Ehrer Tells All

I'm back

2007-05-12T17:33:00.000+02:00

It's been over a year, yes, I do know.....but I'm back. Just so there are no hard feelings, I'll get you started off with a cute picture.

Gypsy with my fake Phantom

2005-11-12T22:47:00.000+01:00

de Villepin
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Paris is burning, so we're roasting marshmallows!

2005-11-12T22:05:00.000+01:00

I don't mean to be flip, but the coverage of the riots in France reminds me of those scary campfire stories you heard/told as a kid. Not that the riots aren't happening but the coverage makes it sound like France is a war zone. The media is putting the flashlight under France's face and creating crazy shadows that tend to be the scariest part of the campfire stories if you ask me. The shadows are pronounced under their scrutiny but daily life here isn't as scary as it sounds or looks.

We live in the Seine-Saint-Denis department but not in one of the cities closely involved in the rioting, so my reality isn't nearly as threatened as somebody living in Clichy-sous-Bois - True. I feel horrible for anybody that is living directly in the fire and I hope they are safe and remain so until the riots are resolved. But don't worry about every citizen in France (not yet anyway). I walk to the store, I take the bus to work (passing through rioting cities); I do see some after effects but I have not had reason to concern for my personal safety as of yet.

So far, I feel as if I don't step in the camp fire I will be okay.

2005-07-10T17:28:00.000+02:00

Paula & Bruce
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Museum of Natural History

2005-05-18T13:54:00.000+02:00

Musée d'Histoire Naturelle
Posted by Hello
The Musée d'Histoire Naturelle is quite impressive with the massive room full of skeltons ranging from frogs to whales. We'll post the pictures soon for all to see.

The in-laws

2005-03-24T11:38:00.000+01:00

Posted by Hello
(I use the term in-laws with affection. I couldn't have asked for better!) Here is Jean-Pierre and Martine in Paris.

Never ever dye black

2005-03-24T11:31:00.000+01:00

Posted by Hello
My brilliant scheme to dye my hair black for a costume party bite me in the arse. Temporary coloring my foot. I finally got it fixed (best they could) - as you can see it's still darker than my natural color. Please learn from my mistake and never ever dye your hair black!!

Back to basics.

2005-03-08T14:55:00.000+01:00

Our 2 week break came to an end and hence I went back to school on Monday. Being the nerd (and teacher's pet) that I am, I was happy to get back to work and all the tres bien's. But I was reminded that I am not better than anyone and needed to get back to basics..... Our teacher called us up one by one to sign in and the girl in front of me was speaking to the teacher so I politely waited to the side, looking around aimlessly, trying to appear as if I weren't standing in front of the class (which I hate anyway). I kept hearing a hissing noise but paid no attention until my english speaking friend finally hissed my name loud enough for me to look over. She gave me the frantic 'come here' hand motion and I strolled over to her as she looks at my pants and says "fix your pants". Yup, my pants were unzipped as I stood in front of the class................

So no matter who you are - teacher's pet, CEO, President - make sure you've zipped your pants before starting your day.

2005-02-27T20:46:00.000+01:00

Posted by Hello
Pierre finally got some snow. It had appeared we were out of luck. It snowed one day in Paris while we were in Montaigu (noting we were told it rarely snows in Paris) and the first time we weren't in Dallas for Christmas it snowed *amazingly* for three whole days. So yeah for finally snowing in the spot we were in! It wasn't much, as you can see, but enough for Pierre to make a snowball (and then complain because his hands were freezing). :-)

2005-02-12T13:10:00.000+01:00

Rock Star
Posted by Hello
I've posted the pictures from my trip home. Take a gander

Are you as bored as I am?

2005-01-03T20:05:00.000+01:00

If you think you are check out some of the ways I've found to help cure my boredom. If nothing else it'll keep you from working for about 10 minutes or so...

10. Take stupid quizzes here
9. Try all these useless things to do
8. Learn how to fold a life size paper crane
7. Check out the embarrassing moments photos & stories and thank heavens it's not you. (not all photos are perfectly suitable for work...)
6. Learn about the Paparazzi, buy a camera and get to work. (Dang, France has very strict anti-paparazzi legislation - guess I have to get a real job.)
5. Learn about becoming a celebrity's personal assistant in case the Paparazzi thing doesn't work out.)
4. Learn how I have learned to make things happen on this blog
3. Learn French here (or English here)
2. Take a virtual tour of The Louvre
1. Sign up to become an Au Pair so you can live by me and we can hang out so I won't have to find ways to not be bored.

(#8, yeah I know it's not life sized but it made you look.)

Christmas Eve Dinner

2004-12-29T20:30:00.000+01:00

Posted by Hello
Christmas was great and if you'd like to see the pictures use the link on the right.

Yummy, seafood!

Our rink is better than yours....

2004-12-12T18:47:00.000+01:00

Posted by Hello
Paris is doing alot to get The Games in 2012, one of which is an ice skating rink on the first level of the Eiffel Tower (188 feet up in the air). That's my kind of ice skating.

See the whole story here

Best line ever........

2004-12-10T16:51:00.000+01:00

'We're woman, there is nothing above bottoms on the crisis scale. Bottoms are our natural enemy. They follow us around our entire lives, right behind us and constantly growing. How do they do that? I'm sure mine's back there secretly snacking.' - Coupling

You know I think my bottom has been secretly snacking since high school, traitor!

If you'd like to find out more about Coupling click HERE

You're my mermaid.

2004-12-10T13:58:00.000+01:00

I've come to enjoy Pierre's sleep talking, it's a form of entertainment for me. Some of his best lines:

"I have to pee pee pee pee pee."
"You're purple." Me: Why am I not blue? "You might be blue but I think you're purple."
"Phantom needs to wear a helmet if he wants to ride the bike."

His sweetest line ever: "You're my mermaid." - that one got him tons of points.

At any rate, I get tons of entertainment by trying to keep him in his sleeping conversations because they are usually really odd.

I don't think I've ever heard anyone else sleeptalk until Dan's visit. Dan's line: "I don't trust this f#¤* bar!" I was proud of Dan thinking he was hanging out in a bar in his dreams but as it turns out he was talking about a roll bar on a car.

I have to admit, I fell into the club last night. I don't recall what I spewed in my sleep but Pierre said 'what?' and I replied 'nothing I was just talking in my sleep'. If you immediately recognize that you are talking in your sleep doesn't it discount the fact that you were talking in your sleep??

Christmas songs on the mind.

2004-12-09T18:51:00.001+01:00

I love Christmas, I really do but this has got to go. My town put up Christmas decorations a week or so ago, they are great, love them.....but today they started the music. They strung speakers up and down the main street (right by my apartment, btw) and turned on the music.....maybe it's a good thing I don't understand French yet........

Dan's 2004 Thanksgiving trip

2004-11-26T15:11:00.000+01:00

Dan & Dawn November 2004Posted by Hello
Dan's trip is coming to an end so I wanted to get at least one pic up and running. I'll add an album with pictures from his visit soon. His visit consisted mostly of wearing my out by walking around Paris (not a small town by the way) but also included visiting a castle, running around on Thanksgiving trying to find a sweet potato (successfully I might add) and drinking beer. His last night here will entail a happy hour visit to the american bar. Check back soon for the photos. (BTW, this is the only day my hair was in a pony-tail the entire 2 weeks...if you were wondering.)

2004-11-19T23:26:00.000+01:00

Galeries Lafayette Christmas Lights
Posted by Hello

Dog scarves?

2004-11-11T21:46:00.000+01:00

Posted by Hello
Don't let the sad face fool you, he loves the scarf he's just upset it's not in his color.

Paris Pictures

2004-11-09T20:16:00.000+01:00

Eiffel Tower
Posted by Hello
I've added a few pictures of Paris in the photo album entitled 'Paris - out and about'. Check them out. I'll continously add pictures.

Much needed change!

2004-11-05T20:22:00.000+01:00

Posted by Hello
My much needed hair change....I promise to fix it at least once a month.......!

Whasssupppp my dawgs?

2004-10-27T22:00:00.000+02:00

Posted by Hello

This is what happens when mom and dad get a digital camera. The good news for all you human friends is that they can easily post pics (see link to pictures on the right) for your viewing pleasure. They have added an album entitled 'Life in France' which will cover any (and probably all) daily activity - such as their apartment, their town, Dawn's classes, etc. Additionally coming soon will be an album entitled 'Voyage through Paris' which will have pictures of all the well-known monuments of Paris as well as some things that mom & dad find that they just like or find interesting. It's the best way to experience Paris without the cost of traveling here. Check back soon for the album.

Amy, give Frank the paws up for me!

Phantom

Björk Jackson?

2004-10-25T01:54:00.000+02:00

Posted by Hello

Is it me or are they begining to look alike. I think Michael Jackson is turning into Björk!

Emotionally disturbing video

2004-10-21T22:38:00.000+02:00

I ran into this article while doing research on how to calm Phantom's (happy dog below) seperation anxiety. Now I have anxiety. Even if you don't read the whole story or watch the horrible video please e-mail this to other animal lovers (or even likers) so they can choose to not purchase Iam's. Phantom's seperation anxiety doesn't seem to be such a big problem anymore.....

What’s Wrong With Iams?
For nearly 10 months, PETA conducted an undercover investigation in an Iams contract laboratory. What our investigator witnessed and captured on hidden camera would outrage any animal lover: dogs who had gone crazy from being confined to barren steel-and-cement cells, dogs who had been left on a paint-chipped floor after having their vocal chords severed and part of their leg muscles hacked out, dogs who were sweltering in scorching heat and shivering in bitter cold, and horribly sick dogs and cats languishing in their cages, neglected and left to suffer without veterinary care. The animals in Iams’ tests are no different from our dogs and cats at home when it comes to deserving companionship, play, a stimulating environment, and the right not to be tormented in painful experiments.

Story: http://www.iamscruelty.com/iams.asp

Video: (NOTE this video is very upseting) http://www.iamscruelty.com/iams-video.asp

For a list of forward-thinking companion-animal food companies that have stopped or never conducted tests on animals in laboratories http://www.iamscruelty.com/res.asp

Homesick

2004-10-18T19:52:00.000+02:00

Ozona's, May 2004
Posted by Hello
Ok, I'm homesick these days!! Miss you guys!!

Long Night?

2004-10-14T13:50:00.000+02:00

Posted by Hello
After a long night of drinking and pictionary, Gypsy was reduced to sleeping-it-off in a box. The next morning he was seen going into felines anonymous.

Is it really that hard?

2004-10-14T13:36:00.000+02:00

Posted by Hello
Really is your job that hard? Try sitting on a pedestal for 8 hours varying positions so the public knows you really are a person. Try it, I dare you.
Signed,
Living Statue #43275 of Saint Malo.
Click here for more info on Saint Malo - click on the British Flag on the right of website for English.

Things to do before I die.

2004-10-14T13:21:00.000+02:00

Posted by Hello
Mont Saint Michel - one of the 100 wonders of the world. Check out the other 99 here - I'm using it as a travel guide.

2004-10-12T20:34:00.000+02:00

Tell me this dog isn't happy!
Posted by Hello

Just another day

2004-10-12T20:15:00.000+02:00

I found this carousel in a mall in Nantes, France. Beautiful.... Just another day shopping in France.

Posted by Hello

My Favorite Salad Dressing

2004-10-12T01:17:00.000+02:00

This recipe comes from Pierre's grandmother and I have to tell you the French know what tastes good!

Ingredients:
Olive Oil
Vinegar
Balsmic Vinegar
Arome Savour (I'm looking for the English equivalent)
Salt
Pepper
Spicy Mustard

There are no true amounts, it's taste and see. I put a thin layer of olive oil on the bottom of the salad bowl, a tiny bit of vinegar, more balsmic vinegar than regular vinegar but not much more, maybe about 1/2 teaspoon of arome savour, a dash of salt, couple dashes of pepper and about 1/6 teaspoon of mustard. A key is to spin the salad to allow the dressing to adhere to the lettuce when stirred.

Our Town

2004-10-10T19:38:00.000+02:00

Here is the link to our town until I can get some pics to put on. Villemomble, France

Freezing

2004-10-10T14:10:00.000+02:00

I just want you to know it is freezing here! For a girl from Texas, a move to France is ummm......an adjustment in every aspect but this cold really bites. The sad truth is that our apartment seems to be colder than outside. I'm not sure if it was constructed to be a meat freezer but if so it serves it's function very well.

Any tips on how to warm up the place without using the horribly expensive electric heater..?

Dawn and Pierre in Schoelcher, Martinique

2004-10-06T14:54:00.000+02:00

Dawn & Pierre-Frédéric Ehrer

Here we are posing after our wedding. I didn't understand a word of the wedding but I assume we are married and I'm not traded as a slave to Pierre..................hmmmm he does say "cook" a lot....

2004-10-06T14:18:00.001+02:00

Dawn & Pierre with Pierre's parents.

This is in the Ehrer garden. Mr and Mrs Ehrer were great to put up with me for two months, not an easy task as we all know.

2004-10-06T14:18:00.000+02:00

The Boys in Schoelcher, Martinique

The boys posing after the wedding, most are friends of Pierre's but yes that is Bruce on the left. HI Bruce!

2004-10-06T14:17:00.000+02:00

Pierre & I decided to pick three cakes of our choice instead of having the traditional French wedding cake whick looks like this http://www.canoe.qc.ca/ArtdevivreCuisineCours/050-982pateachoux.html .

2004-10-06T14:14:00.000+02:00

Dawn & Pierre