Je suis une GRAND MUZZEHR

Also on todays menu: A Louis 15 (i think) armoire in oak from Bresse (i think) with the original metal hardware and a beautiful patina for 1900 euro:


which seems like a reasonable price. One pane from the front had been repaired, as had the cornice. This thing was MASSIVE.

We also went back to the store that has the coveted (but 2590 euro) armoire with the two crazy ladies. It felt a little like "Ground Hogs Day" walking in to the store, since neither of them remembered having shown us the armoire before. As a result, we were compelled to go through the whole simultalking thing again. Its not really as bad as it sounds, because they're both charming and hilarious. The mother was sitting in the same chair as last time, and insisted that we move the tables out in order to make room to view the armoire, thereby blocking herself in the midst of the antiques:



Heres some shots of the awesome armoire of expensiveness: louis15/16, all in walnut, yadda yadda yadda






And of their homme debout in merisier like our new table, which is also very beautiful , and a little less money (2300 euro):



(look at the hinges on it! all original)

The ladies were in high spirits today, and went into more detail about the origins of the name "homme debout", and how it comes from the fact that royalists used to hide in them when the republicans came to kill them. I think I missed something, because it doesnt seem like it would fool anyone, but maybe the republicans were in a hurry.

I was on the verge of laughter throughout our conversation, and at one point the older lady exclaimed "Oui! Je suis une GRAND MUZZERE!!", but I dont remember the context. Honestly, I was a little lost for most of it. Also, I find the whole simultalking thing a little stressful, since I dont want to seem like I'm being rude to one of them by not listening to them. When I took the picture of her, she started talking about how another american had taken her picture: when Grenoble was liberated! Apparently it was a funny picture, because she was next to another GI, who was very tall. She, by contrast was "TRES PETITE!" as she practically jumped up from her chair in the sea of antiques to show us. They questioned us about whether Americans support the war in Iraq, and why, and we had to explain that its because americans are very, very, stupid. On the way out, the mother told us how much she loved being in her daughters shop, and how she (her daughter) had such beautiful things, and how much it pleased her; it was very touching.

BUSTED

yeah thats right: busted. Today we went to that consignment place again, and who did we see when we walked in? Crazy antique lady #2, who supposedly was going into retirement (apparently a ploy to think that you can get her to let go of stuff for cheaper). After we passed her, I turned my head to chloe and mouthed "Did you see who that was?", but halfway through, I could see in her expression that she had seen the same thing. Crazy antique lady doesnt look very retired here:

here:

or here:



more like shes looking for more stuff to mark up 200%! At least we know we are in the right place. Todays gem:



I dont know if footstool is a pun in french too... I have to check that out

voted!

We sent off our absentee ballots today. We're not registered in a swing state, but its the principle of it.

Also I made a firm commitment to never buy Decathlon (quechua) branded gear ever again. Sure, I was willing to put up with our decathlon bikes that don't shift anymore. I was a little less happy that Chloes fancy Quechua carbon fibre trekking poles exploded after one use. This morning, however, my "waterproof" biking pants ended up being "not waterproof at all" and my ass has been wet all morning.