Spring is too much here !!

So my daughter and I are suffering from allergies : headaches, burning eyes, sniffing etc.
This is really the first time it's happening to them so it seems weird for me. I never never had that kind of reactions when I was a kid and half my life, I lived in the countryside : 7 years in the beautiful Alpes de Haute Provence. I remember going to the dentist in Manosque long long before it was included in Le Luberon.
Anyway, it's weird. I have been having migraines since Saturday. It kind of never stops...I am miserable. I will end up going to a doctor see what she could give me. I found a great GP recommanded by my neighbor. She doesn't give you a long prescription and can even give you no prescription at all !! And the best thing is that she won't give you any antibiotics until you really need them. It's a thousand miles from what I had when I was a kid. It's pretty refreshing.
You won't believe me but I do really miss my kids pediatrician. He's great, caring and one of the best doctor I ever met. Dr Yogman, if one day you read my blog : WE MISS YOU !!!
That doesn't mean I haven't found great doctors when we moved back but they are....French !
They don't include the kids in the process, especially the dentist. The kids are supposed to stay quiet, not to complain and cope with pain. Unbelievable !

The worst part, I guess, is going to the OBGYN. When she starts examining you underneath, you are simply naked and stay like that until she is done. I DON'T LIKE IT !!!!!

For X-rays, I remember in the US having a heavy lead-apron on me at the dentist. Here, any X-rays that's not too close to your belly doesn't give you the right to that protection. So now, I always tell them I might be pregnant.

Last example, we had to take my daughter to the lab for a blood work. The needle they used was supposed to be kid appropriate but she was crying the whole time the poor thing. And the worst is that the lab girls told me they used the same needles for babies ! The only solution they gave me was to stick a special patch on my daughter arm 1 hour before the blood work so she wont't feel any pain !!!!!!!

I know it's the way things are done here and nobobdy even asks questions or thinks there could be another way but I am convinced there is something to do here.
Like environmental stuff, you can start little and ask for things to change around you.
It might work, it might not work but it's worth trying. And I'll try !

C'est la guerre autour de l'ecole / School zone in France

Juste un petit post rapide, la grande est malade a la maison.
J'ai fait l'erreur de me garer dans la rue de l'ecole ce matin, une vraie zone de guerre ! Il faut dire que ma voiture est tres grosse et tres longue, ce n'est pas mon choix mais c'est deja fastidieux en ville, en temps de paix alors a l'ecole, le matin, c'est chaud !
J'arrive au dernier carrefour avant l'ecole et 5m plus loin, une enorme place libre (3 voitures ou juste la mienne !!) me fait de grands signes. Une voiture (conduite par un homme, je precise), qui etait au stop a ma gauche la voit aussi et anticipant ma lourdeur (ok, mais quand meme !). fonce a toute berzingue, me grillant le stop au passage. Mettons...je glisse mon tank derriere lui quand boing, un magnifique SUV BMW (conduit par une femme) m'emboutit le retro gauche. Je ne dis rien, il a juste pris un coup mais quand meme !
(NDLR : j'en suis deja a mon 2eme retro en 1 an, je ne depasse plus les bus ni les camionnettes mal garees maintenant !).

Quand je repars, c'est la vraie zone de guerre. Les parents sont ultra supers mega presses d'aller au boulot et une fraction de seconde de perdue, c'est une veritable catastrophe. Alors tout le monde accelere en trombe, debraye, embraye, se faufile, se gene, et surtout....zero zero courtoisie. Ca prend du temps la courtoisie et le temps, c'est precieux le matin. J'ai eu l'impression de zigzaguer entre les voitures garees a moitie sur le trottoir et celles arrivant en trombe en face (si vous connaissiez ma voiture, vous sauriez qu'elle peut tout faire sauf zigzaguer...ou bien 1 ou 2 zigzags sur 50m !!).
J'etais limite en sueur ! Mais qu'est-ce qu'ils ont tous !! Demain, je me gare dans la rue d'a cote. Je marcherai a peine plus mais au moins, j'aurai juste peur de me faire ecraser en traversant au carrefour en repartant. Ma voiture sera sauve, elle !

Just a quick post, my oldest is sick at home.
This morning, I made the mistake to park right in the street of the school. I didn't know it's not a school zone but a war zone. For thoses who don't know my car, it's very long and wide.It's not my choice but I have to assume it. It's not easy to drive downtown but in school zone, it's a nightmare !!
As soon as I arrived at the last crossing, I saw the most beautiful spot, 3 cars or just mine (I don't ever ever parallel park). The man waiting at a stop sign at my left saw it too and anticipating my speed (given the weight and size of my car) just drove off to park in it. O.k, no harm done, I could still park. I was half my way when Bang ! someone hit my mirror ! A nice and BM SUV (driven by a woman). I didn't react, no harm done but I was upset. I have to tell you that I smashed my mirror twice since I drive this car in France (in 12 months). I do no more pass buses or double-parked trucks.

When I got back to the car, I was in a war zone ! I could almost feel people anxiety to leave the place. They couldn't afford to lose even a second, their life would be ruined. So they were driving like mad (I'd say "like French people" !!), using like crazy the manual stick and the gas pedal. It was like a race ! What's wrong with you people ??!!

Tomorrow morning, I'll park one block from the school (like usual). My only challenge will be not to get hit by a car while crossing the street but at least, my car will be safe and sound !
(PS It's a Town& Country)