Happy Birthday Edie

Me and Richard Simmons

In what I suspect will prove to be the highlight of our trip to Paris, today I ran into Richard Simmons. We had returned to the Rodin museum because last night as we were leaving Ciara cried on account of missing the part of the tour inside the house. So we spent another couple of hours (no hardship for any of us, still loads to see and it only costs 10€ for the whole family). We're finished up in the house mid-morning, so adjourned to the gift shop. While nosing around, Evan asked me if a black watch tied around a black ball was a grenade, and I heard someone laugh behind us. I turned around and saw a man dressed all in white including a small pair of white feather wings, like angel wings. I said hello (of course I knew who he was, I first heard about him from reading an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer in the '90s about how he had helped this woman from Bryn Mawr lose over 300 lbs and I was a HUGE (pun intended) fan) and so we had a little chat.
I said he looked fabulous (he did too and when I put my arm around his waist for the picture he was firm) - he called me adorable and wondered if I was Canadian.

Trying to act cool around Richard Simmons at the Rodin museum.

We parted from Richard and spent the rest of the day visiting Paris and finished off with an evening at the Louvre. We went first into the gift shop (ground floor) and I split up from the family, browsing around the books while they went upstairs. I was thinking that it would be funny if I met Richard Simmons in the giftshop of a museum again. A little while later I ran into Doug and he told me "Richard's here". Now Doug has two bosses named Richard.

I asked: Richard Mount?
Doug: No
Me: Richard du Bois?
Doug: No...Richard.
Me: You mean Richard Simmons, oh my God, I was just thinking about him. Where is he?"

Doug told me he was upstairs so I hurried above (took the stairs naturally, my homage to the king of exercise) and found him at the jewelry counter. I was very excited to see him, he said "How nice to see you again" and I launched into my story about just thinking how funny it would be to see him again etc. etc, being very excited but wanting to play it cool, 'cause it's Richard Simmons like, and he said "Byh byh now". BURN!!
We stayed until closing time at the Louvre, kids held up pretty well. I had been to Paris many time before but had never been to the Louvre. Could have gone back for another day. I walked all over. My favorites were eighteenth and nineteenth century french paintings.

Me and Keaneau

Had a fantastic dream about Keaneau Reaves last night. I dreamed that he asked me out to watch him rehearse a version of "Howl". It was taking place in a church, the seating was very weird. Keaneau seemed delighted throughout. Everything I said seemed incredibly witty and intelligent. I was so ON. For an example of one of my bon mots, I said it was a good thing that they turned it into a musical because it kept people interested. Keaneau hung on my every word. I must say, I wasn't a total sycophant, in the dream it perked up a bit when they started into the musical.
I skipped ahead to the end of the night and decided he would have to settle for a chaste kiss because I didn't want to sleep with him until I had lost 10 pounds!
Then I started to notice what I was wearing - and started to have some anxiety but convinced myself that it was all part of my charm.
Afterward I hung out with the director and cast and gave them the benefits of my insight. Other stars appearing  included Carol O'Caroll and some guy in dungarees who kept doing somersaults and cartwheels.

Thank you Fiona

Fiona,

We did a dramatic reenactment of Evan's reaction to your great present. He was actually more excited the first time around! I didn't check the background before I shot this - now I think we look like French rednecks...yes that's really a lawnmower in the middle of the living room (we're cleaning up tomorrow before the party).

Happy Birthday Edie

Goodbye

Ciara is heartbroken to say goodbye to her best friends Veronica and Victoria (and doesn't appreciate my "it's not goodbye...it's only au revoir" joke). We have one last BBQ together. Thanks for everything Cormiers, (especially for turning me on to The Biggest Loser). We'll really miss you guys.

Tour De France

Having missed the caravan to Fort L'Ecluse (I guess we're more French than Swiss in our timekeeping), we went with Graeme, Fiona & family to Mijoux to watch part of Stage 8 of the Tour. We brought chairs and pitched them outside a kind Frenchman's garage for our own grandstand view. It was lovely to sit outside on a Sunday morning, enjoying a glass of chilled rosé. We scored major swag - the kids loved the sponsors' cavalcade, it was like a carnival on wheels. The anticipation builds and finally the helicopters whirl overhead to herald the pack's arrival. I could not believe how fast the cyclists went, it was all over in a minute. So exciting! See what we saw:

Here comes the cavalcade

Getting hosed (in a good way)

Not too sure what's going on here.. I guess these pole dancers are really dirty!

That's probably a Lucozade!                  (Note the manpris)