It has been nice being back and catching up with friends I was suffering from jet lag early on I was up early in the morning. I always try to stay up to as close to my normal bedtime as I can. This works in the evenings but I was still waking up on Toulouse time. It made for some tired days. I think I am finally settling into East Coast time now which is good. I, generally, think it takes a day for every hour of time difference to be totally back to normal so that should be one more day.

Friday morning since I was up early, I decided to do my laundry from the trip and the little dirty clothes I had left after my lightening trip back for the wedding. I guess I have embraced the European dryerless laundry routine as I air dried much of my laundry. I did utilize the drier for socks and underwear. The weather as warm and dry so the air drying worked.

For dinner Friday night, I went to Tom and Marion’s house. It was great to catch up with them. They are definitely my chosen family so it is always good to spend time with them. Nana was there and, unfortunately, her mental facilities are declining some so she has trouble keeping up with conversation and being fully included in things. She is always an interesting person with interesting observations. Dinner was great and we had some fun cocktails. I had brought them a bottle of the French MOF barman’s cocktails as a gift so we had that and then some good wine. The dinner was salmon and roast vegetables which is always a favorite of mine.

Saturday morning, I went to the NOVA Rogue Runners run. I was tired and a little leftover from Friday night so I was not very fast. Sonia always plans a “pancake run” for my first run back. We start at Crystal City and run to Eastern Market where we have pancakes as a reward for running. It was nice to run with the group and see old running friends. I took some pictures but the mall is being prepped for the 250th United States birthday celebration so it was not ideal.

Saturday evening, I met Jesse at the Haven for dinner. Jen was doing a ladies activity with some friends. It was great to catch up with him and discuss what we had been doing since we saw each other in April. Jen joined us after her ladies activity so that was fun.

Sunday I got up and went to 8:00 am church at St. Paul’s. It is nice to be back at my home church and to be able to full participate in the service. I love going to Saint Sernin but it is nice to be back at an Episcopal church. I got complimented on my linen suit which was amusing. It is the second compliment I have gotten on clothes since I have been back. I wore a madras shirt of Friday and a woman at the grocery stored complimented me on that as well.

I did stop by Eclarions, a bakery in Alexandria, that serves French breads and pastries. I bought a chocolate croissant. I had to resist asking for a chocolatine! It was good and probably the closest I have come to a French chocolatine but it cost ($5.25 versus 1.30 euros) about 3 times what one would have cost me in Toulouse. I, also, bought a baguette but was very disappointed with it. It was much more of an American type. It was not a crisp and dense as the baguette traditionale in France. I am going to have to go to Fresh Baguette as there baguettes are more traditional. Again, it was probably 3 times the cost of a baguette in France.

For dinner, Dima had texted me and asked if I want to go get Maryland blue crabs down on the Chesapeake bay with him and Michelle. I had not gone crab eating forever so I said yes. It was also good to spend time with them as well. We drove down to Chesapeake Beach and went Abner’s and ate crabs. I used to eat crabs a lot when I was a child. I would even go crabbing with grandfather to catch the crabs that we would eat. We would tie chicken necks on strings and then sit on a pier over the water and wait until a crab decided to feast on the chicken next and then slowly pull the string up to net distance and scoop the crabs into the next. It took a while to get enough to eat but it was a nice sunset activity with my grandfather. This time we did not have to catch the crabs. I can eat a ton of them. I probably ate 9-10 crabs which is work as you have to pick each one out get the meat. It takes a while as well. It is well worth it.

It has been a busy few days but fun. I have gotten to see lots of people and enjoyed doing various Alexandria/DC things. I am guessing life will slow down and fall into a more normal routines soon.