UN g-l-a-m-o-r-o-u-s

I want to fill you in on the main reason working here is not as fabulous as you may think. Don't worry, I know you don't want to hear me blab on about how living in France is just not that exciting...even my mother doesn't want to hear that talk. I just want you to have perspective.

Everyday, no matter what, twice a day, I clean the trash cans outside the back door. Drag them out there, empty the trash into one of the five big dumpsters, spray the gunk off with soapy water, give a decent scrub to the areas that need it most, rinse with hot water and then re-bag them.
(I secretly love this job most days since it means taking a break from the piercing voice of Chef and the heat from the stovetops and ovens...plus, trash in French is "poubelle"...cutest word ever)


I also, on some days, do the dishes. We have a dishwasher who is in charge of all items coming from the front of the house such as plates and glassware, but she doesn't touch a thing from the kitchen.

I put on my latex gloves and I get down and dirty with big brissely sponges, yellow detergent soap and loads of pots, pans, bowls, hotel pans, steamer thingies, ladles, blenders, bain-maries...and other delightful crusted on pieces of metal.

When it's my turn to take a stab at the pile of dish mess I always enter with a positive attitude and undoubtedly by mid-wash I go into a self-pity coma. I can't help myself. I've tried most everything you can imagine to wipe the disgusted/irritable expression off my face and take joy in washing so many dishes but in the middle of the washing, when I feel all alone and can't see the light at the end of the dirty dish tunnel my skin crawls.
I try to think of how I'm being a good servant and how Jesus reminds us that "what you do for the least of these you do for me" and that I don't always have to do them but it doesn't help. Even reminding myself that everyone takes a turn, even the sous chef, and if this were California and I spoke as mush English as I do French I know I'd be designated dishwasher still doesn't help. The only thing that does is having someone in there sharing the burden.

This person usually comes in three quarters of my way through the mess, unloads the dishwasher and runs dishes back into the chaotic kitchen and then I feel better. Less alone, less irritated and resentful; I slowly come out of my rut. Yesterday one of the stages Jeremy came in to help and wanted to sing American songs. No, I take that back..he wanted me to sing him American songs. His favorite: "I believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly. How could you not laugh and be in a good mood when someone requests you to sing R. Kelly?

I Hope You Can Ice Skate

railing at the metro station after work...ICE

Yesterday it hailed, rained and the sidewalks of Rennes turned to ice. Not only the sidewalks but everything you can imagine. The hand railings, door knobs, light posts, car doors...even the walls of the restaurant had a layer of ice on them!

This morning on my way to work I dealt with the remnants of the hail storm walking from my flat to the metro and then the 1/2 mile walk from the metro to the restaurant. I literally ice skated. It sounds fun and seems like it should be an easier way to go about the town but it's quite terrible. My body gets real tense and I feel like I can't bend my knees or I'll eat it. The few times I think that maybe, just maybe the ground looks de-iced and suitable for a normal step forward I end up doing the reverse moon walk and regret the decision immediately.

The good news is I had an enjoyable show put on by my fellow stage, Baptist, last night who ice skated/busted mad moves under a street light outside the restaurant as if he were in a night club doing back-up moves for the late Michael Jackson. I guess when life throws you ice you should ice dance? Yes. Take that as a lesson.

(my walk to work this morning...the ground looks wet but it's actually one big ice sheet...yes, it fooled me too)

Merry Christmas...EVE!

(our tree was at least 6ft!)

Gina and I got a Christmas tree a couple weeks ago from one of the Christmas fairs nearby and actually drug the massive net-tied beast by foot in the freezing cold back to our flat about a mile away (think I could tell my children this story when I'm old??). Though it lights up our room with joyous brilliance, it's never given out a scent! Still confused about this...
Regardless, I hope you enjoy the CIA tree topper, I know we do ;-)

Rennes has Santa Clauses climbing up walls throughout the town like you see in the picture below. How funny is that? Doesn't it seem a little cumbersome to hang life-sized Santa Clauses everywhere? Truthfully though, I can't help but enjoy it.

Hope your Christmas is absolutely splendid!

Stocking Stuffer

(Jeremy, pretending to peel my head. normal)

These multi-colored, very inexpensive, plastic peelers are the best stocking stuffers ever!

While I was home awhile back I bought a bundle to give to the staff at La Fontaine Aux Perles since they're obsessed with how amazing they are (from using ours). We gave them the gift recently as an early Christmas gift and they were thrilled with them, to say the least.

You can buy one for yourself here at their website...
or if you want to physically go buy one I know for sure Sur La Table sells them in their stores.

Speaking of stocking stuffers, no cook should be without a microplane...find one here and never be distressed about grating cheese or zest the rest of your life! Seriously, it's one of my favorite tools.

Christmas Spirit

Christmas spirit has come upon me... has it hit you yet?

Today, excited to be done with the long work week Gina and I hit the town shopping, visiting cafes and experiencing Christmas-time in Rennes. What a long (and chilly...in the 30's), fun-filled day!
It put me in the most splendid holiday mood ever and I am absolutely relishing in it.

It helps that my friend Gabe gave me a link to download free Christmas music so Gina and I could fill our flat with lovely Christmas tunes. It's only good before December 17th so get it while you can! It's at http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=344104720&v0=ITS-NAUS-HOLIDAYSAMPLER121009DB-P0007377-156842&Email_PageName=-PBE-US-FINAL&Email_OID=d57b4e1e6a42adb934256d9fc5a9dc82&sr=em&s=143441&s=143441

Here are a few pictures of Rennes with its best face on.

a man selling roasted chestnuts...oh France

Vin Chaud

I have been excited to share this with someone, anyone, who will find it as wonderful as Gina and I have.
We've found a place for your "2 Buck Chuck," your disappointing leftover bottles from that case of wine you bought on your wine tour and the "not so great" wine someone bought you as a gift. It belongs in a pot with a list of delicious ingredients that will turn into what the French call Vin Chaud (mulled wine).


This sign of ingredients is from the booth Gina and I bought our first delicious cup and it translates into:

-Red Wine
-Whiskey (or if you can't find it, Cognac)
-Maple Syrup
-Orange Juice
-Apple Juice
-Honey
-Pinch of Cinnamon
-Whole Clove (we added a few even though it wasn't on the sign)

I don't know ratios but I can say the amount of honey and maple syrup depends on how bitter your apple and orange juices (about 1 cup apple juice and juice of one orange with rind) are and the amount of cinnamon sticks depends on how strong they are (we put 2-3 per bottle). We also put in about 1/2-3/4 cup Cognac per bottle. YUM.

We reduced the apple juice a little in a pot and then added everything to it and let it simmer about 10 minutes before tinkering with the sweetness. We also put whole pieces of both apple and orange to imitate a Sangria.
It's best if you let the flavors get warm together for at least 30 minutes.

After buying graham cookies on a whim we discovered they were a nice pairing for such a warm, deliciously spiced wine! Perfect for a holiday party. Oh my, and you could even make fresh, chewy, molasses cookies to enjoy with it...yes, I think I'll do that soon.

We hope you love it as much as we do! Tis the season for Vin Chaud!

France Fact III

"OH-LOW-LOW-LOW-LOW"

Pronounce it just the way you see it and you'll fit right in over here.

They LOVE to use this expression that means anything from, "oh my goodness" to "I can't believe you just did that" to "you're being annoying." I think it can be substituted for eye rolling pretty easily as well.

I hear it being used by pretty much every person imaginable. This coworker of mine in particular absolutely loves this expression and after discovering I couldn't stand the way it sounded he decided to use it every chance he could in my presence. Thank you Jeremy.