Mussels in Brussels: This one goes out to you Amy

I would like to thank my friend and recent visitor Amy for being the driving force behind this next story. If she hadn't had the sense to actually pay attention to the nice American boys we bumped into last Friday night in Paris while I was frantically running through the streets searching for her first Parisien crepe, I would be one story short and I would probably still have the last two years of my life. ;)

And the story goes a little something like this...

It was a cool Friday night in Paris, and at our usual hangout place, the Piano Bar, Amy, Suzanne and I met two pilots from the States. They were unfamiliar with Paris so we led them in the direction of crepes and the best bars. I was a little too preoccupied with the crepe search to actual talk with Tom and Brandon. But Amy, probably starved for some Americana at that point, managed to deduce in the short time we were in their company that these Americans were nice boys worthy of friendship. I didn't really attend to the conversation until they mentioned they were going to Belgium. As I had a business trip to Brussels planned for Tuesday, I decided it would be a fabulous idea to meet up with Tom and Brandon for a drink after my conference. We exchanged emails and the plan was set in motion.

So I awoke at 6:45 am Tuesday morning, and headed off on the train to Brussels. The second I stepped foot into Belgium, I commenced some super quick sight-seeing and a search for a Belgium waffle (not as easy as one might imagine). From 1-5 pm, I attended a conference - my actual reason for being in Belgium. Then, off to meet the boys. They were waiting for me at the Mannekin Pis - the statute of the little boy, you guessed it, pissing. They introduced me to their friend Drew and the four of us settled down for a nice cold Belgium beer. One beer turned into dinner (accompanied by more beer) and before I knew it...I was slightly ''silly'' and about to miss my train. The boys very wisely and supportingly helped me contemplate the situation as they also had to catch a train in the next few hours back to Tom's parents house (30 minutes outside Brussels). We thought long and hard about our options, with one option outshining all others: it was best for us to keep exploring Belgium's finest until the train station reopened in the morning.

Now I have stayed up plenty late here in Paris, and in other times in my life. However, there is something different to be said about staying up all night when you have absolutely no other choice. Especially as my body is counting the final days of its 26th year. The boys and I had a fabulous time visiting the Belge nightlife; however, when 530 am rolled around, we all felt our bodies telling us it was time to visit the Belge train station. Fortunately, I managed to catch a 645 am train back to Paris (86 euros for a new ticket...), arriving at 830 am, still in my suit from the day before, just in time for work. Now, I know you all have high hopes that I shook myself off, took a deep breath, and headed straight to work. But, unfortunately, Belgium beer is quite strong, and being awake for 25 hours took a toll on my sanity, so it was all I could to crawl into the shower and then directly into my bed.

For those of you ''How I Met Your Mother fans,'' I have put the entire night on my Murtaugh List. And it has taken me quite a few days to regain the strength to blog about the experience.