We're Not Moving Today

Well that's a big ole bummer.  We had just about everything packed up and ready to be moved this morning, but we received an email at 930p last night telling us we should probably wait.  Looks like our landlord is considering refinishing the hardwood floor in our new apartment.  Which is nice, since it looks like this.

I tried scrubbing it on my hands and knees, but it's beyond needing a cleaning.  We won't know for sure if they will actually be doing the refinishing until next week.  And the refinishing itself will take 3 or 4 days.  So the earliest we could move in would be next Friday.  Or maybe we'll just wait until our household goods arrive the 19th and 20th.  Who knows.  I should point out that the apartment has been vacant since the first week of July.  Wish they could have figured this stuff out sooner.  Whine over.  Now to go unpack.  Oh joy.

New Boots

So since it's the third day of réentrée (when we all drop kick our kids back to school), and I have already noticed that the Parisians have all changed out their wardrobes.  Seriously.  No sandals.  Lots of sweaters and scarves.  And balloon pants.  (I really don't get that one.  They look good on only 1% of the population, and even their butts look big!  I must post more on this later.)  Now it's all about ballet slippers in fall colors and boots.  Lots of really nice boots.  The weather is no different than last week mind you, but because the calendar now says September we must say goodbye to all this summer stuff.  Very sad.  

I like boots.  I usually keep them until they fall apart.  The Parisians like heels on all their shoes, boots included, but I just can't do it.  I like my feet.  So lucky me, I found the Geox store at Les Quatre Temps in La Défense.  And bought these.

I think I'm in love. 

Luckily my husband is very understanding about my need to follow the local customs.  I'm hoping that the Parisians will expect that I carry a matching bag.  

Chipotle IS Coming to Paris!

I have it from the source!  

After hearing and reading the rumors that Chipotle is coming to Paris I sent them an email.  I needed an answer.  And I got one!  Thank you Austin Roberts, Customer Service Guy.  Here is what he said.

Thanks so much for taking the time to write to us and yes we are actually coming to Paris, France. Unfortunately, I do not have any news as to when the Paris restaurant will be opening. Please bare with us and stay tuned. Thanks for the question.

Sincerely,

Austin
Austin Roberts | Customer Service

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Great news!  (Though I should probably suggest he read my good friend Michelle's 5 Minute Grammar Lesson on bare vs bear.)  So sometime in the future, who knows when, Chipotle is coming to Paris.  I vote for sooner rather than later.  I can almost smell the carnitas!  

Thought This Was Neat

Thought this was a pretty neat picture.  We had just gotten off the metro at Concorde and we were planning on playing in the Tuileries Gardens with the kids.  As usual the summer weather threw us for a loop and we ended up huddled under a tree while we put on raincoats and got out umbrellas.  I grabbed our DK Travel Guide out to look for a restaurant nearby and this is what I turned to.  I love when this kind of thing happens!

School Lunches

If you want to see how French public school kids eat, watch this.  It's a great piece by CBS News.

We got the school lunch menu for September, and our kids will be eating well.  Want an example of the kinds of four course meals they will be having daily?

The 12th the children will be dining on Tabouleh, Grilled Chicken Legs, Ratatouille and for the cheese course?  Buche de Chévre.

Here are some other highlights...
Spagettis Garniture Bolognaise (Spaghetti Bolognese)
Aiguillettes de Poulet au Curry (Chicken Strips in Curry)
Omelette au Fromage (Cheese Omelette)
Galette Vegetale aux Champignons (Vegetable Gallette with Mushrooms)
Pavé de Truite (Trout Steaks)
Bœuf Bourguignon
Seriously, the list goes on and on.  There is always at least one vegetable, and dessert is usually cheese, fruit or yogurt, with the occasional "Creme Dessert Chocolat" thrown in there.  YUM!

Oh, and did I mention that all the food served at our school is organic (bio)?  Another terrific bonus.

The French take their food very seriously.  It's lovely to know that my kids are going to be exposed to that.

Things That Suck

So we've had a wonderful last week.  I'll make sure to post lots of great pictures when the kids finally go to school this coming week.  Seriously, I won't know what to do with all the time on my hands!  But I had to post this right now.

Really???  The Husband puts me and the kids in a taxi home from a friends party on Place Victor Hugo tonight so he can go search out the home opener of Notre Dame football somewhere in the 6th.  (Yes, he is a masochist.)  No problem.  As we enter the Place de Porte de Maillot...WHACK!  We get hit by a car.  I can see it coming...and had time to grab both kids who are strapped into their seat belts, but not nearly as safely as I'd like them to be.  The impact is not so bad, though my head hits the side window as I'm totally focused on holding onto the kids.  So the taxi driver pulls over and jumps out to scream at the other driver, who of course jumps out and screams at him.  (God I wish I knew French!)  I check on the kids, who are perfectly fine and have no idea there is any problem.

So get this.  They are still yelling at each other, getting louder and louder, gesturing wildly at the street, at their bumpers, and back to the street.  Then they get their cell phones out and start yelling again.  (I MUST learn French.)  So I dare to open the door and try to get out.  The guy starts yelling at me!  Um.  NO.  He said, "Do you want me to get you another taxi?"  Really???  You think I want to sit here and get yelled at?  So I said no since I could see another taxi stand just across the street.  I paid him the 5 euro on the meter and walked my kids across the street to another waiting taxi.  You bet your bottom dollar I made sure everyone was securely strapped in again!

Ah well.  No one was hurt in the production of this blog entry.  I thought about taking a quick picture but I didn't want him yelling at me even more.

The French are still a mystery to me.  Now to pour a glass of wine.

Oh, and I should mention that we will be getting our car this week.  I just can't wait to start driving in this city!  Fun!