Had a fantastic time last night at the dinner cooked by the New York chef. Pork Loin stuffed with almonds and apples and something else. Some kind of chutney that was fantastic with hidden essences of somethingor other. A lovely sauce for the pork. Grilled asparagus. Bread with roasted garlic and real butter. Cous-cous and homemade apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream. And we all (there were about 14 of us,including the wacky couple who owns her apartment building) and we dined on the rooftop terrace with blinking Christmas lights strung all around. It was fantastic. And there was a girl there from Houston. What I discovered once I got there was that two of my favorite people I have met in school (Deborah the chef and Betina from Austria) were housemates and didn’teven know each other because of different schedules and so many people moving in and out all the time. It was hilarious. So there we were all together, and I knew more about each of them than they knew about eachother. Too funny. In attendance: Ian, age 18, from Denmark, Emma, age 18, from LondonTom, from London, Sarah, 35, wine expert/buyer, from San Francisco, Jenny, ex-Enron girl, from Houston, Yost from the NetherlandsDavid from SwitzerlandDeborah, 38, from New YorkBetina, 32, from AustriaMe, 34, from Texas, Erna and Pedro, Dutch couple who live in Spain and own building, Dan, ex-Barnes and Noble guy, from San Francisco, Nancy from ?, Linda and Ingrid from Iceland — they call them “TheTwins” because of their Nordic similiarities, but theyare not family, even though they always shared the same twin bed when they lived in the apartment together (?)You would have loved it. Dan is thebald, African American Richard F. too too too funny. He did hilarious impersonations of Erna, the landlady, after she left. Anyway, we sat on the roof, eating and having somelovely wine, until about 2:30 this morning. Needless to say, public transport was out of the question, andI was pretty far from a taxi stand. So they invited me to stay in one of the extra beds. I took them upon it. Deborah gave me a new toothbrush, and I shared Bettina’s huge room with her. I went to sleep pretty easily, but then I woke, with my body flipping out a little from having had so much food in one sitting for the first time in two weeks. It was absolutely delicious, but my body was a little shocked. Anyway, I got up and walked around and went to the restroom and discovered that the toilet wasn’t exactly bolted to the floor. Some of greatest adventures in my life have occurred in other people’s bathrooms. Anyway, after some time, I felt like going back to bed and laid there, unable to fall asleep (allergies are raging) for a long time. Then I started hearing dogs frolicking in the streets through the open windows. Finally went to sleep and got comfortable and was awakened by a very persistent resident rooster crowing to bring up the sun at who knows what time. I did not look at a clock. Did not want to know how short my nap had been. Anyway, after the rooster took a rest, I went to sleep and woke up around 10 am. Did not go to class today. One of my teachers is sick anyway, soI did not feel bad. There is no punishment at this school, I will just be a little clueless in the other class on Friday. Oh well, it was worth it. So about the smoke allergy. Loving Europe on thisother account. Bettina and I were wandering around today, and she told me about a pharmacy she had gone to where they had been really kind and helpful. She took me there, and the pharmacist asked if he could help me. I said, “Busco un milagro” (I am looking for a miracle). He laughed and said, ¿”Un milagro, sí? So I explained that I have a smoke allergy and I had not brought anything with me from the States. He asked what I had been taking, and I told him Zyrtec. He said, “Of course we have that!” So I said that it was very expensive in the United States (Approx. $70 for a month’s supply), and he said, “No. They are really cheap here. And you do not need a prescription.” So, for 7,50€ (less than $7 U.S.), Ibought 20 Zyrtecs. My life has changed for the marvelous. Needless to say, I will be stocking up on these before I come back to the States with my no-health-insurance-having-self. WOW! So, all that to say if anyone was going to try andsend me those (which is probably illegal orsomething), forget it. I am in Zyrtec heaven. Anyhoo, I am checking email before lunch today, because I anticipate a tepid (by choice) shower and along siesta today. Hopefully. Here I go. Hope you are all having a great day and recognizing every little miracle. P.S. Bettina says I found the Zyrtec so cheaply because I had given a homeless guy the half that was left over of my fresh bottle of water from the grocery. The universe will provide.