Wine and Bordeaux and Thanksgiving OH MY!!!!!

Hi folks.  Long time no blog. 

Just to sum up the past few weeks.  I am still running.  The cold and lack of daylight makes it hard sometimes, but I will persevere! 

Two weeks ago I went to a wine expo with Jocelyn.  With our free tickets in hand and our cultural guide by our side, we tasted wines from all over France.  Reds, whites, and rosés :), not to mention the endless array of cheeses, saucissons, and gourmet sweets available.  There was one vendor that left an indelible mark on my memory.  He was armed with marinated ham….OMGNESS.  After having a sample, I realized with pork like that out there in the universe, I would never be able to give up the other white meat.  I'm sorry….its impossible. 

 

   

After Jocelyn and I loaded up on our chosen goodies, we returned to my humble abode for food and conversation by the fire.  What more could you ask for???

Last weekend I took a trip to Bordeaux with some other assistants from Blois.  We couch surfed, talk about a money saver..... To save money, I would sleep in a sleeping bag or a lumpy futon mattress ANYDAY.  With only one full day to see the city, I didn't get to see much but it was great to be in another environment besides Blah Blois.

You wouldn't be an American in France if you didn't have complaints about French bureaucracy, so here we go….

I opened my bank account over two months ago, and I still don't have my bank card.  So let me explain.  For whatever reason, the manner by which my account was opened requires extra documentation from America that is very difficult to obtain.  My banker was out of his office for about two weeks, so the only way I can access my salary is by completing this ridiculous process that takes 15 minutes in the bank.  Keep in mind that there is only ONE TELLER in the bank.  Yes, only one.  So that means, if I am third in line I could spend almost an hour in the bank trying to withdraw money. 

So this week I go to check on my bank card situation.  My banker basically tells me nothing can be done right now, in the middle of all the phony French politesse,  I get up in the middle of his sentence and say, "I need to leave.  And since I don't have a card.  I am going to have to go through your bank's ridiculous withdraw system that takes forever.  And I'm already late."  I storm out of the office and don't say goodbye (a no-no in French culture).  I withdraw my money then storm out of the bank, slamming the door against the wall in the process.  (I didn't know I had that much adrenaline in my veins, I really didn't want to slam it, I just happened, lol).  I walk half way down the block. When I realize….I forgot my cell phone in the bank.   I go back to the bank, and get my phone, but I was still so angry, I wasn't embarrassed at all, lol.  Ahhhhhh!!!!!   But now, I look at it as a blessing in disguise.  Not having a card definitely keeps me from spending money.  Gotta turn lemons into lemonade right...

With all that said…...Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!!

This is by far my favorite holiday.  Food, family, friends, and great conversation…how could it get any better???

This year I was blessed to celebrate Thanksgiving with so many people.  My Blois family made this day very memorable for me.  We proclaimed this week "American Week" with the highlight of the week being Turkey Day. 

Dinner was potluck style.  My contributions included a turkey (we had 2), macaroni and cheese, an apple tarte, and a sweet potato pie.  France doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving so I had to work Thursday, so I did most of my preparation and cooking on Wednesday, my day off.  I went shopping at Auchan in the morning and I deeeeclareeeee, shopping for Thanksgiving was a little challenging in a French store.  Finding bread crumbs and ready-made pie crusts proved to be impossible.  I went from aisle to aisle, became best friends with the produce lady, enemies with the meat man, and basically spent two hours looking for a meager 2 bags of groceries. 

When I got home from the store I grated 20 Euros of cheese, boiled and peeled sweet potatoes, peeled/cored/sliced my weight in apples, and made my butter rub for my turkey.  I cooked of the both pies and went to bed.  I was pooped. 

The next day, I woke up and opened my shutters….and to my surprise…IT SNOWED.  So pretty right???  

I get dressed to head to work.  I have some pep in my step.  You know why??? Because its THANKSGIVING!!!!!  I leave out the door, ready to conquer the day and on my first step outside I slip and fall down the steps….  

What the heck? How is it that with all the sleet and snow Pittsburgh got last year, I did not fall once! But with 1/2 an inch of flurries, I fall on the first step I take.  When I hit the ground, all I could do was laugh.  The only thing that really sucked about it was that my entire backside was cold and wet.  But that didn't discourage ME!!!! OHHHHH NOOOOO.  Because, its THANKSGIVING.  In fact, I was in such a good mood a drew this picture for one of my classes.  

Future Renoir you say????  Thanks, I know…

Came home to make my turkey and assemble the mac and cheese.  At this point I just want to commend all the assistants who have baked something.  Even now, I have no idea how to work my oven.  I just twist random knobs and push buttons to get it to turn on.  I have no clue how to change the temperature or the 9 different baking/grilling/broiling combinations on the oven.  With all those obstacles, we did it.  We had a fabulous meal.  And to top it off, I got to Skype in to THANKSGIVING at home.  We laughed, played games, laughed at people who sucked at playing the games….I felt like I was right at home with everyone.

I think it was the entire week that made the holiday so special.  From running around the Auchan like an episode of "Super Market Sweep" to falling down my front steps Thanksgiving Morning…this Thanksgiving goes down in the record books.

Happy Holidays folks.  With love.