thoughts

Because they are so fun, I've created a list of things running through my head that I need to report in on!

1) I will also be making a "to eat" list soon because after discovering a Moroccan restaurant near my yoga place last night, I decided I will continue being adventures & eating as big of a variety as I can while here! This past weekend, my friends and I ate at a Lebanese restaurant and did some big fixed menu thing, so it was fun since we had no idea what we ate, but, it was all delicious (and cheap-10 euros per person!)
2) My running routine is back in gear! Despite the cold, it felt great to get out there tonight and last night, today with my host sister. We're a good team out running because we make sure to walk/gab for as long as we just ran!
3) To add to my cold post from yesterday, I'd like to note how hysterical the Aixoises are right now–people watching the men shiver and hunch their shoulders in as they walk really cracks me up! If only they knew what it was like back home!
4) Speaking of, GO BEARS! Just read the headline but it sounds like (surprise) the Bears skated by last night to beat Green Bay. A win's a win, right?!
5) Also on the Chicago note, I heard "Chelsea, Chelsea" used in a TV ad tonight (I think for a French version of "Wife Swap," Liza, get excited...) so it would be impossible for me not to think about the faaabulous Chicago Blackhawks & their Stanley Cup Championship on the eve of my 21st this summer :)
6) I have decided "Desperate Housewives" is a really good show to watch in French in terms of comprehension–there are voice overs but those people do a good job of timing their speech with the original lips! It's pretty funny watching that show, of all things, as one of the snippets of what the French see of America.
7) I ate such a good crêpe from a truck today with Laura & Ali–I thought it was my first crêpe in the land of frogs, but how could I forget about a recent visit to Belle Epoque?!?! Well, this was my first NUTELLA crêpe (everybody freak out, I just said Nutella), and it was just as good as it sounds. No, better. I felt very French eating it as I sat against a fountain this afternoon. Chouette!
8) In class tomorrow we will be discussing the "Church" of Scientology, so naturally I can't help but think of my run-in with Tom Cruise in France three years ago at our hotel in Antibes, a town along the French Riviera between cinema-famous Cannes and beautiful Nice.
9) More on food. I also feel like I had one of my first VERY FRENCH meals, this time Julia Child would be proud. Our main course was some sort of lasagna-sized, gnocci-textured fromagey-pasta with a creme sauce. It was all I could do not go back for seconds on this, I chose more of the "tomato sandwhich" instead (I am dubbing it that since it was a sliced tomato with ham and mozzarella in between the layers, baked in a casserole–try it!).
10) Pain, Vin, Fromage, anyone?! Tomorrow is my first wine-tasting course, WOO HOO! Everyone is really excited for it, that is, except from some of the recovering students from Ocktoberfest, who are dubbing the next month "Sober Ocktober" after a fun/rough weekend...
11) My family is going to see Elton John TOMORROW!!! WOW!!! I am so jealous, and at the same time so happy. Yay for Elton love!!

Bonne nuit,
c