Sometimes You Need To Get A Little Lost: Wandering Around Paris (2016)

At the end of our week in Paris, April 2016, our goal was to visit the Sacré Coeur.  We were on the bus heading towards this location when the bus suddenly pulled over and told us to get off.  There was a marathon taking place, streets sectioned off, so getting there was no longer an option.  Instead we wandered around.

I love a good wander.  With vacations it's so easy to get locked in a schedule, unwilling to bend.  Depending on the advice of others and web searches.  But somethings worth finding are meant to be discovered in the moment.  Walking around allowed us this discovery.  We found ourselves in a shopping area where Patou's extended family owned a Jewish bakery.  There we ate yummy treats.  Along the way we passed entertainment, good street jazz, more sweets, and more shopping.

This breather was nice.  Walking around, taking things in, experiencing an April shower or two.  Really be in the moment.

This was one of my favorite days on the trip.

Next we walked to Notre-Dame de Paris, but that's for next time. ;0)

Photos by Robin and Sarah Stufflebeam

A Leaky Situation

 A couple nights ago we started getting the remnants of tropical storm Rosa.

The storm was pretty epic the first night.  Huge downpour.  Lightning every millisecond.  Gusts of wind.  It was hypnotizing and exciting . . . until I remembered the sun-room.  The people who built the sun-room left aspects of the ceiling undone, and we've been dealing with leaks ever since.  A drizzle of rain is fine.  A downpour means buckets of water pouring through seams in the ceiling.

I ran into the sun-room that first night, and sure enough the carpet was wet and there were several leaks.  I ran to grab every bowl I could and laid them about.  The next day I thought it would be good to lay out a plastic tablecloth, but couldn't find them.  Luckily my brother Michael brought over a tarp. (I really have the best brothers).

Then last night it rained some more, and new leaks appeared creating more problems.  So this morning I went to the store to buy more tarp and a protective sheet for the table.  My Dad picked up some caulking sealing stuff, and in a few minutes we're going to at least seal the inside.  The top of the roof is too wet from rain.

The ongoing saga of the leaky sun-room.  Hopefully one of these days we'll get it sealed right and finally figure out where the water keeps coming in.  

ZenPop September 2018, Japanese Stationery Subscription Box

ZenPop September Stationery Box 2018,  Back to School

(So I just realized I've been misspelling Stationery as Stationary, which is still a word, just not the right one, dang it.)

I just got this box a couple days ago, so just shy a month of travel time, but it is coming across the Pacific ocean from Osaka Japan.

ZenPop Japanese Stationery Pack has 10 or more stationary items per box.  You can make a one time purchase, or select a subscription plan of 3 or 6 months.  One box per month and those who get a subscription receive a bonus item.  A single box is $29.50, 3 months is $28x3 = $84, and 6 months is $27.50x6 = $165.  Shipping is free (boxes come from Osaka Japan so this is a great deal) and plans don't automatically renew (which is fantastic).

In the Stationery Pack you can expect pens and pencils, washi tape, cute stickers, paper products, and accessories.   Brands included can be Sanrio, Tombow, ZEBRA, mt masking tape, Platinum, Kuretake, uni-ball, PILOT, and KOKUYO.

All quotations throughout this post come from the info paper.

 Back To School:

"In Japan, the school year begins in April, but September marks the return from summer vacation.  So whether you are going back to school, in the middle of your school year, or just living your life with no school (lucky!) we hope you'll find good use for this month's new items.  Organizing your ideas, and learning new things is important for anyone, student or not.  Please try these cute stationery goods in your daily life, and we hope you will find success in all your goals this year!"

 Hako Fusen

"If you don't like to carry sticky notes in your bag or pen case because they bend or get dirty, Hako Fusen is for you!  This is a set of cute and colorful sticky notes with a box (hako).  The box will protect your sticky notes so that you can carry and use them wherever you go.  (fu-sen = sticky notes)."

These are soooooo cuuute!!!  I just love things with a space theme, and the tiny cosmetics, plus little astro-man, are adorable.  They are pretty small, but that's okay.  I actually used a sticky note in a book I'm reading this morning as a "read to" point.  I'll enjoy using these.

 Word Cards

"Word cards are must need items for studying and memorizing all sort of things!  These word cards from & STUDIUM have cute designs on them, so studying should be more enjoyable!"

Flash cards are always useful.

I like to use these types of cards for language learning.

One of these days I'm going to admit to myself I'm not good at learning language, but today is not that day.

 ZEBRA - Mildliners 5 Pack

"These highlighters are highly coveted and for good reason.  After a while using these we are sure you will enjoy how your notes look.  A pack of 5 mildliners is a useful and fun addition to any organizers arsenal.  Mildliners are popular for the mild color, which won't bother your eyes compared to normal highlighters."

I love the fact that we got a pack of highlighters, instead of a single highlighter.

There were three sets available, and it looks like I got the more pastel one, mild fluorescent.

I like the colors.

 And these mildliners are two sided!

 Nice light colors

(The paper they're shown on I got a couple years ago at the Japan shop in Epcot.  Cute, right?

 Big Mouth Sticky Notes

"Sticky notes of cute animals with big wide open mouths!  Write your memo inside their mouth so that you won't forget.  Use these in a textbook for some smiles while you study.  You will receive either panda, pig, frog, or cat."

Cute memo pads.  I like the frog and the rain theme.

 Video Game Washi Tape

"Who likes to play video games?  You can't study all the time, right?  This unique washi tape's design is inspired by a pretty famous game you may know.  You can use this tape to bring a retro feel to any of your projects.  Thank you ZenPop, but our homework is in another castle..."

I love this washi tape!!!

When I saw this washi tape in spoiler from the ZenPop website, I giggled, and hoped everyone was getting it, as sometimes ZenPop will have a variety of washi tape, and the one you get is random.  It's totally Mario themed, and it makes me happy.  That is all.  I smile every time I see it.

 "Animal Memo Pad"

"Cute memo pad from BGM.  This has 2 ways to use!  You can use it as a vertical memo pad, or tear the sheets into 2 pieces across the middle, and use it as square notes.  You will receive either a design of Polar bear, Giraffe, fox, or cat."

So glad I got the fox theme!

I love foxes, and they're so Autumn.  Honestly, if red foxes could safely be domestic pets, I'd want one.  I want a pet red panda, too.  Dreams are good.

(Apparent there are domestic foxes, but they're crazy expensive, and only legal to own in a few states. And there are some issues worth noting, that I haven't looked into yet.  I'll research it for fun.)

 Pentel - Energize Pencil (0.5mm)

"Energize sharp pen (mechanical pencil) has two great things about it.  First, the light rubber grip will help to achieve smooth writing.  Second, it has a "Slide & Sleep style" for the pencil tip.  It retracts to make it easier and safer to store or keep in a pocket."

Click pencils are nice.  And this is a very nice one. Love the purple.

 Shitajiki

"In Japan, it is common to place a plastic board, (shita-jiki), under your paper in order to make a flat and smooth surface for writing, and to prevent marking the sheet below.  A good writing environment is important to maintaining good handwriting!"  

The art is interesting.

Actually, I'll get good use with this, because when I write I sometimes use paper underneath so that the writing is smooth or doesn't transfer ink to another page, and now I can use this.

 Smart Scissors

"To go to school or work, we don't want to carry a big and heavy pen case, but scissors, glue, or other stationery are helpful.  There are so many compact stationery in Japan.  Such as stapler, compass and these smart scissors!  Put scissors in your pen case and use it when you want to cut some notes or craft things for your journals."

I love these scissors.  Very inventive.  They are nicely compact, and I like the protection.  When you pull off the protection, open it up, move the gray thing in the handle down, these scissors work well, and they don't take up a lot of space.

 Science Boys Stickers

"Students who have a background in science or tech are called Rikei in Japanese.  Rikei boys are called Rike-dan (Rikei danshi), are Rikei girls are Rike-jo (Rikei Joshi).  Are you a Rike-dan or Rike-jo?"

These are fun.  Yeah, nerdy guys are sexy.

BONUS ITEM

(Subscription Pack Only)

Pentel - Petit Correction Tape

"No one can write without any mistakes.  Even if you have an erasable pen from a previous pack, there might be cases you need correction tape.  Petit-Corre from Pentel is small but the length of the tape is 3m, so it is enough to correct all your mistakes!"

I actually wanted to get correction tape a couple weeks ago.  I have a habit of making mistakes when I write, so instead of coloring in circles or hearts, I can use this.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

So overall a nice box with a good mix of fun and useful items.

Believe In Yourself and Your Possibilities

"It is extremely important for you to believe in yourselves, not only for what you are now, but for what you have the power to become."

~ Neal A. Maxwell