Made It

I am finally in Le Mans after a nightmare flight with the world's worst row-mate. I always try to get a window seat because I don't move during flights, but this time I was stuck on the aisle next to some Polish dude with the world's smallest bladder. He went as soon as he got on the plane, and again right after the pilot turned off the seat belt sign. He woke me up to ask me where to plug in his headphones, then woke me up again to go to the bathroom, only before he could get to the front of the line, we hit some turbulance and he had to sit down. Then he went again, and I stayed awake for an hour waiting for him to come back. I nearly lost it when he woke me up to ask me how to turn on his reading light. All this, it's worth noting, happened during the first four hours.

Finally we landed, and I made it to the 1:16 train. Trying to get two large suitcases, a hefty carry-on and a winter coat on board the train wasn't exactly easy, but I got it done. The trip to Le Mans was just over an hour, and the benefits of small-town living were immediately apparent: I lugged one suitcase onto the platform, and when I turned around, an old lady and her grandson were handing my other bags down to me. That doesn't happen in Paris.

I'm more or less settled in the apartment, though things crop up frequently that challenge my perception of myself as a competent human being. The oven, for example, has picture dials. Given these options:

how would you toast bread? I'm just saying... breakfast took a little longer than anticipated.

This morning I'm going to ride buses around town and try to get the lay of the land-- then tomorrow it's off to a mini-runion in Tours!