After a hiatus of posting, I am starting on the third long stay in Toulouse. I am in Dulles Airport waiting for my flight to Toulouse. It is beginning to feel like the normal for my life now as this is the third trip since October 2024. The routine of it is comforting. I know the time it takes to use the Metro to get to Dulles (this time Tom gave me a ride to Roslyn to catch the Silver line so the ride was slightly shorter), the know exactly where to drop my bag, how to go through TSA screening, take the people mover to the D gates and then where to find the United Club for my wait for my flight.

I had a very lovely summer in DC reconnecting with friends, running with NOVA Rogue Runners, have great wine classes and dinners at Revel with Nikki, Brett, Jess and Brian. Revel has a wonderful and creative team which makes for great nights. I had my final dinner in DC at Revel and Nikki sent me off with a champagne toast. I did many of the things that I enjoy about DC this summer. Also, the summer weather was both usual DC hot, hazy and humid for the first part and then beautiful for August which is very unusual. We did get a lot of rain in July (many thunderstorms) which made me feel as if I was living in Florida. August was dry which again was unusual but great.

I enjoyed visiting La Fromagerie and Vintage for wine tastings and just hanging out. Ben is always great to talk to a Vintage and harassing Fred and getting harassed back is good entertain while drinking wine.

It was very nice in September as two sets of former running friends both visited DC so I was able to see them. Jake and Bailey came from Minneapolis and brought their toddler, Aspen, who I had not met. It was fun to have lunch with them and catch up. Margo and Jonathan came from Denver and we had a great brunch along the river.

Another fun time was we re-instituted “Explore DC”, with Jesse, Jen, Cam and Jason, and had brunch at Gypsy Kitchen on 14th Street and then had very fun drinks at Tiki Bar and Jack Rose. I had missed those days since COVID. It was fun to have one more “Explore DC” before I headed back to Toulouse.

Had a couple of fun meetings with Margaret and caught up with her. She is not doing exactly the same thing in her retirement but she has taken a Rick Steve’s tour of France and now is on a tour of Scotland. She is make the most of her retirement.

I, also, took French lessons and joined a French Conversation group in hopes to improve my French. Karyne was a fantastic instructor and I definitely think my French has improved. My hats are off to her for pushing me and making me think in French. The French Conversation group was great for both helping me learn and speak French and for the group of people who attend. They became another great community and look forward to re-joining when I return to DC in December.

I went to the DC Citi Open tennis tournament and went to Yacht Rock at Wolf Trap.

I am happy to be heading back to Toulouse. I am staying in the same AirBNB so it will be returning to the familiar which is good.

I have already made dinner reservations at La Panache for Wednesday night, my first dinner back. I cannot wait to return to the fun dinners and times I had there on my last two trips. I have reservations for lunch at Terra Tolosa on Thursday and look forward to a great meal. I will be running with Run in Toulouse on Thursday night and seeing Elliot, Noam, Moli and the rest of the runners.

Now that I am back will be back in Toulouse, I will be blogging every day.

The first picture is always the same.