Q is for

QUAY

so i've been screwing around with this post for over a week now.  i had "q" down weeks before that, but i haven't been able to write anything that doesn't sound forced and stupidly encyclopedic to accompany these photographs.

english was never my best subject in school, but that just means that i got A-/B+ instead of A's. my writing is utilitarian, grammatically ok, and just perfect for writing up lab reports, work memos, and scientific papers.    a few years back, i took a creative nonfiction writing class at grub street and didn't make a total fool out of myself -- a very brave thing for me.  since starting this blog, however, i realize that my writing compared to others really just sucks.  like there's some sort of funnel between my wordless thoughts and the part of my brain that puts those thoughts into words through my fingers onto the computer screen.  i'm an excellent and very fast typist so it's clearly that part between my emotional thoughts/feelings and forming words based on those thoughts that is all muddled.

of course none of this has anything to do with my post.  or these pictures. 

see, when i try to get back to this post, i've got "nothing."

even this picture is all out of focus.  kind of like my brain.  by the way, this is a bouquiniste's (secondhand bookseller's) stall. 

they sell old magazines, and newspapers, paintings and prints, photos, gentlemen's publications (cover the children's eyes!).  great old stuff from as early as the turn of the last century if you're willing to take the time to browse.  i find them to be a little sad, and am amazed that these guys actually manage to make a living especially since most have resisted filling up their space with plastic eiffel towers and cheap t-shirts.

Comments

[Laurie]

I can't say it better than elisa did. You do fine. And I lOVE the pictures. It is so Paris. I ate at Guy Savoy's little restaurant "Bookiniste" and loved his play on words. It was right off the Quay des Augustines. Bad spelling, I know.

The bouqinistes? There are waiting lines years long to get a stall. Someone has to literally die before the spot is relinquished. For whatever reason, they seem to be successful. Or maybe it is just the French version of a sinecure.

[--Deb]

Don't flog yourself (it's SO unattractive)--you're doing just fine!! (grin)

[elizabeth]

Love the pic of the bookseller's stall, it reminds me of my first trip to Paris with my daughter. She was looking at sheet music as a souvenir for her piano-playing friend, and the bookseller walked up to us and asked, "Aimez-vous la musique?" I would've had NO idea what he said, had that EXACT sentence not been on my Learning French cds! I hope they're always in business, and always out of Eiffel Tower snowglobes.

[claudia]

You write like you are. That is a great talent.

I love Paris pictures.

[Liz]

oh, yes, i miss paris today...

[elisa]

Your writing resonates with your personality, and your personality is quite winning, therefore your writing is GREAT!

The end.

[Chris]

Huh? Why are you talking trash about your writing?! I enjoy your writing style! Believe me, yours is NOT writing that sucks.

[Martha]

You are WAY too hard on yourself. Just 'cause you couldn't think of anything especially clever (I know you well enough to know you've set the bar pretty high) to say about "quay," well, it's Monday, and that's OK. K?

So what is it in particular that appeals to you about quays?

[Lucia]

I love your posts too, but I know that frustration. I'm a professional (technical) writer and can on occasion write clever or witty stuff, but the people who do it day after day after day just amaze me. I wish I could do that.

[Scribbles & Bits]

I love your style of writing! It's funny that you mention it, though, sinc one of the things I've been thinking about this weekend is finding a better voice for my blog. Ah well. Anyway, I have to say that you have added yet another reason to my list of why I need to go to Paris! Secondhand book stalls right there on the street! That just thrills me!

[Carol]

Your writing is just fine with me, I HAVE to see if you post every day. I tried to post this morning after a summer vacation from blogging (not on purpose),& could not upload photos. uuuhhhh, so, it will have to wait til later, that's IF I'm not preparing for another hurricane. So off to work with me, & I for one LOVE reading you every day...You're way too modest