While I was there I posted some short observations and thoughts on Facebook. For those of you who don't access my account, here's a short recap. Be looking for photos in the future, once I get through the rush of being back I plan on getting some online.

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No one knows where New Mexico is. Everyone thinks we're from Mexico...

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Still trying to figure out if I'm in NY or Paris. People walk fast and talk fast so its up for grabs...

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Today we walked to the Louvre. Tomorrow we'll take the Metro so we can walk through the Louvre. It's bigger than Albuquerque...

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Chicago looks great from the Sears. NY looks great from the Empire. Over two hours wait? The Eiffel looks beautiful from the ground...

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Dinner at an Irish pub in Paris run by Chinese. Still great food...

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I'm wearing a black shirt today. It appears our white dog came with us to France...

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Yesterday was a "Shop 'till You Drop" day. You can never get enough of jewelry and handbags...can you, guys.

We did drop in the end though. Jill dropped her bags and I dropped my a** on the couch. Not even my second afternoon espresso kept me going.

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Every corner has a wonderful café to sit and people watch. Whether it be food, drink or in our case lots of pastries, it's a great cultural experience. Another pain au chocolat s'il vous plaît…

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Then there's the dogs: in the US we need to watch the Dog Whisperer to control our pets. Here they just whisper to their dogs. No leashes, no running off, no disciplinary action needed. They're allowed anywhere and in everywhere. We witnessed multiple dog sightings in markets, shops and in a seven story department store...didn't know it was possible.

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I'm going to need a vacation from this vacation...

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Monet's garden is beautiful. I picked weeds for three hours...

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It's okay if you can't focus on more than one thing at a time. Just don't stop to think while walking a busy sidewalk...

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Run for the light, run for the Metro, run for the bus, run for taxi...we've been bumped into just a bit...

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Sit, walk, sit, walk then sit again...

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On May 13, 2010 Scandinavia invaded Paris...

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I was crapped on by a pigeon again today. It happened in Rome, New York, now Paris. Even under our patio in Albuquerque. I'm a shit magnet.

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Drinking my last espresso on our last night. Sad to leave such a beautiful country...glad to return to my furry kids and the desert I call home.

Paris…it's been a dream of Jill's forever and a photo opportunity of a lifetime for me (not to mention the fact that it's just beautiful).

Look for tweet's and blogs of our adventures.

Thanks mom for this wonderful gift. France, here we come…

Read Kathy's writeup "Viva la Polaroid" here.

One other bit of info for you Polaroid lovers out there, the Impossible Project has finally come to fruition. Rebranded Impossible, the company has started manufacturing their first instant integral film for the SX-70 Polaroid cameras. I'm looking forward to my PX 100 Silver Shade to be delivered any day now.

Visit their site to find out more: Impossible

At the time of our studies the art department was relatively small in size, we were a tight knit group and it didn't take long for us to become friends and studio companions. We learned and shared together, the whole time letting our friendship grow. We learned a lot about art and creativity, but more importantly we learned about each other…a relationship of openness and caring.

But, as was inevitable, graduation was upon us and like many school friendships it was time to part ways. She was headed home to Tucson, and I back to the suburbs of Chicago.

After graduation our lives developed in different direction save for one commonality, personal growth. The time apart led us on paths of self awareness that made us stronger, more mature individuals.

One night while sitting at the computer, thoughts of my old friend came back to me, and as I reminisced I realized I had no means of contacting her; no phone number, no email, no mailing address. How was she? What was she up to? Where had the last three years led her? Questions I thought I'd never have answers to. Well, at that exact same time I wasn't the only one having those thoughts, the very next day I received an email from her. Coincidence? I think it was fate.

One month later I was on my first vacation, a trip to Tucson to visit Jill my collage friend. Inevitably sparks flew and the next month I was on a one way flight back to Tucson followed by a road trip back home, but this time together with her where our relationship continued, but as you can guess, on much deeper level. Almost three years to the month of our separation we were on a path to be united forever. One year later we were married and now after 11 years of marriage we still enjoy the story of how our lives united, separated and united again.

That three year gap was an important separation in our relationship. We found ourselves, we grew as individuals and became aware of what we were looking for in life, at the same time discovering we had the same desire to be together again. I look forward to many more years together with her continuing to grow, learn and love.

Happy Valentine's Day sweetheart...

Yes, I'm now a twit too...

Posted: new images taken with my iPhone using Hipstamatic and Lo-mob apps.

Speaking of freedom (or these days, what I like to call free time) my wife and I decided to spend the last day of our holiday break doing something to fill that free time, cleaning the bedroom from top to bottom. It went something like this…

Rising bright and early, I skip the shower and other matters of hygiene and replace it with a good strong cup of coffee. I give the body a few minutes to catch the buzz then grab the keys and wallet and head on out to rent the carpet cleaner. I return home ASAP to get back to the coffee before the first buzz fades and tank up for a second. By 9:00am the body is up and running and we're ready to get to work. Now we know time is at a premium, not because we have something better to do after the job is complete but because a newly discovered paradox is taking place. The earlier we start the more time we have to work with, which we need because the time we do have fills easily with the speed in which our pace decreases as the day progresses.

So, back at home the room gets stripped from top to bottom. Bed out, furniture out, rug up then stop for more coffee. Back to work. The vacuum is out and running and the mop prepped and ready to go. Curtains are down, linens out and the wash begins (as the pile grows on the laundry room floor). Next, vacuum the rug, the floor, the cobwebs and anything conveniently passed over the previous year. Now mop and re-mop until the water stops looking something akin to runoff heading for the sewer. Then the big one, shampoo the carpet until all those years of dirt and stains begin to soften and come up.

We're moving right along and the time on the clock still looks good. So now it's on to the smaller stuff. Clean the blind, dust the furniture and odds and ends all the while waiting for the carpet to dry. Another glance at the clock and we begin to wonder what just happened to that full day.

It's now early afternoon and the lights in our brain are starting to fade. At this point the coffee pot is empty, maybe something more substantial is in order. Best head out for a late lunch and run a few errands while the carpet dries...slowly.

The food and soda add just enough fuel to the furnace to get us through a few more hours, which is good because the finish line is appearing in the horizon. Beginning to feel tired, we find any little task to keep up the momentum. As good as a short rest sounds we know that once we hit the bed…strike that, the bed hasn't been put back yet, when will that carpet dry already?…once we hit the sofa our bodies will give out and we'll be left with a bedroom rendered unusable for weeks.

So back at it. Seeing that night is approaching we start moving furniture back into place and rounding out the laundry. Its time to drop the bed...I can live with damp socks for a day.

That's about it, our bodies are about to stop functioning and just in time. As Jill and I stand in the doorway admiring the strong days work refreshing the love nest we look in each others eyes and smile. There's the clean bed she says, are you thinking what I'm thinking, yes I reply. So with the little energy we have left we close the clean blinds and curtains and slide under the fresh sheets. With eyes locked we smile and whisper those words that represent so many years of love, relationship and marriage...I love you, I love you too. Then we hit the nightstand light and with a tender touch and a kiss we say what we've been mutually thinking all day…I'm beat, let's get some sleep.

Something tells me that if we were still a part of that previous generation, the cleaning could have waited and the bed probably would have been put to better use…

I interact with many people in many different ways throughout the year, some on a weekly, daily and even an hourly basis, and if it wasn’t for these people I wouldn't be the person I am today, living the life I do, and in some cases wondering if that feeling in my gut is a something special or a developing ulcer. So, I would like to take this time to express that childhood lesson learned and extend my gratitude. Hold on, here I go...

Thanks to all who appreciate my hard work and continue to value what I deliver, and thanks to all who have taught me the value of that hard work. Thanks to all who enjoy my friendship and have extended their friendship in return. Thanks to all who open their hearts and welcome me in during special situations despite any given circumstance. Thanks to all who are kind and understanding when times are rough and take the time to express their concern and extend offers of help. Thanks to all who share the same passions I do and are willing to talk for hours as I repeat myself over and over because I like to hear myself speak. Thanks to all who leave me on speakerphone while I say inappropriate things even though they could potentially lose their jobs, and thanks to those that take me off speakerphone to tell me how inappropriate my last words were and that they don’t want to lose their jobs. Thanks to all who let me talk over everyone else so I can be the center of attention even when it reaches the point of pure nausea. Thanks to all who don’t mistake my bad sarcastic wit as a personal insult and regret ever meeting me. And finally, thanks to all who haven’t stop reading this after the third thank you…it means you really do care.

Every one of you has touched my life in one way or another and I look forward to the upcoming year and the moments we'll share, whether it be personal, business or otherwise.

So, until that next uncomfortable conversation...

All the best,
Ed