YES, I Haven’t Forgotten about Blogging!

YES, it’s been crazy busy! But look at this view from my kitchen!
YES, we moved out of a temporary very teeny, dingy apartment into a beautiful, modern apartment very close to the main plaza of the city.
YES, our container of household goods arrived, mostly in one piece (and dry!), across the ocean.
YES, we still have a lot to unpack and boxes everywhere!
YES, we bought a car from a French Michelin colleague – a 2011 sedan, beautiful blue, with reasonably low kilometers that’s been garaged. (We don’t actually have it yet — maybe this weekend.) It’s a standard — and it’s been 30 years since I’ve driven a stick. THIS is going to be fun!!! (eye roll here)
YES, we’ll get a washer — and a DRYER (!!!!!)– this weekend, along with an oven. More about the dryer next time. Definitely blog-worthy.
YES, we have hot water now, but I called Guy #1, who called Guy #2, who had Guy #3 come out today to see what wasn’t working in the apartment. Guy #3 came, not to actually FIX anything, but to write up a report for Guy #4. I HOPE to hear back from SOME GUY about when A GUY will come and actually fix something. Hopefully in 2017. Welcome to France!
YES, Tanner has a cell phone number now!
YES, it’s Thanksgiving week, an American holiday, and not a French holiday, so Tanner will be working. We miss our kids!!! So glad they are getting together as a family and doing the whole Norman Rockwell-thing. Proud of them!
YES, I’m getting the hang of everything – walking a zillion steps a day, buying only what I can carry in the grocery, getting lost, getting found, and drinking a small French coffee every now and then in little cafes with new acquaintances.
YES, the expat community has been extremely kind and welcoming — and is much more diverse than I realized. I was expecting diversity like California and Idaho and Florida. Instead, it’s Brazil, Ireland, and Vietnam. And not everyone is Michelin-related (which I thought they would be)….so it’s very, very far flung!
YES, in the midst of all of this, I have gone to French classes at the University, a Bible Study, a Cafe Day, a reception, and helped volunteer with an English conversational class for retired French people that want to learn English!
YES, I have trouble saying “NO.” 🙂
YES, there is a five story Christmas tree in the Plaza and they are putting up a Ferris Wheel that is even taller….it’s absolutely beautiful. The lights come on this Friday. PICTURES are definitely forthcoming!
And yes, the windows in Galleries Lafayette all have cotton-candy heads!
YES, I miss you all! It’s almost impossible to know what to begin to write about because there is so much….language school, the streets, shopping, food, the money, and the never-ending struggle with not knowing the language.

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD — the SUPER SECRET STUFFING RECIPE has been passed down to the next gen! 🙂 Leslie played her cards perfectly; how could Tanner resist “his only daughter?” I hear there’s a great Thanksgiving dinner happening in Augusta this weekend……

I MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FUN FACTS ~ The French government gives medals to citizens who have “successfully raised several children with dignity.” Upwards child-raising! Where’s our medal????

In McDonalds, you order for yourself at an electronic tablet, then go to a line to pay, then another line to get your food. And YES, the fries taste the same! 10% tax on the food. BY THE WAY – if you look at the ticket closely, you’ll see that you can buy beer at McDonalds – and it’s taxed at 20%.