Conference Calls

In my job, I am expected to listen in on lots of conference calls.  These calls are totally pointless and I often spend my time 'listening' and checking out the deal of the week on Amazon or reading the news online.  I suppose if I was actually participating and not just listening, I would actually focus better.  The other problem is that they "participants" are all on an email list.  So not only do they get emails about when the call is, and what number to dial, but they get other emails -- like the agenda and any files they want to go over for the call.  My favorite calls (she says sarcastically) are the one's in which a file has been sent out, that I never received and the participants make comments like -- 'I am not sure we should do #1 before doing #2', 'I don't think that we can separate #3 from #1' or 'Should #5 even be within the scope of this call'...  This would only make sense if you actually knew what #1, #2, #3 or #5 were...  But since I don't actually get these important files, I am lost.  Totally lost.  For some of these calls, I have to take notes for my boss.  I sure hope that she knows what #1 and #2 are, if not, I am sure she thinks that my notes are some sort of code....

My wish for the new year.  No more conference calls.  Or at least to be added to the email list ;0

Dr.Heartless

My officemate thinks that I am heartless.  Why, you ask, well it all started with a little too much multitasking.  I was talking to my officemate, while one of our coworkers and my hubby was IMing me.  A wanted to know how much foie gras to order for Xmas.  I had no idea how much foie gras one should consume in a sitting, but considering A's dad would be here for Xmas and they are from the southwest of France, we would need lots.  Forgetting that no everyone lived in France, I told my officemate that I couldn't focus on our conversation because of the foie gras IMing.  Foie gras -- isn't that cruelty to ducks.  My officemate is vegetarian, any consumption of animal products leads to a discussion of "factory farming".  Why do you hate the enviroment, he would say...  He is a fish eating vegetarian, I am not sure what his stance is on fish farming?  Or how soy bean agricultural (and other cash crops) have devastated the Amazon Rain Forest...  At least cute cuddly animal didn't have to die.  So I was called 'heartless'.  I had enough and walked away.  Sometimes out of the 2 people in our office, he is the most emotional.  I guess not all of us were coddled enough as children...  I care more about people than animals, that's true.  I believe there should be universal health care, long-term care for the elderly, and a smaller US military...  I used to volunteer before I had kids -- girls' shelter, hospice, county youth boards...  Anyway, just don't call me Mrs or Ms. Heartless. I didn't spent 5 years at Heartless Graduate school for that.

S's Birthday

S is the au pair for our children.  She is from Normandy.  This Thursday, she is going to be 23.  To celebrate this event I asked her what her favorite dinner was, turn out it is Galettes de Sarrasin (Buckwheat Crepes).  Finding Buckwheat flour was no small task.  You can actually find Buckwheat pancake mix very easily, but since A wants to make Buckwheat bread (b/c he has to try a new bread recipe every weekend) -- we bought found the flour (Harris Teeter to you American who care).  Now I just have to find a suitable cake, since sheet cake just won't do.  Anyone know where I can find a Tarte de Citron?

Missing the Music?

When I first moved to France, I was really annoyed with the music.  I really only wanted to listen to American music.  But now that I am back in the US, I miss the diversity.  Music in French and UK music that rarely makes it here.  I found out that I could listen to Virgin Radio on iTunes and I have a Virgin Radio app for my phone...  Now I can even listen to French commercials...  I have to keep up my French somehow;)