Of mice and men

Let's start with the mice.

The mouse chez moi seems to have disappeared. No sounds for a few days and Pumpkin has lost interest in the book case. That leaves a few possibilities:

1. It died of starvation, but I can't smell anything, so...

2. The cats got it, but I haven't discovered any entrails, so...

3. It left the way it came in, however that was. Good idea, because there's no easy food to be had.

Maybe it moved to Pigalle métro. A friend always tells me there's millions of them in the system but in three years of looking for the mythical plague, I've only ever seen one little mouse. Until now. Now, with less trains running and less people on the platform, I spend my time waiting for the train by counting the mice skipping along the rails. Aren't those things supposed to be deadly? The mice don't seem to care. They're having a field day down there.

And onto the men. We're in Day 9 of the strike and things are a little better. There are more métro trains running and more buses, but it's still a crush, especially in Hell, aka Place de Clichy. People are pretty much resigned. Being crushed is the new norm, and now I hardly bother holding on; I just count on the throng of people to keep me upright. I've yet to speak to anyone who thinks the government should back down. Probably because a lot of people in the private sector have given up some rights to get this country moving and they think now it's the public sector's turn.

Oh, yes, more protests. Yesterday, about 7,000 buralistes took to the streets. They're the people who run the cigarette stands in cafés, and they're unhappy about the smoking ban that comes into effect January 1st. They're saying they've already lost business because of the tax rise on cigarettes, to which I say tax those fucking things right out of existence! Kinda glad I'll be out of the country for the changeover, because I'm sure there'll be some fisticuffs, although considering about 60% of the population is for the change, maybe it won't be that bad.

Speaking of fisticuffs, we knew this one was coming. Jacques the Shark (Chirac) is under investigation for fraud. The justices have been waiting years for this one, because you can't investigate a French president. But as soon as he's out of office...

Some things that caught my eye this week:

What the well-dressed 16ème kids are wearing (aka, how come the kids get the prettiest stuff?)

A building near my office

Why Keris absolutely ROCKS. On a wet, windy day when I was out of reading material and snacks, this turns up and saves my life. And I know the Peanut Butter and Banana Crème Cups are collector pieces, but I gobbled them down. The King would understand. Hell, he woulda fought me for them. But he would have lost.

A closer look at the card because I can't stress enough how me it is. All it lacks is a coupla cats hanging off the back of the sofa.

What else? Oh yeah, Redford has copped it for speaking out against Mitt Romney, because apparently actors aren't supposed to have political views--but oh no, we're hanging on their every word for the important stuff, such as which handbag they're carrying and who designed their dress and are they really fighting with so-and-so? Hey, I'm a bag freak, but come on. So keep it up, Sundance. And good on Clooney for taking on the paparazzi.

News I'm tired of: the "shocking" new revelation that Princess Diana might have lived had she been taken straight to the ER. Chrissakes, they've been talking about this for 10 years, when are they going to stop dragging it up? Guess it sells papers.

News that made me feel very lucky at the same time that it made me cry: 9-year-old Nick Nelson made a really tough decision. Bless you, Nick, and good luck.

TV that made me smile: Natalie Gauci and Matt Corby made the Australian Idol finals. Both excellent performers, though I think Nat might have just pipped Matt on Sunday's show. And Marie Osmond danced her way through to the Dancing With The Stars final. Okay, maybe danced and smiled her way through. After the time she's had of late, that smile is a thing of beauty. And to see Donny on his feet, tears in his eyes, last week, made me sooky, too. I grew up with Donny & Marie, of course I want to see her do well! But who do I want to win? Mel B. and Maks.

TV that didn't make me smile: Weeds. So Nancy decides she needs a new start and torches her house--thus undoubtedly destroying other people's homes in the process. Nice one, Nance.

TV that continues to delight me: Dexter. How is he going to get out of this one without killing either Lundy or Doakes? Of course, I think he should kill that crazy bitch Lila, before she goes after Rita and the kids.

Today, 44 years ago: JFK. Today: Thanksgiving. Take care, you all.

Comments

[Teena]

Gabrielle,

I'm breathless after watching that delicious Viennese Waltz with Queen Mel B and Maksim - yum yum! They were superb!

Having my brekkie in Sydney [crumpets, peanut butter & honey, cup o'tea] while reading about the ongoing strikes - pain in the arse, but isn't it amazing how quickly one finds a new routine, a new pattern, amongst the debris of a messed up transport strike? I applaud you - sounds like you've stopped kicking poodles and old ladies in the metro, haha - just kidding - I'm sure you wouldn't do that :D

And pleased to hear Ms Mouse has disparu - my Mooshie cat would love someone like that to play with in our apartment.

Counting the months till Californication returns :-(

Teens
http://www.a-night-in-paris.com

[Amra Pajalic]

I've been sending mucho votes to Nat. I didn't follow the season because I got a bit put off with the ordinary performances and have only tuned in the last few weeks. Long enough to fall for Natalie. Fingers crossed she wins Sunday.

[Rosie]

Loved the Viennese Waltz with M&M. Finals should be interesting. Reeses peanut butter cups with banana creme? Who knew?

[Gabrielle]

Fingers crossed for Mel, Nat, and a life filled with peanut butter cups, I say!

[Keris]

Oh, I'm so behind with my blog reading and here I am! :) Glad you liked the parcel, especially the card. I bought a bunch of different ones because I loved them so much.

Oh and that VW was GORGEOUS!