live from lyon...

It's not that I've been ignoring you, mes amis, it's just that I haven't had much access to the internet until now. Or a phone, really, until I got my brand new portable on friday. Lyon is beautiful. I may just stay here forever. Yesterday, though, I got to spend 10 hours at the train station waiting for all of the students to arrive. That wasn't so fun.

Now, alas, I must be off to take the students on an outing through Vieux Lyon, the medieval/renaissance part of town. And get ice cream.

Before. during, and after, by Gina. Magically, everything seems to fit. All that's left to add are toiletries, make-up, jewelry and other assorted little bits. I wonder how much they weigh...

This was my idea for the header of the new blog. Even with my mad paint skillz, it was turned down in favor of a better design by someone who knows what they're doing. The grand unveiling probably won't come until I'm actually in France, since the template is still being worked on. (and not by me- how great is that! because if it were me, you totally would have been stuck with this stick figure all year, along with the faculty and students of the French department at the U of O.) I'll link from this page when it's ready, hopefully this week. I don't know what kind of work I'll be doing when I arrive in Lyon, as the university is closed. Yes, closed. Completely closed. I've been told by Laurie that we can't get into the office for a while. The head of the program can't get into the office. This is how the French take a vacation. And hey, anyone read about all those British Airways/London flight problems? Guess where I'm flying on Monday? Oh yes, London. On British Airways (an airline that I like). Then the connecting flight from London to Lyon. This, mes amis, could be interesting.

Hey, at least the paint skillz me has red hair. Because I do too. And not much of it, at the moment.

Ladies and Gentlemen, mes amis, say hello to my new friend, CompactFlash 128 mb. CompactFlash, the people. What does this mean? Well, it means that you'll have to deal with even more pictures, because this puppy holds like a million! (note- million is author's own estimate and may or may not be true to actual number) Tons more photos, here we come.

Houston, on a un probleme continues...

For any of you who thought the shoe situation wasn't nearly as bad as it is, I provide visual proof. There are, count them, 21 pairs of shoes currently lined up. Oh dear. Also, still not sure why the camera is taking wonky pictures today. Today I also received the correct laptop sleeve from Timbuk2, thereby restoring all my faith in their customer service. And it's perfect and exactly what I need. Sigh.

Shoes, glorious shoes!

Houston, on a un probleme. And what is said, probleme, you ask? Well, mainly, the mass quantity of shoes posessed by yours truly. If you know me at all, you know about my affinity for shoes. Some may call it an obsession. I call it a special interest. But this interest persists, and it's currently hindering the packing process. Now, I'm a great packer. A few weeks? A month? Even two months, I can do easily. Almostanentireyear? A bit harder. Now, normal people might not fret at how many shoes they'll need, but I do. Will it hurt a shoe's feelings if it gets left behind? And what if I leave a pair behind and then really need it? HELP! THIS COULD BE A REAL PROBLEM!!! But, at this time in a week I'll be asleep in my apartment in Lyon. Scary, isn't it? Me loose in another country. Danger Will Robinson, danger danger! I was finally able to access my reservation on britishairways.com- always good to know that I and my flights exist.

Last night, after milkshakes (lovely), Sarah (aka Sarita) and I saw possibly the worst movie ever made. I will not name it here for fear of spreading the evil, but it features J-Lo. At least we only payed $3. But really, we went in with no expectations at all, and were still dissapointed. Michael Vartan, how could you do this to us? Note that Sarah chose this movie, and that i have complete power over our next selection. In an effort to cleanse myself, I saw Bride and Prejudice tonight, with the mom and dad (back from his and Mike's cross-country adventure). I am biased because I a)love the director, who's name I cannot spell, but who did Bend it Like Beckham, b) I love Bend it Like Beckham, c)I love Bollywood and d) I'm a sucker for bright colors and songs and dancing. That said, it was very good. Fun, too. Even la picky mother enjoyed it. Dad didn't seem to know what to make of it, but said he liked it.

I was trying to explain blogging to the afore-mentioned bestest-friend-Sarita, and ended up telling her that for me, it's basically a group of friends that all have blogs or blog-type-things and read each others. Instead of emails, we comment. Thinking about it, I think that's very true. Sort of cool isn't it? At my best count we have April-writes-better-than-most-of-us-and-still-has-phenomenal-taste-in-movies, E's-getting-an-impressive-PhD-and-teaching-and-doing-more-interesting-things-in-Philly, Emily B-knows-a-lot-about-music-and-owns-more-cds-than-most-everyone-else-I-know, Liz-moved-to-Norway-but-is-coming-back-for-grad-school, Laura-actually-has-a-job-in-Chicago-and-is-still-ultra-cool-in-the-oboe-way, Erin-has-a-real-job-and-real-large-apartment-but-is-still-the-Erin-we-know-and-love, with occasional appearances from Emilee-all-grown-up, and Lauren-keeps-disappearing-but-is-still-my-little-sister. Anyone else to add? Phantom readers that know us too? Phantom other friends? Jenny, are you out there? Heather? Anyone? I guess this is the crazy we-went-to-Ripon-College group. Because no matter how far away you are, you always went to Ripon. And it's mostly a I-was-a-Delta-Psi group too (sorry Laura! ). Hmmm. Even if these are the only people that ever read this, I'm happy because it keeps us semi-connected. Technology!

I miss my Eugene friends. I am reminded of this when something happens like Emily telling me about her dream about ninjas. No, for real people. I'm glad I'm moving on, but wish I could take everyone with me in my pocket. But would they all fit in my pocket? And the people that left earlier, after first year. Why can't everyone I like just move together, in a group? Then my life wouldn't feel so separated and divided into definite parts that I never get to mix. And that's just no good. I want everyone to know everyone! Friends, meet my friends. So there.

How-to-use-a-Roundabout, for Americans 

Shangri-la, or the view from my bedroom here. (I don't know why the picture is sort of funny-pixley in the middle) 

Sarah and her car match! But they are sadly both blurry. 

Less-blurry Sarah, still with the matching. 

No, you're not! 

The chair is my favorite, the one piece of furniture I brought back from Eugene. I had to love it a lot to save it and have it live in Tucson for a year. And yes, in preparation for the impending departure, I cut off all of my hair. Well, not all of it. But quite a bit (what you don't see is that the back is even shorter. And by short I mean short). It's also my favorite red again.

It's Sunday night- aren't you all excited? Oh fuck, I just remembered that I need to upload many cds to the computer this week, since I'm not taking many actual cds with me. Sorry, if I didn't write that, I'd forget to do it. But anyway, Tucson is Tucson, but a few interesting things have actually been going on. Mike and Dad left on their cross-country trip (well, Tucson to Indianapolis for Dad) Saturday morning, so Friday we all went to El Charro for dinner. If you've heard of Mexican food in Tucson, there's a good chance that you've heard of El Charro. It's wonderful and delicious and fun. We cheat and go to the East side location instead of the original downtown, but we like to think it's better over here. And look at my margarita! (for anyone who's interested, the tablecloth is actually oilcloth, made in Mexico and easily available in Tucson. It comes in tons of bright colors and patterns and is a fabulous table-covering substance, as it wipes clean. ) The guys are fine, and currently in Oklahoma. Yeah, we feel sorry for them too.
Mom and I celebrated by having a huge house party and drinking every last bit of alcohol in the house. No, that's not true. Or is it? But no matter what really went down, I've been enjoying spending time with my mom and running around Tucson. I could give you a hundred reasons why I love my mom, but very near the top would be her support of what I do and the choices I make. (That's also near the top of the list for things I love about my dad, joined by "he watched Teletubbies with me" and "he drinks as much, if not more, coffee than I do")
It's monsoon season here, which measn that almost every day big, thick, grey clouds roll in and sprinkle down at least a little bit of rain (sometimes featuring a free-gift-with-purchase side of thunder, lightning or wind). It's a nice break from constant heat. But hey, it's been under 100 for several days now! Cooling down!
And now, everyone, I'm going to watch the end of Garden State. Because I can.

still life with pizza slice

Ok mes amis, you all need to look at this picture and focus in on the pizza my crazy brother is eating. This is why Brooklyn Pizza is great- huge mushrooms and fresh spinach leaves. Mine was equally as good (but you'll have to take my word for it, since I have no pictures to prove it). Also an ad from the Tucson Weekly for getting on the fast track to [your] college degree. Hmm.
Good luck driving across the country Mike!

Well, Sir, since you're planning on fighting the underworld...

I love E's cd! She is special and wonderful! And she and Emily and April will all get things from me before I leave the country. I'm not a bad friend, just the world's best procrastinator. Really, true story. And people? Please go see Batman Begins. There are NINJAS in this movie. Real ninjas. I LOVE ninjas. And people with a self-proclaimed "double life." It's like my French classes all over again. Except with superheroes, and stuff. I love superhero movies. I do, really. One year I was Batgirl for Halloween (this did not end well, though). I understand that this is not the bestmovieevermade, but it's fun and partially scary and great to watch. I was giddy, even. And for all of you who were waiting with baited breath, after a two million year wait, I saw Napoleon Dynamite. Like my brother, I was vaguely uncomfortable for the entire movie, but it's worth it. Ask me about it again later.

And now, presenting- A few days in Tucson with Gina (featuring special guests Sarah and Mike)

Sarah, Mike, and the disposal method for "inedible grease." No, really. I swear this is true, and that they said it was really gross. 

My opinion of nutella? Thumbs up! 

Crepe set-up chez moi. 

Mike! Frozen yogurt! Candy! 

Penguin's Yogurt- The #1 Choice Frozen Yogurt of Young Adults! 

Pony-on-the-Finger ate frozen yogurt too. Actually, he ate my yogurt- strawberry with gummy bears- what could be better? 

Mike's all professional! I'm sure Mom loves it when we show up at her office and cause a disturbance. 

Dear Timbuk2, this is NOT my laptop sleeve. Love, Gina 

Green with envy

Let's hope I meet a very tall Frenchman. Don't hate me because I have fabulous new green shoes, hate me because they were tres en solde, making them tres cheap. Ha. I could make the walk to work in these, couldn't I? Or I could save them for going out. Mais, elles sont super mignonnes, n'est-ce pas?
Oh Gina, you say, have you done anything besides buy shoes? But buying ribbon pink flats with black and white polka-dots is important! Ok, so yes, I have done other things. I bought belts too. Wait, that's not what you wanted to hear, is it? Yesyesyes, I have done other things. Most of these things involve spending time with my bestest friend Sarah, like our dinner tonight with her family. Which was wonderful. At Cafe Terra Cotta, if you care, or are planning to visit Tucson in the near future. (note- if you're planning to visit Tucson whydidn'tyoutellme?) I've also been going to the movies (The Interpretor, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) and reading about a million books at once. This is what happens when I have no books to read for classes- I can't control myself and go crazy reading everything in sight. All at the same time. I'm still working through A Suitable Boy, rereading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, trying to remember where I put Reading Lolita in Tehran so I can finish it, remembering that I'm only two pages into La Disparition, and getting ready to start the Mays of Ventadorn. Oh, and there is apparently a copy of the DaVinci Code floating around the house somewhere, and I'm interested to see if it lives up to the hype, and feel that it's such a cultural icon now that I should just read it. All that and I still want to buy Cooking for Mr. Latte to read before I leave or on the plane. Speaking of plane reading, it's a long flight. So that means lots of books or lots of crossing fingers for a good movie. Because that always works.

I'm leaving two weeks from tomorrow (well, today actually, if you want to be specific). Oh shit. Before I can pack and ship things (winter clothes and coats) I need to finish (or mostly start) unpacking the stuff. If anyone wants to do this for me, I'm willing to give them a cookie. Really. A whole cookie. Yum yum!

April, I loved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I'm just sayin... But I love you too, so that should even things out, shouldn't it? Also, since Johnny Depp lives in France now and I'm going to France very soon, I'm hoping that he'll be my friend. That works, doesn't it? Right? I'm nothing if not logical. Which makes me what?