Mixed blessings

Electricity is very expensive here, although I will not know exactly how expensive until the end of the month. For lunch I heated up some tomato mozarella soup I made yesterday (from a box, but with fresh tomato added). Immediately after taking it off the burner I started cooking my second dish (potatoes, onions, and green peppers) to save on heating the burner a second time. It was a little awkward trying to eat soup and stir the veggies at the same time, but I managed and the food was excellent. The best part is that vegetables are really inexpensive so that counterbalances the cost of electricity and makes me want to buy more veggies than anything else.

I know my mom is concerned about where I do my laundry so I should write about that. I dragged my laundry bag and detergent to the laverie on Wednesday. It was a pretty simple process and there were only three of us there so I didn't have to wait for a machine at all. Unfortunately, the other two were making out in the corner, which was hard to ignore as I tried to plan my lessons. In addition, my laundry experince has inspired my new life ambition: Own a laundromat in France. I paid six euros to wash and dry one load of laundry! I tried to make myself feel better about that ridiculous expense by telling myself that at least I am providing some heat for my friend Dan, who lives above the laverie.

The guy who rents the apartment below mine is named Davy Chardonnay and he likes to turn up his music so loud that my floor and walls shake. I can hear every word that is sung, and I remind myself that it is a good thing the walls are thin so that the heat from his apartment will warm up mine.