Gwen's concert was incredible!

Hello everyone! It's been a busy couple of days, and I am STILL SICK. I can't seem to boot this cold, it's a stubborn bug. I suppose it is due to the germs I'm exposed to with the kids, and Matt and Ines are also coughing and sniffling, so I think it's just taking longer to lose...however I have a doc appt on Saturday anyway so if I still have the cold I will have him check it out to make sure it's nothing more. Anyways!

Gwen's concert was Monday night at an arena called Bercy! Once I was inside at my seat it felt like being at an arena in Seattle or Portland or Sacramento...I felt like I was just at a show in the States...the arena and the crowd, etc were just like something we'd see in the U.S. Anyways...I had a normal seat (no, Carolyn, that you-tube video is not mine, unfortunately). I had a good seat, not great and not bad. Which was fine because the floor was standing only, and you know me...unless I'm right in the front, I'd rather not stand in the back with a crowd of people! Funny story...when I first walked into the arena to get my seat, I was basically stalked by an employee to help me find my seat (which I TOTALLY could have done alone, it was so easy to figure out), but she chased after me to 'seat me', and then had the audacity to demand a TIP! WOW i was so turned off by that, I gave her about 30 cents, as that's all I had in change...and when she proceeded to help others WITHOUT demanding a tip, I glared at her until she saw me...then saw her ask someone else for a tip. Wow, I guess I haven't exerienced THAT at a concert yet in the States. Whatever, she was wearing an ugly 1970s flight attendant style uniform, so at least I looked better than her!

So the show was the exact same show I saw 3 months ago in Seattle, which was absolutely fine, nothing was very different...Gwen wore the same outfits and the songs were in about the same order I believe, and she even said some of the same things. She spoke in English, but commented on wishing she knew more French...she said a few short phrases in French, like "Ou sont les filles?" (Where are the girls?) She looked even BETTER than she did at the start of the summer, wow she is in GREAT shape and her abs made me want to kick myself for looking like crap at age 22, when she's 37....she looked awesome.

The Paris crowd was INCREDIBLE...I was sooo impressed and in awe at the passion and energy of the crowd. Even before Gwen came out a song came on in the arena that EVERYONE hear knows (by Mika I think) and the entire arena started clapping in unison and then proceeded to do the wave for about 10 minutes...and when Gwen was out everyone sang the "woo hoo" from "The Sweet Escape" in unison several times to cheer Gwen on, or singing her songs loud or clapping or screaming a lot for her backup singer, Gail Ann Dorsey (who has an amazing voice). Anyways, Gwen almost came to tears once or twice in reaction to the crowd and talked about her world tour and everywhere she's been so far, and that Paris had to be the best crowd. I think my jaw was hanging a couple times in awe of the crowd...it felt like everyone there was friends and were all in agreement how great the concert was or how Gwen was amazing...I also got jealous once again when she went into a part of the crowd that I was not in...and when she brought a kid on stage at the very end to give a hug...unfair how many times I've seen her and been right in front and never seem to get that lucky! I will do whatever it takes to meet her in person once before I die! Haha :) It was funny though because I'm almost certain I was the only person at the show who could sing all her songs, word for word...mainly due to the language factor...I'm sure the girls next to me were thinking "wow, her English is really good, she's singing everything!" Ha...pretty sure they didn't know I was Americain, or they figured it out by the singing.

Yesterday was NOT a good day unfortunately....the children misbehaved all day, and with me being sick with a cold, it just made for a bad day...therefore I went to bed around 9pm. On the other hand, the day of the concert Ines asked both her parents if she could go with me to the concert (she loves the songs I play them)...so that was really cute. I totally would have taken her too if they'd let her go...tickets are expensive of course and she IS only 6 years old, and it was a school night..Jerome and Virginie laughed and liked the idea, thought it was cute...Gwen's show is quite kid-friendly and is a spectacle to see...so yesterday I attempted to entertain Ines by making some Gwen posters with her picture and playing her music at lunch...but when the kids were not behaving well it put me in a less-entertaining mood.

I felt better today, but not great...coughing and the nose...ugh. I went into Paris this afternoon (Wed afternoons off work) with Kirsty (the au pair from Versailles). We went to La Defense and saw a movie at the cinema. We saw "A Mighty Heart" with Angelina Jolie. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FILM. It had more significance for me since 9/11 just passed and I remember the story well. Angelina does an incredible job..I'd say Oscar worthy. Anyways...it was nice to do that for a few hours...and now I'm here typing, relaxing and getting ready for bed. I really hope this cold is gone by Friday. It is not fun at all working all day when I'd rather stay in bed and get better.