Le modèle français

Image source: Ammar Abd Rabbo

It is day 8 of the 30 minus 2 days of writing hosted by Nicky and Mike of We Work For Cheese.  Today's prompt is "French".  Visit Nicky's page to see what the other long-suffering participants have written.

The plane landed in Paris, and after a long flight,  Sylvie was tired and longed for a hot bath.  Awed by the ornate fixtures, she checked into her five-star hotel.

"Bonjour Madame, comment allez-vous?"

"Je vais bien, merci.  Et vous?"

"Sera Mademoiselle besoin d'une clé ou deux?"

"Une, S'il vous plaît.  Sylvie followed the bellman to her room.  "Merci monsieur."  She tipped him and closed the door.   The years of French lessons she had taken in preparation for this had paid off.

After drawing a hot bath, she poured a glass of the chilled champagne that had been waiting for her.   She slipped into the tub, luxuriating in the steaming lavender scented water.  As she soaked she thought about what brought her to Paris.

She was participating in Fashion Week, and her boyfriend would be arriving tomorrow, hence the champagne she was enjoying.  This was the opportunity of a lifetime.  At the last minute Monique was struck with appendicitis, and required emergency surgery.   Although models are usually very competitive, Sylvie was genuinely sorry for her friend.

After two years of serving as backup, she finally got her chance.  She would impress them with her grace and poise.  She would pause at the end of the runway, turn and throw a dazzling smile at her boyfriend, her very rich boyfriend, Francois.

Afterward they would stroll along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées...one of the most romantic places in Paris.  They would stop beneath the lamp post, the soft glow adding to the ambiance.  He turned, his dark eyes searching her face.  "Sylvie, voulez-vous..."

Her cell phone was ringing, drawing her away from her thoughts.

"Bonjour?"

"Sylvia, where are you?  Wait, did you just say 'bonjour'?  Did you forget our bridge game?  Howard is already here."

Sylvia yawned and shook her head.  "I'm sorry Jan, I must have fallen asleep on the couch.  I just had the oddest dream.   It was so real. "

Texting

 It is day 7 of the 30 minus 2 days of writing hosted by Nicky and Mike of We Work For Cheese.  Today's prompt is "Texting".  For me it was more like a test I didn't study for.  Visit Nicky's page to see what the other long-suffering participants have written.

Way back in the dark ages before smart phones and home computers there was shorthand.  The Gregg version was invented by John Robert Gregg in 1888.  I took it in high school, (more recently than 1888) and it was probably my favorite class.  All the letters and sounds of the alphabet are represented, but the key to shorthand are brief forms.  Brief forms are words or phrases represented by one symbol, which increased efficiency.

After learning the alphabet and brief forms, we took dictation.  This was the fun part.  We started out at around 40-60 words per minute, and worked up.  I think my max rate was 140 words per minute.  We had to take and successfully transcribe 120 wpm to pass.  The funny thing was that after taking it at 110 or 120, going back to 90 or 100 was actually harder.  I think it was because we were used to the higher speed and had to recalibrate.

Thanks to modern technology, shorthand is a dying art.  Now we have computers and automated dictation equipment.  So how does all this tie in to texting?  Although serving different purposes, the brief forms used in shorthand are similar to the shortened words and phrases used in texting.  This new language allows us to convey our thoughts in 160 characters or less.  That's important when we're typing with just our thumbs.

We've actually used abbreviations like these for years such as FYI, BYOB, ASAP.  BTW, there are enough out there to MEGO.  I'll leave you with this list of shortcuts so you can tune up your texting skills.  TAFN.  CUL8R.

PS - What are some of your favorite texting short cuts?

PPS - Did anyone else take shorthand?

Raven Haven

 It is day 6 of the 30 minus 2 days of writing hosted by Nicky and Mike of We Work For Cheese.  This is written for the prompt "Haven".  For more great stories, check out the list on Nicky's post.

Big Pinnacle in Pilot Mountain State Park in North Carolina is the nesting site of the Common Raven.  They are on a watch list which means they are considered rare but not in danger from a conservation standpoint.  On a walk around the base of the pinnacle, they can be seen soaring high above the trees.  Even though they are part of the crow family, they soar and perform aerial acrobatics like the hawks.

The Big Pinnacle has been closed to the public since the late 70s.  The old staircase by which one reached the summit finally fell apart and was removed.  

I remember climbing that staircase.  It was back in the 60s and I think I was about 5 years old.  It's not something I would do now, but I'm glad to have had the experience - even if my memories are vague.

Not only is Big Pinnacle a haven for rare birds such as the Raven, as well as Falcons, Woodpeckers and Turkey Vultures, it's 4 acres contain rare ecological features not normally found in this area.  Among these is a rare oak called the Bear Oak, which is on the Threatened list and found in only four locations in the state.  For these reasons, the Big Pinnacle will remain closed in order to preserve our treasures.

Some Raven facts:

• Ravens are the largest bird in the crow family.
• They weigh around 3 pounds.
• They have a wing span of over 3 feet.
• They are intelligent, with the ability to learn a series of tasks to reach a goal.
• The Raven's call can express a wide range of emotions.
• They live from the desert to the coniferous forest to coastal cliffs.

For more information on Pilot Mountain and the Big Pinnacle read here. 

Speaking of Ravens, congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens on winning the Super Bowl.

Putting Out

It is day 5 of the 30 minus 2 days of writing hosted by Nicky and Mike of We Work For Cheese.  This is written for the prompt "You better put out".  Don't be put out, check out the list on Nicky's post for more stories.

I am the keeper of all things time, date and place related in our family. 

"What time are we supposed to be there?"  It's my job to remember who's house the party is at and what time we are supposed to show up.

"Do we have shows tonight?" This is a phrase often heard at our dinner table.  I am also the human TV Guide, knowing what's on, when and what channel.  

Image Source:  Markus Merz

I take it all in stride, rinse and repeat as necessary.  I also delegate!

"Hey, tomorrow is Wednesday, you better put out the trash!  

"Recycles too?"

"Nope, they're next week."

Quote of the Week

It is day 4 of the 30 minus 2 days of writing hosted by Nicky and Mike of We Work For Cheese.  This is written for the prompt "Friendship".  Check out the list on Nicky's post for more friendly posts.

"Why did you do all this for me?" he asked. "I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you."

"You have been my friend," replied Charlotte.  "That in itself is a tremendous thing."
― E.B. White, Charlotte's Web


The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.
― Henry David Thoreau

Friendship is more about being than doing.