I'm home!

[cybee]

Oh, Randy! That is excellent! Love reading your PPD fix list. Many I do employ when in dire need (which is most of the time) .

Yes, I have an Edith Piaf cd aussi.

Now that I have discovered Netflix , I am having such fun watching all kinds of French film! Here are some that I have seen recently: Private Fears in Public Places (Coeurs); My Best Friend; The Lovers on the Bridge (Les Amants du Pont Neuf); The Valet (La Doublure); Avenue Montaigne; 400 Blows; and soon finally I will see Paris, Je T'aime and La Vie En Rose. Some other ones I catch in theaters (e.g Lady Chatterly), but living where I do that can be difficult! My daughter did thoughtfully give me the "Amelie" dvd one Christmas. I like to think this is all helping with my French aussi!

I sometimes make a mean creme brulee and less mean (ahem) macarons and quasi passable nutella/banana crepes ! ha!

Certainly, chatting with you guys and reading trip reports here.. that is an excellent source of a fix for PPD!

Getting excited about my next trip of undetermined departure time, but knowing it to be a reality in the foreseeable future!

Reading books about Paris/France! (I am a certifiable bookworm!)

My oil painting (in bedroom) from Biarritz..okay, that is not Paris..but still reminds me of my last trip to France!

Anyway, thanks Randy...I enjoyed all your ideas and had to share my feeble effots at the same!

[suzanne]

Randy, Thank you for posting about San Francisco. My husband was stationed at Fort Ord in the early 70's and for unknown reasons developed a negative attitude towds San Francisco during that time. So, Although, I've lived in Southern Ca. most of my life and traveled just about everywhere in the state, he always proceeds to drive right on by San Francisco. He does however, love Paris almost as much as I do. Now that you've given me the goods, perhaps, I can finally have that weekend in San Francisico.

[rssilverandlight]

Suzanne -

You might whisper in your husband's ear that Fort Ord is gone but
San Francisco is still here .

[Shoesy]

I was in San Francisco once and fell in love with the city. It's probably a lovely place to live............as long as you don't care what your hair looks like.

[trechic]

San Fransisco is one of my favorite US cities! I visited my brother often and once stayed for 6 weeks when I was about 28 yrs old. My brother lived there for over 30 years, and sadly passed away way too young, seven years ago, and I haven't been back since. I will always have a special place in my heart for SF!

[Happygoin]

A favorite of mine as well, trechic. When I used to travel often for business, I'd go to most major US cities. San Francisco was the only one I ever thought I could transplant to and be happy as a lifelong New Englander. It's a wonderful place!

[suzanne]

Randy, as a matter of fact my nephew will be attending college at what used to be Fort Ord. We usually go to Sonoma for Memorial Day weekend. We fly from O.C. to Oakland and rent a car. Last time I convinced him to stop at Fisherman's wharf. Unfortunately, we could not find a place to park. He did, however take me to see Golden Gate Bridge. I read in Sunset magazine a while back about a little French district in S.F. I hope to go there someday.

[rssilverandlight]

Suzanne -

I hope you can go to the French enclave in San Francisco one day.

Fort Ord is the best example of what can be done in the way of
transforming a former military base.

Not only a great educational institution but, like Paris,
location, location, location - right near Carmel and Monterey !

[rssilverandlight]

Suzanne -

ps. Fisherman's Wharf is the height of mass tourism and there
is no reasonably priced parking. San Francisco offers so much
better. Just going on line and you will find a great many
quality things of interest.

[suzanne]

Thank you Randy. I am so exited because I just read the xjet will be having routes from Long Beach to Monterey. Carmel is where we go for Labor Day weekend so this is great. They have a fare of $59.00 each way I can't believe it!!

[trechic]

Happy...I felt the same way! When I went out for that extended stay the purpose was so I could find a job and a place to live for my 3 yr old son. Everything was falling in my lap...but I ended up instead, coming back to my husband and "trying again". One of many "mistakes" I have made in my life!!
But, had I made that decision at that time to stay and make in SF...I never would have married "Loser Husband #2" and had my two other children.... which is an unimaginable thought!

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

There must be a real affinity between Boston and the San Francisco area, because I've often thought that Boston is a city where I could live very happily!