"In love in Paris"

In the past few days, the City of Light, Paris, has been on my mind.  It is probably my favorite city in the world.  I have gone there twice now, for about 4 days the first time and then last spring for two weeks.  It has totally stolen my heart.  I love it.  It something I can hardly describe.  I don't love it for the romance, or for the Eiffel Tower, or for the bakeries, or for the wine.  I love it for all that it is.  I love the Parisians sitting every evening by the Seine with a bottle of red and a baguette, the view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe, 
Ladurée and their amazing macaroons, and every other thing that makes up that famous city.  

        So many people say they love Paris but half of them have never even been there.  Others who have been there say they hate it because the people are "rude".  French people and Parisians in particular have gotten this reputation from Americans.  But I have learned something very important during my last year in Europe, and that is that Americans are the exception to the rule.  Americans who have just lived in the U.S. their whole lives think that everyone in the world is as open and overly friendly.  But that is not the case.  Many cultures, including the German and French cultures, just are not that way.  They are not "bad" or "rude" people in general, but simply have a different way of interacting with others.  This becomes even more obvious when they are dealing with strangers or people who do not speak their native tongue.  So I believe that we as Americans need to pause and remember to not think that our own culture is the "right" one, and any other culture that is different than ours is "weird" or "rude". 

     Ok, I officially got a bit off topic there for a sec...  To sum up, if you fall in the overly romantic idea of Paris category, get your head out of the clouds, and love the city for what it really it, not for what it supposedly is.  And if you fall in the bias idea of Paris category, open your eyes, and take a minute to appreciate another, extremely diverse culture.   

    Right now, Im already thinking about Christmas, and since I won't have my family around me, I am wishing I could go somewhere for Christmas.  And since I love Paris so much, I'm dreaming of a train ride there Christmas Eve for a hot cup of coffee in a cafe while looking out at the snowy streets of the city I love.

One last thing... Did you know that Paris is not called the City of Light for all the sparkling lights on the Eiffel Tower?  Yeah, it was called that for all of the brilliant minds who have lived there, such as Claude Monet, Claude Debussy, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (we all know what he's famous for), and my personal favorite, Coco Chanel.

Eh, what's up Doc?

This is going to be short and sweet, but I just have to share a story. Today I went to the doctor here in Germany. His english was quite good, concidering it's not his first language. At one point though he wanted asked me, "Now please inspire." It took me a moment to realize he must want me to breath in. I did so and then he asked, "Now please expire." At that point I just about lost it. It took all my will power to not burst into fits of uncontrollable, child-like fits of laughter. It jut made my day. and caught me completely off guard...
[Explaination for those of you not as familiar with the uses of he word "expire". It is often used as a more polite (and slightly old-fashioned) way of saying someone died.]

Turning over a new leaf...or page...or new post?

Here I am again!  Back in the cockpit of my new blog.  The blog, and myself, have gone through some umm...changes? since I last wrote.  Now this is just me recording my discoveries, daily thoughts, and plans of action. 
Well, today, as I was attempting to give some wise, older sisterly, words of advice to my younger sister, I discovered my current life theme or policy.
REMEMBER TO NEVER LET AN CHANCE PASS YOU BY UNNOTICED.  IT MIGHT JUST NEVER KNOCK AT YOUR DOOR AGAIN.
Words to live by.  For me at least...
Oh I made an amazing recipe today. So good.  Black beans, salse, fresh lime juice, cumin, and paprika.  On bread.  Refreshingly not German at all...  And it filled me up enough to power me through my run... Official success.
Ok it is also officially past when I should be off in dream land (or just sleep land, because I dont really dream so much).
Good night for now...

Said attractive men....and me??

Suddenly, it came to me. 
Even though this blog is a journal of my baking career, it doesnt mean I can ONLY write about baking! Right?
So I will now start writing about my observations on life.
Which includes everything from the attractive men I see to the new, and amazing vase I just got for my apartment.
First, the attractive men.  Ive been noticing a trend lately.  Every time I spot a guy who's even remotely attractive...or not even attractive at all, he's taken.  Story of my life:  Me thinking, "Ooo look, incoming attractive man."  Said attractive man immediately walks over into the waiting arms of some, unknown woman.  Me thinking again, "Why??" 
My conclusion?  It must be summer again.  Love is in the air.
So what about me and other currently single women like me?  It got me thinking as I sat on a park bench and watched the couples of every shape and size stroll blissfully by...
Well, it got me thinking, but I still have no answer. 
    
I guess life goes on... 
Ok, since I still have had no brilliant answer to the above question, Ill move on to beforementioned vase...or "vahhhh-z" for those of you who prefer to say it that way. 
Vase:  clear glass, 1 1/2 feet tall.....breathtakingly beautiful...and all mine.  For now anyways.  And unless I manage to break it.  That would be just my luck.
  
It is just the thing to bring some life to my tiny, bare, German apartment.  Currently, it's empty though. 
Note to self: pick flowers.

Umm...yeah, I think that's about the end of my random observations on life.  For now.
Tune in again if you happen to find my ramblings on about nothing...well, not nothing because attractive men are a very important aspect of life...

Apples, Zimt, H2O...

Well every day recently, Ive looked out my kitchen window to the orchard, and seen the dozens of green apples laying, unused, on the ground.  Also, every day I have told myself that I was going to make applesauce.  So, today Im actually going to do it.  On a cold rainy day like today, nothing sounds better than warm applesauce with a sprinkle of zimt (or cinnamon, for you English speakers) and a cup of tea.  Wonderful.  Oh and a good book of course.