There's Just Something About Cut-Up Apples

Anita, my mom's friend from London, is visiting now, which I probably mentioned before. We went to the market on Saturday and saw a quartet (clarinet/soprano sax, banjo, interesting finger drums, bass) playing near the Voltaire statue. They were pretty good; had a jazzy sound. The drummer had these metal caps on his fingers like when you sew, and then rubbed them on this washboard-type thing, and had some cymbals. It was pretty effective. On the way back we noticed a bar/cafe which had music playing earlier, and asked when they had shows. One was that evening, but we missed it after a hike.

We went to the same place as where we went when my aunt Heidi and her friend were here, but also first stopped by this big waterfall. It was massive and very wet. We also got some considerable warmth. I got up pretty close and got my lens quite wet.

I tried my first diabolo menthe drink, which I had always learned about in French class but never dared a sip. I first used the word "toothpaste" to describe the very neon-ish green flavor, but Anita offered a better word; mouthwash. It was minty, alright. But not like kill-your-mouth mint.

On the way back from the hike we talked about the different English/American cultures, accents and Harry Potter. I noticed that the English would say, "to go to university" without adding the article, whereas we would use that same formation for "college". It was vice-versa. I mentioned that I thought American accents were really annoying, and Anita said, with her signature laughs after, "Agreed," Harry Potter is also a big thing over there, too, which I guess isn't even a slight surprise at all.

Today we went to the beach in Annecy, a nearby French town that is superbly beautiful. It was just so hot today. Several many other people had the same idea, so it made for a very early summer scene. We rented a paddle-boat and swam around.

So, a pretty good weekend I'd say. I have my math finals soon though later in the week... have to write an English essay on Twelfth Night, a trumpet exam on Wednesday (I play my audition music, so good practice for the real audition) but you know, life goes on. And The Shins are awesome. I should probably really do something interesting for the rest of these 38 days, or this blog is gonna get... even more redundant. Which in itself is redundant.

Angels and Demons is out, at least in the US. It's made quite a fuss over at CERN, which is to be understandable. I should see it. That and Rent. Things things things to do to do. The future, sure.

Blind to the last cursed affair pistols and countless eyes
A trail of white blood betrays the reckless route your craft is running
Feed till the sun turns into wood dousing an ancient torch
Loiter the whole day through and lose yourself in lines dissecting love.

(The Past and the Pending by the Shins)