Death , Taxes and Televisions?

In France we have to pay an annual tax for owning a television. No, really, seriously, we have to pay 116€ ($145) per year for the privilege of owning a television. Never mind that said television does not actually get any stations because that would require getting cable or satellite TV, this does not matter, that we have a TV is all that matters. We purchased a French TV so we could watch French DVD's on our French DVD player and so now we must pay the tax. (For those who do not know this, French DVD's, and Video Cassettes are formatted differently and will not work in American players. Then when you get a French player you will find that American TV's are not compatible, hence the purchase of a French TV... yet another 'language' barrier.) When we talked about getting the TV we were told of this and warned to pay cash so as to dodge the paperwork and thus the tax. However, even if you pay cash, they will not let you leave the store with your new TV until all the appropriate paperwork has been filled out completely so they can be sure to collect their annual tax. So I, grumblingly, write the darned check and pop it into the mail. Only to go out to my mailbox the next day, no really, the very next day, to find that I have received yet another tax bill from the French. This is a habitation tax. I am paying a tax for having a roof over my head. Yep, you bet. This is a bill for 269€ ($340) for the privilege of having a roof over my head. Aah the French, they're such funny little people.

In other news...You wouldn’t think that a group of people as large as...well, as large as all of Europe is, who do not get to vote in American elections, would get so worked up about them. The second anyone finds out I'm American these days the first question out of their lips is 'Have you voted?' followed quickly by 'You didn't vote for Bush did you?' I'm sure it comes as no surprise to anyone that the French detest the stupid, pea-brained hick, but I find it amusing how vocal they are about something they have no say in. And it's not just the French. There have been demonstrations, yes demonstrations, in Britain and Spain against 'W'. Dems Abroad must have gotten their hands on the mailing list of every American group in Europe because we have received e-mails (two of each as we belong to two different groups) offering blank ballots if ours did not arrive in time, also reminders of mail in deadlines to get the ballots to the states in time to be counted. This months AIT newsletter also had names and contact numbers for Dems Abroad members who could answer questions and provide ‘technical’ help. November 2nd (well late November 2nd into the 3rd - the time difference you see) will find all of Europe holding its collective breath and praying for America to do the right thing.

Fall has sort of arrived in the south of France. Here it is heralded by constant and unrelenting wind and rain and by a damp, clinging and bone aching chill in the air. Despite that, however, I am reminded of fall in San Diego. More specifically I’m reminded of how fall ‘looks’ in San Diego. After years in the Midwest where the colors announced the change of season, where trees heralded the change by changing their clothes, I find this monochromatic season change a bit disheartening. The trees don’t change their leaves to flaming colors in an end of the season natural fireworks display. No sign of individual leaves turning from green to yellow or red and then softly relinquishing their hold on their mother branch and quietly, gracefully falling to the ground a la 'Freddy The Leaf'. No instead the leaves seem to stubbornly remain green only to be buffeted by wind and rain and then after several weeks of inhospitable weather they tiredly cede control and allow the wind to bully them to the ground in dejected exhaustion. Somehow not quite the romance of a Midwest fall.

If you’ve read S’s Blog you know that S and I have crossed a line, we have started speaking to each other in French at home. Sad but true. Now I’m not saying we’re having deep and meaningful dialogue, but we can manage to discuss daily events (in past, present or future tenses) and even swear at each other a bit (all in fun). It’s a slippery slope this, since I now sometimes fumble for words in English, but it’s an important step. Now my daily speech is peppered with ‘d’accord’, ‘oui’ and ‘voila’ instead of ‘ok’ and ‘yeah’, even when I’m talking to myself.

S is in Hungary this week and then to South Africa the week after next. My plans for the week include language lessons, reading, more reading, walking and lots of time with the cute and precocious Miss Carla. I’m off for a girls night out with Mags and Paula tomorrow night to catch a movie and then some dinner. It’ll be a quiet night as they both have to work on Friday. And now I’m off to watch ‘Joe Versus the Volcano’ for the umpteenth time while I enjoy a dinner of tea and biscuits. That is all.