Gifts? Really?

MT & I went to his folks' house this weekend. We were supposed to have a big BBQ with his extended fam last Sunday, but after missing our flight out of Paris Saturday night (3 hours on a payphone at the airport and $1,500 later we got home Sunday night) that plan had to be reworked.

His extended fam didn't know he was proposing in Paris. His parents and sister knew, but not the big Rhode Island Italian faction. In the week between the 1st incarnation of the BBQ and the actual get-together they were all told and the engagement fiesta has now officially begun. We got gifts. Gifts! Who knew? We are now the proud owners of a set of Waterford toasting flutes, a silver photo frame, a silver cake serving set and a big photo frame that you sign instead of a guest book. Not being the very traditional sort, we didn't even know most of these things existed. I guess this means we have to have a sort of formal cake cutting thingamajig at the wedding, eh?

Now if only we could find a place that wasn't $40k for ONE SILLY NIGHT. I'm so disgusted with the wedding industry. I just want to get married. I want to get married and have a party with our friends and family to celebrate it. That's it. It shouldn't cost a decent yearly salary. It just shouldn't. Even if I had that kind of cash to blow I couldn't bring myself to do it.

I just keep thinking about The Princess Bride. "Mawwiage. Mawwiage is what bwings us togezzah todaaay...

The loud & slow is no way to go...

Here's something I don't understand - the loud & slow technique of bypassing a language barrier.

Let's use an illustrative example here, kids. Person 1 (hereafter referred to as P1) is talking to Person 2 (hereafter referred to as P2). For purposes of this example let's say that P1 has walked up to P2, who is the guy working the door at the line to climb the towers of Notre Dame. P1 says to P2, "How long does it take to walk to the top?". P1 has inquired in English. P2 is a Frenchman. Hmm. P2 says, "Quoi?". P1 says very loudly and slowly, "How loooong does it taaaake to waaaalk (now he's walking in place) to the toooop (pointing into the air above his head)???" P1 thinks he's been clever, you see. Not only has he slowed down to the point of retardation and increased the volume so that people at Sacre Coeur can hear him, but he's added helpful gestures to get his point across even more efficiently. What a gem.

I swear, every time we had a great experience with a Parisien (which was pretty much non stop the whole week) we had to fight the overwhelming urge to advertise to him/her that we're American. No, really - we're American! See? We're not all total douchebags.

It was the most magical week of my life. The city wrapped us up in wonder from the first minute and we were completely enchanted. The people were so friendly and kind, all that "rude French" stuff is probably spread around for the most part by the loud & slowers. We spoke French, we made friends, we ate very well, we saw amazing art, we laughed until we cried every day, we experienced life from another point of view. We did it all. It was life changing. Pictures will be forthcoming.



Psst... now I've got a wedding to plan. *giggle* Like how I just slid that in at the end?

Ah, les vacances...

A bien tot! I'll be back next week. Hopefully with lots of cool pictures and stories.

So quiet

It's 12:44AM. I just finished working. Gah. I'm tired and lonely and a bit sad. MT is on the road up to his parents' house to drop Duke off for the week while we're in Paris. His folks are super great - they love Duke and Duke adores them. Plus, they have MT's dog, Allen, whom Duke loves like no other. Allen has lived with them since shortly 9/11/01 when MT realized upon finally being given entry to his apartment in TriBeCa 3 months after the attack that a place covered with 3" of dead people dust is no place for a pooch to live. Ah, New York. *sigh*

Anyway, Allen loves Providence and he's completely blissed out living with the grandparents. Papa T takes him running every day and treats him like a son. Duke loves the grandparents, too, but not as much as he loves to follow Allen around like he's the coolest thing ever. He licks Allen's face and Allen puts up with it, albeit in an annoyed sort of way. Ridiculously cute stuff.

So, both my guys are gone tonight. Of course the house is making noises that I never notice when they're both home and I'm eerily awake for it being pretty late. I have a feeling I'll have a fairly restless night.

I miss my men. The hairy one and the other hairy one.

Ridiculous

I have a week and a half before we leave for a week in Paris and I'm beginning to freak out about what to pack. I have no idea what to wear to make myself look the least like a dumb American. Help! I mean, can I just wear my normal New York stuff? I don't know! I've never done this international thing before. I have this perception that people in Paris are infinitely cooler than I am and I must figure out what to clothe myself in so as not to feel like a complete dunce the entire time.

P.S. I'm aware that this is a totally ridiculous thing to be concerned with. So far that's not stopped me.