My mom returned from a 3 week cruise and called me to tell me I have not written anything in a long time.  She likes to read my updates first and then call to discuss the details. So I guess I better update her!  I had my first bikram yoga experience.  What a nightmare! I enjoy hot yoga as Chris and I had been doing it for months.  This is one of the things I miss most so I thought we would give it a try.  There is an english class offered at 11:00 each day so we opted for that.  I have heard about bikram and that it just a series of poses and is more strict than what we had been doing.   Well- we get into this room that is 105 degrees and they managed to stuff 40 people in a space that really should be 20.  In comes a big burly shirtless hairy man and who does he go next to??? Me.  I knew it was not a good start.  And honestly, I was expecting more fit people.  It was quite the opposite.  No one was in decent shape and everyone wore as little clothing as possible.  It was not the scene I had envisioned.  The instructor was a monster- always yelling and belittling people.  I thought yoga was supposed to peaceful.  I could barely last the 1.5 hour class as the my burly neighbor was dripping sweat on my mat and releasing a foul odor.  Usually when I leave yoga, I feel stronger, leaner, rejuvenated.  Not that day, I left nauseous, and with a stiff neck.   My friends at school were all eager to join me on the next visit...but that wont be happening!  Then to top it off, Chris and I jumped on line 1 Metro.  It has double doors and beeps when closing.  For some reason, I was still out of it and the doors closed on my arm.  What pain!!!  Chris had to pry the doors open to let me free.  It has been over 2 weeks and it still hurts- I think I may have torn my bicep.  

Alex had a performance at school for his french class.  It was Les Trois Petits Cochons ( the three little pigs).  Alex played the part of the wolf and of course he hammed it up quite a bit.  His teacher tells me he is quite theatrical and comedic.  He enjoys making others laugh.  At the end of the play when the wolf falls into the boiling pot- he was supposed to get out, scream and run away.  But Alex "got stuck" int the pot and everyone enjoyed his performance.  I have a bit of the clip below.

We also decided to try some children's theater that was at the Opera Bastille.  We bought tickets for the two older girls and got all dressed up to see Chat Perche Operal Rural.   We had no idea what to expect.  It was a dance, musical theatrical performance.  It is nothing like I have ever experienced.  It was meant for children and it was quite bizarre and very eccentric.  Even if we understood most of it- I think we still would have walked away perplexed.  

Enjoying the performance

Chat Perche Opera Rural

Alex had a huge 40 team hockey tournament in Bercy.  Games were only 9 minutes each so things went by quickly and then slowly as we had to wait for his next match.  He did quite well- his first hat trick!  It so cute to watch Alex celebrate his victories with his teammates.  No one understands him but all smiles everywhere!

Alex "18"

I am continuing with my weekly french lessons and think I am progressing.  We have also started a french conversation group with 4 friends at school to get us going.  We all seem to understand, its just getting the words out quickly that we all find difficult.  

Luciana had her first french birthday party for a classmate.  I did not know what to expect as it was at her home with only a start time of 3:30.  The mother is from Bulgaria and father from Italy but both were raised in France.  As we arrived, Luciana went right in and I fortunately found a gentleman who gladly spoke English with me.  After he left, I went to the moms and listened but contributed very little.  I assumed since the children were 3 and 4 - that the party would be 1.5 hours.  But it wasn't.  In fact, more people kept arriving at all times.  By 5:00, the house was full and we had to leave to pick up Alex from basketball.  I am not sure if I was rude to leave but they were surprised that I made such a quick exit.  

I found Luciana making herself a peanut butter sandwich

We went an annual school cocktail party called Bonnee Annee in Paris one evening.  It was nice to get dressed up and spend the evening in Paris at the beautiful Cercle de l’Union Interalliée.  We followed it up at a restaurant called Le Chiberta with another couple.  It was our first Michelin dining experience.   Despite being a Guy Savoy restaurant, I have to say I was not that impressed.  I have had better dining experiences- both food and atmosphere.  

Olivia had her first gymnastics meet.  It is very different than what she is accustomed to.  It is not as intense and stressful as the girls are divided into groups of four and compete as a team.  No individual medals - just a team trophy.  The girls got 2nd place and had a combined score high enough to qualify for the regional competitions.  Olivia did outstanding as she stuck her back walkover on the beam and did a great floor routine that she choreographed herself.  Her scores were given to her coach only that she shared with Olivia...she was a the top of the meet! 

practicing her back walk over

I went to the dentist to have some fillings fixed and a crown repaired.  I have been in pain for a week now as I managed to bite the inside of my cheek a dozen times.  I was hoping I could lose a couple pounds as it is not easy to eat, but then I discovered pain au chocolat is nice and soft and I can eat it on one side of my mouth.  I go back in another week to have the permanent fixtures put in- but if these wounds don't heal soon, I may be the crankiest mom around!  I had another ASP tour.  This time we went to the Musee d'Art Moderne.  This museum is owned by the city of Paris, where as the Centre Pompidou is owned  by France.  I like modern art, its the contemporary pieces I am not so interested in.  It had many interesting pieces and was a small manageable museum.  This museum has some very recent history itself. On May 20, 2010, 5 paintings were stolen overnight. The paintings taken were Le pigeon aux petits pois by Pablo Picasso, La Pastorale by Henri Matisse, L'Olivier Près de l'Estaque by Georges Braque, La Femme à l'Éventail,   by Amedeo Modigliani and Nature Morte aux Chandeliers by Fernand Léger.  They were valued at $123 million and is said to be the "heist of the century".   The French auctioneer response was "These five paintings are unsellable, so thieves, sirs, you are imbeciles, now return them.".  They still have not been found!

La Fee Electricite by Raoul Dufy

One of Picasso's early pieces

Henri Matisse sketch

Luciana had been doing great as she is on an inhaler.  The doctor warned us though that if she caught a bad cold- the cycle could repeat itself....well she got another one!  Up all night coughing.  I cant wait for this season to be over.  Although no snow here- it is damp with frequent rains and temps in the high 40s, low 50s.   Chris got stuck in the snowstorms in Chicago and was delayed coming home 2 times.....he has been in the states for 3 out past 4 weeks.  My brother is in town next week and we have lots of more things to see and do in Paris!