Conversations with Laurine never fail to entertain. As Colin commented after my lesson last week, "I never hear you laugh as much as when you're on the phone with Laurine." I'd like to say this is because Laurine and I exchange witty bilingual repartee, but in reality we're usually laughing because we're struggling to have … Continue reading Molettes
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The apocalypse
One house in our neighborhood has started sharing sidewalk chalk surveys to poll the neighbors on their feelings regarding the pandemic. Passers-by can vote with a stone, a sweetgum ball, or a stick—whatever they can find nearby. This survey - their first - was one of my favorites. "I thought the apocalypse would have more: … Continue reading The apocalypse
Pandemic Picture Project, Installment 2
Is it just me or are the days and weeks blending together like a creamy French velouté? Not just me? Okay, bon, then let's just acknowledge that I may have missed a week of my pandemic photo challenge sometime during April, so instead of titling this post "Pandemic Picture Project, Weeks 2 and 3 or … Continue reading Pandemic Picture Project, Installment 2
Earth Day
Happy Earth Day! Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, which makes this year extra special. Not to mention, the tragedy of the pandemic is making clear in real-time how environmental health is directly linked to human health. The best time to build ourselves a healthier, happier, and safer society was decades ago, but … Continue reading Earth Day
Another milestone
Over the past two weeks, Laurine and I have met twice for a French-English language exchange. This works well for both of us: for about 30 minutes, Laurine asks me hard-hitting questions in French (like, you know, what I do on a typical day), then we switch and for another 30 minutes I pepper her … Continue reading Another milestone
A milestone
Over the weekend, Colin and I hit an important milestone in social-distancing: we rearranged our living room in a way that *only* makes sense for video chatting. The problem, you see, is that the only light in our living room comes from two sconces on the back wall, which makes it impossible to take video … Continue reading A milestone
Pandemic Picture Project, Week 1
Over the past year, I've barely touched my camera. Life got busy, and I was never as inspired by the suburban St. Louis landscape as I was by central Paris (dunno why, they're pretty much the same). Photography was just one of those things that slid off my To Do list. Cue Pandemic, enter stage … Continue reading Pandemic Picture Project, Week 1
“I salute the effort you are going to make”
In one of last week's posts, I alluded to the fact that I've continued - somewhat - my French language learning. The truth is, for a while I was très motivée. I even enrolled in an online course! Then in February I began to lose my focus, and then March-which-was-200-years-long happened, and now it's been … Continue reading “I salute the effort you are going to make”
Solidarité
Hey there. Life is chaotic and stressful right now, non? It's been ages since I've had time to write, but I wanted to reach out now because, well, here we are. Colin and I are currently safe and healthy, albeit terrified... for ourselves, our loved ones, our neighbors, and all the health care workers, janitors, … Continue reading Solidarité
Chez moi
Earlier this summer, while missing Paris a little more than usual, I pulled up our old neighborhood on Google Maps and reminisced about our favorite places. I used to be able to recite all the names of the bridges over the Seine, in order, from the Pont de Sully near the Canal Saint-Martin to the … Continue reading Chez moi
Practice Makes Parfait 