[jyl]

Hi to all, just wanted to check in, greetings from week two of the family vacation. Will give a few details for the Paris-philes among us.

Been in Paris for 10 days. 11 y/o daughter spent two weeks living w/ a host family here, going to school with their daughter. She had a good time and experienced some things new to her. Walking to school through central Paris (for those who know the city, from Bd Sebastopol to the school that is just off the Seine). Painting in the father's studio (he is a painter). Eating mildly adventuresome things. Her French is somewhat improved. Now she's with us again, and the apartment is much noisier - I keep threatening to send her back to her host family if she doesn't pick up her things.

Meanwhile, wife and 8 y/o son have been enjoying Paris, with a friend from WA who is also here. They've been racking up the mileage, walking avg 5 miles/day. I finally bought the boy a cheap scooter (Razor-type) so his days would be less of a death march.

I've been working from 2:30P to midnight (US stock market hours), sometimes to 2:00A, market's been kind of stressful and internet connection kind of spotty (can get online fine but VPN disconnects a lot) so I haven't been as relaxed during my off hours as I'd like. Weekend before last, I went to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, posted on that already. Rest of the time I haven't done much - walked around some favorite areas and explored some new ones.

Took some potentially interesting B&W photos at Place des Vosges in the rain. Visited the neighborhood where we stayed last year (in the 3eme), and where we lived for a summer 10 years ago (in the 7eme). Lit candles for Bob and Kathryn in several churches. Bought a French keyboard for the Mac, to make the kids' homework easier. Browsed the used camera stores on Bd Beaumarchais. I've been looking for the Motor Drive 1 for my Olympus OM1, no luck but its fun to search. Bought a Nintendo DS for the boy's birthday, next week. Re-read A Moveable Feast and walked to 74 Rue Cardinal Lemoine, where Hemingway lived in the 1920s - how the neighborhood has changed. Visited to a plainer neighbornood (around Porte de Montreuil), which proves I guess that even the most beautiful of cities has its unattractive parts. Also spent a morning walking around the 16eme, where I'd live if I were a Parisian and didn't want to be constantly bumping into tourists. One good meal in a restaurant, a couple nice Japanese lunches (I like Japanese food more than French, actually), cooked the rest of the time.

Last weekend was pretty lazy, I took son to the playground at Luxembourg Gardens twice and we watched RC sailboats in the pond there. He's decided we're going to build our own RC boat, paint it black, and name it "The Black Pearl" complete with skull and cross-bones.

Overall, been a pleasant visit for me - kind of half work, half play.

Today is our last day here, tommorrow we're taking the train to Venice.