To my two cats! It sounds weird when I'm writing it down, but it describes perfectly my current situation.

I used to own a very nice two-bedroom apartment in Rennes, France. It wasn't always very tidy, but it looked comfy enough to feel at ease. I spent my evening on the net or playing on my computer or chatting with friends. I made a good living and life was generally pretty good :D

One day almost a year exactly after my previous cat had died (July 2006, RIP my little darling), the strangest idea came to my mind 'Maybe I am ready for a new cat!' It actually sounded good and pretty harmless. As the days went by, the whole concept changed from being a fancy to something really serious. I started looking for a cattery as I wanted another Birman in my life. I must sound pretty vain to want a pedigreed cat rather than save one from a shelter... I guess I am. I am a sucker those long furred, blue eyed and white-socked little beings. To my defense I must say I already had two and I must simply be some kind of masochist. As you can see I had started digging my grave early on.

I found a great cattery not too far away from home and I became very close to the breeder, an absolutely adorable woman. We chose a kitten for me and a little three months later, Cyrano (I had chosen the name myself) came to my life. He was the most adorable little kitten possible, so sweet with his blue eye, his creamed colored body and the hint of chocolate on his nose.

This is when my place became his place... As I said I was never the tidiest one, but since his arrival the floor is continually cluttered by his things. The little fabric or real-fur mice, the round soft balls, the educational stuff I bought every time I went to the pet food shop... everything lies around for you to walk or stumble on. Sure at the beginning I tried to pick them up and put them in a little basket, but I swear he is as quick to get them out of them as I am to put them in. So I kinda gave up... I'm weak and sometimes lazy...

Soon I could kiss my long and lazy morning in bed goodbye. When a cat has decided you have slept enough, it's hard to convince him otherwise. I must admit from time to time I simply locked him up in the living room just to have an additional two or three-hour sleep. But the sad little face and shower of love I got once I freed him made it impossible to use this solution as a regular one. My heart is too soft and he is a good actor.

As days went by the situation became difficult. Cyrano woke me up several times a night to cuddle next to me in bed. Again it was impossible to refuse him as his purring just went straight to my heart. He was my little guy and something was not right I could feel with every fiber of my body. I started to monitor his every move and action when we were together. I started to count how many times he came to cuddle under the sheets, the time he spent crying in front of the mirror in the guestroom... The diagnostic was quickly and painless... He felt lonely and showered me with all his love when I was home. There weren't many solutions, either I found my cat a new home which was of course unacceptable or I took another cat.

Naturally when I started talking about a second cat, my parents tried to convince me that it was a bad idea. Cyrano was eventually going to settle in and accept the fact that he was alone. My previous cats had done that and had been happy... Yeah well each cat is different... Those little being are like us, they can feel lonely and yes maybe he will accept his situation but will he be happy? I for one think that once you have taken upon you to have pets, it's your responsibility to make them happy. Food and shelter isn't enough. They need attention, love, nurturing... They are like little kids who will never grow up.

As I have mentioned it earlier I'm pretty vain so I guess it's useless to mention that I didn't go to a shelter... Add to that the now very real worry that the kitten I would chose there could be ill (most of the time nothing serious but at times still contagious) and that I didn't want to take the risk for Cyrano. So once more I looked at ads and cattery sites to find the perfect kitten... Cyrano's breeder had no kitten available but she started looking out for me in case one of her friends had one. And I was lucky... I called a Ragdoll breeder and she had a kitten that was not yet reserved. Sadly another person was interested, but she seemed to be hesitating between her kitten and another one. Needless to say that I hoped for the other ragdoll to be the hit and I was lucky.

So two and a half months after Cyrano, Diwan joined our little family... and sleepless nights started again!!! I was told I shouldn't worry. Two young kitten would necessarily get along just fine. Well I had an open war three days long. They couldn't be in the same room without Cyrano attacking mercilessly the intruder and Diwan crying like a little baby. Only at night they accepted to sleep on each side of me in a relative calm...

After that we had a cease-fire three weeks long. Cyrano had accepted the fact that this other cat was going to stay here and that it was pointless to attack him. After that things improved steadily and now they are very close friends. Too close maybe :lol:

And I am their slave, of course their very willing one. Who could resist those little faces?

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009! I hope it will bring you all the things you have hoped for :D

It has been a while since I was last here and I'm sorry for that. As you can see I have been busy. I hope I'll be able to be around a little more often from now on. Well at least if I understand how this site works now. It's damn confusing... :?

It's been a while since I last posted a blog and I thought I owed to the nice people I met here to bow out gracefully...

I haven't felt much like updating my page lately and I don't think I will in a close future. I wanted a proper goodbye and tell you how much I liked share little things with all of you. I will miss you, but sometimes a page needs to be turned to start properly anew. I have come to that point and this is why this is farewell.

I hope the future holds a lot of great things for all of you and that life will be kind. I will probably still haunt some boards... and maybe one day I'll feel like blogging again. For now I have decided to concentrate my energy on writing and one specific series.

So Goodbye...

Yeah I'm still alive but internet is still not working and I must admit it starts to play on my mood. ANd I'll need a stiff drink to feel better when I'll once again face ùy internet-less computer at home.

The move was relatively smooth and if I don't look at the scratches on my beautiful wooden floor, I guess it was a success. I hope I'll be back soon with pics and all. But I start to doubt that my connection will ever work again.

Take care
Val

Well my phone line got tested and I know where I stand... Even though both front doors are in close range from each other, one building can have TV by internet and the other can't!!! How crazy is that? And how frustrating?

So my little toy will have to be given back after only a month playing with it. This is so unfair *sigh*

So I called my TV company telling them that I wasn't able to keep my subscription because my new installation didn't allow it. The nice lady on the phone told me to try those mini satelittle dishes that are now available. They are so small no one can see them (I'm normally not supposed to have a dish in this apartment, but then I live on the 12th floor so who will see it ;) )

So a smile is back on my face... I'll go to a shop next Saturday and I'll try to figure out how this will work :D
And the nice lady said they would give me 150 euros to cover part of my costs. I think this sounds like a deal :lol:

As end of March is nearing, time for the move into my very own apartment approaches. Next Monday I will receive the keys of my new kingdom and I can't even start to tell you how excited I am :D

Okay this kind of covers it :lol:

But this is also the time when I need to move my phone and internet connection. After the fiasco last time was you have to admit, I don't feel very confident.

Yeah that kinda shows it ;)

So this morning I decided to call my friend at France Telecom. After all it had been a whole 5 days since I last called because neither internet, nor TV was working :roll: :lol:
I must say I impressed them that time. The guy asked me if I wanted to work for them because I knew how everything was working... He also gave me good advice: move your line as soon as possible if you want to be sure to have everything back quickly.

So back to this morning. I had again a very friendly person on the phone. She was funny and really made my day. I like to laugh in the morning. It gives you a good feeling for the whole day. Her first advice was to tell me to change my phone number. First it was cheper than keeping the old one (25 euros) and there was a bigger change that my internet provider wouldn't mess up things like last time :lol:
The bad news was that it was likely that I couldn't keep my TV with them. And this is where it becomes weird!! Even though both apartments are so very close together (the buildings are from door to door about 20 seconds apart), I shouldn't be on the same terminal and therefore not keep the TV...

This feels so wrong. Now I finally have a great terminal (see previous blog) and maybe I'll have to give my toy away :( Not fair!!!
They'll be able to tell me more once my line is active... that is on Wednesday :(

So now I'll be cut off from the world from Wednesday on. I should be able to access internet from work but not much... as I will be very busy in the coming days :(
Cross your fingers for me. Maybe this time everything will work smoothly :D

And

because it is my birthday :D
This is going to be a two-day party 'cause tomorrow someone else is going to have a grand day and this party is on us!!! Huh Newbie ;)

So help yourself to a glass of champagne and appetizers.

      

We hope you are going to enjoy the great buffet and the nice atmosphere. Only wonderful people are attending so come over.

Whether you like cocktails...

... or just want a fresh fruit juice...

... your wishes are our command :D

If you're more into typical and less sophisticated things come over to my Alsatian buffet and enjoy our Bretzels and other niceties :)

So don't hesitate grab a few things and shake your bottom to the music :lol:

Then soon the time will come when the birthday cake will roll in :D

No, not that one!!! :roll: I' m not that old yet :P Mine is over there!!!

And don't you dare try to count the candles :lol: Maybe I should go for that one ;)

But soon midnight will be approaching and someone else will have her special day. So don't eat or drink too much, because we have plenty of other stuff for you to enjoy.

Yeah that's me :roll:
Some months ago I decided I need a DVR. With a bright smile on my face I decided to check the newest models at a local shop. And this is when the problems started.

I think the main problem comes from the fact that I like to have the latest technology at home. So for years now I have been waiting for the Blu-ray to make an appearance (I'm a Sony freak ;) ). Sadly this new genereation  of DVDs took its sweet time to come out.
Deciding that I wasn't going to wait any longer I made my way to the shops. The only models I liked were too expensive for a DVR that was supposed to be a transition until the DVR Blu-ray hits the market a reasonable price. Unless of course the HD DVD wins the format battle *sigh*

So I made a decision. I called France Telecom and told them I wanted their new TV decoder with a 160 Gb hard drive :D

This way I can record what I can't watch directly and I have enough room to last me some time. Of course I can't burn it on a DVD, but then I'm more of a DVD buyer than a burner :D
Saturday morning Fedex came and we made the exchange old decoder against new. I must say I like the new one. It looks smarter than the old model.

But what I like most about it is the remote control I have been given :D That one is just great. It can control the decoder and the TV at the same time. And I must say it just looks great :D

                   

So now I'm a happy camper :D And I can give way to my TV addiction. Ain't it great? :lol:

This morning I had the shock of my life :shock:
I walked into my office and stole a quick glance to the right to look at my assistant while I was taking care of my coat and purse. Next to him another subordinate was busy retying his knot of his tie and honestly it really looked as though he was redressing :lol:
It was funny because of course I went to them and with a pretend shocked expression I wonder what the hell they had been doing. One got the joke right away, the other just stuttered about the knot having looked all wrong. The expression on his face was priceless :D And now I'm in the best of moods even though today is a very busy day!

So let's back to Alsace and set some facts straight. No Lobo, Le Petomane (which can be translated the Farter :roll: ) is not Alsatian. He probably could have been, with all the sauerkraut we're eating :lol:
And of course Linsey got it right the most famous child of my beautiful region is Albert Schweitzer.

He was born in the same village as my grandmother, Kaysersberg. i guess most of you know about him. He received the 1952 Nobel Peace Price and he founded and sustained the Lambaréné Hospital in Gabon.

But another Alsatian sculpted the probably most famous lady in the world. Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, born in Colmar, created her. I'm sure you know who I mean?

Yep that's right, that's her :D I'm sure I don't have to say anything more ;)

Want a glimpse of my native village? It doesn't have anything really special compared to very typical villages in Alsace. It's not particularly big, the houses are not really beautiful, but well it's home.

I like our church. It's called Saint Michel and I must say it's a rather good looking one for a village that small (less than 3,000 inhabitants). It was built at the end of the 18th century. Let's have a little look inside because it's pretty :D

Nice no?

One specificity of Alsace is that compared to France or even Germany nearby there is an equal number of Roman Catholics and Lutherans in the region. Most villages were under the protection of either the Catholic Church or the nobility and depending on that you had either religion. 
Weyersheim was Catholic whereas all the villages nearby were Lutheran. It sound a little outdated to speak about 'war of religion', but the competition between Catholic and Protestant villages has been fierce until the late sixties. My great-grandmother who was a very religious woman told me at a young age that I would never be allowed the entrance of her home if I'd ever marry a Lutheran :roll: I know that's crazy :shock: But really think she meant it :?

 Well I need to go back to work. Next time I'll post about Alsace I'll talk a little about Strasbourg, the capital city of the region.

The good thing about the apartment I currently live in is that I don't have my huge mirror anymore and the tiny one in the bathroom is just too small. I have no probblem to happily ignore the fact that my clothes are getting tighter because I...

stuff my face on a regular basis ;) I know taht I should ban Nutella and other sweets to concentrate on healthy stuff again.

To be honest before this weekend it had been a while since I last ate something really healthy. But recently I tried one of my 'a-little' large skirts and realized it was getting tight :shock: It's been very long since I last stood on a...

And that day the result had been less than convincing. So gals, the time has come to take matters into my hands!!! I can't go on like that if I want to wear my normal clothes! I just purchased a new flat so I don't have enough money to change my whole wardrobe :(

So I took the only measure that made sense as I don't feel like dieting

I started exercising!!! :shock: I know it's crazy :lol:
When I woke up this morning I was surprised by the fact that my body didn't hurt. I already thought that I had done something wrong. But after staying seated for 2 hours, I stood up and believe me! Now I feel every tiny little muscles in my legs and abs :lol:
I know I'll never look like that

But I'll be happy with a little less thigh and butt :lol:
So wish me good luck, I plan to exercise every day in my small cramped flat and that alone is a hardship ;)

Well as some people have complained that my blogs were boring, I have decided to take matters into my hands and work on it ;)

I promised yesterday I would tell you a little bit more about me and I decided to start with my beautiful region. Sadly I don't live there anymore, but this is where my heart is.

So don't be afraid, come along and I'll tell you a little something about home: ALSACE

The local name is Elsass. The region has been disputed over the year between France and Germany. My great-grandmother changed nationalities 3 times in her life... :roll:

First where are we in Europe?

That's easy, we're right in the middle, it's hard to miss us :lol:

We are the smallest region of France, but of course what is small is beautiful ;)
Don't come here and expect to see typical French villages, because you're going to be disappointed. The outlook is more Germanic than anything else. The houses are typical and very different. Just have a look at this one in Kaysersberg.

This house on the far right used to be in the family. We sold it in the sixties because my grandparents moved to Strasbourg.

What can I say about us? We like to drink

And this is why we have many wineyards through out the region. But we're not peculiar you can also find find beer here.

Of course we don't only drink, we eat a lot too... A little too much I must say :lol:

So basically we're happy, well fed people who live in a beautiful region ;) What you don't believe me? :shock:

I have some pics to prove it :lol:

If you want to find out a little more, you have to be patient :P

But let's play a little game, can you give me the name of one famous Alsatian? I'm sure you know at least one. Just try :D