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Nykohl's Aupair Journal

September 1-15

August 31, 2003 August 30, 2003 August 29, 2003 August 28, 2003 August 27, 2003 August 26, 2003
August 25, 2003 August 24, 2003 August 23, 2003 August 22, 2003 August 21, 2003 August 20, 2003
August 19, 2003 August 18, 2003 August 17, 2003 August 16, 2003 August 15, 2003 August 14, 2003

31 August 2003
Sunday

Woke up the same time today asyesterday - I love sleeping in! I did dick-all today, and it was great. I watched the rest of TRW season 10 (and I cried when it was over, and when Puff Daddy died), and then we had brunch (at 1:00 - strange people), which consisted of cheese and bread and ham and eggs and banana bread. Surprisingly, it was freaking good. SO I helped clean the kitchen and came back downstairs and watched more TV, because I felt like rotting my brain today.

I watched "The Emperor's New Groove" and "Robin Hood", because I was in a Disney mood. Mom called and told me she had woken up at 5:30, and she had such bad cramps, it felt like childbirth, so she drove herself to the hospital, and stayed there for three hours. They gave her a shot for the pain and took blood tests and are sending her to a gyno. She had to go to work at 10, and she knew the shot was going to wear off. But hey, at least her back's better. That woman, I tell you.

Anyhow, at 7, Roland got here and we left for Lausanne shortly after. We walked around and had a drink at some blue place, where we sat at a table with two guys. Roland and I were speaking English, and when he went to use the WC, one of the guys turned to me and asked in perfect English if I was American. Can I please shoot you in the head? I said no, Canadian. So he then asks me what the biggest Airline in the States is. And I'm supposed to know this...how? Anyway, one of them thought it was Delta, and the other, Trans Continental, but I said American Airlines, just because I could.

So, it turns out these guys are from Germany, but have been studying English in Lausanne for two years. So cool. Then Roland came back and they left. I think they were gay. They seemed very absorbed in each other. Then Roland and I walked around Lausanne (my legs are going to ache in the morning), and he showed me all the 'hip' places to go, like Mad (Moulin a Danser). After Note: My legs aren't all that bad, actually. I really could use a shoulder massage, though, but I think that's only because I slept badly. We then went to a restaurant that had no name for another drink, and I had a Smirnoff Black Ice, which was so good. I think all the waiters there were gay, too, but it was so cool, because they didn't all hit on me. It was different.

After the drinks, he drove me home and we listened to Placebo on the way. So I ask Steve, "This is just a friend thing, right?" And then he says, "What, you don't want to get married?" Crap.

Oh, and on the way to the COOP, there were some guys behind me that actually smiled and waved when I turned the corner. I love being pretty. And mighty conceited, too. Bad, bad Nykohl.

I slept in today. Got up at around 10:30 and showered. Forgot to mention that I had a nap yesterday. It was nice. I stayed in my room writing until I could stand the hunger pains no more, and went upstairs to eat. I had soup and cereal. Healthy, yum.

MTV has a Real World marathon this weekend, so I watched some of that. I decided to go through all my notebooks and folders to decide what I wanted to keep and what I wanted to file under 'g'. While I was doing that, I came across a damn good paragraph that I had written a few months back that was supposed to be the beginning to my Lucky-Lily epic, but since I'm off that kick now, I decided to instead turn it into a Draco/Ginny ficlet full of angst and unrequited love and murder and adjectives. All about snow. It was interesting.

Then I went to eat some more. Roland called and we made plans to do something tomorrow. Still haven't figured out if this is just a 'let's be friends' thing, or if Steve and Elisa are trying to set me up. Either way, he's coming to pick me up at 7:00 tomorrow night. We'll see.

Steve, Elisa and kids went to a friend's house for dinner, but I opted to stay here (mostly so I could type up my crap). I finished "The Letter", and I re-printed "The Epilogue", because of Harry's 'messy brown black'. Sent a copy of "When Leaves Begin To Die" to Shazz to see what he thinks of it. I fixed some HTML coding on my site, and added "Leaves", and posted it on HP:SI, the slmost defunct Yahoo!group of mine. Wrote a letter to mom, telling her that Clay Aiken's album comes out on my birthday. No one was online tonight.

Oh, and I baked banana bread with no vanilla or baking soda, and it even tastes half decent.

It's still raining...

I had the most bizarre dream last night, and it just occurred to me that yes, I did bring my dream journal, but ah well.

I dreamt that Derek's body washed up on the shore of the Fraser River, after his black T-bird had been found, empty, out by Baker Creek. No one could figure out how he had died. Anyway, I didn't stop crying once in this dream, and everyone kept looking at me like I was insane.

I remember that I went through his closet (at his mom's place), and I took the shirt that he used to wear in Grade 12 that was grey with orange ribbing and made out of a really soft material. I had a bad cold and was really stuffed up, but everyone told me that it still smelled like him.

I walked past his mom's house, and Lisa came out to talk to me. Then a thunder woke me up.

I was hyperventilating, and really worried, and didn't calm down until I called Terri and she said that Mom had been driving behind him in his pimp van yesterday. Thankfully it's not a black T-bird.

It was probably the worst nightmare I'd had in a long time. Since the accident, probably. Terri said, "So, you want me to go over there right now and ask him if he's still alive because you had a dream?" "Of course," I answered. She thought the bit about the shirt was funny.

Well, that was my horrifying moment for the month.

Anyhow, after I woke up at 6:00, I laid in bed until my alarm went off at 7. Got up and did the whole morning routine thing - it was still raining when I got up. Sat on the couch with the phone in hand waiting gor Dad to call, but he didn't, so I called Terri, who informed me that Derek is still alive, and Dad is on nights, and that he had asked her how much passports cost and how long they take to process. YAY!

Let's see...I'm spending far too much time on the computer. I think I'm making up for lost time. I watched Edgemont today (because wedon't get The OC here, it's my new show du mois), and found Y&R, but it was an old one, from where Ryan and Tricia were still alive and Sharon was fighting Alice for custody of Cassie, and Kay had just found Mac. Wierd.

Then we ate lunch, and I went on the 'puter more. I emailed Auntie Marcie and Kirsten though, so I was being semi-productive. I read "Naked Quidditch Match" again. I have NO shame. I think I'm going to make a "My Favourite Fics" page on my site. Just because I can.

I watched Mulan for the first time today, and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially when I heard Donny Osmond singing. Yay Donny! Way to be!

Am� and Justine had friends over tonight, and their parents joined us for dinner - pizza, baby, yeah! After dinner, I came back downstairs and looked through some plot bunnies at FA, wrote some down, then went to bed.

I really hope the scary Dead!Derek dreams (ooh...alliteration) are over with. Any more of them would, I think, pose a serious risk to my health.

Oh, and I wrote about two more pages of my HP:CoN fic. It's not moving very fast, but ah well. Such is life.

Got up at 7 - I'm kind of getting used to this early morning thing. Made the girls breakfast and had it out for them when they got into the kitchen. They ate, then everyone left (this morning routine is quickly becoming monotonous). I found myself with naught to do, so I fell back on old reliable, Mr. Computer, and read the rest of "How Harry Potter Got His Groove Back". Gosh, I live that fic. I read all of Echo's fics that I needed to catch up on - ridiculously funny, and typed up yesterday's journal entry.

Left to pick up Am� and Justine for lunch - Am� brought her backpack home because she thought it was the end of the day - thwap! We ate corn and bread and salad, then they watched some TV, and I took them back to school and went bread shopping. Came home, cleaned house, wrote some more, and soon it was time to go pick up the kids.

We got home and Am� had a headache and a stomachache, so she laid in bed while Justine and I watched Anastasia (the cartoon), and Am� came in at the very end to watch. I then suggested that Margot come over, so Justine called her and she was here until 6:30, during which time, I got the butter ready for the garlic bread.

Margot left and Justine started bawling and called Elisa while I was helping Am� clean up the attic, and she was yelling at Elisa over the phone. I think Elisa finally had enough and hung up. We solved that problem by going swimming for 45 minutes. God, that was cold. And it made my ears hurt.

By the time we went back inside, Steve was home, and I went down to get changed, and came up to find that Elisa and her friend were here. I got the garlic bread ready, then (like the anti-social bum that I am), went on the cumputer. Talked to Niu for a while and told her thet I might come to Nottingham.

Went up for dinner - the roast beef that Jordan had eated a chunk out of - withElisa's friend -I love the fact that everyone they know speaks Engligh. We had some damn good wine (1997), and then we cleared the table. Cleaned the kitchen then went to bed.

Woke up at 7 am, and went upstairs to find that no one was up yer. I are breakfast and heard everyone's alarms go off at 7:15. I got the kids their breakfast and snacks, then Elisa said I could go back to bed, which I did. Re-awoke at 11:30, as Elisa was going to pick up Am� and Justine and went swimming and suntanned. Came inside and got dressed.

Watched TV until Elisa called me for lunch, we ate then Elisa, Am� and Justine went to buy new shoes and to visit Elisa's mom. Spent three hours working on my site, then Steve came home with a migraine, and I stopped for a while, then did another two hours.

Decided to go for a drive at 5:30. Went to Rolle and to the COOP gas station and for a drive out towards Nyon and back. Elisa and kids were home. I went to my room and framed my sketch and watched "Making of American Wedding". Mom had called while I was out, so I called Grandma's and talked to both her and Mallory, but Mom had gone to Robins with Pat and Dennis. She called back later and we chatted for a bit.

Elisa called for dinner and we ate leftover broccoli soup and roast beef and salad. Cleaned up and went on the computer, read half of "How Harry Potter Got His Groove Back". Still as funny as the first time. Apparently, someone is binding copies of IP and gave one to Rhysenn. Maybe I'll do the same, and to the DT, too, and UL while I'm at it. And I'll do a bound volume of all my favourite short stories. It'll have to wait until I'm back in Penticton, though.

Went to bed shortly after that. There's mosquitos flying around my room. I hate bugs.

I got all my journal entries and links done on my site today. I've been thinking that it needs a name. Ask Shazz about that.

Mom leaves for Quesnel today. She's bringing some valuables with her, just in case. Apparently, Darren might insure the suburban and get the gas leak fixed. I imagine house insurance in BC must be exorbitantly high. I bet ICBC has their hands full.

And do you think that, for the life of me, I can remember what I did today? Gosh, this morning was so long ago...let me think.

Woke up at 7:20 and gave the girls their breakfast. Everyone left shorlty after that, and I was all alone for 7 hours straight. Was on the computer for a while, then had a shower and went to Rolle to get some groceries and bought the Evanescence CD (mea culpa!).

Came home and lazed until 2, when I vaccuumed and (finally) cleaned the kitchen. Picked up the girls at 3 and came home. They watched TV and played with their Gameboys and I dusted and vaccuumed (it's a losing battle) some more until Elisabeth came home. Am�, Justine and I went to the gas station to get onions, which is much closer than Rolle, and nicer, too.

I made cream of Broccoli soup as a starter, and Elisa made a roast for dinner, which the cat made off with half of. Their friends from Toronto came for dinner, and I like them best of all. Besides Guillaume's mom, she's a hoot. Anyway, their names were Michael and Annik, and they might be moving back to Switzerland (I should have picked a country with a shorter name. Like Spain).

About 1/2 hour after we finished eating, I went to bed. I'm so tired.

LOTR:TTT came out on DVD today. I'll wait for PoA. Now that, I'm excited about.

Hm. First day of school. Pretty painless, all things considered. I didn't realise that Elisabeth wanted me upstairs at 7 am, so I got up at 7, and was brushing my teeth when she knocked on my door. My Homer Simpson moment of the week. D'oh! I managed to get to and from the school alive. It is a pretty basic route.

Wanted to go to the grocery store, but, after I parked and did the buggy thing, discovered that it didn't open until 9. So, insread of waiting 20 minutes, I drove home.

I vaccuumed and mopped and cleaned the kitchen and yahoo!ed, then I picked up Am� and Justine, and we had Melon and soup and boiled eggs. We watched some TV, then I brought them back to school. I then went to the grocery store and bought fruit and bread and a comb. It was also pretty painless.

Came home and put the groceries away, and made two tapes for my car. YAY! Went to get Am� and Justine. We made covers for their books, then they played 1/2 hour on their Gameboys and I told them to clean their rooms, which was what they were doing when Elisa came home. I called Cheryl, then mom for the recipe for goulash, which I made for dinner. We ate without Steve, and it was pretty unflavourful. I mean the food.

Made a cuppa, then came downstairs to watch TV. Contacts started bugging me at 10:15, so I turned off the TV.

Elisa gave me a newspaper article about the forest fires in Southern BC. A new one (a big one) started just outside Kelowna. We'll see.

Got up late today at 9:30; Justine woke Am� and I up by knocking on the door to tell us that Steve had gone to get breakfast. Packed up all our junk and left the hotel.

Went for coffee (I had darjeeling tea) at the caf� at the Louvre. Drove to N�tre Dame and walked around there while mass was happening. It was really quite amazing, with the choir and the organ. I was even all respectful and took off my hat. Left there, then walked along the tourist trap, where I bought, like a typical tourist, a black top with Toulouse Lautrec's Le Chat Noir playbill on the front.

After that, we drove to La Butte, where Am� and Justine got their portraits done. Drove past the Moulin Rouge in the red light district. Funny. Walked in the Sacr� Coeur Basilica. Got a kick out of this: there was a box with forms to fill out if you wanted the priests to say a super-extra special prayer for someone. Only 14�! Made me want to yak. Anyway, we left there and went back to the portrait drawers, who did my portrait, and it was the only one that actually resembled the subject. Mom later said that he got my lips perfect. Steve actually found it quite funna, because he thought all the other portraits looked like me, too. Elisabeth paid 80� for hers. Crazy.

I bought more of those little pencil drawing things - one on Montmartre, one of the Eiffel Tower, and one of l'Arc du Triomphe. I'm going to get them Laminarted when I get home.

Sometime this weekend we took a drive out to Marseille, but I can't remember when.

Then we left for the airport. Ate Pizza Hut there, then caught the plane back. Spent 3/4 hour on the phone with mom talking about forest fires, then 15 minutes with Terri. Ate soup then talked to Terri on MSN, then went to bed and bade an ankelet

Got up and let right away. Ate breakfast at the caf� across the street. Decided to go to the mus�e D'ors�e first, and spent about three hours there. I really liked the Toulouse-Lautrec and Van Gogh displays. Had a drink at the caf� there. Went on a search for Les Galleries Lafayettes. Bought Les Belles de Ricci for myself and a shirt for Terri. Walked around Les Galleries for about two hours, then went for a drive. Had some fun going in circles aroung l'arc du Triomphe. Came back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. Had some okay food, a pizza appy and salmon. We all went for a walk along les Champs Elys�es, and had real iced tea at a restaurant there. Justine wasn't too pleased with the fact that it wasn't artificial. Mind you, she didn't mich like her ravioli, either. We came back to the hotel and Am� watched TV while I wrote. We leave tomorrow! Yay!

Yeah, so we went to Disneyland Paris today. My god, that place is like instant sugar. It's insane. There were screaming brats everywhere, it was kind of like life at home. Went on the Haunted mansion ride, and Pirates of the Carribean (the movie was better), Aladdin, Thunder Mountain, Star Tours (man, that was insane!), and stood in line for an hour to go on a five minute Peter Pan ride. Not impressed. Plus it stank. Bought stuff for Steven, Michael, Mallory and Sarah. Didn't find anything Terri would have liked. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Oh yeah, and it was kind of warm today. Got back to the hotel and watched TV while Steve, Elisa, Am� and Justine went for a bite to eat. Bed. Yay.

Aunt Flo came to visit today. Stupid relatives.

I get paid today! Well, technically, it's tomorrow at 9:00 am. This time difference thing bites. Paris!

We were landing in Paris at Charles DeGaulle, and I came to realise that the Eiffel tower isn't all that nice, it's more of an eye-sore. I mean, a giant metal statue in the middle of a smoggy, polluted metropolis that hasn't changed in the least since I was here last. But the architecture, like the wine, more than makes up for it.

So, anyhow, this morning, we went to the city hall to apply for a visa, then to Rolle to buy passes for the caf�teria for Am� and Justine. Came home, ate lunch then left for Morges and took my test. I think I'm in the highest level that there is.

Came home at the same time Steve did, and I sat in my room for a long while and read. We left for Paris - the plane ride was uneventful, except for the sandwiches and chocolate. We landed at CDG and it took us almost 1-1/2 hours to reach the restaurant, and it reminded e of just how much I can't stand Parisian drivers. It's almost as bad as the senile Pentictonites.

We ate dinner at an Italian joint with a colleague of Steve's, Fred, whose wife just had another baby girl. It was tiring. The food was awesome, though. I had gazpacho and cheese ravioli. Mmm.

Spent another long while looking for the hotel. Swanky place, but not enough room. Am sharing with Am�.

Tomorrow we leave!Today was like Philly-a little slice of heaven. I think Steve and Elisa gave Justine a stern talking-to, and she didn't cry once today. Showered before I went upstairs. Watched Hey Arnold with Am� and Justine, then we finished our game of Monopoly. That took a while. We walked to the boulangerie and I bought white bread (yumm), iced teas and ice cream for Am� and Justine. When we got home, I made ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch.

Am� and Justine played in Justine's room while I cleaned, then Margot arrived and so they stayed out of my hair until 6:45. I was computing for a while, I got an e-mail from Shallagh, so I answered that and wrote to dad about my phone number.

I then proceeded to call dad, so the e-mail was pointless, but ah well. Talked to Cheryl for 20 minutes, abouzt forest fires and life in Switzerland, then dad woke up (he's on afternoons, and it's 9:00 am there) and I yakked at him and he asked how the bison was. It was funny.

I made dinner (spaghetti and sauce and veggied and bread - do these people live on carbs?), which both kids enjoyed, then Steve came home, followed by Elisa. Cleaned the kitchen, then Steve showed me how to work the digital camera and my TV, then I went to bed. Wrote a letter to Sama.

It's storming again. DOES IT EVER STOP? I don't know why I didn't just choose England. AARGH!/P>

Elisa bought cheddar! Score one for the Canadians!

Steve took my car to the garage today - wanted to take Am� and Justine for a drive, but oh well. Justine had a tantrum again this morning...she waits until I'm out of the room then phones Elisa. Apparently, she did it eight times today. Am� and I started to play - we built a fort and then played Monopoly. Once Justine saw that we were having fun, she wanted to join us. We finished the game (almost), then I made lunch and a potato salad. Threw out the rice.

We ate then watched 1/2 hour of TV, then went swimming for an hour. After that, we came down to my room and did a sufficient job of messing it up playing La Poste, a fairly boring game with no point whatsoever. About 45 minutes later, Margot and her brother arrived, so Am� and Justine left to play with them. I tried to make some banana bread, but never got around to it, because right after I finished cleaning the kitchen, Justine tracked dirt all over the floor. I ended up vacuuming instead. I had almost finished when Elisa came home, and she showed me where the cleaning supplies were.

She had a talk with Justine, who proceeded to throw yet another tantrum, then we went to Ch�tel for a fondue. It was...interesting. I honestly didn't care that much for it, but, because the wine was good, I told everyone I loved it. Had a lemon tart for dessert, then we left. Le Ch�tel is on the top of a mountain, so the road was � la road to Powell River, only worse. Guillaume and his parents were there, adn so was another couple with three girls, but I didn't catch their names.

We came home (Elisa and I talked quite a bit, and I told Am� and Justine about Sam's encounter of the moose kind), and went straight to bed.

On Thursday, we have to do a whole bunch of crap before we leave for Paris. This could prove to be a learning experience for us all...

Woke at 8:30 - Am� lent me her alarm clock. Steve and Elisa were already at work - Am� was in her room and Justine was watching Hey Arnold. Made an espresso and sat on the deck, then came and watched TV with Justine. Am� got up, I had a shower. When I got out, Justine was in tears on the phone with Elisa because she missed her. It happened again later.

Am�, Justine and I looked through photo albums then made lunch and went for a picnic. We rode bikes into the next town over and played at the playground for an hour, then came home and put in HP:CoS. Kevin from across the way came over, them Margot from down the lane. They watched some of HP:CoS, then went outside to play until Margot had to go home at 6:30.

Elisa was home by then, and she went shopping for dinner and bought me tampons. YAY! We had a guest over for dinner - I think his name was Stein, he was Norwegian from what I gather - and Elisa made salad and corn on the cob, and Steve BBQ'd lamb and steak. Had red wine that I had to choke down.

Watched 1/2 of Erin Brokovich with Justine until she fell asleep, put her to bed and cleaned the kitchen. Did some laundry. Didn't get much writing done today, though.

The day went well except for Justine's little tantrums, but that's to be expected. She's quite a bit like Mallory, though. Bizarre.

PLUCK EYEBROWS TOMORROW!

Elisabeth, Steve, Am� and Justine went to a family reunion picnic today at 9:30, so I woke up at 11:30 to an empty house. Had a shower and shaved my legs (finally). Went on-line and emailed everyone and talked to Tasha and Shayne (there's an eight hour time difference from here to Aussie land). He just finished Rising From Ashes, and he's apparently now a D/G shipper. Tried to call mom about eye perscription, but she had already left for the lake, so I e-mailed her instead. Oh, and on the fourteenth, I found Les Belles! Anyhow

I swam in the pool and sunbathed, then came inside and wrote more of the DT length P/CoN epic that I have yet to name. Had instant soup for dinner/lunch thing, and watched 7th Heaven and that show with the witches where the boy turns into a mouse. I love that show! Elisa, Steve and kids came home after the freak storm hit (crazy weather these people get), and had a friend with them, Roland.

I cooked bison steak, pork chops, chicken rice, and Elisa made salad for dinner, and everyone liked it, except Justine, who is, I think, going to be a bit like Mallory in that aspect. Had wine and espresso and lemon meringue without the meringue, showed Am� my CD's and looked at hers, made a teepee in Justine's room, then went to bed.

I think I'm getting somewhere with my story. Have to ask Shazz. Pluck eyebrows tomorrow. Make a tape. Find a tape first. AARGH!

Didn't get back to keep until 5:30 or 6:00. Either way, the sun was just rising. Woke up at 10:30, Elisa and Steve were out showing an apartment in Lausanne. Watched TV with Am� and Justine, first a show with Kristen Kreuk that wasn't Smallville, then a show with Adam Brody that wasn't Gilmore Girls or The OC. It was a bit bizarre, listening to someone else's voice while looking at their faces.

Anyhow, at 11:00 or so, we went to Lausanne, Am�, Steve, Justine and I in the Clio, and Elisabeth in her car. We took the boat out and swam, then went to a little restaurant in a suburb of Lausanne and had lunch. Note to self: never eat gnocci again. Eurgh. Went back on the boat, swam and fished with their friend and his son, Guillaume, who is about eight and in a wheelchair.

Ate dinner at the Vidy Yacth Club with a lot of their friends. Had a salad d'oc�an, which had shrimp and artichokes and too much dressing and not enough lettuce. It was delicious.

A storm came up quite suddenly, with rain like I can't remember seeing before. We had to go 20 km/hr in a 70 zone. It was insane. We made it home in one piece, though, which was quite nice.

Checked my e-mail, talked to Tasha and Terri, mom phones and e-mailed Mallory. Now I'm going to bed.

I've started thinking in French again.

Woke up at 10:30. Not as much jet lag as I thought I�d have. They have showers � not just baths! Ah, the simple things in life. Went to Rolle to the post office and to the grocery store, bought all my necessities. Fructis � yay! Came back, picked up Am� and Justine, and went to Lausanne. Saw �What A Girl Wants� in French; the love interest looked a bit like Tyler�see what Terri thinks about that. We climbed to the top of the Lausanne hills (dunno if that�s what they�re called, but oh well), the view is awesome � like looking out from the top of the Eiffel Tower, only better.

I can�t get over the view. Everywhere I look, it�s so pretty.

Had dinner with Steve at Poco Loco, a Mexican place in Lausanne. Had fajitas, Sol and pina coladas. Not as good as I imagined them to be � I don�t think I�ll ever get too into rum.

Alors, after a million tantrums, we finished our day by driving home & went straight to bed. Kids came down to say goodnight.

Peter Ustinov lives 2 blocks away, Phil Collins lives 4 blocks away. And the funny thing is, they have no clue what a block is. There is nothing here that comes even close. The roads are so small, one car can barely fit. This is going to take some getting used to.

The church bells ring every day at 11 :45. They�re pretty now, but I have a sinking feeling that, after I leave, I�m never going to want to hear another church bell again. Ever.

Hey, I�m not dead yet!

Afternote: couldn�t sleep. Called dad at 3:00 in the morning. Still awake at 4:45. I�ve changed my mind � I HATE jet lag.

Arrived at 6:20 in Geneva. Was the longest plane ride of my life. Went through turbulation hell landing in Calgary. The lady beside me one row back honestly looked like she was going to have a coronary. Met really gorgeous guy at Gatwick, he was from Vancouver and was going on a Baltic cruise with friends. Made customs easy.

Elisabeth, Am�lie and Justine met me at the airport, they drive the nicest car ever. And Steve has a convertible something. Suspect they�re both BMW�s. Went for dinner at Le Casino, which isn�t a real casino, but ah well, had a salad with shrimp and avocado. Went for a walk with Am� and Justine. Discovered they have a fondness for Mary Kate and Ashley, mind you, what young child doesn�t? Had the best espresso ever.

Was expecting a modest home. Ha! Mom, you�d kill for this place. They have a 180 degree view of Lac L�man, and all the surrounding towns, and a swimming pool. Built in. And get this�I have my own suite. Minus the kitchen. The paint is a banana yellow, and the furniture is so cool�IKEA!

Oh, and the Clio is red!

Unpacked a bit, too tired to do anymore. Will go to the bank and shopping tomorrow. Need shampoo, conditioner, tampons and soap.

Need to call mom about eye perscription. Find out Dr. Zak�s phone number. Call Sam. Find out where Myk�s shirt is. Look for Les Belles de Ricci.

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