Ick

The city looks so small from afar.  The beauty of Paris is dampened only by the ugly smog that sits in a layer over the city.  (I suppose the fire in the foreground doesn't help.)  Looking back into Paris I'm reminded that it's probably a good idea to get out of the city to fresh clean air on occasion.  I'm afraid we don't do that enough.  Perhaps this weekend?

Magnet Monday!

I've been meaning to do this for a long time.  Over the last 20 years or so I've been collecting magnets.  It's a lot less bulky than let's say, garden gnomes, Elvis clocks, ceramic pigs or something of the sort.  Plus they are easy to move, and the kids love to hear about where and when we collected them.  And now that I've successfully infected them with the magnet bug, wherever we go we try to pick the perfect magnet to celebrate our visit.  Some day they will have quite a collection themselves.  Sadly some of my favorites have broken this past year, and before any more do, I want a lasting history of sorts of my life in magnets.

This is perhaps my favorite, and if you have children you can probably relate.  

My Mom is wicked smart, and darn it!  She WAS pretty much right about everything!  I hope The Girl thinks the same of me some day.  I can only try my best.

It may take me years to get through them all, but I promise that every one will have a story.

Happy Monday!

Now THIS is My Kind of Car!

I've always been a sucker for fins, and this is one good looking example of American engineering at its most creative!

I saw this beauty on the 29th of July parked in front of the Place Trocadéro facing the Tour Eiffel.  I had been on a walking tour of highlights of the 16th, and had forgotten that the Traversée de Paris was happening that day.  This is a twice yearly event where you see the period costumed owners of about 500 classic cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, war time vehicles, buses and even tractors promenade across Paris.  We got to see quite a few of them head down Avenue du Président Wilson, and I just have to say, they really should bring back turquoise as a modern paint color option!  It really is quite a spectacle, one I think I'll put on my calendar for the winter edition. 

Note To Self...

Next time I plan on walking around Paris all day and I've checked the forecast and it calls for rain?  Perhaps rain boots would be a better choice.

Anyone know if I can throw my filthy Converse in the washing machine?