I wanted to be a dancer, an artist, a fashion designer. More than anything, I aspired to become a writer. I imagined that I might try on each of these roles and perhaps even simultaneously. When I was young, like the rest of us, I wove my futures from child-like fabric without knowledge of complexities, […]
Hot Dogs and French Open (and French Men?)
Et si je disais que je m’occupais de “chiens chauds” et de Roland Garros? If I were to say that this weekend is dedicated to the pursuit of as much French Open Tennis as I can manage (on television, sadly) – and the occasional hot dog? Isn’t that a glorious combo? Might we mix the […]
Vivacious (Or How to Stay Young and Mischievous)
French version / version française © D A Wolf How do you say “tongue in cheek” in French? He ignores me. He types next to me. He’s concentrating on his work, but he reaches his hand over to my knee. Must I ask again? “I don’t know how to translate that,” he says, looking at […]
No Pity for the Limping Duck
No pity for the what? Huh? So what does that mean? Ever page through entertaining English expressions? Or expressions in the language of your choice? It’s great fun! And might we start with the duck? Ne pas casser trois pattes à un canard. That means to be mediocre; to be nothing out of the ordinary, […]
Crazy Crevettes Sauvages à l’Espagnole (Recipe for a Sensual Soirée)
C’est le weekend, mes enfants! How about a romantic recipe for seasonal and sensual shrimp? Il faut bien faire la corrida de temps en temps, n’est-ce pas ? You need to party hardy (and do so with a fab and easy budget recipe that is healthy, succulent, colorful and a delish dish). So how about […]
Isn’t it the month for a Mad Girl’s Love Song?
A little something different for a Spring weekend, whatever the weather? Sylvia Plath’s Mad Girl’s Love Song is one of my favorite poems from my teenage years. Recently, something reminded me of the words, “I think I made you up inside my head,” and I found myself searching out this classic example of the villanelle […]
Cheesy
Fromage. Isn’t that a fabulous word? It’s the delicious, elongated “aaaah” in the second syllable that adds to the yum factor. So. Have you enjoyed any fromage lately? And yes. It is French for cheese. Last night I caught The Truth About Cats and Dogs on cable, in which there is an amusing scene where […]
Gender Roles: Virile Verbs, Apathetic Adverbs, Nouns in the Nunnery
Musing on gender stereotypes, parts of speech, and love.
Bags, Mags, and Shags
The best Rx: Take two chick flicks and call me in the morning.
When’s the last time you had fun?
“What do you do for fun?” he asked. I was taken aback. Really taken aback. I don’t remember the last time anyone posed that question. And it’s not unreasonable, when you’re just getting to know someone. The context? A phone call – a friend of a friend sort of thing – and all very pleasant. […]