Je (coeur) les cabanons, et vous?
In Books: I'll Never Be French (no matter what I do): Living in a Small Village in Brittany
Jamais deux sans trois (zhah-may-deuh-sahn-twah) expression
: never two (catastrophes) without three
A Day in a French Life…by Kristin Espinasse
The French have a saying in regards to bad luck: jamais deux sans trois ("never two without three"). Leave it up to me to test this numbers theory…
And so Tuesday began with a flat tire and, by Wednesday, my book manuscript had disappeared… into the mishap mire! What could possibly happen next?
(À propos "never two without three"—et quatre et cinq et six!—we'll talk about those disasters vendredi.)
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Salon de Talk Talk
Because comments are the best part of French Word-A-Day, we are assigning them (that is you!) their own column. Welcome to Salon de Talk Talk. Nothing literary here… just us (we?) language and life lovers chatting by the fireside (or poolside, depending on the weather, chez vous). Won't you join us now to continue this conversation in the comments box? Here we can discuss the word of the day, talk about the story, ask & answer each others questions about France and French life, or simply share what is on our France-friendly mind!
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Click here to join in the discussion. After writing your comment in the first box, you will see three more boxes. In the first, type your name; in the second, your email address (this remains private). You may leave the third box ("url") blank—or type in your blog address or some other web address that you might like to share (a charity, for example). Any spam comments or links will be deleted.
French Vocabulary & Audio File
note: the audio file feature will return on Friday…
Je (coeur) les cabanons, et vous? = I (heart) cabanons, and you?; à propos = in regards to; et quatre et cinq et six = and four and five and six; le vendredi (m) = Friday; chez vous = in your area
"Lucy Je T'Aime" Lucy I Love You. Comment on this photo.
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Exercises in French Phonics, bestseller by Francis W. Nachtman, on French pronunciation and how to pronouce French words correctly!
French Demystified: A Self – Teaching Guide
Learn French In A Hurry: Grasp the Basics of Français Tout de Suite
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Dear Newforest:
I second Karen’s request. Please tell us more about yourself! (I just realized today, since you mentioned your husband, that you are not a man as I have always assumed you were! – not sure why…)
Thanks for seconding that request, Christine (actually you may be “thirding” after Kristin).
Jules, I’M NEAR VIRGINIA!! (kinda) I’m emailing you asap!
Alas, I find this old building beautiful in its own way, and really do hate graffiti in any form. Thank goodness this is a loving note, and not the gang slang one sees all too often. Phoenix has a volunteer group of Graffiti Busters who must get up very early to cover the ugly scribbles left by guys with nothing better to do with their energy! Get a job! Be a volunteer! Practice sports!
Earn your “glory” in a good way! Only losers do this stuff!
Hi Karen, I love Virginia, have never been there but have thought of your state since I was a young girl, I heard they had great horses there. I was horse crazy as a 10 year old – still crazy about them…Jackie is now living my old dream of jumping horses in France each week.
I second Christine’s request about NEWFOREST, even though I know her a little tiny bit. NEWFOREST IS FACINIATING – and humble. I have only see one photo of her when she visited Kristi when Kristi was in London with JM last year doing a wine show.
Kristi really made me feel great when she told me NEWFOREST reminded her of me when she interacted with the people coming by their wine stand. I translated that to mean she was very friendly and helpful with the sales…she kind of looks like me, grey hair – but she is much thinner (sp?) and of course much smarter (she would never wonder how to spell a word, and if she did she definitely wouldn’t be lazy like me and put a question mark. I can honestly say I have never come across anyone on the Internet that I admire more, Kristi won’t be jealous because she feels exactly the same way. I was enchanted with her post today – to share a bit of her life was indeed a treat for all of us.
Christine in Salt Lake City – you might as well send me your email – because Kristi and I will be cruising through on my 65th birthday travels on our way to visit Rusty’s widow (our BEAUTIFUL BETTY and her two hilarious sisters Missy and Janet). Missy has posted here at ‘Salon de Talk Talk’ so watch for her name.
BIG HUG TO NEWFOREST – I hope I didn’t give away too much information on you – whatever you give us starving students here at the Salon is treasured.
XOXO
JULES
Hello Kristan:
The graffiti reminds me when my son was four years, and we went to visit my family & friends in New York city(we lived on the west coast clean & pretty) We were walking along the street and he looked and pointed with child like innocence “Who did that” my cousin responded “kids did that ” He responded not skipping a beat ” Why did you let them do that and why is it still there?”
Now in my home town in the North West — communities gather and do clean-up to get rid of it..
Was raised in believing good and bad things come in three’s but also discovered it may not happen directly to you but you may here from a friend about their flat tire or something like that.
Hope you here good news—
Joanny
the dowsers daughter
I know I am always off the subject for the word of the day – but if anyone has a moment take a look at “Joanny” blog – she just posted a comment above this one. The photo’s she has posted are just what I need to place in my mind tonight as I lay my head down on my big pellow. You will love her photo’s. The rainbow filled me with joy and the angels reminded me of RUSTY who was laid to rest today. Thank You Joanny!!!
XOXO
JULES
I am late to the Salon Talk Talk party, but I loved getting to read everyone’s comments today!
1. Christine in Salt Lake City – I, too, have always thought Newforest was a man!
2. JULES – I believe you “promised” me months ago that we could have tea in NYC when you come visit!! So you MUST start your adventure in the big apple.
3. I also double-checked my mental calendar yesterday, “it IS Wednesday, isn’t it? Where’s Kristin?!”
4. Graffiti for the sake of defacing something is unforgivable, but I have built some tolerance for it: some of my favorite surprise NYC moments have come from unexpected messages tucked here, there and everywhere (think lamp posts, backs of subway signs, the side of an abandoned building). In the right place, there is a certain charming voice to it.
oh my….Jules is doing a coast to coast??!
Sounds like east to west…well, as per a previous comment, when you reach the Pacific I am just 5 blocks from the beach! You have my e-mail. A couple of years ago my sister and I did from Springfield, Ill. to Florence, Oregon(ocean) in a black truck. We were driving it back to my nephew…many,many laughs. We were Huck and Tom through Missouri, Dorthy and Toto in Kansas, Butch and Sundance in Colorado and Whyoming and Thelma and Louise for part of the trip, even considered jumping the Snake River in Idaho. Have a great one! Will Kristin be joining you for part of the trip??
When I think of graffiti, I think of offensive words and drawing, but I guess really defacing in any way is not good.
…’in the right place’, yes, I do agree with you Rebecca. I mentioned in an earlier post the concrete walls around a Skate Park in the little town near where I live – there, I must admit, it doesn’t look out of place. It’s not ‘defacing’ anything. Not sure it looks ‘charming’ though… but… certainly ‘interesting’!
As for the ‘Salon Talk talk’…
When I first read the name at the beginning of this Newsletter, I became slightly perplexed. In French, “un salon” is a bit “formal”. Here in Dorset, (South of England), the French word “salon” is associated with hairdressing and with exhibitions. Would I feel happy to pay a visit 3 times a week to such a place? Oh! there is a “talk talk” added to the word salon. Did I hear … “toc-toc”? (French for ‘knock-knock’)… or is it a twin word that sounds rather like the noisy triplet one ‘bla-bla-bla’? I like novelties, but I suppose I’ve been used to a simple name which plainly says what it is –> a “Comments box” (as far as I remember, the first comments I sent were at the very end of August 2008 … or slightly earlier?)
I neglected FWAD COMMENTS BOX for a few months, due to serious health problems and inability to work at my laptop. I’m back now, but if in the future I would miss a few Newsletters -from time to time- I hope it’ll never be for very long. I would like to take the opportunity here to thank Kristin and Jules, Christine (Salt lake City), Stacy (Applegate, Oregon), Evelyn Jackson and Heidi for their warm ‘welcome back’. Thank you also to Candy (SW KS), and Karen (Towson, Maryland) for their appreciation – I did notice your request too…, underlined by Jules who started to reveal whatever she knew about me! Ahaah! By the way, Jules, you must have another photo of me, emailed to you nearly a year ago, before your journey to France.
As for Candy’s and Karen’s request now –> Around the very end of 2008 / beg of 2009, like many other readers at the time, I said a few things about myself in what Kristin called her “Livre d’or”. I don’t know where it’s gone (Kristin, will the Archives come back?) Anyway, I may disappoint you if I say I don’t get involved with social networking websites?… so, you won’t find me on Facebook or MySpace. I like to be helpful. I am enthusiastic but calm. I naturally keep both feet on the ground (“les 2 pieds sur terre”) while my eyes look beyond what they see (if all that makes sense to you).
I will carry on sending my “Comments”, sprinkled with a few French words which come from my roots, my studies, my various experiences accumulated over 68 “Printemps”…. and from my love of the French language.
Hello Kristin et tous
I am sorry for your collection of misfortunes Kristin. Let’s hope the fortune tide is on the turn for you.I love reading all the posts and envy you Jules your trip across the states – we would welcome you both here in Edinburgh Scotland but I fear it is somewhat out of your path. Graffiti – I’m not sure – I know I wouldn’t like my walls daubed by just any old rubbish but sometimes they can be inspiring and uplifting and how lovely your heart graffiti is especially so near to Valentines day. Perhaps some poor soul could not afford a red rose?
Very cold and grey here in Edinburgh but spring is just around the corner I feel as the bulbs peep out to check on their welcome
I’m from Virginia Jules. We are planning a trip to Europe for the first time, this summer. Enjoy your trip here!
I do not like graffiti (also spelled: grrrr.riff.raff,itti!!!) no matter how it is spelled. Such a shame to deface beautiful natural places, especially.
Happy to see Newforest has returned–always love your insights and bits of info about flowers and bugs and such as well as French language/history/culture.
Jules, Kristin has my address and you are always welcome to my home in Virginia. Good luck Kristin w/manuscript recovery. The external hard drive is a savior in this household. Which reminds me…
“Jamais deux sans trois” reminds me of our American saying (en anglais) “It never rains but it pours” which was said frequently by ma mere et ma grandmere!
Kristin, “merci, beaucoup” une fois encore for signing my books and sending them to me before you left Phoenix. So sorry I did not get to meet you, mais votre mari est tres charmant.
I am still in Phoenix until early March when mon mari et moi, nous nous retournons chez nous a’ Arkansas. Please let us know when you will be in Phoenix again so next time we will be sure NOT to miss you!
Also, we love the stories by Smokey & Blaise!
Newforest, glad you mentionned the Livre dor. Heres the link… and Ill add it to my sidebar:
http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/motdujour/2009/01/livre-dor.html
Jules, if y’all will be traveling through western North Carolina when the time comes, let me know! That sounds like a FABULOUS way to celebrate your birthday!
Hi Leslie in Arkansas. Jean-Marc and I will be back in Phoenix in December, at Vincents market (the Saturday before Christmas!). See you then!