Is 350 francs really just $54 American? While researching posh hotels for future photo spreads, I came across one on the Mediterranean in France for that price. The conversion is right, but the units are wrong (Huh -- units). They no longer use the franc; the room costs 350 euros, which is closer to a 1-1 exchange with the American dollar, so it's actually about $342 for a room at the charming chateau.

And thus the excitement of my job. Well, it's only the second day. And I don't have my own desk, phone extension or e-mail address yet because there's another move to come this weekend and then on Monday I'll have My Place. So I can't call places and then have to leave a phone number or follow up with an e-mail and then have to say, "Well, I can't do it until Monday because I don't have my own extension yet. ... No, we are a real magazine. ... No, we're not out yet, but we will be in October. ... I know. ... Well, I could e-mail you, but it would be from my Hotmail account. ... Hello? ... Hello? ..."

As I said to Casey on the way back from our lunch run to the deli at Whole Foods (yes, the one across the street from the apartment), the 10-minute drive to work is almost too short. When I had to drive an hour to work, I still dreaded getting there, but that was because I hated the job. Now that I have a 10-minute commute, I want it to last just a little longer so I can hear the end of the interview or song on the radio, or to hear the upcoming feature that was teased just before the commercial break. I think a 20-minute drive is perfect: Long enough to enjoy the drive, short enough to not tax the car, close enough to not really be late. It worked well.

Still, even with not so much to do today (and with killing time so I wouldn't have to call people and convince them I work for a real magazine), it went pretty quickly. Tracking down info online can eat up minutes, which quickly pass by as hours.

In two days, I also realized this place goes quiet from about 12:30/1 p.m. to about 2, when many people go out to lunch. And around 5:30, it picks up again, with people talking loudly and excitedly about leaving; particularly today, it being Friday (the 13th!) and all.

So I think I'll take a cue myself, post this, and gather up my things. Hopefully I won't be returning to this very computer Monday and I'll have an extension and e-mail to give out to friends and publicity contacts.