and finally...

what you've all been waiting for...my weekend!!!

This weekend was fabulous. It definitely trumps all the previous ones and this is too often the case. Dang Paris and being so cool!!!

This week I was working with a full schedule, a list of errands to run, and not a whole lot of time to do it in. But somehow, God is way too good, and he not only helped me to accomplish all my errands but allowed for some down time in there as well. How fabulous!!!

Friday night I had been invited to two places at the same time and was able to fully enjoy a glass of wine with a few friends at their apartment and then enjoy another drink with different friends at a different place! What happened that night was not all that interesting unless you know where I went and who I was with and it made sense but it won't so I won't bore you! Just leave it at, it was a late night, one of my firsts in this city (gasp) and I truely enjoyed the company, the experience, my time, etc. AND I did something Friday night I have yet to do in this city: I bought fruit from a sidewalk vendor. You see people selling fruits and vegetables in the metro tunnels and right outside the metros and it always looks so delish and so the other night I caved in and bought 4 bananas for 1 euro.

I stayed at my weekend home (my friends apartment) and we woke up the next morning and as she has been spoiling me quite frequently, she cooked homemade waffles with a Norwegian waffle maker and nutella and jam. I plan on bringing back some syrup with me because call me American (becuase I am) but I just don't think that waffles or pancakes can have that A-mazing factor without some Aunt Jemima syrump. But nonetheless, it was still pretty awesome and I am blessed to get 5-star breakfasts as often as I do! (I have wonderful friends)

The rest of the day was spent with my friend Christina who lives out in the suburbs by me. She has truely been a blessing to me as she really enjoys being out in the burbs and being with her influences me to really enjoy where I live and all that is out there. I mean, I live in the boonies as I call it, past the cows and into the land of nothingness, but its amazingly beautiful out here. There are scenic routes everywhere you go, I am on a hill (a steep one) so my views are far and wide and quite beautiful, there is a large forest not too far away with trails for biking or walking, there is a beautiful lycee(high school) just down the road and i am compliaining I am not in Paris, why? So my friend and I really enjoyed an unplanned but completely wanted and enjoyed afternoon of hanging out and shopping and exploring and driving around.

Saturday night was my first of 4 (maybe 5) Thanksgivings I am to celebrate this week! My friend Adrian, who is an American but has been living in Paris for a few years, invited myself a few of her close friends over for her version of Thanksgiving. it was fabulous!!! She is an amazing cook and had all the specialities such as green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, and she even bought a turkey. This is a big deal for a few reasons, the obvious (to me) is that she is a vegetarian and 2. buying turkey in France is expensive and not easy so that was such a kind thing for her to do.
I was afraid I would be competely bummed to miss Thanksgiving with my family and nothing would make up for it but I have been so blessed to create such amazing friends who are my family here that I think I am going to survive this one. Don't get me wrong, I am missing everything about this week: the build up, the decorations, the time with family, the cooking, the wassail, the time off school and work, the holiday shopping, etc, but I had 22 years of that and I think making new memories in a new place with new people is quite ok sometimes. Right?

Oh, and also, I recieved another package from my fabulous mom!!! She knew someone who was so gracious to bring a few things over from the States for me and I was able to go pick that up earlier on Saturday. I love receiving things from the States from my mom because it feels like I went shopping because I haven't seen the stuff in a while but in actuality I just went shopping in my own closet! ha! It's a bit ridiculous that I can still do that, that I have enough stuff to do that, but C'est la vie!!!

Today is Monday morning and I am in such a good mood and have a list of things to get done and I plan on uploading a bunch more photos to my computer later in the day so look forward to picture loaded post sometime this week!!! Miss you all tons!!!

Love, ME