Happy Spring

Two water leaks.

Two bad sinus infections.

One wall torn up.

One broken clavicle.

Car stuck in garage twice.

Stomach Flu for the grown up monkeys.

Two major head bonks.

One fall from playground equipment.

150 (OK, slightly exaggerated) colds, temps and flus for the little monkey.

Three missed trips.

So, now it is out of our system and we can enjoy a beautiful spring in Paris.  We really are feeling thankful for this journey even with the above mishaps.  We have forged some great memories so far.  We are sure that spring will bring out the best in Paris and the monkeys.  

Stay tuned.

Spring...is it here?

The last two days have been about 60 degrees and very sunny. Flowers are coming up in the parks. Some of the French are no longer wearing pitch black, instead shifting to the much more festive and flamboyant shade known as "black-as-coal".  Troy no longer goes to work in the dark only to walk home in a new dark. Have we finally turned the corner? Is printemps here? 

Editor's note:  Paris is about the same latitude as the North Dakota/Canada border. Don't hate the monkeys because they're having spring despite their northernness. Hate them because they are beautiful.

A brave friend

It is funny.  Here were are in Paris, France.  Troy wears a suit to work and you never ever see military uniforms except for the occasional French parade.  After living for many years in a military lifestyle ie: bases, commissary shopping, uniforms, promotions, rank etc., we find ourselves in a space in between the two worlds of military and civilian life.  Until you get the news from a good friend and it reminds you of your life choice.

We recently learned that our good friend will be deploying to a far off and very scary land.  She leaves her 3 year old at home with a most capable daddy because this is her job and she does it well. It reminds us of the sacrifices that are taken on a daily basis by men (daddies) and women (mommies) alike.  

For the next year she will be doing what many couldn't fathom doing.  We wish for her safety and that the time go fast until she can come home to her family and to her friends. 

We love you K and are here for you and your family.  This may be the only time you see this loyal Air Force wife say this (although we really are one military)-GO ARMY. 

Safe return my friend.

Onomatopoeia

Of course words and sayings translate differently in other languages, but you'd think at least sound effects are the same, right?  Consider the rooster and his "cock-a-doodle-doo."  In French, it is....

Cocorico!

If you were to redraw the old Batman and Robin comics into French, you'd have to get rid of "POW!" and "WHAM!" for "POF!" and "PAF!" And the bad guy would have to yell "AIE!" when he got hurt, not "OW!"

Our phrase "the cat's meow" doesn't ring too well with the French, who hear "miaou" instead. 

"Tic tac" goes the clock. (Don't worry, clock is horloge so tic toc wouldn't have rhymed anyway).

At least ghosts make the same sound. But they just spell their spooky cries differently. Bouh!

And if all this bores you, can go right to sleep with the same representation as in English:

"Zzzzzzzzz...."