Back Up And Running

Well, it has taken a little bit of time, but I am officially back up and running again at full speed.  Thanks in LARGE part to my absolutely incredible mother, just about everything has been replaced.  My mom spent her one day off (between rescuing me that fateful weekend and working her previously scheduled trip to Paris last weekend) running around getting me a new camera, upgrading her Blackberry so that I could have her old one, and gathering together the rest of the laundry list of items that I had requested.  I seriously could not have gone through this without her.  Mom, I love you SO MUCH and thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do.  Also, thank you to everyone who sent me encouraging emails...those helped me to keep on truckin' more than y'all will ever know.

Although the material items have been replaced, the emotional scars will obviously take much longer to heal.  For example, the other night I had a late French class and didn't start my journey home until a little bit after 21:00...when I almost beat the ever living &*^$ out of a guy with my umbrella who said "Bonjour" and started walking towards me when I was on my street.  It was kinda sketchy, but who knows, he could have been asking me where the Metro was or something.  I didn't really care...I had my umbrella extended and up over my head like a sword in less than .05 seconds.  I guess my reflexes have improved!  I am just frustrated, though, because as I walked home that night (and really any time I am out even remotely close to sunset), I cant help but look around me and see all of the people out and about, enjoying the night air and peacefully walking around...as I am practically running by them with an umbrella -- or some other self defense weapon -- ready to attack at any moment.  Also, I have developed a minor case of  OCD when it comes to the locks to the door of my apartment.  I double lock the first lock, and lock the lock that locks the double lock, then check the first lock and make sure it is secure.  Go it?  Yeah, neither do I.  Then,  as I walk to class, my mind is racing and I stew over  whether or not the door is locked and secure, and I think of all the possible scenarios if they did figure out how to get in...but then again, I don't think the fiery Portuguese lady who watches over the building would ever let any sketchy looking characters in...right?  UGH!  Why should I have to live my life like this??  I know the paranoia will fade, and it has a little bit in the past week, but I still get freaked out.

So, now that I got that rant out of my system, I have made a pledge to myself, and y'all, that I will no longer schlep around and feel sorry for myself that this happened.  There is nothing I can do about it, so I just need to move on and be more vigilant.  And you can see for yourself what a week has done!

Sunday night after the incident, while waiting to get back in to my apartment ...crazy homeless bag lady wearing a ten-sizes-too-small jacket, and rocking stretched out "skinny" jeans with my new kicks.

On my way to meet Mom at her hotel last Friday!

I hope you can notice an improvement...that second picture is kind of awkward...I was trying to take in the mirror in my building while the construction workers were walking back and forth.  Anyway, so yes, that is the new and improved me!

Last week was full of more culinary fun, such as filleting a couple more fish (blood and guts and fins went everywhere!!!), making a scrumptious pear and currant cake, and watching the chef make macaroons in demo.  YUMMM!!!!  We actually don't make macaroons until intermediate pastry, but we get to taste them in basic, which is the most important part!

Poached Hake Steaks with Hollandaise Sauce by yours truly

MACAROONS!!!  And they were SOOOOO much better then Laduree!

The best cake we have made so far...it is pear and current with a soft pastry crust and meringue on top...we made it on Wednesday, and 3/4 of it was gone by Thursday.  You think I am kidding...

Brill Fillets in a White Wine Sauce.  The chef said the sauce was perfect and the fish was cooked just right...but I definitely need to work on turning potatoes...yikes.

Mom came in on Friday, and we had a wonderful weekend!  It was kinda rainy and overcast on Friday and Saturday, but that didn't stop us from wandering all over the city.  In my never ending search for delicious, sweaty Mexican food, we heard about a place called Fajitas that's run by 2 Mexican-Americans, so it HAD to be delicious and sweaty, right?!  Well, we went for dinner with Nicole, and so far, I would say it is the closest that I have found to the good stuff back home.  We indulged in a fantastic three course meal complete with margs (Nicole and I) and beer (Mom), to help us cope with the nasty, rainy Paris evening.  

Looks like we just stepped into Mexico.  Ole!

Ignore the bright-ness of this picture...I am still getting used to the different settings on my new camera

On Saturday, Mom and I decided to hit up almost every culinary store in Paris to try and find a knife case for my knifes.  The search continues because I didn't find a case that I was in love with, but we went to some really fun stores in the process!

Mom and I in front of Hotel de Ville

 

This is one of the stores that Julia Child used to shop --- culinary heaven!

Those are only a couple of the stores, but you could seriously spend a day in each one because they have so many great gadgets.  I was also surprised at how affordable everything was.  I guess I just expected it to be ridiculously overpriced, but it actually wasn't, which is a huge plus!  Like I said, I am still on a hunt to find the perfect knife case, but we didn't walk away empty-handed from our shopping adventures...

The start of my French culinary collection...I CAN'T WAIT to use it!!

Mom and I enjoying our afternoon crepes...

After a long day full of lots of walking, Mom and I decided to cook dinner at home and relax for the rest of the evening.  It was perfect!  I made French Onion soup, the first recipe I have learned at school and reproduced on my own, and I think it turned out pretty well. 

I'll leave y'all with a couple of pictures from the Paris-Versailles race...thanks for the pics, Nicole!!

Nicole and I posing in front of the elevation map the night before the race...and let me tell you, those were some SERIOUS hills!

Almost to the starting line...literally at the base of the Eiffel Tower...sorry, I can't figure out how to rotate the picture, so just turn your head!

10 miles later --- and through the freezing temps, wind, and rain, we made it!   Since we had to go out the day before and purchase a completely new ensemble for myself (from my shirts to my shoes), we decided to be really cool and get matching shirts.

- à tout à l’heure!