Warning: Girl talk, guys will be bored.

First of all, I'm on fire!
Seems like I'm in one of those moods when I need to share every little un-important event, detail or thought. I feel awefuly talkative. A Blog is just perfect for that, no one is forced to read really, and those around me are probably very thankful.

I can just imagine myself, during art time at the daycare..."Jeez, I DO wonder if condoms contain catnip...???"
Or at the breakfast restaurant with Sis and Bro-in-Law, "Hey Guys! Look at all the funny faces I can do!!.....Hey! By the way...You know where Valentine's day comes from???"

Anyway, the latest thing that got me thinking and slightly alarmed is what I heard a few mornings ago.
Fake sugar is probably making people more fat then the real stuff. They call it edulcorant in french, the chemical they put in diet cokes and other diet items. The very same stuff I put in my coffee even if it has a slightly nasty taste.
Well apparently, when the taste-buds detect sugar and the body isn't receiving any calories from it, The Body, like it so often does, freaks out. And lord knows how or why, starts to pile on the pounds.
Fuck! Nothing is guilt-free now!
The body has outsmarted us. We will have no choice but to eat the sugar, but cut on it or get overweight.
What's even more frustrating, is that the natural option can't even save us this time. I was often using powder from the Stevia plant, which is pretty much botanical Splenda, with no calories at all.
But the results are the same if what they say is true. Body tastes sugar, Body doesn't get it, Body freaks and fattens. Damnit!!

In other girl-talk news....Oh my god!! I think I'm totally falling in love this time! And it's been
barely two weeks....even though it feels like a much longer time.
I'm all giggly and stumbly and dreamy, like that Fergie song that's always on the radio these days...I feel so lucky.

Also Unafraid of Silly Questions....

I'd like to ask any of you readers who are cat owners....

Do you by any chance, know if preservatives...also known as rubbers (still un-opened of course!)contain some kind of substance, (perhaps catnip???)....that will make a cat suddenly go black-eyed, wild and crazy and all claws out as if you've presented it with a whole package of toy-mice??
Maybe some things will forever be unexplained......
Freaky.

Not Afraid of Ridicule!

I've been reading about character drawing techniques these days, and I came upon something pretty interesting.
Apparently, animators often draw with a mirror nearby, and they use their own facial expressions to render them in a more realistic way on the cartoon's face.

That's simply genius, and I've never done that....I usually go with memory and wild guesses.
So today I took a camera and had a little fun.
Yes, you may laugh!

I totally recommend that activity on a boring day, even if you don't plan on drawing cartoons anytime soon!
It will also help you to engrave in your mind which faces you should absolutely not make while your picture is being taken on other occasions.

Off-topics

---Oh my God!! Friday at last!
----Damnit! I'm eating way too much chocolate and crap these days!
----So sweet, Butterflies are growing each day!

Happy Lupercalia in advance!

I want to wish everyone a happy, sexy Lupercalia day! I just love that word....

It's a nice change from boring old, commercialized Valentine's Day.

I'm pointing out the obvious again and being a total Valentine Grinch...but seriously, the stores are chock-full of red and pink cheaperies and waxy-chocolate and it's all been there since Christmas. The amazing volume of everything heart-shaped they put out each year and that people actually pay good money for is bewildering. Those monstruous, giant pink animals that will get sold for a dollar at yards sale this spring...unbeleivable.

I'm honestly wondering when they will start commercializing St-Patrick's day like that?? Now that would be cool. I know I could really enjoy the idea of green and gold everywhere, and Leprechaun and clover merchandise and more shimmery Top hats, Irish Bread.....yep, I don't think I would complain.

Though it might piss off the cunning Irish Faery-folk and then we'd all be in trouble....they'd try to steal our first-borns unless we guess their name....and who wants that, really?

Still, don't you think that Rossetti painting is the sweetest, most romantic thing ever??Why have I never seen this before??

So wether you are single, dating, engaged, married, divorced, vowed to celibacy.... Have a great day filled with Love, we all have someone or something to love and if not, Love yourself damnit! And remember what sexy Christian from Moulin Rouge quoted: "All you need is Love!"

Stuff I didn't Know...

I've been aware for a good while now, that most celebrations and holidays we have today, including the very Christian ones, all have some kind of ancient pagan origin. It's only logical, the pagan traditions were there loooong before the relatively new christian ones. (The reason why I find them so very interesting.)

It's quite entertaining to look around the web and in books and find original significations that most of the times would mortify the religious folk.

Now, we all know about Christmas, called Yule, a time to celebrate the Sun in the middle of Winter (later converted to Son=Jesus=Birth.)

And Easter=Ostara, feast of Eostre, bunny-goddess of Spring and fertility and Re-birth.

But I never thought of looking into Valentine's day. I was satisfied with the story I heard of a priest or monk called Valentine who married two lovers illegaly and got martyred. Is that how it went?? Anyway...this year I got a bit curious, and not surprisingly, February the 14th was celebrated long before any of those "Saints" walked the earth.

Lupercalia---an ancient Roman festival. A Lover's festival actually, that honored the Goddess Juno (or Hera) and the God of Nature Pan.

Cupid, son of Venus is also involved in the tradition of course and is very present even today, doing his thang.

Back then though, there were no silly chocolate box or red roses or Spas....no, it went straight to the point: On that day, young men and women drew names from a box, and thus picked a sexual partner for the year to come. How simple! And here we are trying to be all romantic and stuff.

I find it so funny that everytime you find something about ancient roman holidays, it's often like...Oh!! Today is the day to honor this or that God/Goddess/Creature, lets eat together, run around naked drinking wine and have lots and lots of crazy, wild sex in the woods!

Those Romans, they sure seemed like a fun-loving nation....almost Hippy in fact.

And to think that the image I had of them was the legions of dead-serious soldiers from the movies....

A Shiny little Ray of Happiness!

Well...it took way less time then I expected to get over myself and look for, and find.
And now I'm all bubbly, because this is finally something that looks sane, and positive and 100% enjoyable and comfortable.
And I've got a good, warm feeling about it.

A year ago, I had met that great guy...we went out a bit, and it was fun. But at the time, I wasn't ready to let someone in my life, and I got scared and broke it.
I always had him at the back of my mind though...he stuck there, like few people do.

Now more then a year later, we decided to give each other a chance again. It was a great decision...really is. I realise now, that even if I thought past relationships were going really good, I still never felt so at ease being with someone, in conversation or silence. And God is he pretty! And sweet!
Feeling Happy! Butterflies!

GAH!!

So it seems like Nelly Furtado has decided that blonde really is her color!

Can you explain it? I sure can't!

Why would one want to appear older and washep up??

Yes, we all make deplorable mistakes like that in our life...but she is keeping the blonde! It's been on her head for month! Honestly....

(I DO applaud the fact that she still says NO to botox. Bravo!)

More...More, MORE!

There are a few things in life that are so pleasurable that they can only be called orgasmic. Okay...let's make this "Tantric orgasms" even if I'm not completely sure it's the word I'm looking for, ya'll probably know what I mean.
Things that make you go Mmmmmm....that make you feel at peace with the world for a moment. Heaven.
I want to compile a list of those simple pleasures and write it up somewhere in my apartment to always be reminded that life is excellent because those things exist.
Here are those that come to mind, but feel free to add, the more diverse the list, the better. It's always nice to try new things too...

-Taking a hot bath...and not just hot, *burning* hot as in lobster, even if it's totally bad for the skin and all. With bubbles and essential oils? Even better.

-Making and tasting a cup of homemade hot-chocolate. Seeing the dark chocolate pieces melt and disolve in the milk or cream....mmm.

-Listening to a song you really love at full blast and feeling it trough your body.

-Sinking into a fresh-smelling, super comfy bed with lots of heavy blankets and huge pillows after a long day. (Knowing that you don't have to wake up the next day takes it to the next level.)

-Finding when you least expect it, a beautiful piece of clothe that fits perfectly....and is on sale.

-The taste of sweet strawberries dipped into fresh whipped-cream....

...Right , your turn!

A Feminine Mystery explained

Men can be fucking complicated to understand, but let's face it girls, we are the Queens of complications. We should try to understand why men get so bewildered and frustrated by some of the things we do, because sometimes, we just don't understand our own behavior. At least I don't.

Let's take the classic "I've got nothing to wear!!!" drama that usually occurs when in a hurry to get somewhere.
We've all been there...in my case, I can be found complaining and moaning in desperation to my cats, and they don't really give a damn and just look at me benevolently like I'm beneath them and their constant state of Zen. But it's so frustrating.
To men it must seem totally insane, because most of the time, our closet is exploding with every dress and shirt and skirt immaginable, and most of them fit pretty well and are perfectly appropriate. Yet....we have nothing to wear! Can't wear *THAT*!!!

So sometimes, when things like that happen...I start to space out and think...but why....why is that so? It's not logic at all....
That's the explanation I came up with....
When we go out. We have a pre-conceived idea of what we want to project. And it's quite precise wether we realize it or not. We get all minded on a particular character, or role or persona we want to be. And it's all done in our mind, but the challenging part is creating it in reality. Finding everything to solve the puzzle. The fabric, the color, the fit, the shoes, the jewelery, the hair....they are all determined in our subconscious, but we don't know them, we must guess. Try many many combinations.

Sometimes we are lucky, or that mystery persona has been created based on a new piece of clothe and life is good. And birds are singing and we feel pretty and perfect.
But sometimes, it remains forever a mystery and we end up crying and putting on anything that is acceptable and feel off for the rest of the day or night.

And that's how, my friends, I explain this mystery.
But you know...maybe it's also simply our mind telling us that we need to go shopping ASAP.

No Comment

Today's hairstyle is brought to you by Minnie Mouse, Bjork and the "Do Whatever you freaking want to before it's 2012" movement. (Proudly founded by me!)

Oh Heath....

Rest in Peace...

A wonderful actor and one of my first movie crushes in a Knight's Tale.....

Only 28 years old, with a wife and little girl. Apparently, found dead from a sleeping pill overdose in his apartment.

This is so shocking...and sad. A very bad way to wake up this morning.

Makes me mad and worried....are there no other ways to deal with problems or have fun then intoxication? I'm thinking drugs, alcohol...everything. Both for celebrities and real life people...it's too pointless to leave this way so soon....moderation!!

***edit***Apparently, he wasn't with his wife (or fiancée?) anymore....still, he had a two years old child....

The Fear in the Boy, The Fire in the Man

Of course, the title is from a Tori Amos song, it's the kind of idea that I feel but can not think into words...

It's made me wonder...since I seem to have a hard time connecting with new adults in my life, and it's mad-easy for me to be-friend random children...
Maybe I can't fully feel close to a grown up unless I've known them as little kids (as in my family and old-time friends), or until I catch a hint of the innocent child we all still have hidden somewhere underneath the grown-up costumes and makeup.

And that might explain why I tend to flee relationships with men who hide that child too well.
When the vulnerability shows a bit, even for a moment, a spark in their eyes, when I can really feel I've had a clear glimpse, even for a few seconds of the boy in the man...in a way, I'm reassured that they are a true person, just someone else that comes from the same place we all have. That learned to walk, to talk, that was scared of werewolves and ghosts. I know I can trust and allow myself to feel. Because that man was once a child .....

Random Updates....

At the end of fall this year, I bought a few little pumpkins with the good intention of making all kinds of baked-goods. I had a whole list...cookies, soups, pies....very excited as I always am when faced with a new project.

Today I realized with shame that they are still sitting in a corner of my kitchen's cooking space looking rather like this:

Sorry pumpkins, I never gave you the chance to fulfill your destinies...

Also, I'm growing out my nails a bit, for personal reasons.ehehehe. But Oh my God! I need to be careful with those! They are barely 1 mm and a half and I almost mutilated my little brother's arm this morning. Can't think of what I would tell a parent who asks me why their kid comes home looking like they've been into a rabid Lion's den...

And speaking of daycare...things are going better and better. Everyone is getting used to everyone and everything, there are less urine-related incidents everyday, and french is slowly but surely becoming the first language around. Amazing!

A Favor

Ok, this is a small favor for my brother in law....he's created an online city called "St-Hostie" which is the equivalent of St-Shit, or St-Damn...or I don't know, St-Fuck...it's pretty hard to translate Quebec's swear words to convey the real meaning anyway....

So here's the link, every time someone clicks on it, it adds a citizen to this offensively named town. Please entertain a bored guy. Haha!

http://st-hostie.miniville.fr/

A Coffee Shop

Yeah, I haven't blogged a lot these days. I kind of have been on a cloud...and also very busy with illustration work and being back to work in general.

My little sister announced me yesterday, that a new Coffee shop is opening next week in old Ste-Therese, which is the old part of our town, very near where I live, where all the cute little boutiques and shops are, (and also where the local bums and cheap whores like to stay, unfortunately.)

For the records, I LOVE Coffee Shops! I especially love the ambiance of the ancient-feeling ones. With books thrown around and wood, and real whipped-creme on the coffees.

So, Brulerie du Roy (the Coffee Shop) is owned by friends of Sis and her Boyfriend. And that alone is already cool. What is even more though, is that she wants to quit her job as an underpaid (but very good!) hair-cuter at Walmart's Salon, and try her hands at working there. Sis is an excellent cook and very social, so that's super exciting news.
She'll meet the owners this weekend, so I'm sending her every positive vibes I can conjure. Possibly will look for a success spell too, I'm so excited about this!
As teens, Sis and Me, we made up dreams of owning a Coffee shop or Bakery. And it always seemed so right....

I don't really know why this gets me all revved up...Maybe it's a good presage, one can only hope. I've got the feeling that this will be something that will change the futur one way or the other. Let's hope my instincts are good this time.

Good Resolutions Reviewed

So last year at about the same time, I gave myself 7 goals for the year 2007. Lets review them shall we?
No1---Cook more, eat better (learn to cook bread)
Acheived?---Well, yes, yes indeed! Alright, I made pita bread....but still! Also, ate better, healthier food, and lost 20lbs! Greatness! Very proud.

No2--Clean Up apartment more often
Acheived?----Hmmm, 50% of the time, honestly. But that isn't so very important.....

No3--Stop seeking Love
Acheived?---Unless stop seeking love includes obssessing over impossible
guy, acting on impulse and raging lust and having a lousy one-night stand, which I swore
to myself I would never have....Then getting crushes after crushes over complicated men
and breaking some hearts, thus accumulating bad karma. I think I failed that one
miserably.

No4---Stop feeling guilty about celebrity crushes
Are you kidding? Like I had time for celebrity crushes this year....Jeeeez! Still, I freely
admit my love for Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany, Liv Tyler, Tori Amos and Helena Bonham
Carter.

N05--Work out in the fresh air 3-4 times a week
Acheived!---I walked home from work everytime I could in the good weather.

N06--Comb cats a day out of two
Oh my GOD! FAILED! I even forgot about that one. Poor Timine! Getting all those knots.
I'm an aweful kitty-mommy!

No7--Paint and draw more....
Well...I did one good painting which am proud of, and I did it only a few days ago.
Worked for books, but I don`t think that really counts....Will try again next year.

Todd, Sweeney Todd

Anyone who knows me the slightest bit knew I wanted to see this movie since I learned of it's making. I mean, a Tim Burton film? Great! With Johhny Depp?Awesome! *And* Helena Bonham Carter in yet another crazy costumed role? Sold! SOLD!

Let me tell you, it did not dissapoint.The quirckiness and strange feel of Burton's productions. The dark, moody sets almost all in shades of blue black and whites. Making the blood red really shocking whenever it graces the screen.

The weird characters, even though you could almost have taken Johhny and Helena straight from the set of Edward Scissor Hands and the latest Harry Potter, were beautiful. I just kept taking in the details of every dress she wore. The delicate black lace, the corsets, the petticoated skirts...the wild hair!!! So gorgeous. Now I won't spoil anything, but place all that gothicness, complete with snow-white skin and black eye makeup, and throw them into a sunny, shiny beach-set, and you've got the most awesomely contrasting images ever immortalized on film.

Of course, there were songs. And lots of them. And not all of them riveting. And not all voices were particularly fun the listen too (I'm looking at you Joahnna). But most people walked in knowing that it was a re-make of a Broadway musical. OF COURSE there are gonna be songs to explain everything!
Still, in the first 10 minutes of the movie, you could hear audience members groaning at every first notes of a song. At least 30 people walked out around the fourth one. I don't understand people. Honestly! No scratch that! I don't understand teenagers, and I never will. Because all of them were kids

So lots of blood, could have been a little subtler with the throat cutting and blood pumping...it's really my only complain. After two throats have been split right in your face, splashing towards the audience in all it's non-realistic glory, you kind of get the point already. No need to have 10 random more.

It was disturbing, dramatic, but still funny and morbidly beautiful in other places. So I reccomend it, and I will see it again.

Look what I got!!

Sometimes, it is really hard to find an appropriate gift.

Especially when it's for someone you don't know a whole lot like a school teacher...or say...a daycare educator. But it's still the tradition it seems to bring a little token of appreciation.

So from experience, the most popular "neutral items" are soap, candles, various candy and lately Bamboo arrangements. When all else fails, a Mall's Gift card. I always like that last one, I have to admit.

This year, I was pleasantly surprised though...inside a little red bag that I was sure contained a jasmine-blossom scented candle, I found this instead:


My God, isn't that the cutest little mug ever?! It fits in the palm of my hand. And most importantly, it contains a little bag of Belgian chocolate shavings and a recipe to make hot-cocoa out of it. I'm in love!
It's probably the least expensive gift I got this year, but it's clearly the one I love the most. Goes to show that often, less is more. It's the originality that counts.

Why? How?

Sometimes I really wonder how my brain works.
I never liked Ashley Simpson. She annoys me immensely. Her songs never got to me at all.
And then I see this new video of hers, and I can't stop watching it...again and again and again.....

Maybe it's because it reminds me of Gwen Stephani's video for What You Waiting For??
The Dali inspired background?
I just got this instant fascination for the fancy top hat, green dress wearing brunette Ashley, sitting and dancing on a floating giant Rubik cube. How out there and cool is that? The image is just something that works for me and keeps me coming back to the weird video. Perhaps it will even inspire a painting....I haven't painted anything in months!

So here is the link...beware, the tune is pretty catchy too, the kind that gets stuck in your head whether you like it or hate it. Ayayayayaya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1_KpDbZGIg&eurl=http://dlisted.com/

Your Woman

Does anyone know "Whitetown"? I don't, really, but I knew that one song back in the days, and today I've found the video, and I'm in love. The song itself has got some pretty great lyrics, but the video makes it even better. (Love the girl's hat)

I always thought it was funny that the singer, who is of course a man, sings from the woman's point of vue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah5_KMT1soE&eurl=http://www.absolutelyrics.com/lyrics/view/white_town/your_woman/

Your Woman

Just tell me what you've got to say to me

I've been waiting for so long to hear the truth

It comes as no surprise at all you see

So cut the crap and tell me that we're through

Now I know your heart, I know your mind

You don't even know you're being unkind

So much for how your highbrow Marxist ways

Just use me up and then you walk away

Boy you can't play me that way

Well I guess what you say is true

I could never be the right kind of girl for you

I could never be your woman

When I saw my best friend yesterday
She said she never liked you from the start
Well me, I wish that I could claim the same
But you always knew you held my heart

Your such a charming hansome man
Now I think I finally understand
Is it in your genes? I don't know
But I'll soon find out, that's for sure
Why did you play me this way?

Well I guess what they say is true
I could never spend my life with a man like you
I could never be your woman

Recognizing our Strenghts

If there is one thing I am proud of, it's my ability to forget pretty quickly.

When there is still hope, I will dwell and hurt over something pretty intensely. I'm very emotional that way. Sucky love songs make me bawl when I'm in that state.

But when it becomes clear that a cause is just lost and hopeless, I'll not mourn for weeks and eat buckets of ice-cream while crying.
I like my mind like I like my apartment: un-messy and clear. And luckily, it is easily clear-able. Facts put all in order, good memories kept, bads in the trash, priorities and feelings redefined, a few bitching Tori Amos songs and a good night's sleep and I'm good and ready to leave everything messy behind and welcome new possibilities.
Life really is too short to waste it on useless worries. It's good to be myself again!

Also, I went to see "I am Legend" this afternoon. And it was the best movie I've seen in a long time. Very nearly cried twice....and movies these days are rarely making me cry.

8 AM Realisation

OH MY GOD! I've become Bridget Jones again!
Over-analysing, pathetic spinster Bridget, foolishly expecting her Daniel Cleaver character will change into a Marc Darcy type.

Laughing to cure anxiety

Our community is privileged enough to have a wonderful Santa Clause at our local mall. He really is great and authentic looking. You'd swear he's the real thing, and people travel from pretty far to come and visit Rosemere's Santa. With his real white beard and very blue eyes and rosy skin. What is awesome, is that he has the ability to not freak kids out.

So for me, having a cool Santa is kind of a normal occurrence, I had no idea, when I visited a Blog this afternoon, that some poor kids are not that lucky.

Just take a look at that priceless picture, captioned: Reindeer-breath Santa


Oh my God! I still have tears in my eyes and my stomach hurts from all the weirdo and plain fucked-up Santas out there. Head over to Suburban Turmoil for more gems such as St-Tropez Santa, Ritalin Santa, Hangover and Most Wanted Santas. You'll not regret it!

http://suburbanturmoil.blogspot.com/

http://suburbanturmoil.blogspot.com/2006/11/bad-santa.html

Suede

Suede you always felt like suede
There are days I feel your twin peekaboo hiding underneath your skin.


And this.
Has power over me.
Not because you feel something or don't feel something for me but because.
Mass.
So big. It can swallow swallow her whole star intact.

Call me 'evil' call me 'tide is on your side'
Anything that you want.
Anybody knows you can conjure anything by the dark of the moon.

They are frayed and I fear.
My fear is greater than my faith but I walk. the missionary way.
You always felt like suede

Oh little sister, I hoped you wouldn't feel that way
Oh little sister I wished you wouldn't feel that way
Call me 'evil' little sister.
I guess I'd do the same.
Little sister.
You'll forgive me one day.

-----Tori (Goddess)Amos

Snow!

This morning, the radio woke me up with the news that we were expecting 25+ cm of snow complete with flurries in the next 24 hours.
Welcome to Monday morning!
I could almost hear kids everywhere screaming for joy. Of course, every school around is closed and there is plenty of snow to play in all day. An early Holiday, a gift from the heavens!

But as an adult, it's more like this. Get up at 6AM anyway, look at the pretty snow but admiration quickly fades to terror when it dawns on you that you will have to go out there very soon.
Bundle up in your biggest, most water/wind proof coat. End up looking like a purple and lilac Kenny from Southpark with your hood on as tight as you can.
Miserably walk through a feet or more of snow all the way to the bus stop, because the plow hasn't been on your street yet. All the while staring at your feet to protect your hooded face from the millions of tiny icy knives aiming for your skin.
And then waiting longer then usual with cold feet because people obviously drive like snails in that much snow. Already starting to imagine how the return home will be with twice as much of the white stuff to brave.

This is the reality of winter as adults. And then we innocently wonder why kids love winter and most adults hate it. That is why! Because we live in a foolish society who doesn't work with nature. We try to fight it. And this is a mad attitude.
In a rational, sane society, when 15 cm or more snow, or say an ice storm would be expected, we would all react appropriately and know that we could all just stay in bed and have a quiet family day at home. Nature is telling us to stay inside and relax a bit. Enjoy the prettiness of it all.
Snow storm? Everyone is encouraged, no, required to stay home with a blanket and hot cocoa. Every business is closed for the day. And that is that. It would save us so many miseries.

And then they ask themselves why so many people throw their sorry selves in front of the subway train in winter....

Tragic

Well, I guess I must get used to the idea. I'm really not that good with keeping plants alive. A sorry excuse for a Kitchen Witch I am.
I really thought I could do it this year. I brought in all the herbs I had grown on my balcony through summer before it became too cold. And for a month or two they looked fines. I took good care of them. (I even talked to those who looked poorly, to my embarassment.)

But now it's December 1th, and I really think that Basil and English Lavender are loosing their fight against indoors life. It really is a tragedy, I never had great hopes for Lavender , but the Basilic was thriving only days ago! I even used a few leaves on a pizza, and now it's withering.
And the little Lavender plant is drying up quickly, even if I water it and talk to it, and switch it places...it's in it's last days. And I'm trying to decide if I should just end their misery and throw them away along with the garbage this morning.

I should put up my christmas decorations this weekend anyway, so the hole in my life won't be empty too long...
Damn! I was really hoping on fresh Basil this winter!

Tori!!!

It's been a while since I've talked of Tori Amos. I missed her show when she came to Montreal recently ,and I was too ashamed to blog about it.
But her tour is almost over now, and I found tons of photos of Tori as the Doll Posse. That woman makes me want to raid a wig store!


Tori (or T)--the stereotype of how the general public sees Tori Amos. Very red-headed and slightly crazy woman who is often found humping a piano-bench.


Then there's Clyde. Brownish-messy hair. The introvert artist type that I can relate with. But who's apparently a bit boring as a showgirl. I can't find good onstage pictures of poor Clyde.



Isabel--The political, pot-smoking part of Tori. Who sings about Bush and wars. She's one of the two blond dolls. Rather cool.


Pip---The Freaky/Emo one. Black hair, black clothes, the work. She is the part of Tori that made her become crazy and mad onstage. Screaming like a banshee in the middle of a song. She has been seen pointing a gun at her neck and rubbing a butcher knife along her thigh onstage. A real case. She must have been an interesting one to see for sure.

I kept the best for last----Santa. The platinum blond. I honestly didn't like her much when I first saw her on the CD. She looked like a stuck-up beotch. But now, I love the hair, love the dresses and shoes. And the attitude. She's the traditional sexy one. The one who doesn't care as long as she has the perfect lipstick shade. I would have loved to see Santa in a show. She poured drinks on stage and had the coolest songs.

Living Life

Yes, I figured that since we may all have only four years to live, let's live life at it's fullest!

I don't want to take the chance to leave this place without having done everything I really want to do. So let's start with something small. I never wear pigtails, because it looks childish on me, and I have come to accept that I don't have the kind of face to wear them graciously.

But today, I'm proud "pigtail-ed cabbage-patch kid". Yes I am. And I will even show you all.

Look, I even got an eye infection there on the left. And yet, I still post that photo. Be free!

The worst that could happen is that 2012 will just be another year, and I'll be a very accomplished 30 years old.

2012

A while ago, I heard about the Mayans and their calendar ending in the year 2012. I found it middly interesting, but quickly forgot about it.
Then I heard that Confussius predicted the World's End in 2012. And so those two thoughts went in a out of my mind from time to time with a bit of thinking about "What ifs", but nothing more. I don't like to think of the End. The religion I grew up in made me obssess about it for a good part of my life, and now I like to appreciate the daily pleasures of life as they come.

I mean who cares if it DOES happen really? I'm not too keen on becoming senile and sick and I don't even want to think about seeing my parents grow old. So in a way, it would be positive to go in a spectacular way along with our planet. As long as it's fast.
But then I love life. And I sure haven't done everything that I want to do with it. So this page here has got me slightly worried.
What do you all think about it?

http://www.december212012.com/articles/general_information/the_real_doomsday.htm

Winter Makeover

It's been snowing and raining in a messed-up kind of way here in Quebec.
So I figured I'd put up my winter environment on my blog already. It's started!

TAG

Wow! I finally got Tagged by someone (thanks Roxane!)

Rules of the Game:
Once you have been tagged, you must write a blog containing 10 weird, random things, (facts, habits or goals) about yourself. At the end, select 10 people to be tagged, listing their names and the reason you chose them. Send them a message ("You're It") and instruct them to read your blog. You can't tag the person who tagged you.


1.Life without music would make me insane

2.I have a tendency to always imagine myself doing something before I ever do it.

3.I need alone time like I need air: I am a happy and proud Introvert.

4.My Goddess archetypes are Hestia and Persephone.

5.I dislike six-packs in man, woman or beer form.

6.In high-school I was a complete geek and I wore salmon-colored leggings.

7.Grocery shopping is a relaxing and enjoyable ritual to me.

8.I still haven't figured out how Brad Pitt and Pamela Anderson can be considered sexy.

9.Sometimes, I get incontrolable Sushi cravings.

10. I will probably not TAG 10 other people, because I simply don't know that many people who blog. And I don't feel guilty about it either.


So, I TAG....

A) My lil' sis---because she has a blog and will like this.

The virtues of originality

I went to a coffee shop this afternoon. It was the kind of cute little place when you can go talk with a group or simply be alone, reading a book.
You can tell this haven is a corner away from the local College, because the majority of the costumers are evidently college students, doing homework or group projects. Now how do I know they are students? Yes, there are the books.

But I noticed today a strange trend.
College boys, at least 90% of those I saw there, have the same style. You can tell the main goal is to be original and outside the norm and non-conformist.

So I'm having a hard time understanding why the vast majority of them wear a beard, long hair, wool shirts (a few layers of them) and the occasional hippy-looking scarf and peircings . It's like the college-boy's uniform for the free-spirit artist. So much for being original. Or maybe I'm being judgemental here and they simply are too poor to afford a rasor and and haircut??

Hilarious Sillyness

If unlike me, you have been a lucky enough child. Your parents probably read you sweet bedtime stories of fairies and princesses.
If you are like me though, you had very religious parents (father) and the stories you got to send you to sleep talked of angry god and the perversity of the world.
If that was your case, you will probably enjoy this little cartoon more then anyone else. So there is an up-side to being a traumatised child....I seriously couldn't stop laughing, because I know that it's basically how to story goes, and it's freaking hilarious to notice all the details.

If you don't know anything about the Bible, it's still super funny, and if you are a Bible-beleiver with a sense of humor, well you'll like it too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gpy4Y2OdzY

Tea Salons

Yesterday evening, I went on a fun city escapade with a girl I've been talking to online for quite a long time.
It was nice to meet in person for the first time, sometimes I forget how agreable it can be to speak face to face with new people. Maybe that's because I usually don't connect with the vast majority of those I meet. I was surprised at how well it went and how fast the evening flew by. This doesn't happen a lot.

She took me to a very pretty little Tea Salon in Montreal.
We don't have those over here. The setting was so nice and cosy. It was a rather small place with little tables and pretty red paper lamps. Ancient looking tiny teapots and cups everywhere. We shared a yummy tea, I can't remember it's name but it was good. (We were both set on Chai Tea, but according to the waitress, Chai isn't *real* tea. Well I'll be damned!)
I just adored the way it was presented to us on a wooden plateau with our own little brown teapot and cups that had oriental symbols at the bottom. It felt like when I was a child playing Tea Party with my dolls.

I'm actually very proud of myself, I managed to take the Subway back without getting lost even once, thank god for the maps.
Cities are fun, hip and all, but I'm happy with my quiet suburban life and appreciate the pretty lights and boutiques and Tea Salons occasionaly on weekends. I guess I'm a country girl at heart!

The Dangers of Tofu

Don't get me wrong.
Tofu is amazing for our health, it's full of veggie proteins and whatnots, you can make it taste whatever you like and it has few calories. I love Tofu. Tofu is awesome.

But be warned. If said block of nutritious tofu is left forgotten at the back of the fridge for two weeks. It will turn a delicate shade of rosy-green speckled with light grey. Also, it will scent your entire fridge with a delightful aroma of pure *EVIL*!

I kid you not, if you need an easy solution to your evening chocolate cravings. Keep a rancid piece of tofu in your fridge and smell when needed. Foul!

Farewell pumpkins

Yep, the pumpkins and masks have been stored away until next year.

And since there is no way I will go the "Mall-way" and fetch the Yule tree on November 1th, the blog and my apartment will remain simple and Zen until December.

It's a good idea really, it makes me appreciate the specialness of Holidays even more. I can live without the colors and glitters and warmth and pretty, pretty ornaments for a few days....I can resist the Mall's temptation and the call of Christmas. I definitely can...can I?

The Good and the Bad

Celebrities. They may say they are just like us, but they are a weird kind.

It seems like some of them are at least still getting what is the spirit of Halloween.
As much as it has become princess day for little girls, it appears that for a lot of adult women, Halloween is just another excuse to dress even sluttier then they usually do.

This is why I feel the need to congratulate Neil Patrick Harris....and...*gasp* Ashley Olsen. Because they have truly freaky costumes. Especially that Harris guy. That evil clown will hunt my nightmares for awhile.
And to prove my point, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, who else. Those pictures hurt my eyes and make me laugh at the same time. Seriously?? Spears is a millionaire, and she picks the trashiest, cheapest looking cat-whore costume she can find. I'm puzzled.

Happy Samhain/Halloween 2007!

All this time thinking about and preparing that one day. And here it is.

I'll take the opportunity to write about Halloween day now, since I will most likely be caught up with a new project in days to come.

I promise to report it if anything strange should happen on All Souls Night though.....

First of all, here is what my Autumn-Faery costume looks like when it's done morphing into an Autumn-Witch. Honestly, I like it better like that. With the shirt and everything.
And yes, that tiny pumpkin *is* rotten on top. On Samhain day, I am a mean witch. I tempt you with spoilt foods.

Here is little bro's costume. Makeup by yours truly. I'm very proud of it actually. It doesn't show that well on the photo, but I found out that you can make realistic veins and bruises on pale skin using only purple and black.

Love him. He's becoming such a pretty boy. Isn't he? I'd kill for lips like his.

And finally, Halloween 2007's Disney-Princesses results.
Honestly I'm very proud of the kids this year. It actually looked like Halloween and not a royal congress of glitters and bows. We had a Snow White and Ariel. But also, to even things out a bit: a Ladybug, a Cow, an Elephant, some character from the movie "Cars", a darling little Witchlette...

And best of all: a 2 years old little boy who had a pumpkin costume at home but rebelled his way into coming with a Little mermaid crown.

The Joy of Chai Tea

I'm just coming in from a short walk. The sun was almost set, but it still shone it's orange rays on my face, still somewhat warm. I didn't feel so cold even if the wind was chilly and the trees looked dead.

It always makes me so at peace and connected to go for a walk like that. 10 minutes, it's all I need. Just to feel the wind mess my hair and look at the clouds and enjoy the sun. (Or moon.)

Of course, it's always nice to have a mug of something warm after a walk, particularly in autumn.
May I suggest Chai Tea.
We all love Hot cocoa, it'll always be a classic, especially with those tiny marshmellows on top. But if you're up for something different, Chai is the way to go.
I know, I know, *Tea*, it can't be a real comfort drink, you'll say. Normally, you'd have any right to call me a Granola freakette.

But wait, and taste. Give it a chance.

According to the box, Chai Tea is basically a spiced tea. (Oriental, but that's just a wild guess of mine.)
So there is Tea, (Green or Black), cinnamon, ginger root, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon oil, clove, clove oil and cardamom oil. Add milk and a bit of sugar to that my friends, and you've got heaven in a cup.

I'm sure it must not be too hard to make the mix at home, but it would take experimenting. Maybe when I'm in the mood I'll try it....until then, I'll go buy a few more boxes...20 bags will be gone fast.

PS. I have no idea why, but the spellcheck program I was relying on is currently working in french only. So that means, mistakes are back. So very sorry, you poor courageous souls.

Even she...

Yes, even the Girl with the Pearl Earring is getting in the Samhain mood.
Here, she wears a beautiful venetian mask from Atelier Marega. Isn't she very stylish?

Fun Link

New York is one crazy city...
Whenever I have a minute in the day, I go read bits of wisdom and weirdness from random New-Yorkers. It's good for your health to laugh.
http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/

Witches

Of course, the doll dress wasn't done before Sis' party. It could have been, but it's that darn case of perpetual lazy. And the lack of desire to sew all night after cold fall days with turbulent kids.

So I gathered what I had around the apartment and went as this:

I absolutely adore fall, so to go as some kind of autumn faery was very me. It can't be seen here, but I wore a long black dress and a beige braided suede belt (medieval-style) with leaves sewn on it. It was pretty cool. And easier then the doll. And I had so much fun with the makeup.

For daycare though, on actual Halloween day, I think I will recuperate the head-wear and fix it on a cool witch hat. (That I have yet to find, always true to myself.) And wear a long sleeved black shirt under the dress for modesty's sake. I always end up a witch anyway, but an autumn witch is new at least.

Speaking of daycare and witches, take a look at what the kiddies did today:

I swear some of them have very artistic tendencies. I strongly encourage to take a closer look, they are all so cool! 3 and 4 years old did this!

Also, what is up with the Moon? Every calendar I own mark tomorrow night as Full Moon night, and yet the Moon-phase calendar I've got here says that tonight she's 100% full...So what's the deal??

Urgency!!

Oh! I need to vent!

Sister's Halloween party will be sooner then we thought! 2 whole weeks sooner!
So that means I've got two nights and half a day to finish the patchwork on that dress, or my doll costume will be kind of pitiful, as I will have no choice to wear an everyday dress.

And I will end up looking like Rachel in that episode of Friends, who went to Phoebe's Halloween party dressed as a pregnant lady who really wants to wear that new dress she bought before her stomach grows too big. I don't want to be the girl who dresses in normal clothes complete with devil horns or a bunny tail. No, never.

So that means I'll be working twice as hard when I get home tonight. No more Miss Lazy ass. It's patchwork time!

Halloween/Samhain 2007

Here's a sketch I did this weekend of what my costume should look like

I'm still going with the Sally look, only I was starting to stress myself about making it exactly like the character when no-one around me even knows what she's supposed to look like anyway. So it's modified Sally crossed with the Black Dahlia. If asked, I'll just say I'm a freaky Halloween doll. Maybe I'll add some of those very long, vintage-looking pearl necklaces too....and black lace....hmmm.

I was still looking for a cool wig, but now I know why stores like to insist on wigs and costumes being not refundable. Because they look nice and full and luxurious on the box, and then when you open them, they end up looking like a rat nest attached to a net. A cheap, balding rat nest.

So damn if I need to use a ton of hair products, I will do my own hair. And it will look fine. Most of the effect will be from the makeup anyway, which will be dramatic compared to my usual non-made-up face.

Oh, I haven't started the patch-dress yet. I really should...I feel so lazy, I just want to sink in my sofa with the biggest blanket and stare at the TV when I get home and it's cold like that outside.

GOD! I finally found there is a spellcheck on this blog!! Your eyes should bleed much less from now on!

Lily's Embarrassing Fact of the Day

On my IPod, between Tori Amos' "Cruel" and Loreena McKennitt's "Incantation" there is a song.

No, I can't claim that my little brother put it there....Yes, I uploaded it on purpose, yes I dance to it and even sing along. Yes I am aware that it is musical crap and I'm terribly ashamed to like Britney Spears' "Gimme More".


I needed to share the shame, I felt dirty keeping this little secret to myself.

Let's get started!

Right!
So I spent yesterday night shopping around for a long red wig. I would even have settled for orangey-red. But no. No, it appears that all people want are those short violent red ones complete with devil horns, or the over-priced Raggedy-Ann yarn ponytails

In desperation, I even went to D-Tox, one of those Emo/Goth shops with lots of stripes and chains and printed T-Shirts, because they sometimes carry Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise along with their Emily the Strange collections. I loathe going into that place, I feel like the center of attention, my week-day attire ( jeans, un-cool curly ponytail and sweatshirt ) being stared at by all those eyeliner-ed and spiked clerks. No red wig, even less a Sally wig.

So I started to lose hope, and thought I could go as the Black Dahlia instead...because you know, that would be rather cool, I would love walking around with bright red bloody slashes on both sides of my mouth, with the period costume and flower in my hair and all....
Then I remembered this would also have to double as daycare costume. Slightly too morbid and hard to explain to a group of toddlers. I don't think they'd fall for the explanation that I'm dressed as the girl who loves to eat lots of ketchup and make a mess.

So I'm back to Sally...I guess I'll have to just dye my hair red with Henna and straighten it. I was going to do that anyway, try Henna again....That or I'll find the courage to glue hundreds of long yarn pieces on a pantyhose bottom to make my own wig. I would doubt that, because I already need to make a patchwork dress, and that will be a work of saintly patience in itself.

What I can't wait for though, is to paint all those cool stitches all over myself. Fun!

Halloween is near!

Ah! My favorite Holiday!

October has me thinking of candies, pumpkins,costumes, Halloween parties...and of course, The Nightmare Before Christmas. I've been wanting to go as Sally for a few years now, but I never got to making that cool but difficult patchwork dress....and also I can't seem to find a long red wig....

But let's not start about costumes now, because this could go on forever. I wanted to pay a little tribute to my favorite Disney couple. Forget Snow White, Belle and their random boring princes.
Jack Skellington and Sally the Rag-doll are the best.
Their love story is so sweet and feels so real. The ending with them singing and kissing on that spiral hill almost makes me cry every time.
Maybe Sally reminds me of myself...because she's a creative loner, too shy to admit her feelings when she's in love. Or maybe because we both have a rather big calve-to-ankle ratio and a sizable bottom....
Sometimes I just find myself watching this child's movie as seriously as I would the most serious, Oscar-worthy romance film. The imagery is so beautiful...how I love Tim Burton....how I would like for that special someone to come find me on top of a snowy hill dazzling in the full-moon light, singing that it is clear to see, we are meant to be.....

Makeover

It's shamefully late, considering that Fall is my favorite season...but at last
the page has got it's pretty autumn colors.
Even The Girl with a Pearl Earring agreed to dress up a bit and wear a seasonal wreath over her turban.

God I love this time of the year, I feel fresh and alive. Like it's a new beginning. The air is crisp, the trees are incredible, the smells....oh, the smells....
And it's the time to go walk in the orchards, pick apples and pumpkins and corn.

Bake all kinds of spicy, warm things. Hot chocolate, apple pie, cranberry sauce, gingerbread cookies. Totally brings out the Martha Stewart in me that's been half asleep all summer.
It's like a festival for a few weeks. All of it leading to the big final: Halloween!

Welcome to Fall!

Of course...

Once you start that, there is no stopping. It's kind of like the anagram site....

This is Christina Ricci (Riccy??) It's just unbelievable, how she looks like a woman on one side, and strikingly like a five years old child on the other. And here is Tori Amos, because she's very pretty usually, and looks like the cutest doll on the left....but made me spit my green tea all over my screen when I saw the side of her face that looks like *freaking JOHN TRAVOLTA!!!* And these two....well, I won't spoil the fun, let's make this a guessing game. Who are those disturbing side-creatures that prove that sometimes, it takes two average people to create gorgeous, sexy faces?

Two Sides of Ourselves

Here is a fun experiment.
Take a photo of your face, looking straight into the camera. I used this one:

Using a basic photo modifying computer program, copy and paste one half of the face and switch it to the other side. Dot that for the second side, and you will get your two different selves.

I guess this is a good way to determine your "Best-side". I had no idea we had sides so different.

This is rather pretty:

While this...this is...uuuhh....well...unfortunate:


I guess my best side is the right one then....

Do my fingers look fat?

Well gosh darn it, loosing weigh DOES have it's bad sides.
I never realized that loosing 15 lbs could, and IS enough to ensure that all of your old rings are now too large. So you have to re-buy a jewelry wardrobe too!?

It's kind of sad, because some of the rings are so special. None are expensive (I'm a collector of cheap stuff), so it's not the money that matters, but some of them were so original. I will never find the same again. I guess I'll have to wear them on chains.....

It really is puzzling me, because honestly, I haven't seen much of the weigh vanish where it counts. (Hips, I'm looking at you!) I will never complain of having to throw away a pair of jeans because my butt has shrunk. No, I'd burn them with a smile on my face and dance around the fuming remains happily.

But really, have I lost 15 lbs of finger and wrist fat?

An Experiment for the Women

Apparently, women have a special connection with the Moon.

Some people feel closer to it, of course.
I always thought it was one of the most beautiful things in nature, especially when it's full and huge and orange. I even got a crescent moon tattooed on the back of my neck. To mark my love for nature. To me the Moon represents all of it. Some force that's always there every night going again and again in a cycle.

This is apparently the reason why ancient people and today's pagans have chosen our satellite as a symbol of the Mother Goddess. A visible, never-ending cycle, from waxing crescent (young woman), to full moon (mother), to waning crescent (Wise/old woman).

Tribes that lived outdoors were obviously fascinated by the moon, and noted the effect it had on their women.
I read recently, that back when people slept outside, and were closer to nature and more in tune with it. The women's monthly cycle were directly influenced by the Moon's magnetic attraction.
That it was synchronized to come along with the Full Moon.
And this is why some people even continue to call this period of the month "Being in their moon."

Of course, that fascinates me. Is that even possible?
The book said that us indoor women who don't camp out every day can get that connection back, simply by closing or opening our bedroom curtains according to the moon. To sleep in complete darkness on the new moon, and slowly opening them as it grows every night.

So if some of you girls are interested, try this at home, I know I will. And even men, if you disregarded the title and read this post anyway, try this on your woman.
Let's look to the right of our screen, tonight, the moon is waxing, still a tiny crescent. Curtains closed, girls!

A Love Potion

Well, I should make an effort to live up to my Blog's name and give you a proper little spell worthy of a Kitchen Witch:


"When the time comes, warm this potion and give to the one whose love you would sweeten and warm." (I suppose you could have some too.)

"Add to red wine, 1 teaspoon of each:
Rosemary, Anise, Clove, honey, Orange rind, ground Cumin, And 3 green leaves from a rose geranium.
Bring to a simmer and stir deosil while counting to 91. Cool til the brew stops steaming, then strain."

I have to admit I never tried that potion, but whether it works or not, it must smell divine just brewing it up.
Thanks to Gruenwold Cottage's Kitchen Witch for the recipe.
http://www.pookachild.com/

Lily's Fun Facts

Did you know.....

1-That according to a Google search, a screaming baby is 115 decibels?

2-That is more noise then a motorcycle, a Lawnmower or a Garbage truck?

3-That sometimes, when you work at a daycare, you have to reach the conclusion that the cutest-blue-eyed-doll-like-little-thing is most likely hitting the 120 decibels?

4-That 120 decibels= Race Car/Rock Band?

5-And that sometimes....there are more then one in a closed space?

NOOOO!

Nooo!No!Not you TOO!

OH!!Nelly, Nelly, Nelly...WHY????

Right....I'll....I'll just pretend I never saw that....She will be back to brunette soon...Oh dear god I hope she will be back to brunette soon.

And I'm back....

....And it was genius, as expected.

I was really afraid something would happen to prevent my attending. Not to be negative, but when I get hugely excited about something and get my hopes all up, fate often likes to have a good laugh at me and it ends up not happening.
So I was on the lookout....you know, lost tickets, natural disaster, Loreena catching a mysterious illness of the throat....but no. Thank you, fate, for letting me have this.

Her voice....it was just incredible. The drums, the Lyra, the cello....god, there are no words. It was worth all the worries and the tiresome metro ride with the freaks and pervs of Montreal.
(I also got the occasion to see a few female Loreena fans who had adopted her lioness hairstyle of huge brushed out curls with a fringe. Very amusing.)

She DID perform The Mystic`s dream, so I can now die happy. But maybe I was building my hopes way too high about it, and I ended up feeling a bit let down. They left out the gorgeous Gregorian chants at the start, and those are such an important part of the song to me...to build up the whole mood. But it still was great.

The Old Ways was the hit of the evening to me, I never expected to like the live version that much.

Yeah, I know, it`s all useless Blah-Blah to non-fans so I'll stop myself, but I needed to get it out of my mind...I won`t sleep tonight. And I`m very tempted to brush out my curls in honor of the Lady.

Results of kicking my own butt

Remember, a while ago, I missed the occasion to meet my idol, Loreena McKennitt, due to my extreme laziness and reluctance to go out of my precious nest on weekends? Yeah? I do too, and I remember how frustrated with myself I was the day after.

So that's why I immediately, without thinking twice, bought tickets to her show in Montreal as soon as it was announced. And I waited and waited, got nervous, and started thinking of how I'd get myself there, all the buses and trains I'd have to take in the dark. The weird people in Montreal...*shiver*

But tonight is the night.
I know it will be something I will remember for the rest of my life, it will be one of my most treasured memories. I don't know if it can be compared to getting married...the day before...you know it will be nerve racking and exciting, and deep down, you are horribly jittery.
But somehow, you manage to go trough the day's routine, wash your hair, do your bed, paper work in a normal way. But it's like the brain is refusing to register so as to function without freaking out.

I even killed a bad flu successfully using Echinacea drops, lots of water and going to bed at 9 every night this week.
I don't even want to imagine how depressing it would have been to be sick today.

Thank God it's Friday..

So exhausted....
I now fully realise that my job was extremely easy and even relaxing just a week ago.

Yes, there were eight kids with me all day, but they were all around five years old. The blessed age when they move from being babies and get upgraded to kids. Kids that can communicate almost like little adults, that understand what you say without the need for baby-talking. That can cut, glue, draw, paint by themselves. Dress themselves and put on their shoes. Tell jokes (or attempt to with even funnier results.)
They can even argue and pick fights with you, but hey, at least that's challenging in a fun way.

Now the big ones are gone to preschool, well five of them. And this week, the daycare ambiance has changed dramatically.
The five new kids (or should I say babies) are of course cute as kittens. But I certainly didn't remember how taxing it is to care for 2 years olds. It's a whole different world.

Pull-ups and diapers and asking fifty times a day in the general direction of those concerned "Do you need to pee?" and still cleaning yellow puddles off the floor and off underwear.

Attempting to establish communication as difficult as if they came in straight from China to our daycare.
And speaking of language, two of those kids speak a FUN mix of French/English/Spanish. Misunderstanding and frustration all around. But still funny to watch the other kids try to make sense of it with furrowed eyebrows and a look of deep concentration. Genuinely confused two years old are more entertaining then you'd think.

And then there's one little boy who turns into a Banshee as soon as he passes the door. Wailing his lungs out for his Mamie. Good times.

But I also realise that this is only a transition. I am emotionally and physically drained today...but things should be better as we all get used to each other.
For now, I need a rest, and YES, it's a long weekend!

Seriously worried

That's it...I'm now scared of walking in my own neighborhood.

A few days ago, an 18 years old girl was waiting for the bus. Somehow, she got pulled into a car, taken a few miles away, raped, and brought back where she was in the first place.
This CAN'T happen!
Six o'clock, damnit! The sun is still shining high!
And she was not walking in a dark alley or anything. That street is a rather busy one, but still residential, there are many houses and people around. Beautiful flowers, expensive houses, people walking their dogs, children on bicycles, you get the picture!

What's freaking me the most, is that it happened only one bus stop away from where I take it every night at that time.
I'm scared. I always felt so safe.
I even walked at night sometimes, but that time is over.

I don't know what I can do to feel safer. I feel so vulnerable.

Lush-ious!

Last weekend was the first time I had ever heard of "Lush", or more like the first time I had ever *seen* this boutique. I guess you American readers have it too...we are just a bit behind up here. And this is a big and exciting novelty for this kitchen witch!

Wow, it's a whole new experience, like walking into a wonderfully scented rainbow.


At first, knowing nothing about them, I was convinced that the colorful display of plastic-looking soap bars were of the cheap and synthetic sort. You have to admit that turquoise and fuchsia are not what you'd expect of natural soaps, but more of the shelves of a dollar store.


But the enthusiastic and definitely slightly effeminate clerk nicely explained to me how the products are made from essential oils, natural ingredients like clay and herbs and such. I was beyond excited. And then he told me that all of the soaps and ingredients aren't tested on animals, I was sold.

I'm still in the discovery stage, but I have found a favorite already, and it's this baby:

It's called Reincarnate, and yes, it does look quite disgusting in this picture, but in reality, it's a nice looking piece of reddish mud-colored shampoo-bar. It smells of many kinds of spices, orange and some other yummy exotic stuff, and best of all, Red Persian Henna, which supposedly adds reddish tones to dark hair.

I'm new to the concept of solid shampoo, but I love it already, no pesky bottles around the shower anymore. Not only is it great smelling, practical, natural and good for the hair, I realized that I don't even have to put in conditioner after I rinse that off! And this is something I thought I would never even dream of thinking about. Curly hair=vital need for conditioner, can't go without it. So I must conclude that Reincarnate is some kind of magical-does-all hair soap.

The next thing I must investigate is their brand of Henna bars. I'm admittedly a bit put off by how they chose to name the stuff....maybe it's because I'm French, but calling a hair color "Caca Brun mama" or "Caca Noir mama" might be just a bit unappealing....if not revolting.

Victory!

At last, some good news to write about!
I am back from my three weeks summer vacations, and instead of having added the obligatory vacation-ten-pounds, I have actually went down to 133lbs!
I have beat the dreaded 140lbs Plateau! It is gone and behind! And I don't even remember the last time I climbed on the scale and got a number under 140! It's like being in a dream.

I'm still wondering how it's possible....sure, I've been careful about what I eat,walked a lot, but I've not been overly strict...in fact, I've been at my sister's almost half the time, and this is a place of depravation where sugary alcohol flows, and desert is omnipresent, even at breakfast. There were birthdays, I got almost drunk on Sour Puss and Smirnoff Ice and chocolate-cheese cake on a few occasions.

I can only blame the weight lost on emotional stress. Yes, I won't talk about it much on the web, my private diary is there for that.

Very Tempting

So I've been letting my hair grow for the last few months. And for the first time in my life, I didn't actually cut it myself in a bout of frustration after two weeks.

So yeah, it's now pass my shoulders....I'm happy with it.

But it's summer now, and it is HOT outside, and also incredibly humid, and I am going mad with that great curly sheep sitting on my head all day.

I watched the movie Amélie Poulin yesterday, and for a moment, she convinced me to cut my hair ala Amélie. I just adore that cute, fringe-y and funky little cut. And it seems great for hot weather.

I'm hesitating, because first, my hair takes lots of time to grow back....and also, a few people told me that they thought Audrey Tautou's hair was hideous in that movie.

Not that I let others decide on my haircut....but I'd really hate to walk the streets with half the population wondering if I'm whacked in the head...

I don't know how to make a Poll, but maybe you people could help me, don't have to leave a big comment, just YES or NO....I'd like to have a sample of popular opinion.