OK, here's the scoop (faint hearted should not read...)

[Guest guest]

Hi guys...

I'm back from my vacation with the Msr. French Boy. Before I go any

further, any news on Azin? How did her surgery go?

OK...hmmmm...well, first things first. The a.m. that I was to pick up

at the airport, I was running a bit late. I had chosen the

outfit I wanted to wear, but I needed to wash my new jeans (the ones

I bought at the end of Olivier's visit.) I didn't have time to wash

them, so I ran down to the corner to Lucky Brand (where i bought the

other ones) to get a second pair. On a whim, I decided to try a

smaller size. Voila, I picked up wearing size TEN jeans. Ten.

TEN. Unbelievable.

So, I wore my new size medium off-white fitted button down blouse

(Ann ), my new soft dusty rose suede fitted jacket (Ann ,

size 10), and my new jeans. With little hoop silver earrings, and

off-white sandals. And, I must say...I was CUTE CUTE CUTE. And more

CUTE. (hee hee).

No, but honestly...when I was bigger, I'd never consider wearing

something like that...and feeling beautiful. I would have had to

wear a really dressy dress...dressed to the nines. What a wonderful

feeling to look like a million bucks wearing a classic, fitted

outfit...that didn't look like I was trying too hard. you know? I

felt confident, beautiful...and chic. I used to feel like a fat slob

wearing jeans.

So, I got to the airport early...but I was at the wrong international

gate. For 2 hours. His flight was a bit late, and then he had to go

through immigration...but I was starting to think, " this is

ridiculous!! " There I was, nervous as a cat on a hot tin

roof...looking at that television screen that lets you watch people

walking down the long hallway to the welcoming lobby. I kept seeing

guys that MIGHT be him, " Oh God, he's bald. " or " Geez, he looks 96

years old! " or " Oh no, he told me he put on a few lbs. because he

quit smoking, but he's actually chubby!!! " (sorry, no offense

intended...but I just mean that I had no idea what to expect...his

pictures had really varied, and I wasn't sure what he'd really look

like...)

Finally, I asked a guy next to me, and he said, " Did you try the

other gate? " WHAT OTHER GATE? Good Lord, I come to the

International terminal to pick up frenchies pretty often, and I've

never noticed there was another gate. Great.

So, as I stroll over there, I see this guy sitting down with his

luggage, watching me with a cockeyed smile that looked like he was a

kitty that had just eaten a canary. (I came to adore that smile, by

the way. It begins with him dropping the right side of his lower lip

down, and then he bursts into a crooked smile. And he has this glint

in his eye that is so darned cocky and sexy and enamoured that it

just melts me.)

He was wearing a black button down shirt,a leather jacket, jeans and

black Italian shoes. He had an undergrowth of beard (I've always

been a sucker for that look), huge green eyes...and he looked kind of

grizzled and tired, but sexy.

And, I think I told you all that I already knew he was my height.

Fortunately, he's slightly taller than I am. It was a little bit

strange at first, because I've always had tall men in my life. My

husband is over six feet, and I'm 5'6 " . Olivier was 5'11 " . So, that

took a bit of adjustment, and I think if I was still 261 lbs., I

would have felt like a huge moose next to him. But at 171 (he's

about 6 lbs. lighter than I am...but he's very muscular, so he is

broader in the shoulders, etc.), and looking more like I'm about 145

(so i'm been told by a number of people recently, i got over any self-

consciousness right away vis a vis size.

I apologized and learned he had been waiting for 10 or 15 minutes.

He said, " I thought you were playing a little joke on me, maybe? "

His voice is gorgeous. Deep and resonant. I already knew that from

the phone, etc. Anyway, he hugged me, and kissed me, and hugged me

more...and he got all teary-eyed. It was very sweet. And yet, I

felt distant. I just felt very strange...like it wasn't real, you

know?

I had warned him that I can get that way when I am nervous, so he

just held me close and whispered sweet nothings in my ear. He told

me how wonderful it was to have me in his arms, how beautiful I

was...even more beautiful than any of my pictures (although Pam, he

said I looked the most like the pictures you took of me in my

office.) He held me until I started to melt a bit...and then we

headed for the car.

He kept laughing, just for no reason...because it was so odd and

strange to finally be in the same space, the same continent, the same

country, the same city...after six months.

At one of the stoplights, he told me that my profile was unbelievably

beautiful, and that he couldn't wait to draw me. (my little

artist). At every stoplight, he grabbed me and kissed me...deeply,

romantically, sensually...kissed my eyelids my cheeks...got me so hot

and bothered and dazed that I got lost.

Yep, I got lost. I only live in SF. I've only lived there my whole

freakin' life. I have only been to SFO, oh I don't know...3,000

times (no exageration at all)...and yes, I got lost. The man knows

how to kiss, what can I say?

We headed off directly to Mill Valley, because I had made

reservations at a spa for us. I thought it would help us to relax,

help him with the jet-lag. We had a little time, so we stopped at a

little outdoor cafe/bookstore that I like, and we sipped on coffee

(yes decaf for me).

So, the spa (Tea Garden Springs) is very cool. Very Zen. Running

water, feng shui, quiet voices...everyone dressed in white...very

relaxing. They led us to a room with two adjoining jacuzzi bathtubs,

rose petals floating on top..candles ablaze, with a lovely view of

Mt. Tam out of the window. They left us alone for 45 minutes. Um,

let's just say that he wound up in my bathtub (how'd that happen),

and er, um...let's just say that it was phenomenal. Truly. Yowza.

So, after, we had massages (hour and a half) and facials (another

hour). We stumbled to the car in a dazed, relaxed trance. I drove

us to North Beach (the Italian neighborhood in the City), and we ate

at Rose Pistola's, one of my favorite restaurants. He was just about

ready to fall asleep in his risotto...so I asked them to wrap

everything up, and we headed home.

My cat loved him immediately. She had been talking to him on the

phone for the last 6 months, so she recognized his voice, and

immediately responded to his sweet, sensual spirit. We went to bed

and he immediately fell into deep slumber. Or at least until about 3

a.m. when I was lulled out of my own slumber by his caresses.

The next a.m., I received approximately 12 telephone calls before 9

a.m., from curious friends and family members who " simply could not

WAIT another second " to hear how it was going. So, with a very good-

natured laying next to me, chuckling...I had to say again and

again on the phone, " It's fabulous. Uh huh. Ohhhhh yeahhhhh...that

is just GREAT, no issues THERE! "

We met up with my brother, and went out on a sailboat on the Bay to

watch the Blue Angels. He found it thrilling, as the jets zipped

right over our heads. We had a great time, and he and my brother

managed to communicate pretty well together. That night, we went out

again for dinner...to a nice little Indonesian restaurant. We had a

bunch of leftovers to take home again, as he wasn't able or willing

to finish my plate everytime I ate a little nibble and said, " OK,

that's it for me. "

Monday a.m. we headed for Kauai. When we got to the Grand Hyatt, it

was spectacularly beautiful. Our room wasn't quite ready, so we went

off to have our complimentary cocktails. To " make up " for the misery

of having to sit and watch the ocean with a free drink with a little

umbrella in it...they upgraded us to an utterly amazing ocean view

suite. The bathroom was bigger than my bedroom...and my bedroom is

huge. We had an amazing veranda, a huge plasma television (its value

lost on both of us, as neither of us ever ever watch television), a

CD player. And astonishing views.

We were there for three days, and we barely left the room. We took a

bubble bath/jacuzzi together until our fingers and toes were all

pruney. We taught each other songs in French and English, and sang

as we took our bubble bath. We had reservations for dinner that

night, but we wound up " taking a little nap " (he was still incredibly

jet-lagged..and Hawaii is 12 hours different than Paris). So, we

read and napped and well, er...you know....hee hee...all afternoon

and evening. At about 2 or 3 in the a.m., when I was still

asleep...he ordered champagne and cheese and chocolate covered

strawberries. He woke me up and we had a little picnic on the bed.

Now, yes, I shouldn't have had any of that, really (except for the

cheese.) I'm not advocating it...but it was great and romantic...and

I had a couple of nibbles and that was it. (besides, I did manage to

lose 4 lbs. while I was there. I mainly ate fish). He didn't know

my exact dietary restrictions at that point. but, I did drink some

champagne. It was great.

One of the days we took a helicopter tour around Kauai. Another day

we took a catamaran tour up the Na'Pali coast. We went snorkeling.

And we relaxed. We got lost a couple of times...and there were

plenty of opportunities to argue or get stressed...but nope. It was

all just comfortable and fun...we came up with a bunch of little

private jokes...and we really bonded on many levels. And for a 44

year old (he turned 44 when he was here), he was like a sensual

Energizer bunny. And completely unselfish and knew tricks that I had

never seen before. (I teased him about a certain thing he did that I

had never experienced...and that's saying a lot coming from me. He

said, " Former slut trick. " I said, " Thank God for former sluts!! "

This was one of our jokes because he had been a bit wild when he was

younger and a professional musician. But, he says that is all out of

his system, and now he just wants to be my slut.)

We went to this neat bar, listened to jazz, and made out the whole

time. That seemed to happen a lot. Always starting with that little

cat that ate the canary smile.

So, we headed off to Maui. Went on an all-day excursion to the

island of Lanai. We snorkeled and hung out on the boat and explored

the island. Other days, we went through art galleries in Lahaina,

and started planning his art career (he's an unbelievable artist.

Really really good.)

We laughed. Alot. We played in the ocean, and in the pool at the

hotel, and went through the water tubes and played like children.

When I got a little nauseated or had tummy problems, he was ny on

the Spot. The skin wasn't an issue, and I wound up parading around

in sleeveless, short Hawaiian dressed (he called me his Wahaini which

means " island girl " and he was constantly putting flowers in my

hair.) After watching me struggle for the second day to straighten

my hair with products, he told me that I was my most beautiful when I

was fresh out of the ocean and the sun dried my hair into waves. Why

would I want to straighten my perfect, wavy hair? Why would I want

to put any make up on my lovely, young face? I could have kissed him.

I probably did. So, for the rest of the trip: no real make-up, no

fuss with my hair, a two piece bathing suit, and sleeveless dressed.

he thought I was exquisite. He drew pictures of me constantly. He

gazed lovingly at me. He took care of me.

So, we sadly made our way back to the mainland on Sunday (left

Saturday night and arrived Sun. a.m.) When we got to my apartment,

my sister and brother-in-law were there from San Obispo. My

brother and his dog were also there. We said hi, and headed straight

for bed. the cat joined us, but the little brat slept on him. Not

me.

That night, we went to the Maharani, a beautiful Indian restaurant in

the City. we had a party for my brother Craig (his birthday is Oct.

18), my close friend (also the 18th) and for (the 17th.)

It was a really nice night.

The next day, we headed off to Carmel for the day. A photographer

took photos of us at the Mission, and down on the beach. This was

his birthday present, what he asked me to arrange before he got

here. It was fun, and the vast majority of the pictures had him

kissing me. I can't wait to see the pictures...the photographer

said, " You guys are beautiful together, I have a feeling I'm going to

be using these for advertisements. " He is a pretty well-known

photographer, and has been featured on Oprah.

We had a romantic dinner for his birthday, and headed back to SF.

Tuesday afternoon, we took off for Arizona (sedona, where my parents

live.) We were there until Thursday night, and my parents loved

him. Somehow, my step-father, who hates French people on general

principle...adored him. They communciated in some odd fashion, and

really bonded.

Friday, we toured around SF, and Friday night we went out to a couple

of blues clubs.

The bad thing that happened is that my husband, from whom I have been

separated for one and a half years, but who I really genuinely care

about..and who really wants us to be together...saw us out together.

i didn't see him, and he doesn't usually go out. I had told him I'd

be gone for a couple of weeks, to protect him from the truth. He got

suspicious, and voila. I felt horrible because I knew how hurt he

was. He called at 3 in the a.m, and although I didn't pick up the

phone, I did listen to the message. was sympathetic and

comforted me...but to be honest...I wanted to call Steve back and

make sure he was ok...but I was afraid to get into a big thing...and

so instead, I stayed awake all night, fretting, while sawed logs

next to me.

The next a.m. I was very nervous and anxious. i just wanted to leave

the apartment, because I didn't want a big confrontation. was

not so worried, and was slow as molasses, and I was going crazy. We

finally left at 1. We grabbed a bit, but I was so upset and

distracted that I couldn't eat. At the airport, while I was sad he

was leaving, I couldn't really focus on it. The second he left, i

called Steve and told him how sorry I was that he had found out in

that way, but that I had tried to tell him in the past...and that if

he wanted to talk...

He called today. And was very very hurt, and very cold. He said

he'd send me the petition for divorce by mail...and it was just bad.

I cried all day. called me this a.m. before the second

conversation with Steve...and told me he got home safely. And then

the conversation with Steve. It was very very painful. And moments

after Steve hung up from me, Olivier called. For the fifth time in

the time that was there. He comforted me about the Steve

thing...but it just made me realize how crowded my life is, you know?

The bottom line is that is wonderful in many ways. I'll be

seeing him at Christmas (I'll be in paris), and he's ready to move

in. My mother asked his intentions with me, and he said, " I intend

to marry her and spend the rest of my life with her. " At the

airport, he told me that we just " work " together.

He's 100 percent sure of me. I adore him...but I'm more reserved in

some ways...and the confusion of my current life detracted a

bit...but all in all, he's very wonderful, romantic. sweet,

warm...patient...and an incredible lover.

So, I see it going places...but I am going to have to go through some

rough times first....

That's all for now. Sorry if there were too many intimate details!!

Slenderella