A shot glass of opportunities and challenges – un journal de voyage
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AND THEY DO LOVE TO HONK! And the PARKING! C’est horrible!
And you wonder why we’ve only used a half of a tank of gas since DECEMBER 1st. The tram, the bus, the train, the feet — all good alternatives!
Continue reading “Crazy French Drivers (Larry, Don’t Read This)”
The Festival du Court Métrage is the biggest international film festival dedicated to short films. It is held in February every year in Clermont-Ferrand, and is the second largest film festival after Cannes, in terms of audience and professional attendance. You’ve probably heard of the Cannes film festival, very famous for the artistically enlightened and ‘beautiful people.’ The main difference between the two is that the Festival du Court Métrage in Clermont is open to the public, and Cannes’ festival is by invitation only. (That makes ours better, of course!)
For the 40th anniversary of the festival this week, over 100,000 attendees and 3,500 industry professionals descended on Clermont Ferrand to view, show, or judge international short films, with this year’s highlighted country being Switzerland.
Continue reading “Festival du Court Métrage and La Grande Station Jaude 2028”
Bonjour, mes amies ~ let’s leave the city for a bit and talk about medieval castles of strength and grandeur today!
At 3,400 feet above sea level, the Château de Murol is a fantastic journey into a medieval life. We went on Christmas Eve and, being the only people in sight for miles around, the entire castle was our playground. And what a playground it is!
We’ve been in France 13 weeks. Tanner knows more French medical words than French business words. The nurses in the hospital recognize him by sight – on several shifts. We intimately know our way around the cardiology floors of the hospital. And we know which rooms have better views. The cardiologist recognized me by name in the hallway.
2nd time’s the charm, they say. Tanner told them there would be no 3rd time! Two heart surgeries within 4 weeks. This, too, shall pass! My husband is amazing. 
[Mattel’s hot ticket in 1976 was PULSAR: MAN OF ADVENTURE. He looks like Race Bannon to me. Comment me if you know who that is. 🙂 HAHA.]
Continue reading “Hospitals, Wine, and Port-a-Potties. (Say WHAT?)”
This is a pictorial of my day….wearing out my shoes. If you like Elvis, go ahead and hit “play” (music to read blogs by). If you don’t (I don’t either), skip the tunes!
PLEASE- take your shoes off – and slip mine on! Put yourself in my shoes!
I told Collette (oui, very French – the boss’ wife) that I would come visit her….and being an URBANITE without wheels, I decided to take the bus for my first time in France!
Moveit is a transportation/GPS app on my smartphone that is designed to plot out your journey, either driving, walking, or on public transportation. WARNING! THIS APP DOESN’T KNOW ITS HEAD FROM A HOLE IN THE GROUND.
You know where this is going, don’t you??? Continue reading “WALK (at least) A MILE IN MY SHOES…”
Here’s what I know about myself. I am one of those people who is really good as an advanced beginner (or intermediate, depending on the subject) – but I don’t like being at the bottom of the next level up! As in skiing — and tap dancing — and FRENCH!
My French: 
vs. French conversation class today:
How can I learn FRENCH when I don’t even know what “future perfect continuous” tenses are in ENGLISH?!?! I have been humbled. And I don’t like it. WAAAYYYYYY out of my comfort zone. Maybe the French language has 40% fewer words than English, but I have such a long way to go. I believe the word in English is DAUNTING.
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