Dear Reader, please note, as of today: Inactive subscribers must be removed from my French Word-A-Day email list in order to conform to the latest GDPR internet privacy laws.
=>To be counted as an active subscriber: click on any link in today's post (this one, par exemple!)
Today's word: dacodac
: Okie dokie (OK)
Click here to listen to the following: Dacodac
Dacodac. Dans la version originale d’Orange mécanique (A Clockwork Orange), le terme correspondant est doobidoob, qui n’a pas le même sens. In the original version of A Clockwork Orange, the corresponding term is doobidoob, which does not have the same meaning.
Note: I have never watched the film A Clockwork Orange. I hear it's very very scary. So are the new internet laws for publishers like me! Please read today's column and be sure to click on any link in today's letter–it's a simple way to help my automated listserver distinguish active readers from inactive readers.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Kristi Espinasse
Pas de panique. This French phrase has been my saving grace, recently, as internet privacy laws–concerning you and me–go into effect today! I have no idea how to parlay legalese–I have a hard enough time speaking French–but I will give you a few pointers to help you continue receiving these updates from the homefront here in La Ciotat, France.
Merci pour votre dacodac!
First a little background. My French Word-A-Day subscribers have already given their dacodac to receive these letters. More than an OK (un d'ac!), you have had to complete a double opt-in procedure (jumping through at least two hoops –by filling out a signup form and then responding to the confirmation email).
Today, we need to go one step farther: I'm asking you to put your hand on your heart and swear–jurer–you truly want to receive my French Word-A-Day email updates, because today, May 25th, as an internet publisher I am required to prove compliance to the GDPR European General Data Protection Regulation requirements. It amounts to transparency regarding a Take No Hostages (no unwilling subscribers) approach that I have followed since beginning this journal in October of 2002. For the record, I would no more consider putting somebody on my email list, against their knowledge or will, than I would invite myself to move into their home–and beg for "cookies" while I'm there! Only, the Powers That Be (the Internet Police Task Force) do not know this, and so today I must prove I'm not a squatter! I'm not squatting your inbox, searching for "crumbs" or personal "data" while there. Imagine!
Aidez-moi! Help!
Times like this I wish I had un avocat, un comptable, a personal secretary, and Mom–to cook me a taco at lunchtime, because by then my brain will be on overdrive having tried to keep up the professional end of this homespun journal.
Good news is you can help me by being an active member of this free newsletter–which is as simple as clicking open these emails when they arrive in your inbox!
One more thing. At the end of every newsletter of mine, you will see an unsubscribe link and a privacy link. You are free to unsubscribe anytime, and the link is instantaneous–illico presto! Now isn't that a great phrase? Do stay with me. I've got lots more words up my French sleeve!
Mille mercis all you dacodacs out there. I truly appreciate you!
Kristi
FRENCH VOCABULARY
un avocat = lawyer
un comptable = an accountant
illico presto = right away!
dacodac = okie dokie
I am happiest after I've written a story, or when I am gardening.
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Clockwork Orange is not scary maybe silly based on our standards of today.
I enjoy your newsletter very much and definitely want to continue receiving it!
Thank you very much, Nancy. And what a great idea to send an extra confirmation here in the comments. Much appreciated!
Definitely want to continue to receive my letter from my friend whom I have never met, but about whom I care greatly!
Bonjour Kristi – Oui, I also want to continue to receive your newsletter and can’t imagine not getting it! Your new kitchen is beautiful!
Hi Kristi!
You know that I love FWAD so you have my dacodac! I love the photos and the one of you with the fresh looking salads! Do you have squash flower and nasturtiums added! So beautiful! I also noticed you have a state towel from Arizona maybe? When I was working at The Happy Cook here in Charlottesville, I bought one from Virginia for us, one from Georgia for my mom and one from Oklahoma when my son was stationed there! They are really cute!
Yes dacodac me. I love your pictures and posts. A happy bright spot in my day!
Dacodacadoo!
I LOVE your posts ! I am dacodacing to prove it.
Dear Kristi
Yes, I want to keep receiving your newsletter. I enjoy reading and learning about your spot in the world.
Bonjour Kristi,
Bonjour. Dacodaco, Mille Merci. XX Judy
Thank you, Eileen! The towel was a gift from Francis, who recently visited us from Napa Valley (depicted on the towel). And yes, those are nasturtiums and zucchini flowers in the garden salad. Your own garden is a source of inspiration to me!
Oh, thank you, Barbara 💛
I saw A Clockwork Orange while in college nearly 40 years ago. Still remember how terrifying it was with the nonchalant violence. Saying that college was nearly 40 years ago is almost as shocking!
Keep ‘em coming to this gal!
D’acodac içi!
This is my lifeline for keeping some of my French active since we moved 13 years ago where fewer French classes are available.
Now living in a state where Spanish is most prevalent, I love this link to my 10 years of community college noncredit French.
Thanks for your news and photos. I enjoy seeing how your part of France compares to my little corner in Normandy. Hugs to you!
— An Oregonian in Normandy
Dacodacadoo to you cherie ! I’ve clicked on every link just to make sure I NEVER stop receiving your wonderful stories and posts. Love the photo of you in your kitchen, tres belle ! Mille Mercis et Bisous de Louisiana
I always enjoy reading your posts, Kristi. Many thanks for sharing your work and your world over the years. Your writing is a joy!
I truly enjoy your photography, writing, the sharing of your family! Oh, the growth of your family~~ your readers have laughed, cried and danced along with you! Please continue to enhance our lives!
Dear Krisri, I too have clicked on every link just to make sure my support is counted! I love your posts and am delighted when I find one in my In Box! They are so real and insightful and they feed my love of things French! I would love to meet you…maybe when I am in Cadenet in July with my friend Edie Rosenbaum. Warm wishes to you and your family…
Dacodaco😀😀. And to the internet police – I love this letter – back off!
Your remodel looks wonderful you have a good eye.
I read Anthony Burgess’s novel “Clockwork Orange” before I saw Kubrick’s film and found both most terrifying on a philosophical level. It is no more “silly” (per the first comment) than any other dystopian novel: “Brave New World,” “Animal Farm,” “Nineteen Eight-Four,” or the current cult favorite, “A Handmaid’s Tale.” Given the rise in organized violence of neo-Nazi groups and the increase in hate crimes in the United States, the prophetic nature of such novels is becoming chillingly clear.
The novel and film are well worth reading and seeing respectively.
Dacodac, Kristi! I’ve been quietly reading for years and love this little connection that takes me to France in spirit until I can visit in body and spirit again. Thank you!
Dear Kristi, my week would just not be the same without your news letter. Your renovations look wonderful. Enjoy your “new” home and your wonderful garden,
Peggy
I clicked more than once.
Dacodac! I so enjoy your journey! Don’t comment, but sure want to stay updated. BTW, Kristi, I live in Denver.
Kristin, we both need avocats. Toi ~ the lawyer type. Moi ~ the avocado type. Seriously, tho, I look forward to every blog from you. It eases my hunger for France in general, Provence in particular. Love your stories so much. Thanks for your work in keeping it all going.
I’m sure I speak for all your readers ~ when will your mom be back? We love her, as well.
Dacodac away. Never miss one of your posts, but I would really miss them if they were not here.
Yes! I wish to continue reading your stories! Love your pics, too!
Love the picture at the top of today’s letter. Glad you got your Max back!
Dacodac! Your new kitchen – and you – are so beautiful in the photo at the end – thank you for letting us see some of the finished home. Your bowls of fresh veggies look so tasty that I almost want a salad for breakfast.
What kind of flooring do you have in the kitchen? Looks very attractive.
I would so miss this “letters” and the marvelous pictures.
Thank you, Elaine! It is a tile floor, resembling wood (easier to care for!)
Our dear Kristi,
YES!!PLEASE keep me subscribed!
Your beautiful words always brighten each and every day!
THANK YOU!
I clicked on the link,but want to make sure.My brain is not functioning.We lost our darling little four pawed girl,Rose Alis,
and right now we are completely wrapped in black.
Love
Natalia. Xo
Oh, Natalia, I am very sorry to hear of Rose Alis passing. I know how precious she was to you, as well as her twin brother, Aristotle. Sending lots of love and hugs to you. Do not worry about your subscription. I will never let you go!
Count me in, Kristi. I clicked twice. Don’t worry, everyone will get used to the new system and you’ll get new readers, too. Your posts are so good that no one will want to miss out.
By the way, I love what I can see of your new kitchen. We considered getting rectangular tiles for our downstairs. We got wood for the upstairs, but you can’t put wood on a subflooring. They had rectangular tiles like yours, only they were made to look like wood. We considered it, but I finally decided that if we were going to go with tile, we should get something that looked like tile and didn’t pretend it was wood. But your tiles are light gray, so there’s no pretense. Very elegant.
Reminds me of an amusing short story in the New Yorker years ago that played with this kind of translation mistake. Part of it was about a man who got arrested and said, “I asked for a lawyer and they brought me an avocado.”
Bravo, pour votre Newsletters; je la fait suivre, tres souvent, a mes eleves, qui ‘s’y inscrivent. J’espere-un jour- vous rendre visite. Merci encore. Nelly Chadirat
Dear Kristin, please keep me subscribed. I have been following you around as long as Smokey ! (How long is that?) I must be one of a very small number of your readers from South Africa.
Hello Kristi!
I’ve been following you since your first book came out. You seem like a close friend to me now and I would never want to miss a day of your French life! Thanks for sharing your story. It is so honest and inspiring, even when you’re searching for inspiration yourself.
A huge dacodac!! Thank you for keeping this going all these years.
Adrienne
D’accord, Passante! This era of identity politics and other shallow forms of social divisiveness truly makes me re:appreciate these dystopian works. They, among others, have an energy and insight that are as wisely prophetic as they are entertaining and thought-provoking. When we disregard them, well … look what is happening as the cycles of social history turn again towards the shadow side of humanity’s potentials. The curse of living in ‘interesting times’ of disintegration is affecting thoughtful folks anew. Awareness is a huge help, I think, along with patience and hope.
Mais oui!! Absolument!! Dacodac!!
J’adore your blog. Dacodac and dacodac again. Thank you for years of charming observations, explanations, and illustrations.
Merci, Morgan. What a pleasure to see these messages today, including yours. 🌞
Kristin, je suis francophile. Mon mari et moi avons adore voyager en la France. Malheureusement mon mari a la maladie d’Alzheimers. Donc c’est impossible d’aller en France en ce moment. Alors French Word A Day est ma visite en France chaque semaine.
💛
Of course I want to stay on your list!!! I have been with you since you were getting ready to move to your first vineyard -just waiting for your kids to finish the school hear. I don’t contribute much to the comments but I do love to read about your life and try out some French words (I’m not very good at that part). I was really upset when a couple of years ago you talked about not continuing and begged to to please not leave us. I think you have become family (doesn’t that sound creepy, ha!). Happy to keep reading, so please keep writing.
From all sorts of unexpected American sources, I am receiving new Privacy Statements, changed to comply with EU rules. Unexpected, as I did not know that Slate had my e-mail address. Yes I read an article here and there, but when did I share my e-mail address with them? Now I see how these new rules look from Europe. I like the new rules so far.
And I like your newsletter and your photos. Keeping a connection with the French language and the south of France. Merci.