french freek in france

books i've read: sex and the slayer

2009-01-19T00:59:00.002+01:00

sex and the slayer: a gender studies primer for the buffy fan
lorna jowett
wesleyan university press: 2005

this book is, not surprisingly, about gender studies in buffy the vampire slayer. it was an interesting read, and it seems to me, that the opinion of the author is, unless you are a lesbian, you are conforming to the patriarchal norms of society. there was lots of discussion of 'feminine' versus 'femininity', and the hyper-femininity of buffy and some of the other female characters (glory of season 5 in particular). of course, there was discussion of the feminized male as well. i don't know that it's going to be very helpful for my paper, but she does address adam and maggie walsh, though not in great detail (i mean, what can you say really - they were only in season 4!) and i can't say that i really disagreed with anything she wrote. all in all, i enjoyed the book, and i'd probably read it again.

there's always next year...

2008-11-11T16:07:00.003+01:00

well, the results are out! the winners of the 2008 podcast awards have been announced!

unfortunately, k&k were not among them - but there is always next year! thanks to everyone who took the time to go and vote (and verify!).

if you are interested in who the winners are, you can head over to www.podcastawards.com and check them out.

Last Day to Vote for Podcast Awards!!

2008-11-06T10:08:00.002+01:00

last chance to vote for Katia and Kyliemac V.O. and K&K Tourist Tips in this year's podcast awards.
click on the link in the sidebar to head over and vote today!

winners will be announced on the 9th of november.

podcast awards voting starts today! please vote!

2008-10-23T09:19:00.006+02:00

greetings all!
well today is the day the podcast awards kicks off!
if you have a minute, please click the link on the right, which will take you straight to the ballot!

you can vote once a day, and it's a popularity contest, so every vote counts!
WE NEED YOU!
we're nominated in the two following categories:

GENERAL: katia and kyliemac V.O. (Original Version)
TRAVEL: katia and kyliemac Tourist Tips

don't forget to vote for your other favorite podcasts!

thanks for your help!!

k&k nominated for podcast awards! YIPPEEE!

2008-10-20T11:23:00.011+02:00

YAY! thanks to all of you who went to www.podcastawards.com and voted for our podcasts. thanks to YOU two of the Katia and Kyliemac podcasts got nominated!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

now it pretty much becomes a popularity contest and we need YOU!
this is the part that becomes about "mobilization" and "engagement".
we are up against some stiff competition, but we can win with your help!!

we are nominated in two different categories:
GENERAL: katia and kyliemac v.o. (original version)
TRAVEL: katia and kyliemac tourist tips
(you can check them out at iTunes or on our site: www.katiaandkyliemac.com.)

and while you are there, why not vote for the fantastically buff-a-liscious buffy between the lines in the ENTERTAINMENT category? tell tabz and the bbtl crew that i sent you!

the voting for the podcasts begins this thursday october 23rd at www.podcastawards.com. each voter is allowed one vote per 24 hour period throughout the voting which will end on November 6th at 23h59 (i assume hawaii time). if you could head over to the site once voting starts and vote for us (you can vote once a day!!), i'd really appreciate it.

so mobilize your troops! tell your friends! tell your mom! tell your third cousin! tell your kindergarten teacher! (Spread the word! Tell a friend! Tell them the tale! Get a pic! Do a blog! ) every vote counts and it would be very oh-so-very cool to win! and we can, but only if you help!

and don't forget!! we'll be recording EPISODE 200 -LIVE- in PARIS on december 6th at The Great Canadian pub in the 5th. join our facebook group (katia and kyliemac posse) to make sure you get all the details when we set up the event! we have lots of stuffs planned! SHENANIGANS! DRAWINGS! PRIZES! you won't want to miss it! head over to the site and check out "where are katia and kyliemac" to see how YOU can contribute to EPISODE 200!!!

Hope to see you there!
_________________
listen to katia and kyliemac in paris at:
www.katiaandkyliemac.com)
(or subscribe on iTunes!)

if you have nothing better to do...

2008-10-01T21:37:00.003+02:00

you can join legions in playing this game.

http://tinyurl.com/3qjz6h

go on. drink the kool-aid.

post of appreciation

2008-10-01T12:39:00.004+02:00

i just wanted to take a minute and say thank you to all of you who have voted for the katia and kyliemac empire on podcastawards.com.

nominations are now closed and the voting is in progress.
if you are curious as to how the nominations are being reviewed, head over to podcastawards.com and you can take a look at how they are qualifying the nominations.

the nomination winners will be announced on october 19th.
so if we manage to score one, there will be much jubilating!

let us take a moment...

2008-10-01T12:38:00.001+02:00

and mourn the birthday month for all those september birthday monthers out there.

::takes a moment::

::wipes away a tear::

if only france celebrated halloween to take a bit of the sting away...

i am not crazy. and i have proof.

2008-09-29T19:49:00.003+02:00

here you go "ladies*".

thanks to the justin for providing the means to prove my sanity.

*you know who you are, ladies. :)

shameless promotion: podcast awards

2008-09-21T13:36:00.003+02:00

this year's podcast awards nominations are open until september 30th!
if any of you guys have a few minutes to head over to the podcastawards site
and nominate us for any of the podcasting awards, i'd really appreciate it!
it would be so very cool to get nominated for one (or all!!) of them!!

(you can only vote once, and only one podcast per category - except for people's choice & general -
so keep that in mind!)

the website is podcastawards.com

GENERAL and PEOPLE'S CHOICE
Katia and Kyliemac V.O. (Original Version)
http://www.katiaandkyliemac.com/

EDUCATION
Katia and Kyliemac Learn French
http://learnfrench.katiaandkyliemac.com/

TRAVEL
Katia and Kyliemac Tourist Tips
http://touristtips.katiaandkyliemac.com/

and don't forget to vote for any other podcasts you may listen to and love!

postcard requests

2008-09-09T15:22:00.001+02:00

i recently received an email from my dad asking me to send a postcard to his friend's niece's 3rd grade class.
they are collecting postcards from all over the world, and i've now added a postcard from my part of the world to the pot.

i have been asked to make use of my "vast resources", so i'm asking you, dear vast resources, if any of you are feeling in a somewhat philanthropic mood, and would like to add your postcard to the effort, please send me an email or a message and i'll get the information to you.

YOU could be responsible for making the day of a classroom full of 8 and 9-year-olds.
it's GOT to be good for your karma.

thank you for your support.

just in case you missed it...

2008-09-04T11:22:00.002+02:00

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TODAY!

i would like to formally wish myself a happy birthday.

and a special birthday greeting as well to my dear
friend, frog-with-a-blog.

and to all the other september birthdays.
(especially you miss kimmeh!)

may this new year of your life bring m&m's, rhum-rhums, mojitos, and winning lottery tickets.

la rentrée

2008-09-02T20:23:00.003+02:00

school is back in session.

one of the things i always loved about going back to school (and it wasn't the actual going back to school) was the going back to school shopping. heading to the store to take advantage of all the back-to-school specials. rows and rows of paper and markers and glue and pencils and trapper keepers and folders - all in pristine, never-been-used condition. and the school year was always full of possibilities.

::reminiscing::
oh, trapper keepers, how i miss thee (and the fact that you could NEVER be opened discretely)
::pause::

ok. i'm back.

so the boys went back to school today, gleeful to not have any 'devoirs' (homework) yet.
and i have a list of things i should be accomplishing myself.

including making the list of things i should be accomplishing myself.

so, um, i am going to go do that now...

the birthday month has begun

2008-09-01T23:37:00.006+02:00

today is the first day of the rest of my life.
today also happens to be the first day of my birthday month.
coincidence?

i'm a person who makes new year's resolutions. but who ever keeps those?
but it's my birthday month, so technically, it *is* a new year for me.
gregorian calendar be damned! the french revolutionaries invented their own calendar, so why can't i?
(ok, so robespierre and others lost their head, but let's not go there...)

i've been mulling over the resurrection of my blog for sometime, but i never could put my finger on exactly what i would write about. what my 'angle' would be. i still don't know. but i've decided to give a little CPR to the old blog and see what comes of it. it'll sort itself out somehow. things usually do.

as some people that are dear to me know, i've got this niggly little superpower that involves details. little picayune details. and i get hung up on them. which is why it helps to have dear friends that can see the Big Picture.

so, dear friend, thanks for that.

there have been some things that i've been meaning to do that i haven't gotten around to yet. you know those things, the ones that you keep putting off and the longer you keep putting them off the more you put them off because by the time you get around to actually doing them it's almost like 'what's the point?" actually, there's a lot of things that i've been meaning to do. so maybe i should start doing them?

let's see what my new year brings.

Happy Birthday Month To Me.

tagged! darn you, mrs b!

2007-12-13T14:15:00.000+01:00

christmas time is here.
and because mrs. b called me out specifically , i'm going to step out of my grinchy-scrooge-like blogging role for a minute, and take the time to respond.

because she is SO right.
i wouldn't have done it.

so here it is mrs. b.
MERRRRRRY CHRISTMASSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper, like mrs. b, i'm not the worlds best wrapper (although i THINK i wrap better than a kindergartner...but that could just be my own bias), but i like bows and tape and pretty things. gift bags are pretty, though, but kind of cheating for the christmas effort. kids should have to struggle to get their treasures opened.

2. Real tree or artificial? conceptually, real. realistically, artificial. (plus, as i saw the gruesome twosome had this year, you can get REALLY cheezy and get that "christmas tree smell" stuff, which just adds a WHOLE NEW LEVEL of christmas joy/annoyance, depending on your point of view.)

3. When do you put up the tree? in the past? after thanksgiving. these days i'm lucky if i make one out of construction paper.

4. When do you take the tree down? if i'm lucky, i get to escape that chore altogether!

5. Do you like eggnog? yes. but i don't drink it much. although i do remember having my share of "eggnog flavored milkshakes" from mcdonald's.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? i remember getting a particularly cool barbie one year, with a motorcycle. she had longer than normal barbie hair, was more articulated than your typical barbie, and her arms moved when you pushed a button on her back. although, i wasn't overly into dolls, but that is a gift i remember.

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? not mine personally, but the one my mum made years ago. my sister and i used to fight about who got to hang the angel on it.

8. Hardest person to buy for? hands down, my mother.

9. Easiest person to buy for? me. ::grins::

10. Worst Christmas Gift you ever received? hmmm. nothing springs to mind.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? there is something to be said for emailing christmas cards, but mailing is the non-cheating way. but i am SO a cheater! instant gratification!!!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story. (triple dog dares? that leg lamp? "you'll shoot your eye out!"? it's the princess bride of christmas movies!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? oh? was i supposed to start that?

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? i have nothing against that at all. however, i don't think so, because mostly the gifts i would receive, would be on no one else's list. :)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? pfefferneuse cookies. everything else gets eaten at other times of the year as well.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? for the pretty factor, clear. for the homey, real christmas factor, colored. oh, yes. no contest there.

17. Favorite Christmas song? new kids got ran over by a reindeer. no, i'm just kidding.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? travel. especially if there is a hugely decorated christmas feast at the end of the journey!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? yes. and now i even know them in french! HA!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? angel. though i'm open to star toppers.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? eve is for extended family. morning is for immediate and santa presents. yes. santa still brings me presents. so, shut up, and don't be givin' me evils!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? it's how it starts earlier and earlier...now it's practically before halloween. THAT IS SO CHEATING!!!

23. What is the "corniest" family tradition you do, or miss doing? it wasn't a family tradition, but in high school i used to have friends over to go caroling in the neighborhood - at my best friends we watched "SCROOGED" every year - one year, we had a pianist friend come over and play while we all sung carols and drank hot chocolate. i miss that cozy homey christmas feeling that brings. they don't really carol in france.

24. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented? there are many, many, many things that fit in this category. mostly the cheap-o ornaments are just AWFUL.

25. Which looks best, theme trees or homey trees? homey trees. for absolutely certain. although theme trees can look lovely, they are just for show and not meant to be in people's homes. unless they are just for public viewing and there is a proper tree (you know, the ones filled with all the decorations you made in elementary school).

esclavage

2007-11-20T13:12:00.000+01:00

monday evening. interior. kitchen scene.

our lovely heroine, kylie, and her young charge, mr.-in-a-bad-mood, are preparing (i.e. reheating) the proscribed menu ceremoniously attached to the refrigerator with an alphabet magnet.

soupe: carotte et cerfeuil (which i had to look up. chervil ).

due to other non-dinner related circumstances, he didn't want to eat it.

"fine," i say, "but even if you don't want to eat it, it's what's on the menu tonight, but i'm not going to force feed you."
(for one thing, that would just make a mess. and then i'd have to clean it up anyway...)

he, in an angry huff, grabs the phone and calls the higher authorities. (i.e. maman.), and stomps off into the dining room. i don't know what he's calling for. i didn't say he HAD to eat it.

he talks to her for several heated minutes, then struts back into the kitchen with a triumphant smile (worthy, i'm sure, of napoléon), as if he's just pulled something over on me, and thrusts the phone into my hand.

she says that he's obviously not going to eat the soup, although she had been hoping to get some vegetables into the kids, balanced diet and all, but just to go ahead and make the other stuff on the list (which is what i was going to do anyway, so hey, no skin off my nose.)

in the meantime, nathan is smirking at me, while sitting on the kitchen table, which he knows he's not to do.

"nathan, please get off the table", i say, still on the phone with his mum.

"no!" he surly responds.

"nathan, get off the table, please."

"no!"

"let me speak to him, please." says the mum.

"your mother wants to speak to you," i say, as i hand him the phone surpressing a smirk (that's for YOU, k. ha!).

nathan listens a moment, then guiltily slides off the table into a chair, and begins crying into the phone.

"but kylie is always telling us what to DO!" he exclaims, starting to cry, complete with crocodile tears. "she doesn't have the RIGHT to give us orders!" he proclaims.

"WE ARE NOT SLAVES!!!"

this kid is NINE, people. nine.
for heavens sake, i asked him to get off the table, not build the pyramids.

(incidentally, after the phone call, i said that *i* was going to have the soup then, and neither he or his brother could have any. ::snickers::
worked like a charm.)

school in france

2007-10-02T22:39:00.001+02:00

it's the first official week of classes, and the hours for one of the classes STILL are not posted.

:: blinks, deadpan::

bienvenue en france.

weird question of the day:

2007-09-18T15:42:00.000+02:00

asked by some random french man at place st. michel today:

"have you ever been in love...
with your cat?"

?????

the baker's wife.

2007-09-06T12:18:00.001+02:00

i think she and i have something in common today.
i think i'm in the wrong story.

shameless begging

2007-08-19T15:21:00.000+02:00

um. hi, readers. :: waves ::

i was just wondering, if you had the time, if you could take a brief moment and head over to podcast alley and vote for the podcast this month! yeah...it's shameless, but we only currently need 150-something more votes to get in the top ten! (wouldn't that be COOOOL?)

so if you could, that'd be super swell, and we would send you lovely internet hugs. (but only if you are into that sort of thing.)

thank you.
:: grins ::

oh, by the way, if you could send some warm weather and sun this way, i'd be personally grateful too. mother nature has been avoiding my calls.

(i'd call her a wench, but she may be reading this... :: glances about ::)

dear mother nature

2007-08-18T11:29:00.000+02:00

please check the thermostat.
thank you.

sincerely,
kyliemac

la chasse aux tresors

2007-07-11T02:58:00.000+02:00

last saturday i went on a treasure hunt.
it was a lot of fun.

but i don't really post much on my blog, as those of you who occasionally visit it know well.
i thought about posting about this even though.

really i did.

although since the bold soul did already, now i don't have to.
you can read about our adventures here.

or if you can listen to my recounting of the tale on the podcast, here's where you'll find it!
k&k episode 61 - the one where Kylie does a treasure hunt... and stuff...

my paypal account is going to be suspended!!

2007-07-09T18:28:00.000+02:00

eek!
i better go to the site directly and update all my information right away!
:: pause ::

oh.
WAIT.
I DON'T EVEN HAVE A PAYPAL ACCOUNT!

:: rolls eyes ::
gggrrrrr. arrrrgggghhhh.
bastards.

(they are soooo attempting to be sneaky too - the domain at the end of the email is @ paypall (dot) com.

anybody know where to report these scammers to?

UPDATE: if you get any of these ANNOYING scam (phishing) emails,
you can report those referring to paypal accounts to the following -

FROM THE PAYPAL WEBSITE:

Together we can help stop fraud.
If you think you’ve received a phishing email:
Forward the email to spoof@paypal.com
Delete the email

bummer. dude.

2007-06-28T21:02:00.000+02:00

sometimes i wonder why i live in paris, when i have to miss things like this.

Buffy On the Big Screen

REFLECTIONS ON A FRIDAY NIGHT SATURDAY MORNING

2007-06-23T03:30:00.000+02:00

sexy high-heeled boots
walking home at three a.m.
bad combination

somewhere in the 16th...

2007-06-18T19:31:00.000+02:00

somewhere off in the distance...
there is a brass band playing WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN.

this is not the first time i've heard them play - now they've moved into a new song, and they're getting louder?
:: puzzled ::
i'm very confused.
but not complaining.

hogwarts express in paris

2007-06-15T14:55:00.000+02:00

apparently, the hogwarts express is going to be in paris (gare du nord) on june 19th.
i just need to figure out what time!

who's coming with me?
::grins::

thanks to jennC from NoPlaceLikeIt for the head's up!

words of wisdom

2007-06-12T16:06:00.000+02:00

kyliemac, lobsterfied after blitzkrieg tour of insanity*: "ouch. ouch. ouch."

david, wise french boy of five years, "if you want it to stop hurting, STOP TOUCHING IT**"

* = details to follow
** = the sunburn lobsterfication. get your heads out of the gutter, people!

Tourist Rescue Unit

2007-06-09T23:13:00.001+02:00

how many monuments can be seen in one absolutely crazy jam-packed monument filled parisan day?

find out when kyliemac takes the 'au pair that is better than yours' on a blitzkrieg budget tour of paris.

stayed tuned to find out how much they actually accomplish!

just because i promised no more tori emails this week...

2007-06-05T11:31:00.001+02:00

dear fellow tori concert goers.
the song i couldn't readily identify, but knew that i had heard:
it's GARLANDS from the BONUS DVD of THE BEEKEEPER.
it was to be called WASHINGTON SQUARE, but then in the end, wasn't.
that is all.

for my mum

2007-05-26T09:45:00.001+02:00

tom says hi.

wanted: one "lettre de motivation" and C.V.

2007-05-10T15:20:00.000+02:00

anyone free to help me write a letter of motivation and my C.V. (resume) in french???

yikes!

(i'm applying for school next year)

university update

2007-05-09T00:54:00.000+02:00

literature exam arrived in the mail today.
verdict: passed.

yay.

exams

2007-04-30T23:27:00.000+02:00

exams are over, now it's just the waiting game.

for those keeping track, i've passed 1/2 the exams. the rest are unknown.

stay tuned for future updates.

(and i SQUEAKED by in translation... :: shifty eyes ::)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AUSSIE LASS!!!

2007-04-27T09:23:00.000+02:00

happy birthday!
joyeux anniversaire!

one more week

2007-04-23T23:51:00.001+02:00

exam week.
here i come.

(after two weeks of holidays? WHAT were they thinking???)

shoes update

2007-04-14T14:29:00.000+02:00

i had bought some shoes that SEEMED fine in the store, but upon wearing them and actually having to WALK somewhere.
NOT. SO. GOOD.

back to the drawing board.

one exam down, all the rest to go

2007-04-02T15:40:00.000+02:00

phonologie exam finished.

class passed. grade unknown.

lots more exams this week - then two weeks of break - then a week more of exams.

after that...
HOLIDAY!
bwhahahahah.

although i shouldn't laugh just yet.

back.
to.
the.
books.

lost in translation

2007-03-27T22:54:00.003+02:00

anyone got a good translation for "rain catcher?" :)

au secours! paris shoe divas untie!!

2007-03-20T15:52:00.000+01:00

oh, shoe divas in the parisian area, please come to my aid!

needed: shoes a.s.a.p. for a potential social outing.

the hunt: a simple black high-heeled shoe that doesn't cost a fortune.

requirements: a heel. must have a strap or something to keep the shoe on. being narrow-footed, and flat-footed, without some kind of back to the shoe, it's a no-go. no buckles. no lacey/bow-ey/sparkley bits. classic style that will work with future ensembles.

to go with: a simple classic "little black dress". ( sleeveless and hits just above the knee)

my neighborhood has both nothing i like and nothing i wish to afford (220€ for a pair of shoes is a bit much for my budget)

i've started looking today and can't stomach paying over 75€ for a shoe i don't even like. and WHAT's with all these buckles and whatnot on the shoes?? i've looked in a couple of shops near st. michel, and there is nothing that i'm in love with for the price.

the hunt will recommence this weekend - so any suggestions on neighborhoods or shops will be much appreciated!!

just to further prove what a posting slacker am i...

2007-03-18T18:26:00.000+01:00

ep 29 of katia and kyliemac in paris just went up.

(we'll just ignore the fact i haven't posted any of them going up since *ahem* ep 20. oops.)

things i've learned from a five year old

2007-03-18T18:22:00.000+01:00

NEVER walk when you can run.

scoubidou est malade

2007-03-05T22:02:00.000+01:00

my job is so enlightening and informative.
in the playroom today:

d chants:
"scoubidou est malade (scooby-doo is sick)
on amene a l'hôpital (we take him to the hospital)
l'hôpital est fermé (the hospital is closed)
scoubidou va péter" (scooby-doo is going to fart)

n:
"that's not how it goes! it REALLY goes -
"scoubidou est malade
on amene a l'hôpital
l'hôpital est fermé
scoubidou va CRAQUER" (scooby-doo is gonna snap/die)

d:
"yeah, i know that's how it really goes,
but i like singing "is going to fart" better."

these kids really like to sing about farting what IS it about kids liking to be so "pipi/caca"?

on holiday

2007-02-27T10:14:00.000+01:00

the boys are at least.

they went skiing last week, and THIS week they are going to the aquarium and the circus.

i only get to go to class.

):P

not that i'm bitter.

american doll posse

2007-02-20T23:10:00.000+01:00

tori's new album comes out in may, and the tour kicks off in italy.

june 2nd is the paris date.

who's coming with me?

click here for the info

HVD

2007-02-14T12:11:00.000+01:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

(happy v.d. just doesn't look right...)

a sign?

2007-02-12T15:29:00.000+01:00

is the fact that the faerie bubbles game on neopets refuses to load a sign that i have other things that i should be doing?

ummmmm.

nahhhhh....

oh, and ep 20 too...

2007-02-12T10:33:00.000+01:00

:: shifty eyes ::

katia and kyliemac episode 20

the one where we become *ahem* art critics...and stuff.

enjoy!

knk ep 19 is up!

2007-02-12T09:57:00.000+01:00

it's there for your ears, and it's free to listen!

click here to listen now!

yay.

the learning of proper english.

2007-02-07T19:29:00.000+01:00

sometimes, i think the boys have hit a plateau with their english. they are nowhere near fluent, but if they think for a minute, generally, they understand what i'm trying to get across. context helps, of course, as do gestures.

(on a side note, i'd like to remind you here, that, although context and gestures DO help, raising the voice does not. louder doesn't mean more intelligible. they aren't deaf. they just don't "get" it. there's a difference. but that's another rant.)

listening in on a david and nathan conversation:

david, responding to a question in english: "yeah..."

nathan, responding to david's response: "tu dit pas 'yeah'. tu dis 'yes.'" (you don't say 'yeah'. you say 'yes'.)

hmm.
wow. sometimes they ARE listening.

the all-encompassing pencil case

2007-02-07T10:40:00.000+01:00

i keep meaning to write up all these things about uni, but then i never get around to it. (mostly because i'm a slacker, but that is neither here nor there)

so today i'm posting about the pencil case, or in the french la trousse

ah, the ubiquitous pencil case. the constant companion of french students everywhere.

this is what is currently in mine:

school agenda
post-its
whiteout
paperclips
cough drops
2 red magical pens
1 black magical pen
series of little scented colored pens
chapstick
mini stapler
metal ruler
4 highlighters
scissors
paperclips
glue stick
2 pencils
pencil sharpener
mini moleskin
eraser/rubber

(i had a mini "scotch" (they don't call it scotch tape) but it's walked off somewhere.)

at first i thought things like say, the glue stick, seemed a bit weird to carry around in a pencil case after one was, say, out of elementary/primary school, but i must confess that i've used it, or shared it with others at school, no less than 5 times in the last 2 weeks. and the scissors too.

the scissors and glue lesson i learned the first week of registering for classes. you are supposed to have with you two photographs of yourself to attach to your "fiches", and woe be to you if you haven't already cut them out to the prescribed size.

(in fact, for ALL the classes, the teachers have a "fiche" on each student, with their name, address, studies, work conflicts, phone number, email, etc, etc., and photo. which i thought odd at first, i mean it makes sense, but i've just never had a professor ask for my photo before, so i wasn't prepared for it. i'm not saying it's WEIRD, i'm just saying it's DIFFERENT.)

because i forgot to mention it before...

2007-02-06T11:05:00.000+01:00

episode 18 of katia and kyliemac in paris is online!

check it out here!

when email addresses go wrong

2007-02-05T15:20:00.000+01:00

On Feb 4, 2007, at 2:05 PM, kyliemac wrote:

"can you go on a writing strike until they respond to your email????""

On Feb 5, 2007, at 2:16 PM, kyliemac received the following response:

"Not a clue who you are, and I'm not a fan of neopets!!!
You may have the wrong address,
: )
[insert name of sender here]
Texas"

uh, yeah, CLEARLY, the wrong address,
that's the last time i use automatic email address feature on mail without paying attention to it...
:: rolls eyes ::

knk (and kim) on ice.

2007-01-31T22:38:00.001+01:00

episode seventeen of katia and kyliemac in paris is online.
check out the site, or bop on over to iTunes to find it!

change (still) comes from within

2007-01-29T16:18:00.000+01:00

last year, on nearly this exact date, i wrote this post.

the jar is still there.
actually, that's not entirely true- let me rephrase.
the change is still there.

while at the post one day, i noticed that the automatic stamp machines, the ones that spit out boring little stickers with the amount of required postage on them, accepted coins! even 1 and 2 cent pieces. i was all amazement. there was something in paris that willingly accepted 1 and 2 cent pieces?? i couldn't believe my good fortune.

OH HAPPY DAY!!

'i have found the solution to my dilemma,' thought i. 'i can use the little blighters to help fund the revolution!

i hurried home that same day, dividing up the annoying little creatures (for indeed they multiply like rabbits) into neat little groupings - then placing them into individual envelopes carrying 85 centimes worth. this way, i could carry an envelope with me, knowing exactly how much it contained (enough for a letter to the states), and when i tripped over one of the many post offices liberally sprinkled throughout paris, i could pop in, tear open the envelope, get rid of all this annoying change, and get a stamp in the bargain - a stamp that i would send off to america and would no longer be cluttering my little closet!

a 'practically perfect' solution!

excitedly, i carried my first envelope to the post down the street. i selected the correct parameters - and began dropping the coins in...one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven...suddenly, after twenty something coins worth, they all dropped down out making a h3ck of a lot of noise. the machine was not happy with me and said i had entered too many coins or that they were defective. (i'll say they're defective!!!

seems that my 'practically perfect' solution is no longer so practically perfect.
:: unamused look ::

so i am open to suggestions (other than seeing how many i can stuff up my nose. that one's already been offered up). the coins are no longer in the jar, but in neatly labeled individual envelopes.

and they sit, on my shelf, waiting.
and multiplying.
like rabbits.

crotte de bique

2007-01-28T11:51:00.000+01:00

a funny thing happened on the way to the grocery store.

this morning, as kimmy and i were walking to the grocery store for some supplies, she exclaimed, "hey! there's a goat!"

i looked up ahead and saw a head peeping out from around the corner. at first i thought that it was just an extremely ugly dog, but a moment's confirmation proved that it was indeed a goat and was eating some leaves strewn before it. when we got to the store, we saw there was a man holding it on a leash, asking for money.

in paris, i've seen horses on the rare occasion, myriad dogs, and even donkeys (in the gardens for the children to ride), but this was the first time i've ever seen a goat in the city.

great.

before i thought it was just crotte de chien that you had to watch out for.
now we have to add crotte de bique to the list.

what's in a name?

2007-01-27T09:43:00.000+01:00

the other day, in my phonology class, (the one where i learn to pronounce things as a brit - jolly good fun), one of the example sentences "Does Peter live in Liverpool?" prompted this question from the prof:

"Do you know what the word is for someone who comes from Liverpool?"

and so, i'm asking you.
do YOU know?

comment away people!
"and this is for posterity, so please, no googling."

this morning, in commenting on this question to kimmay, the following question came up:

"what do you call people from different states?"

i knew "michigander", being one myself and all.
kim was a bit fuzzy on what one from arizona is called. (arizonan or arizonian)

but do you know all the others?

we didn't, but we do now.

blogger's block

2007-01-22T19:51:00.000+01:00

that says it all.

new year. new look. new blog.

2007-01-15T14:59:00.000+01:00

ok.

so there will be those of you who say technically this is not a new blog because it's the same name as my previous blog. still others of you will argue that to have a NEW blog, i would have to have an OLD blog, and since i don't blog much at all, who am i kidding? others of you will simply be amazed that i've written anything at all.

with all that aside, here we are with a new look. i may fiddle with it in the future, but for the moment, it works. i had toyed with the .mac blog, but it simply took too long to upload any changes, and with blogger - it's lickety-split. (comparatively speaking). the other thing is with .mac having to buy more space to keep photos and archives and whatnot. blogger free, therefore blogger better.

let's get into the post, shall we?

i'd like to wish you all a happy new year. (albeit belated). which brings to my mind the question: when does it become TOO late to wish someone a happy new year? i'd argue that it can be done until the end of january.

and with the new year brings (for many) the New Year's Resolutions. ::insert dramatic music here::
do you make them? i do, and break them as soon as possible. that would be a good resolution for me, to resolve to break my other new year's resolutions. at least that would be one i would keep.

(some of) my new year's resolutions:
by kylie mac.

1. floss. (i've added this only because i told my dentist i would).
2. blog at least once a week.
3. take my vitamins. (that is on my doctor's advice.)
4. touch my toes (without bending my knees). i'm as elastic as a can opener (read: not at all)
5. write something to andy (the revolutionary) every week.

one day, not long ago, i found a posting online looking for revolutionaries. a plea, if you will, a battle cry to prevent the art of correspondance from being lost. e-mail has it's place, and i love the internet too, but i had to agree with him. not only are normal everyday letter boxes becoming overstuffed with spam mail and bills and ads, so are our virtual mailboxes. spam spam spam. for mortgages on homes most of us don't own and the opportunity to work from those homes. (and HOW many "male enhancement" offers do YOU get in YOUR mailbox each day?) when was the last time you opened up your mailbox and had a letter - a hand-written letter addressed to YOU?

i'm probably one up on you, because i got one last week, and am anxiously awaiting another.

so if any of you would like to join andy's revolution along with me, please feel free to send me your snail mail address. or you can check out andy's page on myspace and write to him. or better yet, pick up your own pen and write a letter to a complete stranger, someone from your high school you haven't talked to in ages, your best friend that you talk to on the phone every day, or even your mum and dad.

it will bring a smile to their faces. (unless it's a mean letter, or a guilt letter, or a letter asking for money.)

yours in keeping the postal employed or over-worked (your choice),

-k

the french system

2006-12-19T12:13:00.000+01:00

that would be 17/20.

understanding that they don't grade here like they do in the states.
10 is passing.
20 is impossible. and i mean I.M.P.O.S.S.I.B.L.E ( or so i understand)

i found this online by way of explanation:

"Grading
The French grading system is based on a scale of 20, as opposed to 100 in the US system. It would be inaccurate to merely multiply a French grade by a factor of five to find its U.S. equivalent. Grades in France are awarded on a scale of 1-20, but the tradition is such that grades higher than 16 are seldom awarded. The passing grade for a single subject is usually 10/20 although grades of 8 and 9 can indicate satisfactory performance. Grading in France is particularly severe and can vary from one institution to another and from one course to another."

perhaps i should add, for the benefit of those of you who know me, that um, my final AND my written analysis were both on the same work.

:: grins ::

bram stoker's DRACULA.

:: snickers ::

the prof wrote "excellent travail (work)" on BOTH of them.

HOLY CATS!

2006-12-19T11:44:00.000+01:00

i got a 17 on my analysis AND on my written final in my gothic class.

so at least i passed SOMETHING.
:)

YAY!

irony is learning about the 60's in america in france

2006-12-18T00:34:00.000+01:00

i find it rather sad that i'm learning more about my own country's history (at least in the 60's) living here in france than i did in all my years of school in the states.

history exam on tuesday morning.
cram.
cram.
cram.

what's the french equivilant of "cram"?

soon we shall take over the world. bwhaahahah.

2006-12-05T22:46:00.000+01:00

HEY!
check it out!

our podcast got mentioned on Blue Yonder

(and we didn't even pay for it!)

dracula: the analysis

2006-12-05T08:50:00.000+01:00

anyone want to do this paper for me??

please?

i have a Serious Case of Writer's Block.

creeping meatballs

2006-11-23T15:26:00.000+01:00

what the H3LL is the creeping meatball?

cowboys and indians

2006-11-21T19:46:00.000+01:00

my youngest charge turns five this month, and saturday is his "cowboys and indians" themed birthday party.

ME: "what are you going to be for your birthday party?"

HIM: "speederman."

:: blinks ::

five-year-olds.
the same the world over.

scenes on a metro. ep 1

2006-11-15T23:06:00.000+01:00

scene: metro line 7. packed like sardines, including whole class of 8 year olds. mostly boys.
location: paris, france. day.

young girl, suddenly, after peering into the darkness of the tunnel for some minutes:

"I JUST SAW A GHOST!!"
"I SWEAR IT!"

milton's paradise lost:a question

2006-11-11T22:41:00.000+01:00

what's the point of having two angels guarding the only gate into paradise, if satan's just going to jump over the wall and get in anyway?

movies on my list.

2006-10-30T16:14:00.000+01:00

scoop

all the king's men

pan's labyrinth

lady chatterley

what i'm wearing to class tomorrow

2006-10-30T16:02:00.000+01:00

my spiderbaby earrings will be a nice accessory, me thinks.
perfectly perfect for halloween.

just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...

2006-10-11T08:35:00.000+02:00

because my email program on hal j. isn't working - i'm updating you all here: i'm headed back into the clinic today, for more work (and reparation) on my lovely spider bite wound (SBW). barring complications, i should be out this weekend.

:: crosses eyes ::

figures.

the doctor said they don't know why my leg reacted as it did.
most likely involving a spider and venom.

i just want this story finished with. now.

and after looking at some Really Very Serious spider bite wounds on
the internet (which is really, really great) i'm very thankful that i got off pretty easy.

thanks God.
(and i mean that sincerely)

i, by some miracle, got my (french) Social Security card in the mail just a few days before this medical thing started as well... coincidence?

(and can you deconstruct this sentence? what kind of clause is set off by the commas? can you create the schema? what is the GN and GV? the subject? can you describe it in french vocabulary?)

of course, this means that after missing and having missed a total of, oh, roughly a month of class, i'm having some *issues* "à la fac" (school) which are not getting easily resolved.

(wish me luck.)

i just chant my little mantra, and that makes it a bit less frustrating.

at least my classes seem somewhat interesting (i've been to 5 of 11, i think).
(hobbs theory of power, anyone? and what IS the problematic of Antony and Cleopatra?)
(or Cleoplaster as i heard yesterday :: snickers ::)

oh.
one other thing.
my apartment is currently infested with nasty little bloodsuckers.
(ARGH! as if i wasn't paranoid enough with beastie bites at the present moment!)
i've killed six in the last week.
i see one.
manage to um...prevent it from attacking me viciously in the future :: whistles innocently ::
and then not more than 5 minutes later i see another one appear.

or maybe it's just ONE mosquito that has nine lives.

i killed...i mean...liberated from this mortal coil (sorry, blame the shakespeare), and no sooner had i gotten rid of the evidence... :: shifty eyes :: another one flew past my field of vision.

i didn't manage to catch that one, but i did trap it in the window blinds (if you saw my window shades you'd understand how i managed this. :) )

bof.

anyway.
i'd like to congratulate some people i know on selecting Very Cool Glasses.
(flickr is our friend) but not everybody has new glasses!
yet.
:: smirks ::

i'll be waiting awhile for new ones myself.

may your week be spider and mosquito free.

testing

2006-10-07T14:44:00.000+02:00

this is only a test

happy birthday to me!

2006-09-04T00:58:00.000+02:00

today is my birthday.
yay.

you can check our newest episode of katia and kyliemac at our website or on iTunes.

www.katiaandkyliemac.blogspot.com

sign up on our frappr map or leave us an odeo audio comment!

(donations happily accepted! :D )

happy birthday, dad!

2006-08-24T15:56:00.000+02:00

click here for the post.

this is a test

2006-08-16T18:24:00.000+02:00

check out the new blog test here

la tourneuse de pages

2006-08-15T01:46:00.000+02:00

i saw a french film today (yay me). it's called "the page turner" - and it's referring to a person who turns pages for a concert pianist.

when asked how the movie was, the following word was my response.

"french."

i liked it okay. which is pretty much how i've been feeling about ALL the movies i've seen in recent days. (although i did enjoy the new cap'n jack story quite a bit).

here's the (poorly translated) description of today's flick:

"When she was about 10 years old, Melanie, a butcher's daughter from a small village in the country, is a particulary gifted piano player. But after a traumatic audition during which a famous pianist, president of the jury, ridicules her, the young prodigy, wounded, abandons her passion...

10 years later...

The past resurfaces. During her internship at a law office, Melanie meets Mr. Fouchécourt, her boss - and husband of the woman who overturned the course of her life. Applied and hard-working, Melanie is quickly noticed by her boss, and he offers her the position of governess to his 10 year old son. Dedicated to avenging herself, she becomes the page turner of madame Fourchécourt. But behind the mask of well-behaved young woman hides an ambiguity in which fascination and attraction mix with manipulation."

more or less, that was the story. although it was the melanie who proposed to be the governess, the boss didn't ask her.

it is a sad day

2006-08-09T15:24:00.000+02:00

i wore my flannel pj's to bed last night.

:: sighs ::

a conversation with aussie lass

2006-07-31T23:42:00.000+02:00

"...AND she brought me tootsie rolls!!! have you ever had one?"

"no. but i've read about them in the babysitter's club."

hero of the week

2006-07-31T23:36:00.000+02:00

i'm a bit housebound at the moment, due to some freek accident, which has left me with a swollen and painful ankle.

flare offered to bring me some supplies (for a girl's got to eat) and she also brought me HOMEMADE OATMEAL COOKIES!! *and* tootsie rolls *and* smarties.

she is a being to be treasured.
(and so is her dad for including the aforementioned treasures in the latest care package)

:: grins ::
thanks flare!

the drollness of the queen mum

2006-07-31T23:34:00.000+02:00

"i go to your blog to not read it, then read your friends' blogs to know what you've been up to."

french dictionary needed

2006-07-28T10:36:00.000+02:00

i am in need of a suggestion for a french dictionary i can plug into microsoft word on h.j. (hal jr. my tiny little mac).

finally. trip photos.

2006-07-26T13:17:00.000+02:00

some trip photos. yay.

cheating

2006-07-05T23:26:00.000+02:00

from noonan:

"So once again I am coming out of the dark little
corner of my world to let you know that I am STARVING
for post on your blog.

Is it that tough to post???
Have the children tied you up demanding soft squishy peeps??

If a ransom ever makes it here we might be able to send some - but how would we know????
Where would we send the ransom?
I can see it now.

'girl from the States held against her will
in exchange we want squishy marshmallowy peeps.'"

ah, la musique!

2006-06-15T23:33:00.000+02:00

we are in the playroom, creating "décor d'été" out of colo(u)red paper.

me: "hey nathan, why don't you go get some music to play while we work?"

nathan: "ok!"

he scurries off to the living room to fetch a c.d.
i think it's going to be the "we will rock you" that has children singing "we will rock you."

i was oh-so-very-very-wrong.

he brings the cd, pops it in the player, and presses play.

nathan: "i LOVE this song!"

the song begins.

i just shake my head with a grin.

it's "heart of glass" by BLONDIE.

sometimes i frighten myself

2006-06-15T23:30:00.000+02:00

words that may (or may not) have escaped my lips today:

"the snicklebeast was aged enough, so i swapped it for the slorg"

enough already!

2006-05-29T19:52:00.000+02:00

will someone PLEASE ask mother nature to make up her mind?

rain or shine?

CHOOSE ONE AND BE THAT.

the wrath of nathan

2006-05-29T11:53:00.000+02:00

found the day after the (in)famous "boudin noir" incident:

"for grandma

kyli wastes the ~~food~~
the good boudin
and the other things."

seen on the champs-elysees

2006-05-27T22:45:00.000+02:00

a man taking a picture of his wife
on the champs-elysees
in front a very decorative gate
with their dog.

IN A STROLLER.

boudin noir

2006-05-22T20:45:00.000+02:00

"you've ruined it!" nathan yells, then bursts into tears.

great. just great.
i sigh internally. it's going to be one of those nights.

ok. those of you who know me, know that i'm not EXACTLY what you would call "a great cook". in fact, you wouldn't even call me a "mediocre cook". in fact, you wouldn't use the word "cook" along with any other adjective to describe me. well, i suppose you could add the words "should not" in front of it.

i'm not a complete dunce in the kitchen, i can follow a recipe. but i follow the recipe, maybe with a pinch more of this or a smidge less of that... but i FOLLOW. THE. RECIPE.

introduce the dilemma of the day.

now my dear friend aussie lass will tell you (while laughing) of a ~~few~~ numerous phone calls she's received from me saying, "have you ever heard of making a salad dressing with THAT?!" or "what would you suggest to put with this...?"

'cause you see. i'm not meant to cook. my job is to pick the kids up, take them to here or there, and speak english as much as possible. kitchen duty was not in my original job description. but during the february ski holiday, their grandmother took an unfortunate fall breaking her kneecap, and so left me with the responsibilities of "la cuisine" while she heals.

which is fine. most of the time. but i'm american. i cook things using microwaves and boxes. but, more importantly, if you say the word "tortilla" to me, i'm going to think of a taco from toxic hell rather than a spanish omelette. (but that is another story...) and even MORE importantly, if you don't cook something in the manner that the french 4 and 7 year old are accustomed to...well, let me tell you... THEY ARE NOT GOING TO EAT IT.

and so enter the boudin noir.

i have never eaten boudin noir (although i may have tasted it a time or two). i don't cook it at home. never have seen it cooked. don't know what it's technically supposed to look like when it's done. but i can guess.

the note on the fridge said: "cook in the pan or the oven." and gave a temperature. i decided on the pan, as that is something i can handle.

bad move.

nathan did NOT want the boudin cooked on the stovetop, and this was just the beginning...

to make a long (and i'm sure for some hilarious) story shorter... this is how the evening ended up:

nathan (in tears): "you have ruined it! it's black!" (author's side note: well, it IS called BOUDIN NOIR for heaven's sake) i'm NOT eating that!!! I'M NOT EATING ANYTHING! i like boudin noir, but when it's well done! YOU ARE NOT A GOOD COOK! (well, duh.) Grandma is TWO TIMES a better cook than you!"

me: "actually more like four times better..."

david (while looking at his brother and shrugging): "well, yeah. it's black. but one still has to make the effort."

he tastes it. he says its fine and tastes like it always does. but, being like his brother wins out, and so he decides that HE's not going to eat anything either.

i tell nathan that when he calms down some we can talk about it, and ask him what else he would like to eat.

"RIEN DU TOUT!!!" he declares, stomping off to his room, while sneakily grabbing the phone.

later, in his bedroom, i tell him that he can call my friend and tell her how i've ruined EVERYTHING and how terrible i am as a cook.

the idea intrigues him at first, but he wants to choose a name at random from my phone, and i decided that maybe wasn't such a good idea.

me: "well, who else do you want to call then to tell them how i've ruined everything?"

nathan: "the police"

me (considering): "hmm. well, i don't think calling the police about the boudin noir is such a good idea. i mean, after all, they do have bad guys to be chasing."

nathan (after a pause): "a chief cook."

me: "well, we can call my friend katia. she's a really good cook."

nathan: "i cook better than she does."

me: "well, better than me. yes. better than her...well, i'm not so sure."

nathan chickened out from calling. but i would have LOVED to see the expression on her face when she received a phone call from a blubbering 7 year old french kid describing how i've ruined le boudin noir.

finally.

2006-05-09T19:19:00.000+02:00

thanks to vivi for the head's up on an interesting article about monet's waterlilies reappearing.

and something to be noted:
"The museum is due to reopen to the public on May 17 when last minute work on the building is complete. Entry will be free from May 17 to 21."

what this means is: the l'orangerie WILL FINALLY REOPEN THIS MONTH!

shall we go, ladies?

a living nightmare

2006-04-24T15:03:00.000+02:00

while walking along boulevard st. michel, i glance into the shop windows as i pass them.

most of the clothing shops display the new spring fashions, while a few of the others look
like dioramas of 80's nightmare fashions. i am not, as my mum will attest, a fashion diva,
but, come on people, there was a REASON that stuff went OUT OF STYLE.

how long does it take for something to become "retro" anyway?

on a side note: my new spring coat came out of the closet this week. yes, it's black.
but it's a "spring black".

new world record

2006-04-15T22:43:00.000+02:00

nathan made his one peep last three days.

one two three four five six

2006-04-04T10:11:00.000+02:00

tomorrow-
at two minutes
and three seconds
after one in the morning,
the time and date will be:

01:02:03 04/05/06

but not if you live in france.

the world of peeps

2006-03-28T23:57:00.000+02:00

i've torn through an entire package of peeps already.

:: whistles innocently ::

i have banned myself from eating any of the pink ones until friday, when they can be opened in safety (for they won't last the weekend) as i have to guard at least one tray in protective custody for the boys.*

when i received this delightful surprise, i thought of a link that ms. aussie lass sent me a few weeks ago regarding the strangely addictive creatures.

Excerpt from link:
"Girl #1: We did this experiment with Peeps in high school. Nothing dissolved them. Not hydrochloric acid. Highly concentrated. Not sulfuric acid. Highly concentrated. Not nitric acid. Highly concentrated. Nothing dissolved except the eyes."

i had a hard time believing this - i mean COME ON. it's MARSHMALLOW for heaven's sake.

:: pauses ::

:: suddenly unsure ::

isn't it??

and because God has made me a curious creature, and because al gore has invented the internet, and because some very creative people created google, and just because i can - i googled and found the following information, which makes for interesting reading.

according to the guys who put up the site, in their 'scientific' experiment they tried dissolving the little beasties in the following liquids: water -acetone - sulfuric acid -sodium hydroxide.

did they dissolve?

you'll have to follow the link to find out. credit where credit is due, and all that.

-JM is my hero of the week!

2006-03-28T22:32:00.000+02:00

saturday my employer informs me that i have a package waiting for me.
"i think it's marshmallows," she says.

"YIPPPEEEEEEEEE!" think i, running downstairs to fetch said package.

sure enough, upon opening the door to the apartment, the package is sitting on the buffet. a nice size package from my dear friend stateside, with the words "MARSHMALLLOW PEEPS" emblazoned on the customs declaration.
so much for surprises. :: smirks ::

"it's for you," says the four-year-old.

"what is it?" asks the ever-inquisitive-seven-year-old.

"it's marshmallow peeps," says i, a smile plastered on my face, for who doesn't love receiving surprise packages!?

nathan runs to fetch the scissors, for surely i can not be expected to wait the additional 3 minutes it would take to climb up the stairs again and find my own scissors. and after ~~ripping~~ carefully opening the box of happiness (which incidentally also comes in potato chip bags), i discover a bunch of little styrofoam peanuts.

nathan, understanding the "marshmallow" part of "marshmellow peeps" but not quite so sure about the "peep" part wants to know if you can eat them.

um.
no.

i find a note amongst the peanuts and shredded paper...

"...it's very disconcerting to be walking down an aisle...and have a little marshmallow bird scream, "send me to kylie!" in front of a dozen shoppers!"

yes. i'm sure it is. little beasties! nothing to do BUT SEND THEM TO FRANCE!!!

i pull the first box out. pink peeps. the little chick ones.

i pull out the second box. 3 MORE little trays of the sugar coated creatures. this time white.

i pull out the THIRD box. these are blue. (personally, i have a problem with blue peeps. but that won't stop me from eating them!!!!! i feel the same way about blue m&ms. they are just - well - wrong somehow.)

for the past several weeks, i've been using "REEEEALLLL bubble gum" as an *AHEM* incentive for the boys. if they don't kill one another, and nathan practices his piano, and does his homework without too much fuss, and if david does his "engleesh" and doesn't bug his brother (too much) while he's doing his homework, at the end of the week, they will each be rewarded with a piece of REAL bubble gum (not shewing gum - bubble gum - (and yes, i meant to spell it with an "S" - that's how they pronounce it here) with which you can make BUBBLES. my mum said i'm getting a LOT of mileage out of a single piece of bubble gum. :: grins slyly ::

and now - the problem.
i've run out of gum.
(i'd been using Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum in case you are curious)

but new *AHEM* in-cent-tive has just dropped into my lap. in a moment of brilliant inspiration i say,

"if you and your brother are good this week (refer to above), i'll share some peeps with you on friday."

"COOL!" he exclaims, as he begins to count the boxes (in english). "one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine!" then, returning back to his native tongue, "that's enough for NINE WEEKS!"

huh. WHAT?!
NOooooOOOOOOOO.

"WAIT A MINUTE!" i say, "THESE ARE MY PEEPS! at the end of the week i'll share ONE box with you and david. you get two, david gets two, and i get one."

one box of peeps, NOT NINE!

i mean, hey, i'm sharing.
but not all of them! after all, they were calling out MY name!!!!!

as heard on the métro

2006-03-24T13:27:00.000+01:00

i've added a little sidebar (holy cats i'm learning HTML!), which i'll update from time to time with songs that i've heard on the métro. sometimes i'll find myself unconsciously humming along to something, and all of a sudden realize that it's some eighties one-hit-wonder, or some 'oldie' i haven't heard in ages.

then i'll have to snigger, because it will be a song that one would only hear on some "Flashback Friday" program...

your assignment:
the next time you are dining in a parisian restaurant, make a mental note to what you are listening to while you dine.
i'll bet you dollars $ to donuts, or rather euros € to pain au chocolats, that you'll be listening to something in english.

la logique française

2006-03-22T12:52:00.000+01:00

1.5 L of water = ,37€

.5 L of water = ,67€

learning "le français"

2006-03-14T15:08:00.000+01:00

everytime i get to the point that i THINK i've learned something, they go and change the rules.

:: grrrrr ::

my wall is currently full of these things - mostly dedicated to conjunctions that use the subjonctive, neatly divided by group: "but*" "condition" "temps*", etc.

argh.

*but = goal, temps = time

attention: parisians going to rome!

2006-03-09T23:09:00.000+01:00

if you know any parisians going to rome before the end of this month, let them know that with the presentation of their "identity card" stating that they live in paris, they will be granted, free of charge entry into a rather nice list of roman museums.

and if you know any romans, let them know that the city of paris is returning the favor, but in reverse. romans can visit many museums in paris for free!

act now! this offer won't be around much longer!

tonight: at the dinner table

2006-03-09T21:51:00.000+01:00

SOMEWHERE IN PARIS. EVENING.

the four year old, suddenly: "so! did you hear about this avian flu?"

the seven year old, "yeah."

the four year old: "yeah. it's chickens right? chickens got it? the avian flu? it's chickens. it's chickens, right?"

the seven year old, "yeah, chickens got it."

the four year old: "chickents got it. the avian flu."

the seven year old, very seriously: "yeah. someone died."

the four year old, "so, do you know who built the first submarine?"