Don't worry, I'm not dead. Yet. Tomorrow I drive off to commence the trek to New Jersey, with Junior Year waiting for me on the other end.
Since I missed August entirely, here are the top five highlights of life since last I wrote:
1) Finishing work a week before I had to leave Paris, and using that time to work on my NaNoWriMo novel from 2007. The one about my French godfathers. It was great to work on it in Paris (sometimes while sitting in the Palais Royal gardens). I finished my second draft and sent it to a handful of well-liked and well-trusted people to read it and give me feedback. We'll see what that means.
2) Returning to Midwestern Town and picking up with my parents' Friday evening tradition of drinks at The Bar, where the bartenders are awesome. One was a horticulture major! Another is giving me advice on wines for my novel! All are very nice, and sometimes give me my Pepsi on the house.
3) The trip to Colorado/San Francisco fever. While on our annual trip west I had my parents read the seven Tales of the City books. We talked a lot about California, the seventies, squeezing the Charmin, AIDS, womanizers, adjusted expectations, and gardening. Nice.
4) Return to Midwestern Town and reunion with high school friends. I saw everyone I wanted to see and got done everything I wanted to do.
5) Labor Day visit to the SoCal branch of the family, which included cousin bonding time, a swim in the ocean, a whiffle ball victory, and last but not least a wonderful family dinner at the Four Seasons.