Roupillon & The Snooze Button at our Home (Hint: it's furry...)
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Jean-Marc enjoys un roupillon at the beach. Enjoy an update on Chief Grape and more in today's post. I’ll see you in a few weeks, after my family’s visit. Read on.
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TODAY’S WORD: LE ROUPILLON
: a nap, a snooze
Chaque matin, Ricci m’accorde quelques roupillons—de petites siestes entre ses coups de patte insistants, mon bouton de rappel intégré en action.
Each morning, Ricci grants me a few cat naps—little dozes between her persistent paw taps, my built-in snooze button at work.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
It is early Sunday morning, and Ricci is stirring. Soon, she’ll quietly move from the bottom of the bed to begin her journey toward my pillow, where a series of light paw taps are designed to wake me. She is my living, breathing alarm clock—and she comes with a built-in, voice-activated snooze button.
When I realize we’re up even before the birds—who are not yet chirping—I reach for my phone and learn it is 5:15 a.m. Non! I say firmly, turning my back to her, letting Ricci know, in no uncertain terms, Ce n’est pas fini, le dodo! My command instantly activates the snooze button, as Ricci settles back down, falling against me with a plaintive harrumph!
The little curled ball against my back may be only 11 kilos, but her weight snug against me is so comforting. I wish we could sleep like this for another hour, but I know that in five minutes, she’ll attempt, once again, to get me up and at ’em.
In the meantime, my mind is waking up, and—with a slight but daunting feeling—I begin thinking about the days ahead…
Le Chantier
Max and Ana’s new apartment. After months of renovation, they’ll finally move in on Saturday! Today at noon, Jackie and I are joining them—and Aunt Cécile—for a brief pause-déjeuner. After Max hinted that fait maison is always better, Jackie bought all the ingredients to make tuna sandwiches, while I’m in charge of homemade cookies…
I’m now mentally making a grocery list when Ricci, sensing my agitation, begins to stir. But I’m not ready to get up just yet. Non! I quickly hit the furry snooze button again.
But now, my thoughts jump to Monday…
The Blog!
Le lundi, I begin a new draft to tinker with for the rest of the week. I think I’ll write a post called Snooze Button (a.k.a. my dog) and weave in updates about the coming week. (Ça y est—the story’s begun!) But the French don’t have a cool word for “snooze button” (they call it le snooze, and that won’t do!), so we’ll change it to roupillon, which means “nap” or “forty winks”—which is just what I get, blink, blink, blink, before Ricci nudges me again. I groan and press snooze for the second time…
Only, instead of drifting back to sleep, I’m thinking of Tuesday!
9:30 a.m. Hair Appointment
Mardi, with Cyril-le-coiffeur’s help, it’ll take a full balayage to cover all the grays that have rushed in during my husband’s absence. That’s right—after two months in South America, Jean-Marc will be home soon, and my hair is showing signs of his absence.
While the house didn’t sink into the ground, there were a few crises during Chief Grape’s departure—a little plague, a little flood, and a little duperie but I managed. (Even if my hair didn’t. Where did all that silver come from? Admittedly, it was nerve-racking dealing with the jobs my husband usually handles—like negotiation and plumbing. Did I mention Mom’s kitchen flooded? The faucet sprang a leak, and thankfully, our friendly fée caught it in time—merci, Fiona!).
Just when I begin fretting over how Mom will manage without le robinet for three days, Ricci gently paws me. Tap… tap… tap.
I grumble and press snooze: Non, Ricci! Dodo!
Now, my mind is racing to Wednesday…
Le Retour
Ce mercredi, Jean-Marc arrives at l’aéroport de Marignane in Marseille! After biking in Chile, making wine in Argentina, and a promenade in Peru, my husband is ready to come home—especially after the last week.
After hiking Machu Picchu, he traveled to Lima and jumped right into the sea—swallowing a giant gulp of seawater by accident. He came down with a terrible five-day gastro and finally traced it back to that big gulp. (In a city of nearly 12 million people, who knows what is piped into the water… The same happens in France, only here the beaches are condemned on days when the water is “unclear”…). Poor Jean-Marc, malade comme un chien for days.
Speaking of dogs…
Ricci shifts beside me. Oh no you don’t! I reach for the furry snooze button and pat her back. Not yet, girl… go back to sleep.
As for me, no chance of dozing now—I’m already bracing for Thursday…
P-Day
Le jeudi is when I publish my blog. It’s the moment to triple-check the format, the story, the sound file, and the photos. I allow the entire morning to tie up any loose ends before my column goes out to 20,000 pairs of eyes! (half of all subscribers actually open the newsletter, so that’s 10,000 and I don’t want a single eyeball to spot an error!).
Ricci sighs. By now she knows the drill and settles back down.
But now, it’s Friday… if only in my head…
Merci Beaucoup!
Le vendredi is when I catch up with emails—including several personal thank-yous to readers who’ve sent in a donation following Thursday’s post. Hopefully, I’ll also make it to the post office to ship out books—because I’m beginning to learn that business, the old-fashioned way, is good. (Contact me if you’d like to buy a book!)
Ricci stirs. I instinctively hit snooze. If only we could get those forty winks! But by now, my brain has jumped ahead to Saturday…
Hiking with Jenny
Samedi, I’m meeting my new friend Jenny, who is an avid hiker. This comes at a good time, as I’ll soon lose my hiking buddy—Jackie—who’s about to fly off again… this time to The Big Apple. (Stay tuned!) Will she be safe? Who will she meet? Will she come home?
Ricci presses against my back. But here comes next Sunday… and we’re not yet done catastrophizing before sunrise…
Slinking into Church
Dimanche—After skipping today, I’ll make an effort to go next week…Ricci nudges me…Non! Snooze button engaged.
Now, my mind leaps ahead to next week!
Family Arrives!
March 24th, my family begins arriving: Heidi, Payne, Maddi, Reagan—landing on three different days. It’s going to be a busy week… but all I can think about is: What will we eat? Spaghetti Roquefort… le magret de canard… les moules marinières… des tartes tomates… le poulet rôti… ah, pizza—thank God for pizza!
I hit the furry snooze button once again. Even Ricci seems exhausted from it all and voluntarily goes back to sleep.
And when I’m finally ready to get up, guess who hits snooze this time?
“Ricci, come on! The day’s begun!” To energize her, I repeat our morning prayer: “This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it! Ceci est le jour que le Seigneur a fait ; je me réjouirai et en serai heureux.”
But all my dog can utter is… harrumph!
COMMENTS
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FRENCH VOCABULARY
Jean-Marc recorded this one from the Madrid airport! Don't miss it!
le roupillon = nap, snooze
le dodo = sleep
n’est pas = isn’t
fini = finished
le snooze = snooze
le chantier = construction site, renovation project
la pause-déjeuner = lunch break
le fait maison = homemade
le lundi = Monday
ça y est = that’s it
le mardi = Tuesday
le coiffeur/la coiffeuse = hairdresser
le balayage = hair highlighting using a freehand painting method
la duperie = deception, trickery, being taken advantage of
la fée du logis = house fairy, housekeeper
le robinet = faucet
le mercredi = Wednesday
le retour = return
l’aéroport = airport
l’ océan = ocean
la gastro = gastroenteritis
malade comme un chien = sick as a dog
le jeudi = Thursday
le vendredi = Friday
le samedi = Saturday
le dimanche = Sunday
la famille = family
le magret de canard = duck breast
les moules marinières = mussels in white wine sauce
la tarte = tart
le poulet rôti = roast chicken
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I leave you with some Oiseaux de Paradis, spotted in town. Have a lovely weekend. See you in a few weeks!
COMMENTS
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Love that photo of Ricci with her stuffed toy! Thank you for le mot "roupillon." Glad to hear that Jean-marc is home safe and sound.
Posted by: Suzanne | Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 02:41 PM
That last pic of Ricci -- adorable! Best of luck with the sales of your book.
Posted by: Sue J. | Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 02:48 PM
Hi Kristi,
Love the pictures and Ricci is so cute. I am glad that you have another dog and one who is a snooze button. I totally understand lying in bed and running through your day/s before getting up and starting your day. I do the same thing and then I need to get up and start doing.
I had a hard time finding the comment button, but as you see, I did.
We are just beginning spring here in Connecticut. My daffodils are sprouting and some are even showing their yellow buds. The birds who migrated are returning and I am working in my garden.
We haven’t planned a trip to France yet, but hopefully we will and then we will say we are from Canada 😉
Thank you for your blog, Kathleen
Posted by: Kathleen BidneY | Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 03:56 PM
I can relate to all of this, sans le réveil pour chien. Once the mind starts going, game over! Love the prayer - I often CHOOSE this prayer when waking up anxious or concerned. Now I can practice in French! C'est super!
Posted by: Beth | Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 04:37 PM
What a unique and clever format for your post today! The pictures are charming, as always. How wonderful to have Jean-Marc home again. Sometimes it is the spaces in our relationships that help strengthen the bond and allow us to appreciate each other in new ways. It also shows you how resilient and resourceful you are in trying situations. Is there a special occasion that your family is gathering to celebrate? Enjoy your time together. Looking forward to hearing about Jackie’s new adventures in NYC.
Posted by: Jo-Anne | Friday, March 21, 2025 at 03:19 PM
Ooohhh, how well I relate to furry alarm clocks. In my case 3 cats. One sits very close and stares, one sits and yells, one pats my face with a soft little paw that gets increasingly pointy with each reminder that The Dishes Are Empty. And that's a busy week! Enjoy family visits! If Jackie wants to network, I have family friends, in their 20s, living in Brooklyn.
Posted by: Karen in Northport, NY | Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 05:01 PM
Hello, I’m a long time reader and have your first book! My daughter (also named Jackie, who I think is the same age as your Jackie) lives in the Big Apple! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
Posted by: Julie | Monday, March 31, 2025 at 04:45 AM
Thank you, Julie!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Monday, March 31, 2025 at 03:17 PM