Dropping the Ball, Jza. Dropping the Ball....

So I gotta take advice from Trey and "get my head in the game." To give you the long, boring blablabla in one word: busy.

But.

On to the beauty! Where did we leave off? Right before Jo arrived? Great. This is pinnacle moment. Jozanne arrived and my head and heart were in the sky. My being away from lovely, frustrating Cataluyna so much has made it difficult for me to feel rooted here. In fact, there is so much I dislike about the city, which I don't mean to say it's not beautiful, but I don't like it. So in part, my lack of preparation, my exhaustion and frazzledness translate to immediately strained affairs between Jo and I. There was definitely a feeling of rubbing two opposing materials together, because Jo and I -- different birds, same nest. So similar enough to want the closeness and strange enough to be set back. You know? But after I took my head from my own rear end, we were able to make progress and actually got a kick out of jesting about the things that make me uncomfortable here: my inability to enjoy the infamous nightlife that is one of Barca's main draws, the overpriced, yucky food, famous Catalan coldness and tempers, and many other little things. In the end, we ended up in Paris, gray and glistening and think went through a painful, transition that ended up with us on the threshold of a new stage of our relationship. Exciting, no?


Versaille was singular and breathtaking, and Koons exhibit there was alternately obnoxious and coy, but all in all, I was breathlessly impressed and giggling at the Erotic museum and touring around the chilly city, watching fog nestling the Seine with my lovely sis was a memory I never will forget. One for the lifetime awards.



When I got back, I caught up with SARAH SMITH! Yea! Sarah Smith is proof that time and distance don't affect love if you want it badly enough. And man, we both want it, I love that girl like it's my job, but we have the grace of a relationship that ebbs and flows with such beauty that it is as natural as breathing. Right from Paris, I was greeted by her lovely blue, bright eyes, and I proceeded to try once again to show the lovely sides of Barcelona.



It was awesome and relaxing and I love love love how Sarah accepts me with the calm and cool that is absolute trademark Sa. Smith. Once again, I felt distracted and emotionally off kilter, so I wanted to kick myself for not giving her the joyous Janelle...but I think she didn't resent me for it.

This time was pretty tough for me emotionally, having trouble fitting in the dormitory because of the time I spend away from it, language issues, missing home and friend troubles. Realising that change taking place thousands of miles away still hurt as if they are right in your face. But once again, I found that I was forgetting the root of it all, and with some help from my friend (hey! I get by with a little help from my friends!) and a heckalot of prayer, I feel relieved.

This weekend was a trip to Amdam. All in all, the trip wasn't something I'd repeat but wonderful. The train situation was hellish, and I am broke beyond belief now because of mistakes the train made. The trains we needed to connect back to Barca were running late, and the man decided not to even TELL us this fact, so after bustling around, losing our minds, we ended up having to book a last minute flight. Genius. And the city was hailing and f-f-freezing. I mean, terribly so. And Kapy and I got trapped outside, huddled and brain muddled just wanting to be warm and curled up with some stroopwaffles.


But onto the good stuff: it was gorgeous. If you've heard about the drug scene in Amdam you've only heard part of the story. It's all canals and old, beautiful buildings. Remarakably clean and unique. It was my first Scandinavianish country, and it was a delight. The people were sweet as pie and twice as useful and helpful. It just was a wonder. Plus our adorable Texan hostess told us about how she feel in love with Amdam, moved there after college and works as an au pair: they pay for her housing, travel and visa fees -- she lives in Amdam and loves life and plays with children all day.


In other news, we got home and I hunched over the computer to get work done. I want my mind to be clear and my spirites to be high when JT arrives. I can not wait. He will be here ... tomorrow.



No words.

But all is well, if ever-changing and confusing and new and exciting.

I am currently in the works of trying to figure out a few things that the bible says I shouldn't discuss, but always can use prayers for guidance and for, hopefully, being able to have the proper base for what I do.

But that is me as of now.
In a condensed shortened super secret bloggy way.

Yours,

Janelle