Cell phones and Security Guards

First the security guards: since arriving we have been warned to always keep the windows closed. The other day the ladies and I were hanging out on the couch in the living room and the security guards scolded me from the kitchen window to close it while we were not in there. Thus, once you leave a room, lock it up! I guess it's sound adivce since we're living on the ground floor and there are no bars on the window. (Plus, I learned it is indeed very easy to break in...locked myself out one afternoon and had to break in through the window. Totally no trouble at all! And that was with two kids!)

However, things are getting out of hand with these guys. Three nights ago I was reading on the couch. It was very late and I had the windows open. A guard approached the window and informed me that there were multiple guards doing rounds in the area but that I should still be very careful. Okay, good to know...but why knock on the window at midnight and scare me half to death to inform me of this detail? Do I feel safer now????

It gets better...the last two nights: well into our sleep we have been awoken by tapping on the window by...you guessed it! The security guards! They do not want us to keep those windows open. Now granted, two nights ago we had two windows open and it probably wasn't very safe. However last night we had only one open and it was just a sliver. Still, they got us up and told us to close it. I'm not sure if we've become the big joke around town or if there are serious safety concerns, but tonight I will sweat in my sleep and leave all the windows tightly shut! We'll see what happens...

Cell Phones: Today is day two of my adventure into the world of mobile telecommunications in Paris! It actually has been a project of mine since we arrived to figure out which company to go with and what phone to purchase. The iPhone has won hands down and on Thursday I decided which company to go with! So I'm feeling very good and decide that yesterday would be the day of purchase. It will be so exciting to be able to call my new friends! (The land line in our house allows us to receive calls however we cannot dial out!)

Yesterday did not go well -- no one is open on Monday. I have heard that a lot of shops will do this: too much partying on Sunday so they need to take Monday off as well. Which is totally cool and fine. I just had to learn the hard way.

So today is the big day! I'm ready to go in and ask for a phone. I've got my french worked out and phrases memorized. I'm nervous and sweating and the butterflies are fluttering away in my belly! (all this for a phone?!) I go into Bouygues magasin and request the new iPhone and a contract. The guy responds with nothing I had practiced or could understand! Dang it! What do I do? Luckily the guy waiting in line could speak english and translated for me that the store is sold out of iPhones! The store will not have anymore until September! Well, at least the butterflies in my belly are gone and I can go back to being incognito! It would have been way to stressful to deal with all my new friend if I had a phone! I'd be calling all one of them all the time! It's probably better that I wait! :)

But look at me! I think I ordered one online and I think it should be delivered by Friday. I didn't get Brian a phone yet because I'm not too sure how this whole Internet buying/delivery thing is going to work out. More on that Friday/Saturday....(keep your fingers crossed!)

Okay! Too much excitement for the day. I'm off to practice some francais!