Happy Birthday, UDHR.

Prop 8 Musical!

Star-studded humorous attack on the government. Good times for all!

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Someone forgot to tell me how bloody COLD it gets here!

Ok, well maybe someone briefly 

mentioned something, but I 

refused to listen. My b. 

This is the view from our house last weekend, before we went to Brussels on Monday.

It was so perfect, being on the train to Brussels, with snow falling all around us, like a Christmas card. True story!

Anywho, we stayed in Brussels from Monday morning until Thursday afternoon.

We were late the first day, and went straight to the European Commission press 

center for a couple of hours, where we were "lectured" by 2 people on Euro econ, 

then had 3 journalists tell us all about reporting life on the EU. Later we all went 

to find our hostel, then to a place called "Fodo Factory," which ended up being 

terrible and tasting like Denny's, but more expensive. Either way, we headed to

 an Irish bar and had a good rest of the evening. 

The next day we had to be up before the crack of dawn, around 630, and after taking the worst shower EVER, consisting of a drizzle of water down the wall, and then a normal amount shooting 7 feet across to the opposite wall, therefore not allowing for any normal flow for normal showering purposes. grrrr..

We headed back to the press center, where we had a FULL day ahead. More speakers, more Sarah sleeping. Then we headed to the press area of the European Parliament, sat where they had press conference, and talked to the old Prime Minister of Belgium. (He loves chocolate and waffles, as his body proved.) From there we went to a lunch at a Spanish restaurant where met the spokesman for the future EU presidency, the Czech Republic. From there we went back to the press center for more lectures/sleeping, then back to the hostel to get ready. We were going to a dinner provided by the European Journalism Center, and it seemed like an ok place where students would eat, but no no no, we were wrong.

Although there was free wine, the first course was a small glass of some sort of fruity-foam thing that was not delightful, then 2 lumps of something pureed that looked like hummus and was really good, but turned out to be PIGEON!!! worst.surprise.ever. then, there were carmelized onions and with a piece of prosciutto wrapped around them, and carrots on top, and then a piece of FOIE GRAS on top. What is that fancy French word, you ask?? Small DUCK LIVER! Ugh. Gag me. It sounds nice on Top Chef when they make it for every dish, but to think of the poor duck being fed practically till it explodes just ruins it all for me. I couldn't think of anything else, and although it was kkiiinnndddaaaa good, it tasted like cheese and thats weird. 

Then there was a fish dish, that I actually ate AND liked, followed by a yummy dessert. And lots and lots of wine! It was necessary. We went out to an empty bar with some of our professors afterwards, then to a little dance club that could have been gay? We're still not sure, but my guy friends were confused. 

Definitely stayed out too late, and the next day was muy dificil para todos. More lectures, then on to the European Commission press conference area, where the EC President Manuel Barroso of Portugal. The place was packed with journo's, so it was cool to see it up close and personal. Even though I did fall asleep for a short bit :) After that, we had a free afternoon that consisted of Meryl and I heading back to the hostel for a long, refreshing NAP! So, so good.

We all got ready to go out (room with 6 Americans and 6 Germans...lots of makeup and hair products and perfume) then wandered around until we found a Thai restaurant. DELICIOUS! I got the highest level 3 spicy, and while those of you at home probably wouldn't be phased, (especially Nikki and Barb) my mouth was ON FIRE! For a good 5 minutes I couldn't talk or breathe or anything...it was awkward. And Chimay, while tasty, does not overcome spicy.

After we met up with everyone at Delirium, a world famous beer house with over 2,400 beers from around the world!! It was so cool...they had a giant book that you could look up beers by their type or where they were from. Either way, we had a good time but stayed out pretty late, and the next day was a bit brutal. Everyone else either went home or to Luxembourg, so we went to have a "Thanksgiving" lunch at the Cheesecake Cafe, which unfortunately, was owned by the same people that ran the Food Factory! I hate them. But I did have real French onion soup, so no complaints here. 

After a long train ride home, I fell asleep around 830pm and woke up at 2 the next day, and it was glorious! This weekend was uneventful, but I bought some cute new clothes today so all is right in the world. Thank you H&M, thank you :)

Love to all!!!