Ma Vie d'Autrefois, Ou est-ce Encore la Même ?: July 2008

Tristesse et Chaleur

Mes enfants me manquent.

Mes sœurs me manquent.

Ma mère me manque.

Mon amie, S, me manque.

Mon pays me manque.

Mes amis de chez moi me manquent.

La mer me manque.

Il fait trop chaud.

Je ne vois aucun intérêt de vivre comme ça.

Je n’en peux plus.

Heureusement, mes BP partent demain.

Nous partons de chez eux avant leur retour.

Dieu merci, une partie du calvaire est presque finie !!!

Memorial to my Mother, Caroline Grace Schoonover

February 2, 1944 - July 30, 2005

http://flickr.com/photos/dapmapmgmp/sets/1204937/

Just seven months later, she was gone.........
I still don't believe it is real. It has to be some sick joke.
I just want to be alone, until she comes back and I can leave this country.
I hate this.

Epitaph
By Merrit Malloy

When I die
Give what's left of me away
To children
And old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry,
Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you.
And when you need me,
Put your arms
Around anyone
And give them
What you need to give to me.

I want to leave you something,
Something better
Than words
Or sounds.

Look for me
In the people I've known
Or loved,
And if you cannot give me away,
At least let me live on your eyes
And not on your mind.

You can love me most
By letting
Hands touch hands,
By letting
Bodies touch bodies,
And by letting go
Of children
That need to be free.

Love doesn't die,
People do.
So, when all that's left of me
Is love,
Give me away.
I'll see you at home in the Earth.

Fabrice and his Aunt Jeanne

Fabrice et Tata Jeanne

Kitty Waiting Her Turn

Kitty Waiting Her Turn
Originally uploaded by Nana S

JakeJake Loves Tummy Rubs

JakeJake Loves Tummy Rubs
Originally uploaded by Nana S

Food Man 1

Food Man 1
Originally uploaded by Nana S

Fabrice made us a food man for supper tonight, with salad hair, a taboule head, cornichon features and buttons, tomato ears and chicken clothes.

I thought it was cute, and he had a lot of fun with it.

YOU GO, MINNESOTA!!!!!!! - Night Lights Turned Off to Save Migrating Birds

Inside Science News Service

LiveScience.com Sun Jul 27, 1:21 AM ET

Birds, like moths, are attracted to light at night and if they become disoriented, will fly in circles around the lights in a tall building, often hitting the building, or dropping exhausted to the ground.

The phenomenon is not understood by scientists, but a researcher at the Bell Museum in Minneapolis, along with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, is spearheading a program to turn off the lights to protect migrating birds.

Participants in the programs, including the owners, tenants, and management companies from 32 buildings Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, and Rochester, will dim their building lights during the spring and fall bird migration seasons. Similar programs are in place in Toronto, New York, and Chicago.

Adding the Minnesota cities is important, said Bell Museum ornithologist Bob Zink, because they are located along the Mississippi River flyway, a major thoroughfare for migrating birds. In addition to lowering the light in the night migration routes, researchers are also trying to determine why birds fly into some buildings at a much higher rate than others.

In Minneapolis, 67 percent of the bird kills were caused by just two of the city's skyscrapers.

Inside Science News Service is supported by the American Institute of Physics.

Original Story: Night Lights Turned Off to Save Migrating Birds

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My Aura is Blue (and it's my Favorite Color, too!)

Your Aura is Blue

Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life.

You are very giving of yourself. And it's hard for you to let go of relationships.

The purpose of your life: showing love to other people

Famous blues include: Angelina Jolie, the Dali Lama, Oprah

Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor

What Color Is Your Aura?

Fabrice & Chanel at the Belle-Assise Mill in Jossigny

Do you need a laugh??

What Religion is Your Bra?

A man walked into the ladies department of a Macy 's
and shyly walked up to
the woman behind the counter and said,
"I'd like to buy a bra for my wife. "

" What type of bra?"
asked the clerk.

" Type?" inquires the man, "There's more than one type?"

" Look around,"
said the saleslady,
as she showed a sea of bras in every shape, size, color
and material imaginable.

"Actually, even with all of this variety, there are really only four types of bras to choose from ."

Relieved, the man asked
about the types.

The saleslady replied:

"There are the Catholic,
the Salvation Army,
the Presbyterian,
and the Baptist types.

Which one would you prefer?"

Now totally befuddled,
the man asked about
the differences between them.

The Saleslady responded,
"It is all really quite simple. ...
The Catholic type supports the masses;
The Salvation Army type lifts the fallen;
The Presbyterian type keeps them staunch and upright; and
The Baptist type makes mountains out of mole hills."

Have you ever wondered why A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, G, and H are the letters used to define bra sizes?

If you have wondered why, but couldn't figure out what the letters stood for, it is about time you became informed!

(A} Almost Boobs...
{B} Barely there...
{C} Can't Complain!...
{D} Dang!..
{DD} Double dang!...
{E} Enormous!...
{F} Fake...
{G} Get a Reduction...
{H} Help me, I've fallen, and I can't get up!...

They forgot the German bra.
Holtzemfromfloppen

Chanel

Chanel
Originally uploaded by Nana S

Mes Chats, Kitty et JakeJake / My Cats, Kitty and JakeJake

Mes Chats, Kitty et JakeJake / My Cats, Kitty and JakeJake
Originally uploaded by Nana S

Fabrice's Christmas Stocking Progress ~ July 24, 2008

Fabrice's Christmas Stocking Progress ~ July 24, 2008
Originally uploaded by Nana S

The Army Hasn't Paid Fabrice....

Armed Forces Bank's online access system isn't working.

They have nobody who speaks French.

I am not on the account, and do not have power of attorney.

The problem is that SFC O (from what I recall) opened the account, when we were in CA.

But we do not know who signed the signature card, or how it was signed. The bank said that the signature is an original signature, not a photocopy, so it could NOT have been my husband by any stretch of the imagination, since he was in CA and the account was opened in TX.

It is a federal offense for a recruiter, or anyone other than the person opening the account in question, to sign the signature card for the serviceman/person opening the account. According to the bank that is what SFC O did.

This is illegal, fraudulent, and a federal offense. How can the Army, part of the Federal government be able to so brazenly violate federal law?

We would like to know who signed the signature card. That person committed a Federal offense and fraud against my husband and against Armed Force's Bank, and we intend to file a federal complaint against that person and against the Walzem Road recruiting office who told him/her to sign for my husband.

The signatures do not match, so my husband cannot get his money.

Nobody at Armed Forces Banks speaks French, so they can't help him get online access to the account.

Therefore, the Army still owes my husband the money supposedly paid on May 15 and June 6, as said funds were deposited into an account that was opened fraudulently in my husband's name, but with someone else's signature.

The nightmare we have had with the Army keeps getting worse and worse.

Could someone in your law enforcement division please prosecute the recruiter who fraudulently opened an account in my husband's name, and could someone PLEASE mail him a CHECK in the full amount due to him at his current address.

It has been well over two months, and, had I not sent my email today, my husband would never have been paid and that money would have either sat in the fraudulent account, or SFC O would have used it. Who knows, maybe he already has!!!

This is absolutely ridiculous, and I hope and pray that someone will finally make my husband whole after the discrimination, mistreatment, PTSD, and now financial abuse that the recruiters in that particular office, a certain Mr. Lugo at Fort Sill, and now, again, a Walzem Road, San Antonio, TX, recruiter, have subjected my husband to.

This type of thing makes me ashamed to be an American. Really, it does. As if crimes against foreign nationals and foreign nations weren't enough, the US Federal government also allows its armed forces recruiting personnel to commit Federal crimes against US citizens and/or permanent residents.

Something is definitely wrong here. I wonder, are animals fleeing the country? Are the clouds spinning and turning dark green? Are the oceans funneling up and down? Is Armageddon on its way?

Hopefully the person at the Army that I was put in contact with can help us, and soon. Otherwise, in addition to complaints for discrimination and bank fraud, my husband and I will publicize this all over the media thought the United States, without a second's hesitation.

MA chanson actuelle - de Jean-Jacques Goldman

Là-bas
Tout est neuf et tout est sauvage
Libre continent sans grillage
Ici, nos rêves sont étroits
C'est pour ça que j'irai là-bas

Là-bas
Faut du cœur et faut du courage
Mais tout est possible à mon âge
Si tu as la force et la foi
L'or est à portée de tes doigts
C'est pour ça que j'irai là-bas

N'y va pas
Y a des tempêtes et des naufrages
Le feu, les diables et les mirages
Je te sais si fragile parfois
Reste au creux de moi

On a tant d'amour à faire
Tant de bonheur à venir
Je te veux mari et père
Et toi, tu rêves de partir

Ici, tout est joué d'avance
Et l'on n'y peut rien changer
Tout dépend de ta naissance
Et moi je ne suis pas bien né

Là-bas
Loin de nos vies, de nos villages
J'oublierai ta voix, ton visage
J'ai beau te serrer dans mes bras
Tu m'échappes déjà, là-bas

J'aurai ma chance, j'aurai mes droits
N'y va pas
Et la fierté qu'ici je n'ai pas
Là-bas
Tout ce que tu mérites est à toi
N'y va pas
Ici, les autres imposent leur loi
Là-bas
Je te perdrai peut-être là-bas
N'y va pas
Mais je me perds si je reste là
Là-bas
La vie ne m'a pas laissé le choix
N'y va pas
Toi et moi, ce sera là-bas ou pas
Là-bas
Tout est neuf et tout est sauvage
N'y va pas
Libre continent sans grillage
Là-bas
Beau comme on n'imagine pas
N'y va pas
Ici, même nos rêves sont étroits
Là-bas
C'est pour ça que j'irai là-bas
N'y va pas
On ne m'a pas laissé le choix
Là-bas
Je me perds si je reste là
N'y va pas
C'est pour ça que j'irai là-bas

Waning Gibbous 17.4

DSC_0017.4
Originally uploaded by Nana S

Waning Gibbous 17.6

Waning Gibbous 17.6
Originally uploaded by Nana S

As of this morning, the moon is Waning Gibbous, 96% of full, effective 08:49:50 on Sunday, July 20, 2008.

This series was taken at about 23:00 yesterday evening.

I don't know enough about the moon to tell you how much it has changed in the past 9 hours, so I figured I'd just give the information that I have!

It was pretty, no matter what!

Surprise Fireworks Show

Last night, as I was taking pictures of the moon, suddenly fireworks appeared on the distant horizon.

'Ya just cant beat a surprise fireworks show.

But boy oh boy are fireworks hard to shoot! I am going to have to do some research into the matter.

These are the best shots I got. The other all looked like colored blobs against the dark.

Manquant Jeanne et Marie-France

Je viens de me connecter et de me rendre compte qu’il n’est que 20H24. On verra si je tiens le coup jusqu’à ce que mon amie connecte.

J’essaie de reprendre mon rythme de femme matinale. Je me couche, et donc me lève de plus en plus tard, et je ne me sente pas bien dans ma peau, pas moi-même, quoi. Alors je tente, malgré les horaires de Fabrice, de me remettre à mon rythme habituel en me couchant et me levant plus tôt, à des heures qui me conviennent mieux à moi, quoi. C’est intéressant car et mes parents et mes sœurs, et mes enfants et mes nièces sont des couchent-tards. Il n’y a que moi qui suis différente des autres. Mais je dois avouer que je suis différente du reste de ma famille pour beaucoup de choses. Pas toutes, bien sur, mais beaucoup.

Tata Jeanne

C’est bien dommage que je n’aie pas pu aller chez Jeanne hier. Mais c’était absolument vital que je parle à mon avocat.

Le seul bon côté est que quand on va chez Jeanne, au bout d’une heure, une heure et demie, je suis prête à partir. Ça me fatigue de parler et parler et parler, rien qu’avec Jeanne, qui est la plus gentille femme du monde. Mais je pense qu’entre Jeanne et Marie-France, j’en aurais eu bien plus que mon compte ce soir !!!! Même si elles sont aussi gentilles l’une que l’autre !

Tata Marie-France

Avant que je n’aie appelé l’avocat, j’ai toussé pendant une heure, et là ça recommence. Ça fait mal, et c’est arrivé au point que parfois je suis obligé de prendre des calmants – ils calment tous les muscles, et dont apaisent la toux aussi.

Le progrès que j’ai fait sur la chausette de Noël de Fabrice

Je l’ai commencé le vendredi 27 juin 2008.

Ces photos ont été prises hier soir, le mercredi 16 juillet 2008.

Et voici l’objectif ultime. J’avais peur, mais je pense que j’arriverais à la finir avant Noël. Je l’espère en tout cas !!!!!

De quoi passer l'après-midi

N’ayant jamais eu de nouvelles de l’ambassade depuis mes examens réussis, j’ai postulé pour 28 postes d’intérimaire hier. Je fais pareil presque tous les jours, mais je ne reçois que des réponses négatives. L’année dernière c’était bien plus facile, je vous jure. C’est vraiment décourageant. Qu’est-ce que la vie est difficile en France par rapport aux US, même avec le dollar qui continue sa plongée vers les fonds de la mer fiscale.

Demain je vais me déplacer sur Paris visiter une ou deux agences là-bas. Ensuite, j’irais visiter un musée ou quelque-chose dans ce genre, rendre des photos, etc., puis soit rentrer en train, soit rentrer avec Fabrice à la fin de sa journée de travail. Ma belle-mère repart dans les Vosges demain, alors j’aurais au moins un stress en moins !

Je pense qu’il est censé pleuvoir à Paris demain. Encore une raison de visiter un musée, une fois mon calvaire des agences d’emploi terminé.

Ça va vous faire rire, je pense. Parfois je parle dans mon sommeil. Ben ça, on le savait. La plupart du temps, c’est en anglais que je parle, et Fabrice comprend mal. Mais avant-hier soir en plein milieu de la nuit, je lui ai demandé, « Fabrice, est-ce que tu peux demander à ton père de sortir de notre lit ? » Bien amusant d’un côté.

De l’autre, c’est malheureux, mes beaux-parents envahissent ma vie jusque dans mon sommeil !!! Je vous jure, c’est grave !!

Sur ce, je vous laisse pour le moment. Je vais descendre un peu, peut-être promener Chanel avant qu’il ne commence à pleuvoir, puis je serais de retour devant mon ordinateur, à regarder/écouter la télé, à faire de la broderie, et à chercher du travail. J’ai un peu de ménage à faire dans ma chambre aussi. Et quelques lettres à écrire, surtout à ma grand-mère à New York. De quoi occuper mon après-midi, sans être obligée de passer trop de temps avec ma belle-mère, qui, elle, rentre du boulot d’ici une demi-heure.

L'urne de Ion

C’était juste pour dire que Fabrice vient de récupérer les cendres d’Ion. Comme nous déménageons, on a laissé le Scotch sur l’urne même pour prendre ces photos, et on va le laisser au moins jusqu’à ce que l’on soit arrivé là où nous allons vivre aux US.

Je t’avais dit que je te tiendrais au courant, alors je le fais. Ça m’a fait un effet un peu bizarre, et m’a attristée, donc je ne vais pas écrire davantage tout de suite.

J’ai plutôt envie de pleurer que de parler.

URRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

Euro soars to $1.60 against U.S. dollar, a new record high

US dollar and euro bank notes. The European single currency leapt to a record high 1.6038 dollars as investor fears grew over the state of the US economy and its financial services sector.

(AFP/File/Philippe Desmazes)

LONDON (AFP) - The European single currency leapt to a record high above 1.60 dollars here on Tuesday as investor fears grew over the state of the US economy and its financial services sector, dealers said.

In late morning London deals, the euro jumped to 1.6038 dollars, which beat the previous all-time peak of 1.6019 that was set on April 22.

This is my own picture, taken just after we sold Fabrice's car before our trials and tribulations in the US the first time around! Nowadays, I'll take these euros over dollars, any day of the week!!!!

Slideshow of my Pets / Diaporama de mes Animaux

Yesterday

Yesterday, when we had the pleasure of lunch with Julie, we enjoyed a fantastic meal of ham and melon, tomatoes and African sweet potatoes, and chicken, with pineapple for desert. And the time spent with Julie was even better than the wonderful meal, of course!! I am so glad that we went, despite my back and various and sundry aches and pains leftover from the past couple of whiles!!!!

One of my favorites / Un de mes préférés, le jambon de parme :

Delicious melons, and a glimpse of the tomatoes:

Des melons délicieux, et les tomates:

Des tomates parfaites:

Perfect tomatoes:

The scrumptious main course: chicken, African sweet potatoes, and fresh ripe perfect tomatoes:

Le plat principal délectable: du poulet, des patates douces africaines, et des tomates parfaitement mûres:

Our succulent, perfectly ripe, sweet, but not overly so, pineapple:

Un merveilleux ananas,succulent,doux, ferme, simple, et délicieux:

And, after all of this, I was graced with the gift of some of Julie's books. I can't tell you how much I love books!!!!

MERCI, MON AMIE, JULIE!!!!

Julie nous a invités pour un déjeuner chez elle pour célébrer son anniversaire avant son départ en Angleterre

Julie invited us to a wonderful lunch to celebrate her birthday (which was actually yesterday), and to see each other before she leaves for London on Wednesday.