Little victories

You know what's frustrating? It's frustrating when you have money, the whole world is on sale, and still you can't find anything you really like. Well, that's a lie, and did find two pairs of boots that I like, but at 95 and 132 euros, I just can't bring myself to buy them. And then there's the existential dilemma of buying essentially the same pair of knee-high leather boots that everyone in Paris has. I like them, it's true, I really do. And I'm really not someone who cares about using clothes to be unique, but at some point the saturation starts getting a little annoying. And there's the fact that I have a pair of knee-high suede boots and tall Uggs. Oh well. That mall trip was brightened by a trip to Champion, though. Oh, Champion, my heart. Every time I go there, I feel like I'm at home again. And every time I go, I find something so completely genial (har) that I love it more. For instance, last Saturday I found turkey sausage and turkey burgers. At home I am obsessed with Trader Joe's basil and garlic sausage and Jennie-O turkey burgers. And there they were at Champion (more or less). And I love to buy cheap pre-bagged baking mixes and make cupcakes or cookies or something. Well the other day at Champion I found pre-made, pre-mixed, full-on batter. Literally all I have to do is dump the bag into the pan and put it in the oven. Awesome.

Yesterday morning I saw the sunrise for the first time. On the train, around 7:30 am. I was watching the Eiffel Tower and usual and amazingly enough, there was some red and yellow on the horizon and I could see the whole tower. Weee the time is changing finally. Northern winters are balls and I can't wait for longer days.

Yesterday evening I had my very last Franco-American relations class, and we got all of our essays and homework back. I got an A on my final, and the comments at the top said: "Très bien. Un devoir très nuancé et précis." Three and a half pages of brilliance. Honestly, I can't take credit for all of it. Essay-writing is some sort of genetic talent I have, apparently in any language. So all in all, I think I'm looking at some good grades this semester. All A's in Franco-American, all A's in history of Paris, a 16 in oral expression, and I would think no less than a B in written (no idea how I did on my final). Aaaaand on the school front, my history of France class just got changed to Tuesday afternoons instead of Friday mornings. Glory hallelujah. Hopefully I can figure out the other three classes I need to take so that I can A. sleep, B. go to the gym, and C. not have class on Friday.