Friday, July 28, 2006

Quelle prise de tête

In a recent conversation with a friend, Chimp, I said that, when it comes to books, I have to enjoy myself. I can no longer read things that aren't pleasurable in one way or another. Which is not to say that the topic can't be serious. I recently re-read Nickled and Dimed: on not getting by in America (imagine that title is underlined because I can't figure out how to do it), which is a great book, thoroughly enjoyable, but the topic is quite serious and the conclusions even more so.

Which got me thinking about what I don't like. Which is when a book or a movie or anything, really, is une prise de tête. Literally, a taking of the head. It can be a verb, prendre la tête. As in ça me prend la tête, that takes my head. Or reflexively, il se prend la tête. He takes his head.

All of which means something along the lines of complicated where it could be simple. Or making something important out of something that needn't or shouldn't be. Or taking my head hostage by using pseudo-intellectual wannabe highbrow blah as a weapon. Or taking one's self too seriously to a point where one's head becomes the center of a ridiculous universe.

We're going on vacation tomorrow. Which, I hope, will be sans prise de tête. Bonnes vacances!




Update: Nickle and Dimed: on not getting by in America. Look what Eric taught me. I can be taught.




Update 2: Lorraine just taught me how to make these nifty lines. Aren't they the greatest couple?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Have fun- email me when you get back.

Anonymous said...

Have a great vacation! It is early in the morning but I think I am totally relating to that taking oneself to seriously. Since I had kids that makes me crazy in a person,

Eric said...

To underline you use opening and closing underline tags So imagin that I am using Angle brackets rather then square brackets here. [u]This should be underlined[/u] Evidently the comments dont like the u tag do not forget the closing tag.
And enjoy your vacation

Nicole said...

Zeb - Will do, mildew.

Julie - Thanks. I agree, for me it's been the mom thing and the foreigner country thing.

Christi - I'll try. Really hard.

Eric - You are a good man to know. And not just for code, or whatever that stuff is called.

Lorraine said...

Yeah, well, Eric is very brilliant but I just sent you an email with all sorts of tricks so yeah me.

Keep your head from going hostage. (Love that phrase...that needs to be our next French pronunciation lesson. When you're back).

Nicole said...

Lorraine - Yeah you, indeed. This expression is almost as good as pas catholique, n'est-ce pas?

Nicole said...

Charlie - he is indeed a he chimp and most definitely a scoundrel. A charming scoundrel though, which takes the edge off. Holidaying in Brittany, near Lorient. I have two lovely things to read, one new and one old. Neither of which will be, in the least, head hostage takers.

Anonymous said...

Have a wonderful vacation!

Lorraine said...

Oui.

Anonymous said...

Nicole - I check your blog every day - I'm glad that you are vacationing, however, I miss my daily dose of adult conversation - thus it is time for your return. I agree with Charlie!

Otilia said...

withdrawal symptoms setting in...please say something shocking to some uptight frenchman, and then tell us of it.

Anonymous said...

Still waiting, and waiting...and waiting...

Otilia said...

Come home, Nicole, come home!