(in chronological order)

1. Singing French songs (along with everyone in the restaurant) between glasses of red wine at Le Vieux Belleville.

2. Walking around the beautiful, sunny, airy Centre Pompidou (I guess one is supposed to find it ugly, but I dont) with Annette (who also thinks it’s beautiful) looking at contemporary art.

3. A certain pain au chocolat in the Marais. So good it made me and Annette stop talking for two whole blocks. And my beloved hotel-cat, Bille. She is soft and gray and sleeps on the radiator downstairs. Elle me manque.

4. Taking the TGV . (No, it’s not a designer drug.)

5. A yoga class in LA where the teacher spoke in new-age rhymes and told us to say “iiiiiiii” when something felt particularly good, because – well – something about creating a community and joining together as one. But still, it was a really good class.

6. Staying at the Best Western Dragon Inn in Chinatown, Los Angeles.

When we arrived, there was a guy in handcuffs in the elevator. It’s reviewed online as “the worst hotel I ever selected.” So why was it a highlight? Because of the amazing clothing store downstairs, one of those weird “retail/wholesale” ones. I am now the proud owner of two fake-leather jackets (one tangerine, one mustard) that will blow your mind.

6. Driving into the mountains in Denver; snow-covered peaks, etc. (thank you, Ben) and then drinking borscht Bloody Marys at my new favorite restaurant in the world, the Mercury Cafe (thank you, Koshka.)