Week 43 - Storytelling: Film Noir

“Noir is the new black.”

#dogwoodweek43 #2019dogwood52 #dogwood52 #noir

Currently • October 2019

“October had tremendous possibility… the golden leaves promised a world full of beautiful adventures. ― Sarah Guillory

READING:

• Careless People: Murder, Mayhem, and the Invention of The Great Gatsby - “Careless People is a unique literary investigation: a gripping double narrative that combines a forensic search for clues to an unsolved crime and a quest for the roots of America’s best loved novel.” (My options on the Lost Generation shelf of Shakespeare and Company are dwindling, but Eric picked this one out for me.)

• Developing Expert Learners: A Roadmap for Growing Confident and Competent Students by Michael McDowell — It’s part of my Professional Learning Plan focusing on the connection between surface, deep, and transfer learning and the Triple E Framework of technology in the classroom (Engage, Enhance, Extend).

• So many magazines and catalogues — How can it be that the holiday season is already upon us?

WATCHING:

• Breakfast at Tiffany’s - When the Silverspot Cinema in the Corners featured one of my favorite films, I jumped at the chance to see it on the big screen, accompanied by popcorn and Champagne, bien-sûr! The screening was also great research for my trip to New York at the beginning of the month; I visited the NY Public Library, Holly’s apartment building at 169 E. 71st Street, and, of course, Tiffany’s.

• I revisited my favorite Paris movies again before and during our trip: Midnight in Paris for our day in the Latin Quarter, Amélie before exploring Montmartre, Charade prior to our dinner cruise on the Seine, and Funny Face because Bonjour Paris.

• It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown - one of my favorite Halloween traditions

LISTENING TO:

• Midnight in Paris, the perfect soundtrack to loop in your head while strolling in Paris.

• Harry Connick, Jr.’s Celebration of Cole Porter - What could be better than Cole Porter’s music sung by HCJ? Um, maybe the Broadway show!

• Halloween Party Radio on Pandora

ENJOYING:

• Traveling is inspiring, especially when you can revisit your favorite places, but “there’s no place like home” … and I really missed Piper!

• The final few colorful days of autumn at home — Where did October go? Between having house guests for most of September and October and trips to NYC and Paris, I almost missed one of my favorite months in Wisconsin. This morning, the remaining fall leaves were already covered in snow (but I love that too)!

• Our new Nespresso Vertuo Plus — We are making delicious espressos and cappuccinos at home. Sorry Starbucks, but ours are better!

PLANNING:

• My 30-day black and white photography challenge for the month of November

• A weekend in Boston. I’m attending a conference, but I also intend to make the most of the time I’m there (November 22-24). It’s been almost a decade since I’ve been there, so any suggestions for activities and restaurants would be greatly appreciated.

Links I Love • October 2019

“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, (s)he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” - John Muir

• 21 French-Inspired Halloween Costumes - très amusant — especially “French Kiss”

• 31 Spooky (But Not Too Scary) Books for Your Fall Reading List - I didn’t think this was my genre, but I’ve read and enjoyed 12 of the classics and am working on the Inspector Gamache series.

• 15 Amazing Books That Inspire Us to Travel - including my favorite, Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast

• 36 Hours in Milwaukee - a New York Times tour of my hometown

• 14 Thoughts Everyone Has While Learning French - Even after almost 40 years, I still struggle with some of these concepts.

• 11 French Expressions That Have No English Equivalent

• The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Paris - Time to start planning my next trip?!

• The 6 Best Shopping Streets in Paris - I concur :)

• Climate Change is Changing the Flavor of French Wine

• Top 10 French Movies on Netflix - I’ve only seen 4 of them.

• 13 TV Shows and Movies to Inspire your Love of French Cooking - or eating!

• You Can Rent the Villa From Under the Tuscan Sun - I love that movie!

• The Best Advent Calendars for 2019 - The Diptyque calendar is amazing — for $425!)

• What to Wear with a Turtleneck - This is one of my go-to winter uniforms. Hey, if it was good enough for Audrey…

• Looking ahead to 2020, here are some great Photography Project Ideas

I Love Paris in the Fall • mardi 22 octobre 2019

“We’ll always have Paris.” - Casablanca

52º + cloudy • 13,623 steps: Last day in Paris - breakfast at Ladurée and exploring Montmartre

I Love Paris in the Fall • lundi 21 octobre 2019

“Believe me, young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” - Wind in the Willows

60º + cloudy • 20,755 steps: Saint-Germain and a return to the Luxembourg Gardens: coffee, lunch, strolling, and sailing little boats • Visit with Mike + Mary in their apartment with the view • More Eiffel Tower sparkles

I Love Paris in the Fall • dimanche 20 octobre 2019

“Actually, Paris is the most beautiful in the rain” - Midnight in Paris

52º and rainy • 14,490 steps: Notre Dame • Shakespeare and Company • Odette • Quartier Latin • Saint-Étienne-du-Mont (Midnight in Paris) • Panthéon • Lunch with Nicole at chez Robert • Stroll through “Le Luco” • Coffee at La Closerie des Lilas • Watch the Packers beat the Raiders 42-24 at WOS