And the hits just keep on coming...
Just before we left California in February, we had some major (read expensive) work done around the house. Re roofing of the house and workshop, re-sealing a 600-foot-long driveway and 3000 sq ft parking area and a build of a 160-foot-long cement block retaining wall. When we got here, we were finishing the pool and landscaping project when we got word that we needed to re-roof the villa also.
First part of the roof being stripped
Meanwhile
Island friends were stopping off in Cannes while on a cruise, so we meet them for lunch and took them to walk the red carpet of the world-famous Cannes Film Festival.
Meanwhile, we took a quick tour of villa Rothchild on Cap Ferrat.
Then, we had friends Keith and Lisa flying in from Florida for a short visit. Great guests, we have deployed together with Team Rubicon on national operations.
THE POOL
The pool? What pool? Oh! THAT pool! You mean the one I have been yammering about for the past 3 years? Yes, it's done. As in, really really done. As in the fat lady has sung, showered and left the stadium done. Minor landscaping is still in the works, but very minor stuff left to do.
Firepit on upper terrace
As I write this on May 15th, we are off to Manching, Germany today to visit daughter Mandy's family. We first drove to Milan, Italy, then visited Cape Di Ponte, Valdamonica. This is one of the largest collections of petroglyphs in the world.
These are 9000 years old, from the copper and bronze age. A World Heritage Site, it is number 140 on our list of visited sites in 38 countries. Next was a drive through Austria on our way to Germany. We will surely have more to report on next month.
#4 and the "T" word
An important report this month, identified California now being the fourth largest economy (Gross Domestic Product) in the world. That is, if California were a country, it would now be ahead of India, now #5. Just imagine how much better it would be doing if the voters had only listened to me in our last governors election.
Moving around regularly, we are often asked how Americans feel about Trump. Now don't get your panties caught in a bunch, I am not going to pontificate about politics. Less your blood begins to boil, I will not mention the ''T'' word again. I make a point of never revealing my political inclinations so that no one would ever know if I am a clear-thinking Conservative or a Liberal Democrat. The point here, is that no one can speak for a whole country, as it is obvious there are many who favor the president (after all, he did get elected) as well as a number of folks who are not fans, perhaps including you. We find ourselves surrounded by European and Canadian friends and family who are not fans, so as Americans we tread carefully and with sensitivity while many sleep securely under our country's nuclear umbrella.
While attending service recently, our pastor decided to introduce us as Americans who spend part of the year here. The congregation immediately broke out in spontaneous applause, which is not typically done in a church. I couldn't figure out if it was for Janice putting up with me, or because of my simple wonderfulness. Being Americans here has clearly not caused us any grief.
In our country's international relationships, just as in our personal relationships, when one party feels the need to recalibrate things, the other is likely to wonder why, since things seem to be just fine as they are for them. Clearly, this will cause a period of turmoil until a 'new normal' is worked out which both sides can live with. It's time to put your drinking pants on and to not run around with your hair on fire. How's that for being diplomatic?
We are just two weeks away from returning to our island in Canada. We sure hope we are not met with bows and arrows.
Finally...
In our recent travels we came across this display on the side of the freeway. No matter how bright the vehicle colors and flashing warning lights are, people regularly plow into these highway maintenance vehicles - at full speed - parked on the side of the road doing maintenance. This display of over a dozen of them is to make the point to drivers to wake up and pay attention.
