as we near the one year mark, we're pushing our blog to the limit, this time with a live, transatlantic broadcast. once again, i've decided to spend my precious weeks of vacation kickin' it with my french peeps. if you're constructing an image of me as a chique parisian sipping espresso in a cafe, thoughtfully jotting down poetic musings about life along side of the seine, think again. my blogmate and i have done the math, and in the end, the best we can figure is that life in rural france is not unlike life in rural wisconsin, complete with monster truck rallies (even if no one would come with me last year) and above-ground swimming pools. i'm fairly certain that the french even have party-barge equivalents, although theirs tend to cruise down canals of more historic importance, complete with dilapidated (but fully operational) locks. while the annual family stroll down one of said canals, marvelling not only at their 300 year old stone work, but also at the elite party-barge occupants isn't on my short list of favorite french countryside pastimes, here are a few that make the cut:
#1: sheep shearing as a spectator sport - i'm SOL this year as it's too cold for scheduled de-wooling
#2: calf/lamb birthing, also as spectator sport
#3: assorted berry-picking
#4: sleeping until noon and blaming it on jet-lag
#5: inept tennis playing on the court that doubles as the school playground and site of the annual town bonfire
#6: tearing through town (population 200) with the windows down with the music thumping, drawing the locals from their houses so they can stare at me in slack-jawed amazement
#7: capitalizing on french etiquette - drop by to see anyone and you're guaranteed a cup of coffee
#8: political sparring with my uncles who hold me personally responsible for george bush's existence - i come from a long ine of registered socialists
#9: remastering the french keyboard
#10: pre-dinner apperitif with strange, yummy liquors and tasty snacks
you're getting exhausted just reading about it aren't you. i'd complain but instead i just say c'est la vie...
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two more:
- chauffering my grandmother around as she runs errands and calls on her numerous acquaintances
- demo-ing american music to my aunt; i try to bring her stuff suitable for middle aged french lady (barenaked ladies, g.love) but so far far the only song that has really caught her attention is "get poppin'" (fat joe + nelly). it seems my i'm genetically programmed for low-brow music...
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