As Time Goes By

Yes, I know, I have been incredibly deliquent the last few weeks BUT I CAN EXPLAIN! Last week my internet was down (for all intents and purposes useless), and this week, being the last week before break, has been ridiculously busy.

So let me pick up the epic saga where I left off.

Last Friday, Nadia (another assistant), and I went exploring in Aubervilliers. Stopped in at the 1€50 store, wandered a bit more, and went into the Asian market next to two of my schools that has always sort of intrigued me.

THE FISH ARE ALIVE!!! Well, were. I mean, not that it's THAT weird, but they did look pretty exotic. Syracuse is, well, landlocked, so what do I know? Hahahaha.

Get an eyeful of the bottom center, and please someone tell me what those are. This picture doesn't do their strangeness justice -- they're huge, strangely lumpy, and somewhat spiky. I can't even begin to GUESS what they're called, but I'm confident I haven't seen them before.

This weekend I was also DELIGHTED to finish my grad school applications. Since my internet had crapped out, I called Anna up and invaded her apartment. I happened to notice that someone's flask of vodka was next to the computer, along with my GRE scores and files, lending this a sort of post-modern still life feel. Cracked me up. Then again, I think I was delirious from my cold at that point.

I might add that my GRE scores were mailed 'direct,' because apparently the most direct route from the center in Paris is to mail them from AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, to PARIS, FRANCE and then put a return address on them of PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY, USA. Seriously? No WONDER it took so long, someone flunked geography!

Sunday Anna and I had storytelling time over delicious hot chocolates in a café with pretty Christmas decorations. Then we wandered down to the Bon Marché to look at the pretty windows and marvel at the insanity that is the Grand Epicerie. In addition to a million other things, we were intrigued by the existence of "Bling" water. Yes, water. Move over, Evian.

Sunday night we had a soirée raclette at Raphaële's house. If you don't know what raclette means, google it right this second. It's a delicious wintery tradition, and it leaves you comatose. I got to see an old friend from orchestra, Anne-Gabrielle for the first time in ages, so that was extra excellent!

Monday and Tuesday morning however, I woke up, LATE, with my phone in my hand and completely disoriented. Monday I missed my first class, so instead I'm doing it tomorrow, Friday (the kids were so upset that I wasn't there I had to talk to their teacher and make it up to them)!!! Tuesday I was on time, but I was also probably slightly discomposed. I spent all day in Aubervilliers, and that night was the school Christmas party for the teachers. It was a lot of fun, and since I'm the youngest, I had to crawl under the table and assign gifts to everyone (everyone brings a gift and puts in on the table, then someone goes under the table while another person picks each gift up - the person under the table says who the gift is for).

Wednesday night was movie night with Betsey. She made squash soup, but because we are BRILLIANT, we covered it up and wandered off with our bottle of wine to watch Love Actually (which I had never seen). Of course, it didn't simmer so much as explode all over her burner, so we paused the movie and had a quick recovery plan. In spite of any doubts this might cast on our competence, it was delicious! In spite of myself, I really liked Love Actually, it's a cute Christmas movie. But as far as Christmas-themed movies go, nothing beats the Diehard movies, or Santa's Slay ;)