BISES!

A slight breeze softly caresses the lake, rippling the water ever so softly. Tread lines follow individual ducks as they paddle across the peaceful scene of serenity reflecting all beauty around it. Capturing one moment portraying the extraordinary artwork that God has blessed our eyes to witness. A blazing sun smiles in the sky and provides a feeling of warmth and comfort. A group of ducks swim together as a male and female provide companionship to one another....this my friends, is nature... it is all around us and sometimes we forget about its serenity and beauty....we forget how it can put us at peace if only for a brief moment....
Today, (Saturday, November 21st), I went running in a popular park, Bois de Boulogne, and this is just a moment in time that I captured with words but the day was perfect and the park is beautiful!
So it has been some time since I have written you and today marks the day of the Pilgrims feast!!! That's right it is THANKSGIVING!!! I have sooooo much to be thankful for but I think I might start off where my last blog ended and then catch up to the current time.....
Well I know you have all been patiently awaiting my grand sending of the post cards and I must say I have made it one step further along that path...I bought a bunch and I have a list of where to send them BUT I still need to write them and send them...SO CLOSE!!!! The last time I wrote on here it was 2 weeks ago today! I hope I can remember everything to tell you!!!
So on Thursday 2 weeks ago I was going to look for my friend's wallet at the bar but the bar was not open so I called later for her and luckily they had it!!! Everything was still in it except for the cash, of course, but that was such an awesome thing!!! On Friday I think we all just stayed in because the girls were here and that was C's birthday weekend celebration at our house! She turned 5 and she had a great birthday!!! G had to run some errands in Paris and had a meeting and so the girls and I hung out all day. We worked on some English and played a lot of games and just had a lot of fun! We had a really delicious chocolate cake on Saturday for her birthday and then on Sunday we celebrated it further with G's dad and his wife! We had a really good cake with ice cream, strawberries and meringue. YUM! She got a lot of gifts and we all hung out all day! Then we went to bed and on Monday my new week began!
I really need to keep updating blogs more frequently because nothing is fresh in my mind and it is difficult for me to remember everything. So, on Monday I don't think I really did much of anything...
OH WAIT! I forgot to tell you about Friday the 13th....wow I did not realize that was the day until just now! And on this day which is a little ironic...I went to the cemetery where Jim Morrison is buried! My friend, Alison and I went there and saw Jim Morrison's grave as well as Oscar Wilde's grave...it was so fun and the weather was beautiful!!! I really liked that day! Later this night we went out again and it was really fun!
So on Monday I don't think I did much and on Tuesday I don't think I did much and on Wednesday, I don't think I did much...ok so you get the point...One of these nights, I think it was maybe Thursday or something...no wait it was Tuesday haha I went to a place called UFO and they serve a Brazilian drink called caprihana or something like that and it was sooooo strong but it was not too bad after a little while hahaha...
So then on Friday I watched Australia with G and I love that movie!!! It is soooo good!!!! and on Saturday I went running like the beginning of my blog describes...it is much needed and more often because I am soooo out of shape!
On Saturday night I went to the TGC "The Great Canadian" to watch the OSU Michigan game!!!! It was sweet.....surprisingly enough there were literally like 30 OSU fans and it is such a small world because I could have connections with some!! There was a group from OSU who was studying abroad in Milan and came to Paris for their break and they were at the bar...one of the girls went to Watterson and now I really don't know her name but I have a picture with her to show all you Watterson peeps...I think she graduated in like '07 or something??...Then there was an older couple who A. The man went to Bishop Reedy I think and B. My dad might know his cousins, C. The woman went to worthington! and D. It was sooo crazy. So then there was a bandee from OSU there but he was much older and is currently teaching in Nice as an astrology professor...but he was nice and the thing about him was..he spoke Hungarian because his parents were full blooded off the boat Hungarian and that was amazing to me!
ALSO! I met another girl who was there and she is Hungarian and was in Paris buying clothes for her store because she has a store in Budapest!
The night was crazy and there were also some Michigan fans there!!
So, then I met this guy who was a lot older and was there with s french girl I got to know pretty well and he went to Thomas!!! And I was just amazed haha...but anyway so the girl I met that was friends with him and his friend wanted me to come with them the next day to sight see and show the american men around so I said I woul love to go with her. So on Sunday we went to Notre Dame, on a boat tour, to a good place to eat, and just had a really good time showing them around Paris!
Notre Dame...let me tell you that place changes you as soon as you walk in. The way you feel as you enter the doors is priceless and just so spiritual. I cannot even describe it...there are no words!!! AMAZING....but It is HUGE and as we went in there was a mass going on so I got to see part of one which I will be attending soon because I am very excited!!! I bought a BEAUTIFUL rosary there and cannot wait to go back.
On Monday I once again did much of nothing and then on Tuesday I had class and then went to my friend, Yuliana's, for lunch after! It was so fun and we have a lot in common which is awesome! On Wednesday, yesterday I had to help a guy from the electric company look at the meter and some pipes and try to understand him but it was rapid french so most of what he got was a blank stare and a laugh haha....but he was very very nice and it was ok!
Then our cleaning lady came and I love talking to her because she only speaks Portuguese and French so we have to talk in French and she invited me over to her place sometime for tea or coffee or a coke or something. She has a 17 year old daughter and I told her I could hang out with her sometimes and help her with some english and she can help me with french and whatever. So then on Wednesday I went to a shop here in Paris called Thanksgiving! How perfect! It is an American grocery store that I found and they have everything from Hellman's mayonnaise to pop tarts, to nerds, to philadelphia cream cheese, to Jif peanut butter!!! I was looking for some pumpkin pie mix to make for TODAY!!! I found some and it was amazing but the only problem with this place is that the prices are GARGANTUAN!!! I bought a large can of pumpkin pie mix for 7.50 euros...and with the dollar being about 1.65 per euro right now you can do the math to figure out how much that is in dollars...outrageous!!! They had stovetop stuffing there as well and I was sooooo tempted to buy some after my already made plan to make my own stuffing...sooo I definitely stuck to my plan and decided to make homemade, made from scratch STUFFING!!! and I completely succeeded!! I am soooo happy!!! So it was really easy and G had a turkey but not a real turkey just like a loaf of turkey hahaha like a small, wrapped in net, rotiseri type hunk of turkey...so it was still good though....I was going to make green bean casserole and had the stuff but did't get around to it. By the time we ate dinner it was like 9:30 at night because there was no time earlier in the evening to prepare the meal....but everyone loved my stuffing!!!! G and J did but J hates pepper and could taste the little bit of pepper that there was. G's dad and his wife came over and they liked it too! The pumpkin pie was good but not completely ready when we ate it but oh well :) I loved Thanksgiving today!!! It was sooooo amazing and I am soooo thankful that I have such a great family here to share it with!
Also, I cannot leave out the middle of my day. Some other American girls from my class were having a get together for Thanksgiving and we each contributed a dish and we had green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, rice, turkey, ham, bread, and salad! And then I took some apple tarte and chocolate pie stuff for dessert...it was MAGNIFIQUE! I am so lucky to have such an awesome group of friends here and a great family to spend time with. I love it and I am so thankful for all of my loved ones at home who always support me and who are always there for me no matter what...I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
So here is it about 1:30 am after Thanksgiving and I am finishing my blog because I am tired. I know this is not the best blog ever but I promise to try and not wait so long between blogs because then it will be better!!! My birthday is on Sunday and I am going to see Zorro tomorrow night with the family!!! We will be celebrating my bday with cake and everything that G is surprising me with so that should be interesting!! haha But I am so glad to be here and I can't believe I will be 24!!! I feel very young and I am young at heart right guys? hahaha I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! I will talk to you soon and XOXOXOXO
Bisou Bisou
LOVE J