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Thursday, June 23, 2011

I went to the kid's school play

I was going to call this post

"And then.... I saw a bunch of 9, 10 and 11 year olds in a play about Jews struggling in Russia and they all had British accents"

but thought that might be too long ~

The kid's school music department put on Fiddler On The Roof with the fourth and fifth graders.  What a big undertaking!  And as the British mom's say it was "bloody brilliant"!  The kids did great and the leads in the play where suprisingly good.  We were told that we couldn't take video and to please refrain from photography because of the distraction, but I held the i-Phone low and recorded some of the songs! **Shame, shame**

Okay..this is where I was going to have a little sample 
of the music I surreptitiously recorded
but I couldn't get the file to load.  Maybe when Patrick gets back in town....


I also snuck a few pictures as the kids were filing in.
No, the other children aren't evil....
red eye reduction fail!

Max in back row, second from the right



I overheard some of the parents before the play discussing how they thought Fiddler was a strange choice for the music teachers (two older, very dynamic men) to pick.  I mean, why not a play of persecution, poverty, and the struggle to hold on to one's beliefs in the midst of a hostile and chaotic environment?  I mean what 10 year old can't relate to the constricting customs required of them by Judaism within Russia on the brink of revolution and Jews feeling increasingly unwelcome in their villages?


But seriously, I applaud them.  The music is fantastic.  Great songs like "Sunrise, Sunset", "Matchmaker", "If I Were A Rich Man" and my personal favorite "Do You Love Me?".  The play also has wonderful comedic scenes which the kids played to a "T".  Great choice by these guys!  Not traditional, but really how many times can parents sit through "The Music Man" or terrible (and in my opinion, too mature content!) renditions of "Grease"?  And most of all, the kids had fun and were proud of their production.  **claps all around**


I wish I could have recorded the whole thing!  Patrick unfortunately is in Prague and missed it, but I anxiously await next year and have put in a request that he not travel the last two weeks of school next year.  Too much to miss!


And now ~ Wet Dog, Part Deux


Einstein says, "This is SO not cool"
(sorry about picture quality ~ dark hallway plus laughing at the poor, pitiful creature!)







Wednesday, June 22, 2011

this is what you get when it rains in the morning

Our dog Einstein has never been partial to being wet.  She is a fastidious little thing when it comes to being dirty or wet, especially her paws.  We call them her "royal feet" because she won't let you touch them and pulls them away quickly if you do.  So when it rains in the mornings, like it has been doing here, she is not a happy camper.  And then even after the rain has stopped, she will do anything to avoid stepping in the wet grass!  I think if she could "hover pee" she would.  So you can only imagine her dismay when it was really coming down yesterday......but they had to go......


"I am displeased and shall now pout"
"Someone get me to a day spa, STAT!"
And then there's Morgan.....

".....raining?  Was it raining"

Monday, June 20, 2011

......Soldes are upon us

This is the first official Soldes since we have arrived.  Here is a brief definition of Soldes in Paris:

Sales are state-regulated in France and generally run during two periods of the year: once in summer, just before the massive exodus toward the sea and sun, and once in the winter, shortly following Christmas. Department stores, boutiques, designer outlets, and even hardware shops clear out items from the previous season, gradually slashing prices over the course of the sales period.
Patrick and I experienced one when we were here last December.  Well actually I think it was pre-Soldes since we were here before Christmas.  We have been told it is the equivalent of Black Friday only these biannual sales last 6 weeks with discounts going up each week but if you want the "good stuff" it will go in the first weeks.
Now herein lies the problem.  People in Paris do not know how to form a line!  I have been to Black Friday sales in the U.S.  Yes, people will try to "cut in" the line, but there is a line. It should look something like this:







The "lines" (or queues) here look something like this:

But increase it by two more people side to side and then add the people who linger around the sides and front.  These "lines" are not just for sales, but can be seen at the Metro stations, bus depots, checkout counters.



I imagine that when the Soldes start the line might look like this:
"Ve Vant fashion"

Even when angry, U.S. crowds still keep in line, but might appear like this:



Just a short post for now.....got to go make dinner.  Patrick is in Prague for the next two weeks and the kids are in their last two weeks of school.  I doubt I will be checking out any sales myself, but there are some stores that offer online deals...might have to check those out from the comfort of my own home....no line!