January is Almost Over...

so how are you all doing on your resolutions?? For my end given there's no 60 hour job to get in the way of improving oneself, it's not bad going so far. I didn't set any concrete objectives - mainly I want to stop procrastinating on ho-hum chores and just get them taken care of before they become monsters staring me down (housekeeping, taxes, doctors appointments, etc); I want to try my hand at new things (sewing is one, I don't know if there'll be time for anything else); finally I WANT to do more for my body...slowly wean off the pregancy hogdown on sweets, start excercising again and try for the love of god to remember to put on night cream. My fervant hope is all these basic but good habits will stick around once real life starts for me again come May.

It doesn't have to be for the New Year, but this is of course an excellent time to reflect on where you are and where you want to go. You can be in a good place already, but it's for all of us to continue to stretch ourselves. The list above, for me, is less about the individual items to be checked off but more the respect I'm trying to build up for myself. Does it sound vulnerable to admit that? But it's true.

It may be splitting a fine hair to distinguish between self confidence and the specific type of self respect I'm trying to articulate. I've not read enough personal growth books to be rigorous with my definition, but for me a sense of self respect is not only having integrity in the general sense, but also feeling accountable for the promises you've made specifically to yourself. It can also mean giving yourself what you need, in the most immediate sense, whatever that may be (without harm to others, of course). Conversely, every time you don't follow through you lose a bit of respect for yourself, don't you think? I believe it's actually respect for self that gives power/voice to folks like Lilly Ledbetter to challenge an unfair situation - without calculating the chance of success or payoff. We need to generate more bravery like that in the world.

And if you think it's hard to live up to your resolutions, check out the ultimate list.

A gratuitous picture just to dress up this post: last Friday I had a perfect morning of a good night's sleep, social time with Monchi, yoga hour, and was so pleased with the John McCain interview where he's sounding all normal again - so good he's back from the dark side and talking sense and hopefully regaining some self respect of his own. He did remain loyal to Palin and said he thinks she'll be a force in the future. Hey, bring her on. As far as I'm concerned she can be the designated Republican fodder in 2012 to run against a wildly successful incumbent President!!!

Keepin' Busy

Jochen and I were gobsmacked yesterday night when Pig came with the Magic Doodle (or whatever this toy is called) and said proudly, "I wrote my own name." Actually he wrote "Flex", which wasn't completely off. Surprisingly he was open to our corrections and gave it another try this morning after breakfast: It fascinates me how kids can just all of a sudden put two and two together and tackle things on their own. Last year on a boondoggle to London I got put up at a hotel right off Regent Street and had all the time to shop (and take in the Sound of Music). I was knocked up by then so no clothes shopping for me, but I got Felix some English books as well as a dry erase picture alphabet book. Dry erase is fab, enough of an incentive for him to take it out regularly on his own to practice writing letters. Paid off, huh? Actually, his command of the alphabet is still spotty, and it was funny how, after presenting "Flex" to us, he immediately said, "Hey, there are FIVE letters in my name!" Rote learning and repetition will get you far, as all Chinese kids know.

Not to be outdone, Monchichi has been working hard to perfect her rolling techniques. She arches mightily and manages to get as far as on her sides before falling back. I'm happy she's trying, only thing is she's really frustrated in the meantime and tends to let us know it...

And me? All this passive blog reading has seduced me into thinking I, too, can tackle more crafty projects. The baking, after Christmas, has thankfully toned down - all this butter consumption cannot be good. Yes, I went on eBay last week and got meself this cheapie sewing machine - ostensibly to patch the countless holes in Piggy's jeans but secretly so I can make mom and daughter outfits. There, I've outed myself!

These grand ambitions are based on the tenuous assumption that I can 1. manage to follow directions 2. sew in a straight line, and 3. continue to find time for such pursuits after I go back to work in May.

In the meantime - Ta da, I managed to thread the machine! Thank you Mrs. Krueger from 7th grade Home Economics. Sorry I elected to take shop instead in 8th grade - at the time I thought operating a lathe and copious handsanding would be more fun (it was, too!)

Sewing experts (you know who you are), I will be calling upon you to get me to Step 2 very shortly.

Monchi chiTChat

The mild weather this week has freed Monchichi's feet from socks and padded footie outfits. Here she is in her rice farmer look.

I also finally managed to get her to give a few words for the wider audience - bless her heart she's not as camera-happy as the Pig, yet. Please try to tune out my cloyingly sweet blather - I can only say she encourages my foolishness!

Consider the Oyster

Last week the travel section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung highlighted what they thought were the most innovative chocolatiers (some are also patissiers) currently in Paris:

Sorry I'm too lazy to call up the accents aigu et grave

• A la mere de famille; 35 rue du Faubourg Montmartre 75009 (9e) www.lameredefamille.com
  
• Chocolat Debauve & Gallais; 30 rue des Saints-Pres, 75007 Paris (7e), www.debauve-et-gallais.com


• Patrick Roger; 108, boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006 (6e), www.patrickroger.com


• Charlotte de I'isle; 24, rue Saint Louis, 75004 Paris (4e), www.la-charlotte.fr


• Cafe Maure de la Mosquee de Paris; 39, rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 75005 Paris (5e)


• Patisserie du Sud Tunisien; 17, rue de la harpe, 75005 Paris (5e)


• Laduree; 16 rue Royale, 75008 Paris (8e), www.laduree.fr (but their renovated cafe/restaurant on the Champs Elysee is worth a special visit)


• Pierre Herme; 72, rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris (6e), www.pierreherme.com


• Jean-Paul Hevin; 231, rue Saint-Honore, 75001 Paris (1er), www.jphevin.com


• Erick Kayser; 8, rue Monge, 75005 Paris (5e), www.maison-kayser.com


• Fauchon; 24-26, place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris (8e) www.fauchon.com

From my personal experience of names mentioned above I can only concur this must be a fairly decent list - note they've avoided the more obvious Maison du Chocolat and Lenotre, not because they're not still great but probably because they're already so well known.

This post and the previous one are dedicated to my little cousin Laurie, who will turn 21 come February 28th. This is a super early shout-out because I'm such a flake when it comes to birthdays I will somehow let it slip. For someone so young she already has a very seasoned and learned palate - her parents have indulged her with culinary adventures ever since she was ready for PG-13 (remember Le Titi de Paris?). Most importantly, as we recently agreed, good food is not only pricey ingredients or ambitious presentations but a flawless execution, an inventive approach to taste.

Laurie, we will miss slipping your underaged self sips of syrah. Now that you're nearly 21 you're also old enough for MFK Fisher - have you come across her writings yet? If not, be prepared to swoon!

How to Cook a Wolf

In the spirit of the financial crisis -

800g /ca 2lbs pork shoulder, braised slowly in water and bay leaves (wacky recipe that actually works fairly well)

Pan-fried potatoes (Bratkartoffeln, Arlene's recipe)

Roasted beets tossed with celery, dried cranberries, walnuts, balsamico/olive oil and topped with goat cheese (inspired by a meal with Jean and Laurie)

Total cost circa 11 Euros and yields 6 servings. Now that I'm at the cooking helm I totally enjoy the challenge of turning out recipes that use new ingredients or utilize cooking methods I'm unfamiliar with, at minimal cost in terms of purchase price or waste.

Unlike other ingredients mentioned, however, the meat is not organic.

The boys are not as in love with beets as I am (beets and alfalfa sprouts are my absolute favorites at any salad bar). Actually I can't imagine the Pig went anywhere near them...I don't know because we eat separately these days, as I need to put the Monchichi to bed.

Of course I forgot to take pictures when I first made this meal - below is the leftover portion I ate for dinner tonight. I think I have crap indoor lighting (or camera flash) for good food photography - take my word the beets actually look as good as they taste!

Letterboxing

Ok, this completely blows my mind away!! Arlene heeded my earlier call and forwarded some really cool links recently - fruits of her *idle* surfing on the internet during winter break. One of them led me to letterboxing - are you all aware of this past time?? How cool that there is a network of treasure hunt enthusiasts keeping this English tradition alive, and isn't it just the perfect activity to keep grade school + children outdoors? Read all about it at http://www.letterboxing.org

Jochen would laugh at my excitement, since he knows a gnat could find its way out of a paper bag faster than I can...

I just found a German site - we're a few years off but this is something I'm going to keep in mind for the kids. Can't wait to strap Monchichi in the carrier to hit the trails this summer!!

Aachener Weiher Im Winter

One of our favorite Sunday afternoon haunts year round is the Aachener Weiher, a manmade pond surrounded by parkland in the middle of the city. In summer the Biergarten is a great place to hang out, and in winter you dutifully walk and freeze your butt to feed the duckies before feeling worthy of that piece of cake inside the toasty cafe. With our unexpected snowfall and low temperatures this week, Aachener Weiher became a winter wonderland.

Sacher Torte - lecker!

How Ex-Metalheads Celebrate

Last week you woke up one morning and found yourself a year older. First thing you did was to go fetch bread from the bakery, because that was your job each morning. You came home and your birthday presents were on the breakfast table, with your son already weeping because he wanted to open the box of chocolates. You also got socks, coffee beans and a bottle of wine (your wife's austerity campaign continues - she made you return the Wii that you gave her for Christmas and clearly there was no reprieve).

You finally managed to hustle the boy off to kindergarten and came back to get some work done. Your wife did allow for lunch at a nice restaurant in town - one which you used to frequent but was now off limit until she felt ready to leave both kids at home with the babysitter. Before you got to the restaurant you stopped to look at lighting - that's where your money will go.


The meal was delicious. Thankfully the baby slept and only woke when it was time to ask for the check. You didn't loiter and even said no to dessert because it was a beautiful sunny day and with the rare snowfall earlier in the week the one thing you wanted to do with the rest of your day was to pick up your son early to take him sledding. This you did until twilight, to his delight. Afterwards you and the family went home and as usual your wife busied herself with getting the baby settled for the night, leaving you to wrestle with the older one through the over-familiar nightly routine of getting him to bed.

Later you and she shared some companionable moments before you both said goodnight...Happy Birthday Jochen!

Monchi Says

Happy New Year. And that she makes mom smile!!

I can sleep 7 hours straight, but I don't always fancy going to bed...

Piggy Says

Want to share some choice Pig quotes from recent months. Unfortunately he mainly speaks German so some are not funny in English, but below examples survive translation:

• Mommy, if the baby is here why do you still have a big stomach?
• What happens after someone dies?
• If I wear this hat don't I look chic ? (He actually used the word chic, but with a German pronounciation)
• I hear you, I just don't do it
• Why am I the one doing all the work around here. You and Papi have to do something as well
• You're not my friend anymore
• You're the best Mommy
• Don't I sing well?
• Oh man, they ran out of money again! (His response to the upteenth reportage on the economic crisis)
• Who's bigger, Papi or me? Me. Who's bigger, Mommy or me? Me. Who's bigger, Monchichi or me, Monchichi (I don't quite understand his angle on this one, but he repeats this litany fairly often, and generally laughs at the end)