vendredi 29 février 2008
Leap Day.
Don't have much interesting to say today, just wanted to reflect on where I have been for previous Leap Days.
2008: Working in France, married, owning an apartment
2004: Virginia, in graduate school, debating whether I wanted to stay in PhD Program or leave to be with said Frenchman.
2000: In England, on a semester exchange program. Was dating an Englishman. Apparently it is tradition in England (and other countries) that Leap Day is a day that woman can ask men to marry him. Had no intention of asking him to marry me.
1996: Wow. Long time ago. Let's see- Junior in High School. Wanted to go to the Naval Academy and be in the Navy for the rest of my life.
2012: Most likely still in France, hopefully with said Frenchie and some little tadpoles.
Don't have much interesting to say today, just wanted to reflect on where I have been for previous Leap Days.
2008: Working in France, married, owning an apartment
2004: Virginia, in graduate school, debating whether I wanted to stay in PhD Program or leave to be with said Frenchman.
2000: In England, on a semester exchange program. Was dating an Englishman. Apparently it is tradition in England (and other countries) that Leap Day is a day that woman can ask men to marry him. Had no intention of asking him to marry me.
1996: Wow. Long time ago. Let's see- Junior in High School. Wanted to go to the Naval Academy and be in the Navy for the rest of my life.
2012: Most likely still in France, hopefully with said Frenchie and some little tadpoles.
jeudi 28 février 2008
Glup's is a candy shop where you go in and there are the large bins where you scoop different types of candy from into a bag. The first time I went in, I was quite excited. I was hoping for Runts and Oreo's (though I am not sure how good Oreo's would be coming from a plastic bin) and Starbust and York Peppermint Patties and do you get the idea here? American candy. Considering how there are a lot of Americans in Aix, it wasn't so far-fetched. But nope. What they mostly have is gummy-type candies and chocolate. I try not to go too often or get too much.
But let's talk about the name here. Glup's. Seriously? There is nothing that says "Come eat candy!" to me less than Glup. Well, "Big Pile of Horse Dung" would probably turn me off more, but that isn't likely to be a store name.
http://www.glups.fr/
Go to their online catalog site and you can click on the different types of candy that are available to see examples of what I am talking about. Yep. Mostly gummy stuff.
http://www.glups.fr/catalog/index.php
But let's talk about the name here. Glup's. Seriously? There is nothing that says "Come eat candy!" to me less than Glup. Well, "Big Pile of Horse Dung" would probably turn me off more, but that isn't likely to be a store name.
http://www.glups.fr/
Go to their online catalog site and you can click on the different types of candy that are available to see examples of what I am talking about. Yep. Mostly gummy stuff.
http://www.glups.fr/catalog/index.php
Considering how during my lunchbreak I am surrounded by enticing stores and restaurants, I have a feeling that this job might not be good for my wallet or my waistline.
(Oh, and note the new category Label- Aix en Provence).
Oh, and anyone that wants to send me US candy can do so. :) Be kind to ex pats.
mardi 26 février 2008
The song "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" by Edith Piaf was one of the first French songs I learned. It was WAY BACK in 2004, when I was auditing the French 101 class during my PhD program. The previous semester I had audited the Latin 101 course, until I met a certain Frenchman. Our teacher, an American graduate student getting her Master's and who was engaged to a Frenchman from Paris, played French songs for us and we could read the lyrics and try to figure out what was being said. I liked the song. So much so, that I wanted to use it for our wedding song. Alain thought I was nuts and that if we played it, all the French would think that we were strange. I just liked the final lines:
"Car ma vie, car ma joie,
Aujourd'hui
Ca commence avec toi!"
Because my life, because my joy,
Today
It begins with you.
Anyway, we ended up using a different song, "Man of the World" by Marc Cohen.
We watched "La Mome" or La Vie en Rose for English speakers, with Marion Cottilard a few months ago. I found it hard to follow. We couldn't even get the french subtitles. I found the language hard to follow, and the film kept jumping around- she is old, she is young, she is dying, what?
Also, I was disturbingly reminded of my grandmother. Not that my grandmother was disturbing mind you, but the portrayal of Edith Piaf reminded me of her- facial expressions, hair, make-up, clothes, movements.
Anyway, congrats to Marion Cottilard for winning the Oscar. I was a little surprised when I realized that she was in Taxi and A Very Long Engagement, as I totally did not recognize her when I saw La Mome.
"Car ma vie, car ma joie,
Aujourd'hui
Ca commence avec toi!"
Because my life, because my joy,
Today
It begins with you.
Anyway, we ended up using a different song, "Man of the World" by Marc Cohen.
We watched "La Mome" or La Vie en Rose for English speakers, with Marion Cottilard a few months ago. I found it hard to follow. We couldn't even get the french subtitles. I found the language hard to follow, and the film kept jumping around- she is old, she is young, she is dying, what?
Also, I was disturbingly reminded of my grandmother. Not that my grandmother was disturbing mind you, but the portrayal of Edith Piaf reminded me of her- facial expressions, hair, make-up, clothes, movements.
Anyway, congrats to Marion Cottilard for winning the Oscar. I was a little surprised when I realized that she was in Taxi and A Very Long Engagement, as I totally did not recognize her when I saw La Mome.
vendredi 22 février 2008
Went shopping this morning.
Bought a book for Alain that he has been wanting called "L'air intelligent". It is a study of how intelligence and intelligent people have been regarded throughout history. I bought a book for me about makeup. Browsed some perfume stores, but didn't get anything. There are some new releases coming out in the next two months that I am looking forward to- Miss Dior Cherie Eau de Printemps (Miss Dior Cherie was the perfume I bought for our wedding) and the new Cacharel Amor summer fragrance. So I held back. Though when I really get desperate I can always buy a scent for Alain.
Then I went to a place called Zara and bought two tops, then went to H&M. I don't really like H&M but after three trips to the changing room finally decided on a pair of jeans and three more tops. Didn't find any work pants. I might actually have to start wearing my skirts. I always get frustrated trying on pants. Besides the general "Why can't I fit into the size --- in this store? I have another pair of pants that are size ----! I don't want to have to try on a size ---+1!" angst, no matter what size I try on, they either fit my waist or my hips. Never both. I guess I have a small waist for the size of my hips. Or big hips for the size of my waist, but I prefer not to think of it that way. So I usually have to buy the hip-fitting pair and then just use a belt or cover the saggy waist with my shirt.
Got mad and walked out of Jeff de Bruges because of poor customer service (this is the second time at the same store, so I doubt I will go back there).
Came back home, had cheese and chocolate for lunch (hey, it's my day off) and then took a nap while watching Exorcist 2. I couldn't help it, it was so dull. Tonight we are going over to Olivier's for dinner. We were supposed to go last week but he canceled because he still hadn't finished up his doctoral thesis, which had to be mailed the next day. Guillaume and Laure-Anne will be coming with their new baby boy (2 months). We haven't seen him yet.
Plans for this weekend- continue working on the walls, take apart the old cabinet unit that was in our kitchen and take it over to the in-laws on Sunday.
Bought a book for Alain that he has been wanting called "L'air intelligent". It is a study of how intelligence and intelligent people have been regarded throughout history. I bought a book for me about makeup. Browsed some perfume stores, but didn't get anything. There are some new releases coming out in the next two months that I am looking forward to- Miss Dior Cherie Eau de Printemps (Miss Dior Cherie was the perfume I bought for our wedding) and the new Cacharel Amor summer fragrance. So I held back. Though when I really get desperate I can always buy a scent for Alain.
Then I went to a place called Zara and bought two tops, then went to H&M. I don't really like H&M but after three trips to the changing room finally decided on a pair of jeans and three more tops. Didn't find any work pants. I might actually have to start wearing my skirts. I always get frustrated trying on pants. Besides the general "Why can't I fit into the size --- in this store? I have another pair of pants that are size ----! I don't want to have to try on a size ---+1!" angst, no matter what size I try on, they either fit my waist or my hips. Never both. I guess I have a small waist for the size of my hips. Or big hips for the size of my waist, but I prefer not to think of it that way. So I usually have to buy the hip-fitting pair and then just use a belt or cover the saggy waist with my shirt.
Got mad and walked out of Jeff de Bruges because of poor customer service (this is the second time at the same store, so I doubt I will go back there).
Came back home, had cheese and chocolate for lunch (hey, it's my day off) and then took a nap while watching Exorcist 2. I couldn't help it, it was so dull. Tonight we are going over to Olivier's for dinner. We were supposed to go last week but he canceled because he still hadn't finished up his doctoral thesis, which had to be mailed the next day. Guillaume and Laure-Anne will be coming with their new baby boy (2 months). We haven't seen him yet.
Plans for this weekend- continue working on the walls, take apart the old cabinet unit that was in our kitchen and take it over to the in-laws on Sunday.
Picture taken of us on Alain's motorcycle in August I think, when he was still learning how to ride. We weren't going anywhere- hence no helmets, etc.
jeudi 21 février 2008
It has finally happened. I am in desperate need of clothes. And I am not just saying this in the average woman way.
I don't really like shopping for clothes.
But now I really need to do something about this.
My pair of black ankle-boots that I wear to work: one zipper handle came off, so I currently have a paper clip looped through.
My sweaters: due to some recent unfortunate laundry incidents, I have about two usable sweaters. The rest are either: shrunken, impossibly wrinkled, covered in unremovable fuzz, or stained.
My pants: I have three pairs- one khaki one that Alain says does not look good on me. One grey one that is functional. One black velvety pair that is covered in the unremovable fuzz.
(I do have other pairs, but since I have yay! lost weight, they look like clown pants.)
My jeans: Ripped. One in the derriere and one in the leg from when I was throwing out the trash and it got caught on a nail on the trash can. Sigh.
I should have bought clothes during the semi-annual sales, but I wanted to wait and see what everyone else at my work was wearing.
But now that I am starting to be unpresentable, I think I need to get moving.
(Oh yeah, and the black velvety covered in white fuzz pants also need to be hemmed.)
Yay for every other Friday off!
I don't really like shopping for clothes.
But now I really need to do something about this.
My pair of black ankle-boots that I wear to work: one zipper handle came off, so I currently have a paper clip looped through.
My sweaters: due to some recent unfortunate laundry incidents, I have about two usable sweaters. The rest are either: shrunken, impossibly wrinkled, covered in unremovable fuzz, or stained.
My pants: I have three pairs- one khaki one that Alain says does not look good on me. One grey one that is functional. One black velvety pair that is covered in the unremovable fuzz.
(I do have other pairs, but since I have yay! lost weight, they look like clown pants.)
My jeans: Ripped. One in the derriere and one in the leg from when I was throwing out the trash and it got caught on a nail on the trash can. Sigh.
I should have bought clothes during the semi-annual sales, but I wanted to wait and see what everyone else at my work was wearing.
But now that I am starting to be unpresentable, I think I need to get moving.
(Oh yeah, and the black velvety covered in white fuzz pants also need to be hemmed.)
Yay for every other Friday off!
Inscription à :
Articles (Atom)
Favorite Posts
-
The above cartoon for kids to color, cut out, and fold into a cube shape. Then the cube is to be placed in the center of the table for remi... -
I picked up my French passport this morning. It has been ready for awhile, I received the text message saying it was available for pick-up a... -
The more I (sorta) learn another language, the more am I amazed at how many concepts, words, phrases, expressions etc. in one language don...
-
My Husband: (photo courtesy of Yahoo!) I just couldn't resist. A frog on a bright green motorcycle. (and his name is Oui) The... -
Got back from Strasbourg just fine. My wallet however, did not. After my long train trip back home, and being called "sale race" (...
-
Come to an end. My maternity leave is ending and I return to work on Monday. Alain will then take his two weeks of paternity leave, then we... -
Here is the other cross-stitch I finished this year, this one is for Alain's Aunt, Lydia. I have now done at least one for every hous... -
Someone had other plans. Our daughter S. decided to make her appearance weeks ahead of schedule. (We have decided not to post her full name,...
-
What is this? you may ask. A modernist painting? A new Chinese board game? No my friends, it is the Nespresso capsule wall holder at my wo...