French for "To go beyond one's limits"

"See you" in French... and I hope you win this prize!

How to say "wise" in French?

French for "To go beyond one's limits"

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

The painted sign reads: "To live well, love well, and let the others say what they will!" Pour bien vivre, bien aimer, et laisser dire

se sublimer (seuh-soo-blee-may)

: to transcend oneself, to go beyond one's limits

Audio File: listen to today's word in the following story, written and read aloud by Jean-Marc! Download MP3 or Wav file

A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE... by Kristin Espinasse

(Note: I am away for a few weeks. Today's story is a rerun. Enjoy!)

"Un jour dans la vie d’écrivain de Kristi..." by Jean-Marc
A Day in Kristi's Writing Life... by Jean-Marc
.

Aujourd’hui, je voudrai vous parler de ce qu’est le quotidien de notre chère écrivain.
Today, I want to talk to you about what is a typical day in the life of our dear writer.

Kristi se lève vers 6H le matin, ouvre la porte pour que Smokey (qui alors aboie et réveille toute la maison), puis Braise sortent quelques minutes) puis, elle va gentillement nous préparer le thé.
Kristi wakes up around six in the morning, opens the door so that Smokey (who then barks and wakes up the whole house), and then Braise, can go out a few minutes) then she kindly prepares us tea.

Ensuite, elle revient dans notre chambre pour boire le thé, consulter ses emails sans malheureusement pouvoir y répondre car c'est bientôt l'heure d'écrire son édition.
Next, she returns to our room to drink the tea, to consult her emails, without, unfortunately being able to respond to them for it is soon time to begin her edition.

C’est au tour de Jackie et Max de se lever et alors que je vais accompagner Maxime au bus, c’est Kristi qui le plus souvent s’occupe d’amener Jackie à l’école.
Now it's time for Jackie and Max to get up and while it is I who takes Max to the bus, it's most often Kristi who takes care of getting Jackie to school.

Il est 8 H 30 et Kristi, le plus souvent, n’a toujours pas idée de ce qu’elle va écrire. Pour elle, l’inspiration est souvent synonyme d’improvisation.
It is 8:30 and Kristi, most often, still has no idea what she's going to write. For her, inspiration is often synonymous with improvisation.

Ce léger stress et la pression de devoir écrire une édition la plus parfaite en moins de quatre heures, tout en ayant à inclure sponsors, photos, messages vocaux, est une réelle prouesse d’artiste, surtout lorsque cela se produit en moyenne trois fois par semaine.
This slight stress and the pressure to have to write the best edition in less than four hours, all the while including sponsors, photos, vocal messages, is a true prowesse of the artist, especially when this is reproduced, in general, around three times a week.

Dans ce délicat exercice, elle a le don de se sublimer pour produire une histoire qui va elle, engendrer un moment de bonheur à ses lecteurs.
In this delicate exercise, she has the gift of transcending herself in order to produce a story that will itself engender a moment of happiness for her readers.

Pendant ce temps là, Kristi a un grand besoin de calme et ne se donne que quelques courtes pauses pour aller grignoter un fruit.
During this time, Kristi has a real need for calm, and she only gives herself a few short breaks to go and snack on some fruit.

Une fois l’édition terminée, elle prépare notre déjeuner, va faire balader les chiens et puis, après avoir mangé son repas, elle va décompresser par une petite "sacro-sainte" sieste.
Once her edition is finished, she fixes our lunch, goes to walk the dogs and then, after eating her lunch, she goes to decompress by a little sacred nap.

Vient ensuite l’heure de lire les commentaires qui sont pour elle la récompense des efforts fournis dans la matinée. Elle va ensuite avoir un tout petit peu de temps pour répondre aux très nombreux emails et de s'occuper de nos enfants, de rencontrer quelques amis, de tenir la maison propre...
Next up, it is time to read the story comments which are for her the reward for her morning efforts. She'll then have a little time left to respond to numerous emails and to take care of our kids, meet with friends, and keep the house clean.

Voilà, je pensais vous pourriez savoir à quoi ressemble une journée type dans la vie de votre écrivain. Comme vous le voyez, cela ne lui laisse pas beaucoup de temps de loisirs.

So there you have it, I thought you might like to know just what a typical day looks like in the life of your writer. As you can see, it doesn't leave a lot of time for leisure.
.

Aussi, j’espère que vous serez indulgents si elle ne répond pas toujours aux très nombreux emails qu’elle reçoit. Sachez néanmoins qu’ils sont tous lus et appréciés.

Also, I hope you'll be indulgent if she doesn't always respond to the numerous emails that she receives. Know, however, that they are all read and appreciated.
.

Même si Kristi travaille énormément, elle se considère privilégiée de pouvoir être en contact avec de si nombreux lecteurs qui ont tous également du talent, de la sagesse et un grande âme.
Even if Kristi works alot, she considers herself priviledged to be able to be in contact with so many readers who all have, equally, talent, wisdom and great souls.

Jean-Marc, standing next to a mailbox at our cousin's house near Aix. When André and Annie (aunt- and uncle-in-law) hung their boîte à lettres one this magical plane tree... the tree responded by reaching out... for the longest hug in history (it took a decade or two to complete the hug!) Maybe someone should contact the Guiness Book of Records?

A reader favorite for the holidays:
French Christmas Music: "Mon Beau Sapin", "Saint Nuit", "La Marche des Rois", "Petite Ville Bethléem", "Il est né Le Divin Enfant". Order CD here.

A Message from Kristi: Ongoing support from readers like you keeps me writing and publishing this free language journal each week. If you find joy or value in these stories and would like to keep this site going, donating today will help so much. Thank you for being a part of this community and helping me to maintain this site and its newsletter.

Ways to contribute:
1.Zelle®, The best way to donate and there are no transaction fees. Zelle to [email protected]

2.Paypal or credit card
Or purchase my book for a friend and so help them discover this free weekly journal.
For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety

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Comments

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Merci Jean-Marc! I loved reading this and will look forward to discovering so many bijous from the archives in the following weeks. Bonne Voyage Kristi...

Posted by: Heather in Arles | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 10:20 AM

Hey! Kristin watch out you have a rival here. Thank you Jean - Marc I could visualise this day of Kristin's so well from your writing.
(As a footnote to my delight I could follow the french before seeing the translation) What is so informative though, is the sentence construction & phrasing .
How are you Kristin ? It was such rotten luck for that to happen
Enjoy your holiday !

Posted by: Audrey Wilson | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 10:49 AM

Thank you for rerunning this post. I really enjoyed it and the charming mail box. Thank you JM for giving us this insight into your lives. Hope you are having a delightful holiday.

Posted by: Nancy | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 01:46 PM

Nicely written, Jean-Marc, and a great reminder for those of us who wait for the next posting with eager anticipation. I keep thinking that one must live life to write about it. Your beautiful wife Kristi is truly a joy...

Posted by: Chris Allin | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 02:28 PM

Hi Jean-Marc and Kristin,
Thanks for giving us a glimpse of a day in your life! It's cold here in Charlottesville today....16 degrees...-8.9 Celsius!

Posted by: Eileen deCamp | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 02:42 PM

I don't remember reading this one before! A rerun...delightful :-) I especially loved the tree and mailbox photo with Jean-Marc. Remarkable that the tree grew like that!!!

Posted by: Gail Lentz (Gaelle) | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 02:48 PM

The rerun text today (11/19) on my iPad was all squidhed together. Most of the rest of the text was ok.

Posted by: G. Love | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 03:10 PM

Bravo Jean-Marc. Your love for Kristi and appreciation for all she does is evident in every beautiful word. I must have missed this edition the first time around. I so enjoyed the glimpse into a typical day in your lives -- and reading it in French was an extra special treat. Merci!

Posted by: Cassie Alexandrou | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 03:19 PM

Good job!

Posted by: phyllis morton | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 03:21 PM

Hi there, Kristi & Jean-Marc. Just have to
let you know I'm a new-comer & am delighted
to find your French-Word-a-Day. It's so down to earth and also educational....to learn a little bit of French is delightful!
Looking forward to more of your inspiration!

Posted by: Twila | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 03:25 PM

Merci Jean-Marc!

Let travail quotidien de Kristi apporte une grande joie à beaucoup de gens.

Posted by: John Morgan | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 03:39 PM

Quel plaisir de pouvoir ecouter le francais aujourd'hui.
Joan L.

Posted by: Joan L. | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 03:40 PM

Bien, Jean Marc!
A most kind and empathic view into the life of the writer.

Your last sentence is a lovely sentiment regarding your feelings toward the readership.

Thanks to all of you for letting US into your lives so intimately.

Amicalement,

Micki

Posted by: Micki Simms | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 03:42 PM

Pour mes besoins celui est le meilleur edition, parce qu'il assiste tellement ma comprehension de la langue parle. Je vais l'ecouter plusieur fois..
Merci

Posted by: Max Morrow | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 04:06 PM

Merci Jean-Marc pour partager un aperçu de la vie de notre cher Kristi! Je sens que Kristi serait ma soeur!

Je suis d'accord avec John Morgan^. C'est vrai!

Bonne journée d'Arizona!

~Beth

Posted by: Beth | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 04:09 PM

This is a great "story" and I listened over and over, practicing my "non"-accent. One day, J'espere....

And Thank you so much for the French Christmas Music CD. Absolutely the best ever and it is never too early (or too late) to play -whether Christmas or not. I love it.

Posted by: Coleen Clemente | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 05:07 PM

J'aime beaucoup lire cette article en français. ça m'aide énormément pour apprendre de nouvelles expressions. je pense que vous aurez plus de lecteurs si vous écriviez une version française et anglaise.
Et c'est un poste intéressant d'ailleurs !

Bonne continuation!

Posted by: Margot | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 05:42 PM

Merci mille, Jean et Kristin, for the re-post.
I have not read this before.
You are an online treasure pour moi:)
Greetings from Alhambra, California (LA County)

Posted by: sophie | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 05:50 PM

Merci Jean-Marc et Kristin pour le leçon de française.

Posted by: Jackie Mancuso | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 06:18 PM

Superb, Jean-Marc!

Posted by: Bobbi C. | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 06:27 PM

Thank you Kristi and Jean-Marc for the re-run of this delightful description of Kristi's day. I enjoyed the French-English translation and Jean-Marc's reading in French!

I am so sorry about your traumatic and sad happenings during the past weeks and sincerely hope that the next few weeks will be a recuperative and happy time for you.

Thinking of you, Cynthia

Posted by: Cynthia Lewis | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 07:22 PM

Merci pour l'edition en francais! Je suis toujours heureuse de touver la langue que j'etudies. Je voudrais voir plus en francais!

Posted by: Nancy Shalen | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 08:37 PM

Enjoy your time off together, Kristin & Jean-Marc. I must have missed this first time round. Enjoyable read; thanks for the re-post.

Posted by: Trina, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA | Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 09:31 PM

Merci Jean-Marc for re-sending this edition, it was truly delightful to read your words relating the events of Kristi's day.
I sincerely hope she is having a relaxing and pleasant interulde. I think of you both as if you are another extension of my family as I read and see photographs of where you now live and admire your endeavours in your work. My fondest wishes to you both
June ami artiste Qld

Posted by: JuneFurey | Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 03:25 AM

Oui, Kristi a UNE grande ame. Moi, toujours prof de francais mais je suis sure que c'est un "typo":)
Une belle petite histoire. Merci. Amities, Janine

Posted by: Janine Cortell | Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 05:24 AM

Bonjour!

What a delight to read and understand more about your life, Kristin and Jean-Marc.

Have a great time wherever you may be!

And I loved the picture! Now that is what I call a real "Tree Hugger"!

Posted by: Georgia from Northern CA | Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 05:33 AM

Merci, Jean-Marc, for giving us a verbal photo of a day in the life of your precious wife. What a challenge to do that daily! A writer's life is never easy and it takes a lot of energy plus an understanding family. So glad Kristi has both. Happy holiday, Kristi, and don't forget to sneak some pumpkin pie into your life in thanksgiving.

Posted by: Diane Young | Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 08:08 PM

I always enjoy Kristi's comments, observations and feelings. Enjoy your time in Az and wherever else, and Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you, JM, for your description of Kristi's day.

Posted by: Sue Lennox | Friday, November 21, 2014 at 02:08 AM

This was terrific. Jean Marc's assessment of your day Kristi was said with such love and tenderness. The nice thing about it is really sounds like he knows exactly what you do...How many men can say that about their wives? There seems to be such good energy in your family and your children will carry that forward, differently, but they will bring it into their lives as well...This is a season for celebrating family...you all have much to celebrate.

Posted by: BJ Tuininga | Sunday, November 23, 2014 at 08:00 PM

Jean-Marc, I thoroughly enjoyed your story, and was glad for a longer audio file than usual. I'd be pleased to listen to more stories in the future.

Kristin, I echo Jean-Marc's (and readers') appreciation for all you do. It is so easy to take your efforts for granted; what is done behind the scenes may not be apparent, but we know how hard you work to bring FWAD to us. Never feel compelled, but be aware that we are grateful.

Posted by: Marianne Rankin | Tuesday, December 02, 2014 at 05:11 AM

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