sábado, 26 mayo 2007

M'énerve!

Bon, j'ai des tas de trucs à raconter (mon père visite demain, ma journée à Toronto, Lily est partie, j'ai découvert Facebook), mais je n'avais pas de temps jusqu'à ce soir pour écrire quoi que ce soit de moyennement long, étant donné que j'ai plein de trucs à dire et que mes émotions, mes pensées, mes états d'âme font les montagnes russes!!!

Comble de tout, y'en a marre de BlogSpirit! Le nom est bien joli, mais je suis arrivée à la limite de mon service gratuit! Alors je veux déménager de blog, mais personne ne m'explique comment exporter! Pourtant chuis pas conne, j'ai lu tous les FAQ du "service", mais ils sont pas fichu de me donner une p'tite adresse email pour m'éclaircir! Il n'y même pas de forum, c'est fou!

Alors cher lecteurs, chères lectrices, soyez patients... Je vais faire un gros dodo et je reviendrais avec des nouvelles fraîches et une quiche au jambon! (ça c'est si je trouve un moment à moi demain!)

*

Dear all,

I will likely change of blog service as soon as I figure out how to export/import my files. Haven't found anything for the moment, and since my dad is visiting the next couple of days, it will probably take some time.

Stay tuned! I'll be back!

lalala!

01:20 Anotado en English , French , Perso , Web | Permalink | Comentarios (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

lunes, 21 mayo 2007

Good Bye Lily!

Having a pet is a big decision.

Before getting a bunny from the store, I read many sites about how to take care of a bunny, if one could have one in an appartment, etc. I knew there would be some inconvenients, but then having an animal, being in a relationship or not, being an expat or not, all has inconvenients. If so many people had a bunny, a real one, why not me?

First, she started chewing on cables. The computer microphone's cable, D fixed it. The internet cable, D fixed it. The electric thermometre in the kitchen, he still hasn't fixed it. I would laugh, he would call her "the pest". I started worring when she got a liking for my digital piano's cable. That's less funny.

Then, she somehow got stuck behind the fridge and had a bleeding ear! Oh my, I couldn't think what would be next. Would she die electrocuted while eating a power cable? Shit.

You can see the little cut on her left ear -and Malok watching- eheh

Something eventualy had to be done, but I didn't want to! She is my first pet! A cute bunny with big ears!

Friday morning, we realized that the phone was dead. No tone. Was it the answering machine? The phone itself? The line? No.
Lily had cut the wire of the answering machine.
Since D is looking for a summer job, I was afraid someone might have called him while we weren't home, fortunatly one of us had always been inside the day before...

A rabbit doesn't belong inside. Unless you have your home entirely rabbitproofed.

I called Sophia, the mum of a student, who is living in the countryside and was thinking of having rabbits in a shed for the kids. They have three small homeschooled kids and are foster parents as well. To my relief after discussing my proposition with her husband, she told me that they would take Lily back home with them after the music lesson Thursday.

I am a little sad, but at the same time I think Lily will be much happier in the country, eating grass and dandelions. :)

19:45 Anotado en Bunny , English | Permalink | Comentarios (6) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

jueves, 10 mayo 2007

Badminton!

Since the beginning of the week we've had a great summery weather with temperatures higher than 20°C and the accompanying humidity. We realized yesterday that it was probably cooler outside than inside our apartment (because we don't want to put the air conditioner just yet), so after a short trip to the Dollar store, we biked to the park where we played badminton with the cheap rackets and shuttlecock.

It was fun! We are very poor players, but with a little practice we got to exchange 20 birdies (with an overall of two exchanges! eheh).

Let the sun shine in!

22:24 Anotado en English , Perso , Photo , Weather | Permalink | Comentarios (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

martes, 08 mayo 2007

Spring chaos

I'm sorry not to have the time to post lately, but it has been one thing after the other. Have you ever noticed that funny thing in life, you either have nothing to do and are bored to death, or every "special event" happens at the same time?

Next week I'm taking time off, but before that I have students preparing exams, others singing in a local festival and all of them will participate at the little recital that I am organizing for them Saturday afternoon. I think I get more nervous as a teacher than I would as a performer! I'd like everything to go smoothly, but so many things don't depend on me!

At the same time, I am looking around to see if we can find a two-bedroom apartment. I would like to be able to teach in my "music room" rather than the living room as we are doing actually. A balcony or a yard would be a bonus. If we don't find anything better (the price is a big factor too), then I won't mind staying though. Our place is no so bad, I really like my living room window and the trees in front of it.

23:20 Anotado en English , Job , Music | Permalink | Comentarios (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

miércoles, 25 abril 2007

Tu eres mi religión - Maná

Una canción de rock latino en castellano, con la traducción en inglés... ¡Para ver si no me olvidé nada del idioma maternal! :P

Tambien, algo interessante, se nota la influencia idolatra que uno puede tener de un "amor"... ¡ ¡ Esperamos en el caso de la canción que esta pasión sea mutual!! jaja

A latin rock song from the band Maná that I like very much. The lyrics are pretty neat, although they illustrate a love that is a bit too idolatrous for my taste (and my faith!). So I made a translation to prove myself that I knew enough of my mother's language ;)

The lead singer and composer, Fher Olvera is the one who wrote Corazón Espinado in Carlos Santana's Supernatural album.



Eres Mi Religión – Maná

Iba caminando por las calles empapadas en olvido,
iba por los parques con fantasmas y con ángeles caídos,
iba sin luz, iba sin sol, iba sin un sentido, iba muriéndome.
Iba volando sobre el mar con las alas rotas.

I was walking by the streets soaked in forgetfulness
I went by the parks with ghosts and fallen angels,
I went without light, went without sun, went dying
I was flying over the sea with broken wings.

Ay, amor, apareciste en mi vida y me curaste las heridas.
Ay, amor, eres mi luna, eres mi sol, eres mi pán de cada día.

Ay love, you appeared in my life and you cured my wounds.
Ay love, you are my moon, you are my sun, you are my bread of every day.

Apareciste con tu luz,
No nunca te vayas, no, no te vayas no.
Eres la gloria de los dos, hasta la muerte.

You appeared with your light,
no, never go away, no, don’t go, no.
Your are the glory of us both, till death.

En un mundo de ilusión, yo estaba desahuciado, estaba abandonado,
vivía sin sentido, pero llegaste tú.

In a world of illusions, I was expelled, I was abandoned
I was living without sense, but you arrived, you.

Ay, amor, tú eres mi religión.
Tu eres luz, tu eres mi sol,
abre el corazón, abre el corazón.

Ay love, you are my religion.
You are light, you are my sun,
it opens the heart, opens the heart.

Hace tanto tiempo corazón, viví en dolor y en el olvido.
Ay, amor, eres mi bendición, mi religión, eres mi sol que cura el frío
Apareciste con tu luz,
No, no, no me abandones, no nunca, mi amor.

For so much time, my heart, I lived in pain and forgetfulness
Ay love, you are my blessing my religion
you are my sun that cures the cold
And you appeared with your light
No, no, no don’t abandon me, no never, my love.

Gloria de los dos, tu eres sol, tu eres mi todo
Todo, tu eres bendición.

Glory of us both you are, you are the sun, you are my whole
all your you are blessing.

En un mundo de ilusión, yo estaba desahuciado, estaba abandonado,
vivía sin sentido, pero llegaste tú.

In a world of illusions, I was expelled, I was abandoned
I was living without sense, but you arrived, you.

Ay, amor, tú eres mi religión.
Tu eres luz, tu eres mi sol,
abre el corazón, abre el corazón.

Ay love, you are my religion.
You are light, you are my sun,
it opens the heart, opens the heart.

Ay, amor, tú eres mi bendición.
Tu eres luz, tu eres mi sol,
abre el corazón, abre, abre el corazón.

Ay love, you are my blessing
you are light, your you are my sun
it opens the heart, opens the heart.

Viviré siempre a tu lado con tu luz,
moriré estando a tu lado, eres gloria y bendición.
Eres tu mi bendición, eres tu mi religión, yeah.
Eres tu mi eternidad y asta eres salvación.

I will always live by your side with your light,
I will die by your side, you are glory and blessing.
You are your my blessing, you are your my religion
your my eternity and even (!) my salvation.

No tenia nada, y hoy te tengo con la gloria,
con la gloria, con la gloria, amor, amor, amor, amor, amor.
Eres tu mi bendición, eres mi luz eres mi sol.

I had nothing and today I have with glory
with the glory with the glory love, love, love
you are my blessing, you are my light, you are my sun.

14:05 Anotado en English , Languages , Music , Spanish , Video | Permalink | Comentarios (2) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

miércoles, 04 abril 2007

Limping

Lily is limping. I don't know what happened, did she jump too high? Fell down from the sofa? Get her foot caught in the cage while she was going out for a walk?

I'm worried, but I've read there to wait 24h in case of a sprain to see if it gets better before bringing her to the vet.

*UPDATE* April 7, 2007: I decided not to take her to the vet because 1) it's too expensive, 2) bunnies in the nature don't have anyone who takes x-rays for a sprained ankle. She just got out of her cage hopping around with all her legs, but once in a while with her "bad" leg up again... I think she is getting better, just not at the top of her shape yet. :)

13:40 Anotado en Bobo , Bunny , English | Permalink | Comentarios (3) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

domingo, 25 marzo 2007

Mamita blah blah grrr

My mum called. She has always hated cats and had convinced me up to very recently that I didn't like them either. This is the conversation that issued:

Me: Oh! (I was probably changing topic from another unpleasant one) Did I tell you we have a cat too?!
Her: Yes, you emailed me and I answered you, don't you remember? (She would have probably killed me with her sight if we were face to face)
M: Oh yeah right... Well he is very sweet. Lily and him chase each other, it's really funny!
H: You know that I've never liked cats (and I shouldn't either), they give illnesses to pregnant women.
M: (?) ... We are not planing to have kids before a couple of years anyway.
H: Oh, really? What a shame! (as if I was telling her terrible news)
M: (WTF?) Aren't you the one that told me four years ago that I was too young to marry?
H: Yes, but now I have friends who are the same age as me and are already grandma you know... (more mourning) A married woman who has no children it's very sad.

First, if the cats have been domesticated for thousands of years, I don't think they are a mortal threat to pregnant women. Unless they are allergic, but it's not my case (and I'm not pregnant).

Second, did I tell her I never wanted to have kids? No. As far as I know, D and I have been very clear with everyone, since before getting married, saying to everyone that we would wait years and years before having kids. It was a relief for her then, why does it become so important now? Because her friends are grandma. She wants to be able to brag about her own grandchildren.

I think that when we'll be parents, our children will be ours before anyone's grandkids. Also, I think that parents must realize that kids (or grandkids) don't belong to anyone. We/they grow up, get educated and eventually leave the house to start our/their own family.

My darling is my family now.

19:50 Anotado en Cat , English , Perso | Permalink | Comentarios (4) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

lunes, 19 marzo 2007

A Good Year

Saturday evening we wanted to go watch 300 at the movies, but being St. Pat's day and the end of the March break it was jammed packed with people, although as is our custom we arrived early! So instead to turn directly back home, we decided to rent a couple of DVDs: Borat, Ricky Bobby and A Good Year.

The two first ones are as we expected brainlessly funny. It's always refreshing to have a good laugh, and this kind of movie can be appreciated at home, no need watch on the big screen.

A Good Year is more meaningful. Based on Peter Mayle's bestseller of the same name, the story is of a workaholic British guy, Max Skinner (Russell Crowe), who inherits a property in Southern France. He travels from London to Provence to visit the gorgeous, overgrown vineyard which belonged to his late uncle Henry. Slowly, the women (especially Fanny Chenal, played by Marion Cotillard), wine, and Mediterranean climate transforms him from a soulless, unloved miser into a warm-hearted man able to appreciate the world and the simple pleasures of life he's let pass by him far too long.

Some books make me want to see the movie, sometimes the opposite happens too.

23:45 Anotado en English , Film , Travel | Permalink | Comentarios (3) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

viernes, 09 marzo 2007

What I should have said...

... instead of the polite message: "Agh... I'm too tired to come too work today too. I need to rest".

"My head is full of shit, I can't think, I don't know what I'm saying. I'm sick and tired of being sick."

This was my thought on Thursday before crashing on my bed for the whole day (and sleeping 14 hours that night).

My voice is slowly coming back now. :)

22:05 Anotado en Bobo , English , Ha ha ha | Permalink | Comentarios (3) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

martes, 27 febrero 2007

More snow and stuff

My office job starts every morning at 9:00 during week days (I'm lucky enough to have my week-ends completely off: no office, no teaching). It's only 10 minutes away by car, 15-20 minutes with the bike (not a nice way though, busy road with lots of crazy cars and stupid trucks), or 1 hour walking (only tried once).

This morning I got out of the house half an hour earlier to start the car and brush off the snow. The parking lot behind our building wasn't cleaned. After a good 15 minutes, I get behind the wheel to finally leave for work, but the wheels of the car are stuck in the snow! Sh*t, I'm gonna be late. Get out again, shovel more ice/dirt from behind the front wheels, doesn't work! Ok, what's next? Think, think... Salt! The landlord always leaves a bucket of salt beside the back door. I go get some salt that I through behind both front tires. Still stuck. I can't wait, I'm late already! Go back inside, call the job to inform that I will be late because I have no choice but to take the bike, "OK, that's fine" says Jo.

Good thing my bike has been staying inside for the past month, I won't have my butt all wet today (when the bike sleeps outside and the bike seat is humid, I feel my butt wet the whole day, not nice). Surprise, surprise... What do I see then? The back wheel is completely flat! Oh no, and where is the pump? (Usually that's D's job) Think, think, think... Oh yeah, in the car's trunk! (because it's closer to the bikes in normal time). So I get back outside, take the pump in my hands and think that it would be worth trying one more time to see if I could drive to work instead of fighting with the pump, the flat tire, my bike in the snow... One last chance, pleeease, could the salt have reacted by now? Yeees it worked!

22:50 Anotado en English , Perso , Weather | Permalink | Comentarios (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

miércoles, 21 febrero 2007

P*taing de blog

I really liked Blogspirit, but I'm afraid I might move back to Blogger very soon. When I changed from Blogger to Blogspirit, it was because I wanted to create categories for my posts, I didn't like the messiness without it, specially that I wanted to be able to switch languages whenever I wanted, and still have readers being able to follow me :D

Sadly now Blogspirit is telling me I need to delete some things or upgrade my membership. I don't want to pay to post my (mostly) silly thoughts! Specially that Blogger is still free, and is now offering the "categories" option! Argh! But how am I going to move all this posts (68) and commentaries (172)?!?

I have to think about all this. I'll be back.

21:20 Anotado en English , Web | Permalink | Comentarios (3) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

domingo, 18 febrero 2007

Homemade bread

At work.
Me: I made my own bread.
Co-worker: You have a bread machine?
M: No, I had to knead it with my own hand. It was fun!
C-W: You are like a pioneer's wife!

I'll take it as a compliment. :)

I'd wanted to make my own bread for a long time. Think about it: add whichever seeds and grains you want, bake it for as long as you want it, etc... But all the recipes I would read were sooo complicated "let sit for 1 hour/one day, then cover with a humid cloth, reserve, come back, aaargh!". I couldn't imagine myself watching the dough rise slowly, stay there forever to prepare an "almighty" bread. I had almost given up, until the day in September when I met my friend Tricia. She makes her delicious bread with this recipe that she got from her sister (she comes from a family of 10!) who got it from someone else... and gave it to me, and now allows me to share it with the whole world! Yeay! Viva internet!


This is my second batch. I've added flax weed to the original oatmeal bread recipe.

Ingredients:
- 1T yeast
- 1t sugar
- 1/2 c. warm water
- 1 c. whole wheat flour
- 1 c. white flour (I prefer darker bread so I put 3 cups whole wheat and 3 cups white flour)
- 1 c. oatmeal
- 1 T salt (I put 2)
- 2 T butter
- 1/2 c. brown sugar
- 2 c. boiling water

*NOTE* T=Tablespoon, t=teaspoon

In a bowl, dissolve yeast and 1t sugar in 1/2 c. warm water; let sit.
In a separate large mixing bowl, put together the dry ingredients: flour, oatmeal, brown sugar (other seeds/grains if desired), salt. When the yeast is ready, add to the mixture with the butter and gradualy the hot water.
Knead about 10 minutes until the dough is risen (twice the size). I'm not sure I've got that yet.
Form 2 loaves, let raise until the dough reaches top of pans (30 minutes). Again, this must depend on the baking dish you have 'cause my dough hasn't reached that far.
Bake 30 to 40 minutes at 375 F. Remove from pan immediately to cool.
Freezes very well. Takes about 12 hours to thaw.

Mmmh!

19:25 Anotado en English , Food , Photo | Permalink | Comentarios (3) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

miércoles, 14 febrero 2007

Snow Day!

We have a "snow day"!

There is a snow storm going on since yesterday evening. Schools are closed. I had to call a coworker this morning to ask if we were working. She said, "stay home" and this is a good thing since I'm not sure I could have driven my car out of the parking lot in a timely manner...

I don't get paid holidays, nor sick days, but what is great about my job is that I get paid for snow days! Yesss!

08:25 Anotado en English , Perso , Weather | Permalink | Comentarios (0) | Enviar a Email

martes, 06 febrero 2007

Busy Mondays

Monday is usually the busiest day of the week. I work at the office from 9:00 to 14:30, I then bike/drive back home quickly to grab something to eat, pick up my "teaching bag" full of music, and teach from 15:30 to 21:00 at the school which is (fortunately) close to home.

In addition to this hectic schedule, we've had very cold temperatures for the last couple of days (minus 20°C with windshield). I find it very tiring for the body. So, after getting back home from the office yesterday I didn't want to get out again... I rarely happen to teach all of the eleven students scheduled for the evening (there are often cancelling for x reason), but yesterday I got 10 out of 11. And then as if it wasn’t enough, we had an additional staff meeting to attend at the school at 21:00. It lasted at least 45 exhausting minutes.

21:45 Anotado en English , Perso | Permalink | Comentarios (0) | Enviar a Email

jueves, 18 enero 2007

5 Things about me

Thanks to Sandrine, you will learn today 5 things about me that you didn't know before. Not that anyone cares, but hey, this is MY blog. Shut up.

1. When I was a kid, before dreaming of becoming an opera singer, I wanted to become a nurse. Then I realized that there is a smell in hospitals that makes me faint (it happened numerous times). That dream was obviously forgotten the first time I lost consciousness after getting a vaccine shot in the arm. For a long time I also wanted to be a circus artist; flying trapeze and tightrope walking were the skills that made me dream the most at the shows. But how do you get trained for that? I had no idea. As a teenager though, I became quite skilled in gymnastics (first at school, then in the local club), I loved the asymmetric bars and the trampoline, but the courses were too expensive and my parents didn't want to invest time and money in this activity. Plus, I've never been very thin; I've always had generous upper legs...

A job that includes travelling was my idea of a good lifestyle... That was before I became concious of all the sacrifices that it requires.

2. I used to be a very bad student in German. My dad forced me to take that language as LV1 (Langue Vivante 1 - in France you have to study two foreign languages in highschool) under the pretext that I knew already Spanish (mum) and English (Hong-Kong). I hated learning grammar rules, they never made sense to me... I learned all the languages I know mainly by ear. Of course reading a lot made me "learn without learning" the rules, and I might a little facility in recognizing sounds and idioms. Now, it makes me laugh to think that I might speak a more fluent German than my former teacher...

3. I appreciate most seafood, but I won't and can't eat oisters. Beurk! (or any mollusks)

4. Like Sandrine, I don't smoke anything. When I was about 14-years-old, I took the last cigarette from a pack that my mum had forgotten somewhere to try one day... After class we use to hang out with friends behing the public library (which was beside the college), all surrounded by a nice park with big trees it was a wonderful place to experiment stuff, I had a (one!) puff from that cigarette and was sick the whole night after that.

5. I haven't always been a christian believer, of Lutheran confession... I grew up in the Roman Catholic church, not really going to church (though sometimes alone, without my parents or brother... a bit weird, uh?). Then I became interested in the mystic in my teens specially while reading The Mists of Avalon, about magic and things that "exist but are not seen". I finally started reading and studying the Bible by myself, then with friends and the one who was to become, many years later, my darling hubby...

And the rest, as we might say, is history.

22:45 Anotado en English , Faith , Languages , Perso | Permalink | Comentarios (4) | Enviar a Email

lunes, 25 diciembre 2006

Merry Christmas et Joyeux Noël 2006!

"The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (en)

"Alors la gloire de l'Éternel sera révélée, Et au même instant toute chair la verra; Car la bouche de l'Éternel a parlé. (fr)

"Entonces será revelada la gloria del SEÑOR, y toda carne a una la verá, pues la boca del SEÑOR ha hablado. (es)

"Denn die Herrlichkeit des HERRN soll offenbart werden, und alles Fleisch miteinander wird es sehen; denn des HERRN Mund hat es geredet. (de)

"A glória do Senhor se revelará; e toda a carne juntamente a verá; pois a boca do Senhor o disse. (pt)

"Allora la gloria dell'Eterno sarà rivelata e ogni carne la vedrà, perché la bocca dell'Eterno ha parlato." (it)

Isaiah 40:5

Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noël! Feliz Navidad! Frohe Weihnachten! Feliz Natal! Buon Natale!

00:00 Anotado en English , Faith , French , Italian , Languages , Spanish | Permalink | Comentarios (5) | Trackbacks (0) | Enviar a Email

jueves, 21 diciembre 2006

The Nation of Québec?

Here is a forward that I got from hubby who got it from a friend, who got it from... How the Quebecers are perceived by the rest of the Canada (and the world?).

In a busy Parisian cafe, a tourist is sitting alone, enjoying a crème caramel. Another tourist approaches:

- Me sit here?

- No problem...

- Thank you, very nice...

- Are you on vacation?

- Me, I arrive yesterday...

- What country are you from?

- Norway. You?

- From Quebec.

- Quebec? Me not know Quebec...

- Quebec ... near the Atlantic, next to Ontario, the Great Lakes...

- No, me not know these places.

- Never mind then, I'm from Canada...

- Ah! Canada! Canada I know! So why you tell me you come from Quebec?

- Because, my first country is Quebec!

- Oh, you were born in Quebec and immigrated to Canada....

- No, no, I was born in Quebec and I stay in Quebec...

- Oh, then your father is from Canada?

- No, no, my father, my mother, my wife, my dog, everybody, they come from Quebec....

- So why you say Canada?

- For Christ sake, because you say you don't know where is Quebec!

- OK, but if you say you not know Norway, me I not say that my country is Japan...

- Canada isn't Japan. Canada, it's my country.

- Oh, your country not Quebec anymore?...

- My country is Quebec. But my country, it can be Canada too, if the person I speak to not know where is Quebec, Tabarnak!

- Me not understand...

- Look, it's simple: I come from the Province of Quebec, in the country of Canada.

- Ok! But me not ask you what province you're from, I ask you what country.
Me, I come from Lofoten region in Norway, but I answer you Norway when you ask me what country I come from...

- I know, I'm not stupid, Câlisse! But me, when they ask me what country I come from, I answer Quebec. Even if it's the name of my province. For me, it s my country.

- Oh, now I understand. You are a separatist, you want your Quebec province to be your country...

- Are you crazy, Hostie? I don't want to know nothing from that!

- Me, I not understand anything anymore.

- I tell you before, it's simple! You ask me what country I come from, I answer Quebec because Quebec is my country, but I don't really want it to be my country, it would be too much trouble. I just want to say it. So, why don't you just let me say it?

- Me all mix up. You have passport from what country: Quebec or Canada?

- CANADA, Hostie!

- So why you not tell me Canada right away?

- Because it don't feel right. For me, Canada is Anne Murray, the Calgary Stampede, the Mounted Police, SARS, it's not my home all that. Home, it's La Famille Plouffe, Saraphin Poudrier, La P'tite Vie, Felix Leclerc, La Poutine, Les Canadiens de Montreal, Les Bougons... Do you understand???

- Less and less...

- Listen , forget all that shit. Ask me another question.

- Ok, what town you come from?

- Mmm..., I don't know anymore...

- You not know what town you come from?

- Yes, yes, I know what town I come from, but my town it merge with another town, but soon it is going to demerge from the town that was supposed to be my town...

- Oh, that very complicated! When you write your address, what do you write?

- I don't know anymore. Before, I used to write Hull, but Hull changed to Gatineau, but they tell us to wait 3 years before stopping to write Hull to not mix up the mailman. But now, the Liberals they pass a law that make it ok for Gatineau to be Hull again, but I don't know if we have to wait 3 years to be able to write Hull, or when the 3 years are passed, if we have to write Gatineau for 3 years, and after we write Hull. Unless, of course, the PQ come back in power and we remerge with Gatineau, then we'll have to write Gatineau for 3 years. I leave now; I have hurt in my head... It's so simple Tabarnak: My town is Hull, my country is Quebec. But if you prefer, my town is Gatineau and my country is Canada.

- OK, I think I understand!

- It's about time. Anyway, it was fun talking to you, if you come around where I live; maybe you come and see me...

- OK, but where? Hull in Quebec or Gatineau in Canada?

- You're a pain in the derriere. Forget the whole thing...


.... and so it goes, the portrait of Quebec!

20:49 Anotado en English , Ha ha ha | Permalink | Comentarios (5) | Enviar a Email

domingo, 10 diciembre 2006

Lily

Let me introduce you to my first pet (I'm not counting the many golden fishes that we had as kids: they kept dying). She is a dwarf rabbit, only 3 months old. Her name is Lily.

She was hard to take in picture, each time I thought she was still, she moved (jumped!) to another place, sniffing everything.

Here I asked Darling to hold her a moment. When she grows holder and bigger, we'll show her how small she was when we first brough her home! ;)

22:25 Anotado en English , Bunny , Photo | Permalink | Comentarios (7) | Enviar a Email

viernes, 08 diciembre 2006

Celebs look-alike

Ever wondered who looked like you? (and not "who you looked like" because if you read this blog, it means you are as much a celebrity as I am, eheh!) Anyhow, being famous is not important, right, but having fun is... fun! So, have a good laugh with that one:

On a similar note (since apparently the girl who plays Hermione in the movies looks like me O.o), I've just read (or should I say devoured?) Harry Potter n°6: ...and The Half-Blood Prince.

21:48 Anotado en English , Ha ha ha , Photo | Permalink | Comentarios (4) | Enviar a Email

miércoles, 22 noviembre 2006

The name is...

Can you think of which movie we've been to?

It was classy, chic, lots of money, gadgets, poker games (which I don't know anything about), nice cars (at some point, the agent double-o drives a Ford, like us! The only difference is that our is falling appart, the old thing, whereas his was all shiny high-end expensive jewel!), beautiful sceneries (I want to visit Prague! Go have a swim in the Bahamas! Oooh and Venezia, per favore!).

23:10 Anotado en English , Film , Music | Permalink | Comentarios (6) | Enviar a Email

miércoles, 15 noviembre 2006

Too many things, too little time...

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

22:45 Anotado en Bobo , Books , English , Perso | Permalink | Comentarios (7) | Enviar a Email

viernes, 03 noviembre 2006

Morning story

It happened this week.

Every morning I wake up with this program on the radio, which I delightfully listen to during the long process of waking up, having breakfast, check my email, brush my hair, clean my face, get dressed (I have my shower in the evening)...

That morning (I don't remember the day), at about the time I had to go from checking my email to get dressed, the host said "and now we will listen to a composition by the Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla... My Portuguese (uh?) is not very good, but I'll do my best. The title is "Movimientos Tanguisticos Portenos" it's the third movement".

His accent in Spanish was quite good (for an anglo), but why did he say Portuguese? It passed so fast, I thought I heard wrong (you know, early morning, me night owl, eyes not opening very quick...). After the musical extract, though, he talks with one of his host "So, how is your Portuguese?..." Again?! Oh, come on! Don't tell me that someone educated, hosting an eyebrow emission at the national broadcast radio doesn't know that there is only one country in South America that speaks Portuguese, and that is not Argentina, but Brazil (the biggest country down there)!

I couldn't let it pass. I emailed the guy to educate him! (eheh!) He was quite nice and answered me:

"My God, you're right. It's one of those brilliant "I know this so I'm going to say it" moments. (hmm, is that something like you thought you knew but you didn't?) Well, I'm sure you won't be the only one to notice that lovely little moment on the Nation's Broadcaster. We'll have some fun preparing some kind of linguistic geography lesson this time, I'm sure. (That would be a great idea, if you need some help...)

Thanks for not being nearly as nasty as you could have been - " (It pays to be nice, you get some nice answers like that once in a while!)

;)

22:40 Anotado en English , Languages , Music | Permalink | Comentarios (2) | Enviar a Email

miércoles, 01 noviembre 2006

Vengeance Belge

*Article bilingue, the français est plus bas*

Last week (or was it the week before?) I was reading this post from Sandrine. It made me think of the following email (forwarded from a French friend who lives in Spain) that I had read a while ago, which I translated in English - a good exercice for my language skills :) -

DID YOU KNOW HOW BELGIANS THINK OF THE FRENCH?

1. A Frenchman who has to pee washes his hands before or after?
- DURING.

2. How does a Frenchman commits suicide?
- He shoots himself a few inches above his head, right in the middle of his complex of superiority...

3. How do you call someone who speaks three languages?
- a trilingual
How do you call someone who speaks two languages?
- a bilingual
How do you call someone who speaks only one language?
- a French
(eheh, but I guess you could say that from anglophones as well!)

4. Why do French people enjoy so much Belgian stories?
- Because they make them laugh three times: the first time when they are told, the second when they are explained, and the third when they finally understand.

5. In France people say "Aller aux toilettes" (go to the bathroom - plural), while in Belgique -and Québec-, pleople say "Aller à la toilette"(go to the bathroom - singular). Why ?
- Because in France, one has to look at many before finding a clean one.
(Sorry, I think that one didn't translate well, but the truth is that public bathroom are generally waaay cleaner in America. I don't know for Belgium, I haven't been there for two decades)

6. After creating France, God thought it was the most beautiful country on earth. It would make some jealous... So, to reestablish equity, He created the French.
(Even my dad, a true French, thought that one funny!)

7. Why do French always choke with water when they swim?
- because even in the water they can't shut their big mouth!

8. Do you know how to save a French from drowning?
- No. All the better.

***

VOUS NE SAVIEZ PAS COMMENT LES SUISSES ET BELGES PERÇOIVENT LES FRANÇAIS?

1. Un Français qui va pisser se lave les mains avant ou après ?
- PENDANT.

2. Comment fait un Français pour se suicider ?
- Il se tire une balle à 15 centimètres au-dessus de la tête en plein dans son complexe de supériorité...

3. Comment appelle-t-on quelqu'un qui parle trois langues ?
- Un trilingue.
Comment appelle-t-on quelqu'un qui parle deux langues ?
- Un bilingue.
Comment appelle-t-on quelqu'un qui ne parle qu'une langue ?
- Un Français.
(on pourrais dire la même chose de la majorité des anglophones...)

4. Pourquoi les Français aiment-ils tant les histoires belges ?
- Parce qu'elles les font rire trois fois : La première quand on les leur raconte, La deuxième quand on les leur explique, et la troisième quand ils les comprennent.

5. Pourquoi en France, dit-on : "Aller aux toilettes", alors qu'en Belgique -et au Québec-, on dit : "Aller à la toilette" ?
- Parce qu'en France, il faut en faire plusieurs avant d'en trouver une propre.

6. Après avoir créé la France , Dieu trouva que c'était le plus beau pays du monde. Ça allait faire des jaloux... Alors, pour rétablir l'équilibre, il a créé les français. (celle-là mon père, qui est 'un vrai français de France', il l'a trouvée bien drôle!)

7. Pourquoi un français boit toujours la tasse quand il nage ?
- Parce que même dans l'eau ils sont obligés d'ouvrir leur grande gueule.

8. Vous savez comment on fait pour sauver un français de la noyade ?
- Non, ben tant mieux.

HAHAHA!

16:35 Anotado en English , French , Ha ha ha | Permalink | Comentarios (9) | Enviar a Email

sábado, 28 octubre 2006

Aguas de Março - Tom Jobim

As we are getting a rainy autumn season here in Canada, spring is turning to summer in Argentina. I was chatting earlier on msn with my cousin who asked me "are you cold yet?" and I had to admit that we are getting there (around 5°C today). She told me that my mum is starting to complain because the warm and humid weather is about to start again. Buenos-Aires is very humid all year long, but I particularly dislike the weather when it's hot and humid (as does my mum), it seems I can't breath as well (we are getting humidity here too, but it doesn't last as long).

The first and only time I spent Christmas with my mum's family down there, I had left the glacial temperatures of Montreal (-20°C, plus wind factor) to arrive in the suffocating hot summer temperatures of Buenos-Aires. It struck me that my cousins and family have always known Christmas without snow, always in the middle of summer, whereas me I had lived all my life in seasons diametrically opposed! It was strange (but very joyful) to have parrillas with my family, eat a lot (!) of good food even in such a hot weather (no air conditioning is the norm over there)...

Same thing for the family of my darling who are living in Brazil... We might share the same time zone, but not the same season!

The song that I wanted to post the other day to test my podcast wasn't "A garota de Ipanema" (The Girl from Ipanema), rather "Aguas de Março" which is also writen by Jobim, but with more absurd lyrics. I like strange things.

About the song: I made a little reseach and according to a survey, it has been declared in 2001 the best Brazilian song ever! Well, all I'm trying to do is extra motivate myself to learn my darling's mother tongue, so when we'll have kids we can teach them to be polyglots like us.

"Which are the best Brazilian songs ever? Seven among the 10 best were composed by Tom Jobim, according to a panel of experts. The big winner: Águas de Março. (...)
If your own personal list included Tom Jobim (1927-1994), you will be glad to know that seven of Jobim’s songs made the ten most cited tunes. Jobim’s "Águas de Março", from 1972, was the champion, but his name was also remembered for "Chega de Saudade" (3rd place, from 1958), "Retrato em Branco e Preto" (6th place, 1968) and "Garota de Ipanema" (7th place, 1963). Jobim was again considered for "Corcovado" (1960) and "Desafinado" (1958, a tie in 9th place) and "Wave (Vou Te Contar)" (1967, 10th place). Tom Jobim had 32 of his songs cited, the most songs any author had mentioned. (...)

Here you have it sang by Elis Regina.


Águas de Março / Waters of March
(Jobim himself re-wrote these lyrics for the English version)

"É pau, é pedra,
é o fim do caminho
É um resto de toco,
é um pouco sozinho

It's stick, it's stone
It's the end of the road
It's a rest of stump
It's a little alone

É um caco de vidro,
é a vida, é o sol
É a noite, é a morte,
é o laço, é o anzol

It's a shard of glass
It is life, it's the sun
It is night, it is death
It's the snare, it's the fishhook

É peroba do campo,
é o nó da madeira
Caingá candeia,
é o matita-pereira

It's peroba of the field
It’s the knot in the wood
Lamp caingá tree
It's the matita-pereira tree

É madeira de vento,
tombo da ribanceira
É o mistério profundo,
é o queira ou não queira

It's wind-resistant wood
Falls of the ravine
It's the profound mystery
It's the you wish or you don’t

É o vento ventando,
é o fim da ladeira
É a viga, é o vão,
festa da cumeeira

It's the wind blowing
It's the end of the slope
It's the beam, it's the span
The new roof party

É a chuva chovendo,
é conversa ribeira
Das águas de março,
é o fim da canseira

It's the rain raining
It’s riverbank talk
Of the waters of March
It's the end of the struggle

É o pé, é o chão,
é a marcha estradeira
Passarinho na mão,
pedra de atiradeira

It's the foot, it's the ground
It's the walk on the road
Small bird in the hand
A slingshot stone

É uma ave no céu,
é uma ave no chão
É um regato, é uma fonte,
é um pedaço de pão

It’s a bird in the sky
It’s a bird on the ground
It's a creek, it's a fountain
It's a piece of bread

É o fundo do poço,
é o fim do caminho
No rosto o desgosto,
é um pouco sozinho

It's the bottom of the well
It's the end of the way
In the face the annoyance
It's a little lonely

É um estrepe, é um prego,
é uma ponta, é um ponto
É um pingo pingando,
é uma conta, é um conto

It's a thorn, it's a nail
It's a point, it’s a dot
It's a drop dripping
It's an tally, it’s a tale

É um peixe, é um gesto,
é uma prata brilhando
É a luz da manhã,
é o tijolo chegando

It's a fish, it’s a gesture
It's silver shining
It's the morning’s light
It's the brick arriving

É a lenha, é o dia,
é o fim da picada
É a garrafa de cana,
o estilhaço na estrada

It's the firewood, it's the day
It's the end of the trail
It's the bottle of liquor
Splinter in the road

É o projeto da casa,
é o corpo na cama
É o carro enguiçado,
é a lama, é a lama

It’s the house’s design
It's the body in bed
It's the broken down car
It's the mud, it's the mud

É um passo, é uma ponte,
é um sapo, é uma rã
É um resto de mato,
na luz da manhã

It's a footstep, it's a bridge
It's a toad, it's a frog
It's a rest of brush
In the morning’s light

São as águas de março
fechando o verão
É a promessa de vida
no teu coração

They are the waters of March
Closing the summer
It's the promise of life
In your heart

É uma cobra, é um pau,
é João, é José
É um espinho na mão,
é um corte no pé

It's a snake, it’s a stick
It's John, it's Joseph
It's a thorn in the hand
It's the cut on the foot

São as águas de março
fechando o verão
É a promessa de vida
no teu coração

They are the waters of March
Closing the summer
It's the promise of life
In your heart

É pau, é pedra,
é o fim do caminho
É um resto de toco,
é um pouco sozinho

It's stick, it's stone
It's the end of the road
It's a rest of stump
It's a little alone

É um passo, é uma ponte,
é um sapo, é uma rã
É um belo horizonte,
é uma febre terçã

It's a footstep, a bridge
It's a toad, it's a frog
It's a beautiful horizon
It’s a tertian fever

São as águas de março
fechando o verão
É a promessa de vida
no teu coração"

They are the waters of March
Closing the summer
It's the promise of life
In your heart"

13:35 Anotado en English , Music , Portuguese , Video | Permalink | Comentarios (1) | Enviar a Email

sábado, 14 octubre 2006

The Who

The what? The Who? Yes, that's right. Aha, sorry I couldn't help myself :)

It is sometimes (often) very interesting to teach music. My students make me discover singers and bands that are nice (I am not talking about the Christina Aguilera's fan... o.O )

I wanted to upload the mp3 track for this post, but Blogspirit doesn't allow me more than 5Mb (and the song is 5.4Mb! Sh*t!). So here is the video... I prefer the studio version though (no audience screaming in the background).



The band Limp Bizkit covered this song for their album "Results May Vary" and for the movie "Gothika" (which is a nice supernatural thriller by the French actor/writer/director Mathieu Kassovitz). The music video was directed by frontman Fred Durst and Gothika star Halle Berry appeared in it (You can see it there, if you wish), but the ethereal backvocals harmonies are not as strong (missing?) which is what I prefer in the original.

Behind Blue Eyes

No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
No one knows what it's like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies

But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be

I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free

No one knows what it's like
To feel these feelings
Like I do
And I blame you

No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain and woe
Can show through

But my dreams
They aren't as empty
As my conscience seems to be

I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free

When my fist clenches, crack it open
Before I use it and lose my cool
When I smile, tell me some bad news
Before I laugh and act like a fool

If I swallow anything evil
Put your finger down my throat
If I shiver, please give me a blanket
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat

No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes

20:10 Anotado en English , Music | Permalink | Comentarios (2) | Enviar a Email

domingo, 08 octubre 2006

Le Corbusier

My homepage use to be set on Google, but a couple of months back I discovered Answers.com, which is by far the best find I did on the web since last year: it gives me definition of words & terms, translations of words in the many other languages (from English to – the others), and bonus everyday: I read news and smart little facts about the “what happened on this day”.

This way I’ve learned that October 6 was the birthday of the Swiss-born French architect Le Corbusier. Of course, I had heard about him before, generally negatively from anti-concrete fans (or should I say “concrete anti-fans”?). Anyway, I didn’t know a lot about his works except some ugly pictures:

(I can admit that the UN headquarters in NYC look quite common – though I’ve never been inside).

Well, I also learned that Le Corbusier sought efficient ways to house large numbers of people, in response to the urban housing crisis of his time, and one of the nice results is the Unité d’Habitation (also called cité merveilleuse) constructed in Marseille, France, in 1947-52.

It’s a building that comprises 337 apartments (with balcony and large windows), arranged as lofts over twelve stories, all suspended on large piloti. The building also incorporates shops, sporting, medical and educational facilities, and a hotel. The flat roof is designed as a communal terrace with sculptural ventilation stacks, a swimming pool and the maternelle (daycare). I don’t know what the price of an apartment is nowadays, but it was originally supposed to be accessible to the working class… I wouldn’t say no to a nice home smartly planned. Apparently the original kitchen appliances from the 50’s still work today!

The plants look so happy in there.

Le Corbusier was also part of the group of architects who influenced the city plan of Brasilía, the capital of Brazil, which I would like very much to visit one day (D has been there already)... The city was actually designed by the Brazilian architects Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, but they will be part of a next post.

22:05 Anotado en English , Photo , Travel | Permalink | Comentarios (3) | Enviar a Email

jueves, 05 octubre 2006

Stevie Wonder

Do you feel tired? Feel like you didn't sleep enough last night? What about a little boost of energy! At the very least it will bring a smile on your face (ohh the nice 80's clothes!), at the very most... well it's up to you to get on you feet and show yourself what are the moves you can do!

20:35 Anotado en English , Music , Video | Permalink | Comentarios (0) | Enviar a Email

miércoles, 04 octubre 2006

Hot Chocolate

This morning I woke up with the thunder around 6:30 AM, but the rain started to pour only by the time we had to wake up (7:00 AM). I told D I would give him a ride to the seminary (he got wet a couple of time this week for being nice to me and letting me drive to work while he rode his bicycle).

D has been studying Greek (biblical Greek) all afternoon for a test that he will have tomorrow morning. I am so envious because learning languages / a different culture is something that I enjoy so much doing, but with my two jobs and my various personal projects (= reading time), I don't see how I could fit a language course in my schedule... It doesn't stop me from dreaming about traveling and moving to... God knows where! Sometimes I think that if the synode of France decides that we should go to Brazil (and pay for it) I wouldn't say no. Anything would be fine with me, as long as it's a new place, a new language, a new culture.

I don't know what I want to tell with this article. I guess I am feeling this urge to see something new. I keep fighting with myself because this is the dilemma of my life: I want to know where I am going to live and settle down somewhere, but on the other hand I know that if I would know, I would be bored. I want to explore other horizons and travel more and more and more... What am I to do?

Arg, I'm too miserable! (exagerating!)

Don Quixote asked me if I want to dring some milk. Good idea, I think I'll have a hot chocolate.

21:35 Anotado en English , Perso | Permalink | Comentarios (2) | Enviar a Email

jueves, 21 septiembre 2006

Le Brésilien sans peine

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!

21:35 Anotado en Books , English , Languages , Portuguese , Shopping | Permalink | Comentarios (4) | Enviar a Email

jueves, 14 septiembre 2006

Marriage in Heaven

"That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"

Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching." (Matthew 22)

Yulia: "What do you think: when husband and wife die and go to heaven, will they still be husband and wife?
Me: Well, we know that they won't be married anymore, in the earthly kind of way...
Yulia: Yes, I discussed this with my husband, but it makes me very sad to think of this.
Me: I don't think that as our body dies we lose our memories too. We will certainly recognize each other and remember the life, love and hardships that we've had together on earth.
Yulia: Oh, I'm glad that you think that too!
Me: But our love for each other will be different, everything in heaven will be different. We cannot understand it right now, but everything will be different: we won't "feel" the same way, we won't "think" the same either.
Yulia: Like the angels in heavens.
Me: Yes, we won't be angels, since they are different creatures altogether, but like angels. Yes."

And we will recognize family and friends who died before us believing in the Lord. We will meet again.

23:31 Anotado en English , Faith | Permalink | Comentarios (2) | Enviar a Email

domingo, 03 septiembre 2006

Golosinas Argentinas (y otras dulzuras)

When I need to "regain forces" (nice excuse), feel tired or depressed (it does happen for no reasons sometimes), I often crave for sweet things. Then I know that time has come for us to pay a visit to the local Latin American shop where I will by my Argentinian specialities.

- Dulce de leche is the real name, you might call it caramel spead, milk jam or confiture de lait, but for me it will stay dulce de leche. It's just delicious. How can I discribe the sweetness of sugar, and the creamishness of the milk? Mmmh.

- Alfajores. Delicious sweet round cookies joined together with dulce de leche (or other jam), sometimes with chocolate coating (black, milk, or white) or simply icing sugar. Uh, I haven't found those here (yet)...


- Empanadas. Arg, I think I'm hungry... mmmh! I can prepare those myself. Actually, I don't really do the whole thing from scratch, since I buy the frozen dough, but I do prepare the different fillings: mainly the ground meat (with onions, origano, red pepper, salt&pepper, green olives, hard boiled eggs and raisins) for D, and also bacon/plum/mozzarella (my aunt's speciality), and I like the ones with veggies like spinach&mozzarella, or humita (a sort of cream with corn).

Mmmmh... Slurp!

17:35 Anotado en English , Food | Permalink | Comentarios (3) | Enviar a Email

sábado, 02 septiembre 2006

Something technical

*Cet article est bilingue, le français est ci-dessous*

I propose myself to transfer some posts from my previous blog... I'm hesitating because I wanted to have a different space here, a different style, different articles, etc., but it's seems that I always come back to "me" and the struggles we have/had with my Darling (although I never and will never speak about our intimate life).

*sigh* So... While I'm thinking about that, I'm doing a few changes in the design of that blog.

Je me demande si je ne devrais pas transférer quelques articles depuis mon blog précédent... J'hésite parce que je voulais avoir un espace virtuel différent ici, un style différent, d'autres articles, etc., mais on dirait que j'en reviens toujours à moi et les difficultés qu'on a (eue) avec mon Chéri (même si je ne parle et ne parlerai jamais de notre vie intime).

*soupir* Alors... Pendant que je pense à tout ça, je fais quelques petits changements de design dans ce blog.

Nota Bene: Last year at (about) the same date, a miracle happened.

09:55 Anotado en English , French , Web | Permalink | Comentarios (0) | Enviar a Email

viernes, 01 septiembre 2006

One Foot In

Wednesday morning D had to go to the seminary for what he thought to be an appointment with Dr. W-the-English. Surprise, surprise... it wasn't just 'an appointment' rather... the Orientation day for the new students!

When I came back home at noon (I work only mornings on Wednesdays), I was surprised that D hadn't come back yet since his 'appointment' was supposed to be at 9am. At 3pm I got a bit nervous: "did something happen?", "is something wrong?". I called our Russians friends: was he there? No. Then I called the seminary (it's a small school, everybody knows everybody), where a professor who recognized my voice said: "Oh yes, D is registering right now!" Waaa?! I was so surprised and in shock that I started laughing and babbling on the phone "Ah good, well, that's nice... eh, thank you! Ok, bye!"

D was registering? He was going to study! REALLY?! Thank you Lord... finally!

I couldn't help crying (I cry very easily).

Two hours later he was still not back though... I was still thinking that he was only there for an appointment in the morning. How come he wasn't calling me to say he was late? So at 5pm I called again (oh yeah, now everybody will know me as the "desperate wife" aha), after talking to a lady who told me that "everybody" was there (except me!), D called me back and explained all that was going on. He was as traumatised as I was, having spent the day following the "Welcome committee" and listening to different speeches (couldn't remember a word though - must have been really long and/or boring). He came pick me up a couple of minutes later to go to the potluck BBQ together. The food was yummy. There we met with other friends: Canadians Anglophones, from Venezuela, China, German origins, Sudan and Ethiopia... and of course our Russian friends who were already waiting for us!

So, after two years of waiting, Don Magnifico (another name for my Darling) is finally going to start his studies at the seminary. However there are still some questions unanswered: we don’t know if the church of France will be willing to finance his studies. And what if they don’t? Are we going to transfer to England anyway? Or will D loose his credits in the wind?

Lord, help us! (And thank you for what has already been done).

Glory be to God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

23:45 Anotado en English , Faith , Perso | Permalink | Comentarios (0) | Enviar a Email

miércoles, 23 agosto 2006

Peut-être que...

There might be a possibility for Don Quixote to start studying at the seminary this year! Yes, I know! Here, this year, instead of waiting one more year wasting time!

Sunday after church, we got introduced to a "new" professor at the seminary who is being transferred from Westfield House (Cambridge, England). We had a little time to briefly explain him our situation. He proposed that while waiting for the Church of France to decide if/how they are going to help us (during their meeting in November), D might as well study this year at the seminary here: while he doesn't have the pre-requisites to study in Canada, he does have the pre-requisites to study in Europe... So, if all goes well, with the permission of the seminary in Canada and in England, D would study this year in Canada, then transfer his credits over when we move to England next year!

Yeay!

One moment I got scared because Dr. W (the English, not to confuse with Dr. W the German) seemed to say that if we decided ourselves quick, we might even move now for the start of the academic year (in Europe, universities only start in October). I’m not totally happy here, but I still have a job that pays well (at the office), and another one that brings me joy (teaching music). I feel responsible towards my students, I wouldn’t like to leave them without notice.

It seems to me that something is finally happening. Thank you Lord, because You know that my patience is drawing to an end.

18:35 Anotado en English , Faith , Perso , Travel | Permalink | Comentarios (0) | Enviar a Email

jueves, 17 agosto 2006

Don Quixote, the authentic

I might have forgotten to introduce my Darling, but the recurring D that I often refer to stands, of course, for Darling.

However, you can also call him Don Quixote because he is truly romantic in the real sense of the term, meaning that his romanticism is not fake clichés, rather sincere acts moved by the heart.