JULI, If I Were Queen of the World,

My gorgeous Volks SD Rose arrived on Thursday and she's even more beautiful in person than all the official and owner pictures I've drooled over! I took my time unpacking her, and her numerous costume pieces. The Baby the Stars Shine Bright outfit is simply magnificent in its many details.

All was perfection until I realized that I had two RIGHT shoes! ARRRRRRGHHHH! So I tried calling Volks USA, but got no answer. Next step was to email them, and send one to Customer Service in Japan too. Then I got onto DoA (Den of Angels) and posted my problem there, asking everyone with this outfit to check and see if any of them have two left shoes. Most everyone has been great about it except for one nasty member who felt I was rude to PM them, as if I was asking to buy the outfit from them, or seeking something for free. What a jerk! Their message actually had me tearing up, I guess I just never expected such negativity. But some people are just stupid and rude, even in the doll world, and I was already upset about the shoe situation. Which is a small thing on the scale of disasters, and I did reach a nice woman at Volks USA on Friday afternoon! She told me they had received my email, and were trying to find a way to fix my footwear problem. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Volks will send me a replacement pair, or at least one left shoe! ;)

On a happy note, the weather is supposed to be nice this weekend so I'm going to try and get some picture of my new girl! Thankfully the Doll Heart shoes I won on YJ, that caused me a bit of worry while waiting for them to show up at Rinkya's warehouse, fit my Rose perfectly! Not only that, but I've got both a right and a left...YAY!! So no playing Cinderella afterall. :)

Finally! The missing Dollheart shoes arrived at Rinkya and were logged in yesterday, so I was able to request shipping on Rose at last! :)

And in other great news, really the most fantastic of all...my husband Teejay just called as I was typing this with the results of his latest blood work...his PSA results are at ZERO!!! So for the time being, it appears he is cancer free!!! I feel as if I can release the breath I've been holding since we got his initial diagnosis almost two years ago. Whew!

Well, I was gonna babble on more about dolls, but I think I've leave that for another entry and go put some champagne in the fridge 'cause we got some celebrating to do tonight!

Grrrrrrrr! Why is it that the stuff you bid on and won before the YJ auction for your biggest item closed, comes into the warehouse last? I'm so thankful that my doll Rose shows up as having arrived at Rinkya, but now I've been stuck waiting for days whilst a pair of shoes takes their sweet time arriving. I guess I shouldn't have bid on them, but I won before Rose's auction even closed, and would like to group them with Rose's shipment to save some moola. While I might shop YJ for something within the next 60 days, I may not, and then one little pair of discontined Dollheart shoes will end up costing me a reeeeeeeeally ridiculous amount of money. I just hope they come in by the end of this week, otherwise I'll have to have do a Rinkya search, and request they ship Rose regardless.

She just won't smell as sweet, nor look as cute, and definately wouldn't be a completely perfect!!! Okaaaaay...so I have it bad for Volks SD Rose, doll lust like I haven't felt in a year. I tried to talk myself out of this doll during the Volks USA "lottery", and then put in for her anyway. Sadly, I didn't win her, so I tried again during the After Event, and failed miserably there too.



Alright, I figured those two strikes meant I would be loving this doll from afar...in other's collections. But then I started seeing owner photos of her, and my longing to possess this delicate flower began anew. It was my pal Anthony's (The Beautiful Doll) shot's that really sent me over the edge, causing me to haunt the DoA marketplace and Yahoo Japan well into the wee hours. There were two available on DoA, but one is thru a member in Korea that I've never heard of, and the other is being sold by Terry (Broken) who screwed my friend Rose over on a Sizu (Madoka mold) a while back. I don't trust this person, and I won't buy anything from her if she were selling the very last of it. Strangly, I feel better going thru YJ and finding a seller there as long as they have lots of happy feedback of course. ;)

The really awful thing is that I've already named this doll! And I've got some accessories in mind for her too. I'm totally doomed! Logically I know should hang onto every cent for NYC Dolpa 3...but I just can't resist this doll! Arrrgh! Thank goodness I've been able to "fling bling" in pretty good amounts lately through my Cookie Lee Jewelry business. But I need to sell a significant amount more if I have any hope of being able to put in for one of those adorable Yo-SD Sisters during Dolpa.

As Ursella the Sea Witch says to Ariel, "Life's full of tough choices ain't it?"

I feel like I've got so much going on lately with my various doll interests. Its a good thing, but its challenging to set priorities and limits. For instance, Volks released a doll I found totally gorgeous last month, but I talked myself out of the pre-order and then missed out on being able to get her in the After Party. Stupid? Yeah, kinda...but I knew I had NY Dolpa coming up early June and the 13th Gene Convention in September...not to mention some existing doll layaways I'm still paying on.

The next payment on Gene's friend Ivy "Vee" Jordan is due now, and then the Golden Compass doll Lord A. (a.k.a. Daniel Craig), by Robert Tonner,has another installment or two to go before he's home. And now I'm smitten with Tonner's Rhett Butler, who really looks like Clark Gable to me, vs. just another male doll.

It sure would be nice to have these events and doll releases spaced out a little more, but on the other hand it's really great to have events to go to and attractive dolls to dream about. Where's that money tree full of ripe currency ready to be picked huh? LOL!

You could here the squeeee from coast to coast last night as Volks emailed confirmations for those of us that applied to attend the 3rd NYC Dolpa!!! A bunch of us are still waiting to find out which classes and supplies we'll be charged for, but I'm just totally happy that I'm in when it comes to the event! And the cherry atop this cupcake is that Volks will be holding a "lottery" for the YO Four Sisters! I would love to have one of those little girls, even though I keep saying "I'm done with my BJD brood, and content with what I have." Ahhhh, famous last words. LOL!

We rule that Ms. Lohan should employ a car and driver since she seems incapable of driving sober.

Ms. Lohan strikes me as a talented individual who's lacking common sense, guidance, and good friends. She seems bent on self destruction and should stop focusing so much on how tough it is to be famous...a former child star...and endure difficult parents. Quit whining, stop acting stupid by hanging out partying when you know you have substance abuse issues. Show up on your movie sets prepared to work, because you are LUCKY to have YOUR life instead of one that finds you struggling to make ends meet on minimum wage! Go into rehab, and stay there until you can control your demons, then use some of your income to hire a reliable car and driver so that you never need to get behind the wheel again. I can't think of anything that would excuse your bad behavior, and if you don't want to be in the public eye anymore, then quit.

Today I got a response from Volks USA regarding my YoSD Lin's face-up problems (cheek blush rub and eyebrow streak). As I suspected, they said she doesn't fall under warranty and will not fix her for me.

But Volks did say it would be okay for me to use Mr Super Clear UV Cut Flat, and I'm guessing I re-blush her on top of that, then coat her whole face to seal it. They did caution me to remove her eyes before I apply coating, but I think I'll just carefully mask off her eyes and lips, thus protecting the gloss of both me thinks. ;)

Then again, I may borrow from my pal Tobey, a little of the new coating spray (Finishing Powder Spray UV) that Volks was selling during our NY Dolpa, since they say it won't be back in stock on the USA website until the end of September. Tobey was lucky enough to buy a can of this stuff, along with another spray product who's name eludes me.

ARRRRGH! I don't mean to whine, but I just don't understand why getting this adorable little doll has been such a trial. Oh well, maybe I'll resist my urge to fix Lin NOW, and practice on my School Head A a little more just to be safe. Its a little scary because while I have lots of art training, I don't buy BJDs to change their face-ups, I wait until the "right" face comes along, and then I try to add the doll to my "Chorus Line"

So Teejay took me to our local Borders book store midnight bash, where months earlier, I had placed my advance order for Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows. There were die hard fans that camped out the night before to get a ticket entitling them to an early pickup number for their copy of the book. But I couldn't get to Borders until around 8PM that night, so my pickup number was in the 800's, meaning that I get to the head of the line around 2AM. Oh well, at least I knew I really HAD a copy waiting for me, not like during a previously release party when there'd been a mix up and I relinquished what should've been my copy to a tearful child instead. :) That year I ended up having to wait several days for a restock, but they did give me an additional discount, and I made a little kid's night happy in the face of certain disaster! LOL!

To kill some hours between 8PM and the unveiling at midnight, we went to dinner, consuming tasty fajitas and some 'ritas to wash 'em down right! I was attired in my saucy witch's hat trimmed in ebony feathers, while Teejay wore his wizard robe (aka recycled vampire cape) and was armed with the sword of Gryffindor (actually a cool plastic sword we bought a toy store during the years Georgetown would be taken over by costumed folks during Halloween).

We got back to Borders in time for the raffle ticket drawings, but didn't win, which is okay 'cause I still got my book, a free poster, a free glow wand, and enjoyed the camaraderie of all my fellow HP freaks.

I didn't take a BJD with me, but I did bring along my little Wendy Lawton UFDC exclusive Dimitri, dressed in one of the Harry Potter outfits my pal Roseann Wells had made for him years ago. Everyone who saw him seemed to get a real kick out of it, and it was the first time I'd taken a Lawton doll out of the house since my two precious Lawton dolls disappeared during our trip to Paris in October.

Once we got home, I started reading voraciously, but soon slowed down in order to savor this final story more. Without giving anything away to those that haven't finished the book yet, I have to say that I think I enjoyed this one more that I have the last two installments. Most of the characters we love and hate get a chance to make at least a curtain call, and lose ends that've been unraveled for ages are finally resolved. There are deaths (several), and I think this book was written mostly for those that grew up with Harry, rather than kids that are just getting into the series. I'm glad that the author catered more towards young adults and adults this time. Though there were parts that dragged a bit for me, once the action got going again, it was worth it. In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, I finished the final page with a sense of satisfaction, but a tinge of sadness too. Mostly the slight sadness I felt had less to do with the story, and more to do with the fact that this was the last book. I just hate when good stuff comes to an end I guess. But at least we've got a few more HP films to look forward to, and I can always re-read the books any time I want! :)

Here's to another Summer of Harry! I raise my goblet of pumpkin juice in his honor!

We saw the latest Harry Potter movie on Monday and loved it! I was actually ready to get back in line and see it again it was so good! But the pups were hungry at home, so we resigned oursleves heading back to the abode and watching one of the earlier flicks we have on DVD. I really like how all the Harry Potter films are so re-watchable, I never seem to tire of the stories, especially the first film.

OH YAY!!! Only 10 more hours to go until I can pick up my Harry Potter book from Borders! I'm of mixed feelings, I want to find out what happens, but I don't want the series to end. Meanwhile, I found a link to this nifty personality test on my friend Lolly's LJ that sorts you into your proper Hogwarts House...here are my results:

My little Volks YoSD Lin finally arrived yesterday! :) She is truly the Yo I was waiting for, but I thought I'd just let her go after not winning a chance to buy her directly from Volks during their Afterparty. I mean, it was right before NY Dolpa 2, and who knew what fabulous dolls and goodie would be unveiled there?! Ahhhhh, but then I saw Lin in person, and I was hooked!

So I thought I bought had one at the end of June, but then the DoA (Den of Angels Forum)seller (named Vita) backed out after she had my money for a week. She claimed she wouldn't be able to ship the doll until September, so she refunded my Paypal payment. Since she's still selling other items on DoA right now, I wonder if her other buyers are waiting until September to receive their stuff? Me thinks that Vita had someone offer her more money for Lin than the amount she agreed to sell for to me, and that's why she backed out. Oh well, at least she didn't make me chase her for my money, and I did get my doll from a reliable seller (thanks Alysonsfriend!).

Meanwhile, back to Lin...I really think her name is going to be Lily. My squirrel tramatized Easter Lily from 2006 just went into bloom the day Lin arrived. And the beautiful limited Yo sized kimono that I scored at the Dolpa has water lilies printed on the silk, also my seller's sister is named Lili...hmmmmmmm. Ya think this is Fate sending me a message? ;)

Now to take some pictures of this little cutie and figure out how to post 'em here on LJ.

You know you're spending too much time online when you get bummed when Den of Angels won't let you into your Private Messages...oh well. I guess I need to take this as a sign, this and now that I'm not coughing with this lung infection constantly must mean its time to catch up on some housework. UGH! Well, it must be done or the Christmas decor can't come out of its boxes right?! ;) I really need to get pull it together so I can have time to figure out how to post some holiday pictures of dolls here...or maybe even my adorable doggies. Well, this is me being responsible...and logging off here to go do some laundry. Bye for now.

So a friend sent me this quiz and even though I've spent most of my life living on the East Coast, my true Chicagoland roots were revealed in the results. How 'bout that? And they say you can't go home again...Ha! :)

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
The Northeast
The South
The Midland
Philadelphia
North Central
The West
Boston
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

You know the song that Cher sings..."If I could turn back time...", that's become my theme song. Why? Because a month ago today I was on my way to Paris with my husband, and I was traveling with dolls as usual. Because it was cheaper than a direct flight, we decided to fly Icelandair and change planes in Iceland. This shouldn't have been a big deal, except we had to go through security check again around 6am, before boarding our flight to Paris. So instead of a big bin that you put your items into to be X-rayed on the conveyor belt, the security screener put stuff from my big purse into about six different little plastic containers before sending them through. Then another security person was pulling passengers out of line at random for body pat-down. As I thought I'd been selected for this I stepped away from the conveyor belt, and then the body screener changed her mind and said I could pass. Meanwhile, my husband was also being screened and I allowed myself to be distracted further by trying to make sure he was okay, and had grabbed all of his stuff. So in the chaos I must have missed grabbing the brand new turquoise colored vinyl makeup case I'd put my two Wendy Lawton dolls into. If only I hadn't packed them into a new case I didn't yet recognize as belonging to me.

The "if onlys" are killing me...if only I had stopped searching my house for them when they weren't in their usual places. It was like fate was trying to tell me not to bring them on this trip. And I might've listened and left them safely at home if it wasn't my first trip to Paris...a city I've been dreaming of going to for most of my life. The sidewalk cafes, the art, the fashion, the atmosphere...c'est bon!

It might seem stupid, but I'm just inconsolable over this. Yes I'm lucky enough to have other dolls, and even others made by Wendy Lawton, but there's just this huge hole in my heart at the loss of these two that were my favorites. The idea that some person just took what wasn't theirs instead of turning them into Lost and Found...well, its just so heartbreaking.

The rational part of me realizes that people lose precious things all the time. Like all those that survived Hurricane Katrina, or the Tsunami that hit Indonesia. But this feels like I'm mourning a death. I see the little accessories that belonged to each of them and I just weep. Some stranger has my dolls and has no clue how much they mean to me. How do people move on from this kind of thing? How long do I keep hoping that they'll find there way back to me? Or do I try to find a way to buy others out of their editions when they turn up on the secondary market? What do I do with the the outfits that belonged to my original dolls?

Honestly, all of this has kind of turned me off of dolls for the time being. It feels weird that something I've loved and found joy in for as long as I can remember now brings me so much pain . Its just so depressing that more often you hear about somebody scamming someone else in the doll community. People on ABJD (Asian Ball Jointed Doll) chat boards offering dolls for sale that they don't actually have, taking money from a buyer and disappearing. A well-known "authority" in the Bleuette world charging the moon and the stars for antique Bleuettes that turned out to be counterfeits. I could go on citing examples, but you get the idea. I don't think I was alone in being naive enough to think that "doll people" were all nice, and that we were protected from wrong doers by our sense of community and common love of dolls. How foolish was it to think that?

I probably shouldn't post all these gloomy thoughts, but one day I'll be looking back on this horrid episode and be able to write that I'm whole again. Actually what I really hope is that I'll be able to write that my dolls have been found and returned to me! Yeah, that would be a miracle...and I do believe in them...miracles I mean...so maybe, I still have a little faith left after all?

I must because I started a Yahoo group to offer help to anyone else that's lost their own dolls...always trying to take the lemons I've been given and make 'em into lemonade.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lostdollsfound

So if you know anyone who's been through a similar situation, point them to my group and maybe some good can come out of my tragedy for someone else.

Alright, this is an off topic rant that has nothing to do with dolls, or dogs, and I must file this under things that test my faith...I read with absolute shock and disbelief, that Steve Irwin had been stung by a stingray and died! How could this really be true? This man was larger than life, and yet somehow I think he made anyone watching him on film, feel as if he were their friend.

My husband and I spent so many happy hours watching "The Crocodile Hunter" on TV, and his movie "Collision Course". We thoroughly enjoyed the live broadcast of the new crocodile stadium opening at The Australia Zoo. And were sadden when the Irwin family was raked over the media coals in 2004 for the way they introduced their son Bob to his legacy of animal conservation. And it seemed after that, the airing of his series was greatly reduced on Animal Planet, only to be replaced by programs with "Xtreem" in their title....bleech!

Now, just as he's shooting a new series and some quick segments on the Great Barrier Reef, BLAM! he gone. The experts say that the barb on the stingray's tail likely pierced his chest and went into his heart, so he passed away almost instantly. And the weird thing is how unusual it is for anyone to actually die from a stingray's barb or venom. I'm just so sad for his wife, and their two young kids. Not to mention all the people that work with him, that must now find a way to carry on for animal conservation without him.

I guess this is what makes me really feel my own mortality, when the people that fill your life and experience just leave this plain of existence so suddenly. Whether they be family, friend, celebrity, or public figure, it just brings home the need to live life to the fullest, and tell everyone how much they mean to you, while they're still around to hear it. God's speed Steve Irwin, thank you for all the good you did for our planet.

So I'm shopping with a girlfriend Sunday, and I stop by the Clinique makeup counter hoping that its Bonus Time and I can purchase their pricey potions, whilst getting a bunch of freebies...and there by justifying the higher price of the eye cream I just have to buy every time I run out. Unfortunately, the next Bonus Time will not occur until October, and they've discontinued my eye cream, replacing it with three other formulas that all cost more, yet don't seem as effective when I tested them on the back of my hand. GRRRRRRR!

Why can't companies just leave well enough alone? I'm all for improving products, but if you've got something that your customer base loves and is loyal to, why mess with that? All I want is to keep my stunning good looks as long as possible without any surgical intervention, or injections of any kind.

And what the heck is with "sheer" foundation anyway? I thought the reason to wear foundation in the first place was to even out and mask any discoloration on the face. If I wanted to see my scar and freckles and whatnot, I wouldn't bother to apply foundation, likewise with "clear mascara"....ahhhh, I just don't get it. That's what I get for trying to shop for something for myself rather than stuff for my dolls! LOL!

Speaking of dolls, everyone's hair is finally staying in place atop their bald little resin heads for a change! Woo-hoo!!! :) Thanks to "Volks Wig Stop", or "Wig Stay" depending on who's translating the product name...anyway, this is GREAT stuff no matter what you call it! Its like sheets of micro-Velcro, but only the hook side...not the fuzzy, backed with adhesive. You cut it into teeny strips, peel off the backing paper, and stick the strips onto dolly bald pate. Then put the wig onto your doll and it magically STAYS PUT! As of this writing, Volks has it in stock on their US website (volksusa.com), its only $2.00 per pack and one pack goes a long way...I did all 8 of my BJDs with less than a single sheet. Now here's a product I don't think could be improved, and here's hoping that Volks realizes its perfect now and leaves it be. ;)

Why is it that lately when I pack for a trip I can never seem to lay my hands on doll stuff I planned to bring? I make a list of the little dears clothing and accessories, and then start searching through my stash...often coming up empty handed until the very last minute. My lovely Volks SD13 Sizu "Passion" was fashion victim of this weird trend right before she accompanied me to NYC last month. I'd had my heart set on a completely different ensembles for her reunion with the Volks folks at the Tea Party, but the box with the majority of her clothing and shoes in disappeared in my home. So she ended up wearing very sexy V-Jeans, a white fringed mid-drift baring blouse, and white cowboy boots...all made by Volks, so at least that part was appropriate. And everyone that saw her did compliment her "look", which made me happy, but I was still bothered wondering what really had become of her stuff. Did my hubby mistakenly toss out the box without looking in it first? Or worse, in my recent cleaning marathon, did I? GASP!

Anyway, those last two nightmarish thoughts were thankfully put to rest today, as I spied the missing wardrobe items in the hallway! A spot I'd walk past everyday, its like the box just reappeared as mysteriously as it disappeared last month, along with my Volks Member Card...ARRRRGH! I swear we do have a poltergeist in this place, or maybe just a pooka...like Harvey. :) But something likes making mischief by hiding our things, and sometimes canned food from our pantry. As long as whatever it is doesn't start talking to me, or calling for "Carol Ann" through a static filled TV screen, I guess I can deal with it.

The latest issue of Haute Doll magazine just arrived in my mailbox Saturday, and little did I know within its pages I'd find news of a friend's passing. My pal Tracy Smith lost her battle with cancer in sometime in June, and it shocks me because even though this disease is ruthless and relentless, people have been known to recover from it. I truly believed Tracy would be one of the survivors. But I was wrong, and I feel bad not only because she's gone, but because I'd lost touch with her, and didn't know the extent of her illness.

Tracy and I first met on-line years ago as charter members of the old Ashton-Drake Gene Forum, and then in person at the annual Gene doll conventions. Several times we even bought dolls costing hundreds of dollars on behalf of one another, when one of us attended an event that the other couldn't...there was such a trust between us that I can recall shipping at least one doll to her without even getting paid for it first...knowing she was good for the money. ;)

For her part, Tracy once sent me, completely out of the blue, some Dept 56 ornaments that were actually miniature leather jackets that coincidentally fit the Gene dolls we both loved perfectly. I'll miss her happy face, giving spirit, and all the years of friendship we shared. All of this reminds me how fleeting life is, and how important it is to stay as connected as we can with as many of our friends and loved ones as possible. And not to wait for an occasion to say "hi" or send good wishes to them, because you never know when the clock will run out.

I've been putting off starting a journal for ages because honestly I'm lousy at keeping up with diaries of any kind. But I have so many friends doing it now, that I'm going to give it one more try. :) So here goes...I collect dolls and I just returned from a party in NYC thrown by the Volks company and FDQ (Fashion Doll Quarterly magazine). Volks is a wonderful manufacturer of Asian Ball-Jointed Dolls, and I actually managed to win one at the BINGO game all the invitees played! I've named him Gotham Hiroshi Shigeta, in honor of New York, Generosity, and the family name of the owners of Volks.