NaBloNoMo

It was nice while it lasted. 

Random post-election thoughts

I've been up since 3:30 am, so I can't aspire to coherent blogging tonight.

Just a few random thoughts on the election:

Obama rocks. I expect even more from him in his second term.

Romney gave a dignified and appropriate concession speech --but the guy still creeps me out.

Washington State rocks! My home state  voted for Obama, a new Democratic governor, marriage for all, and legalizing cannabis in one fell swoop!

It's interesting to note that the legalisation of marijuana initiative won by practically a landslide, whereas the marriage for all referendum is still officially too close to call, but looking good. 

I guess there are a few pot-smoking homophobes hanging around Washington State.

For me, the next big battle is fighting voter suppression and facilitating voting in the USA. Nobody should have to wait all day to vote.

Finally, I'm glad it's all over!

Four more years!

I'm on the eve of election....

My niece just chatted with me and asked me what I was up to for election night.

With the time difference of 6 to 9 hours between here and the USA, it's a strange warp -- and I'm not up to anything in particular. 

My American friends and family are living through this experience today; for me, it's tomorrow that counts. Tomorrow in the wee hours, that is.

I'm on the eve of election.

Four years ago, I had followed the presidential election in great detail, and worked myself into a frenzied state by the time the "night of" came around.

I could hardly sleep, and got up at around 4am to check the results --  which, as I remember, didn't really come in until 5am our time. 

My eldest daughter got up with me, and we rejoiced together at Obama's victory. (My youngest was in the USA...as she is tonight.)

A few hours later, I drove to work, honking my horn and blaring Dylan's "When the ship comes in" from my car CD player. 

I arrived early, and a handful of my students grouped together in my office to celebrate the moment.

This year, things don't seem quite so groundbreaking, but I believe the issues at stake are just as crucial, if not more so.

Here's hoping I'll be waking up to good news during the night....

A weekend away

The world from my car window

Lectoure, Gers department

I've been largely lucky weather-wise as far as travels are concerned. 

My family and I have managed late-December trips to Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels and Strasbourg without ever having to face pouring rain. 

There was that foot of snow in Brussels in 2010, but we enjoyed that.

Over the weekend, though, my husband and I took a one-night trip to the Gers department for an informal reunion of his engineering school class. The weather was horrendous....and that really makes a difference, doesn't it?

We were in a lovely area that I don't know very well, near Lectoure in the Gers department. There were fascinating buildings to photograph and great little villages to poke around. And I really felt like getting out and taking pictures.

But the weather, and an impending cold, kept me in the car.

We left saying we'll have to get back to this area....

Application terminated!

I have just installed the Blogger app on my cell phone and couldn't wait to use it!

So this will just have to do for my post today.

A blogging first for me...quite exciting.

Watery Summer Memories

Frye Cove, Olympia, Washington

How beautiful the Pacific Northwest is.

Last summer, I had quite a few chances to spend evenings "out on the water," thanks to a friend's move to a waterfront home. 

She and I also did some exploring of the surrounding coves, bays, and inlets.

I even went out on a sailboat for the first time in ages, and learned how to passably paddle in a canoe.

I suppose if I had stayed in Olympia, Washington, the water would be a big part of my life.

Now, it's just an occasional, summery feature -- one that, for some reason, I'm missing today.

My New York Girl

This has been a year of transitions.

Both of our daughters have followed the same pattern over three years: from Rodez, to a larger city in the region, to a global metropolis.

Through her business school, our youngest  had the opportunity to do two internships in New York City last school year. And at the end of the second one, she got an offer for a one-year job there.

Stopped out.

Bright lights, big city.

Got through Sandy unscathed.

Blogging for blogging's sake

My oh my, a lot has changed since I last took a stab at NaBloPoMo.

Not being up on blogging news, I missed the fact that NaBlo has somehow become part of the BlogHer network. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing overall, but if you ask me, their daily prompts are pathetic.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

If you could change one thing about your life right now, what would it be?

Tell us about your favourite pet.

Really? Really?

These sound like writing prompts I might consider giving my lower-lower-lowest intermediate English students..."might" being the operative here. 

Now I was thinking these prompts could be a great source of inspiration for kicking this blog back into gear, but I will have to think again.

However, I loved the month's blogging theme: "Blogging for blogging's sake."

That concept could be enough to get me blogging again..."could" being the operative here.