French for a While

WE'VE BEEN WITHOUT internet for a few days (horror!). Anyway, one of us (OK, it was me) turned 37 over the weekend. But that's no worry because I have it on good authority that 37 is not old. Just check out this clip from Monty Python if you need proof. This is one of my favorites of all time (from 'The Quest for the Holy Grail'), not just because of the age reference, but because it's brilliant political satire.


CJS

BARACK OBAMA HAS endured a lot of criticism lately because he doesn't wear a US flag pin on the lapel of his suit (yes, that's the state of US politics in 2008). Kramer faced a similar problem as this clip shows. See, Seinfeld has covered every possible life senario. [note: if you're really a Seinfeld fanatic, try to guess the clip before you watch it and leave a comment if you got it right].


CJS

MANY CITIES AROUND the world have street performers who entertain tourists and locals with everything from juggling acts to comedy routines to musical interludes. The city of Nice is no different. When I came to interview for my current job about a year ago, I remember seeing a New Orleans-style jazz group playing on the Cours Saleya. They stuck out in my mind because I have always loved old-style Dixieland jazz (and they were singing the standards in English). Anyway, I've seen them around Nice quite often since then and have always enjoyed their music. I've also learned that the name of their group is The Boogiemen Swing.

But here's where it gets fun.

The CIV has an impressive music program and one of my students is apparently a good jazz guitar player and is thriving in the program. I got to talking with him one day after class about jazz music in general and he mentioned that his father is in a jazz band in Nice and wondered if I had ever seen them. Of course, I didn't know who he was talking about, but I soon learned that his father is part of ... The Boogiemen Swing. They play lots of gigs in jazz clubs around the Cote d'Azur and he's invited Kerri and I to come out one weekend to see them in Nice. This summer they will also be featured in the very popular Nice Jazz Festival. (Our friend over at Poppy in Provence will probably enjoy this post because she's in jazz band as well...I think I have that right.)

Hear some of the music they have posted on their myspace page. If you live in the area it's very possible you've seen them. He're a short video of them performing.

Exactly Like You - Boogiemen

[Late Update: it appears the video isn't working properly, but you can at least see a photo of the group. Go to the myspace page linked above to hear some of the music.]
CJS

KERRI HAS ALWAYS liked 'Queen', so it's no great surprise that our 3-yr. old runs around the house singing 'we will, we will rock you'. However, as you'll see in this clip, I'm not sure he has the words exactly right. Take a look below or at You Tube :



CJS

IT'S RAINING AND cold today so I've been catching up on all things Obama-Clinton (yikes, it's getting ugly). While reading a bit on Andrew Sullivan's site I ran across this video: a water balloon exploding, caught on a camera that films 2000 frames per second. Very cool.


The weather should be better tomorrow.
CJS

THIS IS AN interesting commercial. For some odd reason it seems to star our family. How did that happen? You can also see it in full screen right here.



CJS

OUT KIDS TELL us that this problem is just as big in France as in other parts of the world. Are your kids at risk?


CJS

FORGOT TO PUT up this short video clip from the Ligue 1 match I went to last weekend between Marseille and Nice. Even though Nice lost the game, the atmosphere was incredible: lots of singing, lots of chanting, lots of bad words, and lots of fire (yes, fire!).

By European standards the Nice team is quite small, usually finishing in the middle of the pack in the top French league (which is -- at best -- only the 4th of 5th best league in Europe). However, Marseille is a European powerhouse, having won the Champtions League multiple times. This particular game had some extra significance because Nice is doing very well this season (currently 4th) and Marseilles is struggling (but playing better lately). And because the game was against Marseille, the local police were ready for a huge contingent of their fans (can you say 'riot gear'?). And sure enough, they arrived in mass on 8 police-escorted buses about 30 minutes before the match.


CJS

IF YOU'VE NEVER been to Monaco it's difficult to imagine the amount of wealth that exists there. Here's a silly 25-second video clip I took on Saturday afternoon in front of the Monte Carlo Casino. Take a look if you want to see 8 cars that, in total, are probably worth more than $1 million. You'll notice at least two convertable Bentley's. I feel sorry for the owners of the two Mercedes sedans -- they must feel like paupers.


CJS

IT'S THE FIRST Christmas that either of us have spent away from 'home'. We sure will miss some of our Christmas day traditions: 5:00am wake-up calls, PP and GG's house, IHOP (yes, I said IHOP!!), bular (it's a Swedish thing), afternoon naps, roast beef for dinner, friends and family, and the list goes on.

We have Mormor and Uncle Jeremy to keep us company during our first Christmas in France, but we want to make sure everyone knows how much we'll miss you. Below is a short little Christmas greeting we made in Nice.

Merry Christmas Everyone!! We'd love to hear from you -- drop us a comment or an email!
CJS, KRS, and the kids

IT'S BEEN OVER a week since we returned from our trip to Italy. The truth is that I had hoped to put something up right away, but I just don't have the energy to chronicle the whole trip because it would take too long (and bore too many people). So here's the super-short version, and if you want more you can watch the short video we made of the trip (available below or by clicking 'videos' at the top of the page).

The trip was wonderful, partly because we decided to visit some parts of Italy that are a little less well known -- so no Milan, Florence, Pisa, or Rome (we did cheat a bit and spent a day in Venice). Instead we spend our time in Italy's central region: Romagna -- known around the world for cheese (home ofparmigiano-reggiano cheese), performance cars (Ferrari, Lambourghini, and Mazerati are all headquartered here), balsamic vinegar (it originates in Modena), and Tenors (Pavarotti was born and lived in Modena). Since Kerri and I have both travelled a bit in Italy, it was nice to visit some new places.

Since this was their first real trip to Italy, Patrick and Julia were in charge of keeping the official record of what we did and I will now consult their notebooks for some more of the details. Here's what I found:

• We visited: Emilia-Reggio, Modena, Bologna, and Venice
• We stayed in a Holiday Inn Express every night (go figure)
• We visited three official (DOC) Parmigiano-Reggiano farms and bought some cheese from each farm (all in Emilia-Reggio)
• Number of tunnels we passed through in the first 2 hours of the trip: 103...then we stopped counting. (It's true!)
• Number of Ferarris and Lambourghinis we saw: 12
• Number of cars that passed daddy even though he was driving 135km/hour: A LOT.
• Times daddy swore because he was lost: [entry removed by editor]
• Favorite meal: just of the Piazza Maggiore in Bologna -- Pasta e fagioli, tagliatelle bolognese, penne and tomatos, tomato & mozzarella salad. Yum.
• Favorite part of trip: riding the bus with no roof (Henry)
• Number of time we had to stop 'for a quick coffee': too many!

If you want something visual, here you go:

CJS

WE HAVE A new video up that I think some of you are going to like. It will be much more entertaining if you are familiar with the MTV show 'Cribs' (so dad, you're not going to get it --- but watch it anyway). This one is kind of silly and was just for fun. You can watch it below or see it in a larger format on You Tube (or by clicking 'Video' at the top of the page). Here's a challenge for some of you: try to identify all the song used in the video. Leave you guesses on the comments page.

This morning we are headed to Italy for a few days since everyone is off for the toussaint holiday. We'll have more when we get back.
CJS

THIS VIDEO WON'T need much explanation -- except to say that Patrick wears number 9 for his soccer club: FC Roquefort-les-Pins. Those of you who remember the 1990 World Cup in Italy may recognize the music as Puccini's Nessun Dorma, the 'official song' of the '90 World Cup. (By the way, here's a link to see Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma live).

This video is some footage from a recent game against a team from Cannes. This video is especially for Uncle Jeremy. For a full-screen version of the video watch it at YouTube.
CJS

THIS ISN'T A very exciting video by any means. But it has some footage of Mougins if nothing else. Mougins is known throughout France as a place where you can get a world-class meal and buy world-class art. We got niether -- but it was fun notheless. This video was actually taken nearly three weeks ago when we made our visit -- and since Mougins is only about 10 minutes from our house, I'm sure we'll make more trips...and maybe get that terrific meal. As always, you can see other video by clicking on the video link at the top of the page. And as always, you can view the video below or at YouTube.

LAST SUNDAY WE went up mountains to attend the Fete Paysanne des Georges du Loup, a well known artisan festival in Gourdon (I recommend visiting the website). Gourdon is a beautiful 9th century mountain village that sits high on a cliff overlooking the coast. This video will not do it justice. In fact, this clip is from the hiking expedition we took after the festival -- a short clip from our experience in the village is coming soon.

This video is worth watching if only to see our new car -- the ever-popular Renault Scenic! As always, you can see all our video by clicking the video link at the top of the page.

HERE IS THE latest video that we've posted over at YouTube. It's a short look at two very different beaches we have been to -- one in Italy and one here in France. If it seems like all we do is go to the beach on weekends, it's because that's about all we've been doing while the weather is so nice (and that's what you do when you have three kids at two full days to fill). You'll notice the difference in the two beaches right away...one is sandy (like we're used to) and one is all rocks (look at the still photo below). You have a choice over here, and let me tell you, the rock beaches are great because you all the benefits of a great beach but without the sand! It hurts your feet for a bit, but you get used to it. Note: if you want to see the video in a larger format, just click on the video link at the top of the page.
CJS