... trimmed my hair. A good 3 inches is gone.
… given 3 bags of books, 2 huge bags of clothes and one bag of shoes to charity
... seen four photo exhibitions (it's the Photo Month in Paris)
… bought a new black casual coat
… got a fantastic rock'n'roll Minnie Mouse t-shirt from a new store (and it was a gift from Thierry, too)
… re-read the synopsis for the cookbook I'll be writing with Marion-I and marvelled at how quickly we got it done yesterday with a little help from our friend the wine
…walked for nearly three hours in Paris

And tonight, we'll walk some more as we're going to a party. I felt gloomy this morning, but all this walking, art seeing and shopping has revived me.

Blythou out.

Our guest for the week-end arrived this morning... First word she uttered while entering Rude Manor was "chat", (French for cat in case you have no clue, which I doubt). Armand heard that and promptly decided to hide behind Thierry's bag, but his fluffy butt and tail were still visible, which didn't elude Margaux.

She then "helped" Thierry play Mario Kart by holding his wheel and pressing various wiimote buttons. He thought it was hilarious for some reason ;-)

And finally, we went to buy fruits and vegs with her (along with a little plastic chair for Margaux) and since she was a little grouchy (needed a nap and all that), we pretended our cucumbers were light sabers and attacked her in the store while making the classic lightsaber sound. She loved it. We'll probably have to go shop there with fake beards and wigs for a couple of months until everyone has forgotten, but what the hell, she had fun !

I can't believe how well she manages to eat (she barely misses her mouth now). And how fun and cute and cuddly she is.

And this is OT, but I've found the two tattoo I really want. I'll have a tiny stylized chameleon on one hip and a Bad Badtz Maru on the other. I thought about having a Stitch, but I want very simple, basic designs... I'm seeing the tattoo artist next week, I can't wait to get inked. In the meantime, I'd love more piercings in my ears...

Blythou out.

This is an interruption in our regular programme (you know, this whole redecorating business).

I want a Miss Sally Rice. Badly.

Right now, there are no BIN pre-order on e-bay, just regular auctions, so I won't even try... She's not available on HLJ or YesAsia...

So I'm starting to freak out a leeeetle bit. She might be totally impossible to get in the end. I'll get over it, I know...

But if anyone happens to be in Japan when she's released and can grab me a dolly, I'll pay for the doll + shipping + Paypal fee. Just drop me a line here : ANXIA (AT) NOOS (DOT) FR


That's a long shot, but still...

Blythou out

Yesterday morning, our friend Wally (thank you, you're a hero) drove us to the land of the Swedish furniture with the magical keys.

We came back with a packed car... We found :

- The two black chairs
- Another red chest of drawers (this one in shiny metal, yum !)
- A lamp
- Plain red cotton curtains

And some plugs, plastic tubes to hide the 'puter cables, black wire mail organisers, etc.

I've resisted the lure of the boxes. Because I have a serious box addiction. I love boxes. I love organising.

I can't wait to have the floor installed so we can start emptying our dining room. We had to cancel dinner with JM & Ginger tonight because we freaked out when we realised our mess was definitely NOT Margaux-friendly. Better safe than sorry.

Blythou out.

The first day of the sales was productive to say the least. For unknown reasons (maybe the Sales Divinities were smiling on me), H&M had *everything* I wanted in my size. Usually, they have a very limited stock of size 34/XS in the first place, but not this time...

I found two skinny jeans, two Hello Kitty bras and a HK nightie, a little black dress, a Marimekko for H&M bag and a belted jacket. Pics available on my Flick'r.

I've also bought those darling red shoes. Because I love shoes. Because they're no such thing as too many shoes.

This was only a sales test run. I shall return. Tonight.

Blythou out

Yes, it's *that time* of the year again. Summer sales are starting tomorrow.

But... Since we're redecorating our office, buying some new matching desks & chairs, etc., I've promised myself to be a frugal shopper. Which means I won't buy duplicates of things I already have, things that look cool in the store but I know I won't wear, t-shirts (I have a monster collection of tees) or fun stuff for the house.

I'm currently emptying my office of everything I won't keep. My friend Pouic just came by and left with three bags of stuff and I've got a cartload of books I'll bring to the Red Cross later today. And while I'm at it, I'm going to sort out my yarn & fabric stash.

It's funny how I used to be into hoarding, collecting & accumulating and I've turned into *almost* the opposite. I now have a love for empty, clean walls, shelves with only a few chosen items & perfectly organised closets.

In 10 years or so, I might be able of carrying out my plan for a zen-like flat.

Blythou out.

- putting the last touches at my big monthly feature
- shopping for Summer clothes with Marion
- buying a present for Adeline's b-day next week
- proof-reading my latest translation (the MOJO punk anthology)
- cooking for our Eurovision Song Contest party
- baking for the Sunday wii party


There's more to do, but I won't list it just now, because I sort of feel tired just *thinking* about it.

Blythou out.

My long conversation with Tibi yesterday has boosted my morale. Seriously.

I don't like to be *that* person, you know, the über cranky bitch who doesn't even love her cat. Being a bitch is ok in my book, being nasty is just not an option.

Today, I shopped with a friend, gave long cuddles to the kitties, including her guest kitty, babysat Margaux who's currently asleep in our room and promised Thierry to stop being distant and colder than a dead ice queen. And drank three Bloody Marys to celebrate.

PFEWWWWW. Feels better.

Blythou out.

PS : I have a crush on Tituski, the bun-bun Tibi made for the Beauty Contest Blythe. So, please, you dolly people who'll attend the contest, can you steal it for me, pretty please with extra sugar on top ?

Yesterday evening, we went to Ikea with a car-equipped friend (no, I don't choose my friends based on the fact they own cars or not, I swear).

We bought the usual shitload of things we thought we didn't need but can't live without anyway. Our friend Wally carried around for an hour or so a cardboard box filled with 6 long stemmed glasses. He took great care of them. We paid. We went to the Swedish grocery store to buy salmon.

Wally still carried those glasses with the mix of reverence and care you have for the newborn baby of an unfertile couple who, after years of trying, have finally conceived.

We headed back to the car. Wally lighted a ciggie and I offered to carry the glasses for safety. We filled the trunk of the car. Wally set the glasses temporarily on the car roof.

We drove off. Three or four minutes later, we hear a crash, the noise of broken glass. We laugh. Eh, who knew there were drive by shooting in the middle of nowhere near Ikea.

Then it dawned on Wally. He'd left the glasses on the car roof.

Blythou out.

Last week's been a whirlwind. Besides meeting Maria and Emmi and attending their exhibition in Paris, I attended the Paris doll show with Lula Bebop & Tibiloo.

And finally we received and assembled our big Bonde cabinet from Ikea. The girls have moved in their new condo and seem *relatively* happy. No suicides from jumping from the top shelf yet. Some of the Stitches have also stuffed themselves in here. Saves them from Bettie's constant grooming I suppose.

I attended TWO meetings on Monday, went on a press trip on Tuesday (in the wine region... say no more), did two interviews yesterday... And finally our friend James drove us to Ikea today.

I'm knackered.

But I found a new red chair for the living room, found *the* couch we want, bought some vintage looking curtains, a shitload of cutlery, pots and pans, some gifts for friends... And a thingie to hang the lingerie/socks after the laundry shaped as an octopus. Once I arrived home, I realised I should have bought an extra one for Pam/Tikistitch who's a big octopus/squid enthusiast ! Next time, I will, I promise !

Now, I just have to write a loooooong interview and find some fresh virgin blood to regenerate.

Blythou out.