but i miss you most of all my darling/when autumn leaves start to fall

Today has been a good day. Those are weird words to be spoken during midterm season.

I got up this morning, made my peanut butter and honey, and got back into bed to check my messages. Next up was studying for French. It only took me 58 minutes despite the extra studying for the ecology and household vocab. I can actually remember waht l'évier is, and know that it's j'éteins. I've run out of ways to torture myself for my pop class so I settled with playing all of the songs and then doing oral descriptions of them after I wrote down their information (artist, title, date). Despite being a very foggy morning, the sun of shining bright and I felt great as I made myself another cup of coffee. I took a break after an hour to listen to some Petula Clark for my pop final project. I really liked her version of Autum Leaves (les feuilles mortes).

Two vanilla cookies and I was back to work. I finished studying all of the songs, took a break to straighten my hair, and then reviewed the sheet about genre. By this time it was a few minutes past noon. When I was talking to my mother a few days ago I mentioned that I hadn't had a baguette in awhile, and she seemed shocked. I decided that it was a beauitful day and that I needed to go out and get a baguette. I got myself dressed and opened the door to see Coraline standing there with two men behind her. They were coming to check the phone. I asked if she had a key, and then wished them bonne journée. I went and got my bread at the good place on the corner, and then walked around the block to give the workmen some time. I munched on my bread on the way home. It wasn't a fantastic baguette, but I've missed the feeling of a cut mouth post-baguette.

I ate most of the remaining baguette in bed while looking up flights to Spain. I want to go to Spain after the semester ends because I have a few days between when the program ends and when I leave to California. I want to do to Seville to see the Alhambra, but the Prado is in Madrid. Is it a crime to plan an entire vacation around going to an art museum?

With my head still thinking of my vacation, I got went back to studying. All I had left were my two essays for histories. I wrote my essay on religion, but this time my 45 minute timer went off. It threw me off my groove and my final sentences turned out pretty bad. After the essay my hand was sad. I got back in bed and watched some Judge Judy. It was past two by then, and I was one 45 minute essay away from finishing and going on an adventure. I convinced myself to get up and write my essay. With 22 minutes left to go, I heard more stomping upstairs. The person who lives upstairs is constantly walking around like the army and slams things constantly. I had had enough.

I went upstairs to find out what was going on. I went to the last room that I thought was over mine and rang the bell. There was no answer so I rang again. Still nothing. I was confused and desperate so I rang their nextdoor neighbor. Who would answer the door but crazy Kelly. I had messaged her the other night asking what was going on upstairs because it was really loud. She said that she was in slippers and that it must not be her. IT'S TOTALLY HER!!!! I know she won't change because she's convinced it's not her. Oh dear.

I went back downstairs and continued my essay. Everything went fine…then I looked at the time. Six minutes to spare!!! That is unacceptable. Maybe I'm just getting more efficient, and I know there's not that much material to make it any longer without making it repetitive. I guess it'll just have to do. I got back in bed for one episode of the all holy Judge Judy and then planned my outting. I've been wanting to go to the sculpture en plein air for awhile but I just haven't made it yet. The directions were even easier than yesterday. The same thing except a right turn. Now that I've starting going to the 5th I realize that we took the long way on Nuit Blanche. Can I retroactively shame myself?

With slight hestitaion, I got myself up and dressed. The sun was starting to go down even though it was only four. The sky was perfectly blue and the day was covered in the perfect sunset haze. As I got to the quai a man said something to me that included "mademoiselle". Good thing mademoiselle doesn't speak French, but she's very offended. Mademoiselle is for five year olds. I'm a grownup even without makeup on! I kept walking and turned right onto the quai.

The garden is a series of grassy patches and flowers with sculptures hidden in them and others along the quai as well as several niches to sit along the Seine. It must have been the magical afternoon because I found everything extra charming. The Seine splashed along the banks perfectly, the grass was extra green, the flowers daintly adorable, and the sculptures intriguing. The artists were born in every country imaginable from Chili to Germany, but I think they all worked/died in Paris. One sculpture in particular had its own miniature garden around it with two fountains. I loved the garden. It was oddly peaceful even with people roaming around everywhere. I always say that I'll revisit a spot again, but I know that I'm always looking for new things.

A sculpture

A flower in the garden with the Seine and a sculpture in the background

One of the sculptures

A flower from the garden

The sculpture with its own garden

Across the Seine from the garden

One of the sculptures on the quai

I kept walking along the Seine to the end of the sculpture garden. It was such a nice afternoon that I kept walking. I walked far enough to be near the bridge that's behind Notre Dame. The cathedral was bathed in perfect sunlight and was almost as beautiful as it is at night. I stopped to look at the houses across the Seine that were glowing in orange light in front of the blue sky. It was the first time that I gasped and thought how beautiful Paris is. I was a little sad in those moments because I wont' be here forever to see the beautiful view. I guess it wouldn't be beautiful if it happened all the time.

Across the Seine from the garden

Notre Dame

I walked home a little sad. On my way into the building Francisco from my pop class was also approaching the door. The other night he and some friends were making some noise, and I went over to tell him to close the door. Today he apologized profusely and asked how long he had been bothering me. I told him that it was no big deal and that he shouldn't worry about it. He told me that sometimes the door comes open even after they've closed it, and since their room doesn't face the doorway, he has no idea. I made a comment that it was fine because it wasn't the middle of the night. He said yeah, not like those girls who scream at two and three o'clock in the morning. He said that the last time really bothered him, and that he hoped that there was a man with him so that he could say something. I told him that he could yell at girls, and he told me no he couldn't. He said that he was so mad that he was going to hit someone. Woah. That's mad.

After my little elevator chat with Francisco, I put on some Judge Judy and made myself some ramen. When I got home I had emailed mom about my conversation with Francisco to prove that I'm not insane. She started emailing me back while I was eating my ramen. I messaged her and said that I was free to skype. We spent the next hour talking and laughing.

After skyping I got up to take my shower. I got out, wrote my diary entry for the sculpture garden, and then got up to get my book. I then got an email from EAP. I was thinking that it was some recruitement email until I read it. My pass time is today! I scrambled to find out what time my pass time was, and immediately emailed mom saying that it was an emergency. I then looked over the classes I wanted again, and found out that one of them was a mistaken and isn't offered this quarter. I then had to scramble to find another class to fill the spot. Mom finally emailed me back and demanded that I get on Skype. I explaied the situation to her, and the went on my merry way.

I read a chapter of The Phantom Tollbooth about the Land of Ignorance, and now I'm waiting for my pass time. Good thing it's 15 minutes before bedtime….It's going to be a long day tomorrow so I need to sleep tight tonight.