Kaleidoscope - books

Too many things, too little time...

noreply@blogspirit.com (Lady Iphigenia) — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 22:45:00 -0500

This article might be messy, but my mind doesn't cooperate with my prolific thoughts :)

D received a negative answer from the church of France. They can't afford to help us, they won't do anything... which means that we won't be going to England or France (for now... 'cause only God knows what's reserved for us later). It was only another disappointment, but strangely we learned the news on a day when I had been thinking to myself that Canada is not such a bad country. Long time ago when I was bored of living in France I had dreamed of leaving in Canada... Plus, my jobs are not the best, but at least I have work to do!

I finished reading The Chronicles of Narnia and Sixty Million Frenchmen can't be wrong (as briefly discussed there). I've started A Study in Scarlet as well (how Watson met Sherlock Holmes: the beginning!). I'm a serial reader.

Saturday, my Darling and I spent some time in the pet store. We haven't bought anything, but I'm considering getting a bunny or a hamster for Christmas (or my B-day, since it's almost all-in-one in my case). Maybe I am still under the illusion that there are surely talking animals in this world (or in a parallel one). I’ve never had a pet at home (I’m not counting the disastrous experience with the golden fishes that kept dying one after the other, nor the snails that I use to keep in a jar). D told me, “Why not a cat?”, but I wouldn’t care about a cat. I like dogs, but while living in an apartment, it would be rather uncomfortable (for us and the dog, people don’t think of these things sometimes: a dog needs to run! Walk! Be outside!).
I’m rather undecided yet.

On another note, my doctor told me that I should lose some weight. I knew it, but hearing it from her gave me a shock. Needless to say that I am not going to drive to work anymore, no more excuses. My bike is my best friend (eheh). Otherwise she said that I'm healthy... the muscle of my shoulder that becomes a bump when it tenses (and hurts like hell!) is very commun apparently! All is well then: less food, healthier (junk food doesn't agree with my stomach anyway), more exercises (if I find some time, I'd like to swim again regularly).

lalalilola

Blip!

noreply@blogspirit.com (Lady Iphigenia) — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 22:35:00 -0400

J'écoutais un quelconque concerto de violoncelle à la radio en lisant "The Voyage of the Dawn Trader"(le 5eme livre de Narnia - y'en a 7) allongée dans mon sofa super mou, couverte du vieux truc qui tient chaud. Bien comfortable.

Puis après leur visite dans l'île du début de la fin du monde, la musique a commencé à avoir un effet hypnotique. Mes paupières se sont allourdies et blip! Je me suis retrouvée dans le pays des rêves. Mon sofa dans le salon est tellement mou et comfortable, j'y suis parfois mieux que dans mon lit (on en achètera un autre à notre prochaine destination). Doucement songe et réalité se sont confondus, et séparés à nouveau. Je n'était plus dans ce pays merveilleux peuplé d'aventuriers et de souris parlante, mais dans mon salon avec mon prince charmant pas trop loin! La réalité n'est pas si moche parfois...

Je crois que c'est la faute du magicien.

Le Brésilien sans peine

noreply@blogspirit.com (Lady Iphigenia) — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 21:35:00 -0400

I love reading, learning, and... yes, of course, BOOKS! It is very hard for D and I not to buy all the nice books that we find interesting at the bookstore (if it wasn't for the price) and even harder when we go at the second-hand bookstore (because the price is much nicer). Then why do we try to resist? Well, for the simple fact that books are heavy, and that when we move from place to place, boxes full of books weights a lot (and I'm not the one carrying, since I'm Lady Iphigenia the one and only, eh!). Luckily Don Quixote is a gentleman with big muscles (and a charming smile).

Somehow, with that great foundness for books, something strange happens with me (strange things often happen with me, to me, towards me...): when I own a book, I don't have a great urge to read it. I have maybe 10 to 20 books that I plan to read one day, but in the mean time stay neatly placed on the shelves. However, for the books that I choose at the library, I often read them much faster than the due date and can't put the book down until I'm done with it!

For the books I own, I sometimes start reading one book, then start another (without finishing the first one), then another (without finishing the second one) and so on. At the moment I am reading 2 books at the same time: The Chronicles of Narnia, The French are never wrong (or something like that which was a book that I offered to my Darling last christmas), there is another unfinished book about the voice, and (now comes the subject of this post) I am also teaching myself portuguese!

Last Christmas I bought myself this method complete with CDs (along with the other book that I offered to super Darling). It was on sale at the local Chapters bookstore and since the best gifts are the ones that one makes to him/herself, I had no reason to resist to that one. Plus, I am a complete addicted to learning new languages, AND it's my Darling's native language! (Go, go motivation!)
With all this good will, and the above mentioned reasons, I only opened this book last week, put the CD in our Mini-HiFi, and started repeating with the recording "Bom Dia! Todo bem? Sim. Eu me chamo Iphigenia. Tem um apartamento reservado em meu nome?" (literally: Hello! All good? Yes. My name is Iphigenia. Do you have a room reserved on my name?)

So far, so good. I think it will be easier to learn with a CD/method, than only relying on D for correcting my pronunciation (we are otherwise always talking in French together). When I try to speak in Portuguese to his parents/brother through MSN, it is hard at the moment because I mix it up so easily with Spanish or Italian! Hopefully, I'll get better with time and one day we'll have the opportunity to be surrounded by the language for a little while, either visiting Brazil or Portugal: the best way to learn!

* Le Brésilien sans peine is the title of the book that D offered for my first birthday together (he had bought is when we weren't even together yet!). It could translate the Brazilian Made Easy, or literally the Brazilian without pain which I find is a funny title, but then, I also have a queer sence of humour... HAHA to me!

Sables mouvants

noreply@blogspirit.com (Lady Iphigenia) — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 00:30:00 -0400

Démons et merveilles
Vents et marées
Au loin déjà la mer s'est retirée
Et toi
Comme une algue doucement caressée par le vent
Dans les sables du lit tu remues en rêvant
Démons et merveilles
Vents et marées
Au loin déjà la mer s'est retirée
Mais dans tes yeux entrouverts
Deux petites vagues sont restées
Démons et merveilles
Vents et marées
Deux petites vagues pour me noyer.

Jacques Prevert (Paroles)

Wednesday, I started feeling my legs a bit sore each time I bent down to look at the bottom shelves in the bookstore (I bought myself the Chronicles of Narnia).
Wednesday night, I didn't sleep very well. The muscles of my back were hurting as well. Every hour I would wake up with a different pain, more intense.
Thursday, I went to work feeling like crap. I ignored my bicycle and drove instead. I would feel my legs as if I had run marathon the day before, but it wasn't the case, and I couldn't find an explanation for the rest of my aching body.
Thursday night, surprisingly I had a good night's sleep.
Friday, my legs were repaired, my shoulders still hurt.
Friday night, it seems all the pain I had over the past 3 days decided to concentrate on my left shoulder.
It has been the same the whole day today.

I'm not very courageous, I cry from pain.

D also got something similar, but since he is stronger and not working (he had time to rest), it did pass quicker on him. We think it's a virus. A nasty one, in my opinion.