Friday the 13th

38 years ago this past Friday my poor mother give one last push and said "No more!"
It was a Saturday however, at the time.

But the years when my birthday was on a Friday are memorable.

1980 - I hit dougle digits. It was also my last day of school in 4th grade and I was moving up to middle school. Anthony Kinney was mean to me so I spit in his face, thinking I would get away with it cause it was my birthday. No dice - hauled into Mr. Lumbra's imposing principal's office. My twin brothers graduated that night from MMU, our high school in Jericho, VT.

1986 - Also the last day of exams of my sophomore year. I went to Montreal with my friends who were twins, Sue and Heather, to see Julian Lennon in concert. It was the coolest thing I had ever done. When I got back at 3 a.m. there was VW bug sitting in front of our barn. I knew my Dad had bought it for me for my 16th bday. I barely slept all night with excitement. Turns out it was my brother's girlfriend's. Ouch.

Anyways, you get the picture. Always a great birthday when it was Friday the 13th.

So Friday 2008, here is what I did:
In fact on Thursday night our neighbors came up for an impromptu soiree - they are both professional musicians with the Monaco Orchestra. He oboe, her flute. They are young - like 25, and already with such an amazing career. They leave tomorrow for a 17 day tour of Japan with the Orchestra. We are watching their cat. Everyone knows how I dislike felines so I'll try not to kill it.

On the morning of my bday I began the day with Thomas presenting my favorite English tea which I had run out of, cards from my mom and sisters and Thomas' parents. Sister Joan sent a recording that's a cult favorite in my family, finally available on CD.

Estelle went to daycare for a few hours and I biked along the sea into the old town for coffee in the sun with my friend Philippe.

After lunch and naps (and teaching a telephone lesson in English) I baked my own cupcakes:

In the late afternoon, off to the beach with Elliot. This was essentially Estelle's first time in the actual sea itself. It was breezy so there were some waves, and lots of squealing by both her and Elliot. They loved it.

Before anyone gets concerned, that's a can of Diet Coke in the photo.

The showers were a big hit.

Lots of places to explore.

At 6:30 we headed home to clean up and then Oana arrived to babysit - also bearing gifts from an expensive shop I never even have set foot in. Maybe we pay her too much? ha ha A lovely necklace.

Off we went, me wearing a new top from Thomas, to our old neighborhood. On our way to the TEX-MEX restaurant (the only one in Nice), we stopped at the English movie theater to get our tickets for Sex and the City in advance. As it was also the same night that France was playing Holland in the Euro Cup, the lady in the booth was pretty impressed that my French husband was coming to the movies with me. What a sacrifice! I said "Well, it's just because it's my birthday and we have a toddler and we don't get out much and I REALLY am dying to see this movie!" FREE TICKET! Couldn't believe it, the nice lady said to me "I'm giving you this ticket for free. Happy Birthday." This is just about the most shocking act of kindness by any French stranger in Nice I have ever encountered. As the tickets cost 8.50 euros = almost 13 dollars, it was a nice gesture! I thought of my 70+ aunt Yolande, another sister of my mom's who has a little job working in the movie theater in St. Johnsbury, VT selling tickets. I think it was like she had tele-transported herself into this lady.
Our meal was fine, and the film just heaven. When you are a fan, you don't care - you just want more of the story!
Friday the 13th - may not have been lucky for France (4-1 for Holland - yowza), but for me it sure was! Thanks for everyone for so many nice, great, and fun emails, texts, phone calls and messages!

LaMorrisse

Here is a video from a month ago that I forgot about. It's sideways - sorry!
But for those fans of Albert Lamorrisse's 60's classic film The Red Balloon, it will strike a chord.


And another old video of calestenics....

Coupe d'Europe

Remember 2 years ago, when the Coupe de Monde happenned? Well, here we go again, except this is just Europe = hence, the Coupe d'Europe.
France played their first match tonight at 6 pm against Romania (go Oana!) and the city of Nice was abuzz. I had totally forgotten and dashed out to the corner store on my way to pick up Estelle and the place was bedlam. People were chanting in the French equivalent of 7-Eleven. It was mania. I was reminded of 2 years ago with the same situation except it was hot as hell and I was 8 months pregnant, fearing for my safety at each kickoff.
Well anyways, now it's over and it was a "match nul", which means a tie. Which is BAD for France. And my husband. And all the hollering men that I could hear thru the open windows.
Yikes. However I'm sure Oana is pleased. And the ballroom dancer guy I met this weekend (see previous posts).
Thomas, who never seems to make it home in time for baths or preparing Estelle's dinner MIRACULOUSLY was in the apartment at 6 pm sharp. Hmmmmmm, qu'est-ce que t'en y pense?

Here is a video of Thomas watching the first half of the game and Estelle not letting him enjoy it.

"Uncle" Doug's Birthday

It's been a busy weekend. Most notably, our friend Doug's birthday bash at he and Craig's villa in nearby Mougins. Off we went, Graco-in-hand. Lots of beautiful food and people in a beautiful setting. Thomas was the lone French guy there until one
other couple showed up. Estelle was the only kid! And most everyone was on the other team. So many cute guys! What's a girl to do, but protect her husband, of course. ha ha
The birthday boy with Craig

A few shots around the property



No one was ever inside the entire night - except Estelle to sleep. This villa is set up to live outdoors. Outdoor bathroom, jacuzzi, kitchen, dishwasher, pizza oven, BBQ, stove and oven, sink, wine cave, fridge, bar, ice machine, heated pool, fountain and goldfish, surround wireless speakers.
You want it, they got it.
Estelle, however, wanted to explore inside a little bit.



Dinnertime. "Quelle bonheur", as the French would say. This is like just sheer bliss for me as it is everything from home I miss and I know Craig will always feed me. Potatoe salad, ribs, kabobs, pasta salad, baked beans, grilled salmon, marinated and grilled peppers. HEAVEN. I went back twice. And then couldn't eat my own dessert - pumpkin nut cake. No matter, able to cram in someone else's fresh fruit meringue.


Thomas and Bruce, a friend of theirs from Monaco. I love Bruce because he is like 4 heads taller than me. And everytime I see him he says "Julie, tell me some hilarious story". He doesn't drink so I know he's sincere when he says he finds me entertaining. And his boyfriend used to be a ballroom dance instructor in Romania. We love him. I think when the evening went into full-tilt disco pool-side madness he thought we could have all used a few lessons.


The boys were OUT last night!

This is Craig and Doug's really good friend Richard from London. He is a TV star in England. He is so normal and nice I can barely believe it, but everyone knows who he is and years ago when my old roommate Melissa from England met him she almost fainted so I guess it is true. But he is such a nice guy. Every time we see them there, he says "I'm only eating a 2nd piece of your dessert because it is so AWFUL and we don't want you to feel bad, lovey". Such British humor, gotta love it.

And this guy was almost a double of a young Pierce Brosnan. He told me someone told him that 6 years ago, and that I was "a darling for being so generous". We then had a long heart-to-heart about Remington Steele together over a cosmopolitan. He was German. It was like a German Pierce Brosnan. It was thrilling.


This is Richard's partner Robert with Doug's niece Rebecca visiting from America. She was a lovely young lady and told great stories about living in Tennessee. I told her I almost married a guy born in Tennessee. This prompted lots of hilarious North-South stories.

Craig checking the champagne. It was never out.

We crawled home sometime after midnight and were blessed with Estelle being no problem to wake up and transport and going right back to sleep once she hit her own bed, and sleeping until 10! Now THAT'S my kind of toddler!

Today, after a VERY slow morning and pancakes by Papa and the parc and a long nap for everyone in the house, off we went, up to the Chateau hill to play with Elliot who just turned 2 yesterday. Poor Elliot began his birthday by cracking open the skin above his eyebrow while jumping on a bed visiting his grandparents. The doctor glued him back together (literally). He had a bit of a pirate look today but otherwise, same old physical marvel. He is still awaiting the return of his Dad marooned off the coast of Angola. I'd say more like his MOM is awaiting the return of his Dad!



In the end, we love a night out, but good thing we only do it every 6 months. Too tuckered out from all that disco-ing!

"Estelliot" and the Balloon

Another film in the "documentary short" category from Sunday afternoon.....

Weekend Wacky

Yesterday Estelle talked to Grammie Alexander over the phone. This is her giving Grammie a kiss.

Then we went for a walk in the sun.

Estelle decided she wanted to climb all over the chairs at this outdoor cafe. So we stopped and had a coffee/coke.



Walking home through the Old Town, Estelle and Papa stopped on a stoop.

Today we went to get Elliot and give his mom a much-needed break. Elliot's dad is away on business in Angola for 6 weeks out on some offshore platform, very uncommunicable. I think I would die if Thomas went away for 6 weeks! Here is a video of just some of the fun we had. This video is called: "How to brush off your hands if you fall down while you are running"

A few photos from our time with Elliot. Who can run, jump, go like wildfire on a foot-scooter, dive, balance, race up stairs- in short, he is a physical marvel. Thomas and I were in awe of him. The kid can MOVE. Not to mention speak Dutch. Which meant a lot of me and Thomas looking at each other and saying "What do you think he is talking about?"




Fransiska comes to get him and Estelle post-bath decides to latch onto her.

Elliot sits cowboy still on a chair

First Haircut

Yesterday morning off we went for Estelle's first haircut. It took about 6 minutes. No crying or anything!
She looks pretty cute now.


After rewarding her with a mini-non-sugar-brioche from the bakery downstairs (where we are on first name basis with everyone there, including the owners) we went to the Parc in rainboots to play with Elliot. I do not have photos because I forgot the camera. But it was a lot of fun in the puddles. During this playdate I learned what I didn't ever know - Elliot was born at home in his own room! His mom Fransiska told me all about her very long labor of more than 24 hours with her home birth doctor by her side - long and painful - but at least she was in the comfort of her own home. No epidural! Damn, gotta respect that!
And then when we finally got some sun last night, Estelle brushed her baby's teeth out on the balcony. As you do.

This morning we took Estelle to the pool for the first time - only to arrive and find the special pool that is heated on Saturday mornings had been closed due to some child getting sick in it. Ouch. Next time maybe!
And here is my boss from the Chamber of Commerce, Etienne, who stopped by on a Saturday to drop off some materials for a new course I am teaching at a hotel. And on his birthday to boot! Happy birthday to him, and my niece Lauren who is 12 today in Waterbury Center, VT - home to Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream.
Happy Birthday Lauren!

Mother's Day

So Sunday was Mother's Day here in France.
This is the card Estelle made me at her nounou's.

It rained off and on all day. We are in the middle of one of those WILD periods of weather that reminds you of where we live. First of all, it's warm. Today it is downright hot - 75 degrees Farenheit. But the rain is what takes the cake; it has a
fine silt in it coming over the sea from Africa. This coats EVERYTHING in a layer of brown sandy grime. Cars, balconies, shoes, windows, awnings, strollers, shutters, clotheslines. All the French get grumpy and the tourists wonder what the hell is going on.
Thankfully the silt didn't start until yesterday. And so on my Mother's Day Sunday, we just had to contend with the rain.
The day began when I took a cue from my nephew Cole and said to Thomas "When are you going to start doing nice things for me?"
This resulted in:
--Thomas making pancakes for the first time in his life. In general, ok. Though that raw one did set me back a bit. Thankfully my brother's syrup masked any imperfections.
--Going to the large modern art museum right in our neighborhood. Estelle loved it:


Estelle kept pointing at this one and saying "C'est QUI ça?"



Below Estelle is in the Niki de Saint Phalle room - a very famous artist from the late 60's and onwards. You can see a large B&W of her over Estelle on the left.

The museum has a rooftop terrace that is pretty cool, views over the whole city and the sea. This photo shows the Theatre National de Nice, where I am a season subscriber.

Here are Estelle and Thomas on the next walkway over from me on the roof. Behind them is the hill in Nice called "The Chateau", where there used to be a very old chateau, until Louis XIV got so sick of people fighting over it that he just leveled the thing. Now there are ruins. Damn that Sun King!
Also behind them you can make out the incredible historic cemetery that is also up on the hill. This daughter of a genealogist is mighty smitten with that place. I did have a moment up there on that roof in the city looking across to that cemetery - thinking of Memorial Day Weekend in America, and the years and years of making the rounds to all the cemeteries with my parents, trunk full of geraniums and soil, jugs of water, spades, and picnic lunches. Tracing the letters on the stones with my finger, scraping off lichen and moss. Hunting around for plot markers. The good thing about loving cemeteries is, it doesn't matter what country you live in, you can always find one.

A little tropical garden also up on the rooftop, all designed by Yves Klein who had a big connection with the museum, along with Arman. Look closely and you can see this photo is also a self-portrait. What can I say - inspired by the locale!



This is how my family feels when it rains most of a Sunday.

After making me lunch and letting me listen to and sing along with show tunes (Pippin), Thomas took Estelle out for a bikeride while I did some work.
I should also show my other Mother's Day gift: When the nounou had Estelle hand me this in a gift bag for Mother's Day, I almost ran out of the room. It's official, I thought. My days of macaroni-and-glue-on-a-paper-plate-artwork have begun. Good lord.
She made it herself - with a little help, of course!
But, seeing as we spent the day in the Modern Art museum, this is, in a sense, modern art. Happy Mother's Day to me!