msbelle, I stayed at the Hôtel Saint-Marc – 36 Rue Saint-Marc, 75002 Paris -- in late October of 2017, so pre-pandemic. It's a pretty short walk from Opéra station -- 600m or so along Boulevard des Italiens.

Thanks Karl!

Sending happy birthday wishes to Amyparker today! I do hope that it is a day filled with treats and that the year to come is joyful.

Another cause for celebration, a negative Covid test this morning. I still have a cough and my belly is fragile, but still happy to see this.

Good news Laura! Hopefully you, Tep, smonster and everyone else feeling poorly are on the mend and recovering quickly.

Happy birthday, Amyparker!

Good news Laura! Hopefully you, Tep, smonster and everyone else feeling poorly are on the mend and recovering quickly.

Yes, a round of good health for my friends, bartender.

I spent a good chunk of yesterday cleaning up the kitchen from xmas eve dinner. At one point the most expedient way to clean out the roasting pan, which was thoroughly and thickly covered in grease, was to drench it in Dawn and wash it in the bathtub.

I have mostly gotten the house back into some kind of order and starting to work my way through the laundry.

Matilda's godmother, Marta, will be coming by later and we'll do lunch with her and maybe make a boef bourguignon.

eta: I think I need a cleaning service. Something JZ and I had discussed before, but now that it all falls to me (with some bits of help form Matilda), it's onerous and I'm no good at dusting anyway.

Dad is in the ER again. His friend found him not able to walk because of extreme vertigo and he was confused because he apparently didn't take his meds or eat much for three days. So ND is dropping me off at the airport as I type this. Back to Florida I go.

Oh, Pix. Best wishes.

Happy, Happy Birthday, amyparker! May it be filled with glitter and cake if such is your desire.

Hec, I have to say that we get cleaning service every two weeks, and if we had to severely tighten our belts, that would be the final "want" to get axed. It has a positive impact on my life and psyche and ability to keep the place together during the in between weeks at a super fundamental level.

I am back to work today and tomorrow, then off again on Friday (well, and holiday on Monday). Not a bad week! My ick seems to be getting better, too.

Hec, I have to say that we get cleaning service every two weeks, and if we had to severely tighten our belts, that would be the final "want" to get axed. It has a positive impact on my life and psyche and ability to keep the place together during the in between weeks at a super fundamental level.

All of this.

Oh, Pix. Fingers crossed that this can be easily dealt with.

My tummy seems pretty much back to normal today, thank goodness.