I can see Russia from my house!

OK not really, but the Jardin d'Acclimation had a Russian festival going on when Julien and I went a while back to hit up the driving range (pun not originally intended, but now that I noticed it, totally leaving it). For the record, my golfing skills are subpar, but it's only because I feel like a moron when I assume the position ... Just as soon as I get rid of my last vestiges of self-respect I'll be a pro. Can't be long now :)

Then Julien's aunt and uncle were able to smuggle us into the classy party in the Tuileries for some car tour around France that began the next morning. For you, Daddy, is a 1966 Mustang. I know your dream car is a Mustang, but I was iffy on the year. There were a few others ... a bajillion Ferraris and who knows what else.

I recognized them mostly as a)Former Barbie cars or b) Former Matchbox cars, and thus was disappointed when they didn't have glittery pink paint (although in our house, Barbie's Ferrari was red, her Corvette was pink, her Jeep was yellow, her VW bug convertible was pink and her RV was pink).

Interception!

Now I'm the mean teacher that confiscates notes. But seriously, kids these days lack finesse. I was passing short stories with my friends in elementary/middle school, and we never got caught.

They're talking about how a classmate gets on their nerves. The other side says 'Does he annoy you? Circle yes or no.' Even their NOTES are multiple choice!

YESS' WE CAN!

Now they're just messing with me.

Sorry France.

This is why people do illegal things.

Nancy Drew didn't have the internet at her disposal ...

MYSTERY SOLVED (already?!)!!!

Thanks to the help of my friend Dave who pointed out that the little characters that mystified me are from an old arcade game called Space Invaders, from the 80s.

THEN, from the culture portion of the article (the French wiki version), I learned that a street artist (anonymous, of course) 'invades' cities the world over. He's known as Invader. Or, I just realized there's an English version.

The gist is that he sets up in a city, and decides strategically where he's going to put the little characters (often with a significance, for example, the bird's eye view of the locations forms another space invader character, etc.). It's awesome. So now I need to get a map and go on a quest for the others.

Mystery solved. The quest, however, is incomplete.

A 'secular miracle of communication?'

During my canal-side wanderings, I happened to notice this Pacman-like character tiled (sneakily) onto a municipal building. I became curious ...

Today, walking near Rue Buci with Bastien, I noticed another.

If you've ever read The Crying of Lot 49, you might be able to see where this is taking me. In the book, which is rife with references and things that remind you of other things that you can't quite place, but somehow leave you with an enduring sense of almost-comprehension, the main character keeps coming across symbols and references to a secret society. I don't want to give anything away, so you should just read the book (it's one of my favorites).

Anyway, I'm positive there's a meaning or a game or some sort of reason for these little things all over the city, and I'm determined to find more and figure it out. A mystery!

April in Paris.

Friday afternoon I went to lunch with my friend Nadia. We went by the canal (St Martin) to a restaurant called Chez Prune. Quite tasty.

Right facing our table outside was this mailbox, marked 1984. Earlier that morning, a podcast I was listening to referenced Room 101. Just one of those reference-filled days.

Fun graffiti (is it?) along one of the locks on the canal. In mirror fragments. No idea what it says though.

More of the lock mechanism. Does this not look like something out of that computer game Myst from the 90s?! Somehow if you activate all of the tiles in the right way I'm sure this opens up and reveals a path to the center of Earth. Or something awe-inspiring.

I enjoy misuse of the language. Rock-hair cut. Not a rock hair-cut, but rather a rock-hair cut. Because even sculptures needs a trim every now and then. Apparently.

This made me smile. Little faces drawn onto a traffic light. Makes me want to go around and do it to other ones.

On our way back to the train station, saw a sewing supply store. Look at those spools of thread!