Anastasia's Birthday Party

I just found out that Anastasia and her boyfriend are PACSed. I’ve never known anyone who was PACSed before. PACS is the name of the civil union that came as France’s answer to the gay marriage issue. It involves many of the same benefits as marriage, is less binding than marriage, and easier to dissolve than marriage. It can be made between people of any gender, even people who are related, so that brothers and sisters or sisters and sisters could ostensibly form households together. Seems to explain why no one in France gets married anymore. The only advantage, besides union with the church but I really shouldn’t mention that in the same paragraph as matters of state, as I believe it might violate some tenent of laïcité (ok, I’m exaggerating. Some.), resides it would seem from the modern view, in the big party you get to throw. Further study required.

Anasatsia- as sweet as ever
Her friends- very cool. All English teachers, but none I knew already. Talked lots about experiences teaching in foreign countries.

Staying up until one trying to follow the conversation of eight French friends with their own private jokes and frame of reference- exhausting. I felt awful, but I think Anastasia noticed me yawning and nodding off.

Ice cream:
Chestnut: have come to a conclusion I’m not a big chestnut fan, even when it’s in icecream.
Orange flower honey: very subtle. Or didn’t taste like much.
Carmel and salted butter: a lot like Pralines and cream. Without the pralines.