vellanouri

I sent Locke into the fray today to intercept Pete’s propaganda mailings. She failed me.

Don’t listen to Vella. She called me in the middle of a nap. I stepped outside and got a migraine. Pete was there yelling at me. The Flea Market had just started and was blaring its self important announcement and my mailbox was blinking and beeping. I thought I was going to have a seizure.

My pockets were full. Pete looked disappointed. I’ll get the propaganda poster later.

I thought the least I could do to make it up to Vella was to water. So I did. I ran into Carmen who still wants a fossil. I can’t help her either.

Pippy was raving about someone wearing her clothes. WTF? I don’t know why that bunny is always having nervous breakdowns. She needs some prozac.

All in all, nothing much happened. I didn’t take part in the Flea Market because I had zero notice. I didn’t get my poster. I bought a red candy from Nook. That was the highlight of my day. Oh, and I taught Gladys to say “candycandy” because I’m really looking forward to Halloween.

As some of you know, my beloved 12 year old cat had a stroke and had to be put to sleep on 26 October. Exactly a week later I got married in Mexico. To say my routines have been disrupted is an understatement, but I am back (it's actually 9 November 2009—I backdate. Sue me.) I’ll attempt to blog a little as I slowly catch up.

I wasn’t expecting Pete when I walked outside. He handed me a parcel from Nintendo (why do they always need delivery confirmations?) and then walked away. I opened it and pulled out an election poster. I didn’t even know it was election time again. The enclosed letter read:

Dear Vella,

It’s that time of the year
again when we rally around
our favorite candidate and
try to wrangle up more
votes. In this town, the
choice is clear!

Nintendo

The choice is clear. Tortimer for Doomdoom supreme dictator!

I didn’t mingle much with the townies, but Spork was chasing me with puppy dog eyes (how a pig manages that is beyond me). I stopped to listen to his sob story. A bellyache and a ton of banana bread later and he was out of cash! I gave him a few bells for the trinket he offered me and sent him on his way.

Then I watered.

Curly who promised to move out what seems like an ice age ago is still here. What’s worse, he hasn’t even begun to pack.

Carmen wants a Ptera Skull. She’s so out of luck. I try to get my bff whatever she wants, but asking for specific fossils when my pockets are full and the watering can is superglued to my hand is just not nice.

A little later I caught Lobo questioning Spork about his deep thoughts. Spork is out there. Way out there. I like him better than Curly…but I still want him to leave next.

I know it’s been a while since I posted. Consistency is not my forte. I have a lot of back posts I could make about the Pile of Leaves, the Celebration Hats, Explorer Day, etc. But, I don’t know if I’ll get to them. I did take pictures of all of the events. I’m pretty reliable about posting pictures on Flickr. It’s just the writing about them part that’s hard.

I did have a pretty good day today despite the fact that I have not yet received the second Nintendog EUDLC. I know that Squirt has my back.

Pippy, one of my favorite longtime residents of Doomdoom, is trying to move! Both Vella and I have told her no, but she is still on the (backyard) fence about it. I may enlist Grebo and Nikki to try and talk her out of it because my stink eye is clearly not very effective. Last week we lost Pierce and he was replaced by Spork. I can’t handle another sudden move (Pierce wouldn’t let me talk him out of going)!

After doing the usual chores watering a bazillion flowers (how does Vella do it every day?!) I stopped in to check on Carmen. She was very sick a couple days ago and Vella and I took turns bringing her medicine.

Today she was doing great, but didn’t give me any sort of present for haphazardly looking after her. See if I bring you mop water flavored medicine next time Carmen!

I’ve taken over visiting the city on Wednesdays since Vella can’t be bothered and has everything. (I don’t think I like her). I think Kapp’n hit on me, but I just give him (and everyone else) the stink eye. He should know better than to mess with the Doomdoom ninja.

I stopped in at Redd&8217;s shop first. I never know what I’ll find there— or if it will be legit. Today he had the Famous Painting. Doomdoom’s museum is complete, so I don’t need it, nor do I know if it’s legit, but if anyone wants to test their luck with it, drop me a comment.

I also bought his classic clock. It was overpriced, but my catalog is full of holes. I left the deer scare. I’ve had one of those in my basement for ages. I find it more soothing than scary…

My biggest shock today was to find Frillard filling in at the Marquee. I saw him listed for inspiration and I quickly bought a ticket. This is only the second time in recorded Doomdoom history that Frillard has appeared at the Marquee.

I took my seat and the red curtains parted revealing the aged comedian. “Ready for a thrill?” he hissed, flaring his frill. “Then Frillard’s classic shtick will do the trick! Now, I’d like complete silence as I begin…”

I was the only person in the theater, so I think he was being a little melodramatic. I hadn’t even coughed.

“Prepare to see emotion in motion! You shall now see inspiration in the very air!” He paused and looked a little confused. “Uhh… Now, what was I going to do?I had a great scene that I just thought of……Oh no…Oh! That’s right! Oh, wait, no! Lost it again! It’s curtains for me!”

And it was! The curtain closed on him. I left feeling a little more embarrassed than inspired.

But once out on the street I harnessed my newfound inspiration and thought of… something…Now what was it?… I think it had something to do with kidnapping Stitches and booting Curly or Spork…

I told you I couldn’t stay away. There was not one, but two DLC released this week. One of them was released in Europe, a Dirndl, a traditional german dress (just in time for Oktoberfest!) and a complete outfit was released in Japan with the 「あかいだいこくぼう」 and the complementary 『あかいちゃんちゃんこ」.

For once I did not oversleep! I got up and ran to check the gate. There were three people in Shaolin! I hopped from foot to foot waiting for Copper to get the paperwork in order so I could cross the border. I emerged and found out that the party was over at the Able Sisters. ちょこまる　was just adding the pattern to the able sisters well-stocked shelves. Squirt picked up a copy as did I (I snagged the Dirndl while I was at it). The party headed back over to the gate (the gate is like AC’s kitchen, all parties end up there) whereupon we ran around playing net attack, water your neighbor, and off with their head!—the usual.

Not only did I get the two international DLC, but Squirt also had presents for me, the moving painting and the scenic painting. Her friend Herito wrangled them up for me. Thank you so much guys! Those were the last two paintings I needed to complete my museum. After the party broke up (it was late in 日本 and early for me lol) I took my two paintings over to Blathers. I handed him the moving painting. He was grateful for the donation. Then I whipped out the scenic painting and he was elated!

“Woo hoo hoo! I do believe the painting collection is complete at long last! Marvelous. Just marvelous!” he clapped (or tried to with his wings) “You have the museum’s undying gratitude, wot? Congratulations!”

He paused for a moment admiring the museum’s catalog and then he realization dawned on him: “This means…each and every collection is complete?! Hoo! WOO HOOTIE HOO!” He radiated pride. “We are now a museum of the highest order! I am simply awash with pride. Awash, I say! Ah, of course, it is through the hard work of many that we have reached this lofty peak. Quite right! Congratulations to one and all on this glorious accomplishment! Hoo!”

I had to go visit my new additions and swoon over their beauty.

Vella in her new red celebration garb in front of the moving painting

Vella admiring the scenic painting

I anxiously awaited a token from the museum for my “generous patronage” It arrived in the mail this morning (unlike my package from playasia.com, which still hasn’t gotten here. Maybe Pete is more reliable…) I digress.

My Dear Vella,

It is with great pleasure
that I announce that all
exhibits at this museum
have been completed. Hoo!
To celebrate, please accept
this commemorative gift!

Blathers, Museum Curator

This isn’t it’s permanent location, but I was so excited to get this model that I had to put it somewhere.

I went on to complete my daily chores. I had to giggle when I came across Clyde prancing around Doomdoom wearing a dirndl and hefting a shovel (trying to look manly in a german dress). LOL.

The next japanese DLC comes out on 10/3. I’ll be back then to report. Until then, maybe Locke will remember to post her stories.

またね！

Locke here.

This morning I opened my front door and found Pete staring in my window. I wasn’t expecting him, though I guess I should have been since today commemorates the anniversary of the release of the original animal crossing on the gamecube way back in 2002.

The letter he carried came from his usual VIP client: Nintendo.

Attached was a GameCube Dresser. It’s really cute, and looks just like the old system. It’s downfall is that you can’t put it on tables (the story of my furniture life). I would have been slightly more excited about this gift if the Brits hadn’t gotten the exact same present a few weeks ago. Naturally because of my connections I already had one.

But you can’t look a gift present in the mouth, and since Nintendo’s delivery has been spotty at best, I thank them for their timeliness.

Tomorrow is “City Day” Cross your fingers that Redd has one of the two paintings I need!

I know I’ve been scarce. I’ve been in semi-retirement. My catalog is mostly complete (or as complete as I can get it without running into that alien seagull or getting a few more paintings). I decided to give some other characters a shot, maybe go get bed head or something. Of course it’s never as easy as that. Labor Day—the one day I should be resting—came and I couldn’t just sit in my house while everyone else got picnic baskets. So I got up and out and went to talk to Tortimer.

“Today is Labor Day, sprout.”

“Tell me something I didn’t know.” I muttered under my breath.

“It’s got a fancy name, but it just means, ‘Thanks for all your hard work, everyone!’ Here, take this so you’ll always remember this day.It’s a picnic basket. That’s just to say thank you for working so hard on… whatever it is you do, exactly. Good job!”

I thanked him, yawned, and went back to bed. I left the watering up to Locke, who may just take over blogging here.

OK, I tell a lie. I didn’t go straight back to bed. I stopped to chat with the Able Sisters and bought an aviator hat and a curly mustache. The mustache freaked Lobo out. He thought I was trying to be a “mountain woman”.

I met Doomdoom’s newest resident, a blue eagle (hawk?) named Pierce. I like him already. He likes my dorky fashion sense and complimented my skull shirt. Rock on Pierce!

But really, I might be passing the reigns. Give someone else a chance…for a little while…If I can stay away… I might just wake up for something good though. Like, oh I dunno, a fine, scenic, or moving painting! ww. I’ll be around I’m sure, but Locke has a completely open friend roster. Comment if you want to add her.

またね！

I’ve been shirking both my writing duties, and my friendship duties as well. Squirt has invited me over for fireworks in Shaolin on multiple occasions. Something always seems to come up and I don’t make it over there. I finally made it over for the last fireworks of the year.

When I arrived, the party was already underway and Squirt’s friend Herito was visiting as well. For once I did not get attacked with a net on entry. I was shocked!

The fireworks actually took a backseat to the task at hand: climbing the lighthouse. I’ve only seen pictures of people parading around up there. I’ve never seen it done firsthand. Doomdoom’s lighthouse is apparently not situated correctly to facilitate lighthouse climbing.

I was a complete newbie and it took several tries before I found myself standing precariously at the edge of the lighthouse. Thanks for being patient Squirt & Herito!

I brought some fireworks over, and it seemed like as good a time as any to set them off.

After a bit Herito suggested we herd a neighbor up to the top of the lighthouse. Ruby was the closest, and she got hoisted to the top of the lighthouse where she stood and clapped at the fireworks as they burst around her. Then we got up on the lighthouse again and Ruby stood and looked up my skirt. Shame on you Ruby!

Thanks for having me over Squirt! Glad I could finally make it.

After several failed attempts, Doomdoom now has a thriving money tree. I planted it when there weren’t many trees in town. I didn’t really think it would grow. Five days later it happily proved me wrong. I tried again after that, but the next one didn’t take. At least there’s one.

I finally had the opportunity to catch a jellyfish. They’re swarming briefly in the second half of August. They are about horse mackerel size and not nearly as rare as I thought they would be. I’m glad they were easier to get than the Moray!

Due to some suspicious vacations on my part, the jellyfish was the last fish I needed to catch to complete my fishing catalog, and the aquarium wing of the museum.

I donated the jellyfish to Blathers and in my excitement, didn’t really hear a word he said about it. LOL!

Later on that day as I stepped outside I encountered Tortimer. “Oh, Vella! There’s something I’ve been meaning to give you. Oh, dont’t worry. It’s not a love letter or anything. Nope nope, it’s a golden fishing rod.”

“I heard that you caught every kind of fish!” He said proudly and even glowed a little. “To commemorate this occasion, please have this golden fishing rod. I Since you’re such a fishing expert now, maybe you won’t find much use for it. But even if you don’t, I still think it’d be nice to have around. Right? I mean, it’s awfully pretty!” It’s a little gaudy really, but the fish seem to love it.

And I can’t really talk about it much, but you can’t get these just anywhere.” (I looked in my pockets quickly to make sure my ill-gotten golden rod wasn’t sticking out). “So keep it safe, ok? Fishing is nice when you’re a young whippersnapper…But when you’re old and wise like me, eating fish is even nicer!”

With a laugh that was more of a cough “Heh heh HORF!” his long winded speech came to an end and he handed me the golden fishing rod. I couldn’t help but holler a bit.

“Yayyy!” I hollered to no one in particular. “I got the golden fishing rod! Look out fishies!” There, I acted surprised and grateful and everything.

I will admit that I have probably gone a little crazy. Blame the Giant Petaltail. More harrowing than my hunt for the elusive popeyed goldfish, until two days ago I didn’t believe it existed. I had just flicked a mosquito off of me when I saw it perched atop a rock in the “park”. I crept up silently, slowly. It sped off faster than the speed of light. It leapt over cliffs in a single bound and…well, you get the picture: The f***er was agile.

Yesterday I stalked around Doomdoom for three hours. three hours. I didn’t see anything that could even maybe have been one speeding off into the distance. Whenever I do see something that might be a petaltail (I blame the ladder shades on not being able to tell dragonflies apart), it hightails it through a grove of trees whereupon its trail is lost forever.

Queenie gave me the idea. I blame the entire nonsense on her. “Bee-Beep! I wish these cicadas would give me a break. They’re ruining my beauty sleep!” I agreed with her. The cicadas are loud. And everywhere I run in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the petaltail, there they are.

Where are the cicadas? On trees. If we get rid of the trees will the cicadas go away? Yes! Will we finally get some peace and quiet? Yes! Will the damnable petaltails have any place to hide? No! Win. Win. I started chopping.

Doomdoom had a lot of trees. You will remember that we planted more around おはなみ for better petal viewing. I had to take a few breaks in between and visit my townies (reminding them none too subtly about my birthday). I went to Pippy’s after I had a few run ins with bees. She was convinced I was not long for this world.

I tried to assure her it was just a flesh wound, but she burst into tears. So I left and, for some reason went into Curly’s house. He was moping around looking more like he was not long for this world than me. I decided to take a power nap. (Don’t tell anyone, but I returned with medicine not long after.)

As I write this, Doomdoom is a clear vista of summer flowers without trees to spoil the view. The chirping has subsided—except for on the pines up by the gate. And even they might get axed before the day is out. The coconut trees might also fall by my mighty golden axe. It just depends on whether I see that damnable dragonfly. The flowers should really be plucked as well, but I don’t know if I’m that enraged yet. Wait until next month if I haven’t caught it. Besides, I don’t think I have enough space in my house(s) to put all the hybrids.

Wish me luck as hunting time approaches.

Lately, when not licking envelopes, spending hard earned bells on presents, and getting writer’s cramps I unwind by fishing in the sea. The thing is, the fishing hasn’t been very relaxing either because I have been scouring the sea for a moray eel—unsuccessfully. I have gotten blue marlins, napoleonfish, sharks, hammerheads and of course sea bass aplenty. I didn’t even see a moray. Until tonight. I reeled in what I thought was a sea bass (another one!) but up wriggled a moray. I shouted with glee and then ran to Blathers (who is quite happy I am running out of bugs to give him).

Ah… A moray eel? Yes, quite! The moray eel has a reputation as the gangster of the deeps, wot wot? But in actuality… It’s quite the scaredy-pants and rarely strays from the home it makes between large rocks. If one doesn’t start any trouble, one won’t find any trouble. Such is the philosophy of the moray.

“It’s rather universal, wot? The stronger one is, the more on understands the value of avoiding trouble… Hoo… But all that aside… I offer you our gratitude. Rest assured your aquatic friend will be most happy!”

So, the last fish I have to catch is the jellyfish. They should be swimming up right around my birthday. I look forward to catching them then.

I have been hunting for giant petaltails while fishing. I still haven’t spotted one of them. Are they that rare?

I’m trying to send my neighbors items to get there house ship shape. (They need all the help they can get) but I never remember what they have and what I want them to have, so I made a list.

I’ll probably forget to send half these things, but my birthday is coming up on the 16th and I want a cake. So I’m trying to get on the neighbors’ good sides.

The items marked in red are things I need to give them. The plain text are things they have or that I have ordered for them.

Carmen

Carmen has the space theme going in her house. Or she did until she started putting random things in there like a baby stroller. Is there something we should know Carmen?

Carmen wants to move. Nooooooooooo! Stay BFF!

• lunar horizon
• lunar surface
• asteroid
• satellite (x2 oops)
• lunar rover
• flying saucer
• dolphin model

Clyde

Clyde has fruity everything. Or at least he did when he moved in. Then the flea market came through and now he has a traffic cone and a giant fossil. I’m hoping to get him to give up those little style mistakes.

• citrus wall
• citrus carpet
• pineapple bed
• apple clock
• apple tv
• pear dresser
• melon chair
• orange chair

Curly

I don’t like curly and I really don’t see myself sending him much of anything because I want him to leave. He has the music room floor and a couple of cabin items, so I would probably send him cabin furniture, but I like to send Lobo cabin furniture. No stuff for you Curly!

Gladys

Either Gladys or Queenie started off with exotic furniture. I can’t remember which. I was sending them both exotic furniture, but I decided that Gladys will stick with the exotic and Queenie will get modern.

• exotic wall
• exotic floor
• exotic screen
• exotic lamp
• exotic table
• exotic chair

Groucho

He looks like he went a little crazy at the flea market. Nothing matches. For some reason I have decided that since he’s blue I am going to send him the blue themed furniture. He wants a table right now. He’ll get the blue table. Lol

• blue trim wall
• blue flooring
• blue table
• blue bench
• blue bookcase
• blue chair
• blue bed

Lobo

I used to send Lobo cabin furniture. His house is in the corner surrounded by pines. It seemed like a good move. His house is currently wretched. He has a polka dot rug with a rose wall and an elephant slide? WTF. Cabin here we come.

• cabin wall
• cabin rug
• cabin wardrobe
• cabin bookcase He got rid of it. Doh!
• cabin bed
• cabin chair

Margie

Doomdoom’s newest edition has come to town with a few Cabana items, so I figure we’ll give her a few more. She also has a couple classic items. Hopefully she'll switch those out. Her persian wall reminds me of a circus tent, but I think it has to go.

• cabana wall
• cabana flooring
• cabana dresser
• cabana bookcase
• cabana screen
• cabana armchair
• cabana bed

Pippy

Pippy has always had a backyard theme, but lately it’s turned into an aquarium.

• backyard fence
• backyard lawn
• sprinkler
• garden gnome
• Hammock (two of them. oops)
• lawn chair
• barbecue

Queenie

Ah prissy queenie. She’s out and about, so I can’t see what her highness has in the house. I know I decided to send her modern things but I don’t remember if I have yet. :P I don’t know if I should give her the modern wallpaper or get her the plaza floor because she currently has the plaza wallpaper and I kind of like it.

• Plaza Wall
• Modern Floor (I would give her the plaza tile, but I don't have it in my catalog)
• Modern bed
• Modern Desk

Rocco

I don’t know what to do with Rocco. He has the tartan rug and some awesome scottish music (Lucky K.K.) but what goes with that? I was thinking if all else fails I can just send him some classic pieces? Or maybe a mish mash of stuff.

• tartan rug
• library wall

Well, things didn’t go quite as planned yesterday. I got up in the morning at what I thought was the right time. I checked my email. Nothing. I went outside. No Pete. No Pete meant no Dolphin model. No email meant Chokomaru’s gate wasn’t open. I took that to mean that maybe they didn’t get their DLC in Japan either. So I went back to bed. I thought I took the proper channels, but it was early…

When I finally did wake up and stepped outside I was accosted by—a mole. It took me a moment to notice that this mole was not Resetti. He was too skinny for one. He didn’t yell for another. He was rather polite in telling me off for my hasty retreat from the land of the wakeful.

I was curious if I would be able to encounter Gulliver because of the “mishap”. I didn’t have long to wonder because I stumbled across Wendell. The other visitor I wanted to see! I can’t remember the last time I was happy to see Wendell, but today I couldn’t even decide what fish to give him. Everybody in town is working on a different pattern set. Locke has most of the grassy patterns. Grebo has most of the railroad. Nikki has the dirt paths. I have mishmash, but I decided to help each of them. I gave Wendell a Red Snapper and he gave me curved track 3. Grebo gave him a sea horse, and now Doomdoom’s eastern beach is covered in railroad tracks. I’m tempted to change all of the path system into a railroad, but I'm a little hesitant since it’s only single-wide.

After running after Wendell and fishing a bit to prepare for his return, I went down to talk to Clyde. He had finished unpacking and was looking a little peaked. (Maybe he just always looks that way?) I didn’t expect his house to be so perfectly organized or so…fruity. He kept complaining about this being his first time on his own and wanting some mint tea, so I sent each of my neighbors down to welcome him to town. Something about him reminds me a little of Filbert. I think I like him…

Grebo told me all about his visit. Poor Clyde misunderstood his mother’s advice. His mother told him to find a friend in his new town to show him the ropes. Clyde didn’t understand why he needed ropes if he didn’t have pants to hold up. Did he think they were suspenders? Poor Clyde.

He confessed to Locke that he didn’t know how to live on his own. What more do you need than cheezy poofs?

Not much was going on today. I went outside and was polishing up my slingshot just in case Gulliver were to fly by when I noticed Pascal and put the slingshot away again. I’m not excited to see Pascal, but I’ve been stocking up on scallops so at least I have something to give him.

After I snapped the picture with Mr. Deep Thoughts (or Pot Head, whatever you want to call him) I noticed that I seem…darker…today. I think all my fishing time paid off yesterday. I’m getting a tan!

I decided to check up on Clyde to make sure he wasn’t dehydrated from eating nothing but cheezy poofs all day and found him in good spirits. He was going to take charge of his life and pick out his own clothes (since mom couldn’t do it for him). I am now to refer to him as “fashion lad”. I ran out after that so I wouldn’t laugh in his face. I really think I like him.

I got a morning glory in the mail from Chokomaru. Thank you! I still haven’t received my dolphin model. Nintendo let us down again. I wonder if we’ll ever get it…

Yesterday was another Bug-Off in Doomdoom. I had a slew of bugs saved for the occasion. I strolled down and talked to Nat. I hesitated when he asked for my entry. I didn’t know what to hand in first. I wanted to give him the bugs I thought least likely to win so that I could rack up many booby prizes. I decided on a sad looking goliath beetle as my first entry. Nat raved about its“fabulous coloration” and declared it worth 88 points. It beat out Pippy’s 68 point jewel beetle. Nat gave me—a sink.

I shouldn’t have started with the goliath beetle. I didn’t think it was that rare. Surely a walking leaf would beat it. Nope. My walking leaf scored 55 points. Well then, the banded dragonfly (that I chased halfway around Doomdoom) should knock Nat’s socks off! Nope. 67 points. I looked at the rest of my bugs and chose randomly.

I think he might judge based on what the bug is wearing…

• Cyclommatus with gentle luster: 84 points
• Cyclommatus with color and size (very healthy bug indeed!): 91 points (scoring a blue chair)
• Cyclommatus with perfect color, incredible shine, and a massive size: 106 points (scoring a kiddie dresser)
• atlas beetle whose size is simply outstanding: 84 points
• atlas beetle with good color and positively mouthwateringshine: 86 points
• atlas beetle with great color, outstanding shine, incredible size: 100 points
• birdwing with gentle luster: 85 points
• birdwing (I stopped paying attention to its good points): 103 points
• oak silk moth with great color, outstanding shine, incredible size: 97 points
• oak silk moth (too busy grumbling to notice qualities): 98 points
• elephant beetle with color and a good size. very healthy yada yada:81 points

And thus concluded my foray into entomology. I was trying to beat Squirt’s outrageous score. I didn’t make it. But I did beat out all of my townies (like they had a chance).

I remembered the shark I had traded Pippy. Since I hadn’t seen her around (she must be sulking since I crushed her measly score of 68) I decided to barge into her house just to make sure sharky was ok.

He is happy as ever in his little tank. I think Pippy has been spying on my basement room because it looks like she’s making a bit of an aquarium sanctuary herself. No stealing my thunder Pippy! Or I really will let you move out of Doomdoom!

Speaking of moving, this morning I was wandering down by the beach and I noticed a house right where Scoot’s house had been. It looked just like his house. For a moment I was mortified that he may have gotten cold feed and come back. With my usual tact, I rapped once on the door and burst inside.

Fortunately, Scoot didn’t greet me. Clyde did. Clyde, the chartreuse horse did. He may be nice and all (and he’s not a duck or a pig), but just looking at him makes me queasy. Especially with that citrus wall (which I need!). What was he thinking?

New DLC should come out tomorrow, and I’ve got big plans to run over to ちびくろ in the morning. I only hope I wake up on time. Better start charging the iPhone (aka my alarm clock) now.

That’s Doomdoom’s biggest news. He began packing up a few days ago and told me “You gotta watch over Doomdoom when I’m gone, blowhard! You’re the only one who can handle it!” I assured him he was leaving the town in good hands and left him to packing. He packed for two days and on the third he was gone and the town paused for a moment to pay its respects and then began bickering over whether the new resident should have to pay higher tax for Scoot’s prime beach locale.

I moved a few roses around just in case whoever moves in doesn’t get the memo to stay out of the park. I think they might go for Scoot’s old spot though. The only other townie on the lower level is Kitt (who we’d also like to see go). The place is feeling a little lopsided.

Last Friday (out of the blue) we heard from Cousin Vella over in Higarden. I don’t know what’s up with her on again off again correspondence. She had Squirt over to fish since somehow it’s September in Higarden. Not to be outdone I showed up on her doorstep the next day. She’s always gone when I show up. I made myself at home anyway. The place has gone to hell over the last few months. There are hardly any flowers left. Squirt and Cousin Vella made short work of the weeds. I was surprised to see all of her familiar townies still there, looking only slightly downtrodden at their lack of care.

I caught a salmon and king salmon off the bat. I’m almost happy I didn’t come across a moray eel (so I have something to look for when September rolls around in Doomdoom), though after several rounds of cricket chasing I did nab a bell cricket. I swear I burned off five pounds chasing them. I got an extra king salmon that I hope to trade to Wendell for a treasure chest pattern. For some reason I’ve been trying to collect fish for Wendell lately. South Doomdoom is working towards a railroad path system.

Vella sits in the aquarium room in her cursed Dimentio Mask. The fish don’t mind.

Cousin Vella wrote to tell me she was sorry she missed my visit. Apparently she was in the city where she stumbled across Resetti’s Surveillance Center. She sent me an account of his tirade:

“Hey, whoa! You! How’d ya get in here?! The Reset Surveillance Center ain’t open to civilians! That means YOU! Ya shouldn’'t be here! Ya ain’t allowed to come in here without permission! So, yeah, get out! Oh, and one more thing… Don’t tell anyone about this place!” She was to stunned to stay anything. Resetti just stared at her.

………

“What?! Why are you still… Get OUT, ya crazy… Oh, RIGHT! Figures. Kids are gettin’ pretty cheeky these days, bargin’ in and askin’ for stuff. Here, go on and take this. But just get out! Yeah, that’s right, it’s a Silver Shovel. That’s a really rare item, kid. I probably shoulda kept it. Hey, but nice old me gave it to ya, so get out. Oh, and one more thing. Do NOT go tellin’ anyone about this place.”

I won’t tell Resetti she blabbed if you don’t.

Cousin Vella snapped a shot when Resetti wasn’t looking

Squirt seems to have cashed in on the painting black market. She sent me a couple of Calm Paintings to hand over to Blathers. I was worried when the first was declared fraudulent. The second proved authentic so Doomdoom only needs four paintings to complete the art section. Thanks Squirt!

(S)he also sent me the last two colors of bunny ballons I needed. Yay! More clutter for Queenie to yell at me about. Now I get to ask Phineas for the “regular” balloons or pinwheels when I see him. I can’t decide which to collect now.

Saharah visited earlier in the week. Everyone fawned over her luxurious eyelashes. Only Carmen recalled her as the “Camel lady with the big nose.” I love Carmen for telling it like it is. I scored three wallpapers from her visit. However, none of them were the Lunar Horizon or the Music Room Wall. She’s holding out on me as usual. If anyone has these two to trade, I have duplicates of almost all of her other originals.

My other exploits in Doomdoom this week include fishing and even selling the fish to townies for a tidy sum. Now I see why Grebo did it all the time. I even parted with one of my hammerheads (we’ll call her Jill) for almost 12k. I need to visit Pippy to make sure she has a happy home and hasn’t been turned into shark fin soup.

Yesterday I found out that there was a new DLC being distributed to EU players in honor of Bastille Day. It was a replica Eiffel Tower, reminiscent of many of the Gulliver models (of which I have legally obtained zero). Needless to say I was excited to be able to collect it. One of my European friends got her hands on the model and immediately opened her gates to share the wealth. Thanks Emma! I didn’t stick around long enough to find out that the model Eiffel Tower also functioned as a flashy light. I was too excited to go home and place my order for my own and to share the Eiffel Tower with others!

I ordered several from Nook, invited ちょこまる and Squirt over for tomorrow morning and then realized that my house was in a complete shambles. The main floor and the basement were stuffed with fish and bugs. It took me so long to catch my first shark that now I can’t part with them, and they take up so much room! I decided they needed their own sanctuary and dismantled my entire Nintendo basement and entrusted its components to Grebo’s care (after clearing all the crap out of his drawers!). The basement made a lovely home for all of the fish (save one hammerhead that I carry around in my pockets), but it was just a little too quiet down there. I added a TV. All is well.

The bugs are a little more difficult to showcase. They’re in tiny almost opaque cages. They’re hardly worth fawning over. But Squirt is determined to beat me in this Saturday’s Bug-Off and I’m not going down without a fight, so I couldn’t very well free the bugs or sell them. I need them! I stored most of my Mush set (I don’t know why I like it so much. Maybe because I paid 500k for the chair…) and lined the walls with bugs, bugs, and more bugs! I kept the thrones, and a few counterfeit art pieces just because.

This morning I rolled out of bed and ran immediately to the gate. Before I could even send my email ちょこまる burst through the gate. ww. He picked up an Eiffel Tower and then I had him over to see my silly rooms (strangely I didn’t take any pictures of either the Eiffel Tower in my main room or my fish room…I was really sleepy. It was 7:30 AM) I must have woken up a little when I got upstairs (all that chirping!) because I did manage to capture us both lounging in thrones will the little peon bugs looked on.

After that we snuck into Nikki’s house and soaked up the rays in his new beach room. ちょこまる seemed quite content to nap on the chaise lounge, but since it was the only one I was trying to rouse him. Maybe Nikki should have opted for more chaise lounges and fewer lawn chairs…

Next we visited Locke’s “Too Rich for my Blood” café. Everything in there is so snooty and expensive that it’s hard to pick something to drink. $4.00 for a Latte? Highway robbery! At least she got an ABD machine in there now to facilitate easier purchasing.

After exhausting Doomdoom’s new and (not so) exciting rooms there wasn’t much left. We ventured over to ogle at Doomdoom’s newly exposed fissure. Then I got word that Squirt was on his/her way.

ちょこまる and I were poised at the gate with shovels and axes (aren’t nets safer?) to…um…welcome the newest visitor. Out stepped—Mario? Nice try, Squirt but you’re not fooling anyone with those pink shoes.

Squirt got his/her Eiffel Tower and the Nickel tour of Doomdoom. (I think I forgot to show him/her the beach room? It was so early! And (s)he still needs to check out the fighting beasties in the museum and the fruits of his/her generous donations to the museum’s art gallery that I forgot to write about early in the week).

One thing led to another and ちょこまる visited the Able Sisters shop. I was mortified when I walked in there and saw the Dimentio HDLC on display. It was the equivalent of the Able Sisters selling a knock off purse. How dare they cheapen Doomdoom like that?! I yelled for Squirt to come see and (s)he burst into tears! The party went downhill quickly after that. I hope ちょこまる still invites me over on July 20 for the distribution of Japan’s latest DLC, but I wouldn’t blame him if he barred the gates.

The last few days have been spent in search of elusive bugs. For July’s Catch I still needed a golden stag, banded dragonfly, and grasshopper.

After catching the creepy crawlies I was reluctant to step outside of my house at night. I didn’t want to run into (and get stung by) them if I didn’t have to. Nevertheless, I tiptoed back and forth on the beech peering at the coconut trees looking for the golden stag. I was getting really tired and just about to call it a night when I spotted something really shiny on the coconut tree by the lighthouse. I crept ever so slowly over to it, and around it and nabbed my first golden stag beetle!

Blathers was not happy to see me approach him at the end of the night. But the golden stag didn’t seem to repulse him nearly as much as the other bugs.

I was up bright and early the next morning in search of a banded dragonfly and a grasshopper. I caught several darner dragonflies, but didn’t see a banded one. A couple bugs that might have been grasshoppers drowned themselves.

I gave up the hunt and attempted to get old wallpapers from my neighbors for Saharah. Not a single neighbor coughed one up. Thanks guys! Glad I could count on you. Sheesh.

The next day I hunted again. This time I caught sight of a few banded dragonflies, but man those things are fast! And I was trying to catch them without running (since there’s a strict no running policy in Doomdoom. We break knees!)

There were no visitors, so I decided to see if I could hunt down Gulliver. I stood on a balloon line with my trusty slingshot at the 9:02 and 9:07. No Gulliver. I’m trying to remember to at least look for him. I really would like to shoot him down once.

After that disappointment, I hunted. Big surprise. I caught sight of a dragonfly zooming past me and (slowly) gave chase! I never would have caught it if it handed doubled back towards me. But it did and I swing my net and captured it. Muhaha!

I think Blathers started hyperventilating when I handed it over. “OH, HORRORS! The beast is looking at me! Look away, fiend!” he exclaimed after telling me how big the banded dragonfly was. Blathers is getting a little too psycho about the bugs. I’m going to tell Brewster to start slipping him decaf.

Which leads us up to today. City day. I should start calling it Jolly Painting Day. Since that’s usually what Redd has for me. Upon exiting the bus I was surprised to see Phineas handing out trinkets. I ran up and asked for a bunny balloon (still working on collecting them all). He handed me a cyan ballon. I wanted a red one. Rats!

Redd didn’t do me proud either. He didn’t have a jolly painting, but he did have a dynamic painting. While the dynamic painting is much more aesthetically pleasing (in other words fly) than the jolly painting, it is still not one that I need. I bought it anyway. I don't know if it’s legit. Anyone want to trade for one of the paintings listed in the sidebar (to the left)?

Back in Doomdoom I wandered aimlessly looking for hopping bugs. Doomdoom buzzes like a hive with all the beetles, but grasshoppers and locusts are in short supply. I was about to give up since it was nearing 5pm when I caught sight of something hopping just north of Kitt’s house. I can’t tell the difference between a grasshopper and a long locust, so I didn’t know which it was until after I caught it:

Blathers cracked me up when I donated it. He was mortified by the fact that grasshoppers legs fall off so easily and lodge themselves in your net twitching. I could just picture him hooting fearfully and running clumsily away from his net. Hehe! How on earth did he land the job as a curator of a bug museum?

The bulletin board told me the other day that the rainy season was coming to an end. I did not expect to walk out my door today to a thunder storm. How did I not hear it from inside my house? Flashes of lightning lit up the sky. My neighbors were still wandering around with their busted umbrellas, so I figured it wasn’t quite time to seek shelter.

I heard a rumor that sharks were easier to catch during thunderstorms, so I figured I would spend the afternoon fishing (which in retrospect seems rather silly with the lightning…). Queenie had other ideas about how I should wile away my Sunday. She not so subtlely invited herself over at 2:30.

I got a little fishing in before it was time for her visit. I spotted nary a shark nor a blue marlin. Around the appointed time I went back to my house and proceeded to stuff my pockets full of the fish and bugs that I had crammed in the first floor.

Right at 2:30 she knocked and entered. I immediately felt like my entire house was being scrutinized, not visited by a friend. I wondered if maybe I should have changed hats. The hot dog hat is so yesterday.

She started out attempting to be nice—“sweet as fried ice cream” as she put it, but her pleasantries quickly wore off and she began chastising my decorating skills. I think she had a problem with my (incomplete) set of bunny balloons taking up the south wall. I like them there. And ok, so maybe they are a little cluttery, but they’re bunnies!

Almost all of her sentences ended in “Sorry.” Sorry your house is so full of crap. Sorry you don’t have a magical candle instead of that Gracie Lamp back in the corner. Sorry I only gave you four stars because you suck! Needless to say, when she announced that “the perfect guest ALWAYS knows when it’s time to leave. And since I’m perfect…” I wasn’t sorry to see her go.

I was starting to like Queenie, mostly because she’s purple. Now I’m not so sure. I think she may be just a tad too snooty for me. Or maybe she’s right and it’s time to retire my balloon collection.

After she left I decided I needed to get out of my (cluttered) house. I emptied my pockets of fish, grabbed my fishing pole and headed for the beach. I cast my line a few times and got nothing. Then I saw a big shadow I thought was probably another sea bass. When I reeled it in I had a shiny blue marlin. That cured my bad mood!

I ran up to give it to Blathers who was delighted that I caught a fish and not a bug.

When I got back to my house I had mail waiting for me from MM from hang. I met her the other night with Squirt. I was going to post about that, but I managed to erase all of my pictures when I wasn’t paying attention. Anyway, she had sent me some pokéballs that I was so impressed by. They’re totally awesome! (even if they are hacked. LOL) Thank you! I need to find a better place to put them in my cluttered home. LOL.

After my scorpion conquest yesterday I didn’t stop hunting bugs. I came across another tarantula by the museum that saw me and made a mad dash for the holding pond. I seem to frighten them more than they frighten me (unless I have my net out, then they charge at me like a bull at a matador with a red cape).

I nabbed a giant beetle and a scarab beetle and then began the search for a longhorn beetle. I had chopped down a myriad of trees in the “park” to facilitate my hunt. I didn’t ever see one perched in the park. There was a lone stump outside of Nook’s where I found him after selling off a bunch of fish.

I think Blathers had to take some Xanax after all of the bugs I gave him. He seemed very agitated.

This morning I walked outside and was greeted by Pete waiting outside my door. He had an urgent letter from Nintendo. I was expecting the MIA Ladder Shades that were supposed to arrive last week (sounds a lot like my MIA strategy guide from amazon.com). Instead I got a charming letter on hamburger paper and a hot dog hat.

I’m not sure whether to love or loathe my phallic ode to American bigger, better, faster, more mentality but I’ve been wearing it all day nonetheless. So far none of my neighbors have snickered at me…at least not that I’ve heard. Although Scoot did call me a blowhard.

Tonight after hot dogs and sangria (the hat made me do it!) I watched K.K. Slider as a special treat. I always forget to go see him on Saturdays. Then I set out for more bug hunting. I was hoping to catch a golden stag beetle and maybe a marlin.

The golden stag beetle evaded me. Once I thought I found him, but it turned out to be an elephant beetle instead. Oh well. I caught all sorts of other beetles: an atlas beetle and a plethora of dynastid beetles.

Fishing wasn’t going much better. I did hook an ocean sunfish and another hammerhead. Something that might have been a marlin got away. I keep telling myself it was just a napoleonfish.

I saw another scorpion—briefly. I was fishing when I saw it out of the corner of my eye. He skittered off to the left. A mosquito bit me. I yelped. Next thing I knew the scorpion had drowned himself. Stupid scorpion.

I was not expecting to see a tarantula five minutes after the scorpion. I was still attempting to fish/catch a golden stag when out of the corner of my eye I saw something running along the western wall. I crept up slowly from the south and confirmed his fuzzy presence. I figured if I whipped out my net he would bite the bejesus out of me, so I decided to try and scare him north (there was no water for him to fling himself into) towards the ramp where I caught the scorpion. The herding worked. When I was safe on my ramp I pulled out my net. He charged the wall and I started swinging. A few swipes later and I came away with a tarantula.

Once again I ran straight to Blathers to donate the beast.

“H-h-hoo… I daresay that is a tarantula. STOP! Do NOT free it! Leave the beast caged!”

No worries there. I wasn’t about to take that thing out.

“Insects rather bother me. Touching them strikes me as quite revolting, wot? Hoo, such foul fuzziness! And have you seen how fast they move?It’s enough to make an owl faint.”

Um, yes, I have. In fact I have been bitten and I did faint thank you very much.

“They’re quite docile beasts, and it’s documented that they rarely attack people… But when I look at them up close like this, I start to wonder if the experts might be wrong, eh wot?! Bleh, enough, I say… Our thanks for the donation. We shall endeavor to keep the wretch safe and happy.”

I wasted no time in going to the bug room to check on my donations. I was surprised to find the tarantula right next to the scorpion. I was even more surprised when they began to circle each other and fight. Then I was sad when a mosquito bit me…

I went back to the beach after that to hunt for the golden stag & marlin, but they just weren’t appearing. I figured having nabbed the other creepy crawly was good enough for one day.

Vella: 1

Tarantula: 1

The wretched and terrifying scourge of Doomdoom has been captured! I am talking about none other than the great red scorpion. I wasn’t looking for him, which is probably why I came across him. And for once, I snuck up on the bug rather than the other way around…

I was taking the scenic route down to the beach, minding my own business when out of the corner of my eye I caught a flash of something scurrying behind a tree. I wasn’t certain my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me, so I paused halfway down the slope to Doomdoom’s beach area and waited.

Thanks for posting the Gulliver pattern Chokomaru!

I knew that if I whipped out my net and ran over to him he’d just be faster and bite me. So I stayed on my perch and cautiously drew out my net. He didn’t seem to notice. I went a little lower, he was still oblivious, trotting over the Gulliver drawings on the ground. I paced back and forth a few times biting my nails and making little scared noises before creeping down and pulling my net out again. This time he noticed and made a beeline for my ledge. Unfortunately I couldn’t see him below me. Fortunately he couldn’t sting me from my perch. I crept lower and lower swinging furiously until schwup!—I caught a scorpion!

I made a mad dash to the museum to turn over my prize to Blathers: “H-h-hoo… I daresay that is a scorpion. STOP! Do NOT free it! Leave the beast caged! Insects rather bother me. Touching them strikes me as quite revolting, wot?”

Yeah yeah, we know.

“…Scorpions are assuredly attention getters.They’ve got those colors that say, ‘Stay back! I’m poisonous!’ However, it seems only a tiny group of scorpions have venom lethal enough to off you with one sting. Mischievous scorpions that look like highly poisonous ones probably fooled folks into thinking otherwise. Bleh, enough, I say… Our thanks for the donation. We shall endeavor to keep the wretch safe and happy.”

And with that he trotted off to the bug room to give the little (creepy) guy a new home. I followed him in to watch the scorpion in his captive habitat. He still shakes his tail menacingly and looks like he’s going to try and eat me.

One creepy crawly down, one to go!