Fierce Friday - Bordeaux Trip

Today is Fierce Friday and I'm off for a weekend trip to Bordeaux and St. Émilion in the South-West part of France (Paris is in the North-Center part). Because the area is famous for its wine, my attire today is wine-themed. I'm wearing my maroon shirt, blue checkered vest, necklace shaped like a wine molecule, faucet earrings, grey pants, and maroon combat boots.

Me on the train to Bordeaux.

Me with the book I'm reading: "On s'y fera" by Zoyâ Pirzâd.

Me on the train again.

Going Dancing

Yesterday was Bastille Day and despite the very upsetting news from Nice, it was a good day until that point.

I spent the day hanging out with Dolphin, napping, and dealing with some very annoying logistical problems from back home. Then I got dressed up in a themed outfit and went to watch some truly spectacular fireworks over the Eiffel Tower.

Me in my Bastille Day outfit.

Body shot of my Bastille Day outfit.

Me in my Bastille Day outfit.

Trying to find the fireworks.

Eiffel Tower with fireworks.

Here's a link I found on Youtube of the fireworks:

After the fireworks I headed off to the gay district where they were hosting one of the many ginormous firefighters' dance parties around Paris. My thought process went something like this: I'm in France! Nobody knows me! I can dance like nobody is watching!

Picture of a squirrel striking a dance pose that says "Now we dance!"

Friends, my club dancing leaves something to be desired. There is a distinct gap between the vision in my head between the hot manly dance moves I am about to pull off and the decidedly more flaming dance moves my body actually decides to put forth. It is no good.

Cartoon comparing someone who can't dance to "normal girls" who can dance.

I have spent years trying to correct this problem. I'm actually quite good at following choreography. I can do jazz hands like nobody's business! But more seriously, I can also do most forms of partner dance and I no longer completely humiliate myself while attempting ballet. I can skank with the best of 'em. I can also do glowstick spinning/poi. I can do the wavy arm thing they do at goth clubs. Also the angry mosh pit punching dance thing you do at metal shows. What I can't do is any approximation of "masculine" club dancing - particularly a combination of "masculine" and "sexy." In college, I was sick of feeling like a flaming queen when I danced so I adopted the stand and nod my head style of dance. While others bumped and grinded, I stood there masculinely and nodded my head to the beat. Sometimes I held a drink in my hands because honestly what the hell does one do with one's hands while dancing in a manly fashion? Sometimes I danced with girls, in which case I sort of nodded with the beat while they danced on me. I NEVER danced with guys. Except when I was inebriated. Then I bumped, ground, and twerked like my life depended on it because guys are hot and drunk me wants some of that. Not good.

Photo of an old white man with thick black glasses,  a grey suit, and a red bow tie.
It says "my dance style ranges from white dad at a barbecue to stripper whose rent is due tomorrow."

What I need is a middle ground. I need to figure out how to embrace my body enough to dance while sober. Preferably more like a sexy dude and less like a trashy stripper but honestly I'll take trashy stripper over the head nod dance. At least I looked cute?

There Was an Attack in Nice, France

My friends and I are all fine and nowhere near there. But wow what a horrid end to an otherwise very fun Bastille Day celebration. It's upsetting to know that others who were out celebrating like I was were killed in an attack at their Bastille Day celebration. My heart goes out to the victims and their families.

I Am Le Tired...

Friends, I am tired. The past few days were spent hanging out with my friends. On Sunday we made homemade ice cream and pecan pie and then had a friend (Tat) over for a mini football (aka soccer) watching party so we could all be disappointed to watch France lose together.

Me and Wolfie and the ice cream!

Wolfie's ice cream.

Wolfie plays catch.

France is losing.

Tat, Feather, and Dolphin watching France lose the match. Poo!

On Monday Feather's dad arrived and we all went to a local restaurant for lunch. Then Feather helped me with some work I'd been putting off and we made falafel and hummus for dinner.

Beautiful sidewalk area.

Wolfie re-meets her grandpa. 

On Tuesday one of Feather and Dolphin's friends came for a visit and I got a chance to practice my French with her. After she left, we all went out to Gandhi Ji's for Indian food. They're incredibly nice there and the food is AMAZING. If you ever go there, try the house cocktails and the eggplant appetizer. You won't be disappointed.

Feather and Wolfie.

Feather, Wolfie, and Feather's dad.

Feather and I on our way to Gandhi Ji's. 

So after all of that now I'm tired. So very tired...

Cartoon person lying in bed looking exhausted with the word
"Bonjour…" in dripping red letters above them.

Today I slept in, made everybody pancakes for brunch, read a book, got amazing honey and goat cheese pizza for lunch, took a nap with Wolfie, helped Feather pack for her trip to the USA, and ate Japanese food delivery for dinner.

Wolfie and her nanny.

Wolfie and Dolphin.

Me and Wolfie.

Wolfie pulls my lip.

Wolfie naps on me.

Me, Wolfie, and Feather in our knits made by our mutual friend (who I need to make a nickname for)

Tomorrow early morning Feather, Wolfie, and Feather's dad leave for the USA and Dolphin and I stay here. 

Happy Birthday Alice!

It's Alice's birthday today! Yay! I met Alice during a juggling workshop at church camp in middle school. How's that for random? We've managed to stay friends since then. Even during that stint in high school when her whole immediate family moved to Chile. I think Alice and I do a great job of helping each other out and inspiring each other to be better people. She supported me through the hell that was being a queer and gender non-conforming teen. She's been there to help me move and redecorate every single time. She came out and stayed with me when my husband left and I was too depressed to get out of bed and feed myself. She did it AGAIN when I had surgery - twice. She has been an amazing cheerleader in my attempts to get this whole body positivity thing down. She encouraged me to stay sober and keep seeking help for my depression when I was convinced it was hopeless (it wasn't). And to top it all off she's got a kickass sense of humor and she's a wonder at crochet and photography! So basically, Alice is awesome and I'm SO glad she's a part of my life. Love you Alice!

One of my favorite photos of Alice.

Happy Birthday Plath!

I met Plath in high school. I thought she was unbelievably cool and was so horridly intimidated that it took me forever to talk to her. Even after she became friends with Alice and was hanging out with us all the time. When I finally did talk to her, I discovered that she's a total sweetheart who writes awesome poetry and has a filthy sense of humor. Our friendship is solid and we've come up with some of the most bizarre ways to make time for each other. Writing buddies? Grocery shopping companions? Bikram yoga partners? Mini book club friends? Themed dinner party hosts? Been there done that. We've shown up for each other through moving and marriages (both of us), divorce (just me), and kid having (just her) and it doesn't seem to matter whether or not our lives are moving in parallel since we care about each other no matter what.

Plath and her (now in heaven) kitty Dex. 

Gay or European?

I'm having a problem. Everyone in France dresses better than their counterparts in the USA. Which means that most of the men here look gay or at least metrosexual to me. There are heterosexual men walking about with fitted pants, jewelry, deep v-neck t-shirts, fashion scarves, etc. My gaydar is broken here. How will I ever find a French boyfriend?

Meme with a picture of Fry from Futurama that says "Not sure if gay or just French."

Well I may not know how to find a boyfriend, but I do know how to find good food. At the market! I took Wolfie with me today and snapped some photos so you can see the wonderous market in Pantin France. I managed to find truffled brie on sale! Also all the vegetables I wanted, other cheeses, flowers, and some delicious lunch. Enjoy!

Me and Wolfie, who is unsure about this hat situation.

The market.

Vegetables!

Cheeses!

Fish!

Meat!

She is soooo happy that she managed to take her hat off. 

Dolphin makes a tart.