What the Hell Is Up

So what have the monkeys been doing all week since the move from London. Well, I'll tell you - mostly in pictures because I am feeling uninspired and very lazy.

Stonehenge: OK that was before we left the UK technically, but we had to go see it.

That blue shy is deceiving. It rained almost the whole time we were there.

Promenade de Plantee/Viaduc des Arts: So we mad it to Paris and the next day we wandered over to the Marche d'Aliglre, which is awesome. Then we accidentally discovered the amazing elevated park and walking path that is the 2.9-mile-long Promenade de Plantee, which used to be an elevated railway. It was spectacular on a sunny day!

On the walkway.

Redic.

Normandie: On Sunday, we took a loooooong bus ride out to the Normandie coast to see the WWII beaches and such with our college friend, Scott. Aside from the really early bus ride, it was pretty amazing. I need to watch Saving Private Ryan again now that I have see the beaches and the ruins. My grandpa Glaser was in northern France and Belgium during the war. I cannot even begin to put myself in his shoes to imagine what he saw over there.

The Eiffel Tower at sunrise, yes the bus ride was that effing early.

 

Ruins of the old Nazi bunkers.

Crazy stuff everywhere.

More ruins.

One of the many bomb craters.

Thanks Scott for organizing such an unforgettable trip!

What else: Well I am taking French and working (and eating a lot). Dave ditched me and went to Poland this week, whateva. Luckily (so as not to go crazy on my own in a country where I barely speak the language), I made a friend in French class and we went to dinner and drinks tonight. She was born in MENLO PARK. How funny is that! She is a chef and sommelier and we are going to a market tomorrow morning because - surprise - it is a French holiday so no language class.

Anywho, I will take more photos and let you know how it is going over here. xo

The Move

Well, the movers have packed up all our crap and left. Wow.

Everyone should have to go through their shit every 2 years. It is amazing how much ridiculous junk you collect, and how cleansing it feels to get rid of all that extra stuff.

As part of plan "get rid of shit", we played “what not to wear” the other night with two of our favorite (and very fashionable) friends. They helped us complete a clothing purge the likes of which have never been seen. It was a bit scary, but soooooo cathartic. Dave still wouldn’t dump the black fleece though, I think he hid it. That guy thinks he is like Steve jobs with the black turtle-necks......

Since we cannot make anything easy, we are taking a less than direct route home from London - including:

• 3 weeks in Paris in an apartment owned by the nicest dude ever - http://www.vrbo.com/420495
• One week in Avignon, which is quite possibly the closest place to heaven, staying here - http://www.maisonboussingault.com/
• A few days in Morris, Illinois to see my family
• And few days in Tahoe to relax and host the Tahoe Relay post-race BBQ, we have two ladies teams this year - so 14 women and Dave. Lucky man!

I'll be back at work on June 10th, as though the last 2 years didn't even happen - weird. I am hoping to see Sammy that same day. He'll either be stoked or he'll bite me, we'll see what happens. I am so video-ing the reunion. I have been looking forward to it for 2 years.

SO EXCITED to see that face!

I suppose I should be feeling really sad to leave London, but I am OK. It makes it easier that we had an awful winter after a really bad summer, and I am still waiting for spring. Besides, the Bay Area kind of rocks. And I miss hiking in the mountains, farmshare and cooking, my book club, long Saturday bike rides with friends, and of course Sammy. I even miss working and having my awesome coworkers to talk to (since I have worked alone in our basement apartment for the last 2 years in London). 

 

I will really miss all our friends here. However, I have maintained a state of purposeful denial or have been just plain busy lately, that way - I won't start blubbering. It will hit me soon enough, probably when I am wearing mascara because that is how I roll.

Anyway, I'll post some stuff about "living" in Paris. Bring on the butter and duck fat! I am so excited to go to the food markets as a customer and not just as a photo-taking tourist. Our rental apartment has a decent kitchen and a huge terrace so we can dine outside if it is warm enough.

Photos soon!