Preparation H

Hibou (eeboo = owl)

You know all the excuses we make when our children don't sleep? They had a long day, they're agitated. They didn't sleep well last night, they're agitated. Tomorrow is an exciting day, they're agitated. They're teething, they're agitated. Yeah right.

Our first child just does.not.need.to.sleep. If the party goes till dawn she will be the one asking "so what are we going to do today?" She will not be allowed to go to Ibiza. Ever. Admittedly, she gets this from me, the original night owl in the family. I usually get a second lease on life around 22h00 at which time I can start a project, bake, watch movies . . . simultaneously.

Our second child, bless her heart, was a model sleeper until about 6 months-the age when the others settle down. Since then I feel like I've been wearing out all the excuses. The newest one? Maybe she's growing . . .The bottom line is neither she nor I have been sleeping much lately.

To add to the thrill of the new year our my car decided to freeze its braking system during the cold holiday vacation so that it needs to have a new kit installed at the garage. After the towing company took 3 days to deliver it to the garage, the garage now has so much backed up work from the holidays that the earliest they can look at it is next week. So either someone is not going back to work or someone is not going to school.

Today I stopped at la boulangerie ( la boo-lahngeree = bakery) on my way back from the school. I got my usual baguette and newspaper and chitchatted with the baker who is one also one of the moms from the school. As I was leaving she tells me : bon courage. You look really tired today like (insert gesture made to look like she deflated a balloon).
That cracked me up. What the heck do you say to that? I told her the little one is not sleeping. She nodded then kept on about how really tired I look. I think if she could have used the phrase "like death warmed over"  she would have.

Goodness. If I look that bad maybe 2011 will be the year I take a tip from the world of modeling and start applying Preparation H under my eyes since apparently there's nothing like hemorrhoid cream for reducing puffiness . . . .

Reading between the lines . . .

Faire la queue (fare la keuh=wait in line/line up) 

How much time do we spend waiting in line during our lifetimes? 

I was always under the impression that if there was a receptionist/clerk/cashier behind the counter you could wait in line in front of that particular space. Alternatively you could, like at my bank back home, walk in ask "who's last?" and be sure that your spot was safe even if you needed to step away from the line for a minute. The person last in line before you would "have your back" so to speak . . .

I made a faux pas, then, when I was going to make a purchase at one of the big Parisian department/hardware stores and found the following scene : three cashiers at their posts, one customer each at  #1 and #2 and 2-3 people waiting at #3. In my mind, the situation was a non-issue and I quickly made my purchases at register #1. My fiancé was horrified. Hadn't I seen the line?? Um, I saw two people waiting at one register when they could have been up next at the other two . . .

Mais non, and this proved to be valid at the post office too, there is only ONE line even if there are multiple counters open. You are to wait at a distance until a free clerk signals you to come in case they need to discuss lunch plans before attending to you.

There are exceptions to the rules of course. Supermarkets. The free-for-all lines. If a new cash register opens up don't be surprised if everyone in front and in back of you races you to the newly opened lane without a backward glance, regardless of if you're the one with a screaming infant.  Move fast, people, move fast.