boussole
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Today's word might as well be motley or hodgepodge or pastiche or...
la boussole (boo-sol) noun, feminine
: compass
synonym: la tête (head)
perdre la boussole = to lose one's head; to go haywire, bonkers
Listen: Hear Jean-Marc pronounce the word "boussole": Download boussole.wav
Vivre sans but, c'est naviguer sans boussole. Living without an aim is like sailing without a compass. --John Ruskin
French Christmas Music: "Mon Beau Sapin", "Saint Nuit", "La Marche des Rois", "Petite Ville Bethléem", "Il est né Le Divin Enfant". Order CD here. Also available: Amazon Gift Cards: take the guessing out of gift-giving! Order a gift card.
A Day in a French Life... by Kristin Espinasse
A French Floozie--make that a Language Tarte
Bonjour to any new readers who may just be tuning in. My name is Kristin and I am the ex desert rat who selects these thrice-weekly French words, words that have been described as everything from "obscure" to "absurd", but then—so is life—life which forms the bucolic backdrop of these in theme with the "absurd" word stories.
Because this site's "about" page is somewhat outdated (the first draft was written in 2002, three years after these letters began—via the Pony Express—which is as cool a synonym as I can find for "snail mail"), as I was saying, given that the blog's bio page is a little behind-the-times, it was hinted to me that it would be une bonne chose to update it from time to time. Here, today, is one of those times....
That Magnetic Pull
In a nutshell or, as the French would say, bref, from Phoenix—and all the way to France—I followed that inner magnetic pull (you do know it, don't you?), that invisible claw that hooks the hearts of smart cookies and language tarts (me voilà, that's me, the latter).
Do not be misled, the fact that I love words does not make me the darling of higher ed. I'm hardly street smart. But I've an inner compass and can follow 'une carte' of the heart. So far it got me to France, and don't that make me a smart tarte?
Some are curious as to just what I do for a living (dare I say dream?) and yet... I never dreamed, as a kid perched among the leaves of a mesquite tree, the desert floor stretch out beneath me, no, I never imagined I'd be a writer, one who turns dreams into written things.
Additional info: I love bikes... or the idea of bikes. That's Jean-Marc and me, above...
... and I love to take pictures of bikes -- chairs too....
Voilà, or at Pat said recently, in the comments section, wa la! Which reminds me, I love to read your words and stories, so please don't hesitate to leave a message, here in the Coin Commentaires.
French Vocabulary
bonjour = hello
une bonne chose = a good thing
bref = briefly
me voilà = that's me
la tarte = pie
voilà = so there you have it
Walnut Wine and Truffle Groves is a culinary travel book that navigates the back roads—as well as the menus and markets—of the southwestern region of France with newfound excitement. Through interviews with local home cooks and chefs, visits to local farms, historic sites and wineries, market tours, and serendipitous detours, Lovato provides a glimpse into this unspoiled wonderland. The alluring recipes and stunning photographs let readers discover the true jewels in France’s culinary crown as well as discover the country’s most beautiful and less trod-upon provinces. Order here.
More Gift Ideas....
France Magazine subscription
Easy French Reader: A fun and easy new way to quickly acquire or enhance basic reading skills
In film: Paris Je T'aime Paris I love You.
Shalimar Eau de Parfum by Guerlain. Introduced in 1925. Fragrance notes: an alluring, classic fragrance of exotic florals and vanilla. Order here.
Smokey The Bandit... more photos coming soon.
Still reading? And I thought I was the only one who made it this far down in the newsletter... Good! So, do you want to see the previous about page update? Here's even more about this "thrice-weekly" letter and its characters... in this post from last summer.
A Message from Kristi: For twenty years now, support from readers like you has been an encouragement and a means to carve out a career in writing. If my work has touched you in any way, please consider a donation. Your gift keeps me going! Thank you very much.
Ways to contribute:
1. Send a check (to this new address)
2. Paypal or credit card
3. A bank transfer via Zelle, a great way to send your donation as there are no transaction fees.
Or purchase my book for a friend, and so help spread the French word.
For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety