My goodness!! It has been over a month since my last blog! Apologies! Here is my excuse: I have gotten so busy lately being back to school and working on my thesis that more time on the computer, yes even for blogging, is a bummer. Aside from this the weather has been fantabulously sunny and not to take advantage of sun in Groningen in the Fall is a sin. Really. It's almost illegal....
SO to catch everyone up to speed quickly and painlessly as possible, I'll start where I left of nearly 6 weeks ago...
At the end of August I was able to visit my dear friend Miriam on her birthday in Cologne, Germany. It was nice to see her and visit a new city and I also got to chat with some old mutual friends of our which is always lovely. Thanks for having me girl!!
The following weekend Franzi was finally able to come to Groningen for a visit! We had a great 4 days together as we toured the city on foot and by bike, took a yoga class, had ourselves a nice long run together and she even joined us at pub quiz! Thanks for coming my dear!! I can't wait until our next reunion! We always have so much fun! :D
A few weekends following I participated in a Saturday market selling my jam which was great....until it rained the whole time!! haha But the company was good and we warmed ourselves with hot mustard soup to make it through. I enjoyed myself regardless and even made some cash! 
Other than this I must say lately life is more or less average these days with not a lot to report :) I have been able to catch up with all my friends in town, Gerben and I went bowling, I started talking salsa lessons with my language partner, Raouf (OMG such fun we are so awesomely bad!!), Charlie is happy and dandy as ever and I spend lots and lots of time doing research....dull but productive, at least most of the time! So rather than bore you with details about that, here is a small picture collage instead:
So that's pretty much all for now! haha Short and sweet today I'm afraid to say. My main task now is preparing for this lady to arrive!!! Yup, Mom will be here Friday this week for a long visit and I really just can't wait to see what adventures we have together!
I am not only happy to have Moms company (as always!), but also comforted that we will be together on what would be Neil's 22nd birthday (October 10). An alarm in my phone went off yesterday reminding me to send him a birthday card so it would arrive in the USA on time. I had set it last year so I wouldn't forget, and to be honest I'm not sure I want to remove it from my phone yet...maybe I'll let it remind me for a few more years... It's hard to believe I won't call or buy him a gift card. It's a first in 22 years... It breaks my heart really, but here we are, and here is a message for the birthday boy:
It is our first 10/10 without you Spud, and we will try to celebrate the best we can. You are so cataclysmically loved and missed here. Happy Birthday little brother, make it a god one.
xxoo
