Confessions of an American Businessman...

My first meal in Paris was at a Hard Rock Cafe...

If I had a time machine, I'd go back and throw "one-week ago me" under a bus to prevent that from ever happening. Unfortunately, I don't. Although, my co-worker got his sought after Hard Rock paraphernalia!

Following meals were had at company cafeterias, and bistros around the hotel/tourist joints. I became irritated by the cuisine... having been told French cuisine was good, it seemed all the places just had the same menu:

-Tartare.
-Foie Gras.

-Steak Frites.
-Poulet Frites.

-Duck of some sort.
-Pizza Margherita.

-Penne Rigate w/ Tomato Basil sauce
-Crêpes.

Maybe I had a romanticized image of what French cuisine should have been, but surely there had to be *more* to Parisian dining establishments! Then I referenced an email from a friend...

First stop:

^oh yeah, my sister was in Paris too. We (obviously) met up.

After grabbing the best falafel ever, we sat down at a nearby park to watch two sweaty adults hog the ping pong table.

^the kids never had a chance...

We later made our way towards the Centre Pompidou. As we got closer, we saw more and more street art stickers stuck on things:

^you can see more on google maps.

We also found a 24-themed gallery (the FOX tv show, 24). The artist's name was Jack Bauer. This train in mid-explosion spanned three rooms on two levels.

^at L'IMPRIMERIE Gallery

<3 Renzo Piano


Tubular!


*Y/Struc/Surf by Marc Fornes:


Kinetic Hall by Yaacov Agam:


Double Métamorphose III by Yaacov Agam:


So the highlight of the day was the restaurant recommendation. We headed to the 10th and arrived at this wonderful establishment. We had the mixte plate and le petit salé aux lentilles.

^it was the greatest meal while in Paris.

We ended the night on a high:

The Turning Point

Sequence of events:
1. Put down to sleep at 5:30pm.
2. Woke up at midnight, but willed myself back to sleep.
3. Slept until 4am.

I'm so proud of myself right now.
I think I'm on the verge of winning.

Bonsoir!

I'm tired but not sleepy. I think...

After a 1-week battle that started in Western Europe, crossed over Iceland, Greenland, Northern Canada, and into the USA, I've surrendered to superior force that is jet lag. My landlord suggests I just drug myself and be done with it all... for now I'm locked in a cell of circadian confusion.

At least I have internet and YouTube is streaming Coachella!
Kanye West is the current performer.

The previous week marked the first trip of 2011. Paris! This was my first trip to Europe. Air transport was provided by Isabelle and Zoé:



UD seating is nice:


Zoé bathing in the London sun:


WOW, Kanye cannot dance...
*I feel much better all of a sudden*

Anywho, the man sent me to Paris to get some work done. The first three days were spent in a haze of conference rooms, calcium fortified bottled "still" water, pastries, room temperature juice, spoken French and Japanese (which will now be referred to as Jrench), drawings, and sleepy metro trips. Slices of freedom were spent near the hotel, and the top three tourist spots:

Some thing they had in a middle of a roundabout:


Where Tom Hanks tried to prove Catholicism was a hoax? or something?


Some tall pointy structure similar to the Space Needle or CN Tower:


Fatigue had removed any potential interest while standing in front of these landmarks... My thoughts during the first three days:

-What time is it?
-Have I eaten yet?
-What is "French" food?
-French fries *DO* count, right?
-I hope this is the right train...
-Did Kanye just change clothes?
-Why are these coffee cups so small?!
-Why is everyone so beautiful?!
-Crap, I missed my stop...
-This city is ALL HYPE.

Friday came along and I had most of the day free to explore... and I remembered the email a friend had sent. I wrote down all the spots she recommended and set out to explore. This'll rest will be written later.

Time to counter-attack the oppressor.

2010 Highlights

2010 was an amazing year for many reasons. Here's a snapshot of what happened:

In February some friends and I went to Cape Canaveral to see the shuttle's last night launch:


Also in February, two trips to the Winter Olympics!!!




In April, my sister had her thesis opening at MICA:


...and then we went to Washington DC with the fam!

^The National Museum of the American Indian

May came along and I took a trip to Shanghai.

In September I returned to PAX!


and also took a trip to LA:


Halloween was spent in Washington DC:


(Rallying!!!)


(and looking at all things aerospace!!!)

In 2010, I did some wedding photography for the first time ever...

I shot my sister's wedding:


A friend and I shot another wedding the following week:


I later helped out on a friend's engagement shoot:


...and then got my first engagement shoot:

After 2.5 years in Seattle, I bought my first tent! and renewed my annual National Parks pass.


Road trip to Yellowstone National Park over July 4:




North Cascades National Park - Cascades Pass


North Cascades National Park - Hidden Lake

A lovely autumn hike.


Lastly, there was Iceland.