Looking ahead

So, my friend, Margarita, and I began studying for the Federal Court Interpreters Certification Exam (FCICE) a few weeks back. It takes a minimum of 2 years to certifiy since the written exam is only offered in even years and the oral part of the exam is only offered every odd year. I doubt I will be read to take the written exam (which I think is in June) this year. Therefore, I will have to be in this for the long haul if I am serious about it. It would be useful for taking statements from defendants and depositions from witnesses, to some extent. Although, our interaction with the latino portion of the north country population is not all that frequent. Maybe there is more legal interaction in other settings (like family court or through social services). Regardless, both Marga and I find it very interesting and fun (in a geeky grammarian way...lol).

However, the little experience I have so far in pursuing this has made me feel totally inadequate linguistically speaking. Wow! Whenever you THINK you know a little something, you find out just how LITTLE that something is when doing something like this. I have immediately recognized some severe weaknesses in my Spanish language "skills". The verbs and vocabulary will be relatively easy to acquire, emphasis on RELATIVELY, in comparison the language nuances. I know that to help with that I am just going to have to start reading all that I can in Spanish. I have been SO linguistically lazy since I dropped out of my Master's program. (It still pains me to think of that, despite the fact that I believe that all things happen for a reason.)

When I try to see the big picture with this venture, I get discouraged. So, it will be best for me to focus on the parts that make up the whole and the whole will eventually be taken care of. Anyway, I find the parts fun. Yes, I confess I love grammar. My friends think I am a weirdo, but they ALWAYS come to me when they want to know how to spell something or to ask if something is grammatically correct. Well, when it comes to my English speaking friends. I take pride in being able to articulate myself well. There is an audio motivational program called Lead the Field in which Earl Nightingale says that the better one articulates oneself the more likely the listener will feel that person is knowledgeable. I'm paraphrasing, of course, but I feel there is some truth in what he says because he also goes on to say that that projected sense of knowledge has the ability to also elicit a sense of respect from the listener. It is difficult to perceive someone is credible when he/she cannot express him/herself competently.

In my opinion, the concept of the "economy of words" goes very well. It is worthwhile to mention two quotes of Thomas Jeffereson here.

"No style of writing is so delightful as that which is all pith, which never omits a necessary word, nor uses an unnecessary one."

"The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do."

Essentially, both quotes discuss the same subject: the economy of words. I find it amusing how the second of the two actually puts into practice this economy. I don't if chronologically these quotes were uttered by Jefferson in the order in which I have them. If so, it would be perfect example of putting that economy into practice because he had said virtually the same thing with using fewer words.

I find when I speak and when I write that I have tendency toward such an economy of words myself. I have often wondered why that is. I think it may have something to do with my perception of words as pieces to a puzzle and that the puzzle has a limited number of pieces with which it is constructed. None should be missing, none should be left over. There should be just enough of them. That is not to say that there is only one way to say or write something. It simply means that in order for words to fit well together, they have to be profuse and redundant.

So I think that language acquisition has had its appeal to me for the same reason. It is like a puzzle to try to figure out how to say what you want to say in one language and translate it into another, capturing structure, meaning and nuance and therefore completeing a mini puzzle.

I may never get to interpreter status, but having a study partner for this is going to prove to be so invaluable. It gives me the spark I had in me years ago that, through personal difficulties, had grown dim. So, I am looking forward to whatever I learn even if it isn't used for court interpretation. If I do manage to acquire such a high level of skill, it would be a good "retirement job" to work per diem in the court system (I would especially find criminal cases interesting). It will feed both my love of language and my love of a good detective story!

Wisp of Christmas spirit

I seemed to have more Christmas spirit a little over a month ago than I do now. Here it is the day before Christmas and I still have not put up any Christmas tree, and I don't even feel like it. The buying of gifts was, at best, a lack-luster exercise this year. And my two sisters that live here are both going to visit other family this Christmas.

But each time I hear this version of "O Holy Night", it sounds like an angel is singing it. (Josh Groban is what I imagine the angel Gabriel to look like too.) And it is a gentle and lovely reminder that all is okay in my world and no matter what is thrown my way, I can always rely on the Lord to lift me up in spirit and mind. No matter what others say or do (or fail to say or do as promised), I have faith in Him to see me through it all. He is who is there whenever you need Him. You just have to learn how to let Him in your heart.

Awards Ceremony 10/18/11

Unbeknownst to myself and my three fellow dispatchers at SP Plattsburgh, two of our supervisors, Sgt Fred Atkinson and Lt Walt Teppo, submitted our names for the Troop B Civilian of the Year award. The ceremony was held that the Malone Golf Course, a very pretty setting.

Here is a picture of us receiving our award. From left to right: Superintendent Joseph D'Amico, Bill Reyell, Kathy Owen, Leigh Olcott, me, Major Richard Smith

Xmas prep

In preparation of the rapidly approaching season of cheer, Kath and I thought a trying on of hats was in order. Personally, I'm for the snowman!





Yes, very goofy, but we had a good laugh.

Day 2 in Quebec City - in progress

We took a taxi to the city this day, so I wouldn't have to find somewhere to park the car.

First, we went to the Citadel. It is the official residence of Le Royal 22e Regiment (the 22nd Royal Regiment). The guide says the name should always be said in French, that the administrative language is French, but if you want to be an officer you must also learn English. It is really an odd mix of French and British heritage there. The guards (of which we missed the official changing, because of the rain it was cancelled) are dressed according to the British style: Red uniform jacket with white belt, black pants, and a large black, fuzzy, q-tip style hat. Even the stone work of some of the buildings show a mix of French and British construction. According to the guide the buildings with the irregularly shaped and placed stones are of French construction and the uniform blocks are of British construction. There's a pic I took of it that I'll include in the pictures below.



We got the idea to grab a couple of rain ponchos the first night since it began to rain when we were sitting out on a terrace having dinner. Luckily we were covered by an awning. The ponchos look goofy but they beat having to carry umbrellas.


This is part of the display of the regiment's deployment to Afghanistan. I thought the burka was the only thing worth looking at in it. The rest were bombs. And they were all set up under a tent.


The first building you enter on the tour had displays of the regiments involvement with UN peace-keeping missions around the world (of which the tent display was supposed to be a part)






Third from the left in this photo is Theodore Roosevelt. Third from the right is Winston Churchill and second from the right is Eleanor Roosevelt. (I liked this picture because I recently read Franlin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage, which I thoroughly enjoyed.)




The wind and rain had picked up. And the wind kept getting up and under the ponchos inflating them like balloons. It was a good laugh.


The Chateau Frontenac. There is a screen print on the foremost face of the roof because they are replacing it.


Some of the views from the wall of the Citadel




All the cannons were on stands that could be wheeled in arcs so that they had a wider area they could protect.

A few days in Quebec City - Day One 8/1

So a new friend of mine, Isa (short for Isabel) Mengual Luna, who is from Murcia, Spain, and I went to Quebec City for 3 days (8/1-8/3).

At first when we arrived at the Hotel and Suites Monte Cristo, we thought that we had rented a room in some shady hotel. As it turned out the room was spacious, and clean and the beds comfortable (though I still didn't sleep well).

We arrived there not long after 2pm and checked in at the hotel. (Did I say how much I love my TomTom yet? It brought is right to the hotel with no problems.) The receptionist told us how to get to the old part of the city without having to use the TomTom. It was very easy. We had dinner there the first night at a place called Les Frere de la Cote. I had delicious lamb chops for supper that night.

Cheers to arriving safely and to an interesting stay in Quebec.



(sorry it's blurry)

Here are some street scenes









I love the flowers hanging from the windows...


and the winding streets and old architecture.

Around the old part of Quebec City are ruins from what they called the old Artillery. These are the arches and spires and cannons you'll see in these next pictures. And, there is a great view of the city from atop the walls.




Nice picture of Isa




another blurry one


neat shot, even if I do say so myself







You could take a carriage ride or ride on a trolley like conveyance pulled by horses too. The carriage ride was very costly. $80 for a half hour. I would have paid for one the following day, but I didn't want to use the cash I had for that and they didn't take credit cards. Still, someday I would like to take one. I think they could be very romantic with the right person and you get to see more of the city that way. Since it sits up on a steep hill, it is rough on the feet and legs to walk it all. And all around the city you see these big green water fountains. They are for the horses to drink from.

A visit to Rutland, Vermont

The day after my niece's wedding, Natelle, Debbie, Morigan, Karen, Chantelle and I went on a road trip to visit some family members: an aunt, an uncle and a cousin (and her family).

Here are a couple of photos of the day:

Debbie, Morigan, Chantelle, Brock Blanchard (my cousin's son), the little boy's name escapes me just now but he is the son of my cousin's other son Dustin, Natelle, Karen, Aunt Eileen Colarell(my dad's youngest sister), Uncle David Scott (my father's late sister Pat's husband) behind, the little girl is the sister to the little boy (her name escapes me too), my cousin Pam Blanchard, her son Dustin Blanchard (and father of the two kids) behind


All the same, except I'm in this between Natelle and Karen. And, my cousin's husband Jay Blanchard has the little girl on his shoulders.