Albino Deer Sighting

We saw an albino deer while visiting Redding, CA. My boyfriend, his mom, and I went and stayed with my parents last week. Just down the road from their house is a field where this herd of deer like to hang out. According to my parent's neighbors there is a new albino fawn each year. It's incredible and perfectly normal at the same time. I love how the mama was fiercely protective and shielded her baby from view when she saw me hanging around for too long. I'd probably have better shots if I weren't wearing a red sweater, but it was an impromptu photo session.  

Ironing: My Kryptonite

In general, chores stink. They are monotonous, boring, difficult, and never seem to result in a big enough pay-off. I don't know if it is possible to pick the all-time worst chore, but, by far, the least enjoyable for me is ironing the boyfriend's button down shirts. In an effort to save myself, I have researched various methods of obtaining the perfect ironing method. They are not good enough. No matter what I do, I invariably iron in wrinkles that weren't there in the first place. With the amount of time and care I put into the procedure, this shouldn't be possible. They should be perfect.

And I, of course, cannot be serene, accepting the world's continual pull towards disorder and imperfection. I don't want a soothing perspective, I just want to control some fabric and several buttons. So, after an undisclosed amount of time (I don't want to admit  how much wasted time these stupid shirts eke from my life), I am left with six shirts that look somewhat better than they started, and a desire for blood. This sort of rage seems like it would be best dissipated through general mayhem, maiming, and perhaps some looting.  But, since I have still got some of my wits about me, I am sitting on the couch with my feet on the coffee table waiting for the anger to go.

Please, please go.

Heavy Groceries

Grocery shopping differs quite a bit between France and the U.S.

In Paris, we would walk ten minutes to the metro and ride it for two stops, before exiting and walking a block to reach our favorite Monoprix. We usually exited with both our reusable shopping bags bursting at the seams, and sometimes left with an extra bag. Usually, we rode the metro back home. But, on more than one occasion, we simply walked to the store, or, gasp, walked home carrying the groceries.

Today, since the boyfriend is sick, I got in the car and drove to Safeway to get supplies. I grabbed one of those black baskets at the door and filled it with eight yogurts, four powerades, and two raisin breads. I then swung by the water aisle and picked up two and a half gallons of water. Next, I walked straight to a cashier, put my items on the counter, and waited for the person in front of me to finish checking out.
 
This conversation with the male, fifty year old cashier followed:

Checker: "Is the water yours?"
Me: "Yes it is."
Checker: "Because I didn't see a cart...did you carry that over here?!"
Me: "Yes, I did."
Checker: "Isn't that too heavy?"
Me: "I just returned from Paris where you carry your groceries home, so I guess I just got used to that."
Checker: "So, you've been training..."
Me: "I suppose so..."
Checker: "Well are you sure you wouldn't like a cart or at least help outside?"
Me: "I'll be okay."
Checker: "Alright...well, you are certainly stronger than I am!"

Exiting the store, I carried my two bags of groceries and water to my car parked less than a block away. It only took me five to ten minutes to drive home, park in the garage, and walk through the front door.

I was so befuddled by the encounter, I made my sick boyfriend get out of bed and assess the groceries before recounting the story. He responded with a shrug, "Americans..." After a moment, "I guess you've turned Parisian."

"Home" Remedy

How To Treat An Ear Infection Abroad

1. Recognize one's lack of insurance
2. Wonder how to navigate foreign health care system
3. Panic
4. Scurry over to laptop
5. Search for homeopathic remedies
6. Troll many a home remedy forum
7. Decide on a course of action based on products in the pantry
8. Have companion pour white vinegar in one's ear
9. Wait a bit
10. Drain
11. Warm up a spoon over the stove
12. Pour vegetable oil in spoon
13. Let oil warm
14. Have companion pour warm oil in ear
15. Wait a bit
16. Drain
17. Hijack companions sock
18. Fill sock with white rice
19. Tie end of sock into a knot
20. Microwave sock for forty seconds
21. Apply warm compress to ear
    
22. Repeat treatment for three days
23. Feel much better

Day to Day

Generally when one goes to a foreign country, they go for vacation. Friends or family join and all of them stay in a hotel and sight-see during the day. Normally, they are completely removed from day to day life such as cleaning the shower or doing paperwork.

In my case, while I am here on vacation, I am living in an apartment with my boyfriend and have been helping him finish up his thesis and pack to move to the United States. That, coupled with the fact that I have spent about three months in Paris this year, means that my life has become a bit more mundane.

I have almost run out of tourist activities. The last major one of my list is to go to Versailles, which we are going to do next week. (Yes, I am ridiculously spoiled.) I am super excited to go, France does opulence right.

As far as today, I woke up at seven am to be ready when the piano movers came. They arrived at eight twenty and were out the door in fifteen minutes. They were incredibly efficient; I was very impressed, but they work for the conservatory, so they should be good.

The man who purchased the piano from the BF arrived at nine, chatted a bit, picked up the piano stool, and money was exchanged. The boyfriend left to take care of business at the laboratory, and I then spent the next hour playing Minoto Point and Click games on the internet.

They are so adorable and cute and fun. Plus, there is tons of delightful Engrish and hilarious logic to solve the games. Not to mention, a new one comes out every week! Love, love, love. So perhaps, I am not doing what one would expect in Paris, but as dorky as my interests may be, it is pretty fantastic to have the time to play silly games guilt free.