.....Christmas is coming!

Rough video of the Christmas windows at the major department stores downtown Paris

...we had turkey day in Paris

Instead of having turkey on Thursday, a co-worker of Patrick's opened her home and invited about 25 people to have Thanksgiving there last Saturday.  As the host, they provided the turkey (which had to be special ordered from a store here in Paris called....wait for it.....Thanksgiving (http://www.thanksgivingparis.com/)!  And since ovens here in Paris are small, they ordered two birds and enlisted their American neighbors downstairs to cook the other turkey.

There was a sign up list sent out with the e-vite with traditional dishes to sign up for.  There were also choices like bread and drinks.  Obviously, the bread and drinks categories filled up quickly.  Since the folks invited were mainly from everywhere else BUT America, a lot of the dishes sounded too weird/complicated and didn't get signed up for.  But the hosts and the select few Americans "stepped up" and rounded out the menu.  As example, one person asked Patrick the the host, Lorraine, at work how to cook mashed potatoes.......

A look down the table

Ready for guests

Sam doing her usual Thanksgiving water glass duties

We arrived a bit early since I had so much stuff I was bringing.  Both kids were a huge help in getting everything ready. They put out the water, butter, carried things to the table, etc.  After dinner they cleared plates and made beer and drink runs for people.  Patrick and I were very proud of them and received many compliments on how great they were.  The best thing, they did it all without being told!  We must be doing something right!

They both enjoyed going to Lorraine's and we had been there before for another get together, so they were very comfortable with Lorraine and her partner Cindy.  They also love their dog, Olive.  This has to be the most "chill" dog I have ever met.  She doesn't even bark!  BIG change from our two!

It is a French custom to bring flowers to the host/hostess when invited over.  Unlike in America, it is actually in bad form to bring a bottle of wine since you don't know the menu of the host.  So when you have a dinner party as large as this Thanksgiving, you end up with a lot of flowers.

Just some to the flowers for the hosts

The meal went fantastic.  And just like a traditional American Thanksgiving, there was a huge amount of food.  Any fear that we didn't have enough was quickly put to rest!  Everyone "tucked in" and had a great time.  I had an interesting conversation with two people at the table where I had to explain that "yes, the sweet potato casserole was considered a vegetable and not a dessert"!  Everyone was impressed and loved trying everything.

So now, it is ON for Christmas.  

Dogs to the kennel on the 16th 

Kinda worried about leaving them for 20 days AND leaving the country!  But we like the kennel and have already had a trial run with a stay there....

Last day of school on the 16th

Flying on the 18th

So you know what that means.............time to shop, shop, shop~

...the bells of Notre Dame

Last Sunday we ventured to Notre Dame.  We figured it would be something fun for everyone since Grandpa Pete and Robin are visiting. I decided that as much as I love gargoyles, I would not make the trek up the tower.  Since the only shape I am in is round and my knees/feet frequently remind me they have seen better days, I elected to explore the area while everyone else went to visit the gargoyles.

Are we twins?

Touching a 'goyle

They said the views were great and the climbing wasn't too bad.  (You can click on pictures for bigger images.)

So things around here are beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  There are many lights being hung and little villas being put together for Christmas Bazaars.  

This Christmas Village is going up at LaDefense

Totally outside but the chandeliers are being hung

We have already booked the tickets home and are beginning the countdown!  We will arrive in N.C. on December 19 and stay until Christmas morning.  Then we will head to Florida for the second half of our vacation.  We will leave to come back to Paris from Florida on January 3.  Ready for 20 days of U.S.A.!!

...I still don't "get" modern art

We went for a visit to the Centre Georges Pompidou, which is the largest museum for modern art in Europe, with Patrick's Dad, Pete, and Pete's girlfriend, Robin who are here visiting.  While the place is cool, the building is kinda modern-y design, I just don't understand much of what is going on inside.

All of the functional structural elements of the building were color-coded: green pipes are plumbing, blue ducts are for climate control, electrical wires are encased in yellow, and circulation elements and devices for safety (e.g., fire extinguishers) are red.

I tried to be "open to the art", and some of it was interesting to look at for 30/45 seconds, I just don't really understand how someone could stare at some of the pieces any longer.  Patrick is also not a fan of modern art, but we tried no to impose our views on the kids.  They thought some of it was "cool" but when presented with pieces like this....... well, what do you tell them?

This was kinda neat, but is it art?

After a while, we waited outside for Pete and Robin to finish checking out the many floors of art.  There are usually a good number for street performers outside the Pompideu Center and we got to see a really good juggler and unicycle show.  The guy even "recruited" Patrick and two other guys from the crowd to help!

We have MANY more museums to visit and a lot more art to see, so I am hopeful that something will "speak" to me somewhere!

I know I should post something new....

but I am really lacking motivation.

Patrick's Dad is here visiting us, but that's no excuse.....just really feeling lazy lately. Interesting things are going on.....Samantha is actually in London as I write this! She is getting to have a real life Glee experience. She is attending the PROM concert at Royal Albert Hall. The website definition is:
Compelling performances from the nation’s most exciting young musicians.
On 7, 8 and 9 November, 3,000 young musicians from across the UK will realise their dream of performing in one of the world’s most iconic venues as they prepare to perform in the Music for Youth Schools Prom concerts.

The young musicians, will perform in three inspirational concerts showcasing an eclectic mix of musical styles and highlighting the excellent music education work taking place across the country.


Sounds like fun to me! Then they are going to a performance of the play War Horse and going to the science museum in London on Thursday. They should wind up back in Paris around midnight on Thursday. Thankfully Friday is a holiday here, so she can catch up on some sleep! I will try harder to get motivated and blogging again....I think I can, I think I can......

...Pfffft

No, nothing is slowly leaking air over here.  The word (because it is used as a word here), pffft, should truly be included in all beginning French lessons.

You hear it daily.  You hear it from the old, young, men, and women; heck, I think French animals say it! 

What does it mean, you may ask?  Well that’s where it gets kinda tricky.  It is one of those words in which the situation has to be evaluated to get the true meaning. 

It can be synonymous to a scoff; used to express a feeling of indifference or lack of interest.

Or the sound you make when someone does something stupid.

Or a substitute for a swear.

Or an expression of mild contempt or dismissal. (Usually made in response upon seeing/hearing nonsense or bull&#!&).

Or used to mark rejection to a snub or any other perceived social slight.

Basically whenever you think something or someone is below you or wasting your time......Pffft!

There is also a physical aspect that must accompany the Pffft.  Just sound it out...and then make a gesture with your right arm moving up really fast, while saying Pffft. Or the full French shoulder shrug, which really puts the oomph in the Pfft.

This lesson has been brought to you from the society that has perfected the art of being blasé.

.....The American Dog vs The French Cool Cats

We have had our fair share of problems with our dogs since arriving in Paris, but if put to the test, and given only one species to have as a pet, dogs win with me hands (paws) down.

In the move “Up”, there is a scene where the old man and the boy meet a dog that can talk.  One of the first things that the dog says is, “I’ve just met you and I already love you”.

"Hi, how ya doing?"

This dog is clearly an American. 

The French, on the other hand, are more aloof.  They have a more cat-like attitude.  “Ah, you feed me and what, I am supposed to be grateful?  Pfff…I will pee in your houseplants.”    

"Pffff.....you are boring"

The stereotypes about French rudeness and snobbery are legendary.   There have been books written about it and characters created (my fave, Pepe Le Pew!) depicting it.  

"You love me, no?"

 The cultures and the people are different. 
While an American waiter will check on you repeatedly, “are you okay?  Is everything perfect?  Can I get you anything, anything at all?  Perhaps a spare kidney, my first born child?”  A French waiter will take your order and bring you your food and then leave you to enjoy it…maybe he will do this nicely, maybe not.  Both ways have their values; its nice not to have to flag a waiter down and then have him roll his eyes at you just to get a napkin/fork/water/bill.  On the other hand, is there anything more annoying than an overly cheerful server interrupting your conversation every ten minutes?  “Hi, I’m Brittany, and we are going to have a great lunch today!”

When you walk into a business/store in France; it is not unlikely that no one will speak to you.  But you can’t take it personally; these are cats, people!  Do you expect a cat to immediately jump up and great you and love you…not really.  When a stranger walks into an American establishment, they are practically assaulted with friendliness; you are greeted, questions asked, informal introductions given.  “Come on, join us!  We are having so much fun!”  Dogs. 

So I don’t think it's really that the French are snobs; they are just cats.  They are more reserved and not likely great you with kindness (after all, you are "Am-air-ee-can" and therefore a stranger!).  And while I will always be a dog person, hopefully cats will starting to grow on me.