Dearest: Mother Fromest: Daughter

To thee best mother I have EVER had (hehe), Happy be-lated bday. You will love your present. I love you!!!! Miss you pooperdooper<3


Ps: Please complete FAFSA
PPS: Please do my flight.. C says that Flights in July get crazy because France has all of August off.
PPPS: Sorry I had to include that ^.. just to remind you if you happen to check up on me on this..
PPPPS: I give you permission to make Gracie go on a diet.... I want her looking foxy when I get home ;)

Praise be to God... AND Sidereel.

                         

Alrighty Folksies, Here's the Scoopers,

I have realized that I am TOO go with zee flow... I realized that without people reminding me memorable dates, my brain in fact, does not find them memorable...It's horrible. Being that I am no longer surrounded by a Catholic society of friends & teachers.. I had no idea that lent had started. It wasn't until I had this convo with an ATHEIST friend..

[ Setting: my "crib" relaxing with a friend while the kids were at school}

Me: Hey would you like some baguette??

Her: No I can't.( in a really irritated voice)

Me: Why CAN'T you have some bread?

Her: Because it's 40 days of fitness fun.

Me: Oh man, maybe I should do that... why  40 days?

Her: What do you mean " Why 40 days" you are the Catholic one!

Me: Umm yeah... but what does working out have to do with being Catholic...

Her: Um...

Me: OH SHOOT!!! LENT STARTED????

So dear Jesus,

I feel super bad. But I promise I started at that moment... and I gave up chocolate... which is really painful... but I will sacrifice it for you... You should know, it's been giving me weird symtoms... like fidgeting, irritation.. and fortunately, weight loss.

Love,

Carly

Anyways- C says she's going to make a mean mousse on easter.. I am going to hold her to it.

    Anyways X2- What is " Sidereel" you ask? Well... one synonym to a traveler abroad may be something like... LIFE SAVER or WONDERFULNESS.. or CURES PROBLEMS. It is a website that allows me to watch MY shows... like The Office, House, rizzoli and Isles, Parks and Recreation.. You have no idea how much happier it makes me.. Actually, besides complete annoyance at moments of time, I have been feeling happier lately. I have been playing tennis every Monday and Friday and occasional Sundays.. its great. The sun has been shining lately.. it's so... Home'y. Miss you Cali! Coming home soon. I will be home at the end of July till the end of August... and then.. here's the Bonne Nouvelle ( good news): I got an extension on my deferment for another 4 months... I think I will be  fluent by then... so I will be going back at the end of August and hopefully be coming home for Christmas and then heading to New York ( Finalement: for school)  mid- January.

Not much else-

LoveLovePoopitydoo,
Car

Wall of Mirrors- Versailles

Moms crazy mittins

Versailles- AKA my house

RYAN AIR- struggled with fitting my bag in their sizer

Today I broke an oven, I'm sure of it.

 Dearest readers that I repeatedly apologize to( but superbly adore!),


Momma and Bre have been (politely) yelling at me about writing in my blog.. or about NOT writing in my blog. So here we go…. It’s a Saturday afternoon and I am sitting outside because well, the sun has struck up a deal with Paris and is now deciding to work for us.. woohoo! It’s a bit windy, but I don’t even care… I just… I just missed you sun. So whats on my agenda you ask? Why am I sitting outside my house on a beautiful Saturday afternoon instead of gallivanting through Paris? Well obviously for you, see how dedicated I am to you?… Or the fact that I am fearing I might get some more threatening emails..But I thought, why not, out of the kindness of my heart, I’ll write to my loving friends and family back home. Plus… I have been feeling a little down lately ( truthfully can’t tell you why) and I sorta kinda ish’ly blew off my friends today. Sorta kinda ishly DEFINITELY annoyed with myself that I did that… it was going to be a fun day… going to some beautiful park and playing Frisbee and soccer. Blah, I smack you carly, I smack you. But anywho. I have been starting to get out a little more often( exercise wise)… every Friday now has been turned into a tradition of playing tennis with two other au pairs… A brit and A ( former.. as in turned Canadian) CalicaliCanny. Well when I say tradition… I mean that we’ve done it once and we WANT to make it a tradition. We found this club that has a ghetto hole in the fence… and that’s how we get to play tennis for free. Shhh don’t tell the feds. If I haven’t mentioned in a previous entry, Maisons-Laffitte is a place where they play tennis and ride horses religiously. Literally though. About every kid here plays tennis and has like 7 horses just chilling in their backyard… okay maybe that’s a little exaggerated, but just trying to get the point across. It is a c r o s s ?? So. I wrote an article for my highschool.… some of you may have gotten honorably mentioned… as in teachers and friends… But truthfully I have NO idea who reads this…

( Here are two entries about Ireland... I forgot I had already written about it.)

Once we( two other friends and I) officially got to Ireland... we had a 13 hour delay and basically went crazy in the airport... you can onlyhave soooo many ( 5) coffees and 3 hours of pretending to understand a french book before being a little annoyed... But god bless, we finally got there.We stayed in Dublin and it was a very fun city... I went to bars every night with live music and danced to crazy Irish folk ... one being this stereotypical Irish sir... with a big red beard and a sailor mouth... it was so funny. It was the funnest thing I've done in a long time. We visited the more southern part of Ireland and that was my fave... all the green hills and ALL the freaking sheep. It was beyond awesome. It was also just nice to get away... as I've blahblah'ed about in the previous entries about being motherly and wanting my youth back... well this was a great trip for that. We went to the Guinness Brewery and it was a lot bigger deal than I knew... If any older men are reading this, they're probably shaking their head at me because of my lack of knowledge in the beer department... Well don't slap me here misters, but Guinness is a disgusting drink. Its like.... really thick bitter bitterness and you're supposed to smile and love it and have conversations and blah blah, but it was disgusting... I traded my free one in for a diet coke... don't shun me dad ;) I did like the Bulmers (cider) though... more because it tasted like .. well... NOT alcohol. MMMM the best Irish course I had there was their stew... it had lamb( to me tasted like chicken... which shows you how good I'd be at being a food critic), potatoes, carrots, with a pinch of heart burn and deliciousness at the end. It was yumyum.


So I went to Ireland. That was pretty cool …I can’t lie… The two movies Leap Year and Ps: I Love You did inspire me to go… I was hoping to find some cute husband that had a charming accent and played the guitar… Unlucky… but I did find some handsome sheep. Lots actually. It was wild! The sheeps in Ireland really know how to party. But honestly ( franchement), we did find some really cool pubs that had some really cool live music… by “we” I wish I meant the sheep, but I actually went to Dublin with two au pairs. Anywho. I danced every night… EVERY SINGLE NIGHT… Yes,I did try a Guiness, and yes you are wrong if you think I liked it. See I am more of a “ I don’t like to taste the alcohol when I am drinking alcohol” kind of chick. But I had to try just because it was Dublin. And well that pretty much sums it up… drinking.. dancing… live music… green hills… sheep… and consistent anti-american comments from my two Canadian friends. Blah.



Lately… I’ve been doing not much… When I get bored I either workout… eat... coffee dates with other au pairs… or play pranks on Christine. That’s one highlight actually… Christine is so freaking fun, she plays pranks on me all the time which really reminds me of home.. I don’t know why, but it does. Christine is also a lot like my mom… I miss my mom… it usually comes most when I see the parents being affectionate with their kids… It reminds me of when I was younger … Its actually super strange/cool… I have a lot of flashbacks of things I didn’t remember happening. Living here… has made me remember and enjoy the simple simple things that happened in my childhood… it really is crazy how it all seems to be coming back.

Rewind. Here’s a peak at what a crazy child I was.

… like how we used to draw with chalk all over our drive ways and streets when we were younger… when I used to go outside and play hide and seek or basketball at 10 at night with Em or friends and neighbors… The nights Em and I trained for soccer outside in our backyard for hours… all the times my friends and I used to go to the park and catch crawdads using sticks, strings, and pieces of ham…Hearing the band play as I played softball games at JOBL… the dedication my dad had for me and sports, he trained me with passion and without complaining… The stupid things Tamra and I used to do as kids… like capturing turkeys and treating them as our own ( don’t worry we actually looked this info up on the internet and fed them well.)… or like stealing all the lemons from our neighbors trees( mom, by the way, this is my confession, 10 years later, as to why there were a few random lemons in our front yard… I remember I responded with, “ um.. no clue… maybe it’s a prank.”) …. Tamra and I once tried to “camp” at her house in her sportscourt… but of course we were young and stupid and made a campfire on the concrete ( yes it left a huge black mark and her dad was furious) and roasted hot dogs and made HOME MADE ( or sports court made rather) fresh squeezed lemonade and put up a tent…. I remember riding bikes with em.. and that phase I went through that I wanted to be a pro skate boarder or roller blader..Or when em bought that random wheelchair and we used it as a sort of scooter going down the hill for at least a year ( mom and our neighbors must have thought we were psycho em… even more so you though, you are the one that bought it at that weird cheap market)… When we used to have friends over we would have music video competitions.. I remember repeatedly using “ I’m a Barbie girl in this Barbie world” and “Big butts.” I remember when I used to feed Soxers ( our cat at the time) Mcdonalds fries because he LOVED them… I still feel guilty because I am pretty sure that’s what caused his death… ( Rip my little kittyboy)…I remember always doing that 3 mile circuitous route with momma… I remember Em found a creepy little hut thing in some ones backyard that we were convinced was haunted or some sort of bad’ness was happening in it… we visited it often and I’m just remembering it now… Christmas when I swear I heard footsteps on my ceiling… ALL the freaking hamsters mom and dad bought em and I… The nights mom would let me spend the night at Tamras house … the tradition I remember after band recitals…Playing N64….. When Em and I played in the band…. When we all were obsessed with Pokemon but didn’t actually know how to play so we used the number in the top right corner and we played as if it were “War”… Watching Friends with mom dad and Em.. but dad wanting to watch the Simpsons....



I am sitting in my bed and its 11:01 pm.. and I can’t help but smile at the fact that I had the best childhood… Mom and Dad were ( are) the best… They were so cool… but the reason I am telling you these memories… is because I think its sad… The fact that most of all my memories were without technology… and now, I am here seeing all these kids NEEDING technology for every entertainment activity… It is really sad. I remember when I was a kid and if we didn’t know what to do… we went outside and found something fun ( and probably stupid) to do. And that’s the best… that’s how you learn and become inventive… How creative can you get using a Wii machine? Or skyping to a friend who lives 5 minutes away by walk and whom you also just saw 10 minutes ago… It’s super annoying to me. But.. we’ll see.. maybe I can influence them to go outside… it’s just that their generation has so many technological advances, they truly don’t know better.



Like I said… I didn’t do anything on Sat… I stayed with the family and we watched The Notebook… They actually weren’t obsessed with it like all American teenagers are… It was the weirdest thing to see their response… I was just like “ wahhhht!!!” It was funny. Weird, but funny. And today ( Sunday) I slept in… I watched some vampire diaries… C made a mean couscous (spelling) and then C and E and I went to the Monet Museum… it was a nice sunny day… and it was nice to have just a girls day out. I miss you mom!

I am heading to bed…

Modays are Japanese food night… did I tell you that? It’s been a tradition ever since I got here.. EVER Monday.. I LOVE Miso soup. Yum. And chicken kabobs. And salmon sashimi . and rice.

I am still eating those recees momma sent me for valentines day… I should prob start that summer working out… hmm…



Sometimes I get really annoyed by kids… which obviously is a bit inconvenient because of my job….

Night night et Bisous

Car

.... Batman and I have the same Birthday.

That's just a visual for you. Anyways. First birthday away from home, ce dimanche ( this sunday). Righto. the visual is also to remind you of what I look like.... I haven't written in forever. It seems I am continually apologizing for that...So this is me actually apologizing 5 times.. for if it happens in the future, I am solid for four more times before you can get upset with me. Fair enough? Thanks you're sweet.

Christmas: I didn't really explain it well.. It was amazing being home and seeing the people that I saw. Most of all, it was great to see my family and feel that connection again. I missed the attention... although most of you know, I am not the most affectionate person... because well I am pretty shy when it comes to that... But, I had missed it and getting again... was... well, still embarassing... But in the most lovely way! So if you contributed to my pink flushed cheeks and awkward giggle and warm heart... I really appreciate it, thank you! I don't rememeber if I have mentioned about who(m?) I saw ... but I was so happy that I made some of you cry. I know that sounds... a bit rude... But hahah, what I mean is that it showed that it was that great for you to see me... or possibly in Tays situation, just scared the living crap out of you. But.. no really, it was beautiful to see all of you. Special shout out to my Auntie and Uncle and Cousins... that was the best. Did I mention my sister made a scene in the airport.. " WAIITTT WHATTTT!!!!!!!!!"  because she was so surprised.... obviously I just walked away like I didn't know her... Come on Em... we might know someone in this airport.. how embarassing right?? Kidding. Anyways. Cali you rock my socks, what a beautiful surprise to be home... for all of us!

Sarah.. my really good Australian friend left.. like I had mentioned... but she came back for a day because her flight leaves from Paris. I had no way of contacting her because she no longer had a french phone and didn't have internet but I knew where she was staying... so.. like some had mentioned... I went  back in the day and did it without my cell phone. It was invigorating. Truly. I felt.. myself again. Back in Cali.. I was so spontaneous.. showing up at friends houses at 3 am just to talk because I was bored and couldn't sleep... And well, I felt the thrill of my life again. Not that I haven't been having a great time here... but I felt ME again and it was so fun. I finally found her hotel... ps. not in the nicest area... And here I am this blonde little American girl venturing through the district known for drugs, alcohol, and sex. Fun no? Living on the edge (joking). But I found her hotel... and asked the concierge for her room number... I went up.. and knocked and no answer. What an anticlimactic moment. Really though. It was 10:30 pm at this point and she wasn't in her room? But then I thought to myself " Hey poohhead.. it's her LAST night in paris... did you really think she would be in her room?" So.. I went downstairs.. and asked in french if the front desk had seen her pass by. " She has to be in her room because she has the key." MMkay. Darn. So I waited in the lobby... well what you call a lobby.. this was just an awkward area with a chair and a ghetto table that was a fishtank... It's right in front of the front desk too so I awkwardly just stared at him while he sat there. Cool night so far. Then this chick comes in and is speaking english to the front desk trying to ask how you say " Dry Hair" in french because she needed shampoo. It went back and forth.. unsuccessfully... because she barely spoke english and he ONLY spoke french. I then was like, what the heck I'm not doing anything.. I helped her out... asking him in french if he had a dictionary..um no..." DRY HAIR?" He repeated. He then handed her a hairdryer... She was turned to me desperately and said " Um.. help me?" It was funny. So I went to the store with her... and helped the chick out. She was from some place in Europe.. I forget. She was cool... and a good distraction until Sarah came. So finally we came back to the hotel... 11:15 or something. She wasn't here. I am thinking to myself " There's no way I am going to sleep in this lobby with this weird creepy man and this weird creepy fish table... OR go back home and be a lame-o" I marched.. well rather ran.. up the stairs and went to her room. I was panting.. I don't remember 3 floors being that tiring, what the heck. Anywho. I pounded on her door... SORRY NEIGHBORS... and heard something.. I heard something! and then I am like " SARAHHHH!"  I heard someone that was befuddled... she also took 9 million hours to unluck the three locks... Sleepyhead. Anyways. We reunited.. went to a sweet bar nearby till 2 am... It was an Irish Pub... and we each enjoyed a Smirnoff ice , classily though. For 8 euros a pop, trop cher. And then enjoyed another because of the crazy( actually crazy though) bartender gave us both one on the house... Probably because we were the only girls under 30 that were some what appealing.. and what I mean is, not completely hammered. Ps. Unclassy. Also probably had to do with the fact that his girlfriend that also worked there was from Cali ( Berkeley) as well so we were both pretty siked to be talking about things that no one else understood. It was great. Kind of empowering... thinking how she was here and how our lives just take us so many places and pretty soon you kind of just have to do what YOU want to do because life is so short.... these thoughts made me feel like I was having an epiphany.. but now that I look back on it, half of that feels like it was because of the alcohol. 

I met a guy... not much to say except he was completely beautiful and completely overaged. " How many years have you lived in France"  "Oh 29" * Confused look by me* " Did I say 29 I meant...." AWKWARD. He was super attractive and polite though... we had a good 2 hour conversation... about just everything. He was awesome. Will never see him again.

It is my bday this sunday. I will miss my friends... and the cakes and cards I received at Carondelet. Boo. I want to go out with friends but I am super tired lately and some of my best friends here can't go.

Tiina went psycho on me. The girl in my class. Why did it put me in a good mood? Why did I think it was funny that someone screaming at me really abruptly for absolutely no reason was funny? Weird. But I think the Carly a year ago would have laughed as well... It was.. crazy.

Ash got a new family in Sweden, congrats friend. Hopefully this one will treat you like the human being you deserve to be. Much love huh.

I am going to Dublin,Ireland, from the 16th of Feb. to the 22nd with my friend Jenelle. So excited.

Much Love,

Gros Bisous

Vous me manquez ( I miss you all),

Car

when I surprised Sarah

GUESS WHO!

The French Fam bought me a ticket home for christmas break... their generosity surprises me each day. So I spent the 23rd-3rd in Cali. Didn't tell many people because it was a surprise. so. SURPRISE!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Dear Barcelona(cat) Santa,
Please grant me a flight back to France safely.... the snow has been crazy,man!
Sincerelely,
Car

ps: Merry Christmas Eve!

It's a 4month and 3 day kind of day!

And I thought to myself... 'Why not... let's just go crazy today.' Allors, I put a Croque Monsieur in the oven ( a defrost'able one) and am going to enjoy a cafe after I write this. Today is -7. NEGATIVE FREAKING SEVEN. Conversion Conversion...ahh Here, the conversion to your temperature is 19.4 degrees.... I'd say 'It's frickin' freezing in here, Mr. Bigglesworth. ' And with that, I do include the evil creepy cackle that Dr. Evil gives after that line.Anywho. C is going to Germany just for the day... and E and V have a dance tonight... I feel honored actually, Esmalls wants me to do her hair and makeup... I have NEVER had to do other people's stuff. So we will see how it turns out...I have a knack for pulling things off at the last second though, so I'll just Macgyver it... Or I guess I could just use the hair dryer and curler. So the other day, the person that checks us into their tennis club ( because it's one you need to have a card to scan) was talking to C.. and goes " So you have two daughters and a son" and C goes " Umm, no I have a daughter and a son.. that is our au pair" and then the woman goes on about how I smile and how she thought I was then a 16 year old german girl....Hmmm. Okay. But my point is that everyone thinks I am a part of their family, which is cute. E is always telling me that she wants me to be her older sister... and I have to explain to her that it is impossible... but I will act like it. I guess you could say that things are going quite smoothly here again. Sarah leaves soon... this Saturday is our last day to hang in Paris... I am quite sad actually. She is my best friend here... and we have so much spontaneous fun.. I don't know if I could do that with Tiina or someone else... God, this sucks. 


Croque'y time!
talk soon,
Car

I can feel the Spirit, but not my body!

Disneyland.

Very Very Fun. Very Very cold. The rides were more fun that the cali disney... they seemed faster and more spontaneous..

Faves:Crushes (nemo)
          Space mountain
          Thunder Mountain

Absolute Fave ( and the one I converted Sarah to loving)
          -Peter Pan

Here's the proof of my suffering from going a Californian to Parisian.(click on that)

...Will be using The Happiest Place on earth as therapy.

So Tonight. Worst night ever. Tomorrow is disneyland. It will be much needed.

The Story:

So Sarah and I had a very fun day out in the city... freezing... the kind of freezing where you think to yourself "Why didn't I put on three underwear instead of one." Too cold. Well we were having a great night... But given that we had decided to go to Disneyland, Paris ( OOOoOo, to me, the Paris adds an effect on the way you say it... like it is more chic.. ridiculous  but right.) tomorrow , we thought we would turn in early for the night because C had offered to pick us up at the train station and drop Sarah off. So nice. But anyways...

( to the people that don't live in paris.. you might not understand) So there is a station called Chatalet Les Halles... Not the best station in the world.. but we were coming from the Notre Dame so we had to use it as a transfer. So. We are standing on the platform... and its 8pm.. and there are a lot of people.. always are.. but I do recognize there are a lot more than usual. So.. not judging.. but there was a huge group of maybe 20-29 black, young twenties, rough around the edges, kind of dudes ( californies, imagine oakland)... and not that I felt uncomfortable, but they were acting strange.. a little TOO much energy .. and well we were pretty near them.. and they started walking our way.. voices raised.. but at the times I didn't feel like it was negative, it was just ... energetic. And all of a sudden these guys are pushing each other back.. like its a routine dance or something.. but I've seen this scene before... there was about to be a fight.. so I froze.. about to tell Sarah.. and BAM. He hits him. and then 5 others start hitting each other. One "couple" falls onto 3 little kids and their mom.. and I mean WHACK. like hard. And they get up and continue fighting... Mind that there are a lot of people around.. most sort of jogging passed the scene worried of the train tracks and how easily one push could ends someones life... and people are running.. and all of a sudden someone yells " STEP BACK HE HAS A GUN" .. Sarah and I look at each other and freeze.. for a split second.. sarah says " carly. run" .. I was worried about the mom and children , but can now see they have recovered and are running away.. so many people are trying to run away ( WHERE ARE THE DAMN POLICE OFFICERS WHEN YOU NEED THEM)  .. so we are running up the stairs.. which feels like  running (literally)for our life.. and I can see a woman ( and this certain scene keeps playing in my mind) pounding anxiously and desperately ( and sort of looks like she is crying, I don't know though) on the windows at the information booth trying to get some help.. I look around.. there is seriously NO ONE that can help... and people are casually beeping their cards and scanning their metro tickets not knowing what awaits them at the station below.. I want to scream " Help!" and " don't go down there" but the french sayings is blurry in my mind now... All I can think is.. Safety, Safety.

5 minutes later. Things have cleared up.( as in there are 3 police men and a circle of people surrounding) sarah and I didn't stop to look... we got straight onto the train and went home.

It is 1204 am. I am feeling sick to my stomach. The Office is NOT funny tonight. I feel worried for those poor kids that may be scared to use the train station now. I went to the doctor today and told me I have acne.. and I argued " But I have NEVER had bad skin..EVER.. and acne usually starts at 15 not 19." He said it is from my new life and possible stress. Thankfully this family rocks and is giving me special lotion to clear that grosssy up. Bad day. Very bad day.

Tomorrow is the Happiest Place on Earth. I think Sarah and I could use that...don't cha think?

Bonne Nuit,
Car

Watch out for the!

 SNOW!!!
Not for the Tiger, I would rather take on the tiger right now than the snow.... I have never driven in snow... and well... AH. C said to me this morning " Hey Carly, most streets right now you cant really stop... so just drive slowly and don't brake at all. But besides that you will be fine." Um, sounds really convincing, thanks! Dear snow god, play nice please!

Bisous,
Car

Decembre 1st... *rip*

enthusiasm.

Okay.. so Christmas time is approaching... C bought me an advent calendar... which is super sweet and including me and everything.. One of  my friends (here) has a horrible family... and one time they brought lollipops only for them and ate them in front of her! Well this made me think of that.. instead they DID buy me a "lollipop"... and I feel more grateful and grateful each day.

My nose stud fell out last night.. I have gone through 8 in the past two months because they either fall out ( which I suppose is from my intense sleeping? I don't understand) or break... and well this last one was my last one... and so I had to sleep with an earring instead it last night. How ridiculous.

I just ate smoke salmon on bread and pudding... it is only 10 am.

I got my third postcard the other day... from Maggie and I thank you so much... emails and cards mean the world when you literally are the "world" away from all your friends and family. It was hilarious and I loved it, you are the best!

Last night.. C said  casually " I'm like your mother... I am your french mother"... And I just replied with " Um, you wish" but I felt a hint of sadness(within myself) knowing that I will be leaving sooner than I feel.

It is freezing here... Litererally.. it was -4 this morning.. and it's supposed to get -8. Crazy right? Snow in the parc is beautiful though.. I love it!!

I have been asked from both C and Esmalls if I can stay a second year. I can't though... I am already starting school late I feel when I have 6 years ahead of me. I want to... but I can't. E has cried countless times about me leaving... I try to explain to her though that I still have 7 and a half months with them.

I have been here 102 days.

I just ate another pudding.

Until next time,
Lovest,
Car

Blah.

C asked me today... " well why don't you just stay another year". This is maybe the third time she has asked me. Then E said... " YEAH WHY DONT YOU JUST STAY ANOTHER YEAR, WHAT YOU DON'T LIKE US?" Ugh. Its only been 3 and a half months... Leaving will be hard.

One time I raised a Turkey....

No Joke. With Tamra. His name was Frederick. He was darling and ate chewed up cherries from my hand. I am thinking... Maybe he is out there still... Or Maybe he will be on some ones dinner table tonight... Maybe YOUR dinner table! If so, tell him I say hi.

Happy Thanksgiving.. Wish I were there America, I feel a little "lost" today.. knowing I should be at Tays house or at my Aunts making Lefse and Turkey... well, WATCHING some one make it, lets be real here I was more of a supporter than do'er  on this holiday. " yeah you cook that turkey... skin those potatoes, you got it!" Basically.


I am thankful for many things and many people. I am truly blessed to be doing what I am right now... So, eat a bunch of turkeys and potatoes and biscuits and everything else for me.

Car

...mmmm, Carly concoctions.

This post has NOTHING to do with Au pairing... but  about one of those " I'm kinda sad... or maybe I am just bored... and that elliptical is ALL the ways down stairs... So.." days.. and today you are feeling a little more "curious " and "adventurous"... not in the life way, but in the food way. Lemme break it down for you.

I grabbed, 2 slices of bread in the freezer, and popped them in the toaster.
Then while I was waiting I thought "MMMM chocolate", so I grabbed one 'aisle' on the choc bar.
Then I saw the blueberry jam.
Then I grabbed the whip cream...

and so help me god, I couldn't NOT do it. I had to.

So I spread the jam, crunched the chocolate on it, and mmm sprayed ( artistically) the whipcream on this magnificent piece of art.

Yes it was delicious.

The End.


EMJAY- She came to town and we saw a bunch of stuff.... Musee D'orsay , Notre Dame, L'orangerie, Sacre Coeur... It was beautiful, thank you for coming, miss you already!

Taking E to Paris right now for a doctors appt.

Sincerely with kisses,
Car

ps: Try the Concoction.

EmJay

Is coming to town.

Thrilled. Wish you were here mom and dad!

love,
Car

Est-ce que vous etes un stylo?

So basically, my english is slacking. So I've gotten super self conscious about it and have basically locked myself in my room reading almost two books in two days now. I finished a small print, 450 page book in a day and a half ( Called One Day by David Nicholls.. Yes, I recommend it)and am halfway through the next( The Road- Cormac Mccarthy) Hmmm. Tells you a little about my social life the last two days.. No worries though.. I have made plenty of friends... and continue to make them every day... AKA THE ELD'IES.

Story.
 I was fetching( a newly implemented word into my vocabulary.. also 'reckon'.. weird right?) some dry cleaning yesterday and thought to myself " Carly you need to engage yourself more in the french living , speak more french, eat like a french, dress french, be french, YOU ARE THE FRENCH." So I walked into the dry cleaning and was like HOLLLAAAA MAHHH HOMIESSS WHATSS HAPPENNIN! AKA "bonjour." with a slight curl of the lips... because in France , no need to show too much emotion or they might think you're a tad cookoo ( which i guess wouldn't be totally false when speaking about me) and I needed to fill up C's account at the place so she gave me a check.. I then asked " Est-ce que vous etes un stylo" Yes yes, I asked if he had a pen . WRONG. That is what I meant to ask... I used the wrong verb.. I stupidly asked " Are you a pen?" OMG. The cute little chic old french woman standing behind me started laughing.. and then the man behind the corner ( you know the one I possibly and most likely just insulted) started laughing, and then that stupid pen lying on the counter started laughing, and I swear the whole town was laughing..... going over in my head if maybe like some innapropriate word had slipped out... Um, I became flustered as hell... Not only that.. but mistake number 2.. He then pointed to the computer saying it was mechanical .. so I handed him the check and he inserted it into this device I have never seen in my life ( I felt old for a second... or like I had been in prison for five year and was seeing an Ipad for the first time) and handed me back the check for clarification.. But the thing was, I didn't know it was just for clarification, I thought the whole money thing had been taken care of so I turn to walk out of the room with the check in my hand.. He politely then stated that he needed the check back.. you know, for the payment and all... I was laughed at for the second time..I then decided that when I handed him back the check, that it would be the appropriate time to walk out.. I have done my damage, and will be respectfully asking C if I can no longer take her drycleaning.. I am sure she will decline my offer.. I will now spend my days as " Pen Girl" and will forever be passed down through stories at tea time from this dear chic grandma.. So I walked out of that place( more like sprinted), head held high, shoulders back, boobs pressed out (not too much though).. thinking I am American. I am strong. I am Pen Girl.

Mistake #3  I was talking to E( lets call her E-smalls just to clarify whom I am speaking of) So I was talking to E.S. the other night during dinner in french ...well saying "Je m'appelle Carly" you know the simple stuff you could easily identify being said in an episode of Friends.. and then I said  "I miss my cat".You know how in other languages, they have masculine and feminine nouns..... Cat in french is masculine... I said it in feminine... and well... The word I said is the same word we have in  english for cat, you know the very vulgar word that teenagers use about the female reproductive part, and instead of saying i miss my cat, I said I miss my BLANK. Hmmm, awesome right? E of course burst into laughter. Oh geeze. I just stuffed a piece of my japanese chicken kabob in my mouth and made a silly noise to get her off the topic.

Lately:
I am loving it... a little nervous about the whole awkward present exchange this Christmas... Oh, and the whole awkward love exchange that is required at Christmas... Yes, with my OWN fmaily I don't mind, you know, giving some bear hugs here and there and giving some cheek kisses is awesome, but with a family that is NOT my own, how the hell is this going to work. I tell myself " Carly, you lame-o, stop over analyzing this... " But I get nervous about the stupidest things... I HATE opening presents in front of people, even sometimes in front of my own family... I get nervous for if the expression isn't good enough Carly, they will think  you don't like it.. But it's not true, I am the least picky person to give a present to.. you could literally give me a piece of a gum wrapper( not even the WHOLE gum wrapper) and somewhere in it, I would find some sort of sentiment and think to myself " Oh, *Johnny, you are the best, thank you". I am nervous to give them their presents, knowing I will analyze their expressions...  Or the whole "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS". I am thinking just asking the kids what they want and after like 20 minutes of silly banter like" carly you don't have to get us anything" they will eventually accept it and let me know... what what for the parents.. They have enough money to buy whatever they want, so I will have to go on sentiment here. C is easy (given that I have some sort of a relationship with her) , I think I will give her my fave book ( Secret Life of Bees) and put some sort of silly and humorous yet love filled inscription in it.. but what for B. I barely talk to him, and barely see him... so I am thinking I will find a Websters Dictionary online and buy it for him.. he only has a brittish dictionary ... ( and I have to admit.. I know I am bias, but American English is so much prettier... not the accent, but the rules are different.. They say " My family are" and we say " My family is") and I haven't decided if I write an inscription in it.. like I said, don't have much of a connection with him. Anyways, back to talking about opening presents...do you think they will fall for the whole " Oh please guys, don't open your presents till I leave the room" or maybe I could just do a throw and dash... throw the presents at them and run... or do something innocent and seemingly "unplanned"..you know like give them the presents and then say "Excuse me, I have to use the restroom"... No, being that they are polite they will probably wait till I get back to open them... Decisions, decisions. Anyways, enough about Noel that is about a million miles away...

Dear Thanksgiving,
For all the years you have provided bloated (yet fulfilled) stomaches, and a wonderful ambiance that I will forever seize to forget, I thank you. Thanksgiving, I am thankful for YOU. I will miss you dearly this year.. Maybe I will ask this fmaily to buy a Chicken ( which kinda looks like a turkey) and crank out some of those microwavable mash potatoes.. I remember the times of going to Blackhawk in Danville,Ca and looking at the array of skinny and chubby turkeys among the hills right before Thanksgiving...and days following Thanksgiving always wondering as a child " Now mommy, why are there less turkeys than last week" and mommy saying " Oh hunny, migration" (jk this is obviously exaggerated) Anyways, you've been the best the last 17 years, I will miss you this 18th.
Sincerely your old friend,
Carly

ps: But I must admit, my pants will fit a little better during the Christmas season because of your absence.


Write soon-
Love,
Car

pps: KICK REDWOODS ASS TONIGHT COUGARS. YOU ARE ON MY MIND.SUPPORT FROM ALL OF FRANCE TO YOU.

Cheers to good moments!

Cheers!

C said yesterday .. " You know you are like a sister to them"... For once I felt a shot of emotion. I haven't felt really anything for a little while... maybe its because I have TOO many emotions, my body doesn't know which one to feel.. plus the whole  still feeling like a potthead..

I'm meeting my girl Mona at the Louvre today,

C yah
Car

EehhhCali, Sup, Haven't seen yah round in 3 months.

Can you believe it? I can't. Literally, I CAN'T. I feel sad tonight. And if you haven't realized from my picture above, I am now a french man.

Sincerely,
A gal turning French on you

Venice. dot dot dot...

Venice : Absolutely stunning, beautiful, adorable, enchanting, mysterious.... But I warn you, DO NOT GO THERE FOR A FUN NIGHT LIFE. And I actually suggest, stay outside of Venice, and do a day trip... that is all that is needed. The Basilica was breath taking.... each little tile sparkling .. it was truly a piece of art. The extra chin I am currently carrying proves that the GELATO was ..... un freaking believable. MMMM, my mouth is watering now. What the hell does Prego mean? They say it like every second.

Venice has beautiful little alleys and the masks are so artsy... but after a while, you realize you are eating 5 ice creams a day because you really have nothing else to do. Its a place to eat, takes pictures, ice cream it, take pictures, take pictures, buy expensive OLD WOMAN souvenirs, ice cream; pictures, dinner, WINE, sleep. Nothing else to do. Although, today, our last day, it flooded and that was pretty cool. Also, feeding pigeons was actually REALLY fun. they fly on you, and though it may be disgusting, it is something I did and see why is has a certain pleasure to it.

I really did have a blast... would have liked to party a little more, just because it was my vacation and I could be my teenager self... but , all around, Sarah and I had a blast together. Lots of funny times.


Flew Ryan Air... took about 50 hours of bus rides and metro stops and boats... And walked home from the metro tonight... literally sprinted because it is scary walking home in the dark when you fear every little divot in the road that makes your suitcase that much louder, and my boots clicking letting attackers ( if any.. in my mind there are ) know I am a woman. I sprinted home.

Missed the family... although E texted me the whole time so its like I was with them. I left them a note on my bed just basically saying that I would miss them. I kept is casssshhhjjjuuuall though, avec pas de deepness. Soon found out though once I left them that E cried.... more than once... Eek it makes me wonder how she'll be when I am gone for good. tear*

So tired.

Bisous, Bonne nuit,
Car

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

GELATO-

Venice, Italy avec Sarah. Leaving tomorrow and I can't wait. 

E doesn't want me to go , and has asked me about a million times WHY I am going and if I am obliged to go. Yes, I actually feel super attached to them too... It feels like ... when you leave your mom for a week.. and you are so concentrated on the trip but still feel a pinch of ' Oh mommy I will miss you'... well.. something like that... 

Today- When we ( C, E, V,) were leaving CHamps Eleysees on the Metro... I was asked by this woman if I lived near her because she wanted an English speaking Au Pair... I then awkwardly said ' Sorry, I am already an au pair.' I looked at the kids expressions... V said " WHAT THE HECK" ... He is hilarious btw.. And E was like " what.. what did she say... huh... what" and C pretended like she didn't hear any of that. She then said " well its not like you are an au pair anyways".  Well, do I take this as a compliment or an insult? Either 1) She means I am a slave... like Cinderella.. Or 2) I am closer to the family than that, therefore au pair sounding less of what I actually mean to them or 3) She meant it in a different, non american used way, or maybe phrased it incorrectly?

I am not sure. This comment kind of bothered me. I often wonder if I actually mean something to them.. I mean, I obviously do to Ele... but ... who knows.

I will miss them in Venice, duh.

ps: Went to Versailles the other day... missed and thought of you Momma.

pps: I was actually really good friends with Marie Antoinette so I actually am living in the castle currently/

ppps: ITALY TOMORROW

BONNE NUIT, 

BISSOUS,

CAR