Mom and I are arranging our drive down to Florida. Since the cherry blossoms are blooming, we're going to make a brief stop in DC tomorrow! But, it's going to only be for a few hours, so we won't have time to get together with any DC-istas, darnit.

We're going to park (for free!) at the south end of the island where the festival is at and take the (free) shuttle up to the trees, and then cab it over to the new National American Indian museum near the Capitol to check that out, then cab it back to the festival and car, and drive south to stay overnight in Frederickburg. Then, onto Florida Monday!

That sounds fun, Kathy!

Cashmere, that's hysterical. Root beer is very very naughty.

It's oogie and overcast today. Bummer.

Susan, I'd use "maintenant!" or "immediatement!" but you should probably wait on megan.

J'arrive!

Well, it's not really a "hurry up" kind of thing. They've been following one of my characters all day, looking for the right moment to abduct him, and it's just arrived. So maybe the leader doesn't have to say "Now!" It could just as well be "Go!" or "Get him!" or whatever would sound succinct and menacing.

I would probably use "Allons-y" which would technically translate as "Let's go!" but there's definitely a "Now!" implied. As for menace, remember it's the verb that starts off "La Marseillaise", probably the most gory, militaristic national anthem ever.

Sigh. Where that time machine to go tell myself to take French instead of Spanish 19 years ago when I started college? Because I feel like such a pest to always be bugging y'all over stuff like this, and yet I'm not going to stop writing this book for the time it would take me to fit learning a new language into my crowded schedule.

FWIW, I love your questions because it's good translation practice for me. Although, I was rewriting something with "fort" yesterday and all I could think of was your sentence about the Duke's sexual prowess.

I would probably use "Allons-y" which would technically translate as "Let's go!" but there's definitely a "Now!" implied. As for menace, remember it's the verb that starts off "La Marseillaise", probably the most gory, militaristic national anthem ever.

Thanks!

I know the lyrics are gory, but I've always loved the sound of "La Marseillaise."

FWIW, I love your questions because it's good translation practice for me.

I'm glad.

Although, I was rewriting something with "fort" yesterday and all I could think of was your sentence about the Duke's sexual prowess.

Snerk.

I know the lyrics are gory, but I've always loved the sound of "La Marseillaise."

It is beautiful. In official ceremonies, they usually sing what is called the children's verse, which, while not talking about bloody standards and cutting throats, still manages to bring up vengeance, coffins, and death.

Toilet paper cheque not honoured.

16 worst places to put/do stuff, from a health point of view. I think everyone's guaranteed to violate a few of these.

I only violate the blankets one and the shoes in the closet, but that one only because of my current living situation. Previously, I left my shoes at the door. I do often remove them to walk through the house and then put them in the closet though.

ETA: Ooops, and the TV/food one. I don't count the earbud one only because I know I don't do the volume thing. In fact, I stopped using my iPod on the plane for the very reason they cite.

I keep coffee in the freezer, I watch TV while eating dinner (although it's not precisely set up that way, it is possible), I do not treat my kitchen sink like it's the most contaminated area in my apartment, nor my bag like it's the most contaminated thing. But I do clean food prep surfaces before I use them, which I hope serves as a mitigating factor.

I wonder about the kitchen sink thing though. I would imagine that it would depend on how you used it. Do you have a garbage disposal there? Do you have a dishwasher? I wash my dishes in my sink--does that mean it's cleaner or dirtier than someone that uses a dishwasher?

I thought the Mythbusters guys disproved the idea that toilet germs infect toothbrushes on the sink.