no internet...still

Hello,

So you must be wondering how crazy my life has been that I haven't been updating? Well, I wish I had something interesting to talk about but really my lack of being online, skype, facebook, blogger, etc, has been because of my continued lack of internet. agh! talk about a test of patience. who knew! I never thought I'd be the person who depended so much on the internet but seriously, i do! I have been working really hard to be patient and not go crazy without it but when I'm in my apartment at night and have nothing to do except listen to the same 100 songs I hear round the clock, I am anxious for a new tv show or some different music or possibly a skype chat with my family. But no. But it's ok, I am learning to deal with it and hopefully my next location will have internet or I will pay to have it installed, haha.

Anyways, living in Paris has been incredible!!! I love it! The street I live off takes me straight to Tracadero which is across the river from the Eiffel Tower (in about a 15 minute walk) and I live 5 minutes from the Arc de Triumph which is really cool. I live about 5 streets over (or directly across) from the Champs Elysees. Last night I was able to go to a friends house for dinner and come home and sleep in my bed which was really nice. I am happy to not have to take the dirty RER trains back home anymore. I live in such a safe neighborhood I don't have to worry about walking home late at night. Obviously I still have to be careful but my neighborhood is really safe and my building is watched by security cameras as well. I have had a major change in that I went from the middle of nowhere where there was no one and nothing to do, I heard the church bells chime every hour and half hour and the chirping of the birds woke me up on the weekends to living off one of the busiest streets (in my opinion) in Paris. Seriously! I have to turn down my shutters all the way and not open my window and its still like living on a major high way. I also live on the first floor, (2nd floor american) so anyone who walks down my street, I can hear their voice...if they're smoking and my window is open I get a nice whif in my apartment. I also live at the corner of the street so I get lots of cars racing to catch the light and honking. I am also convinced that because my street is full of tall bulidings the noise has nowhere to go so it just resonates in the street making every car and motorcycle sounds so much louder than it is.
Some of the pluses to living where I do are that while I live in the same building as my new family (job), I have my own separate apartment. There is the bus 82 which is right in front of the door to my building which takes me to the Eiffel Tower in 15 minutes and its a lovely drive as well, and thats if I am being lazy because the walk does not take much longer. There is a metro within a 5 minute walk of my house and many different options for grocery stores in the area as well. I have had such a fun time exploring the area and keep learning that there is still so much left to explore.

Today its raining and raining and raining which is not too common here. It's common to rain regularly but usually the rain does not last many hours without stopping. I can't really complain though because I worked about 3 hours this morning and now I get to hang out in my apartment and cook lunch for a friend who is coming over and then come back over to my friends apartment across the street and use her internet to catch up on shows and this blog so its a nice day for rain. I don't have to be out in it.

So, I have had a few realizations: food in Paris is soooo expensive. Come visit or live here and not on a tourists budget and you will soon learn. Even the cheap grocery stores are not cheap. And try buying fruit and veggies for 1 person and its almost impossible. I know it is possible but its just so expensive. I am learning how to budget and relearn how to cook and all in 2 weeks! Oh well, I have all next year...hopefully!

Anyways, hope everyone is enjoying the warm temps in Texas while I enjoy the cold weather here. I have decided that if I am blessed enough to stay another year, I will make it so I  can come back to Texas for a vacation in the summer and NOT in the winter because Parisian summers don't really exist. The average temp here is in the 60's F and I am not kidding. Summer clothes are almost worthless except for that odd day every 3 or 4 weeks when the sun shines and shines hot enough to warrant not needing a jacket or 2, a scarf and an umbrella.

Miss you all, love, moi