I simply could not turn down the opportunity to visit a wonderful and dear friend in Lyon; France i am having trouble with my internet and is kind enough to let me use her computer/ but i will be brief. the keyboard is french and letters arent where i think they are ; longer entries will need to wait until i get back :: but suffice it to say that france is like a dream and everyone has been so nice
today my friend E had to do some library work so i went to the cathedral of st jean;
Inside there was this amazing astronomy clock i was fortunate enough to be there when it chimed
here is a video
day one--- made it okay through the airport in Dusseldorf: so thankful English is an international language qnd thus is on most airport signs: I would never known that AUFJIHIhGRIHDJFQLfjqldjfoqimfienlhkjoijmenqiezjmfifjµ , meant connecting flights; ofcourse i exqggerate; but not by much;
by the way on the tv is what i think is the french version of law and order i have no idea what they are saying, but i just know i love it*
sorry for the typos an d all lowercase: things arent where i expect the, to be on this keyboard and im on vacation
so,e ,ore phtos today from lyon
I speak intermediate Spanish. I'll try my hand at describing it...
--there's something I associate with immediacy---it SEEMS that Spanish speakers are speaking quickly, though I think this is not always the case. It has the strange quality of being both smooth and a bit choppy at the same time. I like to compare it to being on a boat in a river---there aren't any rapids or whitewater, but you're still flowing along at a steady pace. I always think of dancing when I hear Spanish--like my feet want to move.
Or maybe it's just because of the Gypsy Kings:
I'm also trying to learn French---and I confess the pronunciation has thrown me off quite a bit.
I think French is very elegantly smooth. I honestly think I could be cussed out in French and still think it is a beautiful language. Whereas Spanish makes me want to dance, French has a sound that makes me want to curl up on the couch with a good book and cup of coffee. If Spanish is a river, then French is a smooth, silky lake. I confess that I didn't really hear a lot of the nasal "n" when I first heard French---and the way they blend words together sounds incredibly poetic, though hard to understand....
If French is poetry, Spanish is rap.
And in case you didn't hear it enough in "Inception"--here is "Non, je ne regrette rein"
I'm planning a trip to France to visit a dear friend, and I have suddenly become very obsessed with languages. I'm trying to learn some basic French (I speak intermediate Spanish.) Not really the verb forms or syntax, but the way they sound.
I think as a writer, I'm kind of fascinated by language. I love music, and I think each language has its own special music. But because I am a native English speaker, I cannot hear the way English would sound to someone who does not know English. Likewise, we have some our own views/ opinions of how other languages sound to us.
Let me say I'm not trying to stereotype anybody, but languages sound different to those who do not speak it.
As pointed out in this clip from "Family Guy"---we do have a perception how another language sounds. Here, I think the point is that Italian is lively, vivacious---and in my personal opinion the perfect vehicle for opera (I felt in love with "La Traviata" and haven't turned back!) Once again, this is not meant to offend.
So I've been in a quest to find out what English sounds like to those who do not speak English as a native. Please, any non-native-English speakers reading this blog, let me know. And do not be offended to say it does not sound pleasant (some phrases I've heard used to describe English are 'dogs barking' and 'music' and sounding like someone is talking with a mouthful of potatoes!)
I also know that accents vary---not just between British English and American English, but in the States, between a Boston accent and a Southern accent (extremes on either end of this are kind of grating)
In my searches I came across this very bizarre---yet impressive---video. This probably gives a good example of what English sounds like to non-native speakers, though I don't think the point of the video was such. It was made in 1972 by an Italian songwriter / comedian, etc. tv hostAdriano Celentano.
I think the point of the video was on communication. I can't look away. Bizarre and yet interesting. Like a cross between Star Trek and Austin Powers. I promise, you'll want to see it twice.
And to those who speak English: the words are all gibberish (well, except for "all right!") .
Enjoy!
To Adriano---you got some smooth moves!
In my next posts, I'll try to describe what other languages sound like to me.
I'd love to hear from non-native speakers what English sounds like to you. And don't be afraid to say it sounds terrible. We know English makes no sense.
I am thrilled to be scheduled for an upcoming edition of Lit Chat -- #litchat on Twitter.
I had the privilege of meeting the moderator at a recent writing retreat, and I enjoyed hearing wonderful excerpts from her novel.
I'm scheduled for March 2 --Friday -- from 4 to 5 p.m. EST.
I hope to see you all there. Lit Chat has some wonderful discussions and great guests. It's definitely worth a follow if you use Twitter.
Okay, I meant to put this up before / around Valentine's Day, but it's still a fun post...so I wanted to go ahead with it anyway.
This is not an exhaustive list by any means, and I have kind of drawn a lot from the "classical" literary school, but I would love to hear your additions. But for the sake of simplicity, let's just make it a countdown, shall we?
8) Robin Hood.
Sense of social justice? Check. Giving to poor? Check. Looks good in tights? Check.
7) Heathcliff (Wuthering Heights)
Obviously in desperate need of therapy, but who cares? There's something about a brooding man who needs to be helped. Maybe I'm in the one in desperate need of therapy.
6) Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)
Forget Obama. Forget Romney. Forget Ron Paul. Atticus Finch is the guy we need in the White House.
5) Sydney Carton. (A Tale of Two Cities)
A far better thing that he does than has been done before? Self-sacrifice, unrequited love, it's all there.
4) Cyrnao (Cyrano de Bergerac)
Confession: the first time I read this (in high school) I cried. If you can write that like, I don't care about the nose!
3) Rhett Butler (Gone with the Wind)
I challenge you to find a more lovable rake.
2) Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby)
The tortured hero who has everything and nothing. And it didn't hurt that he was played by Robert Redford in the move version.
1) Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
Okay, you saw that one coming, didn't you?
I have to include this fan fic cartoon from "Hark! A Vagrant" --a delightful collection of cartoons by Kate Beaton. Check out her website here.
There's a saying that if you don't like the weather in North Carolina, don't worry, it will change in five minutes. I confess I've had my heating and air conditioning on in the same day. That's one reason that my allergies are driving me crazy, and everyone I know has/ has had/ just gotten over / is fighting off a cold.
Yesterday I didn't need a jacket. Today it is a dreary, cold, rainy day.
And I love it.
I love writing on rainy days. I love looking out my home office window on to the golf course (it's all very Faulkner-esque) . I love the sound of rain. I love being in lounge pants all day. I love being in my fuzzy bathrobe. I love looking out at the bright holy bush, and how its red berries contrast to the gray sky. I enjoy watching the unusually fat squirrel hop along my back porch, probably examining the cockpit of my kayak and wondering if he could build a nest in there. I'm smelling the remnants of a winter berry scented candle, and something about this symphony of senses, coupled with a hot cup of coffee and glass of orange juice (vitamin C to thwart said cold season), there's something about it that just begs: "Tell me a story."
To THANK all my readers for their support---these Kindle titles will be FREE during Valentine's Day (and the day before)--13th and 14th.
Remember you do NOT have to have a Kindle to read these. You can download a FREE Kindle app through Amazon to use on your computer, phone, etc.
Details: The books given away for FREE are: "Leaving the Comfort Cafe," "Ten Thousand New Year's Eves and the short "The Shangri-La Chamber of Commerce Welcomes You."
