Marking time

In a way, that's what it feels like at the moment, because we have absolutely no idea of when Mom will get word that her visa has arrived and we'll have to make arrangements to head back to L.A. It's so hard to make any plans. Friends Margaret and Peter have offered to meet us at the airport in Toulouse when we get back, because with the three of us and all of Mom's luggage Beanie will not be sufficient. But will we be coming back when they are on their trip? Who knows. Limbo.

Still, we do what we can. I'm desperately trying to finish the second draft of our new book, EDGAR ALAN POE ON MARS so it can be published in December as planned. And, the big Kahuna is getting Mom's house-to-be ready for her as soon as possible.

We made contact with the owner last week and we seem to have agreed to a deal, now we need for the sale of Mom's house in L.A. to close so we can go to the Notaire here and close the deal on the new place. Lots of juggling. In the meantime, we've started having our friendly neighborhood artisans come in to do estimates and give us their suggestions for the best, easiest, fastest and most affordable way to do what needs to be done.

This won't be a huge apartment, but I think it will be perfectly cozy for one person, and the fact that it's all ground level is a huge bonus. Places like that are gold in a village like this one, as almost everyplace has stairs of one kind or another. Both JM and I are very nervous about Mom living in our house until her place is ready, as between stairs and dogs it's a bit of a deathtrap! We've told her that we want her to let us know when she's going to change rooms so that one or the other of us can accompany her on the stairs and run canine interferance.

One thing about doing the work on the new place is that I think we've learned a lot over the years. And, there's the fact that we won't be living in it while the work is going on, so that will be much nicer as well. Still, it's only two doors away, so we're there for consultation when the guys need us. I can't wait to see it when it's done, because I think it has great potential,

I didn't go upstairs to look at the rest of the property again, although will probably do that today or tomorrow. It's really a very nice space and part of me thinks it would be fun to sell our house and fix that one up for us to live in upstairs while Mom lives downstairs. But we have gotten our house perfectly set up, so I know that's impractical and silly...

Ciao for now.

Randy

Life Its Ownself

To borrow a favorite quote from my sweet friend, Raven, that is exactly what has gotten in the way of my posting for over a week.

We HAVE been back from L.A. since late Friday, but I can't believe how much there has been to do which has interfered with my posting here. The first thing, before I go into details about our L.A. visit, was the discovery on our return that my hideous Toshiba had decided to die a painful death. My guess is that it had been getting ready to go for quite a while, but that using it constantly had kept the parts warm and operational. Once it was turned off and cooled down, I think there might have been some condensation inside that just fried the works once I rebooted.

So, almost first thing on Saturday we had to drive out to buy a new 'puter. I am not unhappy, since the Toshiba had been a problem from day one, but it was an unexpected expense and complication. And, I had a bit of trouble configuring Vista to work properly with our Livebox. But all now seems well, so fingers are crossed that I'm good to go.

Now for the report:

Going back to L.A. was a totally weird experience in many ways. First, it was odd flying in that direction and realizing that we were not going home. It certainly no longer felt like home.

The flight from Toulouse to Paris to L.A. was very long and made longer by the horrendous connection at CDG. The Air France terminal seems to be under permanent construction status and transferring from Terminal 2E to 2F is practically a nightmare. You have to go back through security, you are walking miles and also taking a weird system of people mover buses that is less than efficient, and generally it is not a pleasant experience. We JUST made our connections on both legs and we realized that there is no way Mom will be able to make it without a wheelchair. Anyone doing this flight: be forewarned.

Air France now flies out of the Virgin terminal at LAX. Perhaps because this is a smaller, less crowded terminal, going through customs and immigration there was much less painful than it has been in the past. Immigration officials were actually nice to us, which was very surprising and unusual, based on past experience. We were out of the airport in record time and on our way to our rental car.

The first night we had American diner food at Dinah's near the airport with good friends Diane and Evan. It was fun, but exhaustion hit by 8:00 and we had to troll back to the hotel and our bed as rapidly as possible. We were, of course, awake at 3:00 and decided to get up, get dressed and hit the road. We drove to Santa Monica Blvd (not too far out of our way) and had a delicious, but expensive breakfast at another old haunt, Delores's Restaurant. Very fun. VERY L.A. with conversations that you do not hear in Chalabre. Then, it was off to Hemet.

Considering the hour, we were much surprised by how much traffic we encountered, but we still made good time and were at Mom's by 5:30. I have to admit that I was a little surprised when I saw her, because I still have a different picture of her in my head than how she is now. I realized right away that we are doing the right thing in bringing her here. She really cannot live on her own and needs to be with family.

That day, Friday, turned out to be quite a day. We had heard from the VISA office at the L.A. consulate right before we left. They had made us an appointment for Friday afternoon, and frankly, we couldn't believe our good fortune. We found out that our Deputé and his wonderful assistant had been responsible for that, and we are eternally grateful.

However, what that meant was that we needed to get Mom, get her paperwork in order and drive BACK to LA by 2pm. It's 200km each way and I was still jetlagged.

We were lucky, because the 21st was Yom Kippur, which DOES have an impact (positive) on LA traffic. It still was heavy, but not as horrible as it would have been otherwise, that is until we had to return home to Hemet, my THIRD trip of the day.

Still, we made it and understood why the consulate wasn't taking appointments. They were a construction site, without even a proper phone system or fax machine. It was very, very kind of them to have seen us, and took a lot of time and effort on our behalf. The opinion was that Mom's file was in great order and she should have her VISA in anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months, but that depends on Paris now.

We spent the rest of the afternoon with Diane and Evan, which was probably a mistake because it meant driving home in the dark and rain. I have no idea how I made it, because by then I was dead on my feet. JM fell into an almost comatose sleep and still doesn't remember how he got to bed.

The rest of the visit with Mom was a hectic time of shopping for her (and me), getting as much organized for her move as possible. Again, I think she's doing amazingly well considering what she's been through, but she is just not capable of living on her own and needs to be with us as soon as possible. At this point, I'm hoping it will be before Thanksgiving.

Our original thought had been to spend Tuesday in LA, then head back to Hemet on Wednesday for a day, then back to the airport on Thursday, but our FOURTH trip in LA traffic convinced us otherwise. I do not understand how people cope with that commute every single day. There were already traffic jams at 4 am! What a horrible nightmare. Both of us were seriously pining for our little corner of paradise, I can tell you.

Tuesday was a real LA day, with us having a business lunch at Universal Studios' commissary. It felt so odd being back in that world after 3 years here in the Possum Kingdom. Again, it was fun for a visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.

Dinner was with friends Marv, Noel, Terry, Paula and Evan. That was very, very nice, because you realize what you miss when you move is friends, not places. Speaking of places, we went back to visit our old house and found that the neighborhood looks a bit sad and tired. Our house is being used as a rental and it looks very unloved. JM, in particular, was really upset about that, because he wanted someone to love that house as much as we had.

Our final full day in town was probably our most nostalgic day as well. We spent the day on the Hollywood Riviera, the very first place we lived in LA. Although the shops and restaurants are more upscale than they once were, the overall ambiance hasn't changed all that much and we remembered how happy we had been there. We went to the Wayfarer's Chapel and enjoyed that, but were saddened to see how much new building (ugly building) is going on in the area. Again, no regrets about leaving.

When we finally got home to our wonderful village, we really felt as if we'd been gone for months and not just a week. We know we're going to have to do it all again as soon as the VISA comes through, but it is good to be back, good to have the dogs, good be in our nest and good to realize that we made the 100% best choice for a good life that we could have made.

Ciao for now.

Randy

Here in L.A.

Just a quick note to say that we ARE here in L.A. and that things have been going well with moving Mom; I just haven't had a lot of computer time to write about things.

I will say that we've had some amazing luck with the consulate and visa process and it looks like we'll be able to make the move before Turkey Day.

I have written a large entry that I'll post here as soon as I can get a bit more time (maybe later today).

Ciao for now
Randy

A Headless Chicken

That's what I'm feeling like these days. I keep running around and like a chicken without a head and nothing ever gets finished.

There is so much to do before heading out to L.A. to see Mom you'd think we're going on safari. It seems way more complicated than when we used to visit France from over there. I suppose part of it is knowing we're dealing with the visa/moving issue. But I'm also racing to finish our new novel "Edgar Allan Poe on Mars," which we want to have out at the end of the year. I also have a short story for the "Shadowmen" short story anthology for early next year and all the other household tasks that don't stop just because you don't have time to do them.

We still have no idea of what we're going to do about Mom's visa. Friends Diane and Evan did manage to get the Consulate on the phone this week. However, the answer was more than unhelpful and leaves us as much in the dark as we were before. We may wind up on their doorstep Friday morning to try and get some kind of rational answer.

The only really hopeful thing is that our local Deputy (the equivalent of a Congressman) called us this week. JM had written to ask for a letter of support for Mom's file, figuring that it couldn't hurt and might help. Well, M. Dupree has taken an interest in our case and is going to try to intervene on our behalf. Perhaps that will force the issue and at least get us an interview. Only time will tell.

Adding to all of this is the fact that JM's dad has been having his own health problems for the last few weeks. He had bladder cancer 7 years ago, and when they removed his bladder, there were post-op complications which meant a second surgery. That surgery left him a mess inside and he has been suffering from a massive hernia ever since. No one has wanted to operate on it because it was going to be a very complicated and risky surgery.

We've always known that one day there would be a problem. With classic bad timing, that one day is now. He's been in and out of the hospital for the last month, and finally they did surgery on him today. We're still waiting to hear from my MIL as to how he is. For us, part of the problem is that she doesn't explain things to us clearly, so we don't really know what is going on in detail.

I must admit that knowing we are going away in less than a week is making this uber-stressful, because if something happens to Papa we're not sure if JM will still come with me or if he will cancel his trip and stay with his mother in Paris. As I said, stressful.

Still, that's part of lilfe. You can only plan so much then you have to pretend that you're a leaf floating on a stream and go where the waters take you.

Ciao for now.

Randy

Comments on your Comments

One of the things I don't like about Blogger is that your comments (and my replies) get lost and probably unread. So, I thought I'd excerpt and answer a few of you.

Celine said:

hi, I have been looking at the pics on your website and have been trying to figure out where in chalabre you live. Do you live on the same side as madame berland, near to the bakers? Cant tell too well from the pics!!

We are just a few doors down from the bakery, which is terrible during the summer. We sleep with the windows open and around 5 am, the smell of the croissants and bread baking drives us all crazy! It explains why the dogs wake up so early I think.

AAB wrote:

Randy
With your international readership, why don't you list you silver info in a blog posting? Someone may be interested. Even If they are in the US, you could bring it to California and ship out from there.

Actually, posting it here isn't a bad idea. Anyone interested can write to me at: possumguardian-silver@yahoo.com.

I'm selling 2 sets of Oneida/Community plate that date from the late 40s or early 50s. The patterns are CORONATION and MORNING STAR. Both are services for 12 with 12 extra teaspoons and various serving pieces (details on request) and both come with wooden storage chests. The other set is ROYAL DANISH by International and is sterling. It's a luncheon service for 8 with 8 extra teaspoons, 8 butter spreaders and 2 serving spoons.

However, I would have to ship them UPS or FedEx from France, as the logistics of taking something like that to the States with us is too complicated. We obviously can't bring it as carry on, given the security climate ("Really, Officer, it's just a bunch of knives and pointy forks!") and putting it in our checked luggage strikes me as a recipe to no longer have ANY silver when we arrive.

If anyone is interested, or knows someone who is, just let me know.

As to our ongoing search for a visa for Mom --

mnemosyne asked:

Nice to know it's not just our home-grown U.S. gov offices that are sometimes inept and don't think things through.
Do you have someone on the ground in LA who could go into the consulate there on your behalf, ask questions of people there face to face?

And we ARE lucky enough to have wonderful friends in L.A. who have offered to do this for us. The new location is supposed to open today, and Diane or Evan will head over there to try to secure us an appointment while we're there. Failing that, bless their wonderful souls, they have offered to take any appointment they can get, then drive out to Hemet, pick up Mom, take her for the interview and drive her back home! I don't think we'll ever be able to thank them enough.

Finally, Lori wrote:

I'm sorry you are having all these troubles Randy. It reminds me of when I applied for my VISA - same consulate - way back 7 and a half years ago. They never answered the phone then either. I remember driving all the way to the Consulate - from San Diego to show up for an interview appt. that I was informed of via snail mail. I was never able to reach them via telephone to confirm the appt or confirm exactly where I was to go upon arrival. They just never answered the phone.

Thanks Lori. It's good to know it's not just us, I suppose. Frankly, JM and I tried to contact the U.S. Consulate in Marseille after we moved and we never received any response from them either. Do you suppose this is what they mean by "diplomatic immunity?"

Ciao for now.

Randy

How to get a visa

Apparently NOT at the French Consulates located in California. I have no idea if it's any easier elsewhere, but we are feeling FRUSTRATED!

I guess we've gotten used to just going to the administrative office we need for anything here and seeing a person. We knew it would be more complicated trying to deal with an office 6000 miles away, but certainly not THIS complicated!

It all started off so well. In July, JM sent a letter to the Consulate in L.A. to get the ball rolling; Bob was still alive at that point and we thought we had a fair amount of time, so were relaxed. A week later, there was an email reply telling us all the details. "Cool," we thought, they respond to correspondence.

That was the last communication we had from the Consulate. We've sent around 6 or 7 emails with no response. We tried calling; bizarrely, the telephone number was constantly busy, no matter when we called.

Last week we decided we needed to do something; after all we want to have the interview with Mom the week that we are in L.A. She doesn't drive and lives over 100 miles from the Consulate's location, so she needs someone to take her. JM sent a telegram. It cost $128, but at least we knew it would be delivered.

What we didn't realize was that there was a fatal flaw in the plan.

Unbeknown to us, the Consulate in L.A. is moving! Now, in July, surely they must have known they were moving, no? Did it not occur to anyone during the entire month of August to let people know? Perhaps putting it on their website would have been a good idea? They did that, the day AFTER they closed the office for their move!

The fun part is that the Visa section isn't going to open along with the rest of the Consulate because it's waiting for some mysterious equipment. So, we have no idea whether they'll be open when we're in L.A. or not.

The now updated website says "emergency" long term visa applications can go through San Francisco. Okay, less convenient but possible. The joke, of course, is that San Francisco ALSO doesn't answer their email, and although you can get through on the phone after pressing various buttons on the phone, you finally get to a mailbox that is FULL and won't take any messages!

Oh yes, we're having fun.

Ciao for now.

Randy

Back into the swing

Now that August is over and I'm back to being a stay-at-home writer, I feel as if I'm busier than ever.

Less than three weeks to go before our trip to L.A. to visit my mother and hopefully get things moving with her visa application at the Consulate. This would be far easier if the Consulate actually either replied to emails or had a telephone line that wasn't constantly engaged! We've been trying to set up a visa interview since mid-August and can't get any response at all.

Last week, JM decided to send a telegram. Who knew these were so darned expensive? At any rate, it was theoretically delivered yesterday and, surprise, surprise, we have still heard nothing back. Good friend Diane in L.A. has offered to go over there in person on Friday if we have no response before then.

It never occurred to me that contacting the Consulate might be the most complicated part of bringing Mom over here.

Meanwhile, I have decided that I've had it up to here with using bottled gas for cooking! First, you always run out of gas in the middle of something important, like a cake or an expensive roast; something where time and temperature make a huge difference in the final outcome. Second, the damned gas bottles are HEAVY! I tried switching to one of the new, lighter-weight bottles, but our plumber, Christian Drouin, tells me that they are not compatible with the way our gas connectors are set up. In other words, I can't use them.

When we first moved here, I had come with the idea that I would get an induction cook top. At the time, just the cook top, without an oven, would have been somewhere around 1200€. However, as with all things, prices have come down. I can now get an all-in-one cooker with four induction burners and a multi-function oven for less than 1000€. I really, really, REALLY want to do this.

JM and I are "negotiating" because he doesn't want to make any changes in the kitchen. I think the convenience and energy savings of induction, as well as having a smaller, more manageable oven, will make up for any minor complications. In order to finance the purchase, I'm trying to sell some family silver that I"ve been carting around for over 30 years. No matter where we live, it sits in a closet somewhere gathering dust, since I'm not the silver type. If I sell that and then sell my current stove, I will more than pay for the new stove.

Of course my problem with selling the silver is I have no real idea of the best way to go about it. A friend suggested talking to a local restaurant to see if they were interested in the silver. I have talked to a local chef and we'll see where that goes.

If that doesn't work, I suppose I need to go the depot-vente route or else try on eBay. The problem is that I'm selling U.S. flatware by manufacturers unknown in France. I don't know whether this makes it easier or harder to sell. I suppose it will be an interesting experiment, no matter what I decide to do.

In thinking about selling the silver, I've also been looking around on all my shelves and have realized that I have way too many tchotches! I think some of those need to go as well. Here I thought I'd gotten rid of so much stuff when we moved, yet there is still too much "stuff."

Time for a clearing out sale, that's for certain.

Ciao for now.

Randy