lizgeorjon

Burj Khalifa from Sheikh Rayed Road (I think)

Goodbye Dubai!  I’m en route home and I’m not quite certain how I feel about it.  What a week!

I’ve lived through a few shockers and various emotions while in the UAE, in one short week.  People surprise me.  Just when I think I’ve got ‘it’ (whatever ‘it’ is) all figured out, the curve balls start flying… and I still don’t have the reflexes to duck quickly enough!  🙂

Travel.  Perspective.  Friends.  Realism.  Love.  Acceptance.  Maturity.  Generosity.  Risk.

If I weren’t an actionary person, I don’t believe any of the above words would apply to what makes me Liz.  It might have been a few rough months – and took AJ and the ex-boyfriend to bolster my spirits and psychoanalyze me a bit, but I don’t seem to wander too far off the course these days.  I’m never quite sure who to thank properly and how to express myself well.  It’s just this wild and exciting journey, of which I am always open to, that keeps me going.  I’ll never forget ‘keep on keeping on’ from Will’s funeral.

I was reminded today (and for some reason it makes me tear up to write) about humanity in its most vulnerable form… here in Dubai amidst so much fake.  Bezu, the lifeguard at Vida Downtown really did bless me.  I had a crazily-insightful village of people help me through an intense week on several levels.  I definitely used the late mornings to my advantage while NY still slept.  And I swam a lot.  Practically every day.  It is Ramadan… no one is at the hotel pools.  And, it’s 109 degrees outside.  I don’t know… this Pisces fish needed to be in the water, and reflect.  Anyway, Bezu was so genuinely kind.  Like a kindness I hadn’t seen or felt in a really, really long time.  He’s in Dubai, on a ‘work plan’ from Ethiopia.  He sends most of his earnings to his mum and sisters back home.  He asked about my religion and I told him that I don’t believe.  I’ll admit that his infectious smile as he said “really!?” and “I’m going to pray for you” without even an ounce of judgment, question or further persecution why… it struck me.  He knew I was leaving the next night late, and said he’d be back to work (from his work-related bus from apartment or dorm-like suburb) at noon the next day.  Today I swam on and off for hours, but was thankfully still there when Bezu came back to work.  He had that lit up smile instantly when he saw me- the only blonde out at the pool in a bikini during Ramadan, but it wasn’t like that.  He had a gift for me!  He gave me a wristband, with the original flag of Ethiopia, which, apparently is controversial.  But it’s where his family’s loyalty stands.  For once, I have no words to describe how having that connection felt.  x

Much like the gang from ‘It’s Always Sunny’ would, I had a ‘plan’ for this trip.  And boy oh boy, it did not go as expected.  But that’s the bit I love about my life most.  It’s certainly not the easiest path, and to quote my heart and soul: “It takes a village”.  And to quote myself earlier tonight during my second unexpected call with the VP: “I am who I am [literal and exacting], you can either accept it, or just stop calling me.”  Sounds harsh maybe, but I don’t think he ‘gets’ me so easily.  And obviously I am sometimes not so easy.  😀  That’s why I need people who ‘get me’.  In our defense: constant time zone craziness x2 doesn’t help.

What an amazing feeling.  It took a village, but I finally got myself back.  And sure, maybe people cringe when they see my call come through during these times.  But if we don’t take risks, don’t love our friends and value their perspectives, isn’t that just a bit robotic?

Clearly, I’m emotional on-a-plane Liz right now.  And no I’m not drunk!  I had one vodka in the lounge and then was asleep on the tarmac.  I slept seven hours straight on a plane.  It was a long and enlightening week!  In so many ways.  I completely respect the differences in people, and what works for me may not be the right recipe for anyone else… but if I’ve learned anything at all these past few years, it’s the following:

1. Those who never make mistakes, typically don’t achieve much.  Taking risks is imperative.

2. The best way out is always through.

3. Karma and the bigger picture are ever-present.

4. I genuinely love my friends.

5. Life is too short to be too hard on oneself.

My week in Dubai and Abu Dhabi closed in a way I would have never imagined.  But it is so fabulous.  I’m so proud of myself and so grateful for everything the incredible people in my life have contributed to my goal.  I’ve been pushing the date out, but on Monday, I launch the new kick-ass rebrand of my company!!!  I am not perfect.  I am not as organized as I’d like to be.  But I am definitely driven.  Trust that the book dedications will likely be longer than the book itself.  x… wait a minute: ooo.  I am still always confused the x is a kiss and the o- a hug?  I had it the other way around for about 31 years, as F Tom pointed out.

On my way to the airport, something magical-like happened, after my spiritual emotionally-charged days.  Clarity at last!

Traveling these distances can be trying, as I have to manage meetings locally and then run the business at night, not to mention my clients are all over the globe anyway.  One called me at 4:00am Dubai time last night, he was en route from Seattle to Delhi and had some stupid United issues.  All I really did was take the call and empathize.  Then tonight at dinner (about 11:00am NYC time), I got a random call from someone that client was sitting next to on the plane today, he was told that I am the absolute best in the biz (in several ways) and he’d like for me to consider taking on his boutique firm’s travel!

As for me and the VP… I think I’ve just collected another ‘friend-for-life’.  Who saw that coming!!?  He sealed the deal on Wednesday, when he texted me “xxxx”.  I texted him back: “the number four, or anything in fours means death in China”.  To which he replied: “xxx”.  Acceptance, there you have it.  I think he we ‘get’ each other finally!  Happy girl.

So… here’s to my village: you guys are freaking amazing and I couldn’t succeed or survive without your truly awesome perspectives and support.

Next stop: Virtuoso in Vegas, which is far more exciting now that I’ve decided to (hopefully) pass some of this experience and exposure on to Ashlee.  No one deserves it more, having to put up with my chaotic style.  The girl has a mind of her own though and takes smart risks.  Watch out Vegas… here comes Envizage!

Love to all.

Oh yeah and the picture is of Burj Khalifa, the ‘world’s tallest building’, just outside the ‘world’s biggest mall’ and ‘world’s largest fountain’.  Whatever.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Karma.  Karma?  O karma, where art thou!?  I’m banking on tonight’s full moon to reset the crazy.  We all know I’m a bit OCD, a weird ‘numbers’ person, and have a massive belief that doing good will bring good.  I delivered generous good deeds to several last week.  Things have been fabulous ever since I pulled my head out of dreamland.  I’ve been busier than ever the last few + weeks (months) yet somehow Wednesday evening, things started to go awry.  My IT went down the night I was meant to pack and then trying to get to Dubai the next day was hugely intense and expensive.  Stupid United.  Rock star that I am though, I heroically got myself to the UAE.  Truly heroic.

Mrs Jetsetter picked me up from the airport Friday.  Leading up to our long-anticipated trip, she was very sweet and had a full on list of activities for us to indulge in!  Nails, restaurants, spa, and Louboutin shopping, oh my!  Was so nice to relax a bit and just be.  So grateful to feel so pampered!  We had ourselves a bit of a well-deserved girlfriends’ weekend, Ramadan or not!  Two blondies jetsetting about in her convertible ‘hottie car’.  😉  We did hammam yesterday, far later than originally scheduled due to a bit of Vueve poisoning from the night before.  Which actually worked out well, as I had a little space to have a drastically needed heart-to-heart call with the VP.  Clearly I felt achingly hurt, but it turns out he’s def not a prick!  In fact, quite the opposite… we were just severely misconstrued.  x

Ramadan is a holy month in which Muslims believe brings many blessings.  I am thinking often of my sisters-in-law, even though I’m not religious.  🙂  The country fasts from sunset to sundown daily and it is 100% disrespectful to drink, eat, chew gum or smoke in public during this time.  Quite interesting really.  Dress is meant to be more conservative, plus public affection of any kind is banned.  At dinner last night, I learned that playfully giving my friend ‘the bird’ in public was also a jail-able offense!  Not just during Ramadan.  Oops.  Fortunately nobody else saw me.  And knowing me, I likely followed it up with an f-bomb or two.  

As fascinating and mystic as Dubai may sound, I’ve come to realize there is no way I would ever live here.  I’m fortunate to have made several close friends and do cherish those relationships.  But this 109 Fahrenheit weather must do something bizarre to the brains of all the expats that live here.  Let’s just say there’s a lot of ‘drama’ in Dubai.  It’s very incestuous and I think the expats live sort of in a fantasy world (no personal offense mates!), people here seem to be very involved in everyone else’s business!  Gossip, politics, secrets, live-in maids and cheating.  I know… it sounds like B&B (haha), but I didn’t fully grasp it before.  Anyone who knows me knows I don’t operate well in that type of environment.  Someone call Ryan Seacrest to get on it with ‘The Real Expats of Dubai’.

Now I am in Abu Dhabi.  Just for the night at the amazing new Ritz.  It’s just gorgeous and I wish I could go swimming in the fabulous pool but I’ll have to leave that for tomorrow.  They’ve put me in a fantastic club room but now America is waking up, so to work I will go for the night.  Abu Dhabi is the wealthiest Emirate of seven, and maybe the most conservative, but I’m not sure on that fact.  I hope to visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque tomorrow with the big camera.  It’s truly beautiful but I’ve not gotten close yet!  I need to brush up on their Ramadan rules first.  There aren’t any impressive mosques, that I’ve seen, in Dubai.

This really is a bizarre country.  You’ll go to jail for embracing someone on the street, yet can have multiple wives.  We had to sneak sips of water laying down in the car, inside a car park, before going into the mall.  I shouldn’t say it’s bizarre, I wholeheartedly respect their values and culture.  I imagine they look at me flipping the bird in a tank dress and red soles at an influential non-royal ‘figure’ in the emirate, and think perhaps I’m a bit bizarre.  🙂

No worries….. I’ve been to duty free!

The Painted Ladies, behind AJ and Renea’s old house

Well, if you’re not counting my move 3,000 miles across the country… which was less the end of era and more the creation of a monster?  Perhaps!

What an incredible San Fran trip this has been!  And we all know that statement does not cross these big ass lips lightly!  I am currently on my way home (or possibly to my friend’s hotel bar), but to NYC nonetheless!  I had an action-packed, dog-spit-and-hair extended weekend.  The timing just worked and I am a big bundle of love and excitement, despite my Prick VP phone call two nights ago.  Thankfully I had my aunties nearby, and apparently a “thank you for flying united, bye bye” voice on.  Dreamy turned Prick.  He’s quite self-absorbed although aren’t we all ‘all about me’ to some degree?  But add egotistical and Pisces (!!!) he is clueless his nickname has been altered, but I don’t even think he’s noticed.  So that’s the name of that tune!

I love the photos below.  We were taking a series.  The ‘sad face’, crying.  The ‘happy we’re all together’ one.  And of course the ‘everybody touch eddie’, which is my personal favorite.  I feel slightly responsible for the fact that at Eddie’s wedding or 40th birthday, we will have an entire ‘everybody touch eddie’ deluxe collector’s item bootleg album of photos: inception date 2009, I am thinking.  Thanks for the reminder AR.  😉   Look at AJ.  She is so O-V-E-R all our sorry asses in her house being the pack-a-holic that she is!  And a damn good one she is!!  Packed up my house in a couple days!!!  Hmmm.  Wait a minute.  

Am oh so sad to not be able to combine botox with aunties in the future but am so very excited for their next phase (see you and MY own drawer in October!) and we’ve been fortunate enough to spend some time together prior to their move down to SoCal.  AJ and I were together a LOT after I moved up to SF and got (thankfully) unengaged.  Again, I feint sadness but am over-the-super-moon for those two and to to be honest, ‘I am like gum on your shoe!’  (love that quote).  So I’ll be seeing you.  Somewhere in the Med I think, I’ve got the dates in my calendar, not to worry.

I’m headed back to Dubai next month.  BUT I do have a legitimate excuse to go.  And by legitimate I mean a small window of non-travel time, a new worldwide travel/biz venture, more UA miles and an ‘awesome night out’ being planned by Mrs Jetsetter with her other entire Dubai posse.  Tickets are bought and I am super excited.  The Armani Boy has a brand new hotel he’s putting me up in for two nights, called Vida, I think?  I’ll stay two nights at my Jetsetter’s house on the beach with her pool and a live-in maid.  It’s just the standard of living there, as is the lingo.  I mean, my ‘house-cleaner’ isn’t coming until Thursday!!!  🙂  I’m genuinely excited, and I need this trip, given I am admittedly a little jacked up over the VP.

What a whirlwind life.  I had the best time with my Kelly and finally met her husband, who completely reminds me of someone a lot of us know (or know of, at least).  Was hilarious.  We met for drinks which turned into several, before we headed to their friends’ Colombian house-party in the mission, complete with a bonafide taco truck and salsa band!  What a blast!  Most hilarious and also familiar to some, we bellied up AFTER the taco truck party to probably the only place open in SF at the wee hour of 1:00am… and the bartender wouldn’t serve us.  (hey why didn’t I just offer to kiss him!?  duh)  So we put our tri-marketing hats on and ordered food, so they would serve us.  I feel like meatballs might have been involved.  Red wine and absinthe most certainly was.  What fun though!!!  Thank you, to my new SF peeps, and for not ‘pulling a Francl’ which has no real validity other than it means being flaky SF, but purely for comedic reasons.  Nothing really to do with the real Francl.  But I think it’s funny.

Not sure what the broader point of this email really is other than to update my beloved as I am ‘fast and furious’ to NYC, early enough to meet friends.  And early enough to be well for spin class at 12:15pm tomorrow!  I self-spun whilst in SF this time.  I set up a 3-day pass at AJ’s gym, and with my own music and was able to burn 796 calories one day and 937 yesterday to my own moves!  Amazing.  Who knew the charity I was talked into participating in (rather than merely donating) would change my life… and how my jeans fit.  Seriously.  Forever grateful.

I’ve got a two-pound box of See’s for Ivo and the restaurant on my corner.  Two whole pounds!!!  I can’t wait to bring it to them.  I love my neighborhood.  And for those of you who’ve been a bit concerned, I am back!!!  I was vortexed into a surreal place for a couple months… what can I say.  It happens.  But I’m back with fervor and Envizage is launching soon!!!  (don’t worry Ash, it will be really fun, like excel is!)  So long LMC.  I will forever love the story of me, Kath and Lor on Nikki Beach in Cabo poling passers-by on catchy company names for my unemployed 35th birthday.  With Chelsea freaking Handler’s empty cabanas.  Hilarious.  Who knew then we’d ALL be where we are now.  Sigh…

It’s going to be a busy last seven months leading up to my 40th  🙂  and spare time will be, um… sparse!  That just means there are several funny adventures to report along the way!  I wonder if I could 1) get bob dylan to have dinner with me, and 2) be mistaken on a plane for Claire Danes one more time, and 3) get Pulp to play at my 40th.

Love to all.  x or ooo: you decide!  🙂

I’ve got to hand it to United, this aircraft between Newark and Honolulu is pretty dialed in.  It has iPod connectors at every seat with three little cubby holes and a nice sized screen.  International adapters, USB port… this plane is similar to the 777 going over the pond but def newer.

Row number one goes like this: Liz-seat 1A, 1B is empty (who’s better than me), Al Roker- seat 1D, 1E-Matt Lauer and 1F-Mrs. Pouty Lauer.  10+ hours to Honolulu.  I was a little agitated the other night when I received an email from the Royal Hawaiian informing me that the Today Show would be filming live from their beachfront at 1:00am this Monday.  So… really late on Sunday night after an all-day pool day.  Seriously, throw in a vicodin just for fun and we’ve potentially got another chapter of the book just writing itself.  I hope people don’t go all mental for these yo-hos.  I mean, Al Roker is so lame, he had all his shit laid out in the cubby holes before take off and it looks like Matt Lauer was sort of arguing with his wife already.  I bet he really is a dick to women.  He looks like a dick.  Didn’t he get named ‘Best’ or ‘Hottest’ something and it went to his head?  I’ll have the entire weekend to find out!  I now wish I had looked up who their on-show guests are to see what other celebs are going to be crowding my first 2013 attempt at a tan!  And yes, when we took off all Al Roker’s shit went flying.

Totally am going to try to hitch a ride to the resort with them though.  We’re going the same exact place!  Who knows, maybe this random trip, which the dates were recently shifted, will be symbiotic in some way.  Most of my randomness usually is, and today INSIDE the airport, I found a lucky penny!  And yes, I picked it up.

Today has been rather strange.  I was up late packing (drinking wine), sort of thinking maybe I’d get a call from the Dreamy VP who spent the past four or so days being rather attentive.  I did not.  I woke up early, did a bit of work and had an 11:45am car to the airport.  I got a random spurt of motivation (probably by the fact that my banker busted out with “you’re losing a lot of weight” yesterday) and huffed it up to 9:30am spin class. I rushed back home, got in the shower, final touches on packing, put on my little sparkly star earrings from my Kath xo and literally walked downstairs at 11:43am.  For anyone who knows me that is truly amazing.  The driver had a brand spanking new Cadillac and was listening to music I swear I haven’t heard since I was maybe five years old.  Most people know that I have little-to-no memory before age 10-ish, so it was weird.  Ronnie Milsap, Ray Pierce, Willie Nelson… So strange.  It was like the guy put on the XM Serious channel: ‘the music my dad used to listen to’.  I put my make-up on in the car, was dropped at the special section for United people at Newark and realized it was just 59 minutes before my flight.  I was shooed from the Premier line and got a little irritated as my boarding pass screamed to me ‘BOARDING AT 12:39’ which had occurred one minute earlier.  Turns out, I was TSA pre-checked!  How random is that?  The agent raised an eyebrow when I asked how I got TSA pre-checked and replied “you never filled anything out for this!?” but then she winked, giggled and sent me on my merry way.  I saw the gate, spotted my lucky penny, and arrived just as they announced boarding for people like me and Al Roker.  Who, by the way, ordered the steak and woofed it.  He didn’t touch his bread though.  Then the one empty seat in first is next to my window.  🙂

Anyway, my point is that today has been unusually blissful.  In getting back to ‘symbiotic’, perhaps I’ll meet someone, like a book publisher on this trip.  Or who knows, given the chaos I’m certain will be rampant at the Royal Hawaiian the whole time I’m there.  Dreamy VP… who?  No pre-flight call, no little Lizzie for you!  I’m feeling a bit ominous about the adorable ‘package’ I sent him, actually.

Currently over Cleveland.  Only nine more hours to go.  What the hell Roker is having an ice cream sundae!  So is Lauer.  He (Lauer) needs botox.  Kelly, you would cringe at his crow’s feet… come meet us in Hawaii, let’s boost your New York clientele!!!

As for me I’ve got my champagne, Bob Dylan and a plethora of international films ahead of me.  ‘Saturday Night Fever’ is on the movie-list though.  Aww yeah.

Dangling over Denver now.  Hi Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Billy boy!  Love you.  Seriously though, who has seen ‘Horrible Bosses’!!?  This film is so hysterical, I have been laughing out loud through the entire thing. I know someone recommended it, but it is absolutely classic.  A new fave and I usually don’t like those kinds of movies.  Although, maybe some of us remember ‘Very Bad Things’.  Classic.

Sentimentally over San Fran now.  I think for the rest of my life, the first musical note of any Stone Roses song, although ‘Sally Cinnamon’ is unbeatable, will forever perk me up. Time to step up your game, Dreamy VP!  😉  Or stop messing with me, please.  Fortunately,  I have amazing clients, family and friends who’ve helped me keep all that, including my self-worth, in check.  They also send me links to duck-taped humans.  Or wait… just cellophane-wrapped.  Not sure that tidbit accurately précises my ‘I have a great support network’ case.  🙂  but it’s still bizarrely hilarious.

Part way over the Pacific now, Lauer has now put on a scarf and well… we all know I have a thing for men in scarves.  He is pretty hot.  Granted I am three splits in now.  Saw him looking over a couple times.  The flight attendant (from Oz) and I are now pals and when we chat he def looks.  His wife looks kind of unhappy and bitchy.  But thou does not judge for thou was once trapped with F Tom.  Trapped within self-imposed constraints, of course!  The flight attendant informed Matt Lauer that I am at the same resort, how lovely I am, and told him about the resort’s email.  Would it be bad to ask for a fourth split?  It IS a 10-hour flight!  Aw sweet my sheila brought me another without having to ask.  Let’s see if I can get her to broker my transfer deal to the Royal Hawaiian in the Today Show van for when we land!  Gosh I do so love Australians.  And Roker just devoured a choice box snack.  What the heck!?  Poor joke but nonetheless true: he better not poop his pants!

Oh and by the way, have actually just read through ALL my stuff for my now bi-monthly newsletter, turns out United has been doing this pre-TSA check-in for Platinum and up since May 3rd.  Apparently, I should actually do my newsletter every now and again!  Whoops: just like that, Steve Jobs surprises me with ‘Blower’s Daughter’ and I’m literally catapulted into thoughts of the ex-boyfriend.  Sigh.  An ex-boyfriend who has just learned of the Dreamy VP, and dismissed it as ‘silly’… the whole concept, or irrationality of it.  Sigh.  But, to quote Pulp: “this isn’t chocolate boxes and roses, its dirtier than that…” Dreamy is pretty dreamy.  I hope I have a message or email when I land!  Two hours, 17 minutes more to go.

I miss Ashlee.  It’s hard not to when ‘Gangnam Style’ pops on.  Priceless.  This seat 1B was symbolically meant for her.  Let’s get something shaking girl.  It was awfully cute, Ash got a little pissy with me on the phone the other day.  Rightfully so, but Ash, oh my gosh I hope you realize that is part of why I love you so much, because you’re THAT real. 😉

Shout out to all my sisters out there I love SO very much.  I have amazing nephews and witness such incredible positive support on that end.  And then on my other side, I had an unexpected phone call from Kath the other day that I will never forget.  For my whole life.  Best news I’ve ever (and I sincerely mean this!) heard.  xo

Starting our descent!  Watch the Today Show on Monday!  It’s worth a shot, I DVR’ed it.  Never know where Sunday night in Hawaii will lead me.  Especially given I’ll be landing shortly ‘early’ on a Friday night!  It’s been 9 years since I was in Maui with F Tom.

And an o for AJ.  Wait, make that ooo.  Wait now there’s four of them.  The o’s.  No one ever said OCD was easy.  o

Thinking seat 9A is the better way to go

I love the concept of a good surprise.  Though I’ve never really been patient enough to pull off a true up-to-the-moment surprise.  After over three years since my last hometown swing, pre-NYC, I think two days notice on a random Tuesday falls fairly close to ‘surprise’.

However, today is no random Tuesday.  April 23rd… it’s the anniversary of my official departure from Babcock & Brown.  Six years ago today.  This may cause some to sigh with elation in the memory as to how traumatic those days were.  I sure as hell do.

Keeping true to form, I decided to make this anniversary as spectacular as the circumstances it brought to my life are.  I am headed to Santa Barbara, then San Francisco… a bit of an impulsive fly-by.  Which clearly was meant to be as so many elements, and by that I mean business class upgrades, just fell into place.  As Lexi once told me after an impromptu piggy back ride to gym class in the tenth grade: “Everything good happens on a Tuesday!”.  I have a very exciting week lined up.

I’m so used to flying in and out of San Fran, I forgot I was on an LAX flight and started to notice a few old school b-list actors on my flight.  I am so terrible with names, this one guy in the seat just ahead of me to the right would be recognizable, like he was the cook on Facts of Life, or something like that.  Possibly The Love Boat.  Night Court?  His wife is pretty hot for her age, been asleep since the flight took off.  I’m looking forward to my time in the LAX lounge this afternoon before boarding my SBA flight.  I will be primed and well located to stalk out my next new client!  My marketing sense is beginning to return, now that I have this refreshing and incredible renewed sense of freedom, first time since the soon-to-be former LMC Direct’s inception!  I gave an analogy to the Dreamy VP earlier this morning when he called to wish me a good trip, which is hilarious, but might be a bit racy for this audience.  He laughed, so ‘tout va bien’.  Just think of me, actually showered, kleenex boxes at home (Howard Hughes reference) and in the club lounge, working away on her important travel endeavors.  Client bait.  🙂

I’ve said it a bazillion times and I’ve never been as sincere and serious about it as I am now: I have the two most amazing nephews that any human being has possibly ever had.  I would go on that game show in a heart beat: “How Does Your Nephew Match Up”.  And I’d be taking home the prize.  I envision the Cabin Log sty guy from “There’s Something About Mary” as the host.  This spontaneous trip of mine has taken on a sudden unexpected meaning, but I genuinely hope Santa Maria is on my menu for this week.  Though I’m respectful and understand if it doesn’t work for everyone.  Timing.  It’s really an interesting ‘friend’ of mine.  I’ve been known to refer to it as more of a ‘tricky f’er’, but I recognize its significance and work toward taking nothing for granted lately.

For the first time in a long while, I am incredibly excited to visit home.  Dinner at the Rose, lunch at Beachside, non-Palio pork chops…then 75 degree San Fran.  It will be a week full of culinary bliss and grand memories.  And spinning!

Watch out Santa Barbara, I’m about to sprinkle fairy dust over as much of you as I possibly can.  😉  I’m in a ‘dreamy’ state of mind.  An Empire State of Mind.  My surprise SB week was cut short but please trust I’m doing the best I can juggling the priorities, business and absolute musts.  I’d do more if I had the time and flexibility.  San Fran seems like it presently needs no fairy dusting, but I’m going to pop my head in just in case.  I’ll sprinkle birthday dust instead.  Damn, I forgot my red heart wand…

Wait… Charleston Heston is dead, right?  That can’t be him up in seat 8D!!?  Hmmm.

I’m feeling like a little Moulin action might be necessary.  Attencion, mi familia. xxx

o and a special o and ooo to my AJ.  Where’s my gun-to-crowned-head painting!!? 🙂

Come what may…

That was a quick flight!  Back upon NYC reality I descend!  Unless I decide to go out tonight.  Why let a little 9 hour flight stop me!!?  I’ve just gained five hours and have had only five vodkas.  Doesn’t that somehow make me even?  Without even taking into account the hollow left leg!  After the week I’ve had, I deserve it.  And, it’s Sunday.  Ivo works Sundays again!!!  Awesome.  So, to bide the time and distract my disappointed mental state, on the plane, I watched a few old favorites: Closer (swooned over my Damien Rice music), then Black Swan and finished it off with Moulin Rouge.  What a marathon!  And funny how two of my chosen movies end with the chick dying at the end!  I had a laugh remembering something I’d forgotten actually, that the ending of Moulin really happened to me, at Outback Steakhouse in Goleta, which is a Santa Barbara suburb. “Thank you for curing me of my ridiculous obssession with love”, throwing money at my feet, or in my case, on the table where I sat with three close friends.  Oh my gosh, wasn’t that like a grazillion years ago!?  All I remember is being so grateful to Andy, for cracking up because it was all $1 bills.  🙂  Seriously though, who HAS that kind of crazy happen to them in real life!  It was so long ago… I had completely forgotten, to be honest.  Hilarious.  Now.

On to today.  Frankfurt impressed me actually.  The Dreamy VP had to cancel due to work but I’m glad I ended up going anyway.  Granted there is absolutely no reason to ever go, or ever go back, but I did have amazing meals, fab service, cute waiters and one of the best massages in a while.  Rocco Forte is the man… his hotels are perfection.  I did get to witness a fur protest and collected a couple new pieces of jewelry!  And the Eiserner Steg was so charming with all its ‘love padlocks’.  It was truly cold to the bone, which I think NY is meant to be the same.  And, out of maturity (let’s call it), I declined a sincere, random and so kind, invitation to hang out in Dubai for the week.  At Jetsetter’s house, on the beach, with a pool, and her live-in maid.  Yes, despite my attempts at ‘house-cleaner’, that’s what they all refer to them as there!  Never know where the days are going to lead me anymore!  However, I chose the path of conservatism (shocker!) and came home instead of being a waif!  Although no big surprise here, I definitely packed enough.  Shame that new lingerie from the new upper east boutique never made it out of the tissue paper.  Eat your heart out, VP.  😉

It’s been an incredible roller coaster ride the last TWELVE days.  (it feels like months, eh?)  This week sort of put me back into a truly uncomfortable territory, but with my ‘Liz-now’ caution and awareness.  Yet what happens!?  I landed just now, to over-the-top email, voice mail and texts… sigh!!!  At least I know that through the tender loving care of my core people, I can kept my shit together.  At least outwardly.  You know who you are and I love you like crazy.  I’m stealing this but it’s so true: IT DOES TAKE A VILLAGE!!!  This week has been a massive patience test, of which I have none, and a lesson that I can’t yet finger-point as to what it is exactly.

Anyway, I hope as I literally come down out of the sky, I get a little more figuratively grounded as well.  It’s been years (like 7) since I’ve been ‘spinny’ over a guy.  Yes, o AJ… ooo YEARS!  And thanks in advance for my new painting-in-the-works!  ooo  🙂

Disclaimer: bits of this were written at different stages of my day/night.  My attempt at grounding will be interesting!  Que sera sera.  Repeat after me, “que sera sera”.

AJ knows exactly how to pull me out of my crazy! Hilarious.

My future neighborhood, in the 6th arr

Feels like a lifetime since I was scattered and pathetically unedited!  Um… yesterday!  My journalistic guru taught me better… shame on me.  Je ferai mieux.

For me Paris has that certain je ne sais quoi about it, that New York has always had.  I don’t speak french well, or at all.  I can read and write it and if I connect with someone kind and pronounce “lentement, s’il vous plait” well enough I can get possibly hear it.  I have poor grammar and mix up the sexual tenses.  Seriously though, what are those called?  🙂  For instance, I said to the Dreamy VP “suis-je fou!?”.  And he replied, “are you a crazy man!?”  But it doesn’t even matter.  I fit here.  I know my way around, almost inherently.  I can meander through the left bank and find that one little shop on a corner, after a manicure and verre de vin rouge, without having ever looked up at the charming blue rue sign.

Just like all my trips to NYC before the move, I know my neighborhood already.  It’s in the 6th arr on the left bank where things are still really nice, but just a tad more gritty than the Champs Élysées or Etoile.  How boring those others are!  Sure, there’s the Arc de Triomphe and views of Le Tower Eiffel, but the left bank is where it’s at.  For a classy chick like me anyway… with her mini-bar Pringles and ridiculous bottle of Saint-Estephe from the wine shop!

I wasn’t able to sleep much on the plane, so yesterday when I arrived, I force-fed myself lunch, champagne and a xanax, showered, and was in and out of sleep all day and night.  Was absolutely perfect, as I woke up refreshed and watched the sun rise from my balcony this morning.  Then, just like someone who belongs more on the left bank, I threw my hair back and didn’t put on an ounce of make-up and tooled around with my camera.  How gauche!  L’horror!  But those French boys were def an ego booster regardless.  And yes, I did shower!  Sometimes it’s tough to know on that front… haha.

Je mange petit dejourner, took the metro to Montmartre, and was determined to actually see the Moulin Rouge.  Many of you would remember my 10+ year obsession with that movie!  And here’s a warning: I think it might be making a Liz-comeback!  So if I show up on your doorstep with a DVD in hand and a bottle of absinthe, (it is killing me not to say absince on purpose!) you’ll know what’s about to happen!  Kind of makes me sad its been so long since we’ve had one of those nights!  I tried to ‘make’ Ashlee do it, but I’m not sure it’s the same without my in-person zeal.  Hey, maybe I’ll bring it to Chicago next month!!?  😉  Anyway, after a few photos and a walk past more dildo shops than I’ve ever seen, I took the metro back to the Rue de Rivoli, crossed Il-de-Cite and made way to where I am coziest in Saint-Germain/Saint-Michel.  I found a local manicurist online.  She has her own shop tucked away tight on Rue Dupin.  There aren’t 30 people slaving away being barked at by a nail salon godfather.  Just her.  She is amazing.  She took more care than anyone has and I bet these €35 gel nails will stay for weeks!  She let me talk on the phone too which proved helpful with some dreamy fluent french translations.  I could easily imagine myself living in an apartement in one of the buildings in the photo above.  And, according to the nail salon lady, flats in the area run about €1500 per month to rent.  Uh… yeah, pas de probleme!  I shall be tri-continental one day perhaps!  😉  I was able to make that much out with our language barriers!  That, and she’s got a 2 year old son and married to a police officer.  Working that one out was a bit hilarious actually.  Lots of hand gestures.  And not for chicken salad.

I am feeling a bit more grounded now at least.  My intuition rocks, if I do say so myself!  (touch wood everyone!)  Still need to figure out where I will spend the weekend and how next week’s meetings play out.  I will try not to overstay my welcome in the form of these updates, I just had such an exuberant day!

Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!  Que sera sera…