Dreams

So a strange (although that's probably not the precise word) development here during my first week in Paris. (Because of some mix up and communication issues, I'm still at the first apartment and cat sitting; I'm off to the other flat later this afternoon though where I can set up shop for three full weeks. It will be nice to unpack my clothes fully, to stock the cupboards with food and wine, and basically set up "home" for my remaining stay. It feel like it's already moving too fast!) I've mostly been sleeping well, but I've been having some of the craziest dreams - and about a couple of different women that I haven't thought of for years, and ones that I've had crushes on in the past. One of them is someone I've seen a couple of times over the last few weeks at two different events - she's not someone I technically "know" as I've never had a conversation with her, and she wouldn't know me from Adam, but she's someone I "know of." We travel in similar circles, basically.

Can there be a simple explanation for this? I don't have an answer. Maybe it's tied to the fact I'm spending a lot of time alone right now, and I crave some (mainly female) companionship? Does it have anything to do with the Bordeaux I'm drinking, or the fresh baguettes I'm gobbling up? I'm not complaining about this development, of course. It's just interesting to note, and something I'm going to pay attention to. (I don't usually chronicle my dreams, which means I usually forget them fully a few hours after I awake.)

Otherwise the first week has been a good one. I've got some work done, I've done some running (along the Seine no less), I've had some good food and wine, I cycled around the city this past weekend. In some ways I still feeling I'm settling in to a pace - hopefully by the time I do fully settle in, it won't be time to leave!

En Paris

Bonjour! Once again, I'll resist the temptation to apologize for not being a more dedicated blogger and keeping my (albeit very few) followers up to speed on my thoughts (such as they are) and movements. But I do have one major update on the latter: I'm in Paris, and for the month. It's something I had been thinking about since last year, when my research leave got the official nod from administration. Why Paris? Well, the short answer is "why not?" Truthfully - and I know this is going to probably sound ridiculous and privileged, especially given that I have an entire year where I don't have to drag my ass to work every morning - I feel this trip is a bit of a necessity for me. I was beginning to get into something of a rut and becoming "stale" with both work and life in general. I needed some disruption to my routine, and being in Paris by myself for the month will surely provide such disruption.

That said, I still plan on following a basic routine over the next four weeks. (Well, less so this week as I officially took it as a vacation week.) I'm hoping to research and write in the mornings over coffee and croissants at the flat, go for a jog in the early afternoon, and then the rest of the day will be for myself. I can deviate somewhat from that rigid schedule if need be, but that's going to be the general pattern. Thankfully, with deadlines looming, it will provide the necessary motivation to do my work (deadline panic is good for that) - and hopefully being in Paris will provide the proper stimulus to allow the writing to flourish. Wishful thinking? Let's hope not!

Anyway I do hope to be a more productive writer on this site over the coming weeks. I'll probably need the company, after all!