I voted because Leo told me to. You should too.

Blog pause.

Dear Reader,

As you may have noticed, my posts are becoming less and less. The motivation to update this blog has recently faded. As a result, I'm going to be taking a break from my blog. For how long? I'm not sure. Indefinitely at the moment. But a post might pop up from time to time.

To find out what's new with TH and I, one can also use the old fashioned method of internet communication: email.

Take care,
Emily in France

Dear...

Dear Michael Phelps,

Wow. Wow. Wow. I just watched you win your seventh gold medal. TH and I both had our mouths drop to the floor as you beat your opponent by 0.01 second. In the same words of the French announcer who spoke about your win: "Incroyable."

Sincerely,
Emily


Dear China,

Thanks to your one-child policy, don't certain families prefer male babies over female babies? Don't some families do terrible things to get rid of their female babies so they can have a son? Look at which sex has won the most gold medals in your country thus far. Women.

Sincerely,
Emily


Dear French Olympic Announcers,

Yes, we too get emotional when someone wins/loses a gold medal or a medal at all. When you cry, it's cute. When you scream into your microphone, it's sorta loud. When you repeat the same phrase over and over and over due to certain emotions be it stress, excitement, sadness, disappointment, whatever, we got it the first time.

Keep up the good work. Thanks for being so human and genuine.

Sincerely,
Emily


Dear certain male American track and fielders,

Please help me understand something...what's with wearing sunglasses during your evening races? It's already dark outside. And what's with those shiny light blue armbands? Help me understand the significance. Is it a fashion statement that just hasn't hit France yet?

Sincerely,
Emily

Coming home to his "science experiments".

If some of you readers remember, the last time I went back to the US at the end of last year, I came home to discover some pretty disgusting things growing in our fridge and in our fruit and vegetable bowl. Guess what I found this time?! A banana so old that not a drop of liquid existed in it anymore. And it was the only thing in the fruit/veg bowl that now I wonder if he ate any fruits or veggies while I was gone or just put the fresh items on top of the dried banana. I. don't. get. it. And then the first thing I spotted after opening the refrigerator door was a container of creme fraiche that, I think, we opened before I left 4 weeks ago. I'll let your imaginations run wild with what color the creme fraiche had turned. Plus the cover to the container was clear so the insides were displayed as clear as day. I. don't. get. it. What does he eat while I'm away? How does he not see these things rotting away? Maybe he leaves them there on purpose so that I have something to nag him about when I get home.

The Olympics.

I swore to myself and to anyone who'd listen that I wasn't going to watch the summer Olympics in China. I was going to protest in my own miniscule way. I was going to do it for political reasons...

It's been 4 weeks since I've been surrounded by the French language and today, while I was passed out on the couch from travel, TH had it on. And I became hooked. Especially when men's swimming was on. I mean, who wouldn't, right? And since the broadcast is in French, I've decided that having it on is okay because it's for educational purposes only.

Ending a wonderful vacation.

Tomorrow, I start my journey back to France. I'm excited to see TH after almost being away for almost 4 weeks, but I'm also very sad to leave the USA. If only I could move back into my parents home and let them take care of me forever. Wouldn't that be nice?

A few things I'll miss:
1. a garbage disposal
2. a dryer (for clothes)
3. the diversity of cuisine
4. how cheap things are over here thanks to the strong Euro
5. my parents taking care of me
6. driving an automatic
7. English movies at my disposal
8. Hawaii
9. having a dog around
10. home cooking

Sigh.

Greetings from Hawaii!

Once I'm away from my normal routine, I become quite the blogging slacker. And the knitting slacker. And the reading slacker. Let's blame it on summer.

I'm still in the USA. Currently on the other side of the world (literally) from my husband. My family and I are very busy soaking in the sun and admiring the gorgeous fish in Hawaii. What could be better? Well, my husband being here, of course. But that's not an option at the moment. Once one sets foot in Hawaii, I think all worries and cares just float away. Those words don't exist here. I love it.