Learning English

234. Merry Christmas to you all

Ha_na — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:42:40 GMT

No blog until the new year (and no job, too). Everything is allowed during these holiday times made for joy!
See you soon, enjoy the fêtes. Kisses.

233. Frozen water in the middle of the Cour Napoleon, around the Pyramide, Musée du Louvre, Paris

Ha_na — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 20:37:38 GMT

It's so coldy for days -- but gloriously sunny -- that even in the core of Paris, water freezes in the Pyramide's basins corners... I guess

Seagulls upon the deepest part of the basin, all around the main Pyramide, numbed and asleep by the cold, remain still ...

232. Serenity

Ha_na — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 18:44:56 GMT

@Serendipity: Indeed, money is the main key, you're right.
@Agnès: Wise answer. And very true if I decide to shorten myself the experience...
@Grillon: You make me laugh, thanks! You have to know that the boss of the department is very good looking, yummy...!

I really would like not to further the trial period... I have to decide it quickly, because tomorrow will be the last day within the trial period. Stopping during my trial period is a right, I can apply it provided I can mention relevant and justified reasons (anyway, I had never did it before that company). Relationship with my main temp' agency is good and I enough trust my connections over there, I mean I know they will take my decision easy and keep on promoting my job profile with other companies.

231. Tired and not inspired

Ha_na — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:12:13 GMT

I have a new temporary job. I don't like it. But I must earn my living.

230. Charlie Brown - Charles Schutz

Ha_na — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:44:00 GMT

Linus: "It's not a bad little tree. All it needs is a little love." (so cute!!!)

229. Victor Hugo

Ha_na — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:15:22 GMT

"How did it happen that their lips came together? How does it happen that birds sing, that snow melts, that the rose unfolds, that the dawn whitens behind the stark shapes of trees on the quivering summit of the hill? A kiss, and all was said."
Victor Hugo quotes (French romantic Poet, Novelist and Dramatist, 1802-1885)

My own translation (I search the original text, if you have it, please wave me): Comment arriva t-il que leurs lèvres se joignirent? Comment arrive t-il que l'oiseau chante, que la neige fonde, que la rose fleurisse, que l'aube blanchisse derrière les formes désolées des arbres sur le somment frémissant de la colline? Un baiser, et tout était dit."

228. Talleyrand

Ha_na — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 20:03:19 GMT

"Show me another pleasure like dinner which comes every day and lasts an hour."
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand (1754-1838)

227. Joyce Brothers

Ha_na — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:58:34 GMT

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses." Joyce Brothers (born in 1929, Dr. Brothers is an American psychologist had a monthly column in Good Housekeeping magazine for almost four decades)

226. Rita Mae Brown

Ha_na — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:00:42 GMT

One of my favourite quotes that touches as well my heart my soul and my brain, even if I don't like at all the topics of this writer's books.
"Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work." Rita Mae Brown (American writer)

My very personal translation into french, which is also my personal way to understand this wonderful quote: "La créativité vient par la confiance. Fiez-vous à votre instinct. Et n'espérez jamais plus que ce que vous êtes en mesure de faire."

225. France's ongoing motto: "working more for earning more"

Ha_na — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:23:00 GMT

Heard this afternoon on BFM radio from the French right-wing leader (the party of the president):
"The demand of purchasing power from the working-class (workforce) is so strong that it motivates us and also gives us a sense of responsibility.
We have to make bigger efforts towards small salaries. 20 % of the weakest incomes have just seen their incomes improved thanks to the benefits in France. There are people who wonder: 'if I make overtime to earn 100€ more a month, I will lose the APL (the French housing benefit for very small incomes), and the bursary of my children, etc... Such a result will lead me to lose more than I'd really be allowed to earn... So is it useful to make overtime?'
We must find solutions and we must help to raise the modest salaries. 6 million of employees have just stated that their pay increased in October. Soon, from 4 to 5 million can hope to see an improvement of their salaries thanks to the monetization (payment) of the RTT (French system of rest, resulted from the 35 hours/week system).
For the other employees, it is necessary to enable wage negotiations to give employers the freedom to organise overtime. We have to aim the passage from the ongoing 8 % of unemployment to 5 % ."

"Il y a une demande de pouvoir d'achat de la part des salariés qui nous motive et responsabilise. Nous devons faire de plus grands efforts pour les petits salaires. 20% revenus les plus faibles voient leurs revenus améliorés grâce aux prestations en France. Il y a des gens qui se disent si je fais des heures supplémentaires pour gagner 100€ de plus par mois, est-ce si intéressant si je dois perdre l'APL, la bourse de mes enfants, etc..., à quoi ça sert? Nous devons aider à redresser les salaires modestes. 6 millions de salariés ont vu leur fiche de paie augmenter en octobre. 4 à 5 millions peuvent espérer voir une amélioration grâce à la monétisation des RTT. Pour les autres salariés, il faut permettre des négociations salariales avec ls employeurs pour donner + de liberté à faire des heures supplémentaires. Nous devons viser les 5% de chômage."