They said it couldn’t be done: Peace in the Middle East!

Ephraim & Kirimeh: friends at last!

Ephraim & Kirimeh: friends at last!

Of course it couldn’t be done — until yours truly took a swing at it and brokered peace as only I can. I normally do not bring work home with me, but this was so important, I had to take a very personal, hands-on approach. I invited Israel’s ambassador Ephraim Hirsch and Palestine’s ambassador Kirimeh ha-Kalir both into my home for a light Sunday Brunch.

There were no weapons drawn.

There were no voices raised — only glasses, to toast a new friendship.

Preparing surprise for Ephraim: Skype call from his college roommate!.

Surprise for Ephraim: about to play his nephew's (an Israeli hip hop star) CD!

In fact, by the end of the evening both Palestine and Israel were so cordial, each refused to take the last acre of the gaza strip! It reminded me of my mentors at finishing school at the graduation ceremony: no one would take the last slice of cake. “You take it.” “No you take it.” “No I insist.” “I’ll be insulted if you don’t take it.” By the time we finally found a coin to toss, the cake had melted (ice cream cake). But I digress…

Surprise! Kirimeh's here!

Guess who's coming to dinner?

At first Ephraim was furious. “Vulva, how dare you pull this on me!” He can be so dramatic. But once he met Kirimeh face-to-face (and she impressed him with her gin rummy skills); well, who wouldn’t be charmed? She’s lovely. And she really flipped for his sense of humor!

So they ended up arm wrestling for it and Ephraim won — I’m still not sure Kirimeh didn’t let him. But it doesn’t matter. They both left smiling, and even shared a cab!

Sometimes the rewards of my job exceed the glamour, the money, the fashion, the danger, the adventure, the intrigue, and the weaponry. Which, by the way, I’m cutting back on. I find I sleep better and just feel better all around when I find creative alternatives to traditional weapons. Like today! I look forward to the next impossibly challenging assignment…

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I’ve been kidnapped. And I am so embarrassed.

One position I thought I'd never be in: hostage.

And I have no one to blame but myself. I’m a highly-trained elite agent. It’s my job to have nerves of steel and not be distracted and let my guard down enough to get KIDNAPPED. Even if the cause is my stupid sister Viva incessantly screeching “I lost my wallet!” (what else is new?) when we’re supposed to be on holiday in Flekkefjord. No, that’s no excuse on my part. But it’s starting to interfere with my work, which is extremely problematic. And that’s why we’re in family counseling. But I digress…

Back “on topic”, as our counselor is fond of saying: I’m making the most of the situation. I’m certain that my kidnapping is somehow tied in with the recent disappearance of several other agents, mostly from RANCOR and some from ARDOR… So my antennae is up and I’m taking notes. My Finnish is a little rusty, but so far I think my captor (Matti) is — or until recently was — with RANCOR. Which is odd… But fear not. He’s taking very good care of me. The food of course is hit-and-miss, but the vodka is  pure and chilled. And it goes without saying Finns are obsessively clean. So no rush breaking me out of here, ARDOR. I’m quite comfortable. Let me do a little more recon. I’ll use the infrared signaling device when my “mission” is accomplished.

What's a hostage shot without a NYT frontpage date?

What's a hostage shot without a NYT frontpage dateline?

On the bright side: the Jimmy Choo boots that our gadgets team (Ivan, you are a genius!!!) rigged with an emergency overnight kit works marvelously. All our fears of its functionality proved to be for naught: I was actually “typing” out the text of this entire message with my right heel’s microkeyboard while Matti was taking pictures as souvenirs. As you can see, the detail enhancement device works even better than expected. (The newspaper headline was my idea.)

We're almost getting tired of Finnsheep lo-mein takeout...

Trying to find some decent Finnsheep lomein...

In fact, Matti didn’t even realize I took a picture of the picture he took (what you see at the top of this message) with the nano-camo built into the boot’s buckle. The picture I took of him ordering take-out was a test run. He has no idea of this transmission, for that matter. Boy, is he ever in for a surprise! (By the way: brilliant work on Ivan’s part to think to include an international long-distance wi-fi locator and to build one that actually works. On such short notice yet!)

There is a slight problem with the dispenser for the vitamin C Serum I requested, so I’ve gone days without product. I can feel my complexion dulling as we speak, so THAT needs to be addressed ASAP. Oh, also — still haven’t been able to open the infrared location signaler. I’m keeping it warm so its lid should loosen enough hopefully by the time I need it.

We’re enjoying an awful lot of Finnsheep (that’s a smell you never forget), so we’re definitely near Hyvinkaa. Point your own antennae in the general direction until next contact…

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High Alert…

The only clue at the scene: US Military smoke bomb from Roswell, NM. I didn't even know they still made them.

Imagine my relief when I found RANCOR agent known as “The Beagle” alive — though just barely. He’s called The Beagle because of his extraordinary sense of smell. Back when were just starting out (in Paris), both taking a course in Urban Planning & Design and Sniper Strategy,  he used to bring me the most extraordinary perfumes from around the world!  We were so young. There was this one time, he nearly got arrested trying to

…I’m sorry, I got a little off-topic. The good news he’s going to be 100% — as are his olfactories.

But this is part of a much larger and far more serious problem. Several agents from both ARDOR and rival agency RANCOR have been kidnapped. Gone without a trace. Even I am required to have a bodyguard now, which is almost surreal. The Beagle is the first to be located (after much hard work on the part of Yours Truly). We’re still searching for the others and hopefully today’s breakthrough will shed some light…

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Meet my stupid sister Viva.

Squealing with delight at the sight of each line, as if it's her first.

Squealing with delight at the sight of each line, as if it were her first.

Imagine my delight when our weapons department came up with its latest stroke of genius: a mirror that wipes out short term memory! They asked me to take it home for a few days “live with it, test it out.” Boy, did they ever ask the right gal. Because my stupid sister Viva is crashing on my sofa right now.

And like moth to flame…

Bitch still steals all my stuff. Last time it was the Dior Lipstick prototype from our Chemical Weapons Division. Time before that, the Jimmy Choo reptile boots that shoot tranquilizer darts. It was funny, someone targeted her when she was wearing them because they thought she was me! And that’s when we found the perfect job for Viva: decoy.

But please don’t tell her. If she knows, she just blow it. If she must stay here — rent free, I might add — until we complete our family counseling sessions (don’t ask), she might as well make herself useful. Even if she doesn’t know it. Of course I would never let any harm come to her…

Don't let us interrupt you!

Don't let us interrupt you!

Look! Here she is playing with the compact version. She loves mirrors. Very attractive design, I must admit.

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An almost perfect spring day in Paris

It's a tradition when Yves and I are together, the red berets.

It's a tradition when Yves and I are together, the red berets.

I spent the weekend in Paris, sort-of a working holiday. A chance to catch up with my dear darling friend Yves (he is so much fun to shop with!), as well as test a new gadget from our weapons department: a machine that samples DNA of everyone within 50 yards. And it has a species setting, so you can choose the DNA sampling size that’s right for your needs. We thought we’d try it out at the Centre Pompidou (a modern art museum). It blended nicely with their current exhibit. And.. it worked beautifully!

The only downside of the whole weekend: Jimmy “Quantum of Needy” Bond won’t stop texting me. And I refuse to change my number again. Even if I did, He’d always be able to get it again. If only he could get a life as easily.

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My Favorite Home Movie

mamman

mamman

If you want to see where I get it, take a look. It’s mom, in her prime — she had zero tolerance for guests who overstay their welcome. She was such fun. I really miss her.

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Blackmail!

Pay up, A.R.D.O.R.!

It appears I’m under surveillance. An envelope containing a series of photographs was recently sent to A.R.D.O.R. — along with some, um, “demands”. I can only reproduce this one because the others reveal a target that I had under serveillance and was tailing on the day the photos were taken.

Bond, if this is you trying to get even for last weekend is Paraguay, three words: LET IT GO. But I suspect it’s not; this isn’t really your style…

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James “Quantum of Lame” Bond

My 1st love. I suppose he's still pretty cute.

My 1st love. I suppose he's still pretty cute.

HOW WE MET: Freshman year, ITSOA (Int’l Top Secret Operative Academy). I kicked his ass in underwater sniper techniques. Let’s just say he was easily distracted.
MOST ANNOYING HABIT: Talks in his sleep.
DIRTY LITTLE SECRET: Fat farm when he was 14 (how do I know? Talks in his sleep).
SURPRISING FACT: Cries at weddings.

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The Amazing Lara “I’ll Call” Croft

Taught me so much about myself -- as a woman.

Taught me so much about myself -- as a woman.

HOW WE MET: Spy Spa Retreat
MOST ANNOYING HABIT: Says “I’ll call you”, then never calls.
DIRTY LITTLE SECRET: Bed covered with cuddly stuffed animals.
SURPRISING FACT: Needier than you’d think.

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Jason, “The Bourne Boob”

Bond needs to teach him how to dress

Bond needs to teach him how to dress

HOW WE MET: We had a hit together, both of us stationed on a tightrope. He was trying to impress me and slipped. I caught him. He thanked me. Over and over. All night long. He couldn’t stop thanking me.
MOST ANNOYING HABIT: Answers every question with a question.
DIRTY LITTLE SECRET: Cannot drive a stick to save his life.
SURPRISING FACT: Started a musical theatre camp for needy children in Wisconsin.

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