Joyeux Noël (et plus...)

Angela & Guillaume have had a very busy month, and have had no time to blog!


They went to a fundraiser on December 1 with their friend Kenny. There were a lot of New England Patriots football players there. Kenny bought an autographed football (the name was a little smudged), and Angela thought it was Number 1.






Angela's mother's birthday was December 6, so the kids took her to dinner at Flora Restaurant in Arlington. First, they went to her house to see her "winning painting." She entered a painting into a contest at the State House. Her painting won! It is now a holiday card that people can buy.

She gave Guillaume a New England Patriots winter hat. He liked it. It's very blue.

They had a lovely birthday dinner!

A few nights later, they went to a basketball game at the Garden to see the World Champion Boston Celtics.

Of course they stopped for food and beer first.

Doesn't Guillaume look very handsome?


The seats were very good. They were so close that Angela was looking for famous people, and she found some! Richard Seymour (he plays football for the New England Patriots), tennis player James Blake, and his brother, were all at the game. Okay, they're famous here in Boston anyways...

Finally they put up their Christmas tree. It was a lot of work this year. The tree stump was too big for the stand, so Guillaume had to go out and purchase a big expensive stand, and a saw (!) to cut off some of the stump so it would stand up straight. Guillaume wanted to buy the saddest tree on the lot because he felt bad for the tree.

But it looks very pretty now.

Just before Christmas, Angela and her best friend, Kelley, went to dinner to celebrate their birthdays. They have been friends since they were 5 years old! Angela's birthday is in June, and Kelley's is in November. They tried to go to dinner in between their birthdays, but they ran out of time.

They went to L'Espalier. Guillaume's friend, Greg, was their waiter, and he could not have been nicer. Angela had never met him before, so she was very happy to finally meet him. It was a wonderful evening. Since it was just the day after the big snowstorm, it was very cold and snowy outside, and it was so warm and cozy inside.

Guillaume had to work on Christmas Eve, so Angela went to her mother's house for a very nice dinner. She went to her house right after work, and watched as her mom finished making things for the dinner. At 6:00, some of her mother's friends arrived, and then Andrew came at 6:30. He had been at a friend's house for a party. His friend's father just happens to be one of Guillaume's regular customers at the M Bar!

On Christmas morning, Guillaume woke Angela up by singing a Christmas song. They had coffee and breakfast, and opened their prizes.

Santa Claus brought them Guitar Hero (because Rock Band just wasn't enough).

And lots of videos! And an iPhone case for Angela.

The biggest and best Christmas prize is yet to come. Angela & Guillaume are flying to France in just a few short weeks. They will be there for Papy Pierre's big birthday celebration! They are so happy they will soon see all family and close friends.

In the afternoon, they went to Cape Cod, to Aunt Andrea and Uncle Karl's house. They had a nice drive down to the Cape, listening to Christmas songs and calling friends and family. Feliz Navidad may have been over-played in the car.

Two of Angela's cousins and their families were there. The girls were painting nails and and playing with their new toys. Harry showed us how to use his yo-yo! Andrew came a little later, and their stepmother, Nancy came with her dog, Minette.

They got home at 8:30, and then hopped on La Voile to go to a little party at Greg's house in Brookline. They had a fantastic gumbo, some delicious wine, they rocked out to Rock Band, and finally went home at 2:00 in the morning.

Now Guillaume is in the office, Angela is on the couch, and she may not move until tomorrow.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

What is Gobble Gobble?

The traditional "first Thanksgiving" is said to have occurred at the Plymouth Plantation. Several of our Frenchies have visited the Plymouth Plantation!

In 1621, Pilgrims set a day to celebrate at Plymouth after their first harvest. Back then, it wasn't seen as a Thanksgiving observance, but a "harvest festival." Years of these sporadic feasts later turned into an annual observance. In 1863, in the middle of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day, to be held on the final Thursday every November.

On the final Thursday of November, 2008, Guillaume received a text message from one of his friends, which read: "Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble Gobble!" The pilgrims and Abraham Lincoln surely did not forsee iPhones and text messages at Thanksgiving.

Angela said that she received the same message from one of her friends. Guillaume asked what Gobble Gobble is. It is, of course, the sound a turkey makes. A live turkey, that is. Dead turkeys don't talk.

To start Thanksgiving Day, Angela watched some of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. From the comfort of her couch, of course.



When they arrived at Vas and Sal's house, they were shocked to find Andrew already there. Andrew might be known for arriving a little late...

The house was filled with the delicious aroma of a Thanksgiving feast. The chef was hard at work in the kitchen.

While the handsome Guillaume, with his new haircut (finally!), relaxed on the couch.

The beautiful Helen arrived last - Angela thought she would be there first. There was a lot of traffic. Thanksgiving is one of the most highly traveled days in America.

There is a new picture added to the family table (see bottom right).

Of course, there is a full table of desserts.

Guillaume's first or second dessert plate.

And then his little piece of regret.

When Angela and Guillaume got home, they quickly changed into pants with waistbands that stretch. Then Angela made a plate full of leftover dinner, and ate some more. Guillaume thought she was joking. She wasn't. It was good.

Guillaume is now hard at work. Tonight, Angela & Guillaume will go to a Celtics game. The Holiday Season has begun, and it is very full!

A+

Like Christmas, Only Better!

Angela woke up early this morning in anticipation of her favorite holiday. She is so happy that this year Guillaume will eat Thanksgiving dinner at dinnertime, instead of eating at midnight when he gets home from work. Hooray!

She is on the couch, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on TV, waiting for Guillaume to wake up.

The only thing possible that could make the day better would be if the Clan from France were here to celebrate. But everyone will be together soon. Peut-etre pour un événement spécial, en Janvier???

Soon they will all meet at Vas and Sal's house for a delicious dinner. Angela & Guillaume will bring foie gras (bien sur), baguettes (not as good), and wine (eh beh oui!).

A bientôt!

A Sporty Week!

Angela and Guillaume went to a Boston Bruins hockey game at the Boston Garden on Wednesday night. A friend of Angela's won the tickets, but she doesn't enjoy hockey. So, good for Angela and Guillaume.

It was a very, very cold night outside, but they took the Vespa anyways. The Boston Garden is very close to where they live. Once inside, they found their seats, and got some food, of course.

In a minute and a half, the Buffalo Sabres scored a goal.

Less than a minute later, the Bruins scored a goal, too!

The game was very high-scoring. Final, Bruins 7, Buffalo 4. Hooray, they won!

The best part of the night was when the little boys came onto the ice to play Pee Wee Hockey. The little boys don't play strategically. They see the puck, and they all chase after it. It's very fun to watch 10 little people on skates racing around trying to be the first one to get to the puck.

Angela and Guillaume left a few minutes before the end of the game. They got some MacDo, and went home.

This upcoming week is a sporty week, too. They just bought tickets to Friday night's Boston Celtics game. Their seats are 5 rows up from the floor. It should be very fun.

They bought some other tickets, too... for January...

Gros bisous!

Hurricane Paloma?

We hope Claudia and Guy are safe in Cuba!

Yes We Did

What a night.

We dared to hope.

Yes We Can

On August 26, 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution became law, and women could vote in the fall elections, including in the Presidential election.

And so today, Tuesday, November 4, 2008, Angela exercised her right to vote.

It's Been Such A Long Time

Angela & Guillaume are sorry that it is taking so long to put something new on the blog!

After Cyril left, Angela had a little emergency. A doctor took one of her kidneys! She is fine now, back to work, and off treatment.

Shortly before Angela went back to work, Claudia and Cyrielle came for a visit. Claudia's trip was very quick! They arrived on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, Guillaume had to work on Saturday night. So the girls stayed in and had some pasta and chit chatted, and went to bed.

Guillaume did not have to work on Sunday, so they went leaf-peeping! They were much more successful than last year when they went with Helen.

They stopped at a farm to look at the pumpkins, and to eat some food. (This is not them in the picture!)

There was a little stream next to the picnic tables, and it was a very pretty area.

There was an area full of pumpkins that Claudia was interested in.

And Cyrielle found it too...

After leaf-peeping and lunch, they went to Helen's for coffee and cakes. Helen had made some cakes and cookies for an art exhibit the day before. Lucky them! After coffee, Guillaume and Cyrielle went to the wine shop very close to Helen's house, while Claudia and Angela helped Helen clear the dishes. Everyone met at the wine shop, and then went to see Helen's art exhibit in a town close by. She had about 15 paintings on display.

On Monday, Claudia left because she had to go back to work. Guillaume had to work, too. Cyrielle and Angela enjoyed not working.

On Wednesday, the three of them went to Salem, Massachusetts, home to the infamous witch trials in 1692. Their first stop was The House of the Seven Gables. (A gable is a peak on top of the house.) Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote a book about this house. They took a guided tour inside, and even climbed up a secret staircase inside the chimney! Once they were at the top of the secret staircase, one of the guests on the tour argued with the guide about how many gables there actually are on the house. Guillaume made Angela keep quiet because he could see she was getting annoyed!

They made it out of the house without incident!

Maybe Angela has watched the movie "Titanic" too many times...

After they got off the "boat", they went to the WORST "museum" in history. Ever. The Witch History Museum was full of wax figures from the 1970s, and hasn't been updated since then. They could not get out of there fast enough!

After Angela's meeting that evening, they went to No. 9 Park, a very nice restaurant on the other side of Beacon Hill, just across from the State House. They had the chef's tasting menu, and some nice wine. By the end, Angela couldn't eat her food because she was so full. Angela took a taxi home, and Guillaume & Cyrielle walked.

Guillaume had to work also on Thursday and Friday. On Friday night, they all went to a French restaurant in the Colonnade Hotel, named Brasserie Jo. It was very nice, although Angela would get something other than the coq au vin next time.

On Saturday, Guillaume and Cyrielle took the Vespa into Cambridge so she could buy some things at the Harvard Coop. The Regatta was also taking place that weekend. It was a very busy day in Cambridge and along the river. There were many little stands for different fun things, including this!

At the last minute, Cyrielle decided to stay one more day so that we could visit with Vas & Sal. They were very happy to have her to their house, and she was happy to be there. We had a very nice time and left with full bellies!

Cyrielle left on Monday, and Angela & Guillaume went back to work. Guillaume got home early enough to take Cyrielle to the airport. When Angela got home, she found a prize from Cyrielle - a great t-shirt with Barack Obama on it. She wore it today! And on November 4th, hopefully she can wear it in victory...

He's gone already

It seemed like a very short holiday, but really, Cyril was here for 10 days! After he arrived from the airport, he and Guillaume went to Newbury Street for something to eat.




Unfortunately, Guillaume started his new job two days after Cyril arrived. He thought he wouldn't start until September 8, but they asked him to come in early. Of course, he did - this was a great opportunity for him that he couldn't say no to.

But, before he started work, there was still all day Sunday! They went to Harvard, of course.

And Cyril saw a squirrel. Why do the French like squirrels so much? Everyone takes pictures of them.

One evening they went to the Hard Rock Cafe. Maybe Guillaume looks a little like a nerd. Isn't he cute??

Cyril visited museums, walked around the city, became a guitar expert with his Rock Band. He went on his own to the Cape, and to the Plymouth Plantation.

He rented a car. He wanted a small car. This is the car he ended up with.


They went to the Capitol Grille to give Cyril the Best Steak! They had lovely wine, and a delicious dinner. Angela and Guillaume both had the lobster bisque, and it was as good as ever.



One special evening was August 28, Cyril's birthday. (It also happens to be Angela's father's birthday!) The birthday boy:





They went to a restaurant called La Voile. Angela & Guillaume had gone there a few months ago... perhaps where they picked up the name for the other La Voile, the Vespa!




They had a very nice dinner. Angela had the blanquette de veau - it was not as good as Guy's blanquette de veau, of course! But it was very good.


On the Labor Day weekend, the boys went to Montreal. They left early Sunday morning, and came home on Monday night. (Angela may have been bored by herself, but she would never tell the boys that.)



Is this in Paris? Mais, non! Although this looks just a little like Notre Dame, it is not.

They also went to a race track, where they were allowed to drive the car around.

For Cyril's final evening, they went to... PETIT ROBERT for dinner, bien sur! It was such a nice night, and they talked and ate and drank for hours.

Is that the Eiffel Tower in the background?

Guillaume and Cyril said goodbye when he left to go to work on Wednesday morning. Angela came home from work early on Wednesday, and drove Cyril to the airport. She was sad to see him go, but she thinks and hopes he will return a tres bientot.

Guillaume is enjoying his new job so much. On Monday, he will meet the people that he will work with every day, and he will like that. Angela will enjoy hearing about it. They will both like when he goes back to a bartender's schedule. However, Angela is very happy that he finally knows what it feels like to work a 9:00-6:00 day! Now he understands why she "relaxes on the couch" (or doesn't do much) when she comes home at night!


In French news, Cyrielle arrives at home today!!