Doing Research for Margaret's Next (Next) Adventure

Friends, today's post is going to be short and mostly made of photos. I'm in Paris, visiting my friend Jessica who has just moved here, and gathering so many details for Margaret's third adventure!

"Third? But we only have the one book so far, Maigen." Yes, that's right. The second one has already been finished as well, it's just deep in the editing process. I don't have a confirmed date for the final edits until I hear from my editor, so I'm going to say late December is the best case scenario for when you'll see Irregular Operations in Omaha.

As for the third book, well...all I can say is that it's romantic, smutty, sensual, delicious, and definitely centered in Paris! I'm also thinking Susan might have a layover or two in Paris for very different reasons.

So far, I've drank/drinked/drunk well more than my fair share of champagne and wine. I've had cheese and baguette almost every single day. I've had at least three of the Best Croissant of Paris and I've been able to navigate the Metro on my own a few times!

I've bought entirely too much yarn (some European brands are half the price they are in the US), and several perfumes (the exchange rate isn't awesome for the US dollar, but the European prices + the tax rebate you can claim at the airport makes this a great idea).

Essentially, I plan to incorporate everything I've experienced into a book at some point. It won't all be in one book, though.

One of my most favorite experiences is buying the most amazing coat in the world (for ME) one that will last forever. It is 100% wool and Bright Pink! It was in the window of a shop called From Future and I couldn't stop my feet from walking me in the door. And then once it was on? oh man. I was in trouble. I did walk away at first, it was not in my original budget, but I had kept a cushion of "just in case" in my trip budget so I made it work. We cooked dinner in the apartment most nights, instead of eating dinner out at expensive restaurants, so that helped a lot.

what I'm trying to figure out: if I include Margaret buying a coat in the book, can I write off this gorgeous but kind of expensive 100% wool coat as a business expense?

Probably not, but it was 100% worth it.

I bought mustard from a 275 year old store! This was something I saw on Instagram and, since I already love their mustards, I wanted to buy some from the store in Paris. It is a tiny shop across the street from a very impressive building that looks like it inspired the Lincoln Memorial.

I met the fattest pigeon I've ever seen in my life (and I've seen some pigeons around the world, y'all. It's no contest.) He and his chonky friends were posted up outside the boulangerie with 2023's Best Croissant in Paris. Absolutely brilliant choice, clearly.

We walked through the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Jardins des Tuileries, and many many side streets in Paris where one can stop for a restorative glass of wine or champagne every 50 meters or so.

We even got accosted by a duo of pickpockets that tried to steal our purses, while we were having a cocktail (below), and we fought them off (I'm quite proud of how I stepped into my flight attendant command voice and saying "GET BACK" while kicking a chair at the one with her hand on my friend's things while stiff-arming the woman trying to slip her hand into my pocket.)

We totally dropped the ball on Musée d'Orsay - we thought we could just show up on November 1st for the first Free Sunday of the month, but we needed to sign up for tickets. Oops. We bought tickets for a timed entry on Friday, so I'll see some gorgeous Impressionist paintings and that famous clock window then.

The Palais Garnier was my favorite so far, with the details from Napoleon III's time. Especially the details around the Salon de la Lune (Moon Lounge) and Salon du Soleil (Sun Lounge), which were switched around during the hurry of construction. The Moon Lounge was meant to lead one to the Smoking Lounge, and the Sun Lounge was meant to lead one to the Galerie du Glacier (the ice cream social lounge).

I also got to see one of the ORIGINAL (emphasis for silly and serious reasons) measurements that many countries agreed was "une meter" or one meter. Bet you haven't ever thought about how many countries needed to agree on what a meter of length was.

So many more details to share, but I've been taking photos without posting on socials, and just being immersed in the moment. This is a trip of a lifetime, and I'm so grateful for my friend for allowing me to stay with her for free. It wouldn't have been possible otherwise.

More stories next week. Love you all. Thank you!