Really Real Dreams

I must have had one of those dreams in the last few days, that was so real. I say this because I got on the computer today and was completely surprised that there wasn't a new post on my blog. I was sure I had written one! Then I thought about it some more and realized that I, while I have this memory of typing up a post, I don't actually remember what it was about at all, so it's entirely possible that it was just a dream.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am back in town now, and am in the process of trying to unpack everything. This wouldn't be so hard, except that I can't even believe how much crap I left behind! There is absolutely no space to put the stuff I took with me to Germany - let alone the stuff that I picked up while I was there! Honestly, from the amount of stuff that is here in Edmonton, you'd think that I left with just my passport and plane ticket. So, I am in the process now of trying to sort everything out; giving clothes to Goodwill and making a box of knickknacks for a garage sale (mom's idea, I don't know if she means that we are having a GS, or if the church is going to have one), plus I have to dust everything! It's really, tremendously dusty around here, but that's what you get when you have 4 litter boxes in the house (not my choice). I also wanted to let everyone know that I am going to try and keep up the blog for the next little while. There are plenty of stories that I have that never got told, and TONS of pictures that I wasn't able to post. I'm going to try my best, but I'm also starting school again in a week, so you might have to be patient.

Okay, I'm going to bed now. I can't believe how early I get tired these days!

Phew!

Well, I don't know how many people thought of my safe return home when the whole mess in London happened a couple weeks ago, but I did, and here's why: I'm flying British Airways through London. Now, I didn't think that they would close down the airport or anything, but I got really concerned about how it would affect luggage, both carry-on and checked.

See, I have known for a long time that I have too much stuff to bring back in just 2 suitcases; not only have I bought some stuff here, but my folks sent me a package at Christmas and brought me almost a full suitcase when they came, so there was never a question - it just wasn't going to fit. Now, I know I procrastinate, but I'm actually really good about thinking ahead with most things, so when I was at the airport in March, after returning from Rome, I swung by the British Airways desk and asked them about the rules. The lady told me that they hadn't changed their baggage laws like some companies have; I am still allowed 2 pieces of luggage that each weigh 32kgs. And bringing an extra piece of luggage is also no problem, it will cost me, but no more that it would cost to mail the crap back to Canada! And I don't have to let them know ahead of time - just show up and tell them at check-in.

Well, with all the messiness going on in Heathrow, I figured it was best to check the web to see what they had to say. Apparently, I am allowed to have a computer case, which is really good because I was freaking out about that (I did NOT want to put my laptop in my checked luggage!), but that's IT!! No extra bag, no purse; just the computer bag. Even that's okay, it was the computer that I was worried about, and I'm allowed to put other things in the computer bag like my wallet. What freaked me out was that they changed all the baggage laws! Suddenly, I'm not allowed to have 2 bags of 32kgs, now I'm only allowed to have 2 that are 23kgs! I was so choked! But then I kept reading and found out that those news rules only come into effect on October 11, 2006. I am so relieved.

It was probably 20min between reading the new rules and finding the current ones, so I wasn't stressed out for long, but I was very stressed out for those 20 minutes! Everything is all set for my return on Friday/Saturday and I am sooooo excited!

The clock is ticking...

It’s funny how a person can be used to going to bed at a certain time every night and waking up at a certain time every morning and then one night of staying up till 4:00am screws the whole thing up!

So, I have been to and returned from France. It was wonderful. I got to spend 2 weeks in the south of France, right at the base of the Pyrenees just outside the town of Lourdes. It is an… interesting town. A town of about 20,000 people who play host to, like, 4 million visitors every year. Needless to say, the entire town can be summed up like this: store, hotel, store, hotel, store, hotel. Still, it has its charm, which mostly lies in the fact that the backdrop is mountains and they have a castle.

I also got to meet my schatzy’s family and friends and see where he grew up. Plus, he had to work every morning, so I got to sleep late and get up at a leisurely pace. I got lots of reading and relaxing done in the mornings and then I got to spend the afternoons with Olivier and his brother and sister. They have a pool you know. That was great too. I was very relaxed and happy, but I’m sure he was very tired and stressed out since he didn’t get those coffee and novel mornings. Poor boy. That reminds me, I read the book “Life of Pi” by Yann Martel at the beginning of the trip and it was amazing! I highly recommend it to anyone.

Okay, so, just so everyone is in on my schedule, I leave Munich one week from today (Friday, August 25th) and arrive in Edmonton at 12:45am on Saturday. Just to clarify for everyone, that means 45min after midnight on Friday night or Saturday morning, depending how you look at it. Since I am dying to see everyone again, I am having a coming home party, which will be a mirror of the going away party that I had. The party will be held at Rosario’s (11715C - 108Ave) on Saturday, August 26, 2006. We told them “between 8:00 and 9:00,” so how about I show up shortly after 8:00, but you all don’t have to come until 9:00? Everyone who reads this blog is invited, and if you can think of anyone who doesn’t read it who would like to come, please pass on the message.

I hope to see you all there! I am starting to get really homesick and want to see everyone so bad!