Dancing Through Life

So I am now officially engaged to Nate Fox! So here's the story: We have been planning all week to go up the canyon on Thursday (May 5). I was pretty sure that was where he was going to propose (for those who don't know, we have been unofficially engaged for about three weeks - we had basically everything planned except the actual engagement!) but I didn't say anything. So the day finally came and we made preparations to go. We went and bought some starbursts and flavored tootsie rolls to roast. On our very first date, I taught him the correct way to roast starbursts so that is why he chose to do that on this day as well. Anyway, we finally headed up. When we got to Vivian park, we stopped at the first parking lot. We went to the pond area and took some pictures. Most of them didn't turn out so well, but a few did :) Then we went back to the car and headed farther up the canyon. When we got to the perfect (aka scoped out beforehand) spot, we got all the stuff out ...

My sister Rachel had her baby boy Benjamin earlier this morning. This is the 19th time I've been an aunt. And I still absolutely adore it. I get just as excited with each birth. He's a new life. He's a miracle. I love children. With Benjamin and Abi, his oldest sister. I love her face in this one! Isn't he just adorable? Look at that hair! Oh I love him :)

What could this possibly be? Well it is installation art. Which is probably the most exciting art there is. If you've never tried it, you haven't lived. So here's our concept. Our world today is drifting away from nature and becoming more connected to technology. However, there are still those hippies who are completely tied to nature. We made this literal with saran wrap. Now she is still tied to nature, but not quite so much. Perhaps this could represent someone who wants to go green. I don't know. The beauty of modern art is that you can make it mean whatever you want. Now Corinne here is only a little bit tied to nature. Sure, she'll recycle every once in a while, if it is convenient. I would say many people fall in this category. And finally, she represents someone who is completely relying on technology. Yeah, she is still connected to the saran wrap, but only because she has to step on nature sometimes to get around. What do you think?

17 credits + my TA job + a social ward = the most exhausted I think I may have ever been. But you know what? I love every minute of it.

I'll miss the metro, I'll miss the city, I'll miss the museums, I'll miss the tourist attractions, I'll miss the people, I'll miss the photo opportunities, I'll miss the rush. I'll miss this place. I got up early this morning, finished packing up, ate breakfast, then headed to the Roissy bus with Elisabeth and Ali. Who are, by the way, angels! I am so grateful to them for helping me. I absolutely could not have done it without them unless I got a taxi. And even then, I'm not sure. Once on the nice Roissy bus, I slept a little bit. It was good. SO much better than taking the RER B, which is what everyone else took who was on our flight. And it ended up being cheaper. Then we finally got to the airport. Elisabeth checked my duffel (thanks again!), which was fine on weight. Then I checked my large bag, except it was 4 kilo over. If I wanted to pay for that, it would be 150 euros. No thank you. So I had to get some stuff out of it. They gave me a AirFran...

Last day in Paris! I can't believe it. I'm sure gonna miss this place. Ali, Shamra, Mckell, Claire and I headed out to the city this morning. First stop was the Opera house. I finally got to see the inside this time! Beautiful. We had some fun :) Then we went to Berko's, the wonderful cheesecake place. It wasn't open and it was 11:35. We thought they wouldn't open until 12 but as we were sitting there waiting, they opened the doors! Yay! I got creme brulee cheesecake. Oh it was divine. This is one of the things I will miss most about Paris! Love it. Then Claire and I went to the Jewish museum. It was pretty interesting. I couldn't take many pictures. Then off to the Promenade Plantee. It was a really beautiful walk. I like this flower. It's weird. Then we walked back to the metro. It was quite a long walk so we were very tired! We went to the Louvre for a little internet time. Afterward, we went to Laudree to get a present for Greg and Martha. Then back to t...