Where did all the teens go?

I can't believe that it's October all ready! But more, I can't believe I'm going to be 20! Holy cow! I'm not going to be a teen anymore!

Went downtown today because I successfully read every book I packed for the three months...oopsie! So I bought two new books. I'm starting to really worry about space in the suitcases...

So, wedding stuffs update. John and I are thinking that rather than having a wedding cake (cause neither of us is a huge fan of cake) we would have a chocolate fountain, and a candy counter. Chocolate fountain, my idea. Candy counter, John's idea. I love both! Hope are guests aren't hugely disappointed about not having cake!
Besides...who says you have to have cake at your wedding, just cause all the cool kids do it doesn't mean we have to! And no, Marie Antoinette DID NOT SAY "Let them eat cake." Just thought you all should know : )

The ITSY Bitsy Spider

Well, I made a new friend here in France. He's dark, with long legs, and eight lovely, FREAKY eyes. Yes, he is a spider. A very creepy spider. With VERY long hairy legs.
I was just sitting on the couch, minding my own business, when I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. Now, something to keep in mind, the pattern on our coach is very busy (as you can partially see from the picture), so it took me a moment to discern the pattern from my new buddy chilling next to me.
But I can definitely say that it didn't take me a moment to leap off the couch and start pulling the typical "girl hops around" pose. I managed to capture the little bugger (after chasing him all over the couch, behind the door, and under a table with a floor length drape).
Let me just say, he was FAST! Holy cow. Did I mention he has really freaky long legs? At one point, no joke, I thought there had to be at least three of them running around. I didn't see how it was possible for him to be scarpering behind the door, and then suddenly two inches from my hand on the couch armrest. Freaky... But anyways.
I captured him in a tupperware. I left the tupperware on the counter with a note saying, "DON'T TOUCH! (TRUST ME)" This morning, I transfered him to a blue glass jar to show to my dad after he got home from work. He then set him free...I hope he doesn't come back for revenge...

The red spiral is the same size as my palm...

And the chase begins...

After sealing my new bff in his jar, I got ready to meet Justine and Marion downtown. I got there just a little after the scheduled time (due to complications with the bus ride). Claire met up with us shortly after and we retreated from the rain into a salon de thé (tea house). We attacked our noses with wonderful smells of different teas for a few minutes, and then decided to get a snack at a café.
We went to a little place and got some drinks. I got a sirop de pomme vert (green apple sirop). Essentially, what they do is pour a glass of water, and then add a flavored sirop to it. There are probably hundreds of different sirop flavors. Justine got violette and Marion got mangue (mango). We each tried each others, and I definitely liked mine best, but all three were super delicious. I also had a sip of Claire's green tea, which was pretty darn good as well.
We wandered through a couple shops and then it was time for me to head back home for dinner. A very good day. Especially for the cold and rainy weather.

Hello, my name is Taylor, and I have a problem...

Read half of the 7th Harry Potter today...I have a serious addiction problem...  : )

Happy Birthday to me!...Happy Birthday to me!...Happy...Birth...no? sad

Well, mom and I road into Strasbourg today to get some of our weekend travel train tickets reserved. We got Paris booked for this weekend. Nice booked for the following weekend. Then we asked the woman to look up London. My parents had agreed to go to London for my birthday weekend. But, after looking up the trains for Strasbourg to Paris, Paris to London, we discovered it would be an extra 600 euros round trip. Yikes. So, no London for my birthday.
Then we went over to Germany to get a few things, and I stopped to get a little retail therapy. I got a really cute skirt, sweater, and earrings. I feel a little better. : )

Something that makes me feel A MILLION times better, is thinking about a boy waiting for me at home... who apparently bought something small, expense, and sparkly last night...happy happy happy

The Great Fly Inquisition!

Today was another lazy down around the house. Just some housework and a quick stop at the store was all that was on our agenda.
But during the day, it's nice to have the windows propped open to allow the fresh country air to filter through... the only problem... the flies. Les mouches! None of the houses here have screens on their windows. We asked Justine's family about this the other night, and they just shrugged. They, being in the city, don't really have a fly problem. But we do.
All day long you're able to see at least two flies zooming around the living area. My theory is that they are drawn her because of the restaurant directly across the street. There's also a smell drifting around occasionally of horses or cows. It's possible that a nearby corn field uses a manure fertilizer. But, for whatever reason, the little pests are never far away.
This afternoon, it was simply too much! I closed the windows and stalked the living room with one of the small couch pillows. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that I have inherited my mothers brilliant fly killing expertise. Today, I think the score was

Mom : 6        Me : 2. 

Very sad. I'll have to find a good technique!
My mom had a few moments of down time to go fly hunting. At first, she was just using a pot-holder...then she realized how gross it was to be killing flies with a kitchen utensil. So she grabbed the manual for our washing machine/dryer, rolled it up and went on the hunt.
At one point she smacked the wall not three inches from my head, not only missing the fly, but scaring the ba-jeepers out of me. Then she saw one dozing on the floor and was on the prowl.
Like a lioness kills food for her cubs, this fly wasn't getting away, no sir! She crept up behind it...and BAM! "Got it." 5 seconds later she'd killed a second. Merrily scooping him up and saying "and your brother too!" I have to applaud her skills.

Before our little fly killing spree, I went wandering around our village for the first time (other than just walking to the bus stop and the grocery store). I wandered into the center, past our tiny Cathedral. Enjoying the beautiful flowers everywhere and the quaint, Alsacian style homes.

Our local Mairie, town hall, with gorgeous flowers spilling from every windowsill, and framing the entrance.

the Artisan Boulangerie, bakery, down the corner from us. Closed at the moment because the woman that runs it was taking her lunch.

La poste, the post office

Our local église (church), or Cathedral, if you like. I am able to see the steeple from my bedroom window.

Our only rond-point, roundabout. These are the equivalent of intersections (major intersections) in America. So basically our town is so small it has only one major intersection!

One of the more "run-down" houses. Basically, all the houses are about the same age...just well kept. This one just shows the age of the town.