Tag: Americans in Carcassonne

Before leaving the US

Cathar(sis) country

Our new hometown, Carcassonne, is situated in southwest France right in the heart of Cathar country. It only seems fitting, therefore, that we should have had a catharsis this morning with the emptying of our closets. It was quite freeing to let go of clothes that we purchased as recently as a few months ago to our tuxedos that we bought when we lived in Chicago nearly 30 years ago. cummerbundsAnd why did we need five cummerbunds and matching bow ties that you see here? Those tuxes used to accompany us on an annual cruise and we certainly could not show up from one year to the next with the same accessories. By skillful trading of cummerbunds, ties, studs, and cufflinks, we were able to come up with “new” outfits for quite a few cruises. Continue reading “Cathar(sis) country”

Unknown's avatarBob5 Comments
Life in France

The electric vampire

French electrical outlet
French electrical outlet

This morning I was in the kitchen pouring a cup of coffee when I heard Bill talking. I knew that it was way too early for him to have telephoned anyone so naturally I was curious. When I walked back to the office he was there in front of the computer talking to it. What?? You may remember that a few weeks ago we got a new large laptop computer to replace a smaller one that was on its last legs plus our big desktop, neither of which were going to go with us to France. The new machine has Windows 10 with your own personal assistant called Cortana that understands spoken commands. (Yes, yes, Apple users, Siri was years ahead.)

When I asked Bill if he were talking to me he replied, “No, I was asking Cortana to turn on the computer and open up the email. I didn’t want to have to push a button.” Continue reading “The electric vampire”

Unknown's avatarBob2 Comments
Life in France

Redemption

Refundable bottles
Refundable bottles

As we were driving from the Boston airport up to Camden, ME it struck me about how pious this region of the country, especially Maine, had become. Once we left Interstate 95, without exaggeration (as if I ever would) each time we crossed into a new town there would be a sign pointing towards the “Redemption Center”. Living in Georgia I was used to seeing a church on every street corner and having multiple religious TV and radio stations, but this explicit show of devotion seemed unusual. Continue reading “Redemption”

Unknown's avatarBob
Before leaving the US

Trying to adjust

Double order
Double order

Bill is so funny…and clever. He went grocery shopping yesterday and one of the items on the list was a can of pumpkin puree which we use to make biscuits for Heather. He said that it pained him to pick up only one can but in keeping with our goal to empty the pantry before we move, we’re only buying what we need each week. At least that’s how I understood it…. Continue reading “Trying to adjust”

Unknown's avatarBob
Before leaving the US

Do these roses make my hips look big?

When we were in Maine at the end of the summer, a prominent color in the landscape was red. Legend has it that Johnny Appleseed covered the countryside with his namesake product and it definitely shows up there. I think his middle name must have been Rose because there’s an equally abundant number of those growing wild. As with the apples the rose bushes produce … Continue reading Do these roses make my hips look big?

Unknown's avatarBob