So Ya Wanna Go to Paris...

So, Mel sent this to me today in an email and it was just too good not to steal.

--Go to Google.com
--Click on Maps
--Click on Get Directions.
--From New York, New York
--To Paris, France
--Then read line #24.

Happily, according to the conversion chart, this would add about 785,874 steps to my current count on StartWalking: Orient Express. Added to the 74,496 steps I've logged so far, that would get me to Kecskemet, Hungaria and well on my way to Serbia.

All the same, I think I'll stick with British Air.

Rainy Easter Sunday

I am having a lazy Easter, listening to the happy sound of rain dripping outside. This is what Spring in Juneau is supposed to sound like.

We had Ellie & Bob over for dinner last night and stayed up way too late playing games on the PS2 they loaned us. I had forgotten how much fun I had playing Crash Bandicoot (and how sore it makes my thumbs). For the record, I am a terrible player and spent a lot of time trying to get my car turned around the right way after crashing into things, falling off cliffs, etc. Fortunately I provided my own entertainment value--watching me play is apparently quite amusing to my family. I am much better suited to playing on a Wii because I tend to play with my whole body even when that's really not helpful. Yes, I am a spaz!

I've signed up for the University's StartWalking III program. For reasons of "brand loyalty" I'm posting a separate blog for my participation in UAS Online. Here's the URL, if you're interested: https://uascentral.uas.alaska.edu/online/portfolio/JNJPC/Orient_Express

Gastineau Avenue Fire

On Tuesday night, while downtown having dinner with the UA Staff Alliance, I casually pointed out an apartment building on the hill and mentioned that I used to live there.

Wednesday morning, my friend Heather, who was present at the dinner, called me from downtown to tell me that my old apartment building was on fire. It was quite a drama, with civilians bringing ladders to rescue residents, and firefighters vacating the building at one point for their own safety. Fortunately no one was seriously injured, though several pets are missing.

The story is covered in our local newspaper, The Juneau Empire.

The Staff Alliance is in town for their annual visit to legislators at the State Capitol. As usual we are working to persuade our leaders to provide funding for education in our state. I am not an Alliance member this year, but it was sure nice to see everyone!

Counting Down to Paris

I got an email from vacationinparis.com telling me they've mailed me the keys to my Left Bank apartment. Wheee! I'm going to France!

Okay, I knew that, but this makes it more real. They also sent detailed information about the neighborhood, restaurants, bus lines and metro stops, etc. I could almost taste the pain au chocolat as I read through the details.

This will be my second trip to Paris, and Michael's third. We were there in March 2005. On that trip we split the time in Paris with a one-week stay in Cagnes-sur-mer. We enjoyed this vacation-in-a-vacation very much.

This time, to save one travel day riding the train back to Paris, we're flying an open jaw itinerary into Paris, and out of Nice. Our second week will be in Antibes.

We leave in 2 weeks and 2 days. Not that I'm counting or anything.