who lives in a pineapple under the sea? my neighbor...

It wouldn't be a day in the life of Caitlin Skelly if I didn't make a complete idiot out of myself, right?! Exactly, so sticking with tradition I had a complete moment of crashing and burning today.

Every few days since I have arrived in Paris I have seen a particular guy in various parts of the city on random occasions. He's exactly my type...hopelessly nerdy. Although my mystery man and I run into each other without warning, we do have one habitual place we see each other: line 4 at the Saint Michel station at 2:11 PM Mondays...I mean...roughly. When I see him on Mondays I think of myself as Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping...except I hope to God he doesn't get hurt rescuing me from the metro tracks. I leave in 3 weeks and I'm fairly sure he wouldn't be out of his coma by then. Besides, if he doesn't have a brother I'd be screwed. Anyway, today I decided that enough was enough, and I needed to talk to this guy or I'd always regret leaving Paris with unfinished, although somewhat creepy, business. I worked up in my head what I would say, and I turned on my iPod to some motivational tracks...you know you're usual "I Believe I Can Fly", "Eye of the Tiger" and..."Party in the USA". As soon as I saw him approaching with his gang of World of War Craft playing friends, I started to doubt Miley's ability to give me the boost I needed. I went from Sandy Bullock: strong woman and Oscar nominated actress to Sandy Cheeks: underwater dwelling squirrel and confidant to Spongebob Squarepants. But we got on the same train and I knew I had 5 stops to make my move. I decided to go with "Pardon, ,Pourquoi j'ai l'impression que je te vois toujours?"

Oh my gosh he's looking at me. Oh my gosh he's looking at me like I'm certifiable. Oh my gosh he's looking at his friends like I'm certifiable. Oh crap he just said something to me in French. Something about seeing me on the platform. I think.
He smiles at me like how one smiles at a vicious dog to keep it calm, and just like that all my hopes and dreams of us exchanging nauseatingly cute glances over a croissant and listening to accordians under the Eiffel Tower vanished. The moment passes as his friends exchange confused glances and continue talking, most likely about that strange American who's still staring despite their friend telling her he's never seen her in his life. As I pretend to text, I can't help but laugh, probably furthering the impression that I belong in a straight jacket. So much for my Hollywood ending, but hey, I did something today that scared the begeezus out of me and tested my confidence. I'd say that's a success...while actually just highly embarrassing...but let's call it a success, eh?

party like it's 2011

New year, new decade, new excuse to reflect on life. As everyone rushes to the gym or attempts to quit smoking, I find it difficult to make a list...and why should I?? What power does this new year possess over me that the old one didn't? I mean we only just met, and already 2011 is trying to change me...little controlling, wouldn't you say? But really, we all know that come Valentine's Day, the gym go-ers will be stuffing their faces with chocolate and the smokers will have tossed the Nicorette for their old crutch because after all, in a relationship or single...it's the first sign of a holiday, right?? If not the old holiday excuse, the fact that life simply keeps going in this shiny new year just like it did in the old one will surely cause those goals to come to a screeching hault.

BUT...wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up on New Year's Day and feel a shift...a shift that has nothing to do with your spinning head from your hangover? To have a fresh sheet of paper, with a fancy heading "2011" to cover with your neatest living. But nope, the scribbles, that time you spilled coffee, and your attempts at white out from last year are still there, and this endless scroll picks up right where you left off in 2010. I don't want to make a change in my life just for the sake of the date on the calendar, but I have taken a closer look at my happiest moments and biggest regrets of the past year and have compiled a small list of REMINDERS to myself to check back on every once in awhile. 11 for 2011...preeeeetty smooth, eh?

1. "The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them." — Maya Angelou

2. avoid vodka

3. smile more...nothing is that bad.

4. if it looks delicious, eat it.

5. say hi to that cute guy...and then forget about him when it goes nowhere because your worth isn't calculated by the men you attract.

6. writewritewrite!

7. nothing good happens after 2 AM

8. just like the most amazing pictures are always of simple subjects, the best moments are found in the simplicity.

9. learn something new!

10. moisturize

11. stick with your gut...other than the final resting place for your beer, it has a helpful purpose.

Go forth and party like it's 2011...because, well...it is.