Oh pas! Mon chapeau!
O.K. It may not seem very important to you; but with my nearly bare head and with the cold, freezing drizzle, and snow, the loss of my hat – even temporarily – is a big deal.
You see, I have this reputation, unfortunately well deserved, of losing hats – especially since marrying Nancy. I STILL have the nice suede hat that I inherited from my dad; and I wore it a lot in the winters in California. I have several aviation “base-ball caps” that I have not lost over the years. (I have left them up at the cabin a few times – but I have not lost them.) Shortly after we were married, Nancy bought me a very nice “Spirit of St. Louis” hat at the airport restaurant in San Luis Obispo, CA. I lost the first of those when I left it at Bryan’s house in Santa Rosa after one of our visits. (Bryan tossed it after not recognizing who might have left it there.) Nancy obligingly bought me another on another visit to SLO- which I shortly left in Hydesville on a hunting trip to cousin Marilyn’s house. My third was given to me by the restaurant when they heard my story of losing the first two. (I do still have that one back in California.)
Shortly after arriving in Grenoble, the weather quickly became a bit too cold for my bare scalp; so Nancy supplied me with a nice wool scarf for my neck and a wonderful, stylish, rakish chapeau – which you have all seen in former posts here. I had only had it a couple of weeks when we went to Provence for the weekend and thought that I had left it in a restaurant – only to find the restaurant closed 10 minutes later – bang on the door – be admitted – and find no trace of the hat. Fortunately, the hat fell out of my leather jacket an hour or so later and was noticed – not by me, but by an attentive passerby and – voila! I am content.
This Tuesday morning came a repeat performance. I got up early (5:40) to go to a men’s Bible study and went to the study. Around 8:00 we said our goodbye’s and I drove away about a block when I noticed my head was quite cold. I immediately turned around and went back to the building – locked and no one around, and no number to call!!
So, I am now being punished with a cold scalp until this afternoon when, hopefully, ma cher femme will retrieve my hat where it has nicely been stashed in a cupboard for safekeeping by one of the missionaries here in Grenoble. (Good thing – it is due to snow about 4 inches according to the local forecast for the weekend.)
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wonderful winter travel
Travel on the business trip from the nether regions is complete; and, finally, Nancy and I are together again in Grenoble.
The trip started ignominiously: It was snowing; and for the first portion of the limo ride, we followed a snowplow.
Upon arrival at the airport, I found my flight to Frankfurt was cancelled; and a three hour line was at the Lufthansa desk for flight changes.
The 24 hour travel agency’s help desk could make a reservation for an alternate flight; but I had to call Delta in the USA to confirm and pay for the change.
When I reached Delta, Air France would only confirm a Business Class ticket - $7000.
After the ticket was paid for, Air France insisted that I go to Lufthansa to have my ticket changed.
While standing in the Lufthansa line (sure I would miss my Air France flight) I called the travel agent and Delta – who both assured me that my itinerary was now changed; and I need not stand in Lufthans line.
Back to Air France; and I still cannot check in for my flight.
Air France ticket agent is irritated to see me without a Lufthansa ticket; but her supervisor now assures me I can check.
Electronic check in fails; so I go to the desk
Desk tells me I am on standby which I declare unacceptable – I have to make the meeting in Washington; so they tell me there is room on a flight leaving in 10 minutes.
Flying though security, I make my flight to Paris; and all is well in business class to Washington.
Trying to check my e-mail at my hotel, I find the touchpad on my computer has failed, and I cannot access any programs on my computer.
A borrowed mouse; then a purchased travel mouse later, the meetings go well.
Calling Nancy before flying out to Frankfurt, her flight is delayed; and she will not be able to meet me in time for the limo in Lyon.
Calling to France; I arrange for the limo to delay and pick us up after Nancy arrives.
Nancy arrives in Lyon – the limo does not – for some unknown reason; the driver is delayed.
Take a taxi to Grenoble – he does not take credit cards (everyone else here does) – so off to the ATM down the street.
ATM card is not in wallet !!!!!!
Nancy’s ATM card works; and we are safely ensconced in our apartment.
Find my ATM card in a pocket full of papers. :-)
I can’t wait to travel internationally in the winter again. Yeah, right!!!!!
The trip started ignominiously: It was snowing; and for the first portion of the limo ride, we followed a snowplow.
Upon arrival at the airport, I found my flight to Frankfurt was cancelled; and a three hour line was at the Lufthansa desk for flight changes.
The 24 hour travel agency’s help desk could make a reservation for an alternate flight; but I had to call Delta in the USA to confirm and pay for the change.
When I reached Delta, Air France would only confirm a Business Class ticket - $7000.
After the ticket was paid for, Air France insisted that I go to Lufthansa to have my ticket changed.
While standing in the Lufthansa line (sure I would miss my Air France flight) I called the travel agent and Delta – who both assured me that my itinerary was now changed; and I need not stand in Lufthans line.
Back to Air France; and I still cannot check in for my flight.
Air France ticket agent is irritated to see me without a Lufthansa ticket; but her supervisor now assures me I can check.
Electronic check in fails; so I go to the desk
Desk tells me I am on standby which I declare unacceptable – I have to make the meeting in Washington; so they tell me there is room on a flight leaving in 10 minutes.
Flying though security, I make my flight to Paris; and all is well in business class to Washington.
Trying to check my e-mail at my hotel, I find the touchpad on my computer has failed, and I cannot access any programs on my computer.
A borrowed mouse; then a purchased travel mouse later, the meetings go well.
Calling Nancy before flying out to Frankfurt, her flight is delayed; and she will not be able to meet me in time for the limo in Lyon.
Calling to France; I arrange for the limo to delay and pick us up after Nancy arrives.
Nancy arrives in Lyon – the limo does not – for some unknown reason; the driver is delayed.
Take a taxi to Grenoble – he does not take credit cards (everyone else here does) – so off to the ATM down the street.
ATM card is not in wallet !!!!!!
Nancy’s ATM card works; and we are safely ensconced in our apartment.
Find my ATM card in a pocket full of papers. :-)
I can’t wait to travel internationally in the winter again. Yeah, right!!!!!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Oo la la! C'est froid!
I am back and sort of getting adapted to the 9 hour time difference. Thank you melatonin! The 6 inches of snow which fell last Sunday night and Monday morning have pretty much stayed around - unusual I am told. The forecast is for more snow tonight and VERY cold weather next week. I just want it to warm up enough to keep the roads clear when I go to Lyon on Sunday and then drive back with Nancy on Wednesday.
It is all very pretty with the snow still clinging to the trees on my drive to work in the morning - can't say much about the evening commute - it is usually dark by the time I drive back to the apartment.
One note of amusement - now, that is. Last evening I worked later than usual gettting a response to a customer request completed. When I went out to the uncleared parking lot, the temperature had dropped and the ice/snow was quite slick - especially to my lightweight little car with no snow tires. I had congratulated myself on making it to the normal exit gate - where the gate refused to open; and backing up in the snow was virtually impossible. I finally made some progress about 2-3 feet at a time by getting out, kicking the snow away from the tires, and then backing/rocking again. After about 10 minutes of this and about 2/3 of the needed progress, one of my fellow late workers came out and provided the extra push to get me to a flat/packed enough area to drive out the normal entrance - which had cleared from the traffic and sun on the paved access. (Did I mention the exit is NOT paved - it is a light colored gravel that hold the snow and ice very well.)
It is all very pretty with the snow still clinging to the trees on my drive to work in the morning - can't say much about the evening commute - it is usually dark by the time I drive back to the apartment.
One note of amusement - now, that is. Last evening I worked later than usual gettting a response to a customer request completed. When I went out to the uncleared parking lot, the temperature had dropped and the ice/snow was quite slick - especially to my lightweight little car with no snow tires. I had congratulated myself on making it to the normal exit gate - where the gate refused to open; and backing up in the snow was virtually impossible. I finally made some progress about 2-3 feet at a time by getting out, kicking the snow away from the tires, and then backing/rocking again. After about 10 minutes of this and about 2/3 of the needed progress, one of my fellow late workers came out and provided the extra push to get me to a flat/packed enough area to drive out the normal entrance - which had cleared from the traffic and sun on the paved access. (Did I mention the exit is NOT paved - it is a light colored gravel that hold the snow and ice very well.)
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