Chapter 35: Alternatives

nerd blog post #39

I was thinking of one alternative in particular when I named this nerd blog post. As I start to think about the last twenty-four hours, I realize there have been many.

I visit Hossoen yesterday afternoon and spent a long while there. We chatted about Iran (his homeland), his family, and this and that. He showed me a picture of himself when he came to France at the age of twenty. I busted out my wallet, too, but my photos are all fairly new.. I love my visits there. We usually sit outside and people-watch, and sip his very strong espresso. He's come to like the games I suggest, like, "What's his occupation?" where you guess someone's job, and fun and games like that.

A famous dish here in Brittany is "moules et frites." Mussels and fries. I haven't had them yet because m et t restaurants are kind of pricey.. But they're very cheap at the market and I asked Hossoen how to make them. He gave me a recipe that he knows that calls for a specific type of expensive wine, that he loves.
Alternative #1: I'ma use the cheap wine that I buy.

I was glad to learn that he takes three weeks off in the summer to go and visit his family. Otherwise, he works seven days a week from 11am to 1am... Such a long day. He rarely sees his wife and sons (except for the one who works there). He says that back home, they own property on the ocean.. I told him I'd like to visit, and he said sure. Nice.

In the evening, a prof invited us over for a pot. It was the five lecteurs from the English department, plus two of her PhD students, who are profs as well. So eight women. Her apartment is a lovely one - decorated with art from Ethiopia, where her sister lives. She fed us delicious food, and we drank champagne. We were there for three hours or so, and had a great time talking about the students, the department, our experiences in France... She's a really nice, young prof from France and I want to be her friend. I'ma invite her out for coffee.
Alternative #2: A beer.

I had a four-way skype conference call last night between Doc in England, and DC and Schac in TO. What technology! It was fun..

Le Super is RIP. I e-mailed Bernard to ask for a refund on his sketchy bike a week ago. No reply. Today I e-mailed him again, asking for the photos of the bike that were online so I could re-sell it. I hope to hear from him. Meanwhile, I'm meeting another man this week-end to look at another bike. This one is entitled Peugot.
Alternative #3: Since Cynthia and I have somewhat opposing schedules, I can usually ride hers. I like hers. It's like the one that nasty neighbour in the Wizard of Oz rides. Straight back, wide handles.. It makes me feel like a woman, and I like that. The one I'm looking at this week-end is similar. I hope it works out.

At work, the director of the department called me in and confirmed that I would be taking on another class this semester, that starts on Monday. Creative writing for mature students, offered at the Faulkner Institute. I don't really know what it will entail, but it sounds pretty cool. The downside is that it conflicts with one of my German classes. As teaching is my contractual priority, I can't say no, which left me in a pickle with German.
The following went down like this:
1. I went to my prof and asked if I could just do one of the two hour classes. She said no, that it would put me too far behind.
2. I asked her if I could go and just listen, so I was exposed to the language. That I didn't have to participate.. She said likely not, as the other students would wonder what I was doing there.
3. I asked her what she suggested I do. She gave me a copy of the cd for the course, that goes along with my workbook, and said I could do the whole course alone at home.
4. She also said there was room in the Baby Class. I already completed the term work for that class, and do not want to join it, but might go to get exposure if need be. Faulkner that.
Alternative #4: I take the course solo, and hopefully she'll let me sit in the class just to hear it. I put an ad up in the German department, asking for a German/English or German/French language swap. I'm also looking online to see if there's an advertisement for one...

This German business has been a royal pain.
Alternative #5: Move to Germany, where I'm allowed to speak German whenever I want.

It's sunny in my room right now. When it's sunny at this hour, the light pours in, and it's very nice. It's so sunny today that I'm wearing my giant sunglasses (or, as Raffi the Dad likes to call them, face-eaters) inside.

Tonight, Cynthia invited me to go with her and her Mexican man to a concert. Then Merrill invited me over for dindins. A tough choice. With a week of vacation around the corner, I opted for the biggest money-saving option, and will enjoy a delicious feast. She's a good cook. It also means I leave the concert as a two-wheel party.

I don't know what this week-end has in store.. I heard of a town, not too far away, that is filled with bookstores.. Streets and streets of them.. I can take a bus there for a couple of Euros, and might go check it out.

Hmm.. I think that's it for today, my friends. Hope you're all well.

Signing off,
Hincks.
Alternative #6: The Hinckster