Day 47: or The Day I Started Lonesome Dove, Again

When I started this week, I was reading Girl With A Dragon Tattoo, finally, but I knew it wouldn't make it all week. I looked in my room and decided that over 800 pages of Texas should keep me entertained. I had no idea what my days would be filled with while here. All I knew was that if nothing else, I would have enough to read. Of course, when the girls ask about the book, I can't help but try and convince them to read it. I have 4 more months to accomplish the task.

I skied early today and came home and turned in my skis. The first 2 days were great weather and I was really happy to be back skiing after so long. Today was snowy and you couldn't see where the mountain stopped and the sky started. Makes skiing difficult. I really enjoy skiing but I've figured out I am definitely a fair weather fan, and I’m ok with that. After I walked around the village, I came home to find everyone was back. The daily ritual of snack, shower, reading/games, dinner, dishes, more reading happened.  We leave in 2 days and it’s back to the real world. I’m not sure what I’ll do while I’m still here but I’ll try to make the most of it. Weather permitting.

Itunes just decided to play Clarence Carter’s “Patches”.  I know he grew up down in Alabama, but it makes me think of Texas, so I guess that’s the theme of the day.

Day 7: or The Day I First Went To The Pâtisserie

Today was a good day. I woke up and took Jeremy to school. I had to let the cleaning guy in the house so I waited for him then went on my walk to the town shopping square. It was gross and drizzly but I had to drop off boots to be repaired so it wasn't an option. I have decided that music on walks can really improve my mood. i don't think I'm revealing some shocking news, but I believe that I am more affected by my music choices than most. On my way, my copy of Elvis Presley's Yellow Rose of Texas/ The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You came on. A) how awesome is it that Elvis sang Eyes of Texas? B) It made me feel close to home. Now I realize that I have been gone 7 days, and that is not a long time. But I know that in a couple of months, when the crawfish boils start, I will start to miss home. But like the songs says, the eyes of Texas are upon you, you can not get away. Some non-longhorns may think I'm being cheesy or too Hook em Horns about this. But that's not what it is. Follow that song up with Lord, Have Mercy I'm a Country Boy, and Tom Petty's Won't Back Down and I'd bet most of you would feel pretty good too.


On my way home, I stopped at the Pâtisserie. After the shoe repair guy, I decided to try some more French at the shops. I went to the little store and bought shampoo. Boring. Then I made it around the corner to the little shop of heaven. Now I'm not a sweets fan. Appetizers or dessert and I'm going to pick fried, cheesy things every time. But French pastries should not be taken lightly. I went in, and being that it was almost lunch there was a bit of a line. I decided on a swiss and ham baguette, and a pain au chocolat for the walk home. In France, chocolate croissants are not called chocolate croissants. They are pain au chocolat, which translates to choclate in bread. Whatever frenchies. Anywho, I ate my croissant and resisted skipping home. And it was only .80 euros, which is $1 usd. Crazy town. And the sandwich was 2.80 euro, or $3.60. Great deal.


I just made myself some tea and am considering popping Lonesome Dove into the DVD player. Which reminds me that my host family has LD on vhs. Can you believe it?!? Seriously, how many french families do you think own that series. Gives them a little bump in the points if you ask me.

Day 2: or The Day of Luggage and Quiche

It's a Christmas miracle!! I seem to have avoided Jet Lag. Not sure how I did it, and I'm sure some of you are thinking that an awesome person such as myself should expect to be exempt from such lame things. And you would be right. A nice way to start out my trip, that's for sure.


I woke up this morning around 9:00. We wanted to leave for Paris around 10:00, so I wanted to make sure and not be the one holding up the group. I sat next to Jeremy in the car, the 5 year old, and he proceeded to tell me all about his Lego catalog. His English needs work so I asked him all sorts of things about dinos and pirates ships and what not. These toys now a days are getting pretty fancy. 


In France, Sundays are free for museums and monuments. In other words, the lines are crazy town. We were going to visit Sainte-Chapelle, but the line was hours and hours long, so we went to Notre Dame and climb the 400 steps to the top (read: brutal). Nice view though.

After the walk down, not brutal, just dizzying, we walked around a bit and had lunch at a little restaurant named Fourmi Ailée. I had a jazzed up Quiche Lorraine, and it was delicious. I ordered well. Then we walked a bit more and drove home. The blue sky started to show during lunch, and the sun helped the mood. I love sunshine and was a little worried that going without it for 6 months would be a problem, but if I can just get a couple of days like today, I'll make it through just fine. 

My luggage came around 9:00 tonight, so I have been unpacking and trying to make my room feel more like mine. Yesterday seemed like I was just visiting, with my one little bag, but today it seems more obvious that I actually moved here. I have my Harry Potter book next to my Lonesome Dove, which I think pretty much sums up who I am as a person.

As a side note, I'd like to congratulate TCU on a Horned Frog victory, it's nice to see one Texas team not totally collapsing like a cheap tent (Which I have actually had happen to me).

Au revoir de Saint-Nom.