Post 49: Race day end

Over all he had a good race. He usually has a hard time with the marathon and this time was n o exception. His time is 11:21:24 which is more than he anticipated and he is happy nevertheless as usual. He love to tell me that there is no higher excitement than going through the finish line of an Iron Man. As I am writing theses line his beaming silently reviving the race, as I blow my nose not so silently. He makes a couple of comments about the things he should have done better or differently, just the usual. Suddenly I stop mid way my nose blowing...I think I heard next race...

Post 49: Race day continue

Once the swim start I know that I have a bout an hour to find my next spot, I want to catch him at the exit of the transition area getting on his bike. I was lucky enough to find a perfect spot where I could see him in the transition area and getting out next. I am always afraid to miss him altogether, there is so much going on and you could get easily distracted. Once I yelled my " va y cheri", my job is done for now. The bike section will take about 5 hours and I need to come back for the run. Which gives me plenty of time to get a breakfast and a rest, it is exhausting to run from place to place, to find a way to get there, calculate the time he should show up, wait..., worry..., make sure I remember the shirt his wearing or the color of his helmet so I can spot him in the crowd and be supportive. This is a job I take very seriously. It's also difficult to react fast enough so you can take a picture and yell your encouragement. I also had a bell to ring to make sure to get his attention, but it was too much multitasking for me.

Post 49: Race day

We arrived at the premise at 5am, it's pitch dark and freezing cold even with my two layers of fleece jackets. Jean has to drop his special needs bags, check his bike and have his body marked.

He comes bake to say bye and go within the assigned area for athletes only, he needs to regroup. I go in the opposite direction to the swim start to find a good spot for me. While I sit there shivering, trying to control my running nose and keep my hands warm in my pockets. I can't grasp the urge to get in a freezing water before the sun has risen. But not only there is thousands of such people here today. A lot come back for another serving, or two, or even seven for that mater. And most think about the next race as soon as they passed the finished line.

Finally all the participants are in the water as the sun is about to rise I hear the National Anthem and the start shot...

Post 48: IMA D -1

Today we went to deposit the bike in a closed guarded space where they will stay over night until the race day. Only athletes are permitted on the premise, you could see about 3000 bikes side by side it's really impressive, we also deposited the transition bags in assigned ares where volunteer are keeping track of all the bags and keep them in order as they will have to hand them to the competitors. I always admire the volunteering work and the organisation of such an event there is so much to think about, yet everything runs smoothly each time.

We went back home to relax...tomorrow is the big day and it starts early.

The race itself starts at 7am but everyone should be there at 5am, which means weak up call at about 4am. Just writing it I feel suddenly an urge to rest myself...

Post 47: IMA D -2

Today we went to register and get his race bags, number and stuff. we had to wait in line for a long while in a surprisingly hot day it was about 75 degrees and sunny just as usual for Arizona climate, while in the mornings and evenings it's rather chilly around 40 degrees. We walked around the exhibit to see the latest innovative gadgets in clothing, bikes or nutrition, got the last minute things Jean needed. He also got a free; for the athletes only, massage where you can have your pains and aches relieved before the race. Jean is worried about his knee and the physical therapist concentrated on this area. After his 10 mn massage he felt much better, these guys are amazing and on top of this they are volunteering their ti9me and energy.

We went for lunch and back home to get all these transition bags ready, put all the stickers with his number on all his stuff bags, helmet, bike. This is a lot of work.

Since this is Jean's 7th Iron Man he knows what to expect and said he feel surprisingly relaxed at this point.

Post 46: IMA D -3

Today's question was; should he wear his aero helmet or the regular one. The aero helmet is shaped in a way so you keep the optimum position the entire time (up to 5 hours) he can gain precious minutes but it's also exhausting because he can't lift his head if his shoulders are stiff.

He went for a small hour ride with the race bike just to get the feel of it.

Jean told me his menu for the next three days, lean proteins and carbs.

Breakfast: Cereals with skim milk, yogurt, orange juice.

Lunch: Ham and cheese on whole wheat bread no mayo and a tomato.

Dinner: Chicken breasts and rice, tabbouleh or pasta, a banana, raspberries.

I follow the same diet with a couple of extras like vegetables or a lettuce on the side.

I am glade I will not have to follow the race day menu.

Cereals as usual at home, a power bar on site. And the rest of the day are filled with power gels, Gatorade and tons of water. My stomach screams at the sole idea.

Tomorrow morning we're going to sign in and get his race package and number.

Jean's waxed his entire legs today in anticipation of the encounter. So he can show off his hairless, muscular and tan legs to the competition.

Post 45: Iron man Arizona

This week I will be blogging from Arizona reporting on the week before Jean's race on Sunday.

As much as I want to cheer my husband and be supportive of his passion for this very demanding sport. I have to admit that I never look forward to these couple of days before the big day.

We can't do much as everything could be dangerous.

We can't be in crowds as they could be sick.

And we can't eat anything to fancy that could disturb his digestive system. He has a specific list of menus he tried which are safe and he sticks to it.

Last year the Iron man of his choice was in a small town in Canada and they had a wonderful food feast with local fruits, pastries and all kind of delicious looking food. But we had non of it.

I actually got a hand full of sweet plums and he didn't even try one. I gladly finished the whole thing by myself only to be sick in my stomach in the evening, maybe his right to stick to safe diet.

The conversation revolve for 99% around the event.

He might ask, do you think I am ready? And my job is to reply cheerfully. Ready as can be.

Of course the tension will raise as the days go by.

Today is my first day in Arizona and he is in good shape and spirit, we will see what tomorrow will hold.

Post 44: Fall cleaning

Those last two weeks I was fall cleaning, My son said that he never heard of fall cleaning. Spring cleaning OK, but fall cleaning really...! But there is a lot to do to get your house ready for winter.
You need to check the furnace and the roof, we have a slate roof and every year we have a couple of slates replaced. You need to shut down the sprinkler system. I had to clean up the garage so I can park my car since it's getting chilly. We have professionals do a yard cleaning, blow the leaves, fertilize the grass, the same company will do the snow removal when the time comes. But I do my own cleaning too, remove plants, put away pots and my swings until nest spring. I also need to cut some dead branches and bamboos to close to the house. Some are scraping against the house as it's windy tonight. I tried all kind of tools but these are really hard and to difficult problems we need extreme solutions. I am now a proud owner of a chain saw, it's small and light perfect for pruning and cleaning like mine. When I was worried that it might not be powerful enough, the guy at the store said that if it doesn't do the job I can always bring it back. This is the beauty of American store exchange policy as long as you have the receipt they will take anything back. So I already told Adrien that I will be hiring him over the week end to help me with the job. His reply was that since he's not getting paid this is not hiring but "slavering"
We are not going to start chopping stuff around today as it's Friday the 13...

Post 43: My lucky day

First thing in the morning I had to book my air ticket for Arizona next week for Jean's Iron man race. I got on the web site to redeem my points, select the day, time and click on the check out button. I had a pot out saying that since I use my miles there will be no way to make changes or get a refund. I accept the policy and click on purchase. But instead the screen cancel it all and I have to redo the whole process, but the same thing happen again. I blame the computer, but when I replace my order for the third time I realise that I was bocking the wrong week and make the correction. This time everything works perfectly.
Later during the day I went to home depot and see Christmas light that are energy efficient, since the one I have are not in such good shape I decide to get two or three sets. While I am debating a guy walk to me and offer me his gift card with $32 for half the cash. But how do I know what is on the card. We walk to a cash register and he has it checked. It does have $32 and he wants $15 in cash, I generously give him a twenty dollar bill, please keep the change I say generously.
I got my third set of lights for free.
I met with a friend for a bit of shopping and we went to an upscale brand store I seldom go to , first it to conservative and way too expensive. My girl friend get exited with a discounted rack of tee shirts from $49 there are now on sale for $29. I go through the stuff half heartily, when I pull out a lilac embroidered tee shirt my size and it's on clearance sale for $10. There was only one.
Next I decided that I wanted a second stool in the kitchen for a while and since the store is right here I get one. But when I get back home the color doesn't match so I want to return it. The sales person explain to me that this is a collection from two years ago and they don't do that color anymore, in addition they changed the vendor and the new stools are not quite the same. But I insiste that a couple of week ago I saw the old version on display. She goes in the loft to check and comes back with to floor sample. Not only I got my stool but I had $20 cash back for the floor sample. Some days I love my life...

Post 42: New Bed

Our mattress is also built using the newest Space technology it's called Tempur-Pedic and it's made of a memory foam. Claims to give you therapeutic support, in a pressure relieving material. We bought it about a year ago and, I HATE IT. It has a spongy consistency and you can't bounce on it. When you lie down you feel your body sink, I actually had nightmares being swallowed by the damn thing. But Jean said it was fantastic, his back feels better and stands buy it. So after the 30 days trial period we decided to keep it. It also comes with a pillow from the same texture I couldn't stand and returned to the regular pillow. I recently realised that I slept better on any other bed other that my own and finally convinced Jean to get a new bed. I went first to try them all, it's really difficult to decide which mattress is the best for you.
In that store they had a computerised bed, you enter different data like you weight and height any pains and aches, then lie down and the computer tells you which mattress softness is the best for you. There is four levels from extremely soft to rock hard. Mine was the softest one, and since I always heard that when you back hurt you should get a hard mattress I was surprised. But I tried both and the fact is that on a soft mattress the heaviest parts sink in and you are in contact and have better support. But it didn't feel comfortable and I went with the last from hardest one, we both did. The computer told Jean to go with the version up from mine. Oh I forget, the beauty of this bed (other than the fact that you can bounce on it) is the that you can have two different softness, so we both get what we like.
They delivered the bed yesterday and...I didn't sleep a wink the mattress is so hard it's painful.
I couldn't wait for the night to be over. For me that like to linger in bed, just that five extra minutes, I was up and about first thing in the morning and knocking on the showroom door for an exchange. The new bed will be delivered only on Friday. Two more days on the rock...

Post 41: New phones

First my son wanted a new phone, or should we say a better phone. The upgraded version of the one he already has. When I asked him what was the difference, he doesn't really know but it's definitely better his friend got one. The thing is that when you are eligible for an upgrade with your wireless service provider at a discount price, you automatically subscribe for another two years contract, so you better think twice about it. In addition he is eligible for the upgrade only in January.
A week later my daughter's phone breaks down and she needs a new phone. The company will automatically replace your phone for free (we have an insurance), but she wants an upgrade too. She had her phone for a long time and we agree with my husband to give in. She gets a new touch phone it's really beautiful.
Next my husband tells me that there is this new phone he likes, he was thinking about the iPhone for a while but didn't like the fact that it's a touch phone only. He likes to have a regular keyboard as an option. We went to see the newest Verizon phone today and it's really amazing.
You can send and read you emails, watch the news, make pictures, upload and listen to music, text message, many games to chose from, a GPS feature and more. His eyes sparkle with envy. For an instant I want to be that phone. We walk out of the store with this technology marvel and my husband has literally been glued to it ever since. He could very possibly bring it to the bedroom as it also has a digital alarm clock feature too.
Before we left the sales person, ever helpful, mentioned that my phone is due for an upgrade too. I don't need an upgrade because the only thing I actually do with my phone is call...
But he generously mentioned that I could us the upgrade for another family member, I guess Adrien will get his new phone after all.

Post 40: Massage

Today I went to see my Physical therapist and at the end of the stretching session and electrical muscle stimulation with heating pads, he rewarded me with a therapeutical massage, after all the physical pain this was a welcome softness. He has the most amazing healing hands and he uses just the right amount of pressure so it feels great yet it's effective on my sore muscles.
This make me think about another massage, actually the first I tried in Ridgewood. I arrived for my appointment, was installed in a small yet comfortable room with aromatic candles and soft music. I undressed slipped under the cover face down, it was a heating table and since it was in a cold winter afternoon I instantly relaxed. When the front desk lady comes back to see if I am ready she ask me if I don't mind if it was a male masseuse. It made me pose, I never anticipated being touched by a man, but nothing will make me leave this warm comfortable nest and I agreed reluctantly.
When I heard a soft knock on the door I let him know that I am ready, when he entered the room I didn't lift my head. Maybe if I don't see him it will be easier I though...
But when he started the massage he was so gentle and professional that I let myself relax instantly. He has the softest hands and his touch was perfection, heaven really. At the end of the session he came to give me water, he was a not very attractive Asian guy, with crooked teeth and the smallest hands I ever seen. So much for the image of the god like male masseuse you get in the movies...
When later on I relate this story to a friend of mine telling her how amazing the guy is, adding that the fact that it was a man touching you makes it even more enjoyable, almost sensual.
Then she asked me if I said it to my husband. "I didn't know I had to confess", I answered laughing hysterically.

Post 39: Act of kindness

I also have random people who crossed my life and left ...memories and won a place in my hart for ever. One of them is a taxi driver.
When my son was about 3 years old he got invited to a birthday party we lived in Singapore at the time. He spent all afternoon running and plying with his friends. when the party ended and the time came to go home he was so exhausted that he fell asleep in my arm while I was saying good bye and thank you.
Carrying Adrien in my arms I went outside to catch a taxi, we didn't own a car then. But this family lived in a remote part of the city far from the center and any big street. There was no taxi in sight and not a single car for that mater. I started walking in the general direction of the main street but it was still a long trek and my sleeping son was getting heavier by the minute.
Suddenly I heard before I even saw the taxi, it was blasting Indian music. I started gesticulating for him to notice me. My excitement was short lived as I told him my address he said that his shift was over and he was actually heading to the station in the opposite direction, but he offered to give me a hike to the main road where I will have no trouble finding another taxi. I sat in the taxi and not the motion, neither the volume awaken my son. At destination the driver refused t get paid and drove off smiling, munching a snack in a twirl of Indian music. I stayed transfixed as he disappeared at the next intersection but never from my thoughts.

Post 38: People to remember

Honestly, how many individuals, doctors, teachers or other special people crossed your life?
I can count mine on the fingers of one hand. In first place comes my Gynecologist/Obstetrician in Paris. When I went to his office I knew I will wait for one hour or more. He was running between two clinics where babies were born daily and his practice.
He followed me for my pregnancy with my daughter. When I was about three month pregnant I had contractions and none of the medicine he gave me stopped it. I was hospitalised and spent the next four month lying in a bed with an IV, not even allowed to go to the bathroom.
I certainly was a difficult time in my life, but he came to visit me every single time he was at the clinic always patient smiling, comforting. I was looking forward to those couple of minutes he spared for me in his hectic schedule, and it meant the world to me.
I actually went in labor when I was six month pregnant, but the nurse followed his instruction over the phone while he was driving to the hospital and at the last moment everything went back to normal just like that.
When I delivered a perfectly healthy baby just a couple weeks early he came to my room and said, "so we did it". He confessed later that he had his doubts, but it certainly never showed.
Later, when I went back for check ups and waited hours for him I never complained...

Post 37: Rheumatologist

In my quest for a healthy back I went to see a rheumatologist.
This a second one I am investigating since the first one was beyond incompetent. I didn't like him at first sign but he did give me 30mn of his undivided attention, answered all my questions and mentioned himself that I should get a second opinion. But when I went back to get my blood work and Xrays results, he didn't have them. I was so aggravated that didn't think he deserve a second chance. After a full year of bad doctors, incompetent doctors, doctors in hurry I didn't have time or energy to wast, no patience either.
My Chiropractor referred me to my second opinion rheumatologist. I went to see him today at 3pm, left the office at 5:30pm. First he performed all kind of tests, poked me around, read my previous results and look at the existing Xrays. Then we went to his office and he ask me all kind of questions. Some were asked before, some were not. Some felt related, others didn't seem to be relevant to my back/neck problem. He asked me if I sleep through the night, have night apnea, night sweat...it went on and on. When he was done with his never ending list of questions,
he gave me some more blood work to be performed in a Californian lab, another MRI aimed at the base of my skull and a prescription medicine for an anti inflamatory I should try for three weeks until we meet again. I also got some articles related to different problems I have to investigate. I usualy complain not having enough informations, this was the opposit, how refreshing. I want to understand what's going on and I am relieved that the doctor feels that way too. During almost a full hour he was shooting all this questions at me without even taking a breath. I got out from his office brain washed and exhausted, but I know that this time I found a doctor I could trust.

Post 36: Full moon

I drove my son to the train station, he had a portfolio review with School of visual art in New York this morning. We got there early so he could get a bagel for breakfast. Between two bites he mention that for the photo shoot he had that evening he needed a collar shirt with tie. I know for a fact that the one collar shirt he has is too small and get upset about it. This is not something you mention the very last morning when you had the whole week to think about the dress code.
He get "pissed off" and storm out of the car forgetting his coffee in the process.

Then my daughter get upset about her phone not working. Her busy schedules doesn't let her time to go and exchange it. I offer to go for her, but she needs her phone all her numbers are in it. She wants to take mine and when I refuse she storm out the door.

I spend my day running from store to store to get a shirt for my son, with a new tie.
When I get back home and give him four different shirts to choose from and two ties, we have no room for mistake and I will return the left over stuff tomorrow. I get rewarded for my trouble by missing button on his suit vest to sew.

While I drive him to school for the photo shoot he tells me that it will take a while and for me to drive home. I had just time to get my daughter on the phone to ask if she will be home for dinner.
I just hung up telling my daughter that I will pick up a roasted chicken on the way home when my phone vibrate with a text message from my son. ' No one there it shouldn't take long'
I turn around back to school to pick up my son. Drop him home and go get my chicken.
I guess today the whole town decided to have roasted chicken for dinner because there is none left. I get a sad looking meat loaf instead and there better not complain about the menu.

On my way home I realise it's a full moon...

Post 35: Week Summary

Don't think that I forgot all about work.

Actually a lot has happened this past week on a professional level.
Ligne Roset, a French furniture company, is opening two showrooms in New York and are looking for design Consultants. It would be very exiting for me to combine my passion for design with the French culture, what could be better.
I also applied for a position in the William Sonoma Group for the first time in Scottsdale Arizona.
The Habitat for Humanity is experiencing some difficulties with the construction permits and therefore the project won't start like first announced end October. Even charities have to deal with administrative disagreements and delays. Instead I got my schedules for a fundraising even where volunteer with be wrapping gifts for the Holidays in a Mall. I signed up for a two hours shift, twice a week in December.

I just realised that my Post 33 was published in the wrong spot. The post are actually published in the order I saved them as a draft. So now it's misplaced and I don't know how to correct it.
So if you don't mind scroll down and get to it it if you haven't yet. Sometime when you play with stuff you don't fully comprehend "crap" happen. But if you just stay in your comfort zone you will never get to learn anything new. Just acknowledge your mistake and move on.

Post 34: Genes

Me as a baby with my aunt Halina; I liked her a lot, and she loved me back.

When looking at all those old pictures it makes me think about how funny genes are distributed.

My children are totally opposites, to the extend that actually amazes my daugther.

She doesn't understand how two siblings can be so different and we're not talking physical resemblances.

Christelle has my husband personality to the point it's funny, they understand one another perfectly, have the same interest in sports, are extremely competitive and ambitious. but she has my artistic flair and sens of style. She also is interested in spiritual, paranormal and religious things like her grand mother on Jean's side. As for her physical appearance I think she looks like my mom. She always denied it until she saw my mom's pictures as a young girl.

My son Adrien has my personality, he is more laid back, some time too laid back for my taste. I know how he is going to react before he does and sometime I actually use it against him, I try to figure what I would do in his shoes to get the reaction I want from him. It actual works pretty well.

Me...hum... let see, I do have a mix of both my parents. Like my mom, I can fix anything around house, I am a worrier and too sensitive. And like my father, I often have my head in the clouds and could spend my last $20 on a book and live on stuff left in the fridge for a week. I am not sure if this was a fair share.

And how to explain the fact that I love Russian sad songs, the smell of wet leaves or freshly cut grass, exotic food and far away counties. Why do I have a soft spot for India, almost like a forgotten love story from a past life.

Post 32: Memories

My father also surprised me with an unusual present.

When I told him about my project to organise all my photos albums, he told me about his own organising and sorting pictures. He wanted to give back to my brother and me our childhood pictures. As he said so himself; he got caught in the process and what was suppose to be a small comment became a paragraph and so on for each picture. The result is a small notebook starting with pictures of my parents, beautiful and careless like all young couples. Follow their wedding and my birth and pictures of me as a child in Poland with his memories.

I was very touched by this gesture. Some comments made my smile, some made me cry. Some details I remember and for most I was to little.

I often joke that we have no inheritance from my parents as they left Poland with a couple of suite cases, but I realise that memories are the most amazing inheritance of all and want now more than ever to do the same photo album for my two children.

Link to my favorite song in Polish http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQnOQYffskY

Post 31: Dad Day

When I visit my family in France I always have time set aside for my father. We are sharing a similar profession, he is an architect, so our outings always revolve around new projects, construction sites or artwork in Paris. like most men he doesn't speak much and this is our way to share a special time surrounded with thing we're passionate about.

Two years ago we went to see the exhibit on Rodin. This time it was Renoir, the impressionists paintings are my favorite, I even did my final paper on it during my Interior Design Studies.

After the visit we went for lunch on the Champs Elysees and he made fun of me, saying that only tourists wanted to have lunch there. But I do feel like one sometime and this is the most beautiful street in the world according to touristic guides.

No mater what we do it's always memorable and I intend to keep going with that tradition.

Post 33: I love Paris

I came across this Metro entance Designed by an artist.

I love Paris and it's always a pleasure to go back and revisit my favorite places. One of my hanging spot is the " Butte Mont Martre", with all the painters and tourists strolling around.

I get lost in the atmosphere and never fail to at list have a glimpse at it, this is exactly what I did this time; I had a waffle with chestnuts and whipped cream at the bottom of the Butte next to the carousel. I only had a day for myself, not much time for sigh seeing and souvenirs.

That day as a jock I got my seventeen years old son Adrien a set of three condoms with I love Paris on it. When I got home in the evening at my mother in law place. I was walking through the door unloading at the same time my little souvenirs when one of the condom flew out of the envelope. I went to put down the rest of the stuff in the living room and came back to pick it up but couldn't find it. Seeing me looking around my mother in law ask me what I am looking for and I show her the small package, of course she had no idea what it was, and I wasn't going to explain either.

So here we are looking aroud for this two inches square little package, when the couple of tenant walks in and seeing all the commotion inevitably ask what's going on. So I very seriously show them the package and none of them betray me and start to look for it as well. We couldn't find it for a while and finally my mother in low ask the inevitable question, but what it is?

No way around but to explain ...

Post 30: Decorating

Paris has the most amazing fabrics way more colorful and way less expensive than in the US.

European Home fashion is more avant garde and fearless than in the States.

I had the opportunity to help my mom with her bedroom renovation project.

In fact this all started almost two years ago when she was visiting my Design Studio and came across my window display with colorful pillows. She mentioned to me that she really liked them, so when I did the next window I sent the set of four decorative pillows to her as a present. She didn't expect it and said it was too beautiful for her. Nothing is too beautiful for my mommy, I said. But she wasn't ready to get rid of the carpet, wall paper at the time. Plus the unusual combination of colors made it difficult to select a palette. Not mentioning that we have a totally different taste, I often said during the process that she was the most challenging client to date.

After a lot of looking around, running and mind changing we finalised a project including a bed cover, carpet and wall covering, hopefully it will all get done within the next two years...

Post 29: French food

This is the result of our hard labor in my mother in law kitchen.

First an update on my mother in law health: in fact this intervention on her eyes will be conducted in three stages and may or may not lead to an operation. She did have to undergo a small procedure and depending on the response to this medication the doctors will decide on the next step. When I first arrived, I was surprised to find her not only in good health, but also in good spirit, her energy could easily outlast mine...

It's now a custom for me to cook "pierogi" a Polish dish that is very labor intensive with my mother and mother in law when ever I visit, everyone loves it but is too lazy to do it. I love to have this special time in the kitchen cooking with other women talking, laughing and having a good time, I find it comforting somehow, like a bounding experience: priceless.

Of course all Jean's family member and mine invited me for lunch, dinner or both surpassing them self in delicacies. I gained 2kg in a week, as much as I could spare myself the excess weight I wouldn't have missed it for a world if not for the calories certainly for the company...

Post 28: Home sweet home

Unfortunately this is not my house, but a beautiful "Hotel Particulier" on the Avenue des Champs Elysees in Paris.

I am back home! After an absence it's always good to see your kids, ( the husband was away unfortunately). When I got home in the middle of the day I was welcome only by my pets or rather the smell of the unchanged litter , on top of it Lady one of my cat peed next to the litter to punctuate her displeasure. Next I had to catch up with ten days of laundry, clean up the house and the refrigerator where I had an unpleasant encounter with a week old chicken, do groceries shopping, etc... Thanks good we have the jet lag so we can iron at four in the morning...

Post 27: Family Emergency

We had a phone call from France and my mother in law will have an eye surgery this week.

She is 82 years old and recently had a couple of health problem, she wasn't able to drive and feels isolated. She always had people living in her house, couples, singles. Family members or not they often spend months sometime years sharing her home. But at the moment there is no one.

Her daughter takes care of her, but she doesn't live close buy and has a full time job.

I offered to take care of her and keep her company for a while. It was a spontaneous reaction, no after thoughts, I am very happy to be helpful. She also lost a lot of weight and I am planing on fattening her up and cook all her favorite meals.

As a bonus I will be able to see my family too, and the best part I will have them all to myself...

Post 26: Be or not to be new me

There is another reason why I want to create a softer image for myself. Somehow I always had that image of someone with a strong personality, intimidating, inapproachable almost cold.

But this first impression was never me inside. I have to admit playing with it sometime. For instance people will never bother me in the street, I often have to give an opening for someone to talk to me. It is very convenient when you rather be left alone and you can also target people to whom you want to talk too. I am also reserved, if not timid. And don't give my confidence easily. But when you get to know me, I am the total opposite. I am a fun, loving person, who doesn't take herself seriously. Today after overcoming all the challenges life threw at me, I am confident enough to disclose the true me and be softer more approachable. And a soft casual look will help me in the prospect.

It will also help me on a professional level, as the first impression is the lasting one. If I get an interview I want my image to be of someone confident in her professional abilities, comfortable in her own skin, open minded and warm...

Post 25: Hight heels

Aside from diminishing my physical activities to non existent.

My back problem also affects my "Style". I can't were high heels anymore, or only for a very short time. And I pay for it the next day...Every one who knows me also know that I am a shoe lover, it is my favorite accessory and I have over a 100 pairs. There is certainly worst things in life than not be able to were your favorite pair of shoes. But at the same time it also affect who you are as a person, you need to reinvent a new Style with those limitations.

Since I am not working at the moment I also need to be more on the casual side, but I still want to be fashionable, how vain...It wouldn't be fair to mention that I enjoy the process. Yes you can be comfortable and fashionable at the same time. The new me will be softer, laid back and more approachable.

Post 24: Healthy back

To get back a healthy back, I have a plan.
Patience, perseverance and commitment are the key words. As you already know I do religiously every morning 30 minutes of stretch and abs. I know exactly what I need and increase the amount and difficulty I progresses. I hope to get in shape and be able to do Yoga and Plates on a regular basis, but also waking. Now I can only walk for about 20minutes, I love walking and enjoy nature and the outdoor. We discovered Utah and its beautiful red mountains and arches. In fact we loved it so much that we went back twice already and we bought a house in Arizona it also has a magnificent desert with cactus I've never seen before. I want to explore it through. See the sun set and the sun rise as we camp in the open. As a family we try to do active vacations ski, scuba diving, tracking, we even went rappelling in a water fall, last year. I want to do it again, and I will.

Post 23: Always hopful

One of my most important goal would be to solve my back pain.

If you never had back pain you can't understand the extend of the damage it does to life. The pain is always there and fluctuate from severe to moderate. If someone will see me they would never know that I am in pain. It doesn't prevent me from doing what I have to do on a daily basis, I just keep it to a minimum.

It all started almost a year ago. I went to different doctors tried different things. Each time it helps at somelevel and you gat hopeful. When you try something new you have to give it a couple of month to see any effects, that's why it's such a long process to find the one thing that will work for you. I don't want medication at this point; which will only remove the pain but will not solve the problem.
Someone said, when you tried a thousand things that failed you are that much closer to find the one thing that will work.

Today I went to see a rhumatologist, more test, more x-rays, I try to be patient. The doctor was patient answered my questions, there is nothing worst than a doctor in a hurry, generalising, not listening to you and rushing a prognostic. I will not relent until I found the right treatment for me, only hopping that I wouldn't need to try a thousand things to get there.

Post 22: Habitat for Humanity

Yesterday I went to a volunteer meeting for Habitat for Humanity. This somthing I had in mind for a while but never found a project close enough.

This charity takes old buildings and remodel them into affordable housing, with help of donations and volunteering work. Habitat doesn't give away the house the family have to meet some criteria. The families selected are hard working people with a full time jobs that would be able to pay for a credit. Habitat doesn't make any profit on the home, they sale it at cost. The family also needs to work on their own home for a total of 400 hours, they can get help from family members and friends. There is a huge demand for affordable housing in Bergen County and many families commit to these requirements and hope to own a house one day.

I know very well the house which was selected this time in Waldwick. I drove by so many times asking myself why such a beautiful home wasn't rehabilitated. It is a large house on a main street that was left to decay for years. This is the project chosen by the Habitat for Humanity comity and would be divided in four units. I saw the sign last week, and just knew that this was a perfect opportunity for me. It's funny how things work sometime...

I signed up for two days a week and I am very exited at the prospect to help a family in need.

All volunteers work under supervision of a professional and are not required to have any particular skills, just the time and hart to make this happen.

I am hopping to get my family involved if only for a day, you need to be 16 to take an active part in the construction.

Post 21: Fall blues

As we proceed slowly into fall, I feel a little nostalgic, fall always makes me fell that way.
If I had to give a world to each season it would be nostalgia for fall, stillness for winter, hope for spring and joy for summer.

I spend a lot of time in front of my computer reconnected with some long lost ones. It's funny how with some friends, even if you see them every couple of years, it always seams that you saw one another last week. The conversation is easy and there is so much to say... and with others you just drift apart...and what to say about those I have scattered all over the world during my expat years and have such slight chance to see again. I marvel at people who spent all their life in one place and have friends from middle school. But I have no regrets only souvenirs...

Post 20: Local market

Now that you had a coupe of days brake from from my eating habit, I thought that I could safely broach the subject again and have your attention. The Fact about organic food is the cost, but what most people don't know (I didn't) is that you actually have to pay to gt the USDA or other organic logo on you product. Which means there is many product that are organic but do not have the label because they can't afford it. This is most of the time true for the small Local Farms.

Not only you give a boost to you local economy, but on top of that you get fresh products. These items take from a couple of hours to a couple of day to get to your table, versus items imported from different parts of the Country and what to say about the majority which comes from overseas.

I am not saying that I will eat exclusively Local food, but I will definitely give it a harder try.

But again it comes to time. Who wants to go to three different sources to get the shopping done for dinner. Or dealing with a new recipe and a list of ingredients after a day of work.

As for eating healthy food... most of the time when I was done with work and had to think about dinner, I will go to the easy, fast and a recipe approved long ago by all my family members, and if some time it's so called comfort food, there is nothing wrong with that, at least it's not take out...

I've done it too to my greatest shames. We're only human after all.

Post 19: Carreer options

Looking what is on the market made me rethink my career options.

I enjoyed very much working with every single of my clients and will do it again if the occasion arises, but I will love extend my competences in different fields.

I would love to work within a team, have more architectural decision to make. I am very good at space planning and will be very competent in a remodeling process like an addition. I will love to be involved in commerical jobs like restaurants, hotels.

Or the opposite go into details and do accessorising I love this last touch in a project when everything comes together. I also loved doing my window display in my Studio. I actually got accepted in a very exclusive school for window display in France.

Pursuing those two different interest I also applied to Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel and West Elm,and Restauration Hardware so far. To do the set up for the photo shoot in the catalogues. I don't want to rule anything out just yet. We will see what kind of opportunity will present itself.

Post 18: Quarentined

While I was bragging about my cooking and healthy choices, last week, I was fighting the flu and consumed fluids only chicken soup or other kind of soup, hot tea with lemon and honey and plenty of water. It's a wonder how I didn't make a tidal sound when walking around.

I had even more time to spend at home since my friends quarantined me, non of them wanted to share my germs. i spend a lot of time in bed, in front of the TV and in front of my computer.

I explored all kind of new job hunting websites.

I didn't hear from this wonderful match I replied to last week on Monster.com but it only lasted a couple of days in the listing. Maybe they were submerged with such flow of resume that they had to withdraw the add. I was clever enough to write down all the information and went on line in search of the actual company hiring. I ended up on a different career search engine.

called Execu/search. So I am an executive who knew? This particular site is very detailed oriented the profile you enter is sharp. You can also submit your resume and they will contact you with a matching profile. It did take some time to fill up the application but they actually sent me a pertinent offer. Unfortunately it was in a Hospitality Design and I have no expertise in the area. I followed the same process on Craigs list and now they do all the work for me I get an email with all the matching profiles, there isn't that many. This is very productive and These are the two sites that really work for me. You need to do some serious browsing before you get result but it worth it.

Post 17: Nutrition lecture

While I was reflecting on all those eating habits. I had an opportunity to attend a lecture about nutrition. When my husband or daughter were trying to explain the mystery of carb and protein and theirs respective benefit I wasn't really interested. But when I attended this meeting I was ready to hear and take action. Before we all left the lecture the host said if we remember only three things from this it will be an amazing progress.

Here are the three things I singled from the lecture as significant:

No diet/fat free/sugar free/caffeine free products. As much as I didn't like any of these, and didn't use them I had now an additional reason for it. The calories might be less, but the price is still high to pay as the chemicals or substitutes are worst for your health. For my part I always preferred a smaller portion of a deliciously sinful desert. The revelation for me was that the caffeine free version was as toxic as the rest of the fat free, etc family. From now on i will only stick to the real thing.

No processed food. This include white sugar and white breads. From now on I only use brown sugar in my coffee and honey in my tea. As for the white bread there is no way I could live without my French baguette, I am French after all. But in fact I like any kind of good bread and more often I go for the whole grain version.

Eat organic. No only non organic food is loaded with hormones, pesticides and antibiotics but on top of that it was also robed from its taste and nurturiants. I was already buying organic milk, eggs and most of my meat, I will now include some fruits and vegetables.

Drink plenty of water. As a bonus reminder since I like most people don't drink enough. I will try to remember to carry around my bottle of Evian, especially in the car. And since it's available you reach for it, and before you know it, had your daily fill of H2O.

I do not pretend to have a perfect diet, but a healthier one. And baby steps are better than no step at all.

Post 16: Cooking challenges

I like to cook and experiment new recipe. Sometime they're delicious and some time not quite so.
Most of the time I need to remember a couple of thing to change for the next try, which I write on the recipe.

Lately my cooking was challenged by my family members which have different need/taste/schedule. My husband for instance is an accomplish athlete and is very particular about his proteins and carb intake, and I don't even mention the couple of weeks before a race.
My daughter which doesn't like to be around anything related to cooking likes to eat and only cooked meals. A sandwich, wrap, bagel or salad is "not food", soup is OK.
As for my son which had a vegetarian moment, not liking vegetables is pretty hard. He would be perfectly happy eating only Junk Food. With maybe a couple of healthy choices.

Imagine what diners were like for me, always one or more were not happy about my choices.
it got to the point where each person had to pick a meal for the week and if they had no idea were not allowed to complain. Over summer they had to choose a new recipe or just mention their favorite meal. it certainly helped, got everyone involved and I didn't have to think about diner menu as much as a bonus.

Post 15: Home improvment projects

To fill my days I lined up some projects
Organize comes first. Over summer I got rid of all junk accumulated over the years, with my mom help we did it in no time and had a Garage sale. It was a lot of work but a lot of fun, the kids helped and were allowed to sell their stuff and keep the money. I made over $2000 in the process. Got rid of the old to make room for the new.

I also organized 10 years worth of recipes collected patiently and dumped in a large cardboard box. Of course I could never find the one I was looking for. Now everything is sorted, compartmented and I already tried some of my favorite.

I would like to duplicate this acomplishment on my Photos, since we got a digital camera nothing got printed. Another 10 years of documents to go through. every one in my family miss the old version of photos albums you can look at from time to time. So this is what I will focus on next.
since I don't like to have any mess in my house I set up a large table in the basement for that purpose.

Post 14: I have time

Now that I don't have a job, I have something I was craving for TIME, and I am going to use every minute of it for big and small projects I had to postpone for lack of time.

I do have two grown children, aside from feeding them from time to time they pretty much tend to themselves. But they still need a lot of attention and it always happened when you expect it the least.

For instance when my daughter had an urge to unload her soul was always during my special time. I will get ready for a relaxing bubble bath, with candles and soft music, sometime even with a glass of chilly white wine. here I am ready to relax with my favorite book when she will come in sit down on the tub and reveal it all. Of course the urgency of relaxing step aside while. I get lost in her tales. Priceless

My son on the other side is very secretive and private, he will spend most of his evening in his bedroom, with the door closed and music blasting. I can hardly get out a couple of monosyllabic answers from him at the dinner table. Evey morning i drive him to school and this is my special time with my son. Sometime we talk, sometime I lecture and he has to listen, sometime we argue, but nevertheless i will not give it up. I will also gladly give up my time to relax for him too (maybe not in a bubble bath though)

Post 13: New title for my Blog

Since I've started my Blog it side tracked from it's original purpose, it's almost like it has a mind of its own.

Checking my emails, new job posts on the web and sending a couple of resume became my morning routine since I've started looking for a job, but there isn't really much to comment on.

On the other hand thinking about my daily entry for the blog keep me challenged. I enjoy the process of pinpointing the one stripe of you day worth talking about. Since I don't allow anything negative I train my mind to focus on the positive side of things, I will be documenting on each day happy moment and share it with you.
It boost my mood and lift my spirit.

Today I give my Blog a new Title Job Hunt and Life will be more appropriate.

Post 12: Garage sale

I woke up with a sore throat and cough, I guess I brought more than exotic souvenirs from Hong Kong.

Today is a perfect sunny, warm, fall day. I went in my back yard to pick up the chestnuts (not the edible kind) and shells before the squirrels hide them in their personal pantry underground for winter. I did gather a garbage full.

As much as I enjoy dressing up and beautiful interiors, I also love the outdoors. Love the smell of autumn, the leafy, mushroomy wet one, and there is no better smell to me than freshly cut grass. I don't mind dirt under my fingernails. It certainly had to do with my ancestors farmer in Poland. It's in my genes.

Post 11: I have my head in the clouds

This morning I went back on all Job Board web sites to see thee was anything new, but no.
Monster.com is the one I like the best. I also checked my emails hopeful that I might get an answer from the adds I sent my Resume to, but here also nothing. I was particularly hopeful about one of the application which I think would be a perfect match. It's only been a couple of days...

My family often complain about my lack of attention, it is true that I let my mind wonder and have my head in the clouds more that the average person and here a perfect example:
Later this morning I went to the dentist and since it was a small intervention she decided not to numb the treated area, she asked me a couple of times if it hurts, when she said something for the third time I just shake my head from left to right, in fact she was asking me to open wider and I like a five year old was shaking my head no, no, no...

Post 10: I feel sooooo lousy today

Today I fell sooooooo lousy today.

I went to bed yesterday at 9pm and woke up at 10:30am with a horrible migraine, vertigo, nausea, you name it. i am not sure if this is the jet lag or something else, but i wasn't able to do a single thing...SORRY

Tomorow is another day.

Post 9: Postcards

Back to business...

Before I left for Hong Kong I sent over 20 post cards to previous Clients with my new email address and cell phone. Next week I will call about 1/3 to see if they have any new projects in mind for the Holiday season.

Meanwhile I emailed a couple of my Resume to previous business contacts.

I also went to different JOB BOARD websites on line like Monster, Career Builder, Craigs List, Hot Jobs, Indeed and Mayor of the Mall.
I had a pleasant surprise to see a couple of very attractive post, to which I applied on the spot.
One in particular seams very promising...we'll see.

After all morning browsing on the web I am exhausted, looking for a job is hard work.

Post 8: Luxuries

This is a basket with a welcom tea at the Hotel.

Hong Kong is the most convenient modern airport I've ever seen, you get out of the taxi at the train terminal down town, and check your luggage right there, taking the train to the airport luggage free.

I also had the pleasant surprise to be upgraded to business class and travel next to Jean in blissful comfort.

Back home...I am happy to do my own laundry and cooking.
These luxuries are dangerously addictive, you could very easily get use to it if you're not careful...

Post 7: Traditional Chineese Medecine

Today I went to Jade Street where you can find Jade in any shape, size and price imaginable.
I never knew that this semi precious stone not only comes in all shades of green, (from very pale, almost white to deep green), but also in yellow, orange and purple. there is also old Jade which comes in different shades of browns, (again from milky white to dark brown) this is also the one I like the best. Of course the most beautiful carvings are done in the best quality jade and the cost even for a small piece can be astonishing.

After all the excitement and a lot of walking my back hurts and when we go with Jean to Temple Street at night I decide to see a doctor and try the famous Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is made from Natural Ingredients (something like an ancient version of ) I was given an acupuncture session on the spot and a prescription for my remedy. It takes about 45mn to prepare it so we are told to come back when it is ready. At this point it's already after 8pm and the shop will be closed but someone will wait for me and open the door.
When I come back to pick up my medicine and the old pharmacist open the door for me, I see on the counter a huge bowl with an, ill smelling, diarrhoea looking steaming mixture .
My throat closes and while I am trying to imagine how in the world I am going to swallow this ...thing. The pharmacist comes back with my medicine the size and smell of the dark brown liquid is a slight improvement from the one I was agonizing over; which was, I am shamed to admit: his dinner. I reach for the bowl and drink it strait, trying not to taste, smell, think what it might be made of , and force the warm liquid down my throat.

I am not sure about the effect on my back, but it definitely improved my transit to put it mildly, the experience was...interesting

Post 6: Meditation practice

Everyday I need to do about 30minutes of physical therapy exercise for my back/neck problem.
I've been doing it for months now and incorporated some yoga stretching movements into my routine. At the end I lay down for my meditation practice and try to stay still and relax for a count of a 100 deep breath.

You won't believe how difficult it is to do nothing, even if you have no plans to rush to some how you are always in a rush. I try very hard to concentrate on my breathing, in and out, and not to let my mind wander, but during that short period of time and still have to snap it back into focus numerous times.

Here I am laying down on the floor of my hotel room when an almost inaudible noise coming from the window call my attention, I open one eye to see a guy coming down in a metal basket through the window; I am on the 42nd floor, I first thought is " this is it I've reached the Nirvana state", the next "thanks god a least I am properly dressed".