Basketball, Exercise, and a New Roommate!!!

One of the evenings while Melissa was gone, Joel invited me to come watch him and his buddies play basketball. Since I had just been working on a unit for school called "French sports and past-times," I thought it would be fitting to witness some first-hand.

In between taking pictures of the guys shooting hoops, I just had to steal over to the football field to see what was going on.

Right next to where the guys were playing, there were these strange playground objects. I had no idea what they were for until I saw a guy and girl doing exercise moves (muscle toning, to be exact) on this one.

I'm assuming this one is for working out as well. Any suggestions on how to use it? I was rather perplexed, myself.

There are some things in life I just don't understand. For instance--why place a bench facing the fence 3 feet away? 

Thanks, Joel, for bringing me along to witness your mad basketball skills! 

On a completely different note... 

Tonight I get my very first roommate since being an independent dweller here in the country of the French! WOOHOO!!!!! I am so excited for MELISSA to come stay with me in my apartment here in France! I have a whole list of things I'm going to show her around Rennes!  :)