playing hookie

Today I was two minutes late for my french class which means I can't get into the building. As it is with most buildings here there is a code that you need in order to enter from the street and after that there is a buzzer system to be allowed into the actual building. I, of course, forgot the code (as I've never had to use it yet because when I'm on time there has always been someone else to enter it for me). Writing it down would have been smart. So I waited outside the building to see if anyone would come but I wasn't that lucky and missed my class entirely. Instead, I spent the afternoon walking around. I don't know what the reprecussion will be for missing a class, I can't imagine it will be harsh as I'm paying out the wahzoo for these classes. The worst part will be having to explain in French what happened. I was thinking about lying and telling my teacher that I had to stay home with the a sick child but as lying is challenging enough for me in English I can't how that would work in French.
My walk was nice though. I had heard about a good sports shop to look for rollerblades. I would really like to have a pair I think. But as the cheapest ones are 40€ I will have to save a little everyweek as I'm on a strict 25€ a week budget. In Paris rollerblades are a widely used form of transportation as well as scooters (that is the razor-type, push scooters). It's not uncommon to see a grown woman in business casual soaring down the sidewalk on one of these. As I have had to use one a couple of times when the girls are in a hurry I don't think I can get used to the idea that noone is judging me. I went to the park with Juliet on scooters once and had an absolute blast just riding around in circles but I was comfortable because I had a child with me, alone I would feel pretty silly. So rollerblades it is.
While walking around, at first, one might think there are a lot of small pedigree dogs lost in Paris but then you realize they are indeed accompanied by a human even though they might be thirty some feet apart. I saw a of of this on my walk today as well as with a lot of "caca" on the street. I'm guessing leashes and pooper-scoopers aren't manditory here.
Nevertheless, if you're not too busy watching out for the doggie gifts on the sidewalk, walking around Paris is great for window shopping. Every storefront has a window display and most of the time they include prices of whatever it is they are displaying. Which, to me, is basically a way of saying "don't even think about coming in here". But its nice to pretend I could buy the 300€ dress in the window. Realestate agencies have window displays too and those are the funnest to stop in front of and pick out the perfect 950,000€ apartment (you know, just something modest).
These window displays make sense for a lot of stores but sometimes they seem a bit unnescessary. My favorite is the window display for the plumber around the corner.