You know when you learn a new word (or person, or concept) and suddenly see it everywhere? I’m enjoying that a-ha! discovery when I come across certain French words in magazines and conversations, including this lovely one I learned in my first French lesson:
Raffiné
Def: The literal translation is “refined.” But it stuck in my head because of the way my instructor explained it: “good taste/when everything is beautiful.” As in, Paris!
Ah yes, I’ve started French lessons. Monday and Wednesday mornings before work. I will be spending 90 minutes with Josephine in an effort to master the French language. It’s fun, and I am determined.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
One cher pussycat
I’m sure most pet owners pause sometimes to consider how much their pets cost them. The kibbles, bits and toys can really add up. A few people asked about Milo’s expenses during the move and I finally got around to tallying up the bills.
Vet appointments for microchip, vaccinations, Cretificate of Good Health and (thank god) sedatives: $501
Airline-approved cat carrier, harness and leash: $109
USDA fee: $24
Air France animal fee: $150
Citadines hotel animal fee: $174
Temporary cat litter box for hotel: $13
Permanent cat litter box for home: $39
Grand total? $1,010. Merde.
Vet appointments for microchip, vaccinations, Cretificate of Good Health and (thank god) sedatives: $501
Airline-approved cat carrier, harness and leash: $109
USDA fee: $24
Air France animal fee: $150
Citadines hotel animal fee: $174
Temporary cat litter box for hotel: $13
Permanent cat litter box for home: $39
Grand total? $1,010. Merde.
Where's the green?
So there have been a few things I don’t love (hello, aloof boys). As well as couple times I’ve been surprised by the wrong impressions I’ve had. That Western Europe is ahead of America in the recycling game is one of these (sadly) wrong impressions.
I always had images of French people shopping with their trusty woven sacs—the better not to gobble up and waste all those plastic bags, I thought. But then I came across this other American-in-Paris blog and confirmed my more recent observations: Parisians actually use plenty of bags.
I notice this especially at lunch: nobody can just carry their sandwich or salad in their hands—they have to have a bag, sometimes both paper and plastic, to walk back to their office. This drove me crazy in NYC.
It also drove me crazy in New York when people didn’t recycle. But at least the city required apartment buildings to do it. I was shocked when I moved into my place and found no recycling bins. There are sad little garbage bags around the city—yellow instead of green, which are for the regular trash—that are designated for recyclables, but they’re few and far between. At least I have somewhere to toss my empty bottles and stray papers.
For what it’s worth, they also eat a lot of McDonald’s.
I always had images of French people shopping with their trusty woven sacs—the better not to gobble up and waste all those plastic bags, I thought. But then I came across this other American-in-Paris blog and confirmed my more recent observations: Parisians actually use plenty of bags.
I notice this especially at lunch: nobody can just carry their sandwich or salad in their hands—they have to have a bag, sometimes both paper and plastic, to walk back to their office. This drove me crazy in NYC.
It also drove me crazy in New York when people didn’t recycle. But at least the city required apartment buildings to do it. I was shocked when I moved into my place and found no recycling bins. There are sad little garbage bags around the city—yellow instead of green, which are for the regular trash—that are designated for recyclables, but they’re few and far between. At least I have somewhere to toss my empty bottles and stray papers.
For what it’s worth, they also eat a lot of McDonald’s.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Poisson d'Avril
I like to laugh but I’m not a huge prankster. Thus, my interest in April Fool’s Day has always been minimal.
To the French, April 1 is “Poisson d’Avril.” The idea is generally the same as April Fool’s—to play practical jokes on others—but they do so by attaching fish to unsuspecting others’ backs (á la a “kick me” sign).
But what really interests me about the French interpretation of the “holiday” are the chocolates everyone gets to celebrate. You can find dime store bags of molded fish, clams, seahorses and the like—either in milk, dark or white chocolate. But the top-notch chocolatiers also get in on the fantasy and fun.
Indeed, these are Patrick Roger’s molded chocolates.
And here are some beauties from Jean-Paul Hevin. You’ll notice this “poisson de bon thon” is 28 euros—a $37 chocolate fish.
Your neighborhood patisseries offer less expensive treats. They just don’t have same omigod factor as the masters.
To the French, April 1 is “Poisson d’Avril.” The idea is generally the same as April Fool’s—to play practical jokes on others—but they do so by attaching fish to unsuspecting others’ backs (á la a “kick me” sign).
But what really interests me about the French interpretation of the “holiday” are the chocolates everyone gets to celebrate. You can find dime store bags of molded fish, clams, seahorses and the like—either in milk, dark or white chocolate. But the top-notch chocolatiers also get in on the fantasy and fun.
Indeed, these are Patrick Roger’s molded chocolates.
And here are some beauties from Jean-Paul Hevin. You’ll notice this “poisson de bon thon” is 28 euros—a $37 chocolate fish.
Your neighborhood patisseries offer less expensive treats. They just don’t have same omigod factor as the masters.
More spring fashion trends
• Flowers: Sweet floral prints are on everything from ruffle blouses to flowy dresses.
• Studs: And grommets. On strappy sandals, vests, belts and bags. Rock and roll, baby.
• Owl eyes: Those big tortoise-shelled glasses are tres cool (in a Lower East Side way). If you can wear them with very blunt bangs, even better.
• Black lace pantyhose: Saw ‘em on the Metro. But then I saw Bill Cunningham covered the look quite a bit for one of his “On the Street” slide shows.
• Studs: And grommets. On strappy sandals, vests, belts and bags. Rock and roll, baby.
• Owl eyes: Those big tortoise-shelled glasses are tres cool (in a Lower East Side way). If you can wear them with very blunt bangs, even better.
• Black lace pantyhose: Saw ‘em on the Metro. But then I saw Bill Cunningham covered the look quite a bit for one of his “On the Street” slide shows.
Un peu d'Ogden
The Irish guy I sit next to at work is super nice (translation: he doesn’t get annoyed by my endless stream of questions). And he loves language and literature like nobody’s business. Yesterday he shared this Ogden Dash poem, which is quite perfect, after I said, “Absolument.”
I wander through a Paris shower.
Off to inspect a flat à louer.
The water pours as from a pitcher
On walls inscribed Défense d’afficher.
If I had splashed through such a pond,
I don’t remember where or quand.
With raindrops glistening on my garment.
I reach my goal, I don’t know comment.
I ring. I do not wish to trespass;
For trespassing is naughty, n’est-ce pas?
The stairway irks my fallen arch.
Because one learns l’ascenseur ne marche.
I like the flat: with cheerful mien
I murmur to the man, ‘Combien?’
He mentions his idea of payment,
I say that it’s exorbitant, vraiment!
Have I misunderstood his statement?
I do not speak the French parfaitement.
He mentions a reduced emolument,
I cry that it’s a deal, absolument.
And now I think a glass of wine
Would not be too unpleasant, hein?
I wander through a Paris shower.
Off to inspect a flat à louer.
The water pours as from a pitcher
On walls inscribed Défense d’afficher.
If I had splashed through such a pond,
I don’t remember where or quand.
With raindrops glistening on my garment.
I reach my goal, I don’t know comment.
I ring. I do not wish to trespass;
For trespassing is naughty, n’est-ce pas?
The stairway irks my fallen arch.
Because one learns l’ascenseur ne marche.
I like the flat: with cheerful mien
I murmur to the man, ‘Combien?’
He mentions his idea of payment,
I say that it’s exorbitant, vraiment!
Have I misunderstood his statement?
I do not speak the French parfaitement.
He mentions a reduced emolument,
I cry that it’s a deal, absolument.
And now I think a glass of wine
Would not be too unpleasant, hein?
French word of the day: Dégoiser
Def: To spout or rattle on.
C’est vrai. The French like to talk. To spout on, actually. As in “Quelque gens aiment de dégoiser.”
C’est vrai. The French like to talk. To spout on, actually. As in “Quelque gens aiment de dégoiser.”
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