Quelle Histoire!

So...I fell in a hole yesterday. Not just any hole...a hole in a subterranean passage completely devoid of light in the fortified city of Brouages. What an adventure! But the bad part of all of that is that I broke a rib. Well, there's a first time for everything isn't there? Let me start at the beginning...

Yesterday, my friend and teammate Yop (johann) invited me out to see the sites of the Charente-Maritime. So, at the buttcrack of dawn, we went to the port of Marennes and went out the marais with his stepfather on his boat. The marais is what we call it when the tide is low and all of the oyster beds are exposed. It was very cold, but I went into the boat cabin and warmed up next to Urky, the dog. It was an industry unlike anything I've ever seen. Oyster farmers' lives are dictated by the tide. Sometimes, they go out before the light. Sometimes, in the evening...and sometimes, they are unable to work if the tides are not good enough. After leaving some oysters just off the coast of Ronce les bains and Ile d'Oleron, we returned and warmed up in front of the fire in the cabane while Yop's mother sorted good oysters from empty shells and other things.

Later that day, we went to Brouage. Now, I have been dying to see Brouage since I arrived. It's a completely fortified walled city built by Vauban and Richilieu less than 7 km from where I live. But as there are no buses out there...I haven't had an opportunity to visit. Brouage is also the birthplace of Samuel Champlain, the explorer who founded Quebec. Brouage was a catholic city in the 16th century and La Rochelle was a protestant city...which meant that there were the inevitable wars. At one time, the sea ran just up alongside of Brouage...it currently resides 7 or 8 km away. Now the city is surrounded by marshes. But the ramparts are in excellent condition. Brouage is much much smaller than Carcassonne, but it was just as cool. Anyways, while exploring the city, Yop and I found one of its subterranean passageways that used to allow access to the city by boat. We walked a ways in only to find the passage barricaded off. But what is a barricade to adventurers like us? Channeling the spirit of Indiana Jones, we walked past the barricade and attempted to explore the cavernous dark. Having no light, we attempted to use the flash of my camera to explore. We rounded a corner and were trying to trace the exit of the tunnel. All I remember is taking a step to the right and finding no ground beneath my foot. My first thought was, "Lauren, how could you be so stupid?!? You could have found the neverending pit for all you know!" But my tumble was brief and it concluded when I hit the back of my head against a wall. Relief flooded me...whew...I only fell about a meter or so. But the only thing poor Yop could see was my head and who knows what terrible things he was thinking. Of course when asked how I was, I responded, "Ca va, ca va." I see now that I was not "ca va". My primary occupation was with my hand...I had torn a rather large hole in it. My chest and hip were hurting a bit, but I was extremely pleases to find that I had sustained no head injuries. Anyways, we climbed out of the hole, found our way back into the sunlight and decided to search for Yop's mother to patch me up a bit. I then discovered that what had been a small tear in my jeans had turned into a gaping gulf...sniff...those were my favorite pair too! Anyways, I returned home afterwards, and although my ribcage was hurting, I was convinced it was probably just a big bruise or a pulled muscle.

So, I played basketball that night. I know...I am not an intelligent person. Afterwards, I clearly realized that perhaps the feeling in my chest was a little bit more than a bruise. But I decided to sleep on it and see how i felt in the morning. Welp, when Yop called me this morning to see how I was doing, I wasn't coherent enough to speak French, so he said he'd call me back. I then got up and realized that my ribs were feeling much much worse today than they were yesterday. Maybe I should play it safe and go to the doctor...which is what I did. Yop took me the doctor and helped me explain what it was that I had done. The doctor then proceeded to push on my sternum and my back at the same time, explaining that my ribcage would rotate and it would indicate whether I had broken something. Well, at first, it wasn't bad but as he moved down my sternum, there was very definite pain in my ribcage. So...apparently I've broken a rib. But I've done it in the best possible way...very clean break, possibly even just a very bad crack. No punctured lungs...I really count myself quite lucky. Actually, I hate to think of what I might have done had I walked straight off the ledge into that hole instead of taking a side step... Anyhoo, hope this finds you well! I've been banned from basketball for 10 days as I heal, so please be praying that this heals well and quickly.

Mon Anniversaire!

For the first time in 8 years, it didn't rain on my birthday. Frankly, I was shocked. But it was rather pleasant all the same. I want to thank everyone for their birthday wishes, I had a most wonderful and pleasant birthday, and I shall now endeavour to recount the details.

So...Saturday, the day before my birthday, I found myself at the civic center of Marennes. The bball club was hosting a loto as a fundraiser. A loto is basically bingo. And there were some really fantastic prizes! But the majority of the 300 people there were over the age of 50. And they were serious bingo players! Tired of not winning, I started to talk to my neighbor only to be interupted by a loud "SHHH!!!" Wow. Loto is intense. So, I decided to construct a pyramid of bingo chips which entertained me mightily for some time. I watched as the 8 year old Lea used her own money to buy bingo cards and every possible item from the snack bar...she was very proud of the fact that she had paid for it. And she was so sure she was going to win too...welp, teach em young that gambling doesn't pay. Anyhoo, at midnight (I wasn't aware that it was midnight as I was constructing the hanging gardens of Bingolon), Thierry interupted number calling to say, "Today, the 22nd of February, in the United States, is a very important day". Oh crap. So, basically he announced my birthday in front of 300 people, made me stand up and then the lights went out and Fabrice came on to the stage with a birthday cake. So, I had to walk up in front of all those people and blew out my candles. It was embarrassing, but very nice of them too. After all of the people had left, Fabrice hauled out an enormous box and told me it was my birthday present. At the top of the box was a wreath made out of oyster shells (oyster shells aren't the prettiest) that I was made to wear around my neck so that pictures could be taken. I was told later that this oyster shell rings are lowered into water to attract baby oysters or something like that. Anyhoo, since Fabrice works for a beverage company, there were a ton of little things in the box that he had probably gotten for free from work...all stamped with alcohol brands. And I don't drink! But I did get this super sweet shirt that says "Staff" that I like great deal (even though it also says Smirnoff Ice...boo). But it was fun to pull out random things like dice and dominoes and nutella and hamburger buns and apricot jam. And then Fabrice brought me something very very nice. He gave me two books about the Charente-Maritime. Now I can share my lovely home with all of you! I can show you all of the forts, and ancent roman cities...everything! Laurent gave me a BBMB tshirt that my entire team had signed. Benoit signed "ton marié (husband)...I love you" which made me laugh. Lea had written "Je t'aimme fort" spelling aime incorrectly, but adding to its cuteness. All in all, a wonderful evening.

I spent most of the morning of my birthday marveling that it was sunny and reading a detective novel in my bed. All of a sudden, I received an text message from Melany which said they were coming to pick me up. I was like...ok. So...I got dressed (I'm entitled to spend the day in my pjs on my birthday!) and went down to meet the Cortieux family, namely Fabrice (my coach), his wife, and their daughter Melany (my teammate). I asked what we would be doing and they told me we were going to a puppy convention! That's right...you heard me. Breeders had come together and were selling puppies...they cost a pretty penny but that didn't stop one from petting all of the puppies. Pug puppies are the cutest. They snort like little piggies and are so potbellied with their curly pig tails. It was a lot of fun. Afterwards, we drove along the coast and stopped at Fort Vauban...another one of the many forts along the coast of the Charente Maritime. The sun was setting and you could just make out Fort Boyard (an island fortress) silhouetted against the horizon. From there, Fabrice treated me to dinner at a pizzeria (pizzerias in France are waaay more posh than they are in the states). I had "Exotique" pizza (French for hawaiian pizza) and it was delicious. All in all a most wonderful birthday. So...I think I'll go finish that detective novel now...

Pour Caits

Alors...je vais ecrire une petite message pour mon amie Caitlyn. Mais en fait, il y a longtemps depuis j'ai ecrit quelque chose en francais...je lis, j'ecoute, and je parle le francais tout le temps...mais ecrire? c'est un peu difficile. Qu'est-ce que je peux dire a toi, Caitlyn? Je pense que tu vas adorer la France! Mais les temps sont mal, malhereusement. Il pleut tout le temps et il fait froid...mais Paris est belle...Paris...c'est comme une pierre precieuse. J'ai une liste de choses que tu dois visiter a Paris. Mais bien sur les endroits comme le tour eiffel, mais il y a des autre chose que je sais que tu vas aimer. Par exemple...visite chaque eglise...souvent tu trouves que les plus belles eglises sont les plus petites. Demande a Sarah...elle peut raconter un histoire dans l'eglise de Notre Dame de Montmartre... Quoi d'autre? Mange des crepes! Chaque jour! Peut-etre pas chaque jour...tu vas grossir...je rigole! Alors, t'es contente ma poule? Voila, une message juste pour toi...en francais!

This one's for Sarah

So...I watched the Swan Princess last night. For those of you who don't know the glories of the Swan Princess, you must go watch it. RIGHT NOW! Basically, it's a pretty cheesy animated film that I love. And I'm somewhat of an animation snob. In fact, if I had to rate Swan Princess...it would have to be towards the bottom of the list as far as quality goes. 1. Disney/Studio Ghibli 2. Dreamworks (Prince of Egypt) 3. Fox (Anastasia) 4. Nissen (The Swan Princess) 5. The Magic Pony (I think its Russian...I've never seen animation of such poor quality) Ask Sarah about the Magic Pony sometime. Anyhoo, all of this to say that at the end of the film, when Prince Derek is having his big showdown with The Great Animal...I burst out laughing hysterically and couldn't stop. There comes a moment when the Great Animal pins its ears back, starts grinning maliciously, and snorting heavily through its nostrils. Sarah does such an amazing impersonation that although there was no one to hear me I was laughing uncontrollably for several minutes at the recollection. Thank you Sarah. I wonder if living alone is making me go crazy? Oh! And guess what? The special features has a sing along option! When I get home, Sarah, we are going to have a Swan Princess sing along. (Not you, Wesley...you're a rabbit!)

Skateboard...a haiku

O how I hate you
The new kid brought you to school
Sleep now eludes me