An amusing prepost anecdote-when I was about 6 years old, I once told a friend's mother that I was born in Paris, France. I came to this conclusion because my middle name is Noel. My parents told me from the time I can remember that my name meant "Christmas" in French, and I convinced myself thereafter that I was born overseas. What made my supposition especially ridiculous was the fact that it was difficult to get my mother to leave the city we lived in, let alone the state or country.
Overheard in the kitchen last week:
Annelise (to Alex): How do you say "What is your name" in French?
Alex: Um, is it comment allez vous?
Me: No, I think that's "how are you?"
Alex: Oh yeah, I think it's "Comment appelez-vous"
Me: Yeah, I think that's it. Have they taught you any swear words yet? (Okay. Why did I ask this? Certainly I wasn't hoping for an affirmative answer. I think I can go on the record as saying I'd be awfully pissed if School District 191 was teaching my kid how to swear in another language. And I'm blaming South Park for the literature on my refrigerator? Who do I think I'm fooling?)
Alex: Nooooo....
Me: Well merde means "shit" in French.
Annelise: (clearly delighted with this knowledge) Really? Clark has big piles of merde all over the back yard! Clark, do you have do go outside and merde? I hate it when Steve uses the downstairs bathroom because it always smells like merde afterwards!
