I am busy today teaching myself some more computer stuff. I think that's why I surprisingly) like this crap: I learn on my own and actually get somewhere. It's a rewarding feeling. Sometimes I almost think I can physically feel the brain making connections. Ah ha moments. Love them. I always used to want this to happen in math class, figuring that if I went through the entire textbook equation by equation, I would eventually understand. That never worked. But with computer stuff, you just have to go slow (Fela style) and not space out, and you'll pretty much understand. In case you don't, just make sure you have back-up. It's not rocket science, which is, in all honesty, news to me. I thought it would be too hard for me.
So, today I am just leaving you with a string of useless thoughts, not nearly as coherent or cohesive as yesterday's post:
1) Today I took a bus to go to the Sorbonne. While waiting, I was doing the typical keep warm-dance: hop from foot to foot while rubbing mittened or gloved hands together. Parisians don't do this, it doesn't look elegant enough for them, but I am neither Parisian nor elegant so I can get away with it. I was not totally sure if the bus I was taking would be the best option, so I was hopping around and spacing out on the bus map on the back "wall" of the covered stop. I turned around and there was a stopped bus right in front of me. Startled, I ran to the front of it to see what number it was. Oh! 89! That's me, I thought, and then I hopped one, two to the door and lept inside. The busdriver, who had undoubtedly watched my entire hopping/spacing dance and the following expressions of surprise, was trying to control his giggles. Realizing the goofiness of my little combo act, I smiled a big (genuine) smile at him, and his face split into a grin while he let out a giggly "Bonjour, Mademoiselle." I stifled my giggles all the way back to my seat. It is great when the mundane is broken up by perfect strangers, and great when somebody in a rather monotonous profession manages to find the humor in things nonetheless.
2) Paris is getting a makeover. I don't know how this is being financed, but it seems everyday, there is a new building being restored. The Prefacture de Police was completed before the fall, and a week or so ago I noticed that its neighbor across the street - the Palais de Justice - is already halfway done. Notre Dame is a gleaming, shiny white (and I honestly never saw what the big deal was about it until after they did the restoration). The entire street of the rue St-Jacques, where the majority of the Sorbonne's buildings are located, is one long, majestic street of starchy whiteness. Even two buildings on Odessa Street have been restored. For those of you not familiar with Paris, you have to understand that these are just massive, massive buildings. Huge. American cities don't have the problem of 100+ year-old buildings turning a carbon-like color with a few exceptions. But now, when the newly restored building and its neighbor are compared, the difference is, well, stark. The entire city is looking newer and brighter, it is absolutely beautiful. Parisians are such aesthetians.
2) That said, four homeless people have died in Paris of cold since the "vague froid" hit the city at the beginning of this week. That is such a horrible way to die. Even if the restoration is absolutely gorgeous, could there maybe be a way to divide the money more evenly? Nevertheless, Paris is one of the few cities I know that opens several metro stops per night to offer beds and food to the homeless during.
3) Totally unrelated: I had a dream the other night that my parents and I were at the airport. My Dad was sitting in the special club place reserved for frequent flyers while my Mom and I went out to get some Cinnabon or something. When we came back, Dad was sitting with some of his coworkers, and they were all passing around a joint. He exhaled, and I said, "Dad, is that reefer?" and he said, "Heh, well, yeah." Moment of silence. "I didn't know you smoked weed, Dad," I said. And he said, in total and complete honesty, "Well, I don't. But Carol here (motions to coworker) had some that she was willing to share with us and I thought, 'Eh, why not?'" It was so atypical of my father. And of my Mom who just gave a little chuckle and lightheartedly said, "Oh, ok...Lee and I are gonna go watch CNN over there."