Spiral

So I’m starting to think it’s good that we get out of here soon. Sure it’s nice and all, but you know…

Uzumaki.

You may look at me like I’m crazy, or you may just be confused, thinking “what the hell is “oozoomahki” but let me explain.

Uzumaki is a creepy ass manga. The towns are rebuilt into the shapes of spirals, and eventually, pretty much everyone dies. People turn into snails. There are lots of insect columns and mosquitoes, and people become obsessed with the shape of a spiral. See the entries on Snail People, Labyrinth, and Mosquitoes.

Lacoste is filled with snails. FILLED. They are everywhere, and everytime I kill one on accident by stepping on it, I feel like I’ve killed a person.

Paris is built in the shape of the spiral. People in Paris eat a lot of snails.

We keep finding insect columns in our room.

Bugs keep coming into our room to die.

I’ve been drawing more spiral shaped tentacles than normal.

You see where I’m going with this?

Maybe it’s good that we’re leaving…

Zombie in the bathroom

There is a zombie in our bathroom.

About three weeks ago, a bug that resembled a gigantic ant (I’m talking inch long and maybe an inch in circumference width wise) appeared in my bathroom. I’ve pretty much gotten over my fear of bugs, and lately have been known to not care so much if one lands on me for a minute. But this guy? This was an exception. He actually really freaked me out. I kind of danced uncomfortably in front of the bathroom with the dust pan for a while until somebody else removed him. I really hoped I’d never see a bug like that again.

A week later, another appeared in the same spot, this time looking a little distressed and on its back.

For some reason, we are all too afraid to touch it or move it. It’s just not a normal looking bug.

Two days later, it was guaranteed dead. It stopped moving. It’d been a while. Dead.

 

Three days ago, it started moving again. Rachael informed us that she saw it move, yet we seriously did not believe her in the slightest. It had been there a whole week. It was very, very dead.

I think it turned into a zombie.

Favorite Stop

Behold, my favorite stop here in Provence: one of the (there are at least 4) soap booths on Apt’s Saturday Open Market, where you can get soap scented with everything from almond extract to strawberries to milk and olive oil. 

I have already purchased 10 euros worth of their amazing soap, and I have to buy more before I leave so that I have some to use for as long as possible. Almond soap is the most beautiful creation known to man. If anyone has a particular scent they are fond of, do let me know, and I’ll be sure to see if they have it. I have already purchased some lime green “citron verde” soap for someone, and am open to supplying others with it!

 

Moods

Yeah, I’m feeling pretty okay.

Keeley Puppy

While walking through Vaucluse looking for the Chateaux, Christina and I ran into this sweetie. Given that it looks to me just like Pip’s late Keeley, I figured I show the photos of her that I managed to get. 

   

And while we’re at it, how about that other one that I ran into. He was pretty cute too…

   

 
Aaand I’m an animal whore.

Comics in Paris

are apparently huge.

On our last day in Paris, Rachael and I decided that rather than spending it climbing the Notre Dame or going on a boat tour to the Eiffel Tower, we would count comic books stores.

And we took evidence.

   

   

 

 

 

Oddly, (and awesomely) these were all within about 2 blocks of each other, tops. About 6 were on one street alone.

Space Invaders

I have an immense love for an anonymous artist by the name of Space Invader.
After reading an interview with him in the 10th anniversary issue of Giant Robot, I’ve thought that this guy is just the coolest “street” artist out there. Seriously, making space invader images out of mosaic tiles and in the middle of the night installing them on buildings all around the world is such a nice spin on the whole overrun-by-amateurs world of Graffiti art.

Imagine my surprise when we found not one, but two Space Invaders in Paris!

It was the best part of Paris!

On the Behavioral Instincts and Lifestyles of Air-Born Instincts

In the United States:
Bugs go about daily business. Fly around. Make buzzing noises.

In France:
Bugs divebomb my face.
Constantly.

On the Behavioral Instincts of Air-Born Insects

In the United States:
Bugs go about daily business. Fly around. Make buzzing noises.

In France:
Bugs divebomb my face.
Constantly.

Shippy

This little guy has won my heart. He came in when we left the door open, and proceeded to make himself very comfortable.
I’m honestly not complaining.