The Morning After...

Well, well... It's almost 10 am and I'm a little groggy from yesterday's wonderful picnic... in spite of some REALLY rainy weather in the morning and early afternoon.... I am really happy that we didn't have to cancel it- after a month of planning and preparation! Thanks so much to all of you who weathered the weather.. hehehe... We had a really wonderful time and it was really nice to meet you after knowing you in Blogland for awhile now!! Nice to put some faces to the blogs... Justin and Rochelle were are most far-traveled guests- from Bourgogne and Metz -- Thanks so much for coming, it was really a pleasure to meet you both!! And I hope to see you both again soon!! To new faces-- Opal, Leandro, Jose and Judith from Mexico City (living in Antony for quite some years now... And to familiar faces-- Barbara and Didier, Patricia, Anais, Sam, Amy, Isabelle, Murielle, Herve', Floriane, Sophie, and Clara (My student and her family), Nadia, Elias and family... and of course, my wonderful STAR husband Alex... who helped me shop and prepare everything for the picnic and who lugged it all from the car to the grass ... Thanks to friends who helped lug it all back to the car at the end of the picnic.. it was much easier with all of your help!!

To all of you who called to check in and also to let me know you couldn't make it.. A big thank you to you all and we are sorry that you couldn't make it... you were all missed.. but I TOTALLY understand because the weather wasn't really behaving nicely and it was hard to tell weather the rain would return.. No fun having a picnic under the rain!!!

Surprising... when Justin called to let me know he arrived at the gare... he must have brought some really good energy with him because when he arrived the rain stopped and didn't come back again at all the entire day.. Soooo, thanks Justin..
The weather was warm... though gray... with small clearings from time to time, do not bad at all...
We had a nice walk around the park in the afternoon... We finished up around 6 ish.. So, in all, it was a really great day...
Thanks again to all ... it was really a nice way to celebrate- Canada Day, 4th of July and 14 juillet together..

I am definitely going to plan for another picnic at the end of the summer... But what I would like to do is to organize some get togethers in the park... Not a picnic.. but just a get together.. to sit in the park.. there is a nice coffee stand... that sells sandwiches, crepes, pastries, icies... and other stuff.. but moreover, just to give people the chance to get out of Paris and visit the banlieu.. the wonderful Parc de Sceaux.. and meet up with others for a good time - a social gathering and a walk in the gorgeous Parc while the weather is nice... I would like to organize one for next weekend... and maybe the weekend after..
Let me know if you are interested... Take care, Leesa

P.S. Pictures to follow sometime today...

Barbara from Home in France has already posted some nice pics on her blog and talked about the picnic... Can't wait to see everyone's pictures..

4th of July to us in France...

from my dad!

Merci Laurent!!

Awwww... Laurent is leaving his tv program (one of them).  I like this guy.. He's adorable and he is funny and charming.  It's not often that I find French presentateurs that I like, just Laurent and Arthur (who I think is also cute and adorable and charming/cocky).  

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY Everyone!!!!

Hello to all my friends, family and all... I'm sorry I won't be there with you all to celebrate this grand day in HISTORY... It's my second 4th of July in France!!  No fireworks for me this year.. but I do have a grand ol' picnic American style lined up tomorrow in the park... NO RAIN, please!!!  I can't wait.. I'm looking forward to sharing the days with friends and also with many new people whom I haven't yet met, but looking very forward to meeting!!  Being an American is something very important to me, especially now that I live abroad.  Since I have lived in France (two years in August), I realized something about living in America... That Americans really LOVEEEEEEE to PARTTTYYYY!!!  Yep, that's me!!! I don't mean get drunk and make a fool of yourself party... but I mean... "PARTY" in the sense of inviting people together to have good food and conversations and to have a fun time!!  I think Americans are always looking for any occasion to party.. That's probably why there are so many holidays!!!  Yay.. for three day weekends!! YAHHHHHOOOO!!!! HAPPY 4th of July!!!!

I'm from Southern California...

ONE THING I HAVE TO SAY.... AMERICANS,  YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO PARTY!!!!  

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO YOU ALL..... GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

La Jolla Cove where I went to watch the fireworks for MANY, MANY years- about 11 total... Got there at 7 am and put the stuff down, left it there and came back at around noon.  By then, there was NO free space on the grass.  The fireworks took place at 9 pm with the band playing and me and Johnny (Hawaii) joined in with our OOOOOOOOHHHHH and AHHHHHHSSSS  the very loudest we could!!

  Hmmmmm... I think I know this lifegaurd!!!!!
Pacific Beach....
Mission Beach
Pacific Beach again
and this is how we ROLL.... on the 4th of July.... in San Diego!!!!! 

Bollywood....

WHO doesn't love Bollywood films, with their bright, flashy colours, exotique dances and enchanting songs?? I have always been a fan of Indian music and dance... but only discovered Bollywood about 6 years ago or so... So, now... I am watching "Coup de Foudre" - "Bride and Prejudice," with my ALL TIME FAVOURTE Bollywood star--- Aishwarya Rai--- who has to be one of the most beautiful women in the world.

LIBERATION.............

"We are the national military.  You are free."