Day 5: the great adventure

Monday May 25, 2009
Quite tired at the moment.  Meeting w/R. today.  Pretty cool that Prof D. has worked w/her and apparently likes her quite a bit.
    I think I found Prof. A's falafel place that she was looking for.  I def. found the Jewish quarter.
    Dreamed about Friend last night...something about he was in trouble, someone had died, and at the end he asked me to tell him that I love him and miss him and he said the same to me.  I do love and miss him, but I can't tell him that.  Husband was in the dream also as a silent observer.  V. strange.
     Figured out where R. is and it's really close!  Only about 10 block.  Hope I don't miss the assignment.
    Hmm...I've just encountered what the previous student's were talking about-a shop keeper who didn't want to take my money!  How incredibly strange!  Either that or it was over 20euro for one rose and I truly think not...
   Waiting for R-She said the most striking thing about here is she has a bun and glasses and the bun is on the back and the glasses on the front.
    For a university on strike, there are a lot of students.  It really makes me miss My University for several reasons-camaraderie, the lack of smoke, and our lovely open green campus.
    Less tired now.  Must remember to tell Dad-R still has the metal "R" he gave her on her key ring and has for quite some time.  Had a delightful lunch on chicken, rice, apricots, at a cafe very close to her campus.  Just checked my e-mail-over 300 spam and a note from the Other University undergrad conf.  They are publishing the proceedings in a two volume edition-110 works over 1000 pages!  I've opted for the e-edition.  Where would I put it?
    It is unseasonably hot today, at least into the 80s I'd say.  I've arrived at the Theatre Chatelet and am outside having tea.  Seeing R. was quite an experience!  I think she loved my dad very much.  She sort of got very teary when asking me to tell him about the keyring.  Also she was so generous it was almost embarrassing.  She wouldn't let me pay for anything, and she insisted on giving me a book for the plane ride back.
    After I pay my cafe bill, but before I go inside, I'll have to go across to the lovely fountain in la place de Chatelet and look at its sphinxes.
    The beautifully fweeting police whistles almost sound like "oui, oui"
    I'm very glad I brought this dress.  It makes me feel very pretty even if I don't feel completely clean.  That shower is...well, let's just say it lacks.  I'm not entirely positive that I'll feel totally clean until I get home and have a bath.
    The pigeons here are incredible!  Even more bold than Chicago pigeons, they will walk right along with you and keep half a step ahead of you, giving the impression that they might possibly stand still to be kicked.  Of course they don't and I wouldn't even if they did, but one definitely understands that they know that this is their city.  They're almost...arrogant.  Hmm, I think the waiter gave me the wrong check.  How to handle this...I don't really want to pay 5euros40 for a cup of tea.
    So R. let me check my e-mail in  her office and showed me her flat which is utterly charming.  And bought me the best ice cream in Paris, (Madame Berthillion-Grand Marnier flavor and Salted Caramel flavor), and we talked quite a bit.  She was delightful.
   I was just asked if I'm in the right line for internet sales.  I was just trying to figure out how to ask if I'm in the right line for internet sales.  And now I'm holding his place for him.  I guess my French is more functional than I thought.   More later.
    Well maybe not.  Although I did successfully dispute my bill at the cafe, I totally mixed up my row assignment.  Oh well.
    There is something about an orchestra tuning up that is reminiscent of someone stepping on a bunch of cats of different pitch.  At 5'2", my legs, which usually don't touch the ground, are naturally butting up against the seat in front of me with my knees hanging just slightly over the top, which made it awkward when the rather, ahem, solid woman in front of me sat down.  Crossing my legs is almost impossible and definitely contraindicated.  Uncrossing them is borderline obscene.
    It turns our R also knows Prof J.  And also called Prof D, Monsieur Heartthrob. 
   Of course tonight is bringing up pleasent but painfull memories of the Monologues night because that was the last time I got really dressed up to watch something I wanted to watch.*  On that note, it is quite nice to be forced to sit down for several hours, having now been on the move for several days.  It is rather cooler in here so my feet are not bothering me so very much.  Walking back on these heels, in the dark, will be interesting...
    Et maintenent, c'est huit heures: Cyrano de Bergerac, joue de Placido Domingo!
   The subject of the opera is quite appropriate for two reasons: 1. my subject is letters and 2. a letter started this problem w/Friend.  I've always liked this theme, also having a nose which precedes me into the room by 15 minutes.  And I've never seen a quieter audience!  They are absolutely silent and mostly still, a refreshing chnage fom the loud, and rather obnoxious American audience norm.  They don't even laugh!
    I wonder if I should wear this dress to the Lille reception, or if I would be horribly out of place.  I don't usually care, but I think I would there...
    Poor Cyrano-funny and sad and touching, this opera has the lighthearted fairytale aspects of a comedy w/a female bare breasted cupid, a smattering of deitys and a giant patisserie, but the storyline/starcrossed lovers of a tragedy.
   Um...wow.  I hope this is not typical-the woman in front of me just st on the top of her seat and leaned against my knees!  Repeatedly!  WTF??

*I went to a school Monologues production with Friend.  The beginning of the end, yet a perfect night.