It's been a long time

Hello everyone, sorry that I have not written in awhile. I thought that noone was paying any attention to my site but a few people have asked me why I have not put a ne post up in the past two weeks. So, here we go with a summary of everything that has happened since the last post. First off we had a party last week for Anna before she left Lyon. She is from Sydney and while she is coming back for a couple more weeks it was the last time with Jo, Maddy, and a few others. We had a great time at her place having some drinks and then went to Ayer's Rock. It's supposed to be an Australian Bar, it was my first time and we had a great time. However, I wasn't missing anything the other night's I missed there, it's not that great.
The rest of the week was pretty routine and I did some rollerblading, with a hangover the next day.... I have also fallen off my gym routine because of all the parties and drinking so I am headed over tomorrow to get back into the regime mode. Everyone is leaving so I am not going to have a lot else to do.
This week I started taking care of a 6 year old that my Kiwi buddy Jo was looking after the last 7 months. I am taking care of him through my departure for a little bit of spending money. This month is going to fly-by I think. No, I am not ready to come back and I think that I am going to move back as soon as I am finished with school. Hoping to find a job while I am applying to graduate school and then probably move back when I am done with that. I am ready to see a lot more of the World and I am not at all impressed with some of the things happening in the States right now. I would also like to head South-Of-The-Border for a year or two to learn Spanish and Mexican cuisine.
This past weekend Renee came in from Dijon to spend some time with me and my friends here in Lyon. Renee is a great, driven individual and we had a great time. Plus we have a few inside jokes now as well, sorry I can't let you in on the secret. Just between us.... Don't you just hate a page turner? We went to La Part Dieu and did a little shopping. I wanted to get something for the girls going away. I got a t-shirt for Madz, a green and yellow one for Brazilian colors and I had her Beau's name pressed on the back. She was worried she may look a little dag with it bakc home. I told her that noone will know the difference if she says it is a Brazilian soccer player that she is crazy about. There is not a lie in either of those statements as long as she doesn't say he plays for a team or is famous outside the International students here in Lyon. She loved it! Also picked up a ladies second best friend for the rest of the girls. While roses may be a little passe and cliche, chocolate never gets old. Especially when it's in a nice box with a ribbon wrapped about it. I won't go there with a Forrest Gumpism, you know the one.
Next we went to Rue De La Republique to watch the L'Olympique Lyonnais game against Nice. They won the French Title and so the city spent 60,000 euros on celebrating it. They set up a Big-Screen TV in the Place. In some ironic typically French fashion the screen did not begin working so we left to head towards a bar in Place Des Terraux where the after-match party was to take place. We originally intended to go to a bar with some of the other students but ended up talking to some drunk guys in the street. They were a little off, but unusually nice and pleasant in comparison to some of our other experiences in that area. So off to the big party and Jo was in rare form. She was really "red" and a little bit belligerent, ok, really belligerent! We wanted to stay for the party and she wanted to go meet some people that sounded cool, but interfered too much with the plans. Then she tried to kick a guy who was being a bit of a jerk, but not too bad. Be careful how much alcohol you give a spirited Kiwi, which is to say all of them. But, I love you JoJo, Louis says hello as well!
The next night we had a stir-fry at Maddy's to finish up the weekend and have one last night at Madz before Jo left for Glasgow, Scotland. It was a fun night and the girls got interesting, I am not going further with that in this forum because friend's and family may be present... yet again the page turner.
Tuesday I saw off Renee from the comfort of my bed, not enough energy to see her to the door. I think that came out wrong so I must alliterate a little. No, she wasn't in the bed with me, we got home really late and a cab was taking her to the train station. She had to get some things from my room and told me to stay in the bed, so I wasn't disagreeable.
Tuesday night was my birthday dinner, I tried to get a reservation at Cafe Des Federations but they were booked up solid. I perused the Petit Paume and found another place, but got an answering machine. Next I went to another Petit Paume reference called Jour Du Marche. The place was very accomodating and although I made the reservation for 12-14, they did not have a problem getting the 20 of us fed and slightly pompette from the pichet wine. Lea and her friend Florient came in a day earlier than I had expected and so they met us at the resto. I received the most thoughtful gift ever in a calendar from Jo, Alex, Jules, and Maddy. You make me very proud to call you all My Girl's! I'll show you all when I get back, it's the girls in costume all over Lyon from the fountain at L'Hotel De Ville, to a rather provocative one at Parc De La Tete D'Or. I am surprised you were not arrested for that one. Arno gave me a L'OL t-shirt that Maddy told him I was thinking of getting. The food, oh the food! It was not a bouchon or typical Lyonnais saveur. It was more of a global cuisine that showed the Lyonaiss chef's attention to fresh ingredients and his Japanese sous chef's creative preparations. I am headed over there on Monday or Tuesday to try and get a couple night's in the kitchen before I go on my way.
Wednesday I took Lea around Lyon and to meet the girls again for one last drink with Jo before I looked after Louis. It was a nice day, my 28th birthday, passed saying goodbye to friends and looking after Louis. We played some soccer and then I headed home to have yet another dinner chez moi with Alex, Madz, Lea, Florient, and Arno. I kept it simple and made a nice green salad with my infamous balsalmic vinaigrette, then to the main course of a creamys pasta with chicken and some basil/olive oil sausage. It was formi-formi-formidable! Somehow Alex made it from her's with a chocolate cake, only the batter in a dish, on her kid's bike. She said that we must have a cake and candles for my birthday no matter what. It was great with a little Nutella smoothed over in plave of icing. Again, I have been fortunate to meet some amazing individuals and I love every one of you, it pains to know that our goodbyes are soon to come.
Then today was pretty lazy and I have not left the house, save once to the epicery. I miss you all and I we'll see you soon or along the path called life. Cheers, Me