Chapter 31: Do Not Pass Go

nerd blog post #34

After a great snooze last night, Cynthia and I made delicious crab and shrimp sammys and had them with wine. Then we got fancy and made our way to Merrill's place. From there, the three of us and Marianne (American lecteur) went to O'Connells to meet the American exchange students I had met on Monday. Most notable is Gabe: a rugby playing, opera performer who I'm trying to set up with Cynthia. What a dreamboat. He had fasted that day (shout-out Schac) and wasn't around too long, but we got digits.

I saw a friend, Axel, there. Axel is from Mauritius (home of the dodo!) and came here at 18 to study. Mauritius is an island in the Indian ocean that has been colonized by both France and England, and he speaks the two fluently. I met him there a couple of weeks ago, and as he works and studies at the university, we've combined forces a little bit for the Monday Happy Night. He does some party planning in Rennes, and invited us to go with him to Delicatessen (Delicat, for the cool kids). Delicat is a night box that usually costs about $20 cover (obvi would never pay) so we jumped at the chance to join his crew. En route, I bumped into eight first-year students who turned on their heels to join us. Bypassing the line like rockstars, we went in. The Delicat is an underground club (by underground, I mean it is literally under the ground) that was an old prison. I went there before, in my first week here. I can't really explain how cool this place is. It's like a cave, but they've put shards of mirror all over the place. They have awesome lights on the dance floor and play stellar music. (Stellar for me, Westview House would cringe..) Axel introduced me to the owner, and several of the bartenders, and now we're all best friends since I enjoyed free drinks.

Best part: I talked to the owner about Cynthia's birthday on Saturday, and asked if we could go. He gave me his pager number (1999 called. They want their technology back) and said to let him know how many people and we could bypass the line.

And so, DC, thanks for asking the plans for Cynthia's birthday (12 points). They are as follows:

Tomorrow morning, Raffi the Clown (RtC) rolls into town and we'll check out the market. It's been two weeks since my last market day and I miss it. In the afternoon, we're taking a bus (I still need to work that out) to Mont Saint-Michel. M S-M is a coastal town on a tidal island, meaning that it is only accessible by foot part of the time. On top of a huge rocky hill is a beautiful abbey, dating back hundreds and hundreds of years. The geography and architecture make it famous and touristy. It's about fifty km from here. Cynthia and I have been itching to go, and I think it's a cool thing to do on a birthday week-end.

Back in Rennes, we will snooze, and then we're having people over around 10pm. At first, I thought it would be a small jam, because we don't know that many people here. But then I realized that I don't really like small jams, and started invited lots of peeps. Our roommates will come, as well as Axel and gang, Gabe (love is in the air!), the other lecteurs, and some other random people we have met along the way. We'll head to Delicat latron to dance.

This morning I got up early (she teaches all day) and the cake is in the oven. I tried to find balloons, but couldn't. French peeps don't seem to care about decorations that much. What a shame.. On Sunday, which is her actual birthday, we'll probably be tired, and so a low-key, but delicious breakie feast is in order.

When she gets home, we're going with Alexandre (roomie) to a grocery store out of town that is supposed to be big and good. One of the British lecteurs invited us to her new place where some Italians are throwing a housewarming party.. I might go, but also might stay in. I'm a bit tired and RtC gets here kind of early, so I might rest up.

Also of note, is that the fish had babies. There are eight little neon babies and they are so small and cute. We now have almost fifty fish. We also have two more gerbils, bringing the number up to five. Andorra has been away all week, but gets back tonight. Thank goodness..

Some of you, especially friends who have had the great pleasure of having sleepy ovaries with me, know that I dream like a kid. I remember dreams every night, and often more than one. I have refrained from making the nerd blog a dream diary (lame) but last night's was interesting. Yesterday was Doctor's birthday and last night I had a dream that I was throwing him a party and no one showed up. In the dream, I checked f-book and there was an invite from one of his new friends to a party, and everyone had gone to that one instead. I woke up feeling sad that I wasn't going to be there for friends birthdays this year, and realized how much I'd miss planning parties.. There are some big ones coming up this month, and Doc's yesterday, and being here makes me feel really helpless. Raffi the Dad also celebrates a big one in February... So if any of you want some transatlantic birthday party help, I will be more than willing, and will also award you 40 points for inclusion.

Also, thanks to those who supported my desire to celebrate Thanksgiving instead of, or as well as, the birthday. I don't know if even a giant turkey shared with French and American friends would come close to a sweltering dindins at 99 Kimberley. I'll be thankful sans bird this year. Plus, I don't think a feast of that nature is in the budget this week-end. But think of me as you eat sweet potatoes - I love those.

Enjoy the last day of work/school before the long week-end!

Signing off,
Hincks.