LID-er-vers-ity

PARIS.....

I don't even know where to start with this trip.

I have a new camera (Cannon Rebel XTI). I have not had the time to learn all the cool things this camera can do, so I relied on auto mode. I also wanted to photo shop the pictures popping the colors even more brilliantly. Sadly, no time for this either...... so what you see is in raw form. Still Paris is so beautiful that any picture taken cannot do her justice.

Our trip to Paris was a quick one. We were suppose to land in Paris at 11 am on Friday.... unfortunately our flight was about 7 hours late putting us at our hotel on the Champs-Elysees in the evening. We did walk the "Champs" finding a place to eat, gaze at the Arc de Triomphe at night and take in the energy of all the people walking the boulevard. The original plan was to see the Louvre when we first arrived because the Louvre is open late on Friday nights.....

Day One- we walked our little Nikes off......

• Louvre


• Tuileries- garden where the pigeon bombing occurred
  
• Orangerie Museum- where Monet's water lilies can be seen
  
• Marmottan Museum- tucked in a Parisian neighborhood


• Eiffel Tower- to the middle section.... tip-top was closed
  

Day Two- blisters, sore muscles.... but still loving my trip.

• Versailles- palace that all kings envy
  

Day Three- a little rain.... very atmospheric with glistening streets and umbrellas.

• Notre-Dame- famed and cool but oh the crowds
  
• Sainte-Chapelle- unbelievable stain glass windows
  
• walking tour around streets Notre-Dame
  
• Opera Garnier- where the Phantom of the Opera was based
  

I have to share a little funny... after flying forever, going through customs and a train ride to the subway, my flexes were a bit slow. On my back was a backpack loaded to the brim, hanging off the back was a neck pillow. Dragging along was my rolling duffel bag. As I approached the slots to enter the subway, I placed my rolling carrier in front thinking that when the doors opened I would push it through follow behind. This was my plan, but not in accordance with the fast time allotted for the open doors. Halfway through getting my body and back pack through, the doors promptly shut on my back pack, trapping me in these doors. There I stood, the over packed American, stuck in a Paris subway. I should have been mortified, but really, how comical not being able to move when busy Parisians were making their evening commutes home. Oh how I wish I could have had the sense to have a picture snapped at this sight.

I did stick to my original plan of shopping items..... CHOCOLATE and a red Beret for Tate.

LOUVRE

Modern entrance of the Louvre.... If you read the book Da Vinci Code this place played significance in the story. I found this just fascinating.

Juxtaposition of modern and classic architecture

I have been in a lot of major museums in my life in both Europe as well as the USA ..... However, I had never been to the Louvre in the two precious visits to Paris. I did a quick walk through and hit the highlights..... I really wanted to be out of a stuffy crowded museum and out on the streets of Paris..... Someday I will return to the Louvre and take the time that I should.

MUST SEE HIGHLIGHTS.......

The main lady herself Mona Lisa (1503-1506) ......

I cannot believe the 20 deep people around this tiny picture. I just held my camera over head and snapped a picture.

Venus de Milo, 100 B.C.

Winged Victory of Samothrace, 190 B.C.

STUFF I LIKED AT THE LOUVRE .......


This was the coronation of Napolean. I love the deep colors and the detail of this painting. Napolean's mom was not able to be at the coronation but Napolean had the painter add his mom sitting proudly in the balcony.





Reminded me of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in Italy......

Heading towards our next museum and right before I was pooped bombed by the pigeon. In the distance you can see the Eiffel tower peeking out of the haze.

EIFFEL TOWER

What can you say about the most recognized icon of Paris.... The Eiffel Tower. This is my second visit to the Eiffel, but my first time I actually stood in the line and rode the elevator to the middle section. I was dying to go to the tippety top, but sadly the top was closed. I guess there will have to be another visit to Paris to achieve my wish of view from the top.


Michelle and I tourist posing in front of the tower.

Carousel on the walk to E.T.

Across from the Seine River

This structure was so amazing. I took tons of pictures from all angles. I was so inspired by this structure, I have an "art project" brewing in mind for all the details I photographed.

A DAY AT VERSAILLES

I considered Paris the main meal of our trip, most definitely Versailles was the dessert. On Sunday we found ourselves off on a quick train ride out of Paris emerging ourselves in French history and elegance. I am not a historical buff and would not even attempt to re-tell the tales... instead enjoy the pictures.





Gilded gold gates greeted me the humble visitor at "every King's dream palace". Sundays are not the best day to chose for a visit because the crowds were brutal. This was my attempt of taking a picture of myself by holding the camera out. I thought it was funny so I posted this......

I love me a good water god statue.... this one just spoke to me. He was speaking French. so I am not sure what this water god said to me. This is my SIL, Michelle. The momma of Awesome, Smiley, Sparkle and Twinkle Toes. We had so much fun! Lucky us, we were able to see the fountains in the breathtakingly beautiful gardens of Versailles. We read in a travel book that the fountains would be off. For two hours the fountains were turned on and ceremoniously turned off in preparation for winter. LOVED IT!!!

We walked so much everyday. My poor feet were killing me, yet still I had to walk the garden until it was too dark to see. Thankfully there was a "train" that I was able to pay a kings fortune to ride up the miles of hill back to the palace and the train ride back to Paris.

SAINTE-CHAPELLE

THE MOST AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL STAIN GLASS I HAVE EVER SEEN.....

You enter the church in the bottom level where the peasants would worship. If you were rich enough or aristocratic, you climbed a spiral stair to the main level. The whole chapel was panels of stain glass depicting scenes from the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.

Above is the pulpit where the rich worshipped... Stain glass surround.

Below where the peasants worshipped.... finely painted wood structures with some stain glass.
Upper Chapel below.....The blossom of stain glass.....

Notice the stars on the ceiling depicting the heavens.... compare the difference in the ceiling below where the peasants and servants would worship.....

This is the bottom of the Church and were the non-aristocrats worshipped. The ceiling had Florentines for the peasants to gaze up to during worship. Funny thing, they are right below the more aristocratic are worshipping in other words, they were gazing towards the wealthy.


Doorway on the upper Chapel......

It's all in the details......

Painted Pillars

Lock on one of the large doors

OPERA GARNIER

This is the Opera that inspired Phantom of the Opera......







THE OUTSIDE OF THE OPERA GARNIER

The Grand Staircase above and one of the parlours below.

The true show was not what was provided on stage but the display from the upper crust... seeing the who's who, fashions and styles. Scandalous!





I fell in love with all the ceilings in this place..... some of the best artwork can be seen at the ceiling level on much of Paris buildings. Oh my crocked aching neck at the end of my stay at the Opera.

SCREAM!!!!

Congrats to all the new families who are seeing their sweet children for the first time today!!! As each month of referrals happen.... life just gets so joyful!!! Sooooooooo beyond happy and excited!!!

PLUMMETED BY...

PARISIAN PIGEON POOP!!!!

There is a story behind this. After spending some time in the Louvre, we started walking towards an Impressionistic museum, Orangerie. The walk was along a beautiful tree lined park. Out of nowhere I feel this splat on top of my head..... one of the bazillions of Parisian pigeons decided to christen me a true Parisian..... I was rescued from this grossness just as it was dripping towards my glasses.... gag!!!

I THING THIS COUNTS AS A LADY BUG SIGHTING.....

We were strolling away from Notre Dame when it started to rain. We ducked into a souvenir shoppe to find our umbrellas and this is what I saw sitting on a shelf. I though how timely since I knew referrals were expected soon..... I am counting this as a sighting!

SHE'S BAAAAAAAAACK!!!

I am back but not in the total swing of things.... Why OH WHY? EVERY.TIME. I go overseas I get a nasty cold. Shucks, I was so careful using hand sanitizer, hand washing, guzzling the old effervescent bubbly Airb*rne... gag. Could be the lack of sleep, the going in and out of hot museums into cold air in both Paris and NYC.... I have like a bazillion photos to download.... edit.... Oh man, my head feels like an out of body experience. I will be posting pictures soon.

Oh how I wish I had pictures of Tate doing her Halloween thang this year. Once again, for sure next year!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY????

I would like to thank all those who are wishing me a HAPPY BIRTHDAY via email today...


But it is now my BIRTHDAY until March 17..... I guess at my age a woman does not want to gleefully sprint towards her next Birthday... Unless there are expensive presents attached....


I am in NYC today and will be seeing WICKED tonight..... Having a wonderful time even though there has been blisters and sore muscles involved ... will post pictures of Paris and some NYC when I get back.....

I just saw the first of the rumors for Feb 20.... I am hoping for more!!!

AU RENOIR

OUT OF HERE...

For 6 days of this....

And two days of this...

Hopefully when I get back there will be parents seeing faces of their new little kiddos!

BEE-BOOP'N BULLETS

Just time for a quick post.....

• leaving on thursday for Paris for five days and NYC for two more days. no time for more information before I leave on this trip. one thing.... we have gotten tickets to Wicked on Broadway! YeeeeHaw!!!
• fingerprints expire at the end of the month. got them done today. no fee! i will get the I 171H free this time too. Life is good!
• where are the rumors? really, where are they? i will be taking my laptop to Paris. this is the second trip to Europe that I have taken during referral time. oh wait, we really do not know when referral time is, just the rumors of it. come on rumors!
• this should be interesting..... Mesa will be staying with my parents during the time I will be away. monumental in my book. she has been banded from their house in the past because she sheds- and A LOT. she will be have the use of my car for transportation purposes. afraid they just might love her too much and not want to give her back. HAHAHA!
• lock up your daughters, stay off the road.... Smiley is 16 today! HAPPY.BIRTHDAY.SMILEY!!!
• okay now, really, where are the rumors?

SECRET LIFE OF BEES....

With great anticipation I have been looking forward to one of my favorite books turned into a movie... And boy did it NOT disappoint. Today was "the day" that my mom and I spent together, first a quick shoppy, then the movie. We shared a drink and some sinful buttery popcorn, losing our self in the moment. I am still under the spell of this magic. Every character described in the book came to life in Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson and Dakota Fanning. It was good people, sticking to the book with all it's rich hues of human nature....

Make it a chick flick- leave you man at home.

BI-POLAR BEAR.... GRRRRRRR

For some reason tonight I have been on the verge of tears. I just cannot explain it. This morning started with a low..... could not get myself going on anything. I felt like sitting in front of Food network and the Internet, and DO NOTHING. I heard a plop on the front porch and saw the F*dex truck leave my home. My first reaction was "no way... my referral!" Hey miracles do happen. Once I got my head out of the clouds, I realized it was for my re-finance and stuff that needed to be signed and fax off immediately. At least something got me going, and boy did it! What started as a low morning hit a high note and off I went accomplishing tasks that needed to be done for months. Shoe repair, replacing batteries in two watches, returned soon to be delinquent library books, bead store shopping, measuring for kitchen curtains.

I was on a high---rolling along--- doing stuff!!!

Oh, but how quickly I hit the top and started plummeting downhill. SO I am sitting back on the couch, TV on watching J*n and K*te plus eight, cruising the Internet and feeling very emotional.

Down and up and down.... kind of like a titter-totter.

I am by nature a pretty even tempered gal. Never such wide mood swings as I am experiencing now. I have so much on my plate right now- figuratively..... I am re-financing for the adoption and to do "home repairs". Once I close (hopefully tomorrow) the real fun will begin. Oh how I hate the wait for financial stuff!

The unknown, the when, the ifs, the how much.

I stare at all the projects that need to get done before Tate. I realize that this is kind of a continuous theme here at my old house.

While crusin' the net, I happened upon a rumor... mind you this early in the month these rumors are just that....RUMORS! Rumor has it that there will be a possibility of 15 days of referrals. SO I pull out the old calender just to see. Now it has been established that, I am not a mathematician, so I actually did count the days. If they finish the rest of February 16 2006 and do 15 days worth....

OH.MY.HECK....

This would put referrals through March 2..... which would mean only 5 more days and they would have matched me to my gal! With this gem of knowledge, you would think that I would be screaming from the top of our Rocky Mountains.... NO SUCH A THING! I am at the perils of TEARS...

Sobby, emotional tears

Too much on my plate, I tell you! I am off to bed and HOPE that the night's slumber will ease me awake to happy days tomorrow.

YEE HAW!!!

This is when things are getting good.... REALLY GOOD!!!

As my time of wait draws near, so does the wait times of those who go before me..... Shannon, Donna, Stephe, Kelly, Connie, Leeanne, and oh so many more. Each astonishing day of referrals from here on out will be breathtakingly exciting. Soon we will be witnessing families becoming.... first time single mommas, first time married couples, additions to families.

THIS.IS.GETTING.PERSONAL.

Surprises are so cool.... and the COOLEST surprise was when the CC.AA shocked us once again, this time with an extra day of referrals for some of February 16 LIDs...

Shannon, one of my first bloggy buds is basking in the glow of seeing her little Ellie..... Go on over and take a gaze at these adorable kissy cheeks and dimples.

WIDE AWAKE WEDNESDAY...

This is typical for a night around Casa Winger....

I am tossing and turning, my sheets are pulled out of the mattress, I.CANNOT.GET.COMFORTABLE. and just relax. I have tried to count sheep, focus on nothing, hum a zen-ee like sound. Flip from side to side, tummy to back. Up to the potty, stretch, relax.... Worrying, Wondering in the Wee hours. Somehow the more I try to sleep the more awake I have become.

ON.MY.MIND. Tonight......

The only time I seem to find time to relax and read is just before going to bed. I just finished the book Silent Tears. Silent Tears is the four year journal of Kay Bratt, who volunteered in a Chinese orphanage. IT.WAS.HEARTWRENCHING. Maybe not such a good idea to read this type of a book so close to a referral for my Tate. My mind could not settle down and relax. All I could do was envision Tate experiencing the life that was being described in the book. My only consultation was the hopeful feelings that things have gotten better in orphanages in the last few year and the use of foster families are much more prevalent in caring for these orphaned kids. I do think it is a must read for those of us adopting our kids. It gives more of an insight into the possible life lived before these kids came into the safety and love of their families.

If you read Silent Tears, what did you think?

If you have things on your mind and want to share for Wide Awake Wednesday.... leave a comment, I will post a link to your blog.......

HALF JOKING

I was actually just joking when I said that I wanted to start a Wednesday post "WIDE AWAKE WEDNESDAY" what is keeping Lisa awake at night. But thought it might be fun anyway..... at least for this Wednesday.... It just might be too much of commitment to follow thru every Wednesday... Hey that commitment thing I kind of S*ck at. So if anyone wants to join me in WIDE AWAKE WEDNESDAY (or Thursday or Friday or.....) Just let me know I will link your post...

Hmmmmmmmmmm, I wonder what will be keeping ME up tonight to share tomorrow? This will be a surprise to me too.

DEEP BREATH AND SMILE WIDE

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LIDs