Shark Week and Summer Salads

Shark Week, as everyone knows, is an American tradition whose currents run deep. Truly, you're not worth your weight in salt if you've never appreciated the sheer ferocity that is the Great White shark... and by extension the anual homage  to their Majesty.With just two days of  dorsal fin finery left in tow, I wanted to give you access to an important document that's sure to get you three sheets to the wind.
Now, drinking game aside, lets admit that sharks are cool. But in more ways then one, liking them, studying them, and reciting facts about them is a lot like being into dinosaurs. Oyes, much like your old friend soccer, sharks and dinosaurs are for kids.
But this shark week actually came to my home town and mentions it by name. Not only that, my cousin's husband is the harbor master in the opening shot of this vid. So check it out and try to get excited. This episode already aired but you have a solid two days of quality Discovery channel/drinking still on your boogie board. Don't let it go to waste.

Things have been closer to the prototype of summer here in Paris comma finally. Getting some sun, picnics in the park, drinks on the canal and fresh grilled everything. Geez, it's like spring all over again!! (But now with deeper tans) Plus I have this amazing cast-iron grill pan (that I found on the curb) and I have been doing up fruits, veggies, and the occasional meats. I love to eat fresh in the summer. White wine and cold beers all the time with that good, good bread. I make an effort to visit the markets every day, I serve a few cold salads at every meal, and my repertoire has increased since moving to France.
Here are a few salads I would suggest as their variations are practically endless while still having an ingredients list of less than 6. (Which makes me less than three them) <3 

Beets and Corn off the Cob salad:

Carrot Salad:

Cucumber Salad:

Endive Salad: 

Tomato Salad:

If these sound simple it's because they are. Just twenty mins prep time (including refrigeration) and you've got something cool and filling that looks pretty on a plate. 

If you want to be nice (or mean) to me, make a dish with okra or jalapenos--two great ingredients I can't find in France. Send me a picture and I'll love/hate you forever. 

So what are your plans here at summer's edge? Sebastien and I secured our rooms and our tickets to Budapest so all the worry is out the window with that. He's just started reviewing the chips I got for him in Tunisia and if you want to have a look at those check them out here.  I've got my hands on quite the word smith, it must be said.

Also, if anyone has been to Budapest let me know what's good to check out. I plan to meet people on couch surfing but if you've got some insider information, let me know. My major goal before going is learning how to say "thank you." A phrase worth knowing, the world over. 

Ten points will be awarded to your house if you ever played that game. I feel pretty foolish knowing it could be beat in 5 mins and I played it for months without winning ever. Man, shooting jellyfish with ship born bombs makes me miss my brother like you don't even know. 

Take care, the internet and may the sharks, nor society, never mistake your children for a meal. 

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Baby Blue Sedan.

My expired passport: highly prophetic, Captain. 

There are certain things I miss about the US, chiefly among them--Shark Week.
Speaking about weeks, it's been about one of those since I've updated, I know--weak. But I've been so terribly busy playing bureaucratic dodgeball that I haven't made the time to stop and write about it.
Firstly, I may still be in danger of deportation. And while I have had many French people reassure me that my general whiteness coupled with my obvious American-ness will make make me a much smaller target, I can't help but feeling a little sick inside at that.
I'm like, awesome, I want to live in a country where the first thing the government considers when intervening in Libya becomes a public issue is whether or not you're going to be dumped with a fresh batch of émigré.
NICE.

It has been super great here weatherwise, yesterday was in the high teens (I don't know what the équivaillent is in fahrenheit.) But on the day Sebastien and I went down to get my carte de sejour it was unusually cold. The fun part about that is we were asked to wait in line outside, for over an hour because we were informed the waiting room was filled to capacity. We had our paper work in order: a copy of our marriage license, our family book, several recent passport photos, a bill, a buy, a justicatif, the physical ID of my landlord, a certified and recent copy of my birth certificate and both of our passports.  

When we were finally let indoors, not only was the waiting area empty, it wasn't even small. Also, there was about 15 minutes before they were set to close.  Seba had to do his whole song and dance, "she is my wife, yes I am American as well, but I am also french..." They always smile like, you're not actually French, kid, and I pretend that Americans wouldn't do the same so that I can be upset about it. 

Great news!

Turns out everything we've read on the internet is wrong.

The only way I can stay here and work legally is if I 

A) leave, return to the US and get a long stay visa, or

B) Live here illegally for three years while being married to Sebastien. 

................................So, if I break your rules for an extended period of time I am worthy of rights and respect, but if I come to the front door with all my papers in order I get all kinds of asked to leave.

Right.

I don't know what it would be like if I enrolled in classes and I don't know what it would be like if I apply at a different embassy in say, Belgium.  So I'm not going back yet.
But I already lined up two places to stay in DC if and when I must.
Thats all well and whiney, but I wanted to share a list of stuff I mean to take back with me in the empty case I'll be bringing to the States.

1. Drugs. Tylenol because that's what I call it, bitch.
2. Peanut butter. It's not my fault it sounds like caca in french. 
3. Floss. I demand quality when I pick these teeth.
4. Brown sugar. Really people, it isn't that hard. But it will be if it sits in the cupboard.
5. Hershey's kisses. Look, not all chocolate needs to be swiss.
6. Chips for Sebastien's totally amazing and effin hilarious new blog
7. My preferred deodorant. Its so hard to say good bye to yesterday. 
8. VERMONT maple syrup. France, Canada is ripping you off. 
9.  REI socks. I pretty much have exactly two pairs, which I wear every day. Sorry.
10. O.G. Coca cola. High fructose corn syrup, I'm coming home!

Quit trying to tear us apart, France! 

Like I said, I have no idea when, because shit is hella expensive and it will only really make sense ( in Sebastien's mind)  for me to get the paper work done if he has a job. Plus, I'd have to go it alone and it could last up to a month. So for now it's cash in cafes for me, encore.
Things have been dope otherwise. Parties, bars and jogging are dominating my life. Lots of pictures, lots of new things to cook. (Ever put quail eggs in your salad? Cost me less then a six pack for 18 of them suckers.) Met up with Tom from Tbr, he didn't even chop me up, and keep me in his freezer. (Which was a small let down because I've never been to the UK.)

My students are cool, even if one of them just failed an exam.  I'm like, damn kid, do you not want to hang out with your new best friend Erin?  Fuckin, get it together or you can't candy as soon as your mom leaves, anymore.

The band thing was pleasant, we're planning to get together again next week. We're calling it Funemployment.  Maybe I'll break you off a little piece of that.
Moving on, do you guys dig my jessica rabbit boobs in that there photo? MYSPACE, damn. It's ok, I never wanted to be in the Senate.  Personally I could stare at Sebastien's half closed eyes in that shot all night. Sometimes I really don't want anybody else. When I think about him I touch uh, him, actually. 

Gotta say, even if I have to leave tomorrow and never come back I've learned so many great words in French. I can speak with ease if the subject is known to me and I've been told my accent is cute. Awesome, I didn't know that worked in reverse.  I'm reading a good book and I'm writing a story worth taking my time with. I'll post it when it's done. I also promise to video blog soon. Swearzies.

Take this and win the internets with it. It is my Gif to you.

Well, teamers, that's about all we have today from cape Erin. It is now my intention to play video games for several hours. I might also be glib. I haven't as yet decided. I'll let you know, but I'll be shallow about it, if I do. And crass. I will also be quite crass, indeed.

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