1. My uncle once told me I would like applied sciences better than pure theory. He was right (even though I did not believe it back then).

2. Never in my life have I drunk to the point of forgetting what had happened.

3. When I was five I was a very strange little girl. I had a very abstract mind and my favorite activity was reading; also, I liked adults far better than other children. Oh, and I think it is about that time that I wanted to repair glasses as a career. (I now fail to conciliate that with the abstract mind, but, believe me, nothing was more amusing than geometrical shapes at the time.)

4. High school was the time when things were easy... and a bit flavorless with a tendency to boring.

5. I will never forget how miserable I was before I broke free from the abusive relationship I was in.

6. Once I met a very famous French actor I knew by name but had never seen act (I barely went to the movies as a kid).

7. There’s this boy I know who would definitely have a wonderful girlfriend if only he wasn't so shy.

8. Once, at a bar I witnessed a fist fight that ended when one of the protagonists crashed in the counter mere inches from the drink I was serving.

9. By noon, I’m usually hungry and tired.

10. Last night I managed to go to bed without worrying about the coming week of work, which is rather unlike my usual Sunday nights.

11. If only I had a hammer... no, wait, sorry. Less doubts. Having less doubts would be good. Unless it would make me a righteous, assertive bitch.

12. Next time I go to church will most likely be for someone's wedding or funeral and, in both cases, sharply painful. Did I already tell you that few things creep me out as much as religious service?

13. What worries me most is the idea that people I love might be in hospital when I am unable to go see them because we live one continent and one ocean apart.

14. When I turn my head left I see a picture of me and my dad wearing silly hats in a department store, and three pictures of the Fabulous Feline.

15. When I turn my head right I see, through my window, people having a barbecue.

16. You know I’m lying when I tell you so. Nobody's ever caught me lying since I was nine. Seriously.

17. What I miss most about the Eighties is War Games. War Games is probably the only thing I miss about the Eighties. Do I even remember the Eighties? No, not really. But I love War Games. That's how you know I'm a nerd.

18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be Portia of The Merchant of Venice. Smart and beautiful! (Well, if I had read more than three Shakespeare plays, I would probably be more apt to answer this question. I know it comes as a shock to the English speaking world, but Shakespeare is far from central to literature classes in France.)

19. By this time next year I should be frantically writing my thesis and panicking about what's next. Sweet.

20. A better name for me would be Bubbles, obviously.

21. I have a hard time understanding why women's magazines always sound like the best thing that can happen to us is to get married as soon as possible (finding a husband seems synonymous of finding someone you can tolerate living with) and splurge on hideous but trendy clothes.

22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll... wait, I am in school right now.

23. You know I like you if I act friendly towards you. I'm blunt like that: friendly with people I like and cold with people I dislike.

24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be the one who is handing it to me, as it would be nice, followed by the people who really helped me getting it (collaborators first, for instance. I hate people who thank their parents before their colleagues at a PhD defense – I'm sure they're awesome and supportive but they didn't get the papers out, did they?)

25. Take my advice, never stay one more second with a man who says he might end up leaving you if you don't lose weight (even more so if he later claims it was only to motivate you). He is a stupid ass and deserves a good lesson.

26. My ideal breakfast is home made yogurt, fresh cut fruits, some kind of breakfast cereals, and a cup of strong, black coffee.

27. A song I love but do not have is an aberration. I own all the songs I love. Oh, except for Blue Suede Shoes. (Yes, I enjoy a little Elvis here and there.)

28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you better your French. It is not the kind of place where people are very good at English, typically. Oh, and also, take a good book. A thick one. You might need it.

29. Why won’t people just take enough care of their kids to prevent them from screaming on top of their lungs all afternoon long?

30. If you spend a night at my house and that you're my guest, I'll make you a nice breakfast in the morning, but you'd better close the lid of the toilets after using them. Otherwise, just expect to get the cold stare of death in the morning if you haven't closed the toilets lid.

31. I’d stop my wedding for running away before it is too late.

32. The world could do without Ugg boots, low waist pants, leggings and fake breasts. Honestly.

33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than eat it. Yuck.

34. My favorite blondie is the Fabulous Feline, of course.

35. Paper clips are more useful than self-help books, which are bloody useless.

36. If I do anything well it’s acting weird. Yessir.

37. I can’t help but wonder at stupidity. I spend a lot of time pondering whether or not I am a pretentious snob, and whether or not most people are, indeed, painfully stupid.

38. I usually cry a lot, but rarely in front of anybody else than my boyfriend.

39. My advice to my nephew/niece, if I had any, which is not likely too happen any time soon due to an inconvenient lack of brothers or sisters, would be to be wary of anybody who cannot justify what they want you to do further than by "it's for your own good". (To this date, it is the best piece of advice I have received from my own mother.)

40. And by the way, bubbles are beautiful.