Monday, August 25, 2008

Gone with the sand


Somebody asked once what they did with all of the sand after Paris Plage was closed. No I don't think they dump it in the Seine ;) but Saturday, I came across these tractors(?) that were offloaded to help clean things up. There are even color coordinated! This is undoubtedly my last post about Paris Plage for year 2008. I don't think it was too much of a success, mainly because of the terrible weather we experienced...

41 comments:

  1. Goodbye Paris Plage...we hardly knew ye.

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  2. Interesting that you were thewre to take a photo of this, Eric. And I'm sorry the Plage was kind of a bust this year. Peut-etre l'annee prochaine sera meilleure, eh?

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  3. I hope the lack of success this year doesn't mean they won't try again next summer. I would love to lie in the sand by the Seine someday.

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  4. Awww, so close to being GF today. Probably my last chance too.

    Only in Paris could you find heavy machinery that is color coordinated with the task at hand. Do you ever find cranes that are painted the same as the murals used to hide construction on large buildings?

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  5. One thing Eric: you took the photo while you were driving?! Tsss. ;)
    It makes a nice shot. So I'd better shut up.

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  6. Only in Paris would one find designer tractors and construction vehicles. Do they come in plaid? In the States it's still yellow and orange and maybe a John Deere wannabe thrown it for good measure. Yes, Eric, as Bob Seeger would say, "it is time to turn the plage." (Carrie, that yoke's for you and me...the two that can handle Three Stooges humor, unlike some out there in PDP land!) ;-)

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  7. I love color coordination!! So cool! I hope you had a good summer in spite of the cool weather.

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  8. Katie: I will be in CDG a few times before you but will also be there there Thurs Sept. 25th.How about the permanent Parisians?
    Anyone else around?
    And Coltrain, groan from me too.....lol....

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  9. Too bad about the crazy weather — the Paris Plage sounds like great fun otherwise. Hope you had a good summer nevertheless. I love that wonderful shade of blue!

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  10. I like all the long, thin upright blue and white rectangles all over this photo. Sad that it means the beach is leaving though. Since you had such bad weather this summer, I'll try to bring some California sunshine with me next month!

    PHX-CDG I've just penciled you in for Sept. 25 in my datebook; let me know where in Paris you want to meet and I'll see you there! I won't have a phone, but I plan on buying an iPod Touch before I go, so I should be able to keep up with PDP, do my own blog and check my e-mail from free wi-fi spots all over Paris while I'm there. I'm hoping the Touch will be the equivalent of a cute puppy for starting conversations.

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  11. Katie -- sorry I haven't quite gotten the Rent-a-Chien thing together in time for your trip (as I'm here, not there, malheureusement). I hope your iPod Touch will be the next best thing—though I'm sure the Parisiens will find you tres charmante and you'll make lots of friends. BTW, I'm leaving for Italy on the 26th, so we'll still be on the same continent—and I'd appreciate some of your California sunshine, too, especially for hiking in the Cinque Terre!

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  12. are those little cabanas in the background?

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  13. Maybe we spoke to fast...it looks like the weather is going to get much, much better in the days to come! Even predicting 31c for next Saturday when the M et Mme Benaut are here! "Hey guys! Bring back that sand!"

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  14. Coltrane, what kind of tractor do you always hire and never own? A contractor!

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  15. Michael, I'm afraid Coltraine's asleep. It's midnight in the Midwest, and it's a school night. So I'm the one reading your brilliant, witty jokes. Maybe Katie's up, or Lois, Carrie, Luggi, Pont Girl or Tall Gary. Where's Tall Gary been lately, I wonder?

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  16. I just looked at the top of the list. Buzzgirl, are you up for Michael's witty banter?

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  17. No, no, you can't dump it in the Seine, that would be insane!

    Color-coordinated tractors.. hmmm... this Mr. Delanoe, mayor of Paris, sure has a sense for style! ;)

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  18. Well at least somebody's suffering through the joke Petrea. I'm sure Buzzgirl was over them a long time ago!

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  19. Je tyrouve excellente l'idée de cette photo, l'été et les vacances qui s'en vont...

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  20. PHX, as one of the permanent parisians, I'll probably be here. At least for the evening, if I work during the day. I'll let you know as soon as I'm sure.

    Katie and Petrea, nice new pictures. Like these sunny photos.

    As Michael said, the summer is not over, here. This week will be sunny and quite hot...yeah! Nothing compared to the Miami sun, of course, but a good weather anyway, right? ;)

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  21. We're lucky here in Chicago where we have the lake and park beaches. The city's founding fathers made sure that the lake front was for the most part kept free of development and turned into parks for all of its citizens to enjoy.

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  22. "Gone with the sand".
    It seems the title of a song by Bob Dylan.
    But if there are still 5 days of August! How do you already removed the beach?

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  23. Michael, is that you on this new profile picture? What a nice little boy ;-)

    Alexa, Cinque Terre, lucky you are! That's a nice part of Italy...

    PHX, as a "semi-permanent" Parisian, I should be there on 25th!

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  24. My favorite part of Chicago is on the lake front! Well, sorta. Jackson Harbor. It's where my grandparents met during the war. Grandpa was a Coast Guardsman.

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  25. Just stopped to say hi and thanks for your nice photos of Paris.

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  26. Alexa don't worry about the rent-a-chien; I think I'll do ok without a cute dog (although that would be fun). How fabulous that you're going to the Cinque Terre! Guille it was time to change photos; everyone else seemed to be doing it! Petrea I like your new one! And yes, I thought a sunny photo was good for these last days of summer. Guille I hope you're not too busy on Sept. 25 to get together for a drink or something with PHX-CDG and me. And Thib it would be delightful to meet you in Paris too!

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  27. What they can use that sand?

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  28. It has been an odd summer for many reasons. I have to say that, oddly enough, our weather has been great. It's payback for the awful winter we had. I haven't seen the beach, but I'll see Lake Michigan (and Sonny Rollins) on Thursday.

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  29. Petrea...did Tall Gary take shoot that new profile photo? Suddenly I feel extremely tall. I really think you are putting us up on a pedestal. Merci. :-)

    Michael...Petrea was correct. I was sleeping. Just read your joke. Okay, I get it. Ahem, it's right up there with couscous, eh. "Con-tractors?"--I still think they would be in stripes. ;-)

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  30. Wooo whoooo! Let me think of a place to meet! I'm psyched. Looking forward to seeing more of Guille and Thib, too!!

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  31. Eric, We asked more than just once what they did with the sand. We were a resounding chorus with that question :-)

    I was awake Petrea, I was cooking.

    I'm not going to change my photo until next week. Cali aka Rose, is coming to San Francisco (for the 1st time). I'll pose for her and then post the photo she takes of me. See, she thinks she's coming to visit me; and, I have already put her to work. Let's see, we should also review my Paris photos -- in determining my next painting. Yep, that'll keep her busy. ;-)

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  32. Without sand I'd say the party's over. Glad to hear nice weather is finally heading your way.

    Michael: what is the name of your canine companion? And what breed is it? Such a cute photo.

    Katie and Petrea: love the shades!

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  33. I will gladly do your bidding, Lois. Sounds like fun and I can't wait.

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  34. Coltrane Lives, Michael, Tomate Farcie!!! I'm loving it! : ))))
    So, since we now know that they've boosted the beach but that its really still going to be nice for the rest of August at least, I thought this song was appropriate:

    The party's over, but
    It's time to call it ete...

    : }


    Alexa - way to go!

    Petrea - thanks for the assist. I'll see if I can look at it after work today.

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  35. Thank you. My husband John took the picture with his cell phone. I don't know why I bother with an actual camera.

    We ought to compliment David; he has a new profile photo almost every day.

    Lois, I think I'll come to San Francisco so you can put me to work, too. It sounds like fun.

    Call it ete! Carrie, you're too much. That's hilarious!

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  36. Ohhh what a shame. I love the idea. Only the French would have colour co-ordinated clear-up trucks!

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  37. Petrea, When you come to San Francisco, you can show me how to view your clip -- I too keep getting an adult dating site. Clicked on every available arrow -- nada!

    Michael, My Grand-Aunt, Millie, use to play banjo. I did a painting of her in her banjo band. When she died, she wanted to be buried in her banjo costume that she wore on stage. My mom didn't do it though. My mom had her dressed in an evening gown with a photo of her on top of the coffin in her banjo costume. Millie was really a fun lady. As you probably can tell, my mother is very serious. I have a lot of stories about Auntie Millie.

    Carrie, "The party's over, but
    It's time to call it ete..." Every time I think of it, I smile.

    Soosha, I loved your article on Terra. You touched my heart.

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  38. I love all the new photos. I never change mine because I never let anyone take a picture of me—am becoming sadly un-photogenic as I approach my dotage.
    Michael & Coltrane -- In France, I guess your con-tractor would be a jerk with farm equipment.
    Lois -- me too, I can't get to Petrea. Tried to do what Guille suggested, but it just buffers for a loooong time & goes back to the "dates." Did get audio for a bit, but no picture. Oh well.
    Carrie -- you get the prize for sheer wit today!

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  39. Carrie...LOL! After the day I had with my writing students (I truly was seeking Petrea's ZEN Monday moment),it is indeed time to call it "ete"! You are too clever! I believe I hear Groucho,Chico,Harpo, and Zeppo laughing.

    Lois...your description of Aunt Millie suggests she had a major impact on your life. Maybe that is why you live so joyfully! :-) I love the Aunt Millie's of the world.

    Soosha...as a former Coastie, I salute your gramps! I was stationed in Mobile, AL and then New Orleans in the 80s. It was a short stint since our ship (USCG Westwind/an icebreaker) was decommisioned prior to our heading to the South Pole. C'est la vie!

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  40. lois, thank you. It actually made several of them NASA folks tear up.

    Coltrane-nuh-uh. You're far too young to have served your country in the 80's! Furthermore, stop being so darned perfect (being a former Coast Guardsman and all!). I'm sure your wife wouldn't like me having an even bigger crush on you!

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