Dix Sur Dix

Holy cow has it been a long time everybody. I’m terribly sorry your lives have been all the more empty without this blog to keep yourselves busy, but rest assured, I’m changing that right now so you all have something to look forward to. Boy oh boy, either you are laughing because of my underserved ego assuming people actually read this blog, or you get that I’m just having fun.

Anyway, yes it has been awhile, but things have been busy, blah blah blah, nobody cares, and neither do I. I have had a bit of fun too in the midst of my ‘work.’ Prior to our European trip, we celebrated Mary’s birthday with an incredible dinner at Scaramouche and a spa day which turned out lovely since the weather was sunny and warm and we spent the majority of the day tanning by the pool and jacuzzi (the first day we were able to do so after the long and lame Canadian winter).

On our trip, Mary & I were fortunate enough to get to see my friends: Joakim, Sabine & Tharald in Stockholm for a week. Man that was only too cool. Many big thanks to you Joakim for letting us stay with you, eat your chocolate, your Swedish meatballs (hey no funny business!); Sabine for coming all the way from L.A. (4 years in the waiting!!) and to Tharald who came in for the weekend from Oslo (also 4 years in the making!). It was really great to hang out, go see really cool stuff in Stockholm, watch the world cup in the same time zone (successful for the past 3 of the last 4 world cups – we are all going to try again for 2010!!)

Prior to that we spent a week in Paris, yet again, I was reminded that it is my real home and one day I will have a house in my new hometown. We lucked out with amazing weather for the two weeks we were in Europe – never cloudy or rainy and high 20s the entire time. We also found the chocolatier of our dreams and have vowed to return if only to taste their heavenly pastries, cakes, etc. once again.

The trip started off interestingly enough as we spotted the lead singer for RUSH, Geddy Lee, on our flight to Paris. We wanted to take a picture but he refused when asked “can we get a picture?” as we stepped back, readied for the shot and passed the camera to him. Anything for a laugh!

Many highlights in Paris…too many to mention although an absolute amazing night at Opera Garnier where we watched Iphigenie en Tauride in box seats in the finest opera house in the world. Just as fantastic was our last night sitting in the park at the Eiffel Tower with a bottle of wine for a quality of life moment after dining at Fouquet’s and having the best and biggest escargot we've ever had.

We also very much enjoyed Jardin de Luxembourg where we had the pleasure to stumble upon an impromptu operatic performance for the Magic Flute – most amazing voices we’ve ever heard.

Could go on forever but there’s just too much – Sweden was very interesting – very cool to see a lit up sky at midnight, made it hard to sleep though but not something you see everyday. The Vasa museum was very interesting, the islands in the archipelago were beautiful (Sodra Grinda was the one we visited), Mariefred was a delight, Taxinge Slott was a quality of life moment we’ll never forget – all in all, a great time and memories to last a lifetime.

Thanks to the Aussie friends that made it possible.