keeping warm

it is cold here. really cold. 
low: 0-4 degrees celcius
high: 4-7 degrees celcius 

plus rain and snow!! i actually have not seen the snow, but it has snowed in paris. 
it is really painful some days. i do not understand how girls still look good without freezing.

This past week was really busy with visitors!  Westmont Marisa and her friend Katie are taking a three week Europe adventure and started their trip in Paris.  They did a lot of site-seeing around Paris while I went to school and worked.  At night we met up and walked around Paris or just hung out at my flat because they were too tired from their day of touristing.  Friday was the semi-big night out.  After work I met Marisa and Katie at the Arc de Triomph.  Went in and out of the Arc, learned about its history, and took pictures.  It was raining and cold, but Paris still looked good, especially with the lights lit up on the Champs-Elysees!  After, school friends and I met up to go out, but we were to meet one of the guys’ girlfriends at some bar in the city.  We walked endlessly for a an hour to find out we were on the same street going the wrong direction.  Turn around and walk some more until we find the bar.  Tiny bar with great atmosphere.  I ordered a screwdriver: vodka and orange juice and get: wine and orange juice in separate glasses.  Lost in translation for sure. Whatever, both tasted great and it was actually cheaper.  I went home just as the metro closed and Marisa, Katie, and Katie Winter all went dancing at La Pena.  I really do not like La Pena, so I really try not to go there anymore.  

Saturday I went to the church’s Marché de Noël.  Paris is actually filled with these Christmas markets and I am excited to go to all the others.  A few that I know, one including the small church next to my work home, have these legit little wooden houses set up for the marché de noël.  I will get a picture, but its big time stuff.  There is a Christmas market right off of the Champs-Elysees, but I heard that one was not that good.  Anyway, did not find much but three books at the church Christmas sale and went back to my area to peruse the shopping there, but came back with nothing, and then to go to the birthday of Ambroise, the new two year old.  

It was a lot of fun.  The house was decorated with some balloons and the table nicely set for the five of us.  There was a simple, yet delicious chocolate cake adorned with manderin oranges.  We sang happy birthday in english and in french and just hung out.  Both boys opened the gifts, since Jean-Baptiste was a little jealous.  Ambroise got some pretty cool gifts from his parents and grandparents.  I gave him Mr. Potat, aka Mr. Potato Head.  After eating and opening some gifts we went to the park for a carrousel ride.  Shortly after we returned because it was sooo cold outside.  Then just hung out at the house before meeting Elise and Emily at the house to hang out.  

Emily and Elise were in Paris for the weekend and I really did not get to see much of them because they were stuffing much of Paris in two days.  They were really tired, but we had to make some hang out time.  We did not do much other than chat, watch an episode of Weeds and then pushing ourselves to go out and see night time Paris.  We met up with Marisa, Katie, and Katie, who went to a professional volleyball game to see one of Marisa’s friend play.  Pretty cool.  We walked around St. Germain aka St. Michel and ate a grec-sandwich place. you know, those tall spinning things of meat?  So oily, so greasy, so good.  

Sunday I met up with Marisa, Katie, and Katie in La Marais where we shopped around and looked around.  We went to this store called MUJI. An upgraded Japanese version of IKEA.  So great.  I had to go to return a gift, but of course ended up buying something else, and the girls did just the same.  Probably one of the best stores I have been to.  It isn’t even that big, but such cool things inside.  After shopping, we went to “the best falafel house.”  It was actually really good.  In place of those grec-sandwiches, I will now be eating falafels.  I have always been a fan, but now I have to have them.  Kind of like MyBerry. 

I am back in the groove of afternoon naps and late night computer surfing.  As much as I love friends and visitors, I love and need Jen-time.  

This week, I will be having a Thanksgiving, except it will be on Friday.  Patrice works till really late and it would be better to have him there.  I will be cooking a lot of it.  I am pretty sure I do not have to do the turkey, but I am doing the mashed potatoes, stuffing, two pies, probably white rice, cranberries, and maybe that’s it?  I do not like yams and feel like those are not essential.  I do not know.  Does not seem like much or even too hard.  I do wish there was chinese rice…man, I miss that.  I am going to have to ask Ma Ma to make me some when I get back.  So cooking for five, maybe six.  Should be fun.  Give you the update later.  

See you soon. 

More pictures from Friday night.