To Rosetta Stone or Not to Rosetta Stone

Once upon a time, I was nearly fluent in French. That was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Now there are different ways to refresh my French. One would be to purchase Rosetta Stone French edition and invest $599. Now I can rationalize this because we are working on a project with someone (at work) who is challenged in their command of the English language...suffice it to say, not one of his strengths. So I could use it for work as well as for our birthday journey. (Thank you Needle Noggins for keeping those sales going so as to fund our trip.) However, Rosetta Stone is $599!!!! Now, one can purchase levels 1-3 for about half that amount and it would probably get us through Paris, Giverny, Versailles and most certainly our day in London!

There are also CD's of foreign languages. They retail for a whole lot less, I am sure. Are they as thorough? Will someone really ask me the color of my pencil (which I am quite positive I will be able to answer that question with a CD program)? I wonder...

We have a dealer in Quebec who is French. She's lovely and has volunteered to help me regain my French. So, at $.06/min on the phone...hmmm. Should I take a class? The only tests I'm interested in are those in the patisserie where they are going to ask me what kind of croissant I want!

So, back to the issue of re-learning my francais. (There's supposed to be a squiggly "c" thingy under the c but I don't have that on my computer...I don't think.

I guess it is more important for me to regain my French for work as that will be the most challenging situation. I think I'll try Levels 1-3. Surely, he will be able to meet me halfway in his quest for communication. If I find that 1-3 is not enough, I'll search online and supplement my language education that way. Maybe my friend, Hans, who is fluent in 5 languages will help me! AND he's in the same field for which I need to learn vocabulary. There. Problem solved.

PS I told you I could rationalize anything! :-)

How many days now?

The answer is: 477! Katie has printed off things to do for our one day jaunt to merry 'ole London town! We obviously must do the Tower as Katie is in search of a "crown" charm necklace like the one she purchased when she was there after her graduation from high school. It was lost. Then it's off (not with our heads) but to Buckingham Palace. Two museums to enjoy: The Queen's Gallery and The Royal Mews. I am quite certain that HRH Queen Elizabeth II will gladly welcome her distant (very distant) cousins and have high tea with us. Yea...right.

When I started this blog the journey to the journey was supposed to include a weight loss/excercise/going to be fit for all the hiking around Paris, Giverny, Versailles, London, etc (possibly Passy). Well...let's just suffice it to say that the Krispie Kreme donuts that I ingested today are really not part of the plan.

Going to get myself psyched! Accountability! Veggies, fruits, lean meats and low carb counts and, what's that word...begins with an "e"...exorcise...no that's not it...oh, exercise. Just moving will help...right? Not too many changes at once...overwhelming. OK! Come June 3, 2011, I'm going to wish I had started now if I don't start now...so...no time like the present!

Goal: 45 lbs gone in 15.9 months. So very doable. That averages 3 lbs a month! I can do this. So, once again, we begin the journey to the journey! FOCUS!!!!!!

Hugs and kisses (no not the Hershey's kind!)
Jan