Last Sunday and today (they are always 2 rounds one week apart, even for presidential elections) were municipal elections in France. Here's Estelle going to vote with Thomas:
It's the most bizarre election process I have ever seen and the most horrible waste of paper you can imagine. 13 years later and I barely understand. I am ashamed to say I don't want to. I should, but I don't.
Yes that is Estelle putting her paper ballot into a glass box. In Nice, with a population of 350,000 people, the 5th largest city in the country, and they've got paper ballots.
Anyways, our UMP mayor Estrosi got re-elected to no one's surprise. But around the country the "Front National" which is like a crazy Tea Party-like group continues to gain a LOT of ground which is rather alarming.
Meanwhile: one day Estelle has a playdate and her friend arrived with a rose for her:
This is not the first time that Estelle has invited a little girl over for a Saturday afternoon playdate and the child has arrived with a single rose, wrapped in tissue, as a gift. The first time was 4 years ago. Now, again. Learning about customs is a never-ending process.
When she left, she wrote this goodbye note on the easel. This little girl was Estelle's best buddy at her "old" school and now they never see each other anymore. They were so happy to be together again.
And then, I found that Léna had been out "taking photos" with Estelle's camera again. Above: under the bed. Below: the fridge. [please note that this is just one part of my fridge. If you don't see your photo, don't fret, it's there, it's just out of Léna's line of vision].
Well, we have just changed our clocks last night and so back to 6 hours time diff with VT and everyone on EST. I keep thinking of my Dad who loved to holler out both the "new" time and the "real" or "old" time all day long the day after we changed the clocks. He knew it drove people crazy and so he would bellow it out with a grin every chance he got. I of course have taken on this habit but it loses it's flair in a bi-lingual home.
This weekend has been 100% full of events and work and I feel like the weekend never happened, especially since I had a migraine come on in the night Thurs/Fri and had to resort to my opium suppositories. The French do so love their suppositories. But opium at 3 a.m. is pretty wild, I have to say - and when you're that bad off you'll take anything, anyhow. Plus I like thinking I am like Sherlock Holmes, known for his opium weakness. :-)
