Madgirl Travels

I just received a "save the date" wedding invitation from a former intern from my office who lives in France! Yes, France! She interned at our office in 2003 for 6 months and I've stayed in contact with her since she left. I also got to meet her, then boyfriend now, fiance when he came to visit her. She's a great girl and I'm really excited about the prospect of going back to France and getting to see a French wedding!

She lives in Lyon, France which is East of Paris. Her wedding will actually be held in Beaujolais at an old Guard House - I've seen the website and it's so awesome.

The wedding isn't until next June - so I hope I'm able to get all of my stuff in order in time to go - I'll also have to keep an eye out for summer airfares!

Yes, I have to admit it. I went to the American Idol concert this weekend in Philadelphia. I went with a co-worker and her 2 daughters (one 15 and the other 6). It was actually a good time. I had to laugh a little at all of the screaming tweens and teens. There were also quite a few folks over 15 - I was a little surprised.

I had followed the series last season so I knew all of the performers and most of the songs they sang. The kids were actually quite good; I was impressed with their live performances.

Sure it was cheesy - but sometimes that can be fun. I enjoyed seeing the concert with Sabrina, the 15 year old. She kept giving me the "thumbs up" and high fives.

But I also have to say - kids today don't seem to be as rabid of fans as we were as teenagers. Maybe it's too much exposure/accessibility.

as this super accurate internet quiz says you are!

You Are 26 Years Old

26 Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

I purchased and read the 6th installment of the Harry Potter series (The Half-Blood Prince) this past weekend. I'm a big fan of the books and I love the characters and the magical twists and turns their lives take as they proceed through their education(s) at Hogwarts.

One (sadly) timely bit was that in the first chapter (I'm not giving anything away) the "Prime Minister" is visited by the Minister of Magic to discuss that the recent "odd" catastrophes that have been happening in the "Muggle" world have actually been caused by the warring Wizards. The Prime Minister is shocked and appalled, not only that the violence in the usually separate Wizard World has seeped over into his "domain" but that he will have to come up with some "excuse" for the unexplainable. I couldn't help but think of Tony Blair and wonder if he too was visited by an envoy from another "world" a week and a half ago - but probably not. Also the main train station that Harry and his friends use to board the enchanted train to Hogwarts is Kings Cross. There is, of course, no way that J.K. Rowling could have guessed what would be happening in London at the time of the book release -

Today is the French day of independence. Our French intern at work (and my own experience in Paris on the 13th - 14th of July) is that the locals party with wine and fireworks on the 13th of July, sleep in on the 14th and then go to the military parades in the afternoon.

Laurent says that there isn't really any traditional food or ceremonies - other than the above.

The storming of the Bastille was, largely, a symbolic gesture by the revolutionaries in Paris. There were only a handful of prisoners in the prison at the time (most had been moved out)- one of which being the Marquis de Sade - but it was the destroying of the symbol of the establishment that they focused on, then and now.

I am so saddened to hear of the bombings in London. London is such a wonderful city filled with vibrant and diverse people. It angers and confuses me when anyone or any group uses violence and especially against innocent civilians; and as I get older, my view on who is "innocent" has become much more broad.

I know that London and her people will recover from this attack.