Monday, 30 May 2005
Small Satisfactions
This weekend went fast - too fast, but I at least got plenty of things done.
My friend Celia is moving out of town, but she's still waiting for things to be finalized. Unfortunately, she gave notice on her apartment three months ago when things seemed to be almost final. So, I'm loaning her my place until she can get that squared away.
Saturday was spent getting my place ready for Celia. It was a good reason to go through some things and get rid of them. It also reminded me of how much more thorough I am when I clean for guests, and not just for myself.
Heather - a recent beneficiary of several pieces of Celia's furniture - and I worked on her place for most of Sunday. We found good spots for everything, and moved around a lot of books, music, movies, and clothes. "It's like I'm finally moved in," she said. "Four years after I got the place!"
Not really a remarkable weekend, but rewarding. Sort of like another one about a month ago.
Like the last couple of days, that weekend was sunny, then rainy. Then sunny again. I lost my umbrella, which sucked. For some unspoken reason, umbrellas cost a fortune in France.
On my way to check where I might have left it, a twenty-something girl wearing cow headgear waved a flyer to me as I passed. Score! Not just any flyer, this one was from Ben & Jerry's. It was Free Cone Day! ("Le cône est gratuit!" exclaims a cartoon cow on the flyer.) I didn't get a free cone, which sort of sucked.
But I didn't really mind, because this meant that B&J is still around in Paris. There used to be at least five, but one after another, they closed until it seemed none were left. It had been a real downer when the one near me, on the Grands Boulevards, was turned into... a Starbucks! Grrr.
But no, there are still two full B&J shops. The pints (half liters) aren't available in grocery stores anymore, much to my chagrin. So this flyer was like a lifeline, connecting me to my sweet, sweet addiction.
This summer, whether hot or rainy, is going to be a tasty one.