I'm Back

Well I know it has been quite a while since I sat down and wrote something so I have a lot of updates for you. Or maybe not that many because I saw some of you when I was home for the 4th of July. The weekend before that was more time to relax and prepare to go home, although I did go with Kathy for the day to another part of Luxembourg called Remish. This is along the river and reminds me a little of the shorelines you see along the coast, no white sandy beaches but little shops and restaurants along the water, it was really a nice place. We ended up taking a wine tour there at one of the wine caves called St. Martin. This would have been a little more informative had the whole tour not been in German! If it was not for Kathy having been on some of the wine cave tours before I would have left there not knowing anything except that the wine tasted pretty good! I bought one bottle of Riesling and one bottle of Champagne to bring home to give everyone a taste of the vineyards here, and they became part of the 4th of July celebration. Or at least the Riesling did, then champagne went home with my cooler and some of my beer and hard iced tea to Melissa's house, So maybe it will be around for Labor Day instead :) The trip back to the US was a whirlwind trip to say the least, but I am really glad that I went. I was able to see most of my friends and my family and to enjoy the 4th of July. Thursday was spent pretty much running errands. I got my haircut, Thanks Denise! I really needed it I am sure. I also got my nails done and my toes. This is so expensive over here, it is not worth the money really, Thankfully I had thought to pack my own pedicure kit, but it is always nice to be pampered. Then Friday of course was the 4th of July. It started in the morning with the parade, which I was a little afraid was going to be a washout, but the sun came out enough to keep it from raining and the parade was great. I had coffee and donuts for everyone and more donuts and pastries thanks to Gayle and Maggie. As fate would have it my friend Laurence was coming to Boston on a business trip about the same time I was coming home for my holidays. So I invited her down for the festivities. I picked her up at the train station and brought her back. We had the grill going and the side dishes out and people were arriving, it was a blast. Dan and Donna announced to me that they got engaged while I was away. I gave Dan a hard time for not calling me, but in all honesty I was so happy for them and really touched that they wanted to wait to tell me in person. So their cookout I went to the next day was really an engagement party. Talk about timing! the cookout was a great time and this year it was still nice, a little cool, at night, so we made it to the fireworks too. It was really the perfect day. Then on Saturday, I drove Laurence back to Boston so she could meet up with her other friends and I went to the engagement party. It was great to see the band, Dan and Donna, and their families. Also I got to see Sylvester 3 times in my five days home, strange how that happens that you just keep seeing people. Since they ran out of Polaroid film by the time Sylvester and I were going to get out pictures taken, I drew a cartoon for them instead. If you have ever seen the cartoons I draw they usually have their arms sticking straight out so when they found a camera to take our picture, Sylvester made sure that his arms were sticking straight out so that we were standing exactly like the cartoon, I must say it was kind of funny, but maybe you had to be there. Sunday was the day I returned back to Luxembourg. We did the lighting round of shopping at Derby street and then it was off to the airport. It was so nice to be flying back with Laurence. I did not get to sit with her on the way to London, but I had someone it hang out with the rest of the time and to sit with on the flight to Luxembourg. I was so tired. I cannot believe that I actually decided to work as soon as I got off the plane. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I was planning to stay up for the jet lag anyway, but by the end of the day it was hard to keep my eyes open. It really took me almost the whole week to recover. But here I am, more or less back to normal and ready for the my next visitor. My friend Dave is arriving on Tuesday afternoon, we are playing it by ear in deciding what we are going to do, but either way it should be fun. Yesterday, Kathy and I went to Vianden, yet another part of Luxembourg I had yet to explore. this is where all the castles are. We went to the castle Vianden. This was interesting to see, it would have been nice if they had I guided tour, but Kathy had a book with her and this was enough for me to get some of the history, and I got to see a castle other than the one at the Magic Kingdom! Then we took the only Chair lift in Luxembourg up to the scenic overlook to take more pictures. The pictures were great, but the ride down on the chair lift made my knees go weak (good thing I was sitting down!). I know a lot to cram into one entry but it has been a fast couple weeks and I am sure that the rest of the time here will go that fast now too. Less than two more months now until I return to the US and start planning my next adventures!