French Notebooks Of The Past

This past summer, I had the opportunity to look through a couple school notebooks that belonged to some of my extended family. They were written by a French student named Hortense, who was probably in her early teens when she wrote these about 70-75 years ago. Unfortunately, who she was or how these notebooks ended up in the family remains a mystery. 

The calligraphy and attention to detail in each pen stroke is truly amazing. This isn't just handwriting, it's art, and no one writes like this anymore.

I opened my notebook for comparison and died a little inside. My drunken-bear style scribbling is ghastly compared to Hortense's beautiful penmanship. I would have taken pictures as proof, but feared they would have caused irreparable damage to my camera. 

I wish I knew more about Hortense, who she was and what her life must have been like... maybe in absence of fact, I can write a story... 

*****

If you guys are interested in seeing where I produce most of my drunken-bear writing, I'll be over at the Writing Nut next Wednesday for a Wednesday Writer's Workspace interview!

Hope to see you all there. 
:) 

Getting Hit With Hearts

In French, 'coup de coeur' loosely translates to falling in love with something on the spot. You can have a 'coup de coeur' for all kinds of things from fashion to movies, trinkets, or even a place you've visited. Though I've mainly heard it used in reference to a special something, it can be used when referring to a special someone. Literally, 'coup de coeur' means getting hit with heart. Ah, the French--so poetic. 

Anyway, the reason I'm going on about this is because yesterday I went into a local bookstore just to buy postcards (yeah, that didn't go over so well) and, I noticed something different . . . 

Stuck to various book covers were pink, heart-shaped sticky notes. On them was a brief, hand written description about the book. Sacré bleu! The books were hit with hearts! Actually, it was the bookstore's way of saying, this book is our 'coup de coeur', or in this case you could translate it to something like, 'our top picks.' 

Now I've seen other bookstores use similar methods to get people to give a book a try, like wrapping the cover in brown paper and writing a few inticing words on the front to hook a reader. However, this was the first time I'd seen the heart-shaped sticky notes used in France and I thought it was pretty cute. It's a simple idea, one that's been used before, and you know what? It worked on me. 

I'm so weak.

I noticed one of their books hit with a 'coup de coeur' sticker. I picked it up, read the micro-review and bought the book. I know. I'm so weak. I've been a recovering bookbuyingaholic for months and now I've relapsed all because of a heart-shaped sticker! 

It seems my 'to be read' list isn't ridiculously long already thus the need to buy another book, and in French to boot *deep breath* which only means it'll take me twice as long to read the damn thing. *shakes head in shame--then opens book*

This was the graphic novel section. It didn't look like it got hit
with any hearts. ): I may have to go back and descretly
slap some heart-shaped stickers on a few. ;)


*****

Oh, no. Not them again--les coups de coeurs.

Have you guys seen this too? Any other techniques you've noticed bookstores using to entice its customers? Would this method work to get you to buy?

Lockmeupology - Happy Thanksgiving

For all of you celebrating Thanksgiving, 

I wish you a wonderful holiday. 

Travel safely, 

enjoy your meals, 

make the best of family and friends. 

See you all on Monday. 

(:

Doo-Doo Talk

Raising bilingual children can really be a hoot. My kids (6yrs and almost 4yrs) have learned to naturally shift from one language to the other depending on the situation. However, there are times when a word or two gets carried over into the wrong language. One of those words is "doudou" used by French children when referring to their favorite stuffed animal, blanky, doll, etc. I believe it comes from the phrase "tout doux" which means, soft all over. Kids who have trouble pronouncing the T in "tout", end up saying something like "dou" which becomes "doudou." The word "doudou" on its own sounds soft and gentile when spoken in French. The problem is it's pronounced "doo-doo" and my son, whether he speaks in French or in English, always refers to his favorite toy rabbit as his "doo-doo." So, you can imagine some of the funny conversations we've had with this.  

Son:  "Mommy, I can't find my doo-doo."
Me: "Can't you sleep with another one?" (I know, I know, stupid question...)

Son: "I don't want you to clean my doo-doo!"
Me:  "I have to, it's way too dirty." (Heavy negotiations ensue...)

Son: "My doo-doo wants to eat at the table."
Me: "Fine, but if you play instead of eat, I'll have to put it away." (sure mom, whatever you say...)

But sometimes even I slip up:

"No, you can't take your doo-doo into the store, it has to stay in the car."

"Please don't make him cry, give him back his doo-doo."

"Oh, no. Looks like I'm going to have to sew up your doo-doo."

So the other day while driving my kids to school, I tried explaining why we needed to stop saying "doudou" when we speak English and instead use the term "stuffed animal." Of course they asked why, and the moment my kids found out that "doo-doo" is just another word for "poo-poo" in English, they laughed, and laughed so hard, even I was cracking up, and by the time we got to school my kids were saying stuff like:
     
      "You sleep with poo-poo!"
                       "HAHAHAAHAHAH!"

      "You play with your poo-poo!" 
                       "HAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!"
  
I don't know why but at that age, anything having to do with poo or pee is the most hilarious thing with kids.  Anyway, we're still having fun with the word "doudou", though I wonder how long it's going to take before the word "stuffed animal" finally takes it's rightful position in my son's vocabulary...I have a feeling it may take a while, lol! 

The doudou. (: