Incredible things about Paris



I just discovered some fascinating information about Paris. I think Paris is breath taking. Even just reading or looking at pictures of Paris I find myself holding my breath because I'm just so excited it exists. It's the kind of place where urban farming could be ridiculously glamorous, a man with a knack for sketching boats would live above and own the city's oldest piano shop and an American expat could own a bookstore that drew in the likes of both Hemmingway and Joyce. But it's not just that kind of place, it actually is that place. Hold on folks, this is real life and you're in Paris:

Jean Paucton raises honey bees on the roof of the Paris Opera house, Opera Garnier. He took courses on beekeeping at the Luxemborg Gardens and got the idea for using the Opera house from a coworker - the Opera's fireman - who bred trout in the canal under the building. WILD.

La Mer de Pianos from Films & Things on Vimeo.

While playing around on Vimeo I stumbled on this super beautiful video by Tom Wrigglesworth & Mathieu Cuvelier documenting Marc Manceaux, the owner of the oldest piano shop in Paris. He approaches the pianos like a wonderfully caring doctor with his patient.

This last bit is sad and romantic. Geroge Whitman, owner of the bookstore Shakespeare and Company passed away this week at 98. Whitman was host to some of the English language's most famous authors and  his bookstore became a welcoming home away from home for many of them. Marlise Simons of the New York Times tells the story here.

Eiffel Tour: The Europeans

Jumper: Elliott Erwitt

Opera house: Serge Ramelli

Bee Keeper: The Honey Gatherers and Lost

(P.S. If you come accross anymore information regarding the Opera's resident trout breeder let me know! I'm so curious.)

The Lone Wolf

Wolves get a bad rap. From Little Red Riding Hood to True Blood, there's a suspicious and sneaky aura surrounding wolves. In reality though wolves and other predators are an extremely important part of the ecosystem fabric. Despite this fact predators have been hunted for game and precautionary reasons for years and wolves have all but dissappeared from the northwest. But the fascinating creature is slowly repopulating its home. I heard on the radio this morning that a gray wolf, called OR7, in Oregon broke away from the Imnaha pack and has been on the move since September. Although it's not uncommon for wolves to break away this one's garnering national attention for his trek. He's travelled over 500 miles looking for a mate and a new place to roam. If you're interested in OR7's journey you can find out more info from Oregon Wild here. You can even propose a name for him by e-mailing wolves@oregonwild.org!

I love the photos above of gray wolves (top photo is a Mexican gray wolf) from photographer Joel Sartore, they capture the mystique of the wolf created by folktales, but they seem so brave and curious, more king of the forest than grandma eater.

Map from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife of OR7's journey so far, even if his story comes to hault the smell he left on his path may send other wolves that way.

Nap Time: falling asleep.

Photo by Anne Hall

For this Nap Time post I'm going to share some ideas about falling asleep. But first! A little bit on dreams:

For some reason I have extremely vivid dreams, and tons of them. If I had to, for at least a few minutes after I wake up I could tell you every aspect of my dream in detail - the buttons on a shirt, the leaves in the trees, the strange buildings. Sometimes my dreams are so intense that when I wake up I feel like I just lived another day and never slept at all. I'm always so curious to know the meaning of my dreams, but usually they're incredibly weird and not easily deciphered. My roommate M gives me hints sometimes, and I've learned some very important things about the significance of teeth (appearance) and babies (worry).

Last night I dreamt I had a pet horse called Baranby to whom I was feeding peanut butter and carrots. He could jump so high and I kept thinking he was escaping but he would always come running back when I called, "Barrrrrnaby!". Magical.

But back to falling asleep. People have all different ways of falling asleep (my friend D does a head stand before going to bed) but we'll focus on the classics: PJs, tea and music.

I think if you're really getting in the sleeping mood go all out. This is particularly important for naps. If you want the ultimate nap experience, don't lie down in your work clothes, get in your nap clothes! Everyone should have a special nap outfit. Mine is a long-sleeved yellow nightie, but I think these would do the trick.

If I'm worried about falling asleep I'll make myself a big mug of this. Even though it's marketed for when you have a cold I think it's delicious when you're healthy too.

Now for music, I like something classical if I'm on a bus or train ride, and this never fails: