I know it's been WAY too long since I've sent an update. When I have time off, I'm usually trying to catch up on my running or trying to relax. These kids can be exhausting. They're really great and I've got the boys saying "Check ya later" and "Excellent!", among other things like "please" and "thank you" of course. I attempted to start a blog to keep you all updated, but it didn't work out. At any rate, I'm still here in France. I am very (VERY VERY VERY) excited that my cousin Elisa and I are going to travel during my 2 weeks off when the family goes on vacation. We have our trip planned and places to stay and I'm very happy for her to come visit! If only there were more time... *sigh* I've been doing well here and have been training to run in yet another marathon. Yes, I'm a bit crazy, but, ya know. After the first one I said I would never do it again, then after the second I said the same thing, yet here I am training for another. I'm going to be running from Marathon to Athens, Greece with some friends and if things work out, I'll be spending almost all of November in Greece backpacking with my SF marathon running partner! Life is pretty good.

I do have some sad news. Geronimo isn't doing so well. He's been sick for quite sometime and just recently has begun to eat less and less, and is coughing more and more, a result of his heart murmer and fluid in his lungs. It's been a LONG, long road and one of the hardest decisions I've had to make, but next Saturday the 8th I'll be taking him to his final visit to the vet. Luckily, Elisa will be here with me to help me through, and I have another week after to come to grips with it some more until I join her for our "Elisa and Angela take over Europe" adventure. He's an old dog at almost 16 years old, and I've had him since I was 8 years old when "Santa" brought him for Christmas. It's definitely going to be hard. He's been a good dog, and an amazing companion as we've quite literally grown up and old together. From the days when he used to chase racoons up into trees when we lived by the park, to when he used to run away and come back (a bit tipsy maybe??) at 3am. He's been quite literally from coast to coast in the US and across the big pond to Europe. He came with us to the top of Mont Blanc, well almost to the top. He was there for our Italian adventure to Venice, Rome and Pisa in 3 days, and to the south of France when we've gone with the family. He's quite the traveled pooch and most people can't say they've been to as many places as G. These days, I don't think he's happy, other than his travels, so I'm glad that he'll not be in pain and he'll be happy again when he goes to be with God. To those of you who know him, please keep him in your thoughts and send him (and me) some good vibes to help us through.

Some France

I am having a wonderful time here, and I think that Geronimo is too, although he doesn't' like the snow. I didn't like it too much either until today. I went snow shoe-ing for the first time today, part of a sort of compromise with my friend who loves to ski. Last night was LOTS of fun, which usually makes for a rough morning. (Another story all together!) We went up the mountain from where I live, which is literally 10 or 15 minutes driving. We parked and rented racettes (snow shoes) and took off. It was so amazingly beautiful. It was so silent! When I looked up to see the trees, it reminded me of Yosemite or Muir Woods. I guess it's just me missing home. We got to the top, Le Turet, and realized that we were quite literally on the top of a mountain, and looking out at the Alps and Mont Blanc. The view from up there was so different than the view from home. Being up there made me realize, even if just a little bit, how immense and high up it is. The atmosphere fogs the view from the towns at the bottom, and on the top it was so much more clear. It was so amazing! I think I'll go back tomorrow, and take a lunch and eat up there. In the summer I am definitely going to hike up there, and if possible, camp up there.

The kids are doing well and responding more and more to me. They're usually very good, but sometimes, I understand why it's called the "terrible two's". The boys are learning English extremely easily since they're just learning to speak at all, and it's very good. Emily is doing well too, but she gets the sentence structure mixed up. Her dad has let her down by not speaking English to her or correcting her English. Almost every question she asks me I repeat correctly and ask her to repeat before I answer her. I think she gets frustrated that she doesn't say it right, but she's learning. Hopefully next weekend my friends and I will go to Chamonix in the Alps! One of my good friends from CA will be passing through on his way from Italy to Ireland so I am looking forward to seeing my friend and going to the Alps.

As much as I love being here, learning French, I miss home. And as much as I enjoy spending time with my new friends here, I miss my friends from home. I've never been homesick before, but I think that after 3 months of living in France, I'm just beginning to get a little homesick. I couldn't find baking soda at the grocery store, so I went to ask, and of course, didn't know the name for it in French. I went home, asked the kid's mom, she looked for it in the store too, didn't find it. I went to a different grocery store and finally found it hidden behind a post. (At that same grocery store I was walking around with a stupid grin on my face because they were playing YMCA by Men at Work, and THEN the chicken dance song... in FRENCH! I didn't know such a thing existed.) So 3 weeks later, I got the baking soda that I needed for the cookies. It's hard for me to find anything here. And I miss being able to communicate with people and know where to go to find something that's hard to find, and I miss knowing where things are. Mostly, I miss my mom's breakfast taco's. The kid's dad was frying potatoes today and he cracked a couple of eggs over the and I looked at him and said "Oh! That's how my mom makes her tacos." And just walked away. I was so sad! As much as I miss home, I don't get too down about it. It's not like it will do me any good to be depressed. So I eat lots of awesome baguettes, pain chocolat, good cheese, and awesome French wine! Ha! And no I'm not fat now, I just like to think about the things that are good, that I can't get in the US. So this update is getting too long. Hopefully you are all doing well and enjoying life on the other side of the pond.