It is always something... but make lemonade

We have begun our travels this month as a family.  We had to remember that the reason we moved to Paris was not only because it is a great place to live but the travel opportunities abound.  So, I write this blog from an awesome four star hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Why would anyone be writing a blog at 7:30 p.m. in a hotel room in Scotland where pubs and great restaurants are everywhere.  Well, the little monkey, as they all tend to do, got sick just in time for our planned leisure trip (although Troy is working some of the time).  

So, I did the wifely thing and sent Troy out with his work mates for drinks and food.  I don't mind. My job is a momma right now and I take it seriously.  I am just grateful to be out of the crazy Parisian city for awhile.  

Little monkey and parents in tow spent a couple of hours with the socialized medicine folks at the all around, treat anything, treat anyone doctor and got the right medicine to help Allie begin to see a future in enjoying Scotland, or at least the awesome indoor pool at the hotel!

By the way, Edinburgh is great.  I am hopeful that Allie will be ready to explore in a day or two and Troy can have great success with his conference.  

Then we can relax and celebrate 10 years of a great married life together with a healthy little girl by our side.

Adaptable monkey

Many of you have most kindly and gently asked how the little monkey is doing at l'ecole maternelle.  At last blog on this issue we were struggling and mom was ready to pull the plug, bite the bullet, cash in the mutual funds and suck up the cost (9,000 U.S. greenbacks at least) for an "American" or private school for preschoolers.  Well, like we have been told over and over again give it a chance and some time and the kids do fine.

Speed forward to present day, almost two months since the day Allie started and she is doing just fine.  No more crying before school.  No more pleading to stay home.  No more weekend discussion on why she has to go back.  We skipped to school this morning. No, really, my four year old and her 30 something mom skipped to school and played "I Spy" on the way, and it is Monday.  I didn't have to carry her, I didn't have to tout the benefits of learning and meeting the French.  She accepts the schedule and the French!  Not to say there aren't moments of "I don't want to go to school" but I am sure that would happen anywhere.

She likes to go now.  She even goes to an extra tutoring session provided by the school for non French speaking kids.  Per her report, because parents are absolutely not involved, they get to do obstacle courses, dance, listen to music, paint, use scissors, today she said they actually used a candle with the teacher's help to decorate a picture!  She likes it. 

Now things seem good however not to say things aren't a little off.  She did say to me, "Momma, sometimes I talk to myself at school" and who is to blame her!  Also, it turns out the French kids play a lot rougher so she comes home with some bruises from "wrestling with the kids, momma."  All in all, my tears and fears of scarring my child have subsided.  We are settling in and she is getting used to the routine.  

Fortunately, but kinda unfortunately we are starting our travel blitz.  In the coming weeks the little monkey will miss many days of school to take advantage of Papa's traveling work schedule.  We are going with him on three trips because it is a chance of of lifetime.

The question is will she assimilate back in to school upon returning or will I have to begin the process all over again at l'ecole maternalle?

NFL in a foreign land

Those who know the Monkeys know that we LOVE football. Not what the rest of the world calls football, where people run and run and run, not scoring goals and flopping melodramatically to the field at the slightest hint of contact, screaming in "agony" until it becomes clear no one is going to get a yellow card.  No, I'm talking NFL football. The real deal.

It's a little difficult to keep up here in France, but we're managing. Keep in mind we had DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket when we lived in the U.S. - which meant we could watch any game being played that we wanted to. Hard to beat that.  

However, we are lucky enough to have NASN here (North American Sports Network) that shows football, baseball, basketball, NHL hockey, etc. Even NASCAR.  They have the good sense to not show other sports while football games are in progress, and they simply retransmit the broadcast going on at home...no French commentators struggling gamely to interpret what's going on on the field like I've seen in some French broadcasts of baseball.  And we also have Slingbox access to whatever is being shown in Los Angeles, although the resolution isn't great and it cuts off on us every 5-7 minutes.

But the time change is killing us. What's a 1:00 game on the east coast doesn't start until 7:00 here. Not bad, but unless you're committed, you won't see much of the 4:00 games, and forget about the late Sunday game or Monday Night Football. NASN will, however, replay some games on Monday, and MNF on Tuesday.  Which leads to the Monkeys conducting a football news blackout every Monday and Tuesday morning. 

Oh, woe to us when we are innocently perusing one of the online news channels and we accidentally see a headline ("Reggie Bush Excels in Losing Effort" comes to mind) that ruins the outcome for us. We almost have to remain willfully ignorant about any news for fear of spoiling our post-dinner entertainment.

So, lesson to y'all:  We'll happily talk football anytime you want...Tuesday night through Sunday!

From a grateful daughter

Today is a very quiet day.  It is the first day in a long time I am on my own again.  Allie is safely tucked away at school and Troy is at work making me some money!

Now that my parents are safe and sound at home in California I can look back on the last four weeks of our great visit together.  That's right folks, my parents were here in Paris for four weeks. Troy had three weeks worth of travel so it worked out perfect.

Some of you might cringe or head for the hills when thinking of your parents visiting that long but not me. I had a great time and apart from a couple illnesses I think they did too. 

We went to several parks, several museums, which by the way I had not gone to any as of four weeks ago.  We strolled along the river, we saw awesome cathedrals in the pouring rain.  We dodged the fast paced Parisians around town, as I also introduced them to the poop dodge too.  My parents made several trips to the Eiffel Tower and window shopped down Victor Hugo.  I took them to see the great sparkling site of the Eiffel Tower at night.  We visited the Champs Elysees several times and dad and I even visited the famous street after 10:00 p.m. because we had to go to the 24 hour pharmacy there.  We ate at some restaurants but more so enjoyed each others company with some good home cooked meals.  We built a great routine of cocktail hour at the Brasserie right next to my house while we people watched and waited to pick up the little monkey from school.  We were able to get the apartment in better shape by hanging all the pictures, with much thought and detail, thanks dad.  They went along with me as I wheeled my trolley to the grocery store and they even got used to going to the stores on their own. It was great weather, great company and memories that will last.  Allie had a special time with her grandparents, I even got to go out on my first girls night and Troy was able to travel for work more confidently knowing I wasn't getting on the next plane home.

So again, as I hang out at home today getting stuff done and trying to fold the fitted sheets as well as my mom can I feel grateful for every opportunity I have and thankful to be able to share it with my mom and pops. Thanks for a great four weeks!

  

Coming Soon

Blog coming soon.  I promise.  Lots going on to report.  Soon.  I promise.