Happy Birthday, Hannah!

hey Zig, thanks for always being there for me, and putting up with all my immature and annoyingness. Unfortunately, those two qualities of mine have not dissapeared or been reduced in any way during my year away, so I'm also thanking you in advance for putting up with me upon my arrival home. I hope you're up for the challenge. You are an amazing person, and I know how lucky I am to have you in my life. You're not afraid to be you, and I admire you for that. You deserve the best in life, and you always go after everything you want. All lameness aside, you're inpriring, and I hope you had the best birthday ever. I love you so much.

Guess Who's in the French News Paper...yeah, that good.

http://www.piefrance.com/trois-quatorze/reportages/brooke-la-photo-du-mois/

CHECK IT OOOOOUT.

The Removal of my Cloak of Invisibility (IN THE STACKS UPDATE)

Most embarassing morning of my entire life. And that's saying a lot, because...

1) I don't get embarassed easily.

2) I've had some REALLY monumental embarassing moments.

But seriously, this one's a keeper.

It all started this morning, but for you new readers, I'd suggest reading the previous "IN THE STACKS" post, otherwise this will make no sense.

Today was just like any other day. I walk into the library wearing my "I Know Something You Don't Know" smile, sit down at my normal computer which ironically faces AWAY from the librarian, and start my "research."

The second I click on the picture of the "World's Most Tattooed Man," my screen goes blank.

As I'm frantically clicking the mouse, my kiss of death appears on the screen.

"Votre ordinateur est bloquee. Vas voir le bureau." (Your computer has been blocked. Go see the front desk)

MERDE.

If this isn't embarassing enough, as this exact moment, EVERYONE IN THE LIBRARY stands up, and I watch them walk to the front desk.

MERDE.

So, naturally, I'm the last to stand up, and during my walk of shame, I'm glancing at all the computers in the row, and evidently they are all plagued with the same message.

As I get closer, everyone is now staring at me, and the librarian has now stolen my "I Know Something You Don't Know" smile.

"Mademoiselle, on utilise les ordinateurs QUE pour la recherche. Qu'est- ce que tu regardes?" (Young lady, we use the computers ONLY for research. What were you doing?)

Me: "bahh, la recherche, bien sur." (Research, of course.)

Apparently she was not satisfied with this answer, and continued to argue with me about my intentions. The poor woman thought she was going to win the argument.

I'm still surprised about the answer I ended up giving:

Me: "Mais, uh, Madame, je fais un projet sur l'effets economiques des tatouages pour les gens...pour mon ecole aux Etats Unis..." (But I am doing a project on the economic affects that tattooing has on people...for my school in the United States...)

Conversation terminated: computer unblocked.

The only problem? I actually had to spend the rest of the hour researching the economic affects of tattooing...

...although I still consider the confrontation a win on my part.

In the Stacks

Fun Fact of the Day: St. Marie Beaucamps’ library is my favorite place in this country.

…and it’s not because it gives me an excuse to be anti- social.

It’s also because Beaucamps has taken the optimistic road, and chooses to TRUST it’s students and their judgment when it comes to the internet.

AKA: blocked sites don’t exist.

No, I’ve never taken the big leap and checked my facebook at school, even though I know it’s possible. I have this feeling that the minute I press the enter button, various sirens and flashing lights will engage, the SWAT team will invade the library, and a voice over the loudspeaker will start yelling:

“Brooke Mummau, step away from the computer with your hands in the air…”

The act of checking one’s facebook at school has now become the equivalent of a terrorist attack. It makes you wonder what the world has come to.

I usually spend my study halls researching bands or looking at upcoming concert dates, you, know, making the most of my education. I wouldn’t exactly call it fear, but as more of a precaution, I always have my backup browser pre- loaded with “useful information,” so when the librarian decides to creep on me, I can use my ninja- minimizing skills and avoid all suspicion. The only problem is deciding what “useful information” I want to “study” everyday. The fact that I’ve been studying WWII for the past 7 months probably makes her suspicious enough as it is.

This may be a very insignificant aspect of my French life, but I’d just like to point out how nice it is to be able to surf the web at my own free will, without being accused of looking at Swedish porn.*

*Mifflin has an overactive imagination, in my opinion.