My Next Car

This November my lease for Daisy will end and I'll have to decide on a new car. Daisy is lovely--a cyber green New Beetle turbo with all the upgrades. I got her whith a mere 3 miles on the clock and have really enjoyed driving her. She's the kind of car that amkes people smile. She fits in all parking spaces, has great pick-up and looks cool, all the way down to her grren/black leather interior.

However, I really miss my last car, Tipsi, a small 3-series BMW, also with all the extras. Tipsi drove like a dream and also fit in all the small parking spaces. She was white with a grey interior and I kept her immaculate at all times. The problem was that some lowlife decided that they were insanely jealous of her and brutally vandalized her with a big old rock right outside my house. That ticked me off no end and I decided that it was time for a change of automobile.

Since I've had Daisy, I really miss the suspension of Tipsi. It's so hard to enjoy my mint tea or cup of coffee whilst driving in Daisy because the ride is not very smooth. Simple things made Tipsi a better-designed car such as the glove compartment opener being closer to the driver's side rather than in the center. She had a manual transmission and so she had a little more oomph to the drive. Her stereo was really good and her handling was always reliable. But Daisy has those fabulous heated seats that make you just want to stay in the car on a cold wintry day.

Last week the big auto shows were all held and the new line of BMWs was revealed at the LA Auto Show: the 6-series is now available for order. I've always love M5s and so when I read about the M6 I had to check it out. Sweet. Check it out at the BMW M6 site. I'm thinking of the white one ... but am open to suggestions.

Of course, this car is WAY more expensive than any I've owned before so I doubt it'll happen at all. I like to dream about things though. In truth I'll probably end up getting a much less powerful car, probably another BMW as I love those cars and I love the service that comes with them.

The Joys of flying Paris

Paris holds a certain magic for me, even after flying there week in and week out for the past 12 1/2 years. I am not fond of the layover hotel, can't stand the frigid winter weather or the discomfort of the un-airconditioned restaurants in summer, yet somehow there's nowhere else I'd rather fly to. The flights are eternally late and usually full to boot but I always enjoy the Paris trips.

For some unknown reason, my flights to and from CDG always involve some adventure. There may be a medical emergency, an unforeseen delay or even a bizzarre event in the city, such as a death of a tourist at the hotel, but two things are assured--no two trips are ever the same and no trip is without incident. Those of us that fly only Paris have grown to acdcept the abnormalities as a matter of course and so we have learned to take it all in stride and not flip out; others become disheartened and frustrated, swearing that they'll "never bid Paris again."

Today's flight home was no exception, albeit a rather tame adventure. It began with a phone call at the Hotel Mercure informing us of a 30-minute delay in the departure of our crew bus. We arrive at CDG to find that our aircraft is at a "hard stand" (airline lingo for a remote parking area). This is somewhat of a pain for crewmwmbers who have shopped (e.g. for wine) as we have to clear security then carry our bags down to the connections area, reboard the crew bus then carry our bags up the airstairs to the aircraft. Unfortunately it's not unusual to have a hard stand, so that part we are used to. Few of the non-regulars know the routine and no matter how long you wait for them, they still manage to become separated from the group and get lost. Half the crew aboard the crew bus and 10 minutes later, there was no sign of the others. One of the crewmembers went back in to try to find the others, only to learn that our aircraft was to move to an actual gate--hence the reason the others were told not to reboard the bus.

We manage to round them up anyway and determine that since the plane isn't yet at the gate we should take the bus to it. We get to the plane to find that it is not fully cleaned or catered yet. We pile on up and huddle in the A-zone area waiting for permission to stow our bags, do security checks and set up for boarding. Finally the aircraft taxis in to the gate and after several minutes of inaction the concierge comes onboard to see if we're ready for boarding. We are. So the passengers start sifting on slowly for the next 45 minutes. Boarding seems to take an eternity in Paris. They have been told that the flight is delayed due to the crew bringing the aircraft in to the gate late!!!

We left the gate about an hour and a half late. Short flight plan so only about 45 mins late arriving back in IAH, but still--there was no need for us to have been late at all. Consequence: everyone is beat tired and most passengers with connections missed their flights out of Houston and had to be rebooked on later departures. Another atypical day on the Paris flight.

My Favorites of 2005

Since it's a new year, I decided to make some lists of some of my faves of the year 2005. A good way to remember the events of the year, no? For some reason I love lists--To Do lists, shopping lists, wish lists, even bill-paying lists. I guess it's the orderliness of lists that is the appeal for me. Anyway, here goes with a few lists for last year......

Songs of the Year
Hung Up - Madonna
Don't Cha - The Pussycat Dolls
Better Days - Goo Goo Dolls
You're Beautiful - James Blunt
Wake Me Up When September Comes - Green Day
Smile Like You Mean It - The Killers
The Speed of Sound - Coldplay
Original of the Species - U2
Chocolate - Snow Patrol
You and Me - Lifehouse

Albums of the Year
Something To Be - Rob Thomas
To Love Again - Chris Botti
Hotel - Moby
X & Y - Coldplay
Hot Fuss - The Killers
It's Time - Michael Buble

Films of the Year
March of the Penguins
The Constant Gardener
Sideways
Saw
Crash

TV Shows of the Year
Project Runway
The Apprentice
Iron Chef America
30-Minute Meals
reDesign
Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
The Academy Awards
The Grammy's
Power, Privelege and Justice
Anderson Cooper 360

Restaurants of the Year
Georges (Paris)
Shade (Houston)
Mesa (New York)
Sushi Koh (Honolulu)
Orchids (Honolulu)
Farrago (Houston)
The Fish (Houston)
Il Sorrentino (Paris)
Early's (Willis)
Joe Allen's (New York)
Spanish Flowers (Houston)
Fogo de Chao (Houston)
Smith & Wollensky (Houston)
Le Comptoir du 7ieme (Paris)
Cafe Gandolfi (Glasgow)

Bars/Clubs of the Year
Le Bar @ Georges V (Paris)
The Blue Note (New York)
Forty Deuce (Los Angeles)
Bhudda Bar (Paris)
Chez Ribe (Paris)
Lewers Lounge (Honolulu)
Bar Atome (Paris)

Hotels of the Year
Sunset Marquis (Los Angeles)
Halekulani (Honolulu)
W (New York)
Trump International (New York)
Georges V (Paris)
Four Seasons (Beverly Hills)

Shops of the Year
Prada (New York)
Prada (both Paris shops)
Nordstrom (Houston Galleria)
Kitson (Beverly Hills)
Saks (Houston Galleria)
Victoria's Secret (Houston Galleria)
Dean & Deluca (New York)
Williams Sonoma (Houston)
Galeries Lafayette (Paris)
Rue de Passy (Paris)
Eclectic Home (Houston)
L'Occitane (Paris)
Apple Store (Houston Galleria)

Shows of the Year
Sting @ The Roxy, Los Angeles (Pre-tour private show)
Chris Botti & Friends @ The Wilshire Theatre, Los Angeles (DVD recording)
Chris Botti with the Honolulu Symphony, Honolulu
Sweeney Todd @ Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway

All of these lists reflect some of the places I went to and events I attended during the year. I'm sure I'll think of loads more later!! (BTW, they're not in any specific order).