# Of Surprises and Desserts: A Parisian MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [June 8, 2009, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082 "2009-06-08T11:22:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/41 "2009-06-09T00:54:30Z")
Great OP and great pictures, **gt!** I kind of skimmed, so I’m sure I forgot lots. Kisses for all the boo-boos. Of course you should have a truck, **Swampy:** you’re homeowner. I think trucks should come with houses. You need them to haul bark, sod, dump trips, any number of things. I really miss having a truck. Work was not fun. It never is anymore…sigh. I am soooooo looking forward to my vacation. Unfortunately, my vacation isn’t until August, but still, it’s closer than it was yesterday, right? I drink my coffee black and unsweetened. I want to taste the coffee, not anything else. However, I will admit to doctoring it up when the coffee is truly atrocious. I guess I should figure out what we’re having for chop-chop. ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/42 "2009-06-09T01:42:12Z")
Your doggies all conspired to gang up on you today, **Rebo**! ☹ So sorry, many hugs sent your way, aww! One down, four to go … ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/43 "2009-06-09T02:58:37Z")
Home tired, vacation moved up one week. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/44 "2009-06-09T04:18:26Z")
Does that mean your vacation is sooner or later, **doggio**? Could everyone stop with the recipes now? I’m getting hungry and am afraid I’ll forget to update the blog. (Someone remind me, pretty please?). Also failed to add the recipe that \*\*Rebo \*\*found for **Bobbio**. Eventually… Thanks for all the compliments, everyone. You’re in Stuttgart, **Shibb**? How’d I miss that? My friends are about 1/2 an hour from the airport, not too far from Sindelfingen. We were barely there, so we probably couldn’t have talked. I might be there at the end of the year, so if you’re still there, maybe it’ll work out… **flyboy** , turns out the flickr uploader created two dessert sets for me and only one made it into the collection. I’ve added the second one in the meantime, [for your viewing pleasure](http://www.flickr.com/photos/gardentraveler/sets/72157619343836771/). Am uploading more pictures for the next installment. Remind me not to have caffeinated beverages late in the day. It’s after midnight and I’m quite awake. Back early tomorrow with the next installment. GT ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/45 "2009-06-09T08:09:56Z")
Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffienatin’. _YAWN_ However it has not kicked in yet. Sorry about all the ick **Rebo**. Pets are a real joy except when they’re not. I drink coffee black and have for years. It all goes back to po’ college student days when it was all I could do to afford the coffee much less sugar and milk or cream. **Taters** that is so true. Over the years I have hauled many bags of mulch, fertilizer, bark as well as various and sundry appliances, smokers, grills and miscellaneous pieces of furniture. Ok, time for more caffiene and some brekkeis. Later Y’all! ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/46 "2009-06-09T10:19:25Z")
**GT** , that does indeed look like the world’s best chocolate eclair. YUM! Why do I always wake up around 5:30 no matter what time I went to bed?:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/47 "2009-06-09T10:44:00Z")
Sleepy. Must shower and get started. Must. Really. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/48 "2009-06-09T11:30:55Z")
I figured my suitcase would be on the next plane from Paris and I’d have it by evening. Wrong. But, hey, we didn’t let that keep us from having fun. Far-Away Best Friend and I went for a nice long walk (the only time I left the house without a camera). This gave us a chance to catch up (we’re pretty bad at calling and e-mailing, so we just catch up whenever we see each other) Then there was cake ([that pretty strawberry cake in the first dessert set](http://www.flickr.com/photos/gardentraveler/sets/72157619329523815/)). Yum. Monday, I called the airline and was told that my suitcase hadn’t quite been located (or maybe they hadn’t had enough time to enter its location in the computer), but not to despair and, of course, the airline would reimburse up to 100 Euros for any necessary items I bought in the meantime. This made me a bit nervous, but really, the most valuable part of my luggage was the suitcase, an oddly-shaped one that is always easy to spot and is just the right size for my typical trips. So, we let the airline keep looking for my luggage while we took a little bike ride to get to FABF’s gym. The first few pictures [in this set](http://www.flickr.com/photos/gardentraveler/sets/72157619479073832/) are from the ride. I hadn’t been on a bike in years and years, but adjusted quickly and even got pretty good at shifting gears on this bike. It was really hot on the way there, but quite pleasant on the way back. We stopped at [a nursery](http://www.flickr.com/photos/gardentraveler/3609649085/in/set-72157619479073832/). No, **swampy** , I did NOT plant anything there. Nor did I buy any plants. But FABF did, and neatly fit them into the [basket clipped to the back of her bike](http://www.flickr.com/photos/gardentraveler/3610461596/in/set-72157619479073832/). At the end of the ride, [we stopped to buy strawberries and asparagus](http://www.flickr.com/photos/gardentraveler/3609321327/in/set-72157619479073832/), just as it was starting to rain. Fortunately, we were about 1 minute by bike from home… I called the airline again and was told my suitcase had turned up and that they’d put it on the next plane to Stuttgart. Later in the day, they called to say it was there, but they couldn’t send it to the house because it was too late (it was 6 pm or so). Could we come to the airport? Ummmm…no. We had vacationy things to do and weren’t about to waste a couple of hours getting my luggage. Since they couldn’t get it to the house before we left for Paris, we instructed them to send it to our hotel in Paris. Needless to say, I packed [enough of FABF’s clothes](http://www.flickr.com/photos/gardentraveler/3610070688/in/set-72157619479635500/)for me to make it through our stay in Paris. Boy, this is taking a while. More tonight. Off to work. GT ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/49 "2009-06-09T11:31:01Z")
> [@Taters](#): > > I drink my coffee black and unsweetened. I want to taste the coffee, not anything else. However, I will admit to doctoring it up when the coffee is truly atrocious. The girlfriend line is a little too obvious and possibly offensive. When I order coffee, I’ll say “Extra caffeine, and black like my mood.” ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/50 "2009-06-09T11:33:39Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > Home tired, … You working your apartment too hard? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/51 "2009-06-09T11:53:07Z")
Morning. Up, caffeinated, off to work. **gt** vacation is delayed a week. **BBBobbio** , it babysits the critters all day, of course it’s tired.😛 **Rebo** , sorry about the carpet, and the toe. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/52 "2009-06-09T12:02:38Z")
No accidents this morning, thank Og. My toe still hurts though, but it’s not too bad. Sounds like you’re having a good time, **gt**! Despite not having your luggage. It’ll probably show up the last day. 😛 Need caffeine… ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/53 "2009-06-09T12:33:13Z")
OMG, really **GT** , such beautiful pictures! It looks like you had a wonderful time in spite of the loss or rather mis-placement of your luggage. I am really enjoying seeing your trip through the photos you took. Thanks so much for sharing with us all. 🙂 Whew … I am definitely in need of more caffeine. This morning’s commute was ROUGH - thunderstorms, pouring rain, lightning. I waited until it let up a bit to venture out, so was late getting in. I think I’m going to have chai tea this morning … Happy Tuesday all! ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/54 "2009-06-09T12:34:10Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > The girlfriend line is a little too obvious and possibly offensive. When I order coffee, I’ll say “Extra caffeine, and black like my mood.” I like “I’ll take my coffee black…LIKE MY SOUL!” Just tried calling Tarzhay about saving some boxes for me. Someone picked up the phone and hung it back up without seeing if there was anyone else on the line. Good to know the employees are still as bitter as they were when I was there. I guess it’s back to Food Kitty for more boxes tomorrow. I talked to Mountain Friend last night and made plans to arrive this weekend with cat and frog in tow. My furniture will have to go in the shed until I come back for my thesis defense. And I have a possibility of two jobs right away up there. Neither one is that great, but they pay money and that’s all I’m concerned with right now. ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/55 "2009-06-09T13:07:29Z")
**gt** , what a lovely place. Pretty, colorful and tidy. 😃 **rebo** , having dogs is like having perpetual one-year-olds. They still emit fluids irresponsibly but are dangerously mobile. 😉 I am a philistine coffee drinker. I grind my own beans but it must have milk and Splenda. Sue me. Department head gone for the rest of the week. Whoot! Tupug ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/56 "2009-06-09T13:16:33Z")
> [@gardentraveler](#): > > You’re in Stuttgart, **Shibb**? How’d I miss that? My friends are about 1/2 an hour from the airport, not too far from Sindelfingen. We were barely there, so we probably couldn’t have talked. I might be there at the end of the year, so if you’re still there, maybe it’ll work out… I’ve been working in Nabern and staying in Kirchheim unter Teck off and on since the beginning of the year. Currently back in Tampa and waiting to hear from our legal counsel of how many more days I can be there in the next few months. I went by Sindelfingen once but more just to go to Böblingen, and only then because my daughter is a bit obsessed with the name “Bob”. Thought I might be able to find a t-shirt. Sindelfingen is about 40 km from Kirchheim. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/57 "2009-06-09T14:41:43Z")
OK- I keep reading the title of this thread as a “Partisan” MMP, not “Parisian”. Like you are going to Paris to join the resistance. heh. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/58 "2009-06-09T14:55:56Z")
I really liked the second set of pictures you posted, **gt.** They bring back so many memories of my Oma’s town. As a wee child, I spent quite a bit of time in a town called Dollnstein, which is located in the Ahltmutahl River Valley. It’s beautiful there too, with same sorts of scenery, hills, flowers everywhere, etc. My Oma’s house is considered a national landmark and was built in the 12th century. Unfortunately, the house is no longer in the family, as my dumbass uncle sold it upon my Oma’s death.:rolleyes: Anyway, thanks for sharing the pictures. They brought back many pleasant memories. Sigh…time to put my nose to the grindstone…what nose I have left anyway. I think I’ve ground it raw. ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/59 "2009-06-09T15:00:31Z")
Sounds like a great trip (aside from the luggage), **gt**! The desserts look fabulous. And it must be great to catch up with your FABF. I have a really good friend from college that I only sporadically keep in touch with by email, but when we do get together, it’s like we never left. We always seem to be going through similar things with SO, parents, etc. Don’t forget the bacon coffeecake and the double-chocolate, double-ginger cookie recipes when you update the blog. They’re goooooood! We finished the bacon cake last night and immediately made plans to make more. It must have been a pet-getting-sick night, **rebo**. Our cat threw up too. Fortunately for me, I was at chorus so poor KT had to clean it up. Hee. And really, it was our own fault. We let her lick some of the sauce-like stuff from our dinner. Sometimes that’s ok but she either had too much or it just didn’t agree with her. But she liked it! ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082/60 "2009-06-09T15:29:17Z")
For us, the Animals vs. Floor contest was won by dogs. Over the weekend, our neighbor’s dog was over for a visit, and the two just tore all over the place, with much running in and out and digging and romping and tracking crud all over the living room. Just as owning a house makes owning a truck nearly mandatory, owning a dog should come with a carpet cleaner. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/of-surprises-and-desserts-a-parisian-mmp/499082.md?page=4)