Proper Send Off

Ok, wow, the past few weeks have been so crazy. I'll keep it short, but I survived final research papers and exams (can we say brutal?!) and floated on Cloud 9 through graduation. My parents were in town and I got to play tour guide in New York City which was tiring, but great fun. I got to eat nightly meals of my favorite: filet mignon, mushrooms and mashed potatoes...yum! Yeah, I'm sick of meat but then I remember how tired I'll be of falafel and pita in a few weeks and I know I'll be wishing I had a big piece of red meat in front of me.

Me and Van

I'm now in South Orange at Vanessa and Chris' place. They gave me a proper send-off with you guessed it: filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes, mushrooms and veggies. And as good friends do, they remembered my favorite wine: Yellow Tail Shiraz (thank you Australia for making a great wine!). And it wouldn't be complete without chocolate mousse pie and fresh fruit. AND (yeah, it doesn't stop there), Van gave me an italian charm bracelet complete with several charms already intact...it's so much fun. Oh, did I mention the two hour marathon of 'Desperate Housewives'??!!

Me and Van at graduation dinner

It's funny because in the past I thought a good send-off meant billions of your "closest" friends around to celebrate. Over time, you realize who your good frieds are and tonight has been a good reminder of that...those who are there for you through your stressful times and take the care to prepare your favorite meals and take good care of you (quarters for laundry, driving to Target for the billionth time, holding on to fragile pottery you're too fearful to ship, etc).

SO--I'm off tomorrow morning bright and early and perhaps about 24 hours later I'll be in Egypt. While some of my fellow graduates are already off to proper jobs next week and others are still searching--I'm just skipping all of that and escaping to go travel. Well, to each his own I guess.

Me, Van and Houda at Graduation

As most of you know me, I could go on forever but I'll stop here. I guess y'all will hear from me next in Egypt.

Take Care!!

Vanessa and Chris