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la fin du marasme
I have been feeling pretty uninspired this week, or as I like to dramatically refer to it to garner pity from my husband, "I have the doldrums."
The problem with feeling uninspired or doldrum-ic, what have you, is that these are the kind of emotions that make me completely sick of myself. I mean, I actually have to listen to myself whine inside my head almost all the time, and to everyone I have ever whined to, I am sorry, because this is torture.
I’ve been spending my time “catching up on” things that may or may not need to be caught up on. I’ve gone to doctors I avoid, my teeth have been painfully scraped and buffed, shelled out for a sexy new bite guard, money has been shaved off into savings, coats have been dry cleaned, shoes have been polished, nails have been filed into rounded corners, I’m finally getting my mangy hair trimmed tomorrow, dealing with the endless name-change papers, coins have been rolled, soups are continually made from scratch (if scratch = purchased stock), I’m meticulously counting calories again, and actually using my planner to plan things, like going to this Outsider Art Fair this weekend.
But I can’t shake this feeling I’m just biding my time until something more meaningful comes along. I might be more “on top of things” than I have been in ages, but it’s actually an empty feeling. Who cares if your t’s are crossed and your i's dotted if you don’t have what you really long for – a paradigm shift. A change of scenery. A chance to get out of your own head for a few days.
***
And this is why you should always, always, marry The Best Person On Earth (though technically, he is taken). In the time I have written this, this culmination of weeks of lassitude, moping, disinterest, and longing, Alex has snagged us a super-cheap four-day Paris excursion in March.
Paris.
We are going back to Paris.
[Insert truly arrhythmic happy dance you are blessed to never have witnessed.]
Updated, we started celebrating Paris early last night:
comments (21)
You are just biding your time 'till Spring.
It's winter, we all get like this.
1 | PhC | January 26, 2006 06:03 PM
Heh, heh. Ask and you shall receive.
2 | chelsea | January 26, 2006 06:19 PM
wow - and all because of a few days of whining. just imagine what, say, 10 days of whining might get you. or 20. or 30. oh alex, hey alex, feeling the doldrums right over here, honey...
3 | Eileen | January 26, 2006 09:24 PM
Springtime in Paris :) Yay for you!
4 | Tammi | January 27, 2006 07:24 AM
Unsolicited Paris advice #523
You're never too cool to have this much fun:
http://www.fattirebiketoursparis.com/
5 | Neil | January 27, 2006 08:48 AM
Dang! Flattery is good and all but whining will get you everywhere!
6 | jenn | January 27, 2006 10:01 AM
Wow! Are you me? Just checking.
7 | Stacie | January 27, 2006 10:26 AM
PhC - You are 100% correct. I have a mad case of the Januarys, and thankfully, just found an inexpensive reprieve!
You've got to love when its cheaper to go to Paris than to, say, California or South Beach.
Neil - That looks awesome. I think our plan for this highly edited visit is the same as last, one neighborhood of wandering per day; no museums that take more than an hour. Last few hours to load our suitcase with wine, teas, jams, and fussy grocery items I always wish I can find around here.
Am I excited or what?
8 | deb | January 27, 2006 10:55 AM
Where did he get the great deal from?! We are looking to go in May!! :)
9 | rebeccashane | January 27, 2006 11:04 AM
Oh man, Paris! You guys are going to have such a great time. What a good man you've got there.
And Deb -- have you ever baked out of Nigella Lawson's "Domestic Goddess" cookbook? I have been reading my copy, trying to figure out what to make first. I'd love to hear if you've made anything of hers and what you think!
10 | kelli | January 27, 2006 12:14 PM
I am with rebeccashane!!! Where did he get this deal? My hubby and I are celebrating our 1 year in May and I want to plan a FABULOUS trip for us and make it a super suprise! THis would be perfect!
11 | Hillary | January 27, 2006 12:54 PM
Ok, here's the deal with Paris. Last time, we picked a fairly inexpensive hotel that had decent reviews and was across the street from the Metro, and very close to many points of interest. It's called the "Best Western Nouvel Orleans." We ended up being very pleased with it. The rooms are small, but everything was perfectly new, cute, well looked after, and hell, we live in NYC, what do we need for space? It's actually part of the Best Western chain but looks *nothing* like its American counterparts - its a very old building. We've chosen it again because it is easy to build an inexpensive trip around.
Now you know all of our secrets and we might have to kill you if this place becomes pricey. :)
12 | deb | January 27, 2006 01:15 PM
Thanks for sharing!
13 | Thank you | January 27, 2006 02:40 PM
Happy to have your spunk back, I missed it :)
14 | ali | January 27, 2006 03:15 PM
Thank you for sharing your Paris digs....I have been looking around for our prospective honeymoon hotel and this fits the bill perfectly. Thanks!
ps- Any tips on websites with cheap airfare?
15 | going-to-paris-soon | January 27, 2006 03:29 PM
are you using the guard because you grind your teeth? if so...here's what you do. stop by at any kind of pharmacy, and pick up a bottle of liquid calcium supplement. it costs about 7$, and will guarantee that you stop grinding your teeth in your sleep, since you do that when you lack calcium. it really saves a lot of money.
melanie
16 | melanie | January 27, 2006 03:38 PM
Promise me you'll go to IÂle Saint-Louis this time. It's one of the most beautiful parts of Paris. You will love my favorite shop, L'Epicerie, which sells the most gorgeous mustards, jams, olive oils, sugars (Debs!), herbs and salts in gorgeous packaging. The women who work there are so nice, too. Hmm, remind me to give you a shopping list before you go!
http://www.pariswoman.com/paris/by_areas/ile_st_louis1.htm
17 | NotoriousANG | January 27, 2006 03:54 PM
Sorry about the f-ed up accent mark. I couldn't make it appear properly when posted.
18 | NotoriousANG | January 27, 2006 03:56 PM
Help!!! I've gone through all your archives and I KNOW you mentioned it at some point in time... Where did you get your iPod case?
19 | Jess | January 28, 2006 05:25 PM
iPod case from AcmeMade. http://acmemade.com/index.html I am also hopelessly in love with their obscenely expensive Tote and Cargo, purchases in a million years, I could never justify. Oh well, its nice to daydream.
20 | deb | January 29, 2006 08:19 AM
Oh my gosh, I go through that exact same feeling! And it seems like a trip is the perfect cure! Have fun!
21 | Violet | January 30, 2006 01:20 PM