The good, the bad, the ugly

-Got a visa to Frahnce! A process begun in June and pursued on and off since then has now come to a close. Now I just have a bit more non-visa-related paperwork to complete, a ticket to purchase, and a whole lot of esteemed French profs to email about meeting to discuss things French-Jewish.

-Also to file under I-forgot-I-ordered-that-but-what-a-pleasant-surprise, these shoes, which I ordered a long, long time ago, but which arrived yesterday. The idea is that they'll be an alternative to my usual favorite, ballet flats - chic, flat, slip-ons - but one with a more rugged sole, important because my walk to the subway involves dodging horse manure (yes, in Manhattan). I also hope that these shoes serve as a giant 'Why yes I am American' announcement in Paris, leading me to be served extra-large portions everywhere I go.

-Last Legs Laptop is kaput. Now it's the screen, and the tendency of the computer to seem as though it might electrocute me and/or the couch I leave it on. Nothing like needing to buy a plane ticket to mean another purchase of the same magnitude is in order.

-I witnessed a real-life instance of too-brilliant-to-bathe, a scene so perfect I must recount it here. A beautiful woman of about 30, casually but elegantly dressed, slim but shapely, with an oh-so-sexy French accent, was sitting near me at a café with a man in his 50s or 60s who was, it seemed, her editor in some capacity. They were, at any rate, both intellectuals. Granted the meeting seemed to be work-related rather than a date, but she was giggling and otherwise enthralled as the man held court at his table. He was out-of-shape, had hair that far exceeded unkempt, but most crucially, had filth, serious filth, under his nails, on his hands, to the point where I had been fairly certain he was homeless - a not unusual situation in NY coffee shops. But he was quite clearly the boss of some kind of major and elite operation - I'd speculate which one based on key words but I don't want to reveal anyone's identity.