My daughter, Jackie, just turned 5 when this word journal began. Here she is at eleven… helping Braise (brez) get dressed for the party!
time!
*Note: the next word goes out on November 5th. (…not because we
will need time to recover from the fête… but because we will be spending time
with the kids, who are on school break again…).
joyeux, joyeuse
(zhwa-yuh, zhwa-yuhz) adjective
: cheerful, merry, joyful
Listen to my daughter's message, and to the French word "joyeux": Download joyeux.wav.Download joyeux.mp3
I have another confession: I have never been good at
événementiel (or "event organization"). Jean-Marc planned our wedding, each
and every detail (contacted the French priest, ordered the flowers, selected
the menu, had the rings engraved, and all but tried on the long white gown
& satin-trimmed veil for me).
The "big day" found his blushing
bride-to-be tripping over a street grate, late for a very important date! I
have been trying to make up for that unforgettable entrance ever since: by
continuing to "réviser" a simple lesson from my husband: relax and enjoy life
and, especially, celebrate the milestones!
Today marks the 6th
anniversary of this French word journal and I am ready to celebrate this
joyful event. I've ordered the flowers (okay, I swiped several from "Mama
Jules"), and selected the menu: a sweet and savory buffet of words.
Now
listen up: this is where you come in–and not as a clumsy bride!:
I would
like to ask you to share a word or two… about yourself. Are you an 85-year-old
collector of Southwestern art? Or a new mother, up to her ears in dirty
diapers? Are you in a marching band? Do you read this word journal in school?
Are you famous? …or infamous? (or related to someone that is?). Do you speak more than two languages? Can you make your ears
move?
Do you suspect you are the youngest on this list–or the oldest?
Are you a tattoo artist or do you dabble in watercolor? Have you invented something? Do you like frogs legs or are you carrément contre la cuisine des cuisses de grenouilles? Do you have an unusual skill?
Are you involved in a charity? Have you written a book and do you want to
"buzz it" here? Are you shy? Ever won a prize? Do you have a blog or site and
would you like to tell us where to find you on the web?
All in all,
just a line or two about you… s'il vous plaît! Meantime, thank you for
reading this word journal, and for helping to create a community as we
move into our seventh year: one sweet and savoury word at a time.
Note: having trouble posting? Please send your message to me (kristin.espinasse AT gmail.com ) with a "request to post" in the subject line. Include how you would like your name to appear. I will try to post your message in the next week.
PS: to share your photo: check out the French Word-A-Day group at Facebook.
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I’m a 60 year old software developer from the Chicago suburbs. I’ve been a daily reader for three years or so. I studied French for a year as an undergrad, and managed to relearn enough in grad school to pass a language reading requirement. (Reading math textbooks in French isn’t all that hard, if you already know the mathematics.) Now, I’m learning the language for a third time. We’ve been to France once, visited Paris, Marseille, Aix, and Arles. I would like to go back and maybe take a bike/barge trip through the countryside. I’ve been a daily reader for three years or so.
Bonjour Kristin,
Fêtez joyeusement
Cet événement charmant:
French- word- a- day évidemment
Déjà six ans?
Comme passe le temps!
Are you really going to read all these nice messages? (another six years to spend on :-).
(mon smilley a un “grain de beauté” sur le menton. Grain de beauté, voilà un joli French word a day.
Par le passé nous avons déjà été en contact. Je suis professeur de français langue étrangère à Bruxelles et c’est une étudiante américaine qui m’a fait découvrir votre site. Depuis 2005, je collectionne les plus jolis mots et citations que j’imprime pour les faire découvrir à mes étudiants.
J’adorerais aider tous vos correspondants à améliorer leur français parce que j’ai toujours rêvé de parler un anglais parfait, sans “French accent”, avec cette élégance et cette aisance naturelle des natifs. C’est pourquoi, de retour des Etats-Unis je suis devenue prof de français pour les expats. J’adore ce métier et c’est toujours frustrant quand la leçon se termine, il reste toujours tellement de matière à enseigner, de dialogues à échanger, de vocabulaire à développer, de phonétique à corriger… Il faudrait que mes étudiants sortent du cours parfaits-bilingues et n’ignorant plus rien de la culture belgo-française. Donc, c’est très frustrant de regarder sa montre.
En dehors de cette passion, j’ai écrit un scénario de film qui n’a pas gagné le concours auquel il participait (mais qui a été copié pour un film célèbre), un conte pour enfants qui n’a pas été réalisé en dessins animés malgré un contrat avec un studio et une invention qui n’a pas été brevetée par manque d’argent et finalement, un livre autobiographique qui tarde à naître (par crainte des accouchements douloureux,voir les expériences susmentionnées).
Et oui, c’est tout moi ça!
Encore bon anniversaire, bon vent (vin) Sablerez-vous le champagne comme il se doit pour se réjouir d’une fête?
Enjoy!
Bisous
Happy Anniversary!I am a 54 yr old oncology nurse,born in Boston,now living on Cape Cod.I work at a very busy outpatient cancer center,where patients receive chemotherapy and radiation.I love my job,am proud of my work and consider it an honor to take the cancer journey along with these people.
Felicitations! I am 47 and a mom of two daughters (ages 10 and 13) living in the Philadelphia suburbs. My oldest is taking her first year of French in school and it is her favorite subject! French was one of my majors in college and reading your blog helps me to keep up with it a little bit. I love all things French and have been fortunate to travel there many times. We are due for a trip soon as it’s been nine years. Thank you for your Word a Day et bon anniversaire!
Happy Anniversary!I am a 54 oncology nurse on Cape Cod.I work in a very busy outpatient oncology center.We treat cancer with chemotherapy and radiation.I love my job,am proud of my work and find it an honor to take the cancer journey along with my patients.
Hello / Bonjour! I am a former secondary level French teacher living in New Jersey. French is still an important part of my life, so I log on for a word and a smile! So many of your words remind me of a day when I was teaching that particular word in class! Other vocabulary helps me to remain current. I so much enjoy the site so that I can satisfy my wanderlust when I’m not able to leave for France once again.
I love the pronunciation part, and especially that it is recorded by a child – so engaging to hear! Keep up the good work – and felicitations!
I’m sure I’m not the oldest subscriber but at 84 probably close.
After 3 yrs in high School and 8 months in France with the US Army in 1945 I’ve been trying to hold on to my skimpy French despite the past 54 years in Spain. And there’s where your word-a-day blog is a great help. Thanks Kristin.
Rebonjour, Kristin, et joyeux anniversaire. Je suis Jackie Sand et j’ai fait votre connaissance il y a quelques années quand vous habitiez dans le Var. J’étais prof de français pendant 39 ans et j’ai pris la retraite il y a un an et demi. Le français me manque maintenant puisque je le parlais tous les jours! Je fais partie d’un groupe de francophones qui se réunit une fois par mois chez l’une, chez l’autre pour parler français. Quel gros plaisir! Je fais du bénévole une fois par semaine dans un asile où ma mère a passé les trois derniers mois de sa vie. Je parle français avec 3 habitants, un Egyptien, une Libanaise, et une Algérienne. Ils sont tous formidables et cela me fait grand plaisir de leur parler dans leur langue maternelle. Mon mari qui est photographe, et moi essayons d’aller un France assez souvent, mais avec la crise économique présente nous ne savons pas quand nous ferons le prochain voyage. Optimistes de nature, nous ferons de notre mieux de venir en France dans les proches années. Ah, mon âge? J’ai 63 ans!
Félicitations de vos 6 ans avec ce site!
Bon Anniversaire!
I’ve been reading for a couple of years, and it HAS helped — and looking forward to getting even more help, now that we are expats living east of Paris.
Bonjour Kristen! Comment allez-vous? It is quite right now after a morning of waking the family (husband, daughter, and son) feeding and letting our Labradoodle Cocka-poo out, making lunch for my son, handing out money for a social at the middle school,and hugs and “I love you’s” as they all move to a new day. Whew! The quite is nice. Not unlike most people’s morning but C’est le vie! I am 48, live in a suburb of Seattle, WA. and have been learning French for the past year. Thank you for your word-a-day. So much fun! Our family is planning to come to Paris in a few years and I can’t wait! I visited back in 1985 and hoped to return. I just might get my wish. Well, I better getting going on my current project of making curtains for our master bedroom.
Bonjour Kristin! Joyeux 6eme Anniversaire! I have been loving your words for a few years now. I live near Seattle in Washington State. I am a IT professional but my real job is being a mom and raising dogs. Our friends may have not heard of the very french dog, Berger Picard. I go to France and bring into the US these wonderful shepherds to help preserve the breed. For more info visit http://www.pacificpicardies.us
Je m’appelle Janet. I am almost 50 (birthday in 3 weeks!). I am attempting to teach myself French through On Lingo CD’s, podcasts, and your lovely blog. My son lives in Lyon and pretty much taught himself French with the help of friends. He is an amazing language learner so I’m hoping that he received this gift from me?! So far, I have a lot of French words and phrases roaming around in my head all the time but I have no one to practice with. I plan on living with him for a month next year so I must be ready! Thank you for your creative blog.
I’m a 27-y-o native Minnesotan who migrated to California to escape the snow. I studied french in hs and college. My friend and I used to converse in french so the boys couldn’t understand us, but since we no longer see each other very often, I need a new french outlet. I love your book but wish it were chronological instead of alphabetical. I love to travel and go camping.
greetings kristin et al,
i am susan and live in napa valley with my french, winemaking man, yannick, our sweet 11 yr. old boy théo, and our even sweeter 7 mos. old doggie-girl, kiva. i fell in love with my frenchman 4 years ago and discovered your blog through a client soon after that. even since, ive been studying french, traveling to visit his family in gascone, and expecting to move there any minute! we have just begun our own label, y. rousseau wines this year; however, so you know what that is like! our farmhouse in the southwest of france may have to wait a short while longer. in the meantime, i keep learning my french, laughing at the lot of us, and living le bon vivre! i also teach yoga and pilates and hope to offer yoga and wines tours in france within the next two years!
blessings all,
susanna
Hi,Kristin.
I am Francois,nickname Faffa,65,retired Biology teacher from Paarl ,South Africa. I speak Afrikaans and English and am trying to help myself in French–so thanks also for your help!My interest in France and French is because I am a descendant of Pierre Joubert fromLa Motte Daigues and Isabeau Richard from St.Martin dla Brasque in Provence. They came to South Africa via Holland in 1688. In 2007 we spend a few days in La Motte and plan to do so again in 2009 if the world economy improves– at the moment 1euro=Rand14!
Kindest Regards
I am an attorney living and working in Colorado USA. I have 3 grown children. I love to cook as do all my children. I took French in high school and German in college. I volunteer with Catholic Charities. I have read Word-A-Day almost from the beginning. I am amazed at the diversity among your readers!
6 years! Woo hoo! Congratulations Kristin and family. I’m a psychologist in Portland, OR who started studying French 3 years ago and was introduced to your “mot du jour” by a friend. I’ve often shared a new word or two with my Fench group. For those in the Portland area looking for a French speaking group, feel free to contact me at dmcclure77 at gmail.com. We’re low key and run the gamut from native speakers to relative newbies like me.
But again, Kristin, congratulations and thanks for inviting us into slices of your world. I wish you many more successes in the years ahead and look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries with you.
Thank you so much for your word journal! I’ve been enjoying it for a couple of years ever since I found your book. I am 18 years old and I have been studying French since I was in middle school in NJ. I am currently in a wonderful French Lit class at Rutgers University, part of my first semester here!
Congratulations and best wishes.
I am 60 years old and retired from a medical/technical job which I held for nearly forty years. I travelled a lot as soon as I made enough money to do so. My first trip to Paris was in 1973 and for the first time in my garulous life, I found myself unable to communicate. It made me sick to my stomach with fear. Fortunately my travelling companion forced me out of bed and onto the street, flogging me with a promise of a Coca Cola if I would just get moving.Four years later, we planned another trip to France and I prepared (half the fun of travelling anyway) by studying French for six months at the local community college. Those two little semesters of French have stood me in good stead for the last thirty years. I have been to Paris several times since.In 2004, I planned a ten-day trip to Paris with my two nieces who were in their junior and seniort years in high school. The older niece had four years of French in her IB program. We had a wonderful stay in Paris and both young women are looking forward to a return trip.My health could be better and so I am mostly an armchair traveler these days. French Word-A-Day keeps my “little grey cells” working as Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot would say. I began reading Agatha as a pre-teen and she had this aggravating (to me) habit of sprinkling French words and phrases throughout her stories. It drove me crazy that i didn’t know what they meant. It was an impetus to learning French.I recommended FWAD to my niece’s French teacher and she uses it with her classes. For all of you young readers longing to travel to France, finish your education, get a good job, LIVE WITHIN YOUR MEANS, and travel while you are young. If you are lucky, you will travel for the rest of your life. Life has a habit though, of getting in the way…children, elderly parents, health issues of your own…so travel while you have the chance.
I am a 34 year-old mother of two in Utah. I studied German for 14 years, Spanish for two, tried to teach myself Russian and am now trying to learn French. I’ve been to Europe twice, but never to France… until next month… with my husband and children, we will be visiting Paris, Avignon, Carcassonne, Amboise as well as a jaunt to the Netherlands.
Aloha Kristin,
Congratulations and Mahalo Nui Loa (Thank You Very Much) for the many enjoyable experiences you’ve shared … I enjoy them from exactly half way around this wonderful world of ours. Kauai & France – France & Kauai … truly the best of both worlds. I’m a “lucky puppy”! I visit my dear friends in Paris frequently, and for nearly 25 years they have spoiled me rotten by assuring my lazy side that life in France is wonderful, even without expending the effort to learn French! Of Course I do run into the occasional problem, but these years have been a great lesson in the base humanity of people, and their understanding of one another on a higher threshold than the spoken word. Does that vindicate me? Probably not, and that’s precisely why I continue to give the beautiful French language my enthusiastically unbridled semi-effort. Rest assured Kristin, for all those who expound on the pursuit of language perfection, you have one reader who knows he will never perfect the language, but enjoys your excellent writings because they transport me to Wonderful France while I’m sitting on Wonderful Kauai! Aloha et Au revoir
I am a retired Trust Banker living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. We move to central Mexico rather than France or Italy because my spouse felt closer to our three children in the States if we can get into the car and visit. It takes “only” three days by car. Takes as long to fly to the States as it does from Europe. I have enjoyed following the adventures of your family. Being an Expat I resemble many of your experiences only without the selection of wines, breads and food that France offers you.
Looking forward to sharing many more of your charming adventures.
Gary
Congratulations on your anniversary. My name is Frank and I am 25 years old. I live in Ohio and went to the Ohio State University where I met my partner, Mathieu. He was working on a Masters there and I thought I would start learning some French as he’s a native speaker.
As luck, and adventure, would have it; things have worked out between us, and now we are moving back to France probably around mid-March. So now I have to start actually learning French well enough to speak it every day. That thought is only slightly paralyzing to me.
I took 6 years of German, and a quarter each of Latin and Sanskrit.
Bonjour and bonne fete!
I am a retired educator and artist living with my painter husband in Savannah, Georgia. Our only son, Daniel, married a lovely French woman, Emmanuelle, this summer in a small town near Lyon. We were lucky enough to be able to attend and spend a couple of days in Paris as well. We also hosted some of our new French relatives here in March and introduced them to Southern cooking. I’m taking French conversation classes and hope to be able to carry on a real conversation with them one of these days.
Edie
Happy Anniversary!!
I am a 41 year old wife, mom of 2- one of which is a teenager–pray for me:) I love organizing–from paperwork to kitchen cabinets. My daughter is in a marching band but sometimes I feel like I am with all the commitments and driving her around. I just started my own blog! So much fun. I went to grade school with Kristi–that is my claim to fame!! I don’t know a lick of french but have visited France twice so far.
Happy anniversary to you and French-Word-A Day! I am a retired high school Technical Design teacher,(older than Jeanne by a few years). Presently I am rennovating a 150 year old stone house, mostly by myself, in a tiny village in Prince Edward County, Ontario. I travel to Provence at lease once a year to visit my daughter, son-in-law and two grandaughters. I have been reading this blog for about 5 years and have enjoyed all your books. Thank you for the lovely stories and the thrice-weekly visits.
59 and feelin’ fine
Love your blog…it is divine.
J’adore La France
cuisine et romance
J’habite en Californie
Mais je preferais Paris!
http://www.terramere.gather.com
Bonne Fete mon amie,I am over 60.Work as a chef at Tuttle’s Red Barn,the oldest farm in America still owned by the same family.I was born in N.H. and french was my first language.I attended a school that was french in the morning and english in the afternoon.I had no need to use my french outside the house for about 35 years.When I started to work on the farm many of my customers came from Europe and Canada they encouraged me to use it again and although I understood most of what they said speaking was a different thing.The University is near us and most of these people are here as teachers or on sabbathical.I currently have a stitch & bitch(knitting group) at a local cafe and our group includes several different language You are my secret tool for coming up with expressions they are not familiar with. Shhhh.Thank you for that.
Bonjour,
I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico but spent twenty years in Santa Fe. I am 63 years old and retired from the Commission for the Blind. My wife and I are born and raised New Mexicans but we love to travel and have been to France twice. My maternal grandparents were Swiss immigrants and my mother didn’t learn to speak English until entering the first grade. Unfortunately, she never taught us French. We do maintain contact with our Swiss cousins – they have been here and we have been there (Sion/Aproz, Switzerland)four or five times. As a consequence I try to maintain just a bit of French in order to better communicate. We do correspond with them by e-mail on about a monthly basis.
Thank you for your wonderful “French words” I enjoy them immensely.
Hi, I’ve been reading your blog for about a year since I stumbled across it whilst looking for teaching resources on the internet. I am one of those rare beings – an English person who speaks French and Spanish fluently and more than adequate Italian. I recently traced my family back to France in the mid 1600s when they emigrated to Reunion then Seychelles. I am from the first generation of my family not brought up in a French speaking country and my mum chose not to speak French to us, which was a real pain as everyone thought we must be bilingual. Consequently I didn’t start to learn French until I was 11. Happy 6th Birthday.
I’m a SINGER, ACTRESS, WIFE (TED STORY), MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER (two 5th generation Native NYer grandsons), PRESERVATIONIST & ENVIRONMENTALIST. But I have always adored all things French and ended up sending both my girls to school in Laboissière-en-tele and buying an apartment in Montmartre. I studied French in some Paris schools and with families in the south. Here at home I listen to TV5Monde and dream of actually being able to speak and understand all.
Je suis Français vivant en France et je vous lis régulièrement depuis fort longtemps, amusé et attendri par vos chroniques sur mon pays, que vous regardez avec tendresse et indulgence. Vous écrivez avec beaucoup de talent et j’espère avoir le plaisir de vous lire encore très longtemps.
Réal
Hi all – I am a NICU nurse currently living in Los Angeles who dreams of living in France for a while before I die! My daughter and grandkids are here, so I am here for now…
Oh, Kristin, what wonderful news. Congratulations. I am a *woman of a certain age,* living in San Diego, where I sell tickets at a museum. When I discover that my customers are from France (or Quebec,) I stop the transaction and Bonjour all around. It seems to amuse and please them. I visited Paris and Grenoble in the early 1970s. Have taken first year french three times, so it is my *official* second language. Reading your letters has been a great help in improving to une petite pue. I also practice at my local Vietnamese take-away shop. I do watercolor, grow a lavendar plant, and enjoy these virtual visits en francais. Merci boucoup ma cherie.
Salut, Kristin! I can proudly say that I actually have time to read (and thoroughly enjoy) your articles and book these days!! Formerly a workaholic graphic designer/photographer, my family has recently moved from Victoria, BC to Ottawa, Ontario where I raise my two sons (ages 8 & 4) in an idyllic setting of maple trees and a beaver pond (while working at a more reasonable pace). My heritage is French, and so, I suppose, I come by my fanaticism with all things French simply by nature. Thank you so much for sharing so much of your life, all things French, and everything that is near and dear to your heart with us all. It’s like you’ve formed one big family with this FWAD of yours!:)
Rebonjour Kristin! Et félicitations pour l’anniversaire!
I’m an expat Brit rapidly approaching 60 (where does the time go – wait, that reminds me of a song from my hippy years…) and living in the San Francisco area. Caught between the fun of faire bâtir les jeunes entreprises technologiques and pining, really pining, for a life close to agriculture and simplicity in France. Vos bons mots et bonnes histoires are the lifeline that keeps me in touch with my life to come when the piggy-bank is full enough!
Your blog has also helped revitalize my rusty French. It was my best subject at high school, but I never learned to speak it well – and since it wouldn’t pay the bills I’ve made my career in science and technology. I know that al my attention to your French language advice will pay off one day!
Congratulations too on your adaptation to a life so different than the one you had in the US. Your love of life & family fairly soar out of the screen and I’m sure that’s what has powered you through the tougher times. Hope to meet you one day when I’m back in France; meantime let me add my thanks to those of the thousands who you bring such pleasure to every week.
Sincere congratulations on your 6th (has it been that long?) anniversary, Kristin. Your writing always touches me. I am a 64-year-old graphic designer who recently moved from Bainbridge Island, Washington — and prior to that from Connecticut — to the beautiful island paradise of Kauai, where I am hoping to sell my oil paintings.
I found and married my high school sweetheart in January after having been apart from her for more than 40 years. We feel so blessed to be sharing our lives at this stage. In one of your recent columns you had a lovely quote by Jean Amadou. It describes our relationship perfectly: Comme les vendanges, les amours tardives sont les plus délicieuses. Like the grape harvest, love gathered late is the most delicious.
I started reading your blog after reading your blook, which I loved. Both allowed me to live vicariously through your wonderful French life! As my kids (11 and 7) tell people, our Mom is obsessed with all things French–language, land, culture, food and wine! I would love to find a way to incorporate my love of France and French into a career, but have not yet figured out a way in Charlotte, NC where we now live. Every summer for the last 3 years, my family meets my Mom at my grandparent’s home in a small village in the south of France. (My grandparents were also Francophiles and moved to France in the 50s.) Cheers to you and your wonderful words you share!
I’m in my sixties, love to garden, golf, read and travel, especially in France. My husband and I have been going there once or twice a year, and have just signed a three year lease on an apartment in Paris, so we are hoping to spend about half of each year there. I’m constantly studying French, and hope some day I’ll be fluent- our new pied-a-terre should help! My husband is fluent, which also helps.
Congratulations on your “Word A Day”- I love it and learn from it!
Rosemary
I am 57 and live in Israel, in a smallish town that is part of the Tel Aviv metropolitan area – and we fiercely defend our identity as non-Tel Avivians! I have always loved languages and work as an interpreter/translator between Hebrew and English. I was born in South Africa but have lived in Israel for 35 years. I also speak and work in Dutch (as well as Afrikaans, but that’s hardly a commercial market!). I can cope reasonably well in French, German, and Italian and love your site. It allows me to keep in touch with the dynamism of the language. Please don’t take this personally, but the country I love to visit most is Italy and, if my wife would agree, would spend as many weekends there as possible – it’s such a short flight from Tel Aviv!
Bonjour Kristin!
I am the local librarian from the very small town of Entiat, WA. Although most of my traveling is vicarious, I just recently returned from deux semaines en Provence! It was so nice to meet you and Jean-Marc! What a wonderful life you lead. I will be looking for opportunities to purchase Rouge-Bleu wine when I visit Portland. If you ever do a tour in the Northwest again, especially including Seattle, I would love to attend. Your writing is so refreshing, and honest. I am enjoying your book and blog very much. Ruthie is now in Paris – you can read of her adventures in our blog. A votre sante!
Having responded directly to our beloved Kristi, this is a post script.
Two of the more experienced responders gave their ages as 62 and 68, the former suggesting that she might be your oldest reader and supporter. I may not be the oldest but being half-way to 82 should be somewhere near that designation.
Don’t know when it started but from very early on my support has included not missing a single posting of your treasured reditions of French words and life.
Your dream of writing a book has been realized and, more important, you have flourished well beyond that while gaining the respect and great affection of the many hundreds of your readers, Felicitations!
Thank you Kristin – I love you blog and so do my students. I’m married to a Frenchwoman, two franco-american kids and depite having a day job in an international IT function, I teach French to adults in West Chester, PA. I recently became French, taking French nationality. I wrote a book on teaching conversational French, and I am currently writing a book on French business culture focusing on French business ventures (adventures) in the US. I’ve lived in Paris and Normandy on and off for the last 10 years and we are looking to come back soon. A day without French is indeed a day without air. Keep up the good work!
Bonjour Kristin,
Hello from Tigard Oregon!
Congrats on your success. Your words are treasured by many, and take me away to another place for a few minutes when I get them, always a treat in my chaotic life!
During the day I work for a health plan. Nights, weekends and every other spare minute I produce an arts, travel and entertainment TV show called PDXposed http://www.pdxposed.com if you want to check it out.We are now on our local NBC affiliate so things are going well, and we have a ton of fun doing it.!
I have a huge mermaid collection that keeps inching it’s way into taking over the house AND yard, I am single and have 2 grown children, Ryan and Brittany, and Brittany is expecting my first grandchild…a boy…in March. I have been warned he is not going to be wearing any of the cute little frilly mermaid baby clothes I have collected over the years, hmmm.
My backyard is my oasis, filled with water features and all things tropical and darn hard to grow here in Oregon.
I have been to France twice, the most recent being in 2002, when I spent time in Cote D’Azur in November. My Thanksgiving dinner was red wine and a crepe with nutella sitting at a cafe in Monaco, overlooking the Mediteranean, sigh.
I swam in 6 different oceans/seas that year…2002 was a very good year 😉
~Julie
Bonjour Kristin and congratulations! I am 36 year old lawyer living in Reno, NV on the cusp of making a career transition (exacatly to what, I’m not sure yet, but out of law!). I started taking French back in the 7th grade and have dabbled throughout the years and am trying to get myself back to an acceptable level of French.
I’ve had the pleasure of travelling to France twice, the 2nd time being a wonderful month long trip around Provence. I love reading your posts and seeing your photos (Braise looks fabulous today!).
Best wishes!
Bonjour! J’habite pres de Boston aux Etats Unis and je viens de voyager en France – dix jours sur le canal du Midi et en Provence! (Kristin, I wonder if you were in Chateauneuf du Pape around October 11th??) Alas, the tide of French thinking and speaking is receding from my mind, leaving me wishing for another chance – soon! Meanwhile, I enjoy the blog – Merci!
Kristin,
I am no one special. I am a mariee et une mere a deux. I live in Californie and have a job for the county in which I live. I started studying French in 5th grade and stopped somewhere during college. I had intended to teach both mes fils francais, but when they were born, I worried that I didn’t speak it well enough and opted out rather than teach them pidgeon. Instead, I still try to teach them the things I know: how to pronounce french mots, and how to count to ten and sing their abc’s. I have been to France troisieme fois and love it each time. I can’t wait to go back. I read your blog regularly, and have for years since I discovered it through Yahoo. Your writing touches me, and is meaningful.
Querida Kristin:
Soy Marilina y naci en Cuba pero vivo en USA desde 1963. (I am Marilina and was born in Cuba but have lived in the USA since 1963). I love to travel and have done a lot of it. Love Paris and France and also Spain and Italy. I am a Gemini (that translates as a little bit crazy) and enjoy the arts, reading and a lot of other things.
Feliz 6 cumpleaños.
Hi Kristen, congraduations on making it to the 6th year! I subscribed to your mailing list years ago when I was taking French courses in college. I sort of put French aside for a while when I went to Japan and tried to study Japanese. I already speak Mandarin and English, but it’s my goal to master at least 5 languages in my lifetime, and French is on my the top of my list of languages to learn.
I’m toiling right now in an uninteresting ‘practical’ job, but I’m planning to go back to school to study comparative literature focusing on French and English Lit, which I hope will turn into a lifelong academic career. That’s why I’ve taken up French again, and your blog has kept me motivated by reminding me that doing what I love is more important than what others expect of me.
By the way, I don’t know what it is with French and women as it seems like most readers here female. My boyfriend makes fun of me because I think French is “pretty”, but to me that’s as good as a reason to study a language. 🙂
Hi, I suspect I’m the youngest on this list. I picked up your book 2 years ago – when I was 17. I’m 19 now. I’m in university. I’ve been learning French for almost 10 or 11 years now, but I struggle with it. I love to read your stories. I visit this site every so often. It’s always a pleasant read.