If it's Sunday, I must be blogging

When life gives you stress, make cake. No really, make cake. I'm not completely piled under the stress anymore, due to that little graduation I went through where I wore the funny gown and hood and hat. Remember that? So I only needed a small cake. You may remember my last yogurt cake from May, when it featured raspberries. This time I changed recipes, to one from one of my new favorites, Orangette, and it became a lemon-ginger yogurt cake. Well, not "poof! I'm a lemon-ginger cake!" But you get the picture. It's delicious, and Jen, direct from Chicago (sorry I called you at 2am yesterday!), made me promise to save her some.

Tomorrow the 5 week countdown to France begins. The first trip, Eugene to Tucson, has started to become more tangible. Today I sold large amounts of my furniture (but to a great and IKEA-loving family), so the apartment is starting to slowly empty. I've been ending a lot of my phone conversations with "We should do something this week, because I'm leaving soon." And I am. I'm so excited for the new adventure, but I'm being reminded that with every move I make I'm leaving more friends scattered all over the country. From Michigan to Arizona to Wisconsin to Arizona to Oregon- every time I leave I've made wonderful friends, but they're not always leaving, or going where I am. I guess this gives me more places to visit later. Did you hear that people? I'm cooooooming! But not for a year. Lyon is waiting, mes amis. And l'appartement. Did I tell you that I had an apartment? Because I do. It has a terasse and everything. Except, well, an oven. Apparently I can buy a 'mini-four,' and Emily has assured me that I can bake small amounts in that. I can't imagine a year without baking. I'll live less than 10 minutes away from Lyon 2, and, it seems, very close to across the street from Marc's school for next year (I'm still awaiting details of this). I do need to find a roomate, though, because it's a 2-bedroom and I can't support myself in a 2-bedroom by myself. Who's moving with me? And when are you all coming to visit?

I haven't taught since June. I'm starting to miss it already. Next year I won't be teaching, but more helping with the program and doing what they need done. No games of "quel est ton probleme?" or "est-ce quelque chose?" or "la double-vie d'Eliana." Sad people, sad. But they will return another day in another place.