Sadness, but it's getting better.

My sweet Lovey died this week. She was nearly 15, and goldens never live that long. She was a real sweetheart. I'm doing ok with this, but I still sort of wish I'd been home.

Also, allergies are horrible because Besak can't decide on a season. I got some phytotherapeutic allergy meds this morning (the only thing at the pharmacy that wouldn't make me drowsy) so hopefully they'll improve soon. Between these two things, I've gone through a lot of tissues over the past few days...

I've started on the requested sketches. Rachel A, the card is ready but I have to photograph it before posting. Rachel M, I'll do yours today. Art is good. Jess, I still have to decide what I love most.

So yesterday Dad said I looked very French in the photo where I'm in front of Notre Dame, and he asked if I felt French. I said no, mostly I feel like a very out-of-place conservative American, and he said that's probably a good thing. And I think it's true. I'm pretty proud of wanting friendship before anything relationshippy, and relationshippiness before anything romantic. Here, things tend to go in reverse. You have sex with someone, then you get to know them, and maybe you become friends. That doesn't work for me. I'm gonna hold onto my conservative Americanness. Also, European men are weird. As are all men who try too hard to be European. Yesterday I made a great effort to avoid any and all male personages, because there were all of two men in the world that I wanted to see or talk to: my dad and Ken. The only men I've really related to, atypical men at that. Good men. Hugs to both.

Wow that was a Rachely paragraph. Made up lots of fun words. Hobbitty love, do you agree?

Too much coffee and not enough breakfast makes Bessie something something.

I miss Galesburg. I miss having vacation after exams, and eating lots of rich food with my family, and meal night, and pug. I miss Rhode Island. It's vacation time, but I won't have a vacation until Christmas. So very strange, this France place.

Is it bad that I've decided to live a Lovey-like life? Sweet, not judging, warm and fuzzy... Begging based on cuteness... Full of love and joy. I think it's a good goal.

Also, I should have internet in my room by next week. Joy and IM for all!

Much love to all,
~Bess the red-eyed