The Story of the Milky Way: A Cherokee Tale by Joseph Bruchac 
On November 1, 1512, the public for the first time tilted heads back to view the ceiling masterpiece of Michelangelo: the frescos of the Sistine Chapel. Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo in 1506 to completely redecorate the chapel, and he reluctantly accepted. He was, after all, a sculptor. But his reluctant acceptance lead to the incredibly famous nine scenes from the book of Genesis which adorn the ceiling. 
Madeleine Albright, the first women to serve as U.S. Secretary of State (1997 - 2001), is known for her pins. On September 30 the New York Museum of Arts & Design opens an exhibit of Albright's pin collection, accompanied by her new book Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box. Albright came to wear pins not for their gem value, but for their messages, getting the "read my pin" idea from the first President Bush who said about no new taxes, "Read my lips." For example, she told Katie Couric on Sunday Morning that after Iraq President Saddam Hussein called her a snake, she began wearing a snake pin anytime she had meetings concerning that nation. She also said that every Valentine's Day she wears a pin her now grown daughter made her at age five. Much of her collection is comprised of mass-produced, inexpensive pieces she acquired during her travels as secretary of state. "Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection" is on view in New York until January 31, 2010. It will then travel to several still undetermined U.S. cities.
Following an early afternoon touring the ancient Egyptian collection at the Louvre, the largest of its kind outside of Egypt, I treated myself to lunch in Cafe Richelieu, overlooking I. M. Pei's pyramid. Afterward I walked through the spectacular Royal Apartments of Napoleon III. Then it was time again for an art break, so I headed outdoors into the Jardin des Tuileries. There were chairs surrounding the central fountain, and I sat for over an hour watching the comings and goings of both tourists and residents. The Louvre has Wednesday evening hours, so I returned at about 7 p.m. to see a few favorites still on my list. I'd read that the evening hours would be less crowded, but this was not the case. I believe the crowd increased in size, with many Parisians visiting after work. At about 9 p.m., I said goodbye to the Louvre, serendipitously finding a seat along the fountain wall with both the Louvre pyramid and the distant Eiffel Tower in view.
Shopping at Printemps, viewing Monet's Water Lily panels at Musee de Orangerie, dining at the Julves Verne Restaurant in the Eiffel Tower. Oh la la! 
One reason Paris has fascinated me is because of the people who have come here to pursue their dreams. I am sitting and writing and dining this evening in Cremerie-Restaurant Polidor, a bistro on Rue Monsieur-le-Prince in the sixth arrondissement that traces its history to 1845, and was a favorite haunt of writers James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway, among others. As I look around at the thick wooden communal style tables and wood paneled walls, I try to imagine those of the past sitting around me. Even Julia Child comes to mind since, having recently seen the movie Julie and Julia in which Beef Bourguignon features prominently, that is what I order for dinner. It is savory and tender, served with the tastiest mashed potatoes (called puree here) I have ever eaten. The main course is preceded by cream of lentil soup and followed by lemon tart and coffee. Every taste is authentic; a delight to the palate. Bon appetit!
As I write just 25 hours remain until my Air France jet takes off for Paris. The reality has not yet sunk-in. Over the weeks since making my reservations, I've been reading books and browsing web sites to compile "A", "B", and "C" lists of what I want to do and see while in Paris. As an art lover, visiting museums is high on my "A" list, and Paris if filled to overflowing with options. My top choices are the Louvre (of course), the Musee d'Orsay, the Musee de l'Orangerie, the MuseeMarmottan Monet , and the sculpture garden at the Musee Rodin. That's a lot, but I have a plan. For example, the Louvre has about 35,000 items in eight departments on display at any one time. So I've been browsing the Louvre's web site for 35 items that I most want to see. Of course my list includes the Louvre's top three: Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory.
When I was asked if I'd be interested in being interviewed by Voice of America (VOA) for a story on the Nancy Drew Mystery series, I immediately remembered reading it as a girl, sprawled across my bedroom floor. My mother was concerned that I was reading too much, and not getting out to play with friends. Now that memory is part of an overview of the books, and what they have meant to girls since they were first published in 1930. You can read the transcript and listen to the audio stream from the Voice of America website at http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2009-08-23-voa2.cfm. My thanks to reporter Nancy Thompson for her excellent overview. Since the story is a feature on VOA's Special English site, the pace is slower for those who are learning English. It is interesting to read the comments posted after the transcript from people all over the world.
There are some books you read that touch your life for years to come. One of those for me is Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris by Sarah Turnbull. Sarah was an Australian journalist who moved to Paris to marry her love, Fred. Although a gregarious person who had traveled, Sarah discovered that France is unique. In an interview with "Paris Through Expatriate Eyes," Sarah says, "I think a lot of foreigners come to France, knowing they're coming to a foreign country and naively don't expect it to be that different." For Sarah, it seems the biggest challenge relates to being a foreigner married to French person. She is not French, but because she is married to a French man, she is not a member of the expatriate community. She explains that, "I had Fred and being with a French person, sharing your life, you are thrown into the whole French culture. You can't avoid it. You're not really in an expat world. I think some foreigners would like to be more integrated but find it quite difficult. Although as you have suggested it's often easy to have pleasant, engaging spontaneous conversations with your neighbor at a café, forming friendships takes a lot of time." After many years, Sarah begins to feel Almost French. For me, Turnbull's book is an engaging and honest memoir of taking risks and living life as an adventure. My memory of it was a motivating factor in deciding that I could take myself to Paris. If Sarah Turnbull and Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) and Frances Mayes (Under the Tuscan Sun) can travel alone, then so can I.
On the white board outside my office, I am counting down the days to Paris. As of today, the number is 17. What's fun are the comments I receive and conversations I get into when people walk by and notice. One woman stopped to reminisce about her trip to Paris. Later she e-mailed to say, "There aren't many things I know about Paris but this fellow is going to 'set you right' about Paris. I only wish I had learned about his website before we went to Paris." Fortunately for me, I'm viewing the site before I go!
I like Hello Kitty. Recently one daughter said that women my age should not own anything Hello Kitty. I did own a cell phone case with this sweet character. But I lost it. Or maybe someone lost it for me? Then there appeared these Hello Kitty items with a French theme. Each time I visited a certain store, I'd browse the towels, shower curtain, trash can, bath matt, etc., featuring Mademoissele Hello Kitty and her chien. But I resisted purchasing, telling myself my money will be better spent in Paris. However, I have been telling everyone about this latest Hello Kitty find, and with the great friends that I have, I should have guessed that someone would buy me a gift. I now am the smiling owner of a Bonjour Hello Kitty bath towel. Tres bien! 
I don't remember who first recommended Karen Brown's books to me, but I know that when I used them to find places to stay in England and Spain, I was pleased with the results. My local library had two of Karen Brown's books for France: Karen Brown's France Hotels and Karen Brown's France B&B. Her books became my guide for finding a place to stay in Paris.
"My dream is to visit Paris -- especially the Tour Eiffel (1,056 feet high) and the Louvre. (Remember to make dinner reservations at Tour Eiffel well in advance!)"
Visiting Paris has been a dream and a goal since I cannot even remember when. So when the approach of a big birthday began to trouble me, I decided it would be healthy to distract myself from the shock of it by spending the day doing something special. I decided this was the time for Paris.
Last night I saw the movie Julie & Julia. Meryl Streep should win an academy award for her portrayal of Julia Child. The movie is based on two real life stories told in two books: My Life in France by Julia Child, and Julie & Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell. In 2002 Powell, a Julia Child devote, set out to cook all 524 recipes in Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and blog (The Julie/Julia Project) about the experience. The blog became a book, the book a movie. Seeing the movie has inspired me to read the books. (However, it has not changed my personal mantra that the best thing to make is a reservation!)
