Thursday, October 30, 2008

Sans poile

So yesterday, I had a Brazilian wax. It was the first time that I had ever had any kind of wax, and I have to say that it hurt way less than I was expecting it to. I mean, it hurt a little, but no more than having my eyebrows threaded. It was just a bit of pinching, a couple brief moments of pain, and then it was over. Totally worth it. In fact, I was in such good shape after that I thought about having my legs and underarms waxed too, but the hair wasn't long enough, so I abandoned the idea.

Also yesterday, my French mother cooked dinner again--quiche, OMG SO GOOD, even if she did have to use American ingredients, which meant no lardons, no creme fraiche, and no gruyere. (Side note: when I first moved to France I referred to the gruyere as Swiss cheese because it had holes in it, and my French family thought I was crazy. They firmly corrected me and informed me that gruyere is French, and then they picked up a piece of bread with a hole in it and asked, "Is this Swiss bread?")

After dinner our other guests from France came over for coffee, so it was a big French-speaking party in our living room. It was kind of awesome. It was great to see them all interact. I'm so used to translating for my French family when they meet people I know--so it was lovely to watch everyone get to chat in their own language and to be able to sit back and just listen and participate in the conversation without having to serve as an interpreter.

And yesterday, my office threw me a surprise bridal shower. It was so trickily done--I met with my boss for my end-of-year appraisal, and she suggested we take a walk, and I figured that it was so that we could talk about things without other people hearing, and then she led me into a conference room all decorated with purple ribbon and my entire department was there and they all yelled, "Surprise!" And there was a purple cake and a big bouquet of flowers and a gift card. And it was amazing and I almost burst into tears because I was so touched.

Today is my last day in the office, and I'm even leaving early. So as of 4 p.m. today, the relaxing and the concentrating on getting married can begin. Tomorrow there will be one last post as a single girl, and then--EEEEEEEEEEE MARRIED.

37 comments:

  1. Have a fantastic time!!! I am so excited for you....

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  2. That's so sweet! purple ribbons too! I love it.

    Two more days! I expect pictures.

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  3. I was just reading about LARDONS last night as I was seeking a recipe for this weekend in one of our new cookbooks. They had an aside, describing lardons, a term I'd never heard before. So funny to see you write about it again here!

    And I think that's just lovely that your boss and co-workers think so fondly of you. I mean, what's not to like?!? ENJOY your last moments at work and then don't look back - this wedding is all about you and Torsten and nothing at work should steal away your attention!

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  4. Aww, that's super sweet. I can't believe you're almost married!

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  5. The next time you get dressed for work, you'll be MARRIED!

    mmmm. Gruyere Cheese. That's what you use to make proper French Onion Soup.

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  6. YAY!

    You make me remember my own last day in the office ... when I left everyone was yelling and whistling and shouting. It was a good send off!

    What did ya get at your bridal shower?

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  7. I'm so happy for you! Enjoy every minute of these next few days!

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  8. Now I want quiche! Happy last day of work :)

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  9. Yay for the Brazilian! I told you it wouldn't hurt that much. It's totally worth it for your wedding and honeymoon.

    Good luck with everything!

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  10. Enjoy your last day of working as a single woman! I am so happy for you that it is finally here - enjoy it all!

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  11. Have an amazing day today - and oh my gosh, I want your French family to come cook for me! = )

    The party sounds so sweet, I'm glad you're so supported!

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  12. What a nice way to end a busy work week before you get married! =)

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  13. That was so great of your office to do that for you =)

    Congratulations...it's almost time for the BIG DAY!

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  14. YAY!!

    :) No work = bliss.

    Enjoy your time off sooo much.

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  15. I was going to complain that you touched too lightly on the subject of the Brazilian, but then I thought, "What more did I want her to SAY?" and I had no answer for myself.

    OMG last day of work before WEDDING!

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  16. Dude, I eat gruyere all the time. Do they not have it near you? So. so. SO good.

    That is so sweet about your office! It's getting so close. Enjoy these next few days!

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  17. wow, you are brave. Always wondered about brazilian wax. You give courage to us all!

    Have a wonderful wedding! And Honeymoon...

    :)

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  18. You're almost MAAAAAAAARRRRRRIIIIEEEEEED!

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  19. Awww...that must have been great walking into your party!

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  20. YAY WEDDING!!
    I can't wait to see the photos and hearing all about the great event!
    You're getting MARRIED!!! OMG!

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  21. Have a wonderful weekend!! We can't wait to hear all the details!! (You're live-blogging the whole affair, right??)

    Just kidding. Felicitations!

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  22. That is so sweet of your office to do that for you!

    And SQUEEEEE! You're almost totally off the market!

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  23. YAY, oh my lord I am so excited to see you! Can't wait!!!

    xox

    (Also, ditto Pess - I eat Gruyere all the time, too. You know my relationship with cheese.)

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  24. Awww, so cute on the office party :)

    Lardons=chunks of bacon, correct? I'm pretty sure those can be found in the States, and you can definitely find creme fraiche in some of the schmancier grocery stores... it's too late now, of course, but in case you ever want to make quiche in the future :)

    Can't believe it's only 2 days until your wedding! YAY! :)

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  25. Ha! I told you it wasn't that bad- and totally worth it :)

    Oh, and I use creme fraiche and gruyere all the time. What crazy store are you shopping at that doesn't sell those items??

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  26. SQUEEEEEEEEEEE MARRIED MARRIED MARRIED MARRIED OMG MARRIED.

    Phew.

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  27. I almost cried reading about your surprise shower. That's so sweet! And how nice for your French family to finally talk to someone in their own language...that's always frustrating!

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  28. Eeee!!! I'm So excited!

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  29. I want to try waxing sometime, but I don't want to let it grow out first. So I've never done it.

    And it is so thrilling that you'll be married soon! Yay!!

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  30. Awww the surprise bridal shower sounds sweet.

    And brazilians? They are the BEST. Every month baby!

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  31. I'm so excited for you! Have a wonderful, wonderful day! :)

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  32. Gruyère is like my favorite kind of cheese. My French roommate actually suggested I could replace it with Swiss cheese because they're so similar, but I think they aren't at all. Haha.

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