Heatwave Update

Colorful bracelet with stones from the African country of Mali.

As the world knows, Europe is experiencing a life sucking heat wave. Here in Monflanquin, France, we shut the shades, turn on fans, and for those like myself who are privileged, delight in our air conditioning, a home improvement decision I so wisely made a couple of years ago after too many summers of suffering.  Monflanquin is located in southwestern France where heat waves love to settle. Because the village sits on a hill, the sun beats down on us creating a heat dome.  The hottest part of the afternoon from 4 P.M. to 6 P.M.  can feel unbearable.  Despite my "to do" list, I can't bring myself to go outside. I tell myself the car will feel like a furnace. Can't the "to do" list wait for tomorrow morning? It always does. So I read, watch a French movie,  and do some chores around the house. Yesterday I assembled a luggage rack.  The luggage rack legs could be backwards, but it will support a suitcase. Assemblage is not my department, but assemblage guy Bill is not here at the moment.

On Saturday, needing a change of scenery, I drive to Villereal, a town about 15 minutes away. Usually, I head straight to the Farmer's Market, but today I set out to find the Hippodrome or Race Track.  I'd seen an attractive flyer announcing an Afro-Caribbean Festival at the Hippodrome. Somehow I miss the sign for the Hippodrome, and Blanche, the name of  my GPS, clearly suffering from heat stroke, directs me out into the countryside which is friendly and  beautiful and worth the detour.  Finally, I do find the Hippodrome but cannot find the Afro Caribbean Festival. Where the heck is it hiding?  In the distance, I spot tables set up for meals, and guide the car in that direction.  The possible festival greeter is hanging out near there. He tells me I'm too early although it is  10:00 AM, opening time according to the flyer. He explains that the vacation people sleep late, that the people who regard the Coupe du Monde  won't leave their TV sets, and the vendors will show up shortly. Okay, but I'm here now, and there is no way I am leaving the area after my wild goose chase to find it.  I proceed cautiously into the supposed festival area. Straight ahead are several African jewelry vendors. One in particular catches my eye. The Monsieur sells necklaces and bracelets made from unusual stones. Monsieur hails from Mali. We discuss the beads, where he gets them, how he chooses them etc. Despite his native accent, I understand most of what he explains. I buy the bracelet  shown in the photo above.  It took me a long time to decide on this particular one, but it suits me perfectly and goes with everything.  Not a large purchase, but a purchase none the less. Will anyone actually find this festival without signage? Hopefully, yes for Monsieur who told me he goes around the world selling his stones. He agreed to come to little Villereal as a favor to his sister. Nice guy. Really nice guy.

Not ready to return to Monflanquin, I hit the Villereal Farmers Market. It features a wide selection of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, clothing, table cloths, hair accessories etc.  More shoppers speak English than French.  a typical July phenomenon. This means the absurd challenge of where to speak French  in my little part of France begins for me now. A big thank you to the Monsieur from Mali for our  recent  French conversation. 

I spend most of the time at the market looking for my favorite pastry shop. It is located on a narrow side street.  Once inside, I spot a pastry with an unusual name, Lady Mum, perhaps a wink to all the English women in town. Described as a lemon and lime confection, it sounds appealing.  You can see what it looks like below. It does not disappoint.

Lady Mum

 

Advice direct from the PDX Airport Bathroom

A woman wears an orthopedic boot that catches the eye of several women washing and drying their hands in an airport  bathroom of PDX. I just got out of 

boot like yours, a woman exclaims.  It did not work. My pain is still there. Yes, chirps another woman. Me too.  I am still in pain after wearing a boot. And me too, I chime in. What a funny orthopedic chorus in this bathroom. Then the person  we  would call  Madame Pipi in France, the chief maintenance manager of the bathroom, tells me about a product called Mama Bear. It is a magnesium based lotion with lavender and added botanics that thousands of people recommend on Amazon. Madame Pipi who is 61 and on her feet all day swears by it. So what do you think? Do I try it?

A day after my arrival in Paris, I am in another bathroom, this one in the Gare Montparnasse train station. This time there is a Monsieur Pipi. It looks like his only job is to say bonjour and offer surveillance for the coed facility. It costs 1euro fifty to enter the bathroom.  Luckily the turn style accepts credit and debit cards. On the way out of the bathroom, I notice some shelves 

marked Cadeaux(Gifts).  What? How weird!  I look closely at the shelf where brightly colored toilet paper is for sale as well as some personal care articles. No, Mama Bear is not for sale but it might make a good addition. 

 

 

Lolly's Story - Her First Public Interview with Q Magazine

 Lolly’s Story - Her First Public Interview with Q Magazine

Q: So Lolly, what can you tell us about yourself?

L: First, let me thank you for your time. Despite my difficult beginnings, I know the importance of politeness. Also to clarify, my original name given to me by a sponsor at the Beagle Freedom Project was spelled Lolli. My new folks, Giselle and Bill changed the “i” to a “y” in honor of their previous beagles Lizzy and Maggy.

Q: Where did you live before Freedom FIields in Nowata,

I can relax now

Oklahoma?

L: I am told I was found in Alabama but am not sure where.

Q::What were you doing there?

L. Some horrible human kept me and several other beagles outdoors for hunting and breeding. 

Q: Were you ever allowed indoors?

L: As far as I know, I lived in a crate all year round. It gets cold in Alabama. Brrrr

Q: I am so sorry this happened to you. Were you ever used in laboratory experiments?

L: No, fortunately not.  Too many of my colleagues have been used in cruel animal testing. This needs to stop now. They have numbers tattooed under their floppy ears. So sad.

Q: How did Giselle and Bill find you?

L: After me and my friends were rescued from Alabama, my picture was put up on the Beagle Freedom Project’s web site. Giselle was looking for a female beagle my age, age four. She told me that Bill kept insisting on a puppy. She feels they are too old for a puppy. Miraculously, after Bill saw my picture, he agreed to explore adopting me. Giselle claims that their last beagle Maggy sent me to them to save their marriage. 

Q: So do you think you are a mother? 

L: This could be the case. We will find out after the vet checks me out this week. I was very overweight when I was rescued. I have already lost twelve pounds and look good. Some of my skin looks flabby. Hopefully, with proper diet and exercise, it will firm up.

Q: So what do you think of Giselle and Bill?

L: Giselle is very kind and gentle. She sometimes speaks to me in a  strange language. I think it is called French. She teaches it too. Bill is a jokester. I am still trying to figure him out. He adores beagles and thoughtfully keeps taking me out to pee so I am lucky that way.

Q: How do you feel about living in a home?

L: Well, I am not sure what a home is. I do like hotel rooms, especially the space under the desk. I also don’t understand toys. Maybe that will change.

Q: I really enjoyed meeting you, Lolly. I wish you a happy healthy life with Giselle and Bill.

L: Thank you! All the best to you too.

Bill and I On Our Now Not So Secret Mission Day 3

 Bill and I On  Our Now Not So Secret Secret Mission Day 3

We slept surprisingly well in our not so super Super 8 Hotel by Wyndham.  We kept the lights low so Lolly would get a mellow vibe in the hotel room. What? Wait a minute. Who's Lolly?

That, dear readers, is the question. Lolly is our new beagle found online at Beagle Freedom Fields, a rescue organization for beagles used in animal testing as well as other mistreated or homeless beagles, dogs,  and cats. I will put a link to this rescue organization at the end of my post. Right now, they are expecting 40 lab beagles from Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin where 1500 beagles were recently rescued. Labs favor the use of beagles due to their docile sweet temperament. You can torture them one day, and they will be happy to see you the next. The lab beagles’ ears are tattooed with numbers. As an ardent lover of beagles, this makes me sick.

Our rescue beagle Lolly has a story of her own which I will tell you in tomorrow's post. Until then, enjoy these pictures of her.

Beagle Freedom Fields

https://bfp.org/freedom-fields/

Bill and I On Our Secret Mission Day 2

 Bill and I On Our Secret Mission Day 2

Bill and I are a bit anxious this morning. I find the staff at breakfast annoying. Bill forgets absolutely all of his Eddy Bauer

shirts hung in the closet. Luckily, he went back to take a second look. 

We drive slowly to our first destination. Cows outnumber people around here in Oklahoma.  The scenery is not something to write home about. But I do find it calming. Wide spaces making for peaceful places. 

We stop in front of a large black front gate. The sign reads Beagle Rescue. More tomorrow……

Bill and I On a Secret Mission

 Bill and I On Our Secret Mission Day 1

We arrive at PDX at 10:30 AM. I need coffee, actually my tall decaf non fat no whip mocha. 

It's late morning. The airport is eerily quiet. We are waiting for our flight to Denver.  A weather advisory may have scared people yesterday to avoid Denver today.As usual, Bill and I get the choice seats not far from the bathroom. 

Our luggage is packed with some unusual items which  cannot be revealed at this time.Upon our arrival in Denver, we barely see any snow. Our flight to Tulsa is delayed due to the lack of a pilot. It’s a good but annoying reason to sit on a plane for an hour.  Perusing movie options, I find the French film, Vie Privee with Jodie Foster who studied at a French Immersion School as a child and speaks French fluently.The film appeared at the Cannes Film Festival last year. I am delighted to be able to view it while we wait for our pilot. It is in French with English subtitles. The great French actor Daniel Auteuil who is still making movies at age 76 stars alongside Jodie Foster. I would like to describe the movie, but  am not sure how. It is a combination of intrigue,” who done it” , psychological thriller, and most of all very French.  What do I mean by very French? That’s the indescribable part. There is a certain mystique  in certain moments of the film: Jodie Foster running in 6 inch heels, the amount of wine consumed at dinner, the spot light  on the beautiful wrinkled faces of the actors, the mood lighting C’est comme ca.

We are now comfortably tucked in at our hotel in Bartlesville, Oklahoma for the night. Tomorrow is a very big day for us and a very big reveal for you, my friends.  Good night! 

10 Tips from an Arctic New York City Fashionista (ha ha) no links included

 

Getting ready to board the J train to Manhattan

Always start with the shoes, ladies. Comfortable and sturdy shoes are a must.

1. Dansko boots - wonderful for bone spur and plantar fasciitis issues

2. Socks with some cashmere and wool for toasty cozy feet

3. Ann Klein pull up pants - tres chic

4. 32 Degrees soft thermal underwear- you won’t know you have them on

5. 32 Degrees light weight and warm winter coat - love this brand

6. Mittens with faux leather palm pads for gripping subway rails

7. Cashmere scarf - ask for as a holiday gift

8. Beat up Baggallini travel purse in gray to match the weather

9. Trader Joe’s adorable cheese tote - “very grate”

10. Fold up travel stick - a life saver for navigating snow banks and slush

           Bonus tip: white hat that covers ears- important for being seen at night and not screaming from frost bite

If you have any arctic fashionista tips of your own, please put them in the comments.