oh là là

Today has been all bad with two bright spots.

I woke up at 8:25 this morning right before my alarm went off. I got myself up and straight to work so that I could start on my huge to-do list before my meeting with Shelby. I set an alarm and started working. It went off at 10:30 giving me exactly 15 minutes to get myself ready before the meeting.

I got to the UC center and met with Shelby. She told me that she had already met with the girls that I was complaining about, and that now they would have letters put in their file at the home campuses and might be expelled. These letters would impact their ability to apply to grad school. I feel like the penalities are harsh, but I'm very sick of the noise. She told me that I was being brave and that I should talk to her about any retaliation. I felt like a storm was brewing, but something has to be done.

I came back home and spent innumerous hours studying. That's a lie. They aren't innumerous, but it felt like an eternity. I could feel the life draining out of me. I took a break for lunch/dinner at about 4ish. I made myself a grilled peanut butter and honey sandwich. I was hoping that angels would sing about my creation, but I felt unsatisfied. I ate some chips and had a bit of nutella while I watched Judge Judy. I kept avoiding studying by starting to watch a new episode of People's Court. My heater seems to have turned against me so I curled up under my blanket and shivered.

I finally got back to work by about 4:45. I finished reading the article about néo-réaliste pop and then decided to take a break. I only have one hour of studying for pop left and I figured that it could wait. Earlier in the day I had looked up some things on my list that I could do later in the day. I was tired and the weather looked terrible so I got back in bed instead to watch People's Court. I felt guilty about leaving you, dear reader, reading about a boring day. I needed to get out.

I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed and had just thrown a pair of jeans on the bed when the doorbell rang. It was one of the girls, Hanna, that I had talked to Shelby about earlier. She was in tears telling me that it wasn't her making the noise. She told me that she was scared straight after the first time Shelby talked to them and that she had been avoiding the dorms as to not make any more disturbances. She was so upset that I almost cried. I promised to email Shelby and tell her what had happened and see if I could recant my story against Hanna. I wouldn't want a blameless person to suffer such severe consequences. I don't have any evidence against her. I shouldn't have accused her in the first place.

After this drama I got myself dressed and rushed out the door. It was already after six, it was half an hour's walk to the bookstore, and I was supposed to skype with my mom at 8. I chose to walk to Shakespeare and Company bookstore. It is open until 11, and I wanted to challenge myself with a walk that seemed slightly complicated. Even if I failed at least I would be out of the house.

In my haste to leave I forgot both my phone and my camera. I'm more disappointed that I don't have any photos than I am about depriving you of them. I walked down Rue de Lyon until I reached the Seine. I was just there last night with Leila, but it looked different in the daytime. There are all sorts of small boats docked on the quai and it was really charming. There is also a lot of green space on the banks. There is a children's park, and a square patch of grass that has a small windmill and flowers around it. I will have to go back to take pictures. I just have to figure out how to get down there.

I kept walking until I got to Rue de Sully. There I found la bibliothèque de l'arsenal. It's a typically French builidng with very French symbolic decoration over the doorway. There was also a stone renditions of cannon and other military equipment. I missed my camera terribly. There's also a green area on the side of the building that is near Rue de Henri IV. There are manicured bushes in pots, and a very cool sculpture of a piece of military equipment (it might be a cannon) with a man's torso following a pair of legs that are being shot out of it.

I continued onto the bridge and then onto Rue de Tournelles. I passsed by the naviation inspector building on the quai. I walked for what seemed like forever until I was slightly passed the plaza in front of Notre Dame, but on the right bank. I found the bookstore tucked into a small side street that runs parallel to the main street, but is separated from it by a sidewalk and bushes.

I was extremely disappointed with the bookstore. The upstairs is covered in beautiful used books, but they are part of the "library" and not for sale. There were still the beds were writers would sleep when they stayed in the bookstore. I would have loved it upstairs if it wasn't so small and crowded with tourists. There are signs, in English, all over the bookstore saying "no pictures". There was also a lecture going on and people were crowded upstairs and jamming the staircase. Downstairs is all new books which are not my cup of tea. I found some used books, but they were all in English and in shrink wrap so I couldn't touch them.

Outside there were more used books, but they were in English and very expensive. Even a super thin paperback was 5 euros, and the one book for two euros that I found was falling apart. As I was leaving a group of English tourists came for a visit. I felt like I should have bought something just to say that I have, but my soul hurt too much to do it. I left.

The best part about my adventure was seeing Notre Dame at night. Have you seen Notre Dame at night? You must. It's beautiful. It's exactly what gothic architects wanted their buildngs to accomplish. It was mysterious and beautiful. It called to me as I walked down the quai. It was magical.

On my way home I passed a second hand store with some used books outside. I looked around and found lots of books that I would have loved to take home. I found one that I thought I would buy and asked the shopkeeper "combien de coûte?". She either said douze or deux euro, but I couldn't tell. I left without the book and came home at 8:03 to find an email from my mom asking where I was.

I skyped with my mom and then checked facebook. I had gotten messages from both Talia and Anna saying that they wanted to talk to me and that they had come to my room. Talia calling me "girly" didn't really convince me that they really see the error of their ways. I'm not very interested in repenting my story on their behalf especially since they never once said in their messages that they haven't been making noise. I may or may not find the time in my schedule to talk to them. I sound like such a bad person.

I studied for pop and then took my shower. I've barely had any relaxation time and it's already time for bed. C'est dommage.