Interrupted

Tomorrow I'm leaving for Los Angeles.  For 10 days!  I really don't want to go and am not at all excited about it.  It's been 6 months since I have seen my friends, my in-laws, the pacific ocean, our studio.  It's been 6 months since I have driven on the 405, 101, 110, 5, 605, 710 etc...(these are all freeways).  I miss my friends and in-laws and sometimes the pacific ocean, but I love my life here in France and this trip is just messing it up.  But business calls.  Our studio is doing well, but the advice from our accountant/financial planner is to go back and touch base with the parents, our employees, the kids and be a little hands on.  We have been pretty removed from the business since we have been here and although things are going very well, it's time to check-in.  It took us 10 hard years to grow the business into what it is now, we need to make sure it stays successful and that everyone is happy.   It was either me or Bruce and since I'm the "works" side of our business (Art-Works), I was the chosen one.

The hollywood hills

the city of Los Angeles

The Santa Monica Pier

I'll fly from Toulouse to Paris and then Paris to Los Angeles.  I'm staying with our good friends E&K in their lovely home in the hollywood hills.   Thanks to Travis (who is running our studio for us) I have an amazing bike to ride, I had to find a bike or else I'd go crazy.  I have to rent a car and that seems a bit strange.  My afternoons will be spent at the studio.  I'll be able to touch base with all the parents and kids and see how things are running.  I'm there to help the studio continue to thrive, look at things that are working and things that might not be working and discuss ways to improve them. I better put on my "business hat" when I arrive, since I packed that away when we left.

My days will be spent riding (I plan to do as much as possible), going to the DMV to get a new license (I lost mine), seeing friends, my in-laws, shopping for bike stuff for Bruce, getting a pedicure,  buying converse for a friend here (they cost double here in france) and getting a thai massage (the best!).  Maybe if I'm lucky I can get a little tan, I'm so pasty white!

I have never been away from Bruce that long, in 13 years.  I know it might sound crazy, but it's true.  Longest we have been apart is 7 days.  I don't want to leave him, the dogs, the cat, the chickens, my relaxed life here in France, cooking dinner together, riding together (the weather has finally turned and it's spring), taking naps and enjoying our life here. This trip is putting a wrench in my sabbatical, argh!.  I didn't plan on going back this year and it pisses me off a bit.

I'll miss that under bite

and the snuggling from this boy

and of course this handsome guy

and our new idea of what a "city" should be

I'll take the camera and hopefully can update the blog while I'm there.  I'm sure I'll look at things a bit differently and it will be interesting to see if I enjoy my time in LA or if France really has a hold on me, I think I already know the answer.