Not a whole lot of exciting news, although I did get through most of my day's goals, except for going on a walk with Eric. My mom tells me that my dad is bored and needs some projects to work on. I'm going to hunt around in the basement and bring up some tools and supplies for redoing the walls in the staircase common areas. The last several years they've visited, we had almost nonstop work. This is the first year where we're pretty relaxed.

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A big day video editing for me, working on our updated Abnormal Breech Birth module. This type of work is so rewarding because it's creative (if nit-picky) and pedagogically interesting.

I do need to get out more on days like these. It's too easy to sit down and get caught up in the project and surface 12 hrs later!

Dio is working on a French essay that he has memorize and present in front of his class. It combines reflections on an essay from the 16th century with his observations on the current US political climate. He says he feels caught up with all of this classes except French and Spanish (which he didn't have in his US high school last semester).

Ivy got new ice skates yesterday--she grew out of her ones from last year. Her gym class is going ice skating at the moment, so it works out great! She also goes regularly with her friends.

Zari is learning how to bundle up and ride a bike in a Toronto winter. It's -13 C today and is supposed to get colder throughout the week.

Inga hung out with friends after school, walking around the coulee verte and then going to one of her friend's houses.

Goals for tomorrow: go running in the morning, work on a paper that is close to submitting for publication, work on preparing translations of some of our online courses, go on a walk with Eric.

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I got my 10,000+ steps in despite overcast weather, wind, and spitting rain. We took it easy in the afternoon. It was one of those days when you want to stay indoors, read a book, and drink hot chocolate.

Eric made poke bowls tonight, adding kiwi to the other usual ingredients (marinated raw salmon, shrimp, avocados, mangos, & edamame). Yum.

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Despite a light drizzle, my parents and I hiked Mont Boron today. It was still fairly warm and the rain was light enough that I wasn't wet, except for the toes of my shoes, at the end of the hike.

I couldn't convince the kids to come along. Teenagers.

Eric went spearfishing while we hiked. He had a few shots but missed the fish and was really disappointed.

Ivy had a game this evening, winning 4-1. She scored one goal and assisted another. Eric was very pleased with how well she played.

Inga went to a big regional activity/dance in Cannes. She couldn't convince Dio to go because he thought his friends wouldn't be there. but it turns out they were...so he missed out.

I talked with Zari for a while, as usual. Having no roommates this semester, she is particularly eager to talk and talk and talk every day.

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Winter has arrived in Toronto! School was even cancelled on Thursday, which says a lot for a city used to snow and ice. Zari went ice skating yesterday with a Swiss friend who is a running partner and in her Quebecois literature class.

Ivy has a game tomorrow evening. The other kids may go to a family dance event in Cannes at the same time...which means I have to drive. Kill me now! Well, actually I don't mind driving that much now that I'm used to navigating how to get in and out of the city.

I did tons of video editing today...went to the doctor for this persistent cough...came home with 5 prescriptions (mostly syrups and throat sprays)...

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Sorry for the silence, I've had so much going on and am feeling unwell still.

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I slept okay, a bit over 7 hours! In other exciting news, I also went running first thing in the morning. My lung capacity feels improved compared to a few days ago, although I'm slower than usual.

What else? I helped Inga study for a biology test on the immune system, and for a physics test about conservation of matter during reactions (specifically O2 + iron = iron oxide and methane + O2 = CO2 + H2O). She also has a Spanish test tomorrow.

I had Zoom meetings to work on two publications, one about an initiative to increase the vaginal birth rate of twins at two Italian hospitals, the other about clinical signs of fetal wellbeing during a vaginal breech birth. One is officially submitted (specifically, re-submitted after the requested edits) and the other is getting close to the final draft! I'm so excited.

I also worked on planning new video modules for our online breech course. I wrote an outline for what to film and the next step is to run the ideas by the instructor who will be filming it.

This is the part of my job that I LOVE. Researching, writing, creating, dreaming up ideas, finding ways to teach so that people learn it well. Sigh...

My parents took a trip to Ikea to buy themselves a better mattress. They've been using one that was an old hand-me-down when we moved here in 2014. It was time to upgrade to something more comfortable. It arrives in 2 days.

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I slept maybe 2 hours...it was a rough night. I decided to stay home this morning and take it easy. I had a nice walk around the port to La Reserve and back. I've managed to stay awake all day so I hope I'll be able to sleep tonight.

In the afternoon, Inga and Ivy went ice skating with friends, and Dio went running. My mom made fajitas, which made the kids super happy.

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I met up with a friend this morning; she bought a big apartment and is towards the end of having it renovated. Last I saw it, they had just started demolition. We went to a cafe afterwards, sat in the sun, and talked...and talked.

I feel like I've been in a bit of a "cave" the past 3 weeks, between jet lag, illness, stress, insomnia, and lingering malaise. It's nice to feel like I'm coming out of the cave just a bit.

Dio went to the gym with his friends this afternoon. He's able to go with his friend's buddy pass, but eventually he may need to buy his own membership. This makes us really appreciate the free gym and fieldhouse access at our university!

Inga had a home game today, and her team won 6-0. Inga scored 2 goals and did some other lovely assists. Eric filmed it so I'll see if I can find some videos soon...

I ran errands this afternoon and enjoyed the walk in the sun and nice weather (13C / 55F). Ah, winter in Nice is so difficult!

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I have a lingering malaise, for lack of a better word. It feels like when you're coming down with something and you're not quite feverish but your body feels off. Also a lingering cough that makes it hard to have online meetings!

Ah well...

My parents arrived yesterday late afternoon. They were delayed several hours in Zurich due to having to wait for the plane to be de-iced. They're quite happy to escape a Minnesota winter and spend 3 months with us!

Zari is rattling around in an empty apartment, missing her roommates (all 3 were exchange students and here for just a semester). So far her landlady hasn't found any new roommates that she feels suitable.

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I may see if I feel well enough to run tomorrow...it's been a long recovery with a lingering cough and weakness.

Zari got home with no problems and had her first day of class today.

I produced a new video today (about keeping the umbilical cord intact after birth, especially if there is resuscitation needed)--one of the really fun parts of my job. English captions are done and now I need to send it out to our translators!

Instead of an evening walk, Eric and I went out mid-afternoon. We had to drop off garbage and recycling anyway, so it was a good time to catch a bit of sun and fresh air. The sea was glassy calm, which is a bit rarer in the winter, and Eric was dying to go spearfishing.

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School starts tomorrow! A big change from the past 2 weeks of sleeping in.

Zari leaves early tomorrow morning, catching the very first tram at 5 am.

I've got a bunch of meetings tomorrow. Busy day for me, too!

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It's late...we watched a movie in a movie theater this evening (Anaconda) and we may go hiking tomorrow. Bonne nuit!

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Happy New Year!

Last night we heard rumor that there were fireworks on the beach. Technically yes--but they were all random citizens setting them off. You could see fireworks on the horizon, probably from St. Laurent du Var or Antibes.

There was a free shortened version of the Nutcracker today at the opera house. Getting the free tickets was a bit of a mess, but we managed to do so. We showed up right before it started and the place was totally packed--even the standing-room nosebleeds! But Eric spied an empty box and was determined. He asked the user if he'd open the box, which had been shut for some undetermined reason. He relented and we had great seats!

Some of our teenagers--cough cough--grumbled about going but sometimes it's good to make them get a bit of culture!

I've been super busy doing loads of video editing and translation captioning for a big deadline (today) and I actually made it! Phew.

 Zari and I went urban hiking yesterday up to Mont Boron. So lovely.

 We watched the last episode of Stranger Things today. So many drawn-out tearful scenes at the end...but it was still fun to wrap up. What shall we watch next?

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