Museums & Cooking - What's Good about Paris

I've been online reading other peoples' blogs. It occurred to me (after an hour or so)... Hmmm. Maybe I ought to write something. Gee, ya' think? Somehow I've just not gotten around to it lately. Let me see if I can give a reasonable update. So, let the rambling begin...

On Thursday, none of the women who regularly attend my Jazzercise class could come, so I cancelled it and went to the Musee d'Orsay instead. This is a museum that is dedicated to French art (as opposed to the Louvre that has art from around the world).

This is the place that houses a very large collection of the Impressionist painters like Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas & Manet. I have two thoughts about what I saw...

1. If no one had told me that these are the grand masters, I could see mistaking some of it for high school painting 101. Like, "my kid could have painted that." On the other hand, I LOVED it. This is the museum I was remembering from my trip here with my parents twenty-odd years ago. About time I found it again.

2. This is an excellent museum in which to have a tour guide. It is very helpful to have someone knowledgeable explain to you what was such a big deal about the Impressionists - what came before them, and why they were so different. (For instance, didja know you could paint an orgy and have it be acceptable as long as you made it look historic and included a couple of frowning onlookers?) I highly recommend Paris Walks if you're here for a visit.

Also, I am finally taking a cooking class. This is the MOST fun I've had since I've been here. I have actually cooked Coq au Vin, Tarte aux Poireaux, Coquilles St. Jacques, Tarte Tatin aux Peche, Cassoulet and Tarte au Saumon Fume. And not only that, I could do it again.

The teacher sends out an ingredient list, we each buy what's on it, then meet in one anothers' homes. The teacher shows up, gives instructions and supervises as we each attempt to follow the recipe. While the recipes are great and yummy, her instruction is wonderful too. The things she says in an off-hand way, are almost more useful than the specific thing she's teaching.

My biggest "aha" moment, was when she said (basically), "leave it alone." The more you mess with it (stir), the longer it will take to cook. Let it be. Quit trying to "make" it happen. Wow. Sometimes I'm a really slow learner. (Hasn't god been trying to teach me the same thing?)

What else. Hmmm. Even though I am learning how to cook, and I'm enjoying the food, the kids haven't been all that excited. (They did like the cassoulet). I have been getting very frustrated about having to cook something EVERY DAMN NIGHT! And make sure there are appropriate breakfasts, lunches and snacks. I'm getting tired of it.

I have decided I'm ready to have the kind of help that doesn't just clean, but helps prepare meals and plays with the kids. I have a gal now (that just cleans), but I am not enamoured with her. I want someone whom I will be delighted to see - someone who takes care of me a little. I am ready to have help that helps.

Okay. This is three or four posts in one. So I'm considering myself caught up. What's up with you?