Category: Max

Max, Milestones

The First Turn of the Key, A Housewarming, and France’s Quirky Floor Numbers

Le Bon Temps ("The Good Times")—the name of this local brasserie captures the spirit of why my son loves La Ciotat so much. Now, he's committing to a new home and a new chapter. In today's story, read about this exciting milestone. Below: a dreamy night view from Max and Ana's apartment. TODAY'S WORD: La Crémaillère  : housewarming party; housewarming PRONUNCIATION: [kray-myeh-air] EXAMPLE SENTENCE:"Ce n’était … Continue reading The First Turn of the Key, A Housewarming, and France’s Quirky Floor Numbers

Kristin Espinasse20 Comments
Jackie, Max, Practical Jokes

Canular: How To Say Practical Joke in French? + Jackie & I have fun at Max’s expense…

Merci for your encouraging notes following last week's update regarding subscribership. Your words revive me! Today's mischief takes place in La Ciotat (photo snapped outside Le Palais Lumière where a patch of daisies looks as innocent as a team of pranksters in hiding. Read on.)  TODAY'S WORD: UN CANULAR     : practical joke, prank, hoax A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse … Continue reading Canular: How To Say Practical Joke in French? + Jackie & I have fun at Max’s expense…

Kristin Espinasse21 Comments
Christmas, Max

Which is more noble: “l’equilibre”…or “la perfection”? (A Christmas Story)

There is no perfect Christmas. Not in France, not where you grew up, and not even at the North Pole. So relax and enjoy the season. Instead of a word, today's offering is a quote by French philosopher Jean Grenier: "Il est aussi noble de tendre à l'équilibre qu'à la perfection ; car c'est une perfection que de garder l'équilibre""It is as noble to strive … Continue reading Which is more noble: “l’equilibre”…or “la perfection”? (A Christmas Story)

Kristin Espinasse19 Comments
Humor, Jules, Max

Piquer: Guess who moved out of our house and stole away with our stuff?

Max, working from his new îlot central. After 8 months of renovation, our son is finally settled into his new appartement.   Visiting La Ciotat or a nearby town? Stop in and see us at Jean-Marc's wineshop. Call ahead and we'll set up a visit. Today's Word: piquer    : prick, bite, sting    : to steal, nab, nick Her Own Legacy by Debra Borchert: A … Continue reading Piquer: Guess who moved out of our house and stole away with our stuff?

Kristin Espinasse41 Comments
Cassis, Food and Drink, Max

Slang in French for “to have a bite to eat” & La Loco (a delicious Italian restaurant in Cassis)

A sympathique place to eat in Cassis. That's Max's pal, Antoine, and a couple of furry customers trying to get into "La Loco"–an Italian Restaurant facing the train station 1.9 miles above the Cassidian Port.FRENCH EXPRESSION: “casser la dalle”     : to have a bite to eat (slang) SOUND FILE: Click the link to hear Jean-Marc pronounce the French words in today's post. Then … Continue reading Slang in French for “to have a bite to eat” & La Loco (a delicious Italian restaurant in Cassis)

Kristin Espinasse35 Comments
Max

Update on Max + Mortgage is a creepy word! Use this French expression instead! + bien immobilier, hypothéque, piaule, licitation judiciaire

The colorful port de plaisance in La Ciotat. Apartment sales in our town are exploding at the moment. THE FRENCH WORD FOR MORTGAGE?Did you ever stop to think about the word "mortgage"? The first four letters are a clue-in: "mort" in French means death and gage = pledge. Mortgage = death pledge. If the term is too creepy for you, then use one of these … Continue reading Update on Max + Mortgage is a creepy word! Use this French expression instead! + bien immobilier, hypothéque, piaule, licitation judiciaire

Kristin Espinasse26 Comments
Max

The French verb “lancer” + A lost phone and a found skill: Max’s foray into juggling

Learn and listen to this sentence in French, below: Juggling is an exercise of skill that consists in its strictest sense of throwing, catching and relaunching objects in the air. It can be a game, a sport, an art or a religious rite. Today's Word: lancer     : to throw, toss, launch  Click here to listen to the following sentence in French La jonglerie … Continue reading The French verb “lancer” + A lost phone and a found skill: Max’s foray into juggling

Kristin Espinasse16 Comments
Artists, Jackie, Jules, Max

Combler: Satisfied or fulfilled in French (and in life)

10-year-old Smokey is happiest when he is in the presence of his pack, or "sa meute." More on happiness in today's post. (Photo taken from inside my Mom's studio) Today's word: combler     => to fill    => to fulfill, satisfy    => to fill a gap (in one's life) une vie comblée = a fulfilled lifecombler son retard = to make up for … Continue reading Combler: Satisfied or fulfilled in French (and in life)

Kristin Espinasse44 Comments
Bilingual Story, Max

Dazed in Reims: A boxing incident lands Max in ER

The following sentence is from the French translation, just below. "Knockout (KO) is the term, in combat sports, for the action of putting out a fighter as a result of a blow carried by his adversary and making him temporarily lose his abilities (the person is called "stunned")."(photo, by Max, of his boxing ring in Reims)  Today's word : sonné(e)    : stunned, dazed Example … Continue reading Dazed in Reims: A boxing incident lands Max in ER

Kristin Espinasse23 Comments
Max

Deballer: Max unpacks after his exchange program in Mexico

Together again. A nouveau réunis. If you are new to this blog, you might enjoy the story of our Franco-American family, beginning when the kids were very young. Click here to order the book. Chaque jour apporte ses cadeaux. Il ne vous reste qu'à les déballer.Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons. Ann Ruth Schabacker Click here to listen to the example sentence … Continue reading Deballer: Max unpacks after his exchange program in Mexico

Kristin Espinasse33 Comments