Happy 50th Birthday Tim

Today, September 29th, is my hubby's 50th birthday! He looks fantastic and has a young attitude. My folks and I were able to wish him a happy birthday on Skype right when he got up and ready for work. Schatz, we will celebrate when you get here Thanksgiving week! Yes, he'll come to visit me from November 19th to 27th, I'm SOOOOO excited!! I'll be working then, as I did get the inside sales job at Dentsply France, starting October 10th. Joyeux anniversaire mon Amour, je t'aime !!

Happy 40th anniversary mom and dad!

Lunch at the Canisses

Today was my parents's 40th anniversary, they are as happy and in love today as they were back then! I'm so proud of them, in today's time it's very rare to see this milestone. They invited their best friends (Bernard, Gyslaine and Carole) and I for lunch at a nice restaurant located on the Seine river; "Les Canisses" (http://www.canisses.com/). The weather was absolutely beautiful and we ate on their terrasse where a DJ was singing and playing old french songs and music. Joyeux anniversaire de mariage maman & papa, je vous aime beaucoup !!

Golf of Etretat

The famous 10th hole

Today, I accompanied my folks to a senior golf competition and I caddied my mom. They played one of the most beautiful courses in France: Etretat Golf Course (http://www.golfetretat.com/ - also available in english). For golf lovers, it is a stunning and exceptional site which gives them the pleasure to play on the top of the splendid cliffs with the sea ("Manche" between France and England) as a permanent backdrop. The 10th hole is one of the most famous holes in France, which must be played, at least, once in a golf players career. From there, the walkers and tourists on the cliff promenade will often pass and admire the golfer's shots. The course may seem easy to play with good weather conditions, but if the wind is blowing, to get a good score becomes a challenge that every player must take up. But even if your score does not come up to your expectations, you forget it because of the beautiful views and the special light upon the sea and the town of Etretat.

Castle of Gaillon



View from the town center

 Before coming to the US, I lived for 17 years in Gaillon (Upper Normandy). During that time, I had never visited our beautiful castle. First of all, as many young people living here, I probably wasn't all that interested. But even if I had been, the fact was the castle was not open to the public, therefore one only had the opportunity to admire the city's inheritance from the outside. This weekend was "le weekend du patrimoine"; meaning that all national monuments, museums, castles, in France were free to the public. So my parents and I went to visit the Castle of Gaillon. Here is its history... Cardinal George of Amboise, archbishop of Rouen, Minister of Louis the XII, Papal legate, Viceroy of the Milanese in 1500, installed on the river bank of the Seine the Gaillon Castle; his own vision of Italy where he had been sent for various missions and hoped to become Pope. Architects, painters and sculptors came from Italy through the Loire valley or Rouen's big building sites to transform the medieval castle within just a few years and its estate into the real palace surrounded by gardens. George of Amboise's successors preserved most of his work, but also added a few modifications or extensions renewing the castles gardens and buildings. The castle was kept intact until the French Revolution (in 1789), but then an auction split the castle up into the several parts of which a few were saved, bought by Alexander Lenoir for his "French Monuments Museum" in 1801 and rebuilt at the "Ecole des Beaux Arts" in Paris. Between 1812 and 1827, the castle was enlarged and used as a prison. It then became a private castle in 1919 thus until 1975 after long judicial procedures, the government got it back in a terrible state of ruin. Since then, the renovation has been carried out.

Dentsply France

Haven't blogged in a while. Well, I've been in Gaillon (Normandie) now for 8 days. This week on Wednesday, I interviewed with the HR manager and the GM of Dentsply France in Montigny Le Bretonneux, not too far from Versailles. I might be working for Dentsply again! I'm actually excited!