Zen and the Art of Parisian Day Dream

Tonight I went and saw the movie Super Bad, or as the French version is called, Super Grave. "Grave" translates roughly to unfortunate, as in the expression, "C'est pas grave" or "Its not unfortunate (that you just did that)." So, the French version of Super Bad is actually called, "It is super unfortunate that you just did that."
Super unfortunate, wow, that's pretty freaking unfortunate.

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I am watching this boxing match right now between a French man and an American. The French guy doesnt stand a chance. I think this country's national sport is neither football, nor rugby, nor petanque, but rather complaining about the constant state of failure its athletes seem determined to live in.

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I am sitting by the Seine right now, and I am close enough to jump in, maybe about four feet. It amazes me how beautiful this city can be, how seductive and glorious even though it is totally fricking filthy.

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I was in this bar recently. The song "La Bamba" came on, and some drunk English people started hooting and dancing. It really makes you wonder: which came first- the booze, or the total lack of self respect?
I mean, La Bamba?
Pretty super unfortunate.

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I had a staff a while back, two guys, Alexi and Salem. Alexi was ok, but Salem was not so bright. I would like to say that he worked his ass off, but that is not the case. Mostly, he just complained and burned himself. The chef fired him eventually. He really was slow, and I think he did his best. I think everyone is always doing their best. I just dont know how many disappointments from others I am supposed to let go, because they are doing their best. I am doing my best, and I dont get any slack, even from myself.

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I was wandering Bordeaux and was sitting outside the cathedral to take a rest. The cathedral there is hundreds of years old. In the country side, I visited a castle from the 11th century. In the States, something is "old" if it was built 100 years ago. I wonder what the hell these people would do if there was a tsunami or an earthquake and all their old buildings were destroyed. I mean, they are so tied to their places and history. I guess they would rebuild, but I dont know who they would be if they didnt have these places to call home. The French hated, absolutely hated, the Eiffel Tower when it was new; now it is part of their culture and one of their greatest symbols, but that took a while. If there was some disaster, and they did rebuild, would the rebuilt places look just like the old ones? Or, do they rebuild in a more modern way, and everyone just hates everything for the next fifty years? Is France in the architecture? Is there any such place?

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The song, "How Bizarre" just came on the radio again. I have heard this song so many times that I feel like the band who wrote it owes me a full week of my life back. If I ever meet them I will play my song, entitled, "Shut the fuck up for Christ's sake" over and over until they promise never to write music again.

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My dad always tells me my hands are like bear paws; I guess I have pretty big hands (either that, or he's flirting, but I dont think so).
So while at Chateau Reverdri in the Medoc wine region, I noticed the head of the vineyard's hands. They were weathered and worn, and had soil permanently ground into them, even after he washed his hands for a wine tasting he hosted for us. They reminded me of my dad's hands. He is a printer, and when I was a kid, he always had ink in the little cracks around his fingers, just like this guy had soil in his.
I thought about my grandfathers. My dad's dad was a carpenter, and my mom's dad was a barber and worked in tool and dye making. These three men all used their hands in their crafts.
I have always been a pretty academic guy. I really liked school, and the jobs I have held before learning culinary have all consisted of pushing paper around a desk. I never really loved any job I had, until I started working with my hands. They are my main tools now, and I come home with my hands a little more weathered and worn everyday. I dont mind. I think I am in good company.