Don't ask. And don't check the updates in the tea and lipbalm departement. Scarlet red my cheeks burn for I dare scarce admit it; I spend next to nothing when out shopping yesterday but what I did spend was on tea and lipbalm. *blushes to imitate colour of the people's flag*

Since I will spend the next four days in bed with a book don't expect updates. And if I don't see you:

Happy Christmas & Merry 2007

Radio

For many a month I have had a last.fm account. I signed up for one after having it seen at this nice young man's blog, but I never seemed to be able to make it work and after one or two unsuccessful attempts I gave it up. Not even the laudative words of my love coach could persuade me to give it another try. Until I was recently reminded of last.fm's existence on this young man's blog and I swore I would not rest before I had solved the issues.
If you can see my most recent tracks on the left that left, you may conclude that I have mastered the art of neglecting schoolwork in favour of utterly unimportant victories over modern technology.

Tea - part three

As a step towards buying not so much tea anymore I thought it might be a not so bad idea to consume less tea, making the purchase of aforementioned drink less necessary. Thus after drinking a pint and a half ( being one thermos) of black tea with forest berry flavouring this morning/early afternoon while reading a book* and two cups of lemongrass tea at a friends place where I found myself dropping of a present and sipping port, I decided to quench my evening thirsts with water. Alas for me, or rather the good girl inside me desirous to stick to resolutions, I came accross this (see below) message.

We’re sorry, but our database servers are currently overloaded. Please enjoy a quick cup of tea and then try refreshing this page.

* one I must read for my studies, nothing frivoulous

Virgo, December 21

Possibly the most unuseful horoscope in the thirteen years I read them.

Whether or not you are in the mood for love, you should go for romance today. Immerse yourself in sweet sentiment, and take a break from cold reality. And don't limit yourself to thinking of romance as applying only to love affairs. Instead, embrace the complete definition of the word 'romance' -- use music, poetry and film as vehicles to explore your heart and discover new ways of maneuvering through difficult days.

Therapeutic Writing II

The love coach hath said:

Therapeutic writing is good.

She hath also said that I must not look for meaning in every turn of speech. And she is very likely right. I can however but feel what I feel, see what I see, hear what I hear and think what I think, however idiotic and unreasonable. I am ready to accept, nay with all the reason I am capable of I do know that he loves me not and yet I will doubt and while doubting hope. Hope that maybe I misunderstood, hope that maybe he misunderstood and answered the wrong question, hope that he will/ has change(d) his mind, hope that all is not lost, hope that if he doesn't love he will at least not think of me unkindly or worse scorn me.

Therapeutic Writing I

It cannot be.
It will not be.
It shall not be.

Yet there is hope in my heart. The love coach will not like to hear it. He will read it and dislike the thought. And I? If only that I knew, I'd need not write in therapy.

The First Gift

I seldomly expect a gift back when I go out buying or stay in making gifts for friends; so when today a pretty and friendly girl offered me a small parcel when she came over to borrow my nail polish remover I was completely yet pleasantly surprised. I have but to thank my sports and alcoholcoach (for she it was that presented me with the first gift of the season) again for the hair clip, it will go very well with my masked ball outfit and the newfound joy in my life.

Jeff Buckley

I'm 22 years and three months today. And why not celebrate with chocolate chipped cookies, multiple cups of tea and a youtube clip of Jeff Buckley? And the best part is you can all enjoy the latter because every now and then I'm as friendly as everybody thinks I am.

Oops I did it again

I have been buying books. Enough to give me much pleasure and enjoyment the coming trying weeks, however by far too little to utterly ruin me. Since I promised no lists until January 4, I cannot tell you which they are and I find that very convenient as I am too lazy today to list them anyway.
I have also come into possession of four new sorts of tea, and one might scold me for extravaganza were it not that these infusions 'accidentally' slipped into the shopping cart when I was supervising the end-of-year dinner purchases.
Anyone believe I might be short on tea soon and wishes to contribute to my collection may check for the list of what I have here.

My Heart

You might think you know all about it by now. I sure do a poor job at hiding my feelings, and I'm not hiding them now.

My heart leaps, jumps, skips, beats and springs up when I walk my fixed routes through town. It flits, flots, floats, flirts and flies circles around the sun. I'm in love. With a man. One man (but in a way that I can bear it). And life.

Now all the task that is before me is to maintain this state of being for a year or two. By which time I hope to be heartbroken and sufficiently disappointed in life to write my award winning debut novel. 'tis but a dream I know. Tomorrow I shall be in love still but only with a man and I will be miserable again. As long as it lasts however I'll wear a smile upon my face.

The Devil wears Prada: A DVD Review

The devil wears Prada, and Chanel, and a whole bunch of other fashion designers that I might have heard off but refuse to let the names linger in my memory because I am too poor to afford their clothes and 15 pounds overweight to wear them. Note that I mention Prada because that happens to be the title and Chanel because you gotta love Chanel, no women is complete without it. *
Back to the film I'm reviewing. It's good. Well, it is and it isn't. It is because Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci are great, Ardrian Grenier is dead cute, and it's the perfect blend between a chickflick/romantic comedy and a fashion magazine. And it isn't because I'm too old for chickflicks, too melancholy or downright misanthropic for romantic comedies and because of aforementioned reasons I'm not suited for fashionvictimness.
In short did you miss something not seeing this in cinéma? No, the film is a lot better on a smaller screen. Must you buy this DVD? Well I can't force you. Why must you see this on DVD? Think, think, think; the Gagreel among the featurettes is kinda fun. And there's a 'deleted scene' where you get a shot of Adrian Grenier wearing very little clothes (still covered in bedsheets though)**.

That's all.


*possibly exaggerated but there are people I'd kill for these boots:

**Which I know my love coach will like to see so here's a picture:

On a quest for Elvis Costello: YouTube

not the best quality but I cannot help wanting to share two of my favourite artists


and here's Fiona Apple ( of whom I had never heard before today) singing an Elvis Costello favourite

Virgo, December 14

My horoscope for tomorrow and I dare admit I like the sound of one or two things.

Those closest to you have really come to depend on your discerning viewpoint. They know that if anyone will give them an opinion that's not sugarcoated, it's you. However, you also know when a delicate situation demands diplomacy.

Someone with whom you recently had a deep and meaningful conversation will be acting a bit standoffish today. This person hasn't had a change of heart -- but is feeling rather embarrassed about being so vulnerable. Do not let this change in attitude hurt your feelings. Instead, give her or him space and time to get used to your friendship's new level. This person needs to feel secure that you are going to be there for the long haul.

An instantaneous attraction is awfully seductive. Enjoy it for what it is and don't try to make more of it. It could develop into a grand passion, or it could be just a pleasant interlude. Applying pressure won't help.

Take time out of your day-to-day agenda for a look at -- and discussion about -- the bigger picture. Whether it's lunch with your mentor or a one-on-one with your boss, consider the industry as a whole and your future.

Rant I

i felt like blogging but didn't know what about so I thought why not blog a picture so here it is it's ville valo because my love coach adores him doesn't make sense but whatever wanted to go shopping today did walk through the city area called shopping street but couldn't find anything worth buying so I'm blah today and don't you dare comment on the lack of pause in speech markers it's just a rant can't help being in love and confused and maybe once again in love with two people and I know it can't be because the second one is really really cute but I wanted him and love coach to get together and well sucks to be me I guess

Cards

I do not like being kept in the dark about my future, therefor I lay out a set of self-made tarot cards according to a self constructed system of fortunetelling at a regular basis.

Today, this I read in the cards

• a helpful stranger
• love that will be answered
• a secret admirer that will (soon) make himself known
• professional succes
• an unclear situation that I will have to solve all by my own
• a hurt friend
• the further expansion of my family circle

Considering conclusions I have drawn out of certain events both today and yesterday I hold situation 2 to be highly unlikely and situation 5 to be my continuous state of being. Do share with me your enlightning opinions.

Kvraagetaan

There is a man who I hold in high regard (though not the highest for the mud pool of my affection has a strict, very strict hierarchy) who has today by the mere act of blogging caused me to carry to the grave my lifelong antipathy for bands singing in a dialect from the wrong side of Ghent.

And because I must have an opinion: it is mostly about one song. The title would be 'kvraagetaan'. And I have no means whatsoever to translate or even try to explain what this means. Basically it means asking someone you like to start of a relationship. I have little inside info to give on the subject as my only involvement ever consists of saying 'no' twice after which time nobody bothered asking. Back to the song concerned: Melancholy and more melancholy, a sequence of memories (some barely ten years old) and the lament of going back to the time where everything was as simple as ' kvraagetaan'. Any deeper meaning and nuance is lost on me quite possibly because the language sung is not my native tongue.

Lipbalm - part two

And there are people who think I exagerate. For your information; a blog entirely about lip balm. And who am I to discourage that?! I wonder if there's any chance of getting free samples if I visit regurlary. Maybe I should ask.

Too Much Chocolate

There is such a thing (though I would scarce dare to admit it before) like too much chocolate, and I'm experiencing it right now.

There is however no such thing as too much tea, too much reading, too many lip balms and a man that loves me back. Please note that the last word in the previous sentence is merely to avoid obvious unwelcome comments.

Daniel Brühl

It has simply been too long since I've posted a handsome young man. So here you have one. I defy you to deny he is rather cute. And of course he is also a talented actor. Not so very sexy voice but one can't have everything.

Sinterklaas

Today it's Saint Nicholas Day traditionally children will find candy and small presents waiting for them when they wake up. I, alas have grown too old to get presents from the holy man and if I want spoiling on this day I have to take care of it myself. And I have. This evening around 25 (of which naturellement I am one) chocoholics will gather at the Quetzal Chocolatebar and splash into a chocolate fondue , I need not point out that this is by far my favourite OAK organised activity.

Tea - part two

Upon professing the amount of tea varieties in my possession, the chocolate coach was shocked, not bewildered, surprised and ponderous of why anyone needs such an amount of tea leaves and herbal infuses, but plain shocked as if it was an obscenity.

I acknowledge that 45 is a lot of flavours and blends to choose from but it's not as if I have one pound of every variety. So I started a little math. I have 1521,1 grams of tea at an average of 2 grams tea per cup that makes 761 cups. I drink an average of 4 cups of tea per day. Which makes that my stock will last around 190 days. Or I will run out of tea on June 12. Isn't that great.

Lip Balm

As I was out shopping for tea this afternoon (as if I needed any more ) I also bought lip balm. And there was not so much rejoicing among people concerned with my financial situation. The fact is I already have plenty of lip balm. Don't believe me? Here's a list, and try to enjoy it I promise it's the last one for at least a month.

1. The Body Shop lip butter sweet grape
2. The Body Shop cranberry lip balm
3. The Body Shop born lippy watermelon
   
4. The Body Shop born lippy raspberry
5. The body Shop honey lip care SPF 15
6. The Body Shop hemp lip conditioner
7. Pop tarts frosted cherry lip balm
8. Pop tarts frosted blueberry lip balm
9. Lip naturals herbal formula bing cherry SPF 15
10. Lipsmacker Dr Pepper
11. Hema 1/7 pearly gold lip balm
12. Miss Helen Fruity Lipbalm Strawberry
13. Yves Rocher Baume hydratant a l'extrait de raisin
14. Yver Rocher Baume nourrisant a l'huile d' amande
15. Dirty Girl On The Go raspberry SPF 15
16. Yves Rocher Jardins desÎles Baume hydratant vanille de Madagascar
17. Yves Rocher baume nourrissant édition de noël
18. Carmex click stick lip balm
    

Tea

Those of you that do not know that I love nothing* more in this world then reading might as well stop bothering reading this blog. Those that don't know that next to reading and aforementioned * I love tea best on this planet are hereby informed that I have more sorts of tea then I have pots of nail polish. Nothing remarkable you gather. Hah . Then you might not know that I have one short of forty. And here is an inclusive**list of the teas I have.

1. Twinings English Breakfast pads
2. Twinings English Breakfast bags
3. Twinings Ceylon orange Pekoe bag
4. Twinings Lady Grey bags
5. Twinings Earl Grey bags
6. Twinings Cherry bags
7. Twinings Lemon bags
8. Twinings Vanilla bags
9. Twinings Passion Fruit, Mango & Orange bags
10. Twinings Blackcurrant bags
    
11. Slovak Herbal Tea loose tea brand-less
12. Beijing Iris Wen Gui Jia loose
    
13. Beijing Iris Hang Ju Hua loose
14. Beijing Iris Wen Gui Jia bags
15. Javana Jasmin Tea loose
16. Lipton Morocco pyramids
17. Lipton White Tea pyramids
18. Lipton Andalusia pyramids
19. Lipton Blue Fruit Tea bags
20. Lipton Liquorice-Mint bags
21. Lipton Orange-Lemon bags
22. Lipton Mint bags
23. Lipton Til bags
24. Lipton Mint bags
25. Lipton Til- Mint bags
26. Lipton Camomille bags
27. Lipton Liquorice bags
28. Lipton Rose-hip/Raspberry bags
    
29. Lipton Soft Cashmere loose
30. Lipton Himalayan Sunrise loose
    
31. Oxfam Fairtrade Bio green tea loose
32. Oxfam Fairtrade Lemon bags
33. Oxfam Fairtrade Rooibos bags
    
34. Meßmer Schwarzer Tee Wildkirsche bags
35. Kruidvat Evening Mix bags
36. Kruidvat Respiratory bags
37. Kruidvat Night-rest bags
38. Kruidvat Fennel bags
    
39. Albert Heijn Forest Fruit bags
40. Albert Heijn Mint bags
41. Albert Heijn Blueberry bags
42. Zonnatura Herbal Tea Rooibos bags
    
43. Delhaize Nettle bags
44. Delhaize Green Tea bags
45. Delhaize Raspberry bags
46. Delhaize Lime-Honey bags
    
47. Delhaize Apple-Rhubarb bags
48. Celestial Seasonings Cranberry Apple Zinger pads
    
49. Celestial Seasonings Mandarin Orange Spice pads
    
50. Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime pads
    

*the much adored one is of course disregarded as my love of books has survived several much and most adored ones
** safe 3 sorts of tea of which I have but one bags left, listing would seam idiotic

Presents

It's December. traditionally my mother will have asked everyone in the family to make a list of things we'd like to have so she knows what to tell clueless aunts and grandparents. Since nobody has ever bothered taking into account what I write down but just gets me a bookshop gift coupon or worse hand me some money in an envelope I just hand in a short list of books I can't afford off my pocket allowance and act very surprised and grateful when I get the wrong book and at rare occasions not even a book from the author I asked for.

But I so love making lists that here's one of things I always like getting:

1. goldfish
2. tea
3. white flowers
4. lip balm
5. fountain pens
6. cute stationary
7. bright coloured socks
8. lollipops
9. small bottles of flavoured oil or vinegar
10. cooking books
11. books on philosophy
12. postcards and letters
13. anything It's Happy Bunny
14. wash off tattoos
15. candles
16. tools and books of witchcraft

Coming Soon: The Devil Wears Prada Review

Like, love, hate, believe it or not, but I've been actually asked to write a review for 'The Devil Wears Prada'. And could I refuse?
The eager writer, undiscoverd columnist, would-be Nobel prize for Literature winner in me were all too happy with the attention. The somewhat stubborn anti maintsream social pattern individual lurking in dark corners jumping at opportunities to make me doubt screamed out not to let myself (in as far as my blog is an extension of myself) be used as billboard. As usual I paid it no attention.
In conclusion: "Coming soon: The Devil Wears Prada Review"
Have a youtube clip to pass the time while I watch the movie again in order to make up my mind.

Aids Awareness Day

It's International Aids Awareness Day, even though I am neither an HIV positive person or professing HIV risk behaviour (the term is ugly I know but that's the word I find most frequently used nonetheless), I am wearing a red ribbon today. Because it is important. Because people must be informed. Because no matter how you became an HIV patient you deserve support. Because no one ill should stand alone. Because I care and would like others to care. And maybe most of all because others think they don't have to care merely because it concerns them not.

Don't think me naive, I know full well that wearing a ribbon isn't going to speed up the development of aids-medication. Nor is it going to convince anyone to have safe sex. Nor is it going to stop an addict sharing his needles. Nor is it going to safen bloodtransfusions. Yet I dare hope that for one brief second I have made just one person think. That's all.