Which do you choose? Pretty. There is too much ugly going on in the world today. So, I choose pretty. And, specifically, I choose flowers. And, even though I love flowers of all kinds, I choose roses. Duh. This is not new news for those who know me. But, a bit of background.

For most of my life, I have loved flowers. When I was little, Mother grew flowers for fun. She would buy seeds at the hardware store (owned by my Uncle Beamus) and plant them in the back yard. I specifically remember sweet peas. But, that is because they were easy to grow. She would try roses, but she did not do what roses wanted her to do. They did not thrive under her care. Haha. But, that did not keep me from loving them. I would see them in the florist and at funerals and weddings but not in the back yard or front yard. She did well with geraniums. Here in Paris, people grow geraniums a lot. And Azaleas. I think that Azaleas are difficult, but people buy them a lot. Not me. I don’t spend a lot of money on flowers here (so far) but that may change. But, I digress…..

So, when I was living in Westwood in Los Angeles (just after I married Steve in 2005), I got a new Blackberry phone with a camera. So, on my early morning walks, I started using my camera. I would see a rose bush, and take an up close and personal picture of a rose and post it on Facebook. Then I would post that rose on Instagram. And, then on a website called Foap. I sold this image to “Getty Images”

Then, Steve and I started writing books for Amazon. And, one of the first books I wrote I called “Capturing Beauty”. I took 200 of my favorite rose pictures, added a quotation that I liked and published it. It was lovely! I wanted the pictures in color and that was very expensive, making the book expensive. And, the pictures were matt. I wanted glossy. Not to be. Ok, I would do matt. Well, I would also do a Kindle version in color. It was lovely. Converting to kindle took a hired expert and that was expensive. But, I did it anyway.

But, I have never promoted that book. I have never promoted my books – period! So, I have resolved (especially during lockdown) to begin to change that. They are not best-sellers. But they are fun. And “Pretty”… And I am limited in what I can photograph with my Paris location for now because of lockdown. Soooooo. That is the background.

I did a new cover that I LOVE! And, I don’t have any copies of this book. I gave the last copy to a restaurant owner (GUISEPPE) in Nice, who LOVED it.

I autographed it for him.  I had brought it to give to my friend Christine – who was treating me to a birthday lunch, but Giuseppe wanted it, so I promised to get Christine another one.  I still owe Christine that book. 

I don’t have any updated paperback copies of my books or Steve’s 8 books. I have vowed to get copies with new covers for my bookshelf, but – with all of the moving and knee surgeries – I have it on my “to do” list. And all of the covers need to be updated to Paris. That is a chore for another time. But, today, I am going to share with you “Capturing Beauty”. I published two books in that genre, but “Capturing Beauty” is my favorite. (the other one is “Moments in Time”)

The book is lovely. (I think). It is filled with 200 of my favorite rose photographs. Each rose has an accompanying quotation to go with it – favorite quotes and photos that I wanted to include. I need to get copies on my own bookshelves. Here is the cover:

It is for sale on amazon.com in the paperback (coffee table version) and Kindle versions. It says I live in Nice (4 years in Nice) and now I am in Paris. ToBeUpdatedSomedaySoon. But, I will help you take a look. Here is the link on Amazon (if this works).

And, there is information about me on Amazon Author Central (all needing to be updated at another time). But, the book is lovely. And, I don’t plan to change that. So, I would love it if you would introduce yourself to my Amazon personality and bookshelf. I am in the process of re-editing “Janet Tallulah” so that it “flows” better. It is my favorite of my writings but it needs work (which I am doing and enjoying). Stay tuned.

Best, Jay

Get a cup of coffee. I may go on for a while. I am now sure exactly where to begin. I am sitting here in my apartment, once again “in lockdown”. My vision is blurry, off and on. Today is the birthday of my good friend Andrea. If I were in Nice, I would try to do something special for her birthday, but restaurants are closed, except for delivery or take-away. I would find a way.

A couple of problems, I don’t have a good doctor. And, my health is not good.  But I don’t want to sit here and have a pity party for myself.  Yet, if I don’t do it, there is no one to warn me, watch me, or tell me what to do.  I am really on my own.  The virus is bad outside.  France is on alert – terrorist attacks and deaths from the virus.  So, I must find a way to weather this storm.  How?  What are my options?  Well, I am not in the mood to die.  But I will admit I am very discouraged.  And I am a member of several groups on Facebook, and so are a LOT of people.  So, if I were to give myself a pep talk, what would I say?

Refocus!  Find something to wrap your mind around. What? I don’t know.  Think!  I saved this post from last night because it spoke to me.

“My grandmother once gave me a tip:

In difficult times, you move forward in small steps.

Do what you have to do, but little by little.

Don’t think about the future, or what may happen tomorrow.

Wash the dishes.

Remove the dust.

Write a letter.

Make a soup.

You see?

You are advancing step by step.

Take a step and stop.

Rest a little.

Praise yourself.

Take another step.

Then another.

You won’t notice, but your steps will grow more and more.

And the time will come when you can think about the future without crying.”

– Elena Mikhalkova

So, for now, I will putter around the apartment.  Wash a load of clothes. Write an email. Thaw some fish.  Post some thoughts of my own. Post some thoughts of others.

Here are some other interesting thoughts of others.

Legendary Paris bookshop Shakespeare and Company begs for help in pandemic

The landmark store has seen sales fall 80% since March, and with a new lockdown expected has asked for orders from those who can afford it

‘We are struggling, trying to see a way forward’ … Shakespeare and Company. 

One of the world’s most iconic bookshops, Shakespeare and Company, has appealed to its customers for help as it is struggling, with sales that are down almost 80% since March.

The celebrated Parisian bookstore told readers on Wednesday that it was facing “hard times” as the Covid-19 pandemic keeps customers away. France is expected to impose a new four-week national lockdown as coronavirus cases continue to surge; large swathes of the country, including Paris, are already under a night-time curfew.

“Like many independent businesses, we are struggling, trying to see a way forward during this time when we’ve been operating at a loss,” said the shop in an email to customers, adding that it would be “especially grateful for new website orders from those of you with the means and interest to do so”.

Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/The Guardian

First opened by Sylvia Beach in 1919, the Parisian institution was frequented by writers including F Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, TS Eliot and James Joyce in the early 20th century. George Whitman opened today’s version of the shop in 1951, with James Baldwin, Lawrence Durrell, Allen Ginsberg and Anaïs Nin among its later visitors. Whitman envisaged the shop as a “socialist utopia masquerading as a bookstore”: writers are invited to sleep for free among the shelves in exchange for a few hours helping out, and more than 30,000 of the guests, named “tumbleweeds” by Whitman, have stayed since the store opened.

“We’re not closing our doors, but we’ve gone through all of our savings,” Whitman’s daughter, Sylvia Whitman, told the Guardian. “We are 80% down since the beginning of the first wave. We’ve now gone through all of the bookshop savings, which we were lucky to build up, and we have also been making use of the support from the government, and especially the furlough scheme. But it doesn’t cover everything, and we’ve delayed quite a lot of rent that we have.”

The store was closed for two months during France’s first lockdown, and did not sell books online over that period on advice from trade body the Syndicat de la librairie française. Whitman and staff are now waiting for the latest ruling from the French government, expected on Wednesday, and are preparing for a second closure.

“Right now our cafe and bookshop is open, but it’s looking like we will have to close both because bookshops are considered non-essential,” Whitman said. “The one big difference is that we’re adamant this time we’re going to be ready to keep the website open.”

Stay tuned.

Best, Jay

Go get a cup of coffee and join me for a conversation with my readers and my sponsors and a coffee while I share with you some thoughts about my new home in Paris.  I know, I know, the world is a mess. I voted and got confirmation of receipt. Every young boy CANNOT grow and be President of the U.S. It takes more than just being male or female or opportunity. Meanwhile…… I want to crystallize my thoughts as to why I like this area for you – the 16^th Arrondissement in Paris, near the Bois de Boulogne.  It is called the Auteuil Area and has quite a history (for you History Buffs).  I don’t like it for its history.  I would have loved the 6^th Arrondissement (where I lived for 7 months and moved).  It was FULL of history.  And my reasons are not based on my physical problem. Sorta.  But, not a lot.  They are based as to who I am – a Southern girl whose mother lived in the same house most of her life.  I always had a “home” to go to — until now.  Now, I want one that “feels” like home. 

I really like this space a lot. I feel “at home” here.  Why?  Short answer is, “I don’t know, but I do.” But, let’s take a closer look.  I loved Los Angeles.  I loved living there.  48 years. I was young and old there and had a successful acting career in film and television and a successful career as an attorney.  I went to law school in the area.  My family still lives in that area.  I lived in several areas in LA, but my favorites were in Pacific Palisades and at 2399 Mandeville Canyon in Brentwood.

I always dreamed of “one day” living in France. Now, I am living in France. I lived in Nice, France, for 4 years, and now I am in Paris. I did not like living in Nice.  I did not like living in Paris in a small studio in the 6^th Arrondissement.  I knew it was temporary, anyway.  I do not have a favorite area of Paris. 

By luck or by fluke, I came across an ad for an apartment in the 16^th that sounded great. To me. I was surrounded by the city in the 6^th, and people, and buildings, and history, and museums, and gorgeous gardens and shops and The Seine and restaurants and cafes.  And the VIRUS.  Lots of activity.  BUT, I missed the Sea. I needed more calm.  I needed more air.  Less activity.  Was I making a mistake?  What was going on?   

By luck or by fluke, I got this apartment (long story), and it had a lot of problems.  For me.  I have been here since August, and I feel “at home” here.  This is why (I think).

The people are residents.  French.  Nice French and rude, arrogant French.   A lot of people really don’t speak English.  Nor want to.  All ages.  Young, old, and in-between.  Most of the shops are small and owner occupied.  “Mom and Pop” stores.  I cannot find a lot of products here because it is like a small town in the city.  They don’t care that they don’t have what I want.  If I want something else, I can go get it. The big stores are up the street in the Passy area.  Or closer to the center of town.  Where all of tourists are at Museums and gorgeous structures and people who need to “shop”. I don’t go there because I don’t need big stores and shopping.  I usually adjust and “use what they carry”.  It’s easier.   And, With the virus, I avoid congested areas and open-air markets with a lot of people.  I like that people just “live here”.  If they want upscale and livelier, it is a taxi drive away, or metro, or bus ride.

There is an open-air market on Saturdays and Wednesdays down the street.  I don’t go. In the future, I may go after the virus.  I buy what I eat at a market that delivers and puts my groceries in my kitchen for me. And ALL of the restaurants have delicious food.  I may eat lunch out, but I most of the time eat what is here in the apartment. Nothing fancy, something healthy, usually. 

The people are nice.  Not overly friendly. But, nice. I feel safe.  Some areas are livelier than others. I don’t need livelier.  I like nice and easy and Paris.   Just people. Living here. Some young, some old, some single, some families, small children, lots of dogs. Lots of canes. People helping people. Polite to me. Usually.

The restaurants in the neighborhood seem to know a lot of their clientele. It has a “neighborhood” feeling.  I am still becoming part of the neighborhood. Sorta. I have bought a real down jacket for the weather; a down comforter for the cold nights. Some Ugg boots for around the house.  And some great Tech guys in a small shop to fix my iPhone.  I am trying to get things I want and need slowly online and/or in a local shop, somewhere. The concierge here accepts packages for me if I order something.  I am still figuring all of that out.

I have three doctors and a new vet for Missy within walking distance.  And they are good doctors that I really like.  Everything is local for me.  I have been to a lot of expensive doctors in the 6,7, 14 and 15 that I DON’T like.  I don’t need to go anywhere.  At least – not yet.  I don’t want to risk public transportation and Uber is expensive from here.  That time will come.  After the virus. I see bus stops and metro stations and taxi stations. Not on my street but down the hill and on bigger streets.

I don’t know if it is lively at night.  I am not out at night.  With a 9:00 pm. Curfew, I doubt it. But I don’t know. It is lively during the day, with people exercising, walking dogs, chatting with neighbors and going to work with drivers.  G7 a lot.  I see a lot of businesspeople getting into G7 taxis. Lots of cafes for coffee and croissants. Good bakeries.  Fresh orange juice.  My biggest complaint is that the toilets are always down steep spirally stairs without good bannisters. I have to plan and time my stops and lunches. I have seen some restaurants where I want to try lunch at some point. 

Hey, it is probably not for everyone. It is not the high life of the 6^th. Or the Marais. Or the 8^th. But, I am very happy here. For more active people, there are Roland Garros, the Soccer Stadium, and lots of activity up the street at the Trocadero. And, museums up the hill and across the river, but I am happy I live in a lovely residential neighborhood. Quiet and safe. Virus-free. Especially after living seven months in the center of everything where I had bars on the windows and had lots of bolts on the door. I now have plants in my apartment and on my balcony. I have a full kitchen and my piano in the living room. And, a huge television. In all, I have 5 rooms (enough room for me and Missy). I can accommodate visitors with privacy (sorta). I know how to get to the woods and to more activities and to the heart of the city. I have friends for lunch out, but no room for a table here (the piano takes up the room). And a full kitchen for cooking. And, I have a Paris address. Here are some photos that are so-so.

These pictures are not great. But, who cares. None of you will be doing this anyway, and I feel good. Sorta. I miss my family. I miss comforts. There is a list of things I miss. Most of all, I miss my youth and driving my car. But, I am here and will stay here for now. As Blake would say, “keeping on keeping on.

Stay tuned, Jay

Oops!  Only .7 mile, today. That is not far enough. Just so you know, The goal is “retrain the brain”, AND, I must work on my body at the same time.  The doctor said that I need physical therapy for my knees and brain therapy for my brain!!! So, 80’s, here I come. I must Exercise, ready or not!!  

So, this morning, I got up. Fed the cat. Had my breakfast.  Put on my Nike stretch pants, a workout shirt, a warm coat (it’s Paris and in the 40’s outside), an ugly warm hat and look ugly while walking out the door!   Well, looking good is not the goal.  And, my brain doesn’t care what I look like!!  And, the route was to be the road less traveled since the virus likes crowds.  The mindset is “do it anyway.”  One foot in front of the other, avec cane. 1 mile a walk is sufficient. Up the hill, across and back down another street.  MAYBE get a coffee and croissant, if the toilette is accessible.  Not a requirement.  1-mile workout. 

I took photos!  RED LETTER DAY!!!! Hey, it is a beginning. And, we need to focus on the brain and on the body.  One step in front of the other. DO IT, ANYWAY!!  

WALK OUT THE FRONT DOOR! YOU GOT THIS!!! anyway, it’s fun!

UP THE STREET (goal is to work the legs going up)

TURN RIGHT AT JASMINE (Pretty building and man who thought I was taking his picture and the picture of his sign haha)

JUST SOME PRETTY DOORS AND ARCHITECTURE AND “BANGLADESH HOUSE” (whatever that is)

JASMINE METRO STATION on MOZART (and uphill to Passy area but I am now going down toward the Auteuil area. This is sorta in the middle of the 16eme arrondissement.)

A PAUSE AT ONE OF THE LOCAL FLOWER SHOPS (SB Fleurs) WITH PHOTOS

SHOULD I GET A PAIN RAISIN AND COFFEE? YES!

AND HOME! FUN EXPLORATION AND MY BRAIN IS HAPPY AND SO IS MY BODY!

I bought lunch at the Bakery and a plant for the apartment, so I had to go home. And only .7 of a mile. That is NOT far enough. So, next walk I must add something, as I explore in my workout. Stay tuned…..

I’m backkkkkkkk.

Best, Jay