Routine

Settling in (boring)

January 11 to April 9. Four months. Finally settling into a routine. Barbara is off somewhere doing something with her hair today. It’s Wednesday, so that means I’m home vacuuming. (I warned you). Later, we might head out for a lunch and/or I might go to the gym. I’ve been working out about twice a week, in addition to Pickleball on Monday’s and Fridays. No Pickleball this and next week though due to school holidays. B, who seems to be in charge, has been out for a few weeks. I’m told he had a stroke (yikes!) Friday evening is “Happy Hour” with the church group. It is organized by C. who is in her mid 80s and can drink me under the table. (Is that good or bad, probably a bit of both)

Past weekend was the demonstration against Trump and Musk. Held on the Promanade des Angles, it was attended by about 50 silver haired aging Boomers. Not exactly “high energy” After an hour or so, a half dozen of us broke off to the Opera Cafe for refreshments. Although I have only been here four months. I am meeting Americans who have been here less time than that. Not a lot but not nothing either. This has led pushed up housing prices, caused a shortage of rental property and is clearly impacting the native Niçois. C’est la vie. Second event of the weekend was the “pet parade.” This was held on Sunday and according to the paper attracted nearly a thousand. We went and probably saw close to two hundred dogs and about three cats.

Immigration paperwork is a slog. I wonder if this would have slid by except for Trump. Speaking of Trump, there is a range of opinion among the Americans here from Russian KBG agent to syphilitic ape throwing bananas and feces with abandon. The markets have tanked, of course, and for some reason the exchange rate has worsened against the Euro-€ (but not Asian currencies.) Not a problem for us yet but is interfering with my sleep.

B has become friends with a Church lady with a Sheltie. (We have had 6 of these in our time together but none recently). M is neighbor to another Sheltie owner who works and we have become occasional doggie daycare hosts. We had the pup on Monday night, giving her up when O came back from Paris Tuesday evening. It was fun having her here but we were happy to see her go. I imagine this is what being a grandparent must be like.

Nothing on that front.

We have some trips planned, Paris Amsterdam, and Corsica. This will break things up for May. Start language classes in July…yikes