Bad Karma Can Be A Good Thing

I think karma was trying to tell me that I've been too lazy these past few days. It's true, for the most part, I've spent our last remaining days in our 6th arrondissement(center of Paris) apartment all cooped up indoors. It hasn't been without good reason, though! I didn't expect this to happen so soon, but I am now working remotely for HBA(the design firm I was working for in Atlanta) as a specification writer. It's great to have an income again, but not so fun to wake up to the annoying buzz of an alarm clock(not that I don't hit the snooze button for an hour or two anyway). Needless to say, I've been sitting at my computer for the last few days, spec'ing(I know that's not a word, but I want to make it one) away.

The one great thing about having a job again, is that I was able to afford the one thing I really wanted to get Quentin for his 30th birthday(which is today in fact... HAPPY BIRTHDAY QUENTIN!)... a Nintendo DSi. I took him yesterday to pick it out(he, of course, picked the red one) along with whatever game he wanted(Mario Kart). Hehe... I think he liked it.

So back to why karma kicked my ass today... since I've just been sitting on my butt for the past 4 days, I really wanted to get out of the apartment and do a little window shopping. Well, it was more like, "now that I have a job, let's see what I'm going to spend my money on" shopping. I figured before I started my daily spec writing, I could make the 15 minute trek to Le Bon Marché and get a little visual stimulation(wow, that sounds dirty). Le Bon Marché is super expensive, and I would probably never buy anything there, but it's great place to check out... not only for the things they sell, but for the interiors, the displays, and their creative use of kitchen tools... hehe.

(Note: All pictures were taken during a previous successful trip to Le Bon Marché)

Now, I've been to Le Bon Marché a good three or so times now, so I figured I could remember how to get there by memory. Ha. I should let you all know now, over the past couple of years, my memory has gone to shit... I don't really know why... I used to be able to remember everything. These days, I can barely remember what I did last week. I started walking towards what I thought was Rue du Four... but somehow ended up walking aimlessly and ending up at the Jardin du Luxembourg. By the time I figured out that I was lost, 20 minutes had already passed, and I knew it would take another 20 minutes just to find my way back home. Arrrgh! I wanted this to be a quick trip so that I could get home quickly and start working! I started walking a little faster to try and find something familiar so I could orient myself, and find my way home.

Here's the route I was supposed to go:

Here's the route I went:

So yeah, karma kicked my butt today. I figured it was telling me that; One, I shouldn't tempt myself into spending money just yet, and two, that my ass needed some exercise! I can't complain though, I burned a few calories, walked through the beautiful Jardin du Luxembourg, and managed not to spend a single dime. Thanks, Paris.

Tartine Tuesday: Brie, Crispy Ham, and Green Olive Tartines

I've never been too crazy about lunch meat style ham. It's usually in some kind of rectangular shape(I've never seen a rectangular pig) and packaged in a bag with water(why?!?). Now, I'm not trying to be snooty or say I'm too good for lunch meat... I can't really afford to be picky these days. I have found a way though, to give a little umph to the blah that is lunch meat.
 

Meet my brie, crispy ham, and green olive tartines.

Brie, Crispy Ham, and Green Olive Tartines

6 slices of bread or baguette, toasted
6 slices of brie(cream cheese works really well as a substitute)
2 slices of lunch meat style ham, cut into small strips
green olives, sliced
salt and pepper, to taste

Heat a sauté or frying pan on medium to medium-high heat. Add the strips of ham and fry until crispy(as you would with bacon or lardons). Top each slice of toast with a piece of brie, crispy ham, and green olives. Salt and pepper to taste. Serves 2.

Yesterday's Sunday BBQ

Yesterday was the quintessential "Lazy Sunday"(which is why I didn't post this yesterday). There is nothing I love more than eating great food with great friends, and relaxing in the sun without a care in the world.

We went fairly far outside of Paris for this BBQ... Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche. It's the last stop on the RER train... and ironically enough, the train station is in the middle of the forest. The actual town is right on the edge of the countryside, but it sure doesn't look like it. It is absolutely adorable, with lots of french country style houses... really nice, country style houses. We entered a gated neighborhood to where our friends were having the BBQ. All I can say, is that I hope one day to have a house with a backyard as beautiful as this one.

There was an outdoor dining table shaded by grape vines... with grapes in full bloom too. Trees of apples and plums lined the soft, grassy area where Quentin and Jules played hacky sack. We took home a few green plums, which in fact, were ripe... I had just never seen green plums before. They smelled like sour green apples, but even better. I'm hoping to make a tart with them this week!

 

We had a delicious lunch of pork brochettes(skewers), lamb chops, sausages, roasted yellow peppers, mashed sweet potatoes with olive oil, mushrooms with fennel and celery, and marinated tomatoes. Feeling the on-comings of a food coma... we spent the next few hours basking the the sun, and napping the afternoon away... pure bliss.