I'll post this: I have nothing to say about much of anything. Except I am being worn down by rejections from publications. And I told the people who wanted to represent me "No". I may have sealed my own fate like a moron.
And my son's hair is an abomination. Both of them look homeless. It pains me. Oh well. Nothing new there.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Best.Dancers.EVER.
I admit I've become rather addicted to aimless wandering through YouTube. I can't help it. You can find ANYTHING on that thing. It's amazing. There is probably a video of your first kiss or the time you walked out of the restroom in high school with toilet paper stuck to the bottom of your shoe on that site. Or not. Maybe it's just me. Anyhow, a friend of mine found a video that she shared with me, and it's potentially the best video I've ever seen of anything. To include the videos of the births of my children. I LOVE those videos, but nobody else does. EVERYBODY loves this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aWTHBa9FJY
Seriously, do yourself a favor and watch it. Now. Go. Now. Then come back here. I'll wait.
Did you do it? Because isn't it the single most amazing display of ...what? I don't even know what to call it. It's just awe-inspiring. I would like to find those two men and hire them. Filthy pants and Peruvian hat and all. The whole deal. That stupid assed song is stuck in my head, too. I could do without that, but it does make it easier to imagine the fiercely superior dance moves of the two maestros of rhythm.
I have come to feel that I know them, those two anonymous hoofers. I not only feel that I know them, but I think I'm in love with them a tiny bit. How could you not be? To have that...joie de vivre...that...j'nais se whatever...it would change your world like no amount of mind altering drugs, no Yoga ashram, no meditation, no praying...nothing...nothing could possibly be that deeply moving. Just to be able to smoothly make those motorcycle revving motions with one's hands whilst simultaneously kicking oneself in one's own ass whilst wearing white trousers...it would be the end all and be all of the ultimate "bucket list".
How did you like my masterful usage of the word "whilst" not once, but twice in one sentence? I am pretty impressed with myself, to be quite honest. We don't use words such as "whilst" nearly often enough. Also, we don't pronounce the 't' in the word "often" nearly often enough. It makes it sound much more ummmm...what's the word? Much more....smart. No. NO! I thought of the word I was looking for: intellectual. There. It makes one seem much more intellectual. Yeah. Which brings me back to the Amazing Dancing Duo.
I doubt they are very often called "intellectual", or even "smart", but one cannot deny their animal magnetism. They are dancing a veritable tribute to life at that Quincenera. They are shuffling and stomping their way into the collective whatsitcalled. The unconsciousness? The subconsciousness? Just the consciousness? I'm not sure which word it is I'm looking for there. In other words, soon, EVERYONE will know them. You will be able to simply say, "Hey, you know those two drunk dudes dancing?" and everyone ..EVERYONE will know what you mean.
Maybe they can get me a decent book deal, then. With my luck, they'll be too busy or whatever to help, though. Bastards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aWTHBa9FJY
Seriously, do yourself a favor and watch it. Now. Go. Now. Then come back here. I'll wait.
Did you do it? Because isn't it the single most amazing display of ...what? I don't even know what to call it. It's just awe-inspiring. I would like to find those two men and hire them. Filthy pants and Peruvian hat and all. The whole deal. That stupid assed song is stuck in my head, too. I could do without that, but it does make it easier to imagine the fiercely superior dance moves of the two maestros of rhythm.
I have come to feel that I know them, those two anonymous hoofers. I not only feel that I know them, but I think I'm in love with them a tiny bit. How could you not be? To have that...joie de vivre...that...j'nais se whatever...it would change your world like no amount of mind altering drugs, no Yoga ashram, no meditation, no praying...nothing...nothing could possibly be that deeply moving. Just to be able to smoothly make those motorcycle revving motions with one's hands whilst simultaneously kicking oneself in one's own ass whilst wearing white trousers...it would be the end all and be all of the ultimate "bucket list".
How did you like my masterful usage of the word "whilst" not once, but twice in one sentence? I am pretty impressed with myself, to be quite honest. We don't use words such as "whilst" nearly often enough. Also, we don't pronounce the 't' in the word "often" nearly often enough. It makes it sound much more ummmm...what's the word? Much more....smart. No. NO! I thought of the word I was looking for: intellectual. There. It makes one seem much more intellectual. Yeah. Which brings me back to the Amazing Dancing Duo.
I doubt they are very often called "intellectual", or even "smart", but one cannot deny their animal magnetism. They are dancing a veritable tribute to life at that Quincenera. They are shuffling and stomping their way into the collective whatsitcalled. The unconsciousness? The subconsciousness? Just the consciousness? I'm not sure which word it is I'm looking for there. In other words, soon, EVERYONE will know them. You will be able to simply say, "Hey, you know those two drunk dudes dancing?" and everyone ..EVERYONE will know what you mean.
Maybe they can get me a decent book deal, then. With my luck, they'll be too busy or whatever to help, though. Bastards.
Monday, October 4, 2010
My days of protesting in Paris and being tear gassed....oh you disbelievers...
well, get ready to believe. I found it on Youtube. In case you were unaware, you can find ANYTHINGon Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK_i9N2Ckj4
We were there. I thought it was a "street festival". Don't ask. It was the cops beating their nightsticks against their riot shields. However, who can say they were tear gassed during a French Student riot in Paris during Spring Break?
And the dreadlocked guy? TOTALLY started the riot we were in. He had a megaphone, so it sort of sounded like latin music where they holler rapidly in a megaphone, and actually he was inciting people to throw stuff at cops who were guarding St. Sulpice Cathedral.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v-NuZtErl1AJY
And please excuse the horrid Euro Techno music. I have no explanation for that.
FYI: We were not the "troublemakers". We were killing time until our dinner reservation, which we never made because we were quite unpresentable because of tear gas and basic freaking out. And yes, it was Paris in the Springtime. Which is freezing cold, btw. Enjoy!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK_i9N2Ckj4
We were there. I thought it was a "street festival". Don't ask. It was the cops beating their nightsticks against their riot shields. However, who can say they were tear gassed during a French Student riot in Paris during Spring Break?
And the dreadlocked guy? TOTALLY started the riot we were in. He had a megaphone, so it sort of sounded like latin music where they holler rapidly in a megaphone, and actually he was inciting people to throw stuff at cops who were guarding St. Sulpice Cathedral.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v-NuZtErl1AJY
And please excuse the horrid Euro Techno music. I have no explanation for that.
FYI: We were not the "troublemakers". We were killing time until our dinner reservation, which we never made because we were quite unpresentable because of tear gas and basic freaking out. And yes, it was Paris in the Springtime. Which is freezing cold, btw. Enjoy!!!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
This jacked up economy
"Jacked up" is not the phrase I wish to use, but I'll try and pull back on my cursing for a moment.
Here's the deal: I have all of my family on my health insurance which is "provided" by my employer. "Provided" is a real misnomer because I pay over $1,100 a MONTH on health insurance. Seriously. I work in order to have insurance. My husband is retired, we have one child in college, one a senior in high school and our youngest is a freshman in high school. I provide the insurance. I can't just up and quit because of the insurance. So, we've decided to get creative and find ways to cut back on it. I've looked into actually PROVIDING it ourselves, and the cost is barely less, if at all. Our children are legally supposed to be provided insurance by my ex husband, but based on his not having insurance in the past and telling me that he did, and us being told at the Dr.'s office that my children weren't insured, I've begun carrying them myself in order to make sure they are covered. He now promises me he does indeed have them covered, and he'll send me the card. I will believe it when I see it, and then I'll call the carrier daily to check that they are insured. Problem is, if I take them off of mine, I cannot add them back for any reason for a year. We have the little window called "open enrollment" in October, and if you take them off, they are off until the next "open enrollment" comes around. Same with our daughter, who does have a biological mother who is IN MY OPINION the sorriest excuse for a human being I've ever seen in my life. Ever since my husband and I married 11 years ago, and combined our families, she has been a pain in the ass. When they divorced, she didn't want custody of her only child who was only 6 years old at the time. So, my husband had sole custody. They made some deal so that she didn't pay child support. The ONLY obligation she had was to provide health insurance for her child. Which she did VERY grudgingly, and with constant bitching. Now that the child is 19, she is no longer covered under her mother's plan because on her 18th birthday, her "mother" cancelled her. Therefore, I do carry her, because I am not a piece of shit. My husband's retirement health plan was expensive, so we put him on mine. If you have one dependent, it's the same as 20 on my plan. So, I added him. Therefore, we pay a King's Ransom in health insurance premiums every single month. It's criminal.
We are going to try and fix it, but let's face it...the options are severely limited.
I am in a craptastic mood as a result. This is all I have for now. I hate insurance companies.
Here's the deal: I have all of my family on my health insurance which is "provided" by my employer. "Provided" is a real misnomer because I pay over $1,100 a MONTH on health insurance. Seriously. I work in order to have insurance. My husband is retired, we have one child in college, one a senior in high school and our youngest is a freshman in high school. I provide the insurance. I can't just up and quit because of the insurance. So, we've decided to get creative and find ways to cut back on it. I've looked into actually PROVIDING it ourselves, and the cost is barely less, if at all. Our children are legally supposed to be provided insurance by my ex husband, but based on his not having insurance in the past and telling me that he did, and us being told at the Dr.'s office that my children weren't insured, I've begun carrying them myself in order to make sure they are covered. He now promises me he does indeed have them covered, and he'll send me the card. I will believe it when I see it, and then I'll call the carrier daily to check that they are insured. Problem is, if I take them off of mine, I cannot add them back for any reason for a year. We have the little window called "open enrollment" in October, and if you take them off, they are off until the next "open enrollment" comes around. Same with our daughter, who does have a biological mother who is IN MY OPINION the sorriest excuse for a human being I've ever seen in my life. Ever since my husband and I married 11 years ago, and combined our families, she has been a pain in the ass. When they divorced, she didn't want custody of her only child who was only 6 years old at the time. So, my husband had sole custody. They made some deal so that she didn't pay child support. The ONLY obligation she had was to provide health insurance for her child. Which she did VERY grudgingly, and with constant bitching. Now that the child is 19, she is no longer covered under her mother's plan because on her 18th birthday, her "mother" cancelled her. Therefore, I do carry her, because I am not a piece of shit. My husband's retirement health plan was expensive, so we put him on mine. If you have one dependent, it's the same as 20 on my plan. So, I added him. Therefore, we pay a King's Ransom in health insurance premiums every single month. It's criminal.
We are going to try and fix it, but let's face it...the options are severely limited.
I am in a craptastic mood as a result. This is all I have for now. I hate insurance companies.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Whoops..
Hello. How's it going? I know, I know...I've been absent for awhile. I have no decent reason, other than being terribly lazy. Actually, my "real" job has started back up and my time for writing for myself has dwindled dramatically.
Let's see, what's new? How about some stats?
Number of rejections from literary magazines: 2
Number of rejections from agents/publishers: 2
Number of acceptance letters and requests for additional chapters: 1
Number of hours spent writing since the end of August: Less than 1
Number of nervous breakdowns since the end of August: 1
Number of temper tantrums since the end of August: too many to count
So. That catches us up pretty well. OOh! Wait! One more:
Number of children sent away to college and subsequently unable to contact her because of shooter on campus: 1
We did end up being able to contact our daughter, but not before me fleeing from work, my husband driving like his hair was on fire to try and get to the school, me picking up other two children from school so they wouldn't hear it from schoolmates, and other dramatic situations too numerous to mention. Thankfully, everyone is safe and sound and life has returned to normal. Or what we consider normal, anyhow.
To be perfectly honest, I have nothing much to say, but felt like I needed to get back to writing because all I've written is letters to student's parents lately. It's getting old. Fast. So, yeah. That's it.
Something slightly less than love,
Me
Let's see, what's new? How about some stats?
Number of rejections from literary magazines: 2
Number of rejections from agents/publishers: 2
Number of acceptance letters and requests for additional chapters: 1
Number of hours spent writing since the end of August: Less than 1
Number of nervous breakdowns since the end of August: 1
Number of temper tantrums since the end of August: too many to count
So. That catches us up pretty well. OOh! Wait! One more:
Number of children sent away to college and subsequently unable to contact her because of shooter on campus: 1
We did end up being able to contact our daughter, but not before me fleeing from work, my husband driving like his hair was on fire to try and get to the school, me picking up other two children from school so they wouldn't hear it from schoolmates, and other dramatic situations too numerous to mention. Thankfully, everyone is safe and sound and life has returned to normal. Or what we consider normal, anyhow.
To be perfectly honest, I have nothing much to say, but felt like I needed to get back to writing because all I've written is letters to student's parents lately. It's getting old. Fast. So, yeah. That's it.
Something slightly less than love,
Me
Friday, September 10, 2010
Busy, Busy, Busy
I haven't posted lately, because I've been working pretty much 24/7 (which is a saying I detest, by the way.) When I'm not working, I'm sleeping, working at home, or being with my family.
I need to get to the freakin' spa for Botox STAT. I can tell you that much. My forehead is beginning to show lines. Me no likee. I wouldn't mind a partial face lift, either, although a tummy tuck would be even better at this point. I wish I could buy botox and do it myself. I'd be injecting the hell out of everything.
Our daughter has been away at college for 3 weeks, now. So far, so good. She came home for Labor Day weekend, but on Sunday morning, she was ready to go back. This is a good thing, although it's tough letting them go.
I'm falling asleep as I type, so this is over. Nothing more to see, move along, people.
Man, I want peach pie.
I need to get to the freakin' spa for Botox STAT. I can tell you that much. My forehead is beginning to show lines. Me no likee. I wouldn't mind a partial face lift, either, although a tummy tuck would be even better at this point. I wish I could buy botox and do it myself. I'd be injecting the hell out of everything.
Our daughter has been away at college for 3 weeks, now. So far, so good. She came home for Labor Day weekend, but on Sunday morning, she was ready to go back. This is a good thing, although it's tough letting them go.
I'm falling asleep as I type, so this is over. Nothing more to see, move along, people.
Man, I want peach pie.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Soooory
I haven't written lately because I'm a teacher, and this was the first week. MESS OF EPIC PROPORTIONS.
I gotta rest.
I gotta rest.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
What the hell?
Hello potential book characters for my book which will be wildly and hugely popular and will go down in history as being a brilliant work of art.
How are you all? Awesome. Good to hear.
Now, here is the dilemma: if one is fortunate enough to get what they want, but they aren't really sure it's the right choice, should they wait and continue to plug away and try to get what they want with the ...oh eff it. What I'm saying is, if I get offers on my book, how do I know who to sign with? I'm confused, excited at the mere fact that someone thinks people will buy books written by me, and terrified to make the wrong choice. So. There it is.
Also, should I even entertain the idea of traveling to Beijing? I love to travel, although I will admit Asia has not really ever interested me with the exception of India. Europe? I'm down. Let's go. Asia? Ehhhhh....not so sure. My son said, "What if they won't let you leave?" I replied, "I really don't think the Chinese government will hold a bunch of American writers hostage..." then I had a horrible thought. Would they like...change what I wrote? Can they do that? Oh Jesus...now we need a lawyer..because...contracts, money...us...not good. Do they do that in China? Will they censor me? I don't want to be censored. To me, censor=bad.
Random thought, feel free to comment, respond, whatever.....do you think Jeff Lewis on "Flipping Out" plumps his top lip? I mean, it's pretty freakin' plump, right? I've done that and it turned out NOTHING like his. In my friend's words, my top lip was "jacked up". It did WONDERS for my self esteem, let me tell you.
Also, along the lines of random thoughts....does anyone really say, "SHUT.THE.FRONT.DOOR" instead of "Shut the eff up" or "Shut the hell up" or simply, "Shut up"? I will throw out a "Shut your pork trap" or "Shut your face", or whatever, but "Shut.The.Front.Door" is a lot of words to convey the fact that you want someone to shut their pie hole. Also, why isn't it, "Shut.The.Back.Door"? Or, how about, "Shut.The.Side.Door", or "Shut.The.Garage.Door"? I've never heard anyone other than Rachel Zoe say the door thing. Plus, I have a niece, and her first name is spelled the same way Rachel Zoe's last name is spelled, and we don't pronounce it like the name "Joe". We pronounce it, "Zoe-eee". That is the correct way to pronounce it. Take note. Rachel, pronounce it correctly, please. It makes me nuts and crazy.
Why does Jeff Lewis wear low top Chuck Taylor's all the time? Is it a fashion statement on his part? Is it the practicality? What? He is very fascinating to me, obviously. I mean, I've mentioned his lips and shoes here. He is also sarcastic as hell and mean as hell, and I adore that. Why? Because I am the same way. I would also tell my housekeeper named "Zoila" that she should "broooosh" my cat everyday after his nap. I would insist she say "brooosh" and tell her I was assisting her with her English. That's pretty mean. However, hearing her tell him to shut his front door cracks my ass up. Only she doesn't say it that way because she probably KNOWS HOW TO PRONOUNCE ZOE.
How are you all? Awesome. Good to hear.
Now, here is the dilemma: if one is fortunate enough to get what they want, but they aren't really sure it's the right choice, should they wait and continue to plug away and try to get what they want with the ...oh eff it. What I'm saying is, if I get offers on my book, how do I know who to sign with? I'm confused, excited at the mere fact that someone thinks people will buy books written by me, and terrified to make the wrong choice. So. There it is.
Also, should I even entertain the idea of traveling to Beijing? I love to travel, although I will admit Asia has not really ever interested me with the exception of India. Europe? I'm down. Let's go. Asia? Ehhhhh....not so sure. My son said, "What if they won't let you leave?" I replied, "I really don't think the Chinese government will hold a bunch of American writers hostage..." then I had a horrible thought. Would they like...change what I wrote? Can they do that? Oh Jesus...now we need a lawyer..because...contracts, money...us...not good. Do they do that in China? Will they censor me? I don't want to be censored. To me, censor=bad.
Random thought, feel free to comment, respond, whatever.....do you think Jeff Lewis on "Flipping Out" plumps his top lip? I mean, it's pretty freakin' plump, right? I've done that and it turned out NOTHING like his. In my friend's words, my top lip was "jacked up". It did WONDERS for my self esteem, let me tell you.
Also, along the lines of random thoughts....does anyone really say, "SHUT.THE.FRONT.DOOR" instead of "Shut the eff up" or "Shut the hell up" or simply, "Shut up"? I will throw out a "Shut your pork trap" or "Shut your face", or whatever, but "Shut.The.Front.Door" is a lot of words to convey the fact that you want someone to shut their pie hole. Also, why isn't it, "Shut.The.Back.Door"? Or, how about, "Shut.The.Side.Door", or "Shut.The.Garage.Door"? I've never heard anyone other than Rachel Zoe say the door thing. Plus, I have a niece, and her first name is spelled the same way Rachel Zoe's last name is spelled, and we don't pronounce it like the name "Joe". We pronounce it, "Zoe-eee". That is the correct way to pronounce it. Take note. Rachel, pronounce it correctly, please. It makes me nuts and crazy.
Why does Jeff Lewis wear low top Chuck Taylor's all the time? Is it a fashion statement on his part? Is it the practicality? What? He is very fascinating to me, obviously. I mean, I've mentioned his lips and shoes here. He is also sarcastic as hell and mean as hell, and I adore that. Why? Because I am the same way. I would also tell my housekeeper named "Zoila" that she should "broooosh" my cat everyday after his nap. I would insist she say "brooosh" and tell her I was assisting her with her English. That's pretty mean. However, hearing her tell him to shut his front door cracks my ass up. Only she doesn't say it that way because she probably KNOWS HOW TO PRONOUNCE ZOE.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Paris
My favorite place in the entire world is Paris. We took our children with us there a few years ago, and although they didn't appreciate it, I was like a drooling moron looking at everything. Everything fascinated me. The streets, the street signs, the shops, the buildings, the art, the different areas of Paris, the big "N" on all the bridges signifying Napoleon, it all captivated me. I hope to retire there when all of my children are either out of college or in graduate school. I've already looked into teaching there, and I would do it right now if I could.
If you've heard that the French are rude, I can honestly say that every single French person we met was beyond polite and helpful. One waiter sat down with us at our table and gave us a quick lesson in how to deal with waiters in Paris. Believe it or not, this is a very valuable lesson. He should charge. The people who worked the desk in our hotel (we always use local instead of chain hotels or we rent apartments when we travel.) was so helpful that she headed off a total meltdown by copying our passport photos for our Metro passes. The stupid photo booths in the metro tunnels DON'T WORK. The staff was always ready to recommend restaurants, and any other thing we needed. Somehow, we still managed to walk into a street riot and get tear gassed, but that's another story. It was an experience I remember every single day, and I cannot wait to go back. And believe me, I shall go back. WALLY. I will. Even if I must go alone, I shall go. I felt (as stupid and cheesy as this sounds), at HOME there.
If you get the opportunity to go to France, take it. I do speak French, so that helped a lot, but none of the rest of my family speaks a word of it. The learned the word "Pardon" because yes, that is just how polite the people were. That was the most often uttered word we heard on the Metro and everywhere else. Plus, where else can you go and watch a very bizarre impromptu puppet show on a subway car? Seriously, the two dudes had clothesline to string across the car, a sheet to hand on the clothesline, puppets, and music. They put on a show. The only people who seemed to watch was my family. We were amazed, enthralled and cracked up .
If you wish to communicate with the locals, try and brush up on some rudimentary French phrases. Learn how to say, "How much is this?" and "Can you please tell me where the rest room is?" Learn how to order off a French menu...learn the names of French food. Learn how to take directions in French. It's not difficult, I promise. If you want to practice, go to the BBC language school website. It's a fabulous resource for usable phrases and words. If you took the usual French in high school in the US, go to that site and brush up. It's worth it.
Advice: Do NOT under any circumstances yell in German at people in Paris. They don't like it. Neither do I, but then I wasn't occupied by the Nazis. My husband speaks no French, but can bark out military orders in German having been stationed in Germany when he was in the US Army. (He is American, amazingly enough). When I got fed up with him telling me I was wrong, I refused to translate, and he would bust out his loud guttural German and it didn't work too well. No matter WHAT he claims, it was not met with cooperation.
Actually, anywhere you travel, make an effort to learn at least SOME of the local language. I have found that America is one of the only countries in the world where being multi-lingual isn't the norm. It should be. Many people in France speak some English, or are fluent. However, if you are in their home, you should at least attempt to speak their language. The same goes for any Spanish speaking country, Italy, Germany...anywhere. Not everyone in the world speaks English, and speaking it LOUDLY and SLOOOOWLY doesn't help. Anyhow, I will list some sites I love about France because I'm selfish, and because I beleive everyone loves what I love, which is a trait common on self-absorbed people.
Avoir un merveilleux week-end , tout le monde !
If you've heard that the French are rude, I can honestly say that every single French person we met was beyond polite and helpful. One waiter sat down with us at our table and gave us a quick lesson in how to deal with waiters in Paris. Believe it or not, this is a very valuable lesson. He should charge. The people who worked the desk in our hotel (we always use local instead of chain hotels or we rent apartments when we travel.) was so helpful that she headed off a total meltdown by copying our passport photos for our Metro passes. The stupid photo booths in the metro tunnels DON'T WORK. The staff was always ready to recommend restaurants, and any other thing we needed. Somehow, we still managed to walk into a street riot and get tear gassed, but that's another story. It was an experience I remember every single day, and I cannot wait to go back. And believe me, I shall go back. WALLY. I will. Even if I must go alone, I shall go. I felt (as stupid and cheesy as this sounds), at HOME there.
If you get the opportunity to go to France, take it. I do speak French, so that helped a lot, but none of the rest of my family speaks a word of it. The learned the word "Pardon" because yes, that is just how polite the people were. That was the most often uttered word we heard on the Metro and everywhere else. Plus, where else can you go and watch a very bizarre impromptu puppet show on a subway car? Seriously, the two dudes had clothesline to string across the car, a sheet to hand on the clothesline, puppets, and music. They put on a show. The only people who seemed to watch was my family. We were amazed, enthralled and cracked up .
If you wish to communicate with the locals, try and brush up on some rudimentary French phrases. Learn how to say, "How much is this?" and "Can you please tell me where the rest room is?" Learn how to order off a French menu...learn the names of French food. Learn how to take directions in French. It's not difficult, I promise. If you want to practice, go to the BBC language school website. It's a fabulous resource for usable phrases and words. If you took the usual French in high school in the US, go to that site and brush up. It's worth it.
Advice: Do NOT under any circumstances yell in German at people in Paris. They don't like it. Neither do I, but then I wasn't occupied by the Nazis. My husband speaks no French, but can bark out military orders in German having been stationed in Germany when he was in the US Army. (He is American, amazingly enough). When I got fed up with him telling me I was wrong, I refused to translate, and he would bust out his loud guttural German and it didn't work too well. No matter WHAT he claims, it was not met with cooperation.
Actually, anywhere you travel, make an effort to learn at least SOME of the local language. I have found that America is one of the only countries in the world where being multi-lingual isn't the norm. It should be. Many people in France speak some English, or are fluent. However, if you are in their home, you should at least attempt to speak their language. The same goes for any Spanish speaking country, Italy, Germany...anywhere. Not everyone in the world speaks English, and speaking it LOUDLY and SLOOOOWLY doesn't help. Anyhow, I will list some sites I love about France because I'm selfish, and because I beleive everyone loves what I love, which is a trait common on self-absorbed people.
Avoir un merveilleux week-end , tout le monde !
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