parisiennemaispresque.com
Parisienne Mais Presque: Vive l'été
http://www.parisiennemaispresque.com/2008/07/vive-lt.html
Thursday, July 24, 2008. It is nearly the end of July and summer has tipped past its halfway point. The Métro is emptying out and Parisians are rapidly disappearing to the beach and clogging up the highways on their way out of town. In the dead of August, the heart of Paris will be all but abandoned except for the tourists, who will be either delighted or confused to have the place to themselves. With a little luck, the weather has turned warm and the succession of May holidays - May Day, Victoire 1945.
parisiennemaispresque.com
Parisienne Mais Presque: Le Car
http://www.parisiennemaispresque.com/2014/04/le-car.html
Tuesday, April 01, 2014. On my car radio ("Your favorite French songs! Sing along at least once a day! Was reduced to static. I arrived at the off-site meeting in a terrible mood. And yet, I have to admit the frustration was tempered with a certain satisfaction because I can drive in France. I can not only drive in France, I can drive in Ile de France. The region around Paris. I can even drive in Paris proper if I have to (though I'm still not sure I'm brave enough to attempt Place de l'Etoile). Mid-Febr...
parisiennemaispresque.com
Parisienne Mais Presque: Je suis
http://www.parisiennemaispresque.com/2015/01/je-suis.html
Sunday, January 18, 2015. One of the only people I know who went to the marche républicaine. Another friend, a Muslim of Moroccan origin who grew up in France, shrugged when I asked him if he'd gone. He supported freedom of speech and was upset about the attack, but he wasn't sure he would be wanted at the march or even safe. What if who you are has already been decided for you? Portraits from the March: 'French before being Muslim or Jewish'" was the title of an article. Which appeared in Le Monde.
parisiennemaispresque.com
Parisienne Mais Presque: Making the grade
http://www.parisiennemaispresque.com/2014/10/making-grade.html
Thursday, October 02, 2014. None of [Parisienne's] explanations have given me any confidence. The client cannot make the simplest of functions work. A task-force needs to be formed immediately.". So tell me. How are the kids doing in French school? Asked a American friend of mine recently. She's been living in Paris for years but has no kids yet. "Is it true what they say? Getting it right the first time proved you were incapable. It didn't exactly encourage one to take risks. I am probably an ex...Keep ...
parisiennemaispresque.com
Parisienne Mais Presque: The Baby Who Would Not Nap
http://www.parisiennemaispresque.com/2008/01/baby-who-would-not-nap.html
Saturday, January 19, 2008. The Baby Who Would Not Nap. One gray, Parisian morning at half past eight Baby woke up, rolled over, and started babbling at the ceiling. Da da da da," said Baby. Da da da da," said the baby monitor in the room next door. Ugh," said Mommy, who rolled over and pulled a pillow over her ear. A few moments later, Mommy opened the shutters in Baby's room and let the patchy sunlight in. Today Grandma is going to look after you while Mommy goes into town," said Mommy cheerfully.
parisiennemaispresque.com
Parisienne Mais Presque: Charlie and Me
http://www.parisiennemaispresque.com/2015/01/charlie-and-me.html
Monday, January 12, 2015. I've never read Charlie Hebdo. I was aware that it existed, but it purveyed a brand of Franco-français off-color political humor that just wasn't my thing. To tell the truth, I wasn't sure that I was acculturated enough to really "get" it, even after a decade of life in France: my politically correct American prudishness has worn off some, but not that. Much, quand même. And it feels so uncomfortable to not be in on the joke. Likely few of the well-meaning people and institution...
parisiennemaispresque.com
Parisienne Mais Presque: Le Petit's Lexicon
http://www.parisiennemaispresque.com/2009/01/le-petits-lexicon.html
Monday, January 26, 2009. It's not easy for me to make myself understood these days. My parents are catching on slowly, but I think even they will admit that I'm learning to understand them a lot faster than they're learning to understand me. They could. Make more of an effort. After all, I'm learning two languages, Daddy's français. And Mommy's English, and they've only got my single, simple le Petit's franglish. More," "again," or by extension, "I want." One of the most common words at chez Petit.
parisiennemaispresque.com
Parisienne Mais Presque: Time Machine
http://www.parisiennemaispresque.com/2014/05/time-machine.html
Wednesday, May 07, 2014. Tonight as I dug Le Petit's pajamas out from under a mound of pillows and blankets, he grinned and whispered, "Hey Mom, do you know why my bed is like that? I couldn't guess. "I turned it into a machine to speed into the future! He announced, giggling. "And it worked super well! Yeah, I hid under the covers, and it was four. what does the nine mean again? Forty-five," I say. Le Petit told me this in French, as usual, so I'm doing my best to capture the spirit in English.]. Le 'mo...
parisiennemaispresque.com
Parisienne Mais Presque: Convoi exceptionnel
http://www.parisiennemaispresque.com/2009/02/convoi-exceptionnel.html
Thursday, February 26, 2009. Le Petit has been charming these days, all cuddles and declarations of "maman! I may have to pry him away from playing with the kitchen appliances ten times a day, we may have frequent disagreements over the necessity of wearing a coat, and an impasse may be narrowly avoided at nap time, but mostly we've been having a ball together. Just as I was imagining myself signing up for a minivan and a SNCF large family discount card, reality caught up with me, as usual. The six-year-...
parisiennemaispresque.com
Parisienne Mais Presque: The pursuit of happiness
http://www.parisiennemaispresque.com/2009/03/pursuit-of-happiness.html
Thursday, March 12, 2009. The pursuit of happiness. These days I often find myself meditating on a terrible what if: if I were suddenly gone, what would I want le Petit to know about me, his mother? If I had to enumerate the reasons I blog, this would be high on my list. This isn't as morbid a preoccupation as it might sound. Sure, I could be hit by a runaway RATP bus. Had something so small and weighing so little caused such concern and upheaval. Here's other half of the secret: it isn't always the case...
