Friday, August 08, 2008

Stormy weather


We are going through a period of very unstable weather here in Paris - and in France in general - at the moment. Here is what I photographed tonight right outside my office. Needless to say I had to wait a little bit before riding my scooter! A few days ago a large storm struk a village in the north of France causing a lot of damage and yesterday a young girl was killed by a tree that fell because of a storm. Don't worry, Paris has not turned into Venice yet, though! Once again, let me offer you the soundtrack of this photo ;)

74 comments:

  1. Here in usually-rainy Seattle, it is sunny and way too hot. We envy you the picturesque but dangerous weather!

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  2. Sometimes I see pictures where the blogger has to explain that it was raining when they took it. No explanation needed here! LOL! I see that the municipal authorities have already put mooring posts in place for the gondolas you will be using to get around. Such a civilized city, Paris.

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  3. Eric,

    Sorry to hear about the nasty weather Paris is experiencing...but loved the soundtrack...good choice.

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  4. Eric,wow! That's what we've been experiencing this past summer in the Midwest. It's horrible! Mother Nature is certainly showing her wrath this year. That's terrible to read about anybody's death due to these storms. On another note,the Ella and Joe Pass track is perfect. God, I love both those musicians. Saw Joe while studying music in Texas(such a sensitive player)and love Ella's voice so much that my two daughter's "Elena" and "Eloisa" share part of her name. Your photo certainly has a classic bluesy Parisian feel, esp. in B&W! Bravo!

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  5. Fascinating and beautiful photo today. Very sorry to hear of the deaths.

    Our Bay Area weather has been a very welcome cooler than normal. No rain yet though.

    Hope you stay dry, Eric!

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  6. I looks like winter. Very pretty B&W photo. Thanks for the scooter comment -- funny. I can just see you.

    USElaine "...have already put mooring posts in place for the gondolas..." Oh, I was wondering what those were.

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  7. We had heavy rain and a tornado here in Chicago this week - a rare things as tornadoes rarely hit the city and are mainly concentrated in the southern suburbs. I was caught in a tornado while playing golf, very scary thing!

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  8. Yes, like Lois, I can just see you.
    Love Ella's soundtrack! Magical.

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  9. Eric -- I hate that you're having such hideous weather in France, but I LOVE this picture. What are those posts? (on the off chance that they actually weren't put there so you can moor your gondola -- haha, uselaine).

    coltrane -- I always said that in my next life, I want to come back with Ella's voice (to make up for the one I got this time ;~} ). Your daughters' names are a beautiful tribute to the First Lady of Song.

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  10. David and Coltrane are right. The weather was pretty frightening here the other night. I was in Chicago the next day, and there were dozens of huge trees down in Lincoln Park.

    Gondolas - hahaha! I wonder if they will work on the same pay per use system as the bicycles?

    Great shot, Eric!

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  11. That's some gullywasher! The photo is so amazingly free of people, who all must be huddled in cafes or doorways waiting for the rain to let up. I'll have to put Ella on my iPod singing Stormy Weather, so I can play it next time I'm stuck in a rainstorm in Paris.

    Après nous le déluge?

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  12. No one does it like Ella and Joe! What a perfect soundtrack to your photo. Like Coltrane_Lives, my husband & I are both jazz aficionados.

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  13. Alexa...you're on! In our next lives, we'll both be reborn in Paris, you with Ella's voice and me with Chick Webb's drumming skills [I'll ask to be without the hunchback malady of course]. We'd add a few other musicians...you know, see if Coltrane's not too busy and Artie Tatum's not booked somewhere...and have ourselves a nice little ALLstar line up. Whaddya say? ;-)

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  14. Katie...I love the Madame du Pompadour reference. It's howd'yasay? PERFECT! ;-)

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  15. Coltrane just call me Jeanne-Antoinette. And I'll happily hang out in Paris and listen to you and Alexa (aka Chick 'n' Ella). Maybe I'll meet some new musicians!

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  16. That nasty weather makes for an interesting photo. I'm sorry to hear about the deaths. Mother Nature is not pleased with us at all.

    Katie: great line!

    Coltrane: Three cheers for Chick!

    Thanks for the Ella link, Eric. What a beautiful voice.

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  17. This is a magnificient shot, Eric. Glad you waited a little to capture it! ;)

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  18. Wonderful shot! What a nice rain.

    We haven't had rain in so long, I almost don't remember what it looks like!

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  19. Stormy weather, and I get misty when you're not around.

    Then blue skies, nothin' but blue skies, from now on.

    That's life.
    That's what all the people say.
    Ridin' high in April,
    Shot down in May.
    But you know I'm gonna change that tune,
    When I'm back on top, back on top in June.

    Life is a carnival,
    Believe it or not.
    Life is a carnival--
    Two bits a shot.

    I can stand a little rain. It's hard, even though we know it will get better. No hungry bears running around in the photo.

    It'll get better, you'll have sunny weather, n'est-ce pas, mon ami?

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  20. Oh....the weather outside is frightful,
    But, the photo is so delightful.
    With nothing else more to gain --
    Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain! : D

    I hope you went home to a nice warm cup of tea, Eric, and I hope the girl with the bass didn't get caught out in the flood or she's gonna have a funky fiddle.

    Thanks for your soundtracks yesterday and today -- they were delightful, too. : )

    USElaine & Kelly -- Gondolib? ; }

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  21. Gondolib! Excellent! What will they think of next?!

    I'm kinda glad it's raining in Paris somewhat. As someone who is "enjoying" his holidays in Paris vs off to some exotic place like, er, let's say Japan (like Guille did?!) it's nice to have these storms to cool things off, scare the tourists back into their hotels and wash the dust off.

    But nobody does it better than you Eric. Thinking to take a photo of it all! :-)

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  22. A gorgeous shot as always, Eric. I love what looks like an empty café in the background. I also enjoyed listening to the soundtrack while reading everyone's comments.

    I'm sorry people suffered in the French storm. It's especially sad about the girl's death.

    I was caught in those Chicago storms Monday. After having lived in a drought for so long, where we're rationing water, I appreciated its grandeur. Although it forced evacuations, made me almost a day late, and caused damage and injury, it heartens me to know that nature's still in charge.

    I'm all about Gondolib, so I hope it's up and running by my next visit.

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  23. Mon Dieu!! I love Ella!! I have never been to Paris without it raining during my visit.

    Death due to natural disasters is especially tragic. Too much of that these days.

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  24. Coltrane (or rather, Chick) -- it's a post-mortem date. (I'm working on a list of who we get to play with us. For starters, I'm asking Sydney Bechet and Stephane Grappeli, for obvious reasons.)

    Trust Eric to find the perfect link, eh?

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  25. Coltrane, et al - I'm in with Milt Jackson's skills on vibes.

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  26. Wow.. Beautiful photo.. Monsoon attack on Paris? :)

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  27. We had very similar weather in Las Vegas today. Went from dry desert to flooding all over the city in a matter of 30 minutes.

    I am so glad I found your site. J'adore Paris.

    A bientot!

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  28. Here in Hawaiʻi when it rains it is still sunny. We only have two seasons here Winter and Summer. But there really is no difference.

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  29. A photo from Eric and a song from Ella strike me as elements for the making of a perfect moment.

    And how amazing the way something like a storm can bring such tragedy and also such beauty.

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  30. Yeah, that was a major storm, Eric - I got caugh in it on the way back from the supermarket - I've rarely seen such a violent but short-lived storm. Good shot - I tried for one out of the window with the flowers getting hammered by the rain but haven't checked it out yet.

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  31. Ella's classy, but let's not forget B.J. Thomas!

    Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
    And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
    Nothin' seems to fit
    Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'

    So I just did me some talkin' to the sun
    And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
    Sleepin' on the job
    Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'

    But there's one thing I know
    The blues they send to meet me won't defeat me
    It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me

    Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
    But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
    Cryin's not for me
    'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
    Because I'm free
    Nothin's worryin' me

    [trumpet]

    It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me

    Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
    But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
    Cryin's not for me
    'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
    Because I'm free
    Nothin's worryin' me

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  32. I absolutely adore this photo and have had a marvelous pause listening to Ella while staring at this sparkling splashiness.

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  33. Hey Erci, it's great you also include soundtracks in your photos. They win a special magic with music.

    Regards from Barcelona

    Valery


    Barcelona Daily Photo

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  34. I was planning to bring a swimsuit in case Michael pushed me into the Seine at the Adelaide DP picnic in September.
    Looks like I'd better bring it in any case !!

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  35. Eric, this is amazing and the music is fantastic! I love running in the rain, but I am hoping you had a dry scooter ride home, my friend! ;)

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  36. Hello M. Benaut! When are you arriving in Paris?

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  37. Make sure you bring M. Benaut to the rue Amiral Coligny official picnic spot! It's like photos at the Eiffel Tower!

    The "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" song always evokes the image of Katherine Ross riding on the handlebars of Paul Newman's bike in "Butch Cassidy". Now, there's another actress with class, though Grace Kelly is a class of one.

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  38. Talking about raindrops keep falling on my head, here is the French version (1970!)

    Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Memories!!

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  39. Ahh, Paris in the Rain. Reminds me of my handmade outfit of Galerie Layfayette plastic bags to cover my head.
    Last night, when arriving back in PHX(Phoenix) after a grueling 2 weeks at work, there were monsoons and our plane wound up in Tucson (TUC), till the weather cleared.Now THAT'S rain...in a desert!

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  40. Just finished watching the French version, HOW DELIGHTFUL! A real step back in time. They looked like the French version of Sunny and Cher.THANKS.

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  41. Before Tucson Arizona daily photo gets me(if there is one) the correct airport code is TUS

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  42. beautiful photo eric, sad to hear about the girl though.
    We have had hardly any rain here onn Long Island this summer except for maybe 3 thunder showers and one giant thunderstorm where it rained all day and caused lots of flooding.

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  43. Or:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWgjbkxhOX4r:

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  44. Eric - Love this photo. It's both impressionistic and modern. I spent a week in Paris and it rained half the time. Remember ducking into the side of the Opera Garnier for shelter and finding the ballet museum.

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  45. David in Chicago, I like your photo - way cool!

    Jeff, merci for the poetry reading.

    Eric, Big merci for the French version. I was in France in 1970 and I use to wear my make-up like that when I was wearing it. I mean, white lips and big black eyes. It use to take about an hour to do my make-up.

    USelaine, Melanie! She's great -- lady grinning soul. I love that song/poetry. We were so invincible -- we had such high ideals for the world. We loved life to the fullest. I'm going to listen to that song again.

    Thanks for the Memories!! I'm still smiling :)

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  46. Nice foto with rain in Paris. Here in
    Germany it`s raining also with heavy thunderstorms after a few very hot and dry days...
    Gerhard Kaiser - Google me

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  47. What do you mean we WERE so invincible and HAD such high ideals, and lovED life to the fullest? Just because the bastards have screwed things up again doesn't mean we should give up! Remembering Grace Slick at Woodstock: we're the "Volunteers of America!". Now THAT song will get you up out of your chair.

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  48. Jeff, I was doing the Memories!! thing. Oh J'adore Grace Slick. She use to live across the Bay here in San Francisco; her house caught on fire so I don't know if she's over there anymore.

    Aloha, Hawaii is my other favorite place, Brother IZ -- what a voice -- just love him to pieces. I guess everybody does though :) Unfortunately, I didn't get to see him in person -- and now it is too late. His music is very much alive; so in a way he never died.

    USElaine, I love native American music. I am especially fond of Mirabal, who I had the good fortune to meet. He wanted to give me a hug. I told him no, that I was too old. I told him he could hug my daughter. After that hug, she was in love with him. He is soooo handsome. What a performer in the truest Indian style. I'm a push over for Indian chants and dances. I adore Joanne Shenandoah too. Simply beautiful. See what you started with Melanie :)

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  49. I vote for blaming Melanie. 8^)

    Favorite N.A. music: Ulali

    Favorite Hawaiian music: Ozzie Kotani

    Lois, you wouldn't happen to know a guy named Denis Minamora, would you?

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  50. Hey this Post Mortem All Star Jazz Band looks sizzlin' hot...though hopefully, it'll be quite a few years before we have to strike it up...if ya know what I mean.

    Jeff...just watched "The Graduate" and Katherine Ross was dynOmite! I forgot that she hooked up with Sam Elliot...guess she liked cowboys after all. ;-)

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  51. coltrane -- I'm pretty excited, too, especially since I get to be the "girl singer" (Ella, no less). And, yeah, I can wait a while for sure.

    uselaine -- thanks for the link to Melanie. I used to work in the same building where Buddha Records had their office & hung out up there all the time. Melanie had signed with them and she was around a lot too. The first time I heard her sing (informally, at the office), I just loved her voice. Still do.

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  52. Alexa - I'd say something about being the "girl vibe player" or similar, but such a post could go terribly, terribly wrong.

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  53. Alexa, I'm screaming. I was under contract at Buddha. I did stage, lighting, costume and make-up design, album design. Oh, and poetry and songs. I was sent out on tours with rock music groups. I did that for a long time. So, you guessed. I have a gazillion stories. A few decades worth.

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  54. A - I was hoping you'd have something like that to offer! Melanie!

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  55. Ooh, Eric -- I just went to your link to the French version of "Raindrops." My friends and I (female AND male) never mentioned Sascha Distel's name without referring to him as "le beau Sascha." But we mainly admired him as a jazz guitarist. Comme tu dit, "Aaaaaaah, the memories!"

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  56. I swear, it's like they're twins, separated at birth, just missing each other in the turning of the swinging doors....

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  57. Alexa, this is too weird. I bet I have seen you and maybe even have talked to you.

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  58. Very nice picture, but... something bothers me.
    Weird talking about people who died and finish your comment with ";)".

    Agree?

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  59. Lois -- there's that connection again! Only you were the talent and I was the hanger outer (well, you had to be at least mildly amusing to enjoy the privilege).
    I'll bet you do have SOME stories. Maybe one day I'll get to hear them (I hope).

    I wonder who's being GF as I'm writing this.

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  60. Alexa, Do you know the Shangralas -ya know, the Leader Of The Pack. The two blonde twins? I was hanging out with one. She's a vegetarian. She's still beautiful.

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  61. Alexa, you are a world famous model. Painters and sculptures need you desparately. You have talent. I've posed before -- it's an art form and you know it.

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  62. Lois -- I never met the Ganser twins, but I know they recorded for Kama Sutra—and I loved the prank they pulled on that DJ, Murray the K. I couldn't stand that guy (met him once when I was in high school and totally dissed him!).
    As for being a "world-famous" model: It is absolutely an art form, and something I was willing to do for art's sake. That was, of course, a "couple" of years ago, and BG (before gravity).

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  63. Michael, nous allons arriver à Paris Mardi 26 août.

    Nous resterons à l'hôtel Chopin, Passage Jouffroy le 29, jusqu'au 31 août comme Eric l'avait recommandé.

    Puis- j'apporter mes kangourous ?

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  64. What? It rains in Paris? Surely you're joking!

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