Here Not There... Again

Adventures of Bonnie and Jim

WE’RE GONE, BUT BACK

AGAIN?? It seems like only a year ago that we sold our magical Laurel Canyon house and set out for our summer long adventure in Europe.

It was actually two years ago! I cannot imagine planning a trip like this every year. Forgetting the expense, the amount of time and energy that went into finding the right places, cars without huge drop off fees between countries, all the various airline tickets and transportation issues, coordinating friends who are coming to visit, dealing with the vet and the dogs and the papers and the USDA, (they're papers have to be stamped as if they are lamb chops!) is too exhausting. Plus there’s still normal life and work to contend with and the never-ending to do list that comes with it. Oh, and work. That.

In my next life, on the ridiculous chance there ever be one, I want to have a wife. I think everyone, particularly women, need wives.

The most exciting part besides seeing friends, eating sublime food, taking in gorgeous scenery and art, there will be NO DONALD TRUMP. It’s my goal not to see or read one American newspaper or hear anything America related. If that’s even possible.

For this brief but glorious time, I can pretend Donald Trump and all he represents is no longer part of my reality. I could weep tears of joy.

We hope you’ll check with us from time to time and drop us a note. Maybe we can momentarily make you forget the Orange Mental Midget, et al, too.

ORIGINAL WELCOME (2015)

In the midst of a crisis, after we’ve melted down and scraped ourselves back together, we say, “only disasters make good stories.” Sure we can regale people with endless travel tales of fun and frolic, but the BEST, funniest and most memorable stories come from fuck ups. Travel, particularly to places where you don’t speak the language, disaster and/or unexpected events, are common. But setting out on this adventure the LAST thing we need is disaster. We’ve been steeped in drama and crisis leading up the trip. We hope our travel, sans drama, can make for entertaining stories.

AU REVOIR PARIS

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After a splendid week in London we returned for our last day in Paris. The dogs were thrilled to see us, naturally. We were so lucky to have found such a fabulous dog sitter (if you ever need one in Paris, let me know). Jim had a cold so I went out on my own to have dinner with the brilliant award winning director, Euzhan Palcy, who did my film "The Killing Yard." We hadn't seen in each other in years but the love and friendship remains. It was if no time had gone by which is always the test of a real friendship. Of course she encouraged me to come live in Paris. If only! No words, at least no words I can write, can express the incredible adventure we've had this summer.  What beautiful sights we've seen, what great friends we  visited, what extraordinary countries, towns and villages we explored. Once again I was reminded of all the lies we've been taught and absorbed as Americans. Examples: French hate Jews and elitists, the British don't even have proper heating, the Continue Reading

LONDON CALLING

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If it weren’t for the weather, I could be extremely happy living in London. The energy, the museums, the theatre, the culture, the people.  We’re even lucky enough to have friends who are much younger so that MAYBE they could look in on us in our cottage - which is five minutes away. We’ve been having such a fantastic time. We saw a brilliant, mind-blowing play, “The Ferryman”, which has taken London by storm. I’ve never read such glowing reviews and I can attest there was no hyperbole whatsoever. The play is unforgettable. (I'm forever mixing tenses!!). We went to the Victoria and Albert Museum and saw the Pink Floyd exhibit which was absolutely amazing and gave me a new appreciation for their talent. They were/are truly cutting edge and,way way way ahead of even the best of the rock bands (not to mention their politics). We also visited the National Portrait Museum, which we always love and also took in the new “Bob Dylan” play, “The Girl from the North Country” with our dear Continue Reading

THE GLORIES OF PARIS

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Did you know the latest study on dementia says drink three glasses of champagne a day?! I've decided to be a good patient and follow doctor's orders. I do NOT want dementia. This blog is our memory book of our journey and when I look back at myself I want to be able to recognize that fatty as me. True, I'll be bummed out by the sight of myself, but at least I'll remember myself and know why I became a blimp and alcoholic. We’re dog-less. The most adorable young woman, Julie, a “pro” picked them up and off they went to spend the week with her. I hope they don’t act crazy. They don’t handle separation well! But it was the ONLY way for us to detour to London and how can we come to Europe and NOT go to London. Plus we have tickets for "The Ferryman" which I'm DYING. to see. Jim really suffers from separation from the pups. He’s actually worse than I am. He won't let me mention them or look at their pictures. Our unborn children are so lucky. We would’ve fucked them up so badly! Just Continue Reading

PERFECTLY PARIS

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PARIS! It’s simply unreal. It’s so user friendly. So welcoming. So what a city should be like. No matter how many times I’ve been here it always feels like the first time because I’m so blown away. Is there any city in the world as beautiful? And the pride the citizens take in their city is evident EVERYWHERE. This morning I took the dogs for a walk and passed a small cafe where a man was shining the window casing! Something most people wouldn’t even notice. But he was polishing it as if the Queen of England was going to run her white glove over it. Last night we walked across the Pont de Neuf to see the lights of the city. Again, something we’ve seen before but it didn’t matter. Every time is like the first time. We spent the day at Musee d’Orsay. Forget the fantastic art, the building itself is drop dead gorgeous. And the amount of art is staggering. And it’s a fraction of the size of the Louvre. There was a special exhibition of Cezanne portraits. Cezanne isn’t known for his Continue Reading