Comments on: Random

By: Émilie B

Émilie B — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:57:30 +0000

Not a car port – we actually call those by their English name around here, although the term is sort of deformed to “carpott”. Nah, this is what I mean right there : Tempo Shelter. We usually use the brand name – abri tempo – to designate those around here.

Nice accent aigu. Just don’t use it as a noun… cédille is a noun, while aigu is an adjective, so you need to say ‘accent aigu’. There’s just one kind of cédille, see, while there are three kinds of accents : aigu (é), grave (è) and circonflexe (ê).

Tal : No idea! With all the snow the weather people are foreseeing for this winter, I think it WILL be a good deal. Snow guy will make it up for previous low-snow years.

By: Tal

Tal — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 01:33:48 +0000

I wonder how one goes about getting a snow guy in Ontario? That sounds like a fabulous deal, although I totally agree about liking to do it myself when there’s no pressure. It’s very medative I think.

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:38:25 +0000

I didn’t know what a cédille was until just now. (And look!! There’s my aigu!) Rock on!

Re: canvas garage… perhaps you mean a “car port”? Like, not a garage per se, but just a sort of automotive shelter without a big door in front.

By: Émilie B

Émilie B — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 02:00:52 +0000

I’ve been saying a firm “Non” to Xavier so many times in the last two days that he spent a small part of the evening just repeating a very clear “Non” to us – he wasn’t refusing anything really, he was just imitating me in this manner, and he seemed kind of proud just to be able to say the word so clearly, and with such determination. Other than that, it is true that communication is improving by leaps. I can now tell when he’s thirsty and looking for his water cup, for instance, as he’ll use his approximation of the term to identify his need, and stuff like that.

fv it’s funny how easily I can imagine Ben doing that. Very cute indeed.

I used “snow guy” because I wasn’t sure about “snow plough/plow” and was feeling too lazy for look for the right term. Still do, I guess.
Our snow guy charges about 200$ for a year of hassle-free snow management. I sort of like to clear out snow, but I also like to choose when I do it – on a mild evening, with light powder snow, rather than early morning, running late for work and swearing at the roll of snow from the street sweep. I can content myself by taking care of the front porch and the back patio at my convenience just fine. Also, we have a canvas garage (term for this…?) so we skip on clearing up the car, as well. We’re pretty pampered.

Re, translating: In this case I did (and thus I hesitated on translating the last sentence as such, but I decided to leave it be). It’s not always the case, however. In fact, I often write in English first, don’t know why… maybe because French is for talking. Depends on topics, too, I guess. Kudos on getting the cédille in!

By: fv

fv — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:31:11 +0000

I agree. I often sit in awe of single parents. I can barely take care of myself.

Also, j’adore quand Benjamin cherche ses mots, doigt a la bouche, les yeux vers le ciel. Too cute.

By: Simon

Simon — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:57:28 +0000

That baby language phase is utterly brilliant, isn’t it? Such determination to be understood and pride in knowing that he got his point across. Just awesome.

I kind of wish we had a “snow guy”. I *am* the snow guy. I am SNOW MAN!

I assume you write these en Français first, and then translate to English?