France - 12/7/00

12/7/00

I talked to Jamie tonight, but I ended up crying.  Things are just kinda hard right now - having to miss him being the hardest.  15 days.  (sigh)  I'm just really in need of a break from teaching classes, from taking classes, from having homework... I bought a bit of wrapping stuff for Jamie's & Matt & Nat's presents - still don't know what to get Jamie, though.  The only thing I'm sure about is the CD I already bought!  I think I'm going to get Matt & Nat a bottle of wine, some canned homemade-type jams & things, and those bowls at the Christmas market.  hmmm... Still have homework and I have to be up in 5 hours.  (sigh)  I love you Jamie, and I miss you a lot.

France - 12/6/00

12/6/00

We went to the Christmas market by the cathedral today.  I think I'm going to get Matt & Nat a little skier metal guy and some Provençal-type bowls.  Not sure - have to ask Jamie tomorrow.  We saw the newest Woody Allen movie in English with French subtitles.  (I think it's called Small-time Crooks) and it was pretty good.  Dinner was at Tonkinoise where we got free Coke and Orangina.  There were two American men there that were traveling with a band (Shivaree?) and they invited us to come hear the band tomorrow.  They don't think it'll start until 11pm, and we don't know know where yet, but I think we're going to go.  Get to talk to my Jamie tomorrow!  I love you sweetie!

France - 12/5/00

12/5/00

I bought Jamie the Everclear CD he wants - expensive!  He'll like it, though.  I wanted to buy him cologne from Zara, but it didn't smell as good when I sprayed a tester paper as it did in the bottle.  They have a new perfume out, though, that I like, so I'll see if Jamie likes it on me.  I don't know what else to get him - and I have no ideas for Matt & Nat!  Probably a couple pictures from beside the Seine, but don't know what else.  Tomorrow is shopping, dinner, and a movie.  There's a Christmas market in Clermont by the cathedral, so Sarah, Morgan, and I will go to that.  Got a call tonight to babysit Friday night!  I'll have to ask Jamie in email tomorrow if I can call him Thursday instead of Friday.  17 days!  I love you, Jamie!

France - 12/4/00

12/4/00

I wish I would say I'm going straight to bed tonight, but I've got a lot of homework... only one assignment, but I have a feeling it'll take me a long time.  Martine was sick today, so I just had Jacqueline's 4 classes.  They were easy today.  I got off at 2:30 instead of 5:30, but there was a strike today involving everything to do with trains, so there was only one train going back to Clermont - the 6pm that I usually take.  So I sat in the train station for 3 1/2 hours.  ugh.  I got to talk to Jamie today!  And I get to call him on Friday.  18 days!!!  I'm so ready to see him.  The waiting is exhausting.  I love you, sweetie!

France - 12/3/00

12/3/00

Not going to write - going straight to bed.  Have to be up in 4 hours.  Talked to mom and poured out my frustrations.  Church was fun... I love you Jamie.   Wish me luck teaching tomorrow...

France - 12/2/00

12/2/00

I babysat tonight.  This afternoon, right after I fell asleep, Lynn & Jeff called to ask me to watch their son Zachary (3) and daughter Danielle (15 months) tonight.  The kids are absolutely adorable!!!  They slept almost the entire time I was there, so I just watched Only You and part of Hook... hope I get to babysit for them again!  The are just so cute.  This morning, we had lemon meringue tarts from the patisserie (before the meeting).  They were wonderful!!!  The meringue tasted like marshmallows... Tomorrow I'm getting up at 1pm, and then I'm going to Morgan's church.  It starts at 5pm.  Jamie is coming soon!!!  I need to change my train ticket next week since I'm arriving at noon and need to be there at 10am.  I've got to get to bed.  I love you, Jamie!

France - 12/1/00

12/1/00

Too tired to write.  It's December now & Jamie is coming in 21 days.   We talked for an hour tonight.  Tried calling Venice & the Charrons, but I have to call them all back later because they didn't know anything about the dates I was asking about.  Going to bed.  (Got a Jamie letter today - first one this week; gonna read it again before prayers.)  Love you Jamie!

France - 11/30/00

11/30/00

It's actually December now.  I always seem to write my journal entry for the day in the wee small hours of the next morning.  Bought two magazines today, though no one has the new National Geographic in English yet.  Sarah and I went to Auchan and had a really rude checkout lady; she demanded to see our passports, was mad that Sarah still hadn't thrown away her empty juice can from the pastry place in the mall, made us lift our coats and backpacks out of the cart so she could see we weren't stealing anything, and then argued with me because my signatures didn't look the same.  Horrible woman.  On a positive note, the Christmas lights for the city of Aubière are up, and Jamie emailed and said he's borderline A-B in all his classes.  I love you!

France - 11/29/00

11/29/00

23 days!  We saw Charlie's Angels ("Charlie et Ses Drôles de Dames") again today (me, & Morgan, along with first-timers Ramsey & Sarah.)  Sarah was in a pretty crappy mood for most of today and was making me angry.  Morgan really helped me to forget about it, though.  We decided that we're going to spend our April vacation together and visit Prague, Austria, Greece, and Istanbul before flying back here.  I'm really excited!  I hope I'll be able to afford it.  Ramsey may come, too, but Sarah's parents will be here, so she'll be doing something else.  I'd like to go see The Grinch when it comes out, but I'd rather see it with Jamie than anyone else, so I'm gonna wait.  Chicken Run comes out in a couple weeks, also... I bought a three-pack of undies at Etam Ling., so now I won't be in danger of running out if I put off the laundry for too long.  Gotta go do homework.  'Night Jamie - I love you!

France - 11/28/00

11/28/00

Tomorrow, I should try Venice.  Let me put the list of phrases in my bag... tomorrow is movie and dinner and shopping.  I hope Chicken Run is in English!  I hope it's at the theatre at all.  I had decided not to do my gram. essay tonight, but I thought of my storyline, so I'm going to go ahead and do it.  Even though it's already 12:30.  (sigh)  I want to sleep, but I should write this essay.  I'll go do that now.  I love you, Jamie!

[Later]

I just finished my essay - I wrote it in less than 1/2 hour, and I think it's fairly good.

France - 11/27/00

11/27/00

I'm going to try to call Venice tomorrow.  I have to remember!  I'll call the Charrons Thursday or Friday, also, to ask about January.  I just finished my mug of hot tea, my hair is in as much of a ponytail as it can be at this length, and I'm going to write some Christmas cards.  That, my sweatpants, and my fleece shirt make me feel all cozy.  I got to talk to my Jamie tonight!  He told me Mindy and Jeff are going to (at least, it's very likely) move to Portland, Oregon soon.  The earliest would be before Jamie gets back from visiting me.  I called him this morning before I left - it helps to hear an "I love you" before leaving.  Matt & Nat told me yesterday that their neighbor, Kim, had her baby.  (On Thanksgiving, I think)  I'm going to try to find her something from one of the baby shops, I think.  Also need to buy something for Natalie & Joel, Tony & Michelle, and Charlie & Caren.  And Christmas presents for Matt & Nat and a birthday present for Matt... (sigh)  But first things first - class tomorrow.  I love you, Jamie!