Nice, France

I was going to title this "Nice is nice" which it is, but I typed it and even I found that to be a groaner. :) Still, Nice was a lovely town, and I know we'll go back there. In fact, we've talked about renting an apartment for a month at some point in the future. That may be a pipe dream--certainly it won't happen while we're in the middle of our careers, since no one's going to give us a month off--but it's a nice thought.

In an upcoming post, I'll share photos of some of the older parts of town and the flower market, which really is terrific. For now, I want to show you our hotel and a stop we made during our side trip to Monaco. From our little bed & breakfast in Aix (where we met the lovely Espelette, introduced to you a few posts back), we changed gears and checked into a very fancy hotel in Nice.

The main drag in Nice is the Promenade des Anglais, and our hotel was right on the Promenade, facing the beach. It was quite a sight, particularly once the sun went down. Hotels are usually just a place to rest, but this one needs a place in the trip photos:



The hotel building is in the shape of a horseshoe going back from that columned facade. The space between the columns is open, so we had a view from our room right out onto the promenade and the beach...



I understand that there are large shutters that can be lowered between the columns, in case a storm comes up. While we were there, they stayed up, but each room had a powered shutter that dropped down to lock out any noise, so the room became dark and quiet when we wanted to sleep. The rest of the time, we could open the glass doors and go out onto the balcony.

That area down there (in the above photo) contained a pool, as well as an outdoor dining area. It was very nice.

At night, the sidewalks were alive, thanks partly to the casino downstairs...



From Nice, we drove east for a trip to Monaco, driving through the famous city of Monte Carlo. Along the way, we drove along the legendary Grand Corniche. During our drive, we stopped for lunch at a little local restaurant and ate at an outdoor table with a lovely view...



Here's the appetizer...



And the entrée (which isn't the right word in France, as the entrée isn't the main dish there)...



And finally dessert...



Everything was as tasty as it looks! Truly, a wonderful meal in a stunning setting!

I know it's winter, but this is ridiculous

The weather forecast says tonight's low temperature will be 2 degrees Fahrenheit. That's horrible. And dangerous for anyone caught out in it.

Last night, when I put the dogs out, it was 11 degrees, and even that was too cold for them. We went out when I got home from dinner with friends, and one of Bernice's back legs cramped up so severely that she did a 3-legged hop back in. I massaged it for her as soon as we got inside, and she was okay.

Later, when we did our last outing of the night, Dodger went to the back of the yard to do his business, but when he was done, he stopped partway back and was panicked. He was holding up one front paw, trying to put it down repeatedly and looking at me to clearly convey that touching the ground was painful (and he was scared and confused, which is something no doggy ever should have to endure!). I felt so horrible and was somewhat panicked for him. So I ran across the yard, scooped him up in my arms and carried him back in. Then when we got inside, I told him it was okay (and it was--he seems none the worse for wear). I felt so bad for him! He really didn't expect what was out there or know what to do.

Anyhow, I'm being extra careful with them tonight, and I shared what happened with Marc (he was out of town for a few days and is back now), so he'll watch them, too.

The first day of the rest of my career

Today was a big day for me. My job had lost some of its luster in the past couple of years. I won't air dirty laundry, but I wasn't happy with how my skills were being utilized (or, in some cases, weren't being utilized). There's far more I can say, but there's no point in that. The bottom line is that I really wasn't happy. The important part is that this story has a happy ending!

A job came open in one of the other hospitals in our network. Their recruitment process took a few months, but it's a high-level position, so that's to be expected (not that it reduced the stress I was feeling). In the end, I got the position and today was my first day. (Well, I had a couple of split weeks between the old and new during a transition period, but this was the first regular, full-time day there.)

The new place is a good hospital with very friendly people who are happy to have me there. Plus, the new job is a promotion. So it's all good. Can't wait to really make a positive difference there!

Happy Birthday, Bernice & Dodger!

Today, Bernice is a teenager. At one point, not too long ago, we weren't sure she'd be with us through December, let alone for her birthday. But she has powered on through, and she's still going strong. For a girl whose life expectancy (according to her vet) was 10-12, making it to 13 is pretty good, and it certainly calls for a celebration!

Dodger also reaches a milestone today, but we're less certain of his age. Bernice's birthday is a guess, but it's pretty close, since we knew her rough age when we adopted her, but Dodgie was a stray off the street, so this is more of a guess. His designated birthday is January 1, 2001. So he's officially 10 years old today (although he may be just a touch older).

Marc provided homemade cake for the kids, and the celebration was on!

The crowd gathered...



And the candle was lit...



Marc explained that they should make a wish and then blow out the candle...



Dodger listened carefully and agreed to blow it out for all of them...





The candle was blown out...



And Marc cut pieces for our honorees and their sister Mandy...



First up was the senior girl, our teenager, Ms. Bernice. Note how she's wearing her best t-shirt, and see how she has a very ladylike eating technique...



Next, Mr. Dodger. You may also address him as "Your Majesty"...



Last but not least, Ms. Mandy (also known as "The Divine Miss M"). She ate her cake so fast that I didn't get a shot of it going down...



So happy birthday to Bernice and Dodger! May the year ahead be a healthy one, and may you have many more happy ones!