Thursday 13 #43- Tour de France fans

Thirteen Things about Bookwormom

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This week's list originates in my obsession with the Tour de France. It's on tv here every morning for three weeks each July. My family has learned that nothing will happen until the day's stage is over. I drink coffee and eat my toast while Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin discuss the day's stage and the scenery (which never fails to be gorgeous).



1. Saw a nude man running up L'Alpe D'Huez

2. Pair of matching Elvises (Elvi?) on Col de Fer

3. An inflatable roo waved at the camera to cheer on the Aussie riders

4. Several historical reenactors dressed up in medieval costume dancing and waving banners and charging around on equally outfitted horses atop the ruin of a castle.

5. So many flags along the route it looks like you're riding through a tunnel.

6.A veritable tower of babel of languages written across the roads

7. A merry band of blue gowned wizards cheering beside the road

8. The devil is wearing yellow this year. Or maybe it's an imposter. Usually the devil wears red.

9. On the mountains the fans pour water all over the riders as they pass by

10. At the summits riders will snatch bits of newspaper to stuff inside their jerseys to keep them warm as they barrel down the mountains

11. High gas prices or not Europeans seem to be as enamored of RVs and satellite dishes as Americans if the number of RVs parked along the sides of the roads are any indication.

12. Someone dressed up in a chipmunk mascot type costume (big and furry) in one of the little villages

13. People stand on the very outside shoulder of the mountain roads, seeming not to mind the sheer drop behind them or the lack of a barrier between them and the fall.

Pigloo Eskimo Kisses

Family Updates

The Husband~ was offered a position at a hospital on the very northern edge of our part of metro DC. No more $$, but it's day shift (thank you, Jesus!) and has superb bennies incl. full coverage of higher ed. Paid parking- those of you in major metro areas know what a boon this is. Totally different part of medicine, he will be trained in all things related to cardiac diseases, arrhythmias, medicines, symptoms, treatments etc. He has been a women's health specialist for the last 5 years, previously he was med-surg/oncology. We're elated, Hubby has wanted to return to university to eventually become an advance practice RN. Now he's finally getting an opportunity!

Son #1~ Did get the job at the ballpark after all. He's worked two days & loves it, although attendance has been very low due to cold nights. We'll see how he handles it when it's 90 F and the drunks are yelling and obnoxious and the kids throw up everywhere. GF has just returned home from the hospital after yet another cardiac cath & various blood tests. Some rejection in the heart, but not much & her kidneys are exhausted & cranky. They plan to attend his prom in May.

Daughter~ was confirmed last Sat. April 7th on the Great Vigil of Easter. It was a beautiful and moving ceremony, my favorite of the entire church calandar except maybe choral tenebrae. We managed to buy her a new dress & new shoes, and have her hair cut, all courtesy of the wonderful & understanding Grand-Mere. Merci grandmere! No BF, or so she says. Daughter does write fanfic based on manga & anime characters with a GF. The trip with her church youth group is still a go at this point despite the iffy funding.

Son #2~ continues to chug along his merry way- perennially cheerful, smiley and helpful. Also becoming a serious wiseacre in his old age. Not that I'm surprised. He and the Hubby have big bathroom plans: replace the insides of the toilet (Son's favorite!) and fiddle with the showerhead & related plumbing. He sang at nearly every service last week, but says he liked tenebrae best too despite a sore throat. This Link is a clip from the Dominican Priory in DC during tenebrae this last week.

Precious Lord Take my Hand - Etta, Chaka and Gladys

One of my favorites.

U2

Just because.

Pigloo Le Ragga des pingouins 2006

Too damn cute to resist. En francais even. LOL