Crazy European News (That will brighten any Monday!)

I don't remember exactly the words that typed into my best friend Google this morning, it was something about a hippo and macaroni and cheese (I was looking for a silly picture to send to a friend- don't ask) but anyway, the first suggestion that popped up was a story about a hippo that swallowed a dwarf. Yes, I know this sounds insane (well mostly because it is...) but I couldn't resist clicking on the link and learning just a little bit more (my curiosity to learn more about useless things, this is one reason why I retain the dumbest facts and figures and tid bits of info that anyone could retain -making me the IDEAL partner for any trivia based game)!! But boy oh boy was I happy I clicked because it led me to a plethora of other totally wacky and out there stories that someone so kindly compiled into one little blog entry about European Newspapers, giving me the laugh I needed to boost my Case of the Mondays into outerspace and continue on with a smile.

Here are a few examples that the author had included:
Stories borrowed from the blog: I Want Ice Water



Happy Reading ...

Oooops

Oooopsy ... I can not believe that is has been 2 weeks since I have written. Man oh man, I am just not keeping up with things the way that I should be. And well the thing is I have a list about a mile long with things I want to write about on here!! I guess the last couple of weeks have been so jam packed that when I get home or have a few minutes typing or even sitting in front of my computer is not what I want to be doing, we can thank work for that!! I have been one BUSY BEE!! Next weekend I leave for Philadelphia for the event that has been running my life (well one of the events, I am currently working on two, which has turned out to be quite a balancing act - yikes!) and since it has been running my life it has essentially grounded me from writing here!! Ok, excuses, excuses but planning an event totally remotely has been quite interesting. Lucky for me I have made it a priority to fill my weekends with at least one day totally away from work stuff (yes I have been working on the weekend for the last few weeks. Talk about dedication baby)! Last weekend, I experienced my first indoor swimming centre here and as nervous and well not excited at all about trying it - I grew up swimming outside with my cousins and friends in Grammy's above ground pool with floaties attached to our matching watermelon bathing suits- so a public pool and all the unknown people in it is a bit intimidating - it turned out a-ok and I actually really enjoyed myself. I forgot a few things, one being how much I enjoy being in the water and two what a great little workout swimming is. Especially when you are trying to keep yourself afloat in the deep end with two little kiddos (the partner in crimes kiddos were the reason to be at this pool) jumping all over you and asking for rides to the lane markers and back! I am definitely planning a return trip, I may even bust out the old goggles and swim cap for old times sake... This weekend I will be indulging in some LONG OVERDUE shoe shopping and on Sunday I will be attending the Rugby World Cup at a Pub in the 8th district with some good friends, who I know will make waking up at the butt crack of dawn on a Sunday totally worth it (if you are reading this, take this as your warning to be sure I have a good time) plus they promised that the rugby men on the tv will be worth it just on their own... !!

So rest assured, even though I have been a bit quiet on here,  I am not being boring and staying holed up with nothing exciting going on, it is just the opposite, I haven't had much free time to update, but I'll work on it. Promise!!

*details about the shoes I purchase today and the rugby event tomorrow to follow!!!

Another First

So there have been A LOT of firsts since I arrived in Paris...

• the first taxi ride form the airport with no idea about where I was going or if we were headed in the right direction
• the first time I went to the market for food when I arrived and ended up with noodles and butter because I was too nervous to buy anything else
• the first time the metro went on strike and I thought an angry mob would actually be taking over 
• the first picnic and stroll through the Jardin du Luxembourg 
• the first night out at a Parisian bar, trying to order a drink and wondering why on earth so many people still smoke here
• the first time I actually ordered in FRENCH at the bakery down the street and didn't wait until the little place was empty so no one would hear me to do it
• the first night out at a Paris Night Club and dancing until the sun came up and not realising it
• the first time a waiter was rude to me because of my awful franglais
• the first time I actually waited in line to go UP the Eifel Tower ... totally worth it at least once...
• the first ride on the back of a scooter, weaving in and out of traffic for dear life while laughing so hard it hurt
• the first year anniversary of me living in such a magnificent city

Well I can think of about a bazillion more firsts than just those but if I keep listing this post will be about a mile long and you will wonder why exactly I decided to write about my firsts in the first place (haha, get it ... in the first place!)... So here it is the latest first in a long line of them. Friday evening after celebrating the Partner In Crime's birthday with some friends at her apartment, three of us left to take the stroll to the metro and make our way back to our own homes for bed. Well after an evening of wine, food, and debating over which musicals had the best songs to sing too (this of course took place AFTER all the wine) I hadn't exactly been paying much attention to the time - which normally wouldn't be a problem BUT when it comes to the Metro... it is sort of an important piece of info to have when planning your transfers. Anyhoooooo ... we marched to the metro got on and began our journey home, my escorts departed after a few stops and I kept moseying down the line until I reached my station transfer... walking to the quai of the line 2 at a lovely stop we call Charles deGaulle Etoile, I noticed this normally bustling stop was dead as a door nail, and that's when the announcement came up - to make a long story short, the line 2 was closed and there was no hope of me getting a metro for the rest of my journey home. To top this off as I started the walk up to the exit, I noticed that all of the gates were closed and for a brief moment I was sure I was sleeping underground. That was until a nice, friendly (insert sarcasm here) RATP officer found me, and a few other stragglers, and so graciously walked us out to the only unlocked exit. Unfortunately I still wasn't home and the 35 minute walk ahead of me at almost 3AM was not sounding appealing, so instead I parked myself at a taxi stand and waited until my ride home approached. Yes - I made it home safe and sound and I actually laughed at myself for quite some time after realising how silly it was of me to think the metro was a good idea that late at night. BUT there was one other first, I discovered- thanks to my loud and rowdy, balding with a comb over taxi driver - a country radio station in Paris. Now to most this is not a big deal but growing up as a serious county girl this truly was the icing on my Friday night cake... especially because listening to a French broadcaster announce the Zac Brown Band and Gretchen Wilson is simply hysterical...