so there were lots of people still out and I was able to head off in the direction I was told.

Problem is, none of the roads I saw were on the craptastic map I had BECAUSE I was planning to have a cab take me! I walked around for a good 20 minutes, trying to remember which landmarks our hotel was by after doing the search for where we wanted to stay. I hit the main street and knew I needed to back track into the cobblestone alley ways (fabulous for rolling a suitcase by the way) so I did.

It was probably about 15 more minutes of this when a guy on the street asks if everything is okay. Actually it was more of a Mademoiselle, what's wrong? As he crossed the street to his car. So I asked him where we were on the map and if he knew which direction I needed to go because it's midnight, I've been up since 5 and I'm lost. Why? Cause the taxi drivers decided that it was close enough I could walk. Ha. I can't read maps and oh, I don't have one and the directions he gave me to where he "thought" it was? Um there was the dark park to kick it off which I was okay with but then there was a really drunk guy and he was singing me a song so I booked it out of there.

No. He didn't speak English all that well so I kept all of that in my head.

He of course didn't really know where the hotel was so he asks 2 younger guys (with beers in their hands) headed our direction if they knew where my hotel is. I soon realize he's getting driving instructions and when I protest that I'll walk, my suitcase ends up in his trunk while the other 2 guys start "dude, California" and ask if I want beer. And suggest I should call them. Then one of the guys  asked me for his number but his wing man totally failed at his job because he encouraged us to get out of there.

So I get in the car. Cell phone out. (No there weren't any new numbers in there!) Seriously. at this point I could end up in Africa a lot faster than I've ever planned, but I just didn't care. I'm tired. We get to the main road and he stops and asks people. They're tourist too. Next stop was a guy...he point in some direction.

We go that direction. Flag another person down. Sends us another direction.

Flag a cab driver down. He gets us to the right street then I see a cafe with the same name as the hotel and we're on the right street. My friend Samil from Cameroon goes in and comes out with a waiter who tells us its down the street. He moves back towards the car, but I tell him I an walk the rest of the way. He claims it's a 3 minute walk...it was the across the alley and 2 doors in. 

And I was already excited to see Jeff, but after this ordeal? Words cannot even express the thrill I had when he opened the door and we promptly laughed at both our "adventures" getting to the hotel. 

In summary...

1. I would not have gotten in the car if I really didn't feel good about the situation, but it passed the gut check. 
2. I'm happy to report that the people of Brussels are super friendly, helpful, and kind. 
3. Yes, I had my personal items in my lap, door was unlocked, hand near door handle, and I was ready to see if I could run just in case events turned to something that crazy; and luckily they did not because wearing the same clothes all weekend would have sucked.

March: Letting Go

Alright, both January's and February's goals have gone really well. I'm still carrying on my daily devos (it helps when I love every page in Beth Moore's study on Daniel that my Bible Study is doing this term) and even though I had to reactivate my FB account, I've been faithful at not checking posts/requests/messages. It's because you all were freaking out and asking my family if everything was okay. And of course when I say "freaking out" I really mean, because you care about me you wanted to make sure I was okay :) A little break was good- did you know that Facebook sends you emails letting you know that you have pending notifications? Yeah. I never needed those emails before...

So, it's March and time for another monthly focus. Back in December I picked the theme of "Letting Go" in regards to letting go of things, as in possessions. Mainly this was a sneaky way to trick myself into the purging before the movers come, however, over the last few weeks, and in particular the last few days I think I'm going to expand the focus.

In an effort to not only get myself ready for this move, but also for a new chapter in my life, this month I'm focusing on letting go of all the stuff that's holding me back, all the stuff that's causing the bad stress, all the stuff that for whatever reason I just haven't yet had the courage, strength, motivation to let go of.

Let's face it. We all hold on to things that we shouldn't- torn up jeans, memories, trinkets, a skirt that will fit again "one day," bad habits, hurtful words, relationships, unrealistic hopes/dreams/goals.

I'm no exception to that.

I know this is going to be a tough one which is why I've been working on my list of a few of the "emotional" ones and figuring out which one I need to bid adieu to. As for my closet packed with clothes, 72 (!) pairs of shoes, and more items in my tiny office than many people in the world have? They're under attack too! For some reason the scene in Leap Year when the main character is asked what she would save if she only had 60 seconds.

Well, Katie, what would you grab? 

As someone who much rather spend my money on experiences than things, there are still a few things that I'd race against a fire to save. Most of my stuff? Prob not. I have it because they are necessary- clothes, kitchen junk, a couch to sit on. But the excess? I so don't need that. Time to start eliminating the excess and prevent it from entering my house.

Again.

It's time to be deliberate with what I buy, collect, say I "need," and conversations I have. It's one thing to let go of things, but why not also start working on preventing the future "need to let go's" from starting. I'm not sure if that makes sense to anyone but me, but this is my blog and I get it.

Hmph. Not Quite MilAir

Okay, so as I was dealing with my fellow passengers flying out of Naples, I felt like I fish out of water. No personal escorts to the flight line. No meet and greets. A thorough security screening. Boarding passes being scanned and check. Of course I also wasn't asked for my body weight...

Some how, even in a more German dominate population, the crew pegged me as Italian. Ha. I love opening my mouth speaking "American" English even when my puffy coat, out of control curls, scarf, boots, and a bag of fresh mozzarella di buffala make me look Italian. (It's all about the accessories!) Seriously. This is a game that never gets old for me. Of course it had been nice just a few weeks prior flying with a ton of people I knew & all spoke English.

As the plane left the gate, I got this really strange feeling.

All of a sudden I started questioning their trilingual safety instructions, the fact that people had to "ask" to move seats, and perhaps the most disconcerting item- I had no idea who was flying me to Munich!

Yes, this the first commercial flight I've flown since the Turkey adventure in January and although the food and beverage service was nice, I just don't get the customer service I'm used to anymore. And this was Lufthansa!

I'm telling you, MilAir just may be my 1st choice method for flying from here on out. Where else do you get to walk around in the cargo bay? Or go visit the captain? Or not have to worry that your bag made the flight since it's right there next to you? Of course it helps to know the crew flying the plane because then you are treated better than any Flag Officer. Then again, it does come at the cost of having to cuddle up with your coworkers to stay warm in the belly of C126 but it's a small price to pay and I like that coworker. A lot. Clearly if I was able to get over my need for personal space!

But the C9? That's pretty much the same as one of these regional flights that I'm currently waiting on. And I have in on the highest authority that some of their pilots are pretty phenomenal at what they do. I mean, on my last flight on a C9, our pilot not only avoided 85% of the nasty turbulence just so I could sleep, but also provided a fabulous lightning show out my window. Now, that's customer service!

And my final thought as my flight is about to start boarding...make sure you thank your pilots when you exit the plane. Seriously. They are doing a ton of stuff up there (all those switches really do something!) so if you have a smooth flight, easy landing, make great time it's probably because they're working over time to make your flight enjoyable. And if it's still a rough flight? They were doing what they could but the voices that tell them where to fly and what to do (voices in the radio) couldn't help them find a solution...and they dealt with the same flight you did.

Okay, now I'll answer you questions:

1. Yes. I am an international travel snob.
2. Yes, I am motivated to be SES again if I can get my own plane and can request who I want to fly it all the time.  And I'd get my own flag!!!
3. I'm currently in Munich, waiting for my flight to Brussels where I have the most fabulous guy waiting for me.

Flour Woes

Ready for my latest first world problem?

Back in December when my kitchen resembled the Keebler Elf Factory I somehow accumulated so much flour that even after all my holiday baking was done I still had over 20lbs! I think it's the "to get the type of baking ingredients I actually want it's a 40 minute one way drive and I can't recall if I already have some" syndrome.

You may have this syndrome if:

• You can't find space in your cabinet for that 4th box of brown sugar.
• In searching for cinnamon, you find 5 peppermint extracts, 2 ground cumin, and 3 ground gingers. Cinnamon? Nope, that's the one you were out of!
• You open your freezer and have just as many ice packs as bags of frozen peas. I don't even eat the things. I mean, up to this point I haven't.
• You routinely pick up common baking items just in case.

Yep. That's how I ended up with 20+ pounds of flour. You know it's bad when I'm purposely looking at recipes right now to see which ones require the most flour. Of course in the effort to use the flour, I'm having to ask for the ingredients I no longer carry in stock. Why don't I carry them? Um, I'm moving in 3ish months. 

My coworkers are being fabulous guinea pigs and I even had the CDRE stopping by my desk after the Valentine's Day heart and sugar explosion further confirming that I have a solid customer base should I ever open my bakery.

So today's 4 cup of flour adventure? Blueberry scones (goodbye frozen blueberries!) & chocolate chip cookies (bye-bye chocolate chips).  Stay tuned because in another month or so I have a feeling I'll start listing my pantry contents and be looking for creative menu ideas. (Or looking to see where I can donate my canned goods here in Naples!)

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