Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
<grin> Hurrah! Very pleased to know that it got there safe and sound.
I always worry about that sort of thing, especially given that I was,
for the very first time for a domestic package, asked precisely what it
was I was mailing. :/ Getting stuff from previously-only-online people
is always kind of neat. I had every intention of jotting off some kind
of note with each of them that I sent out (on Scary Godmother
notepaper, no less) but it eventually came down to either waiting a few
days to get them out with the notes or sending them now without, and I
opted for speed. But then, I'm babbling.
  Neil, I'm not sure that I can effectively express electronically the
mental salivation at the thought of you and PCR doing Dr. Strange.
Yowza.
  And, um, as far as Tori plumage goes, I was more into the general
ambience and whatnot at the Detroit show, but my memory is dredging up
a gray, or greenish, or gray-greenish ankle-length dress, the skirt of
which seemed to be made of four more-or-less independent panels, to
allow for her customary extravagant posture on the bench. But I'm
operating strictly from memory, and as a guy here. :)
--Bill^2, also looking forward to K-Pax.
  

    
Must be networking week around these parts (congrats on the successful
completion of the project, Neil!) - yesterday, I got to help our
consultant run a lot, and I mean a LOT, of CAT5 cable.

See, one of the companies I work for owns two buildings, across the
street from each other.  Some of my co-workers are moving their offices
from one building to the other, which means new phone and network
lines needed to be run.  Our existing network lines were tapped out
(couldn't add another hub), so we ran two lines of CAT5 from the new
offices into the basement of the building, across the basement ceiling
(about 60 feet), through the conduit under the street into the basement
of the other building, across *that* ceiling about 100 feet, along a
water pipe from the basement to the third floor, into the ceiling for
another 25 feet including passing through a beam and a wall, and into
our wiring closet.  Most of the long straight sections involved me
pulling the whole length of the cable hand-over-hand;  the shorter
sections involved getting on a ladder, moving ceiling tiles, pulling
cable, moving ladder a few feet, etc.

It's totally normal for me to be awake until midnight;  last night, I
was out cold by 8:30.............

Congrats to all those who have recently seen Tori - I've only seen her
once, back on the original small-venue LE tour, and it was pretty
amazing (Bill^2, not sure if you're familiar with the place, but this
was at Industry in Pontiac).  Also got to meet her at a record store
signing earlier that day, where she defused any nervousness by
extending her hand, looking me straight in the face, and stating,"I'm
Tori, and you are?"  We had a short conversation about Sandman (of
course) while she signed my copy of LE - very cool day, that one :)
  

    
Hee, saw the Scary Godmother mention and just had to share.  I drew
one of my younger cousins in the x-mas exchange a couple years ago and
bought him the first book.  I didn't get him last year and he came up
to me not too long ago to impart to me how much he wished for me to
draw his name so that I could get him another Scary Godmother book.  He
was incredibly adament.  I just thought it was very cool.  I've got
really big, important for my grades papers coming up so I'm probably
going to be doing a lot more pointless posting as a reaction.  Just a
warning.
  

    
RE: From Hell - So, I've been good to keep my mouth shut here thus far
on said topic, but anyone who has been lurking around on afn-g will
know that as a movie, for those who have not read the book, it's not
completely without its merits - it's very pretty, for one (and pretty
much the only good thing I could say of the movie). How-some-ever,
having read the book, I'd like to pull a quote from
eddiecampbellcomics.com (which in turn pulled the quote from AICN):
"...The only justification I can think of for this savage butchering is
metaphoric, in that fans of the comic will in some small way feel the
same revulsion they might have felt stumbling onto the Ripper's
handiwork first-hand." 
I mean, I understand the need to cut certain elements, and combine
characters in certain ways to make a 400+ page story into a 2 hour
movie, but the liberties taken to make this movie make me very sad to
see it bear the same name as the graphic novel. My sincerest hope is
that more 'haven't read's who have seen it and then heard the 'have
read's complain will buy the book and read it to see what all the fuss
is about.

There, I feel better.

squeaks, who had to be restrained from walking out on the film.
  

    
Kelly said: 
"Question: What's there to do in Portland on a Saturday night?
Answer: Drive to Seattle."

So what do I do if I'm in Eugene? 

squeaks, who always wondered that when she lived there...
  

    
>>Pamela-B: What I *really* want to know is... what did she wear? 
>>Plumage report, please.

    Black pantsuit with deep-cut jacket over black bra top, red
stiletto sandals.  (The lighting occasionally made the suit look deep
red; dunno whether that was intended or artifactual.)
  

    
Woo hoo! Finally caught up on posts... now to see if I can remember
everything I wanted to respond to...

The Bay Area Barking Mad Poker Night - I'm in. I might even
re-schedule work for it if I can. But be forewarned, the camera goes
with me everywhere.

Between all the posts about From Hell and Mike's Masonic story, I'm
getting very nostalgic about my time in the IORG - and I'm somehow
feeling like I've been brainwashed.

re: Harlan - Everyone else seems to be introduced to Harlan as someone
who loves to talk and perform for an audience of sorts. Indeed, I've
seen this, but I'm starting to think that my direct introduction to him
might be his shortest performance ever. Made for an interesting .sig
at any rate.

re: fan-girl behaviour - I tend to get a bit nervous and shy and quiet
around everyone I've just met, or don't know very well. Dunno if that
really counts as fan-girl. I figure any one I like or admire bests me
at something, so I'll acknowledge that, but that's about the extent of
giddy fannishness... well, that I'll display in front of the person I'm
a fan of - usually it hits me later and I'll bounce a bit then. :)

Ooh, speaking of elephants (well, someone was), I once had to check in
a cassette of Heathcote Williams "Elephants of the" something or other
that had arrived at the store by mistake. I was laughing so hard that
my stomach was sore the next day. I still think of that and laugh
whenever I read "Being An Experiment".

okay, off to finish sewing a dead cat for the costume.

squeaks, who experienced a zen moment when she read Violent Cases and
followed it with the James Coburn episode of the Muppet Show.
  

    
I had peach wassail. I'm happy. *purr*

Squeaks asked... "So what do I do if I'm in Eugene? " That's easy! You
have fries and a peanut butter malt at Bubbas!  :-) 

-Kelly, who has a bit of a surprise, but needs to confirm it,
first.... (and who is also quite amused that "Nerfme" is still
remembered... heh heh heh)
  

    
Neil - Congratulations on the new connection with Marvel and finally
resolving the whole Miracleman issue. There goes that ole thorn in
everyone's side and good riddance I say!  

Re Harlan - Having unintentionally raised his ire a few years ago at
ICON, I'll take him on stage or on TV, but never ever again in close
proximity. He's still on my short list of favorite authors and should
be considered a national treasure. 

Re From Hell: Going to see it this weekend and I have no expectations.
I think it's a known fact that Hollyweird rarely does adaptations of
books that manage to stay true to the orginal story.  Once tried and
true formulas and cliches get attached to a project, forget about any
resemblance to the storyline.  I'm planning to see it as just another
Ripper story  that has "borrowed" some characters and elements from
Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell's project. That's one way to avoid any
unnecessary comparisons and still enjoy the movie.  ;)
  

    
When I saw Tori in D.C., she appeared to be dressed as a tree; over a
pair of jeans she was wearing a green dress with what appeared to be
vines wrapped around her arms.

Have fun at MadCon, everyone!
  

    
Lioness- Oh, yeah, I understood what he was doing.  Just felt like he
could have done it more, er, constructively.  Though, I guess even the
Zen masters've been known to hit you on the head with a stick.  His
point was taken to heart, though.  Jo was right; I did bite kinda hard.

Michelle- are you okay?  I was watching Jim Frawley's camera test (on
*The Muppet Movie* DVD), and Miss Piggy said that she'd hit Miss
Mousey.  I'm sure she must pack a wallop.  Hope you recovered okay. 
And glad to see you back, of course.

Kelly- Did you actually *go* wassailing?  I've always wondered what
that entailed.

Erynn- Thoroughly enjoyed your story.  Sorry for not e-mailing you
back yet; my yahoo!'s acting up.  I'll be home tomorrow, though, so
I'll hope to get it from that computer.
  

    
Michelle-  Just wanted to let you know that I played "Lost Causes" for
the young lady who will be taking my place at work next week, and she
said 'Wow, she sounds just like Madonna.'  I don't know if you like
Madonna, so I don't know how you'll like that, but, you know, it's
cool.  And she said it sounded like a real song, so *that's* cool, too.
Just thought I'd send good vibes along, you know.
  

    
Mike, dear heart, you saw red stiletto sandals?  Huh. I saw black four or
five inch heeled sandals with a great medium-width ankle strap, from which
dangled a garnish of rhinestones that nearly reached the floor.

Then again, I wouldn't wonder a bit at it if someone told me Tori has
shapeshifting shoes.

As for the rest of what she wore, I saw what you described, plus a bunch of
music, gathered around her in a wonderful puff-and-slash fashion. <grin>
  

    
Thanks muchly everyone, for the Tori fashion reports!  Green-gray,
red-black, blouse-trees... it all makes perfect Tori sense.  Those of
you still to go, feel free to keep the reports going.

Adriana, we're planning to come again!  (BTW, I emailed you.  No
worries, I just didn't want you to think I blew you off, if you didn't
get it for some reason.)

Miss Mousey: you're so cute when you're fierce!

Weekend wishes everybody!

-P
  

    
Mary: are you the one who was enjoying Kavalier and Clay so much? 
Just FYI--Michael Chabon is doing a signing here on 11/3.  It's
possible I might be able to swing by if you have a request.  
  

    
    Elise -- The shoes could have been black; see comment about
colored stage lighting.  I almost mentioned the pendants, but, well,
people get ideas when guys notice too much of that kind of thing.
    But you're right, calling the heels "stilettos" was hyperbolic, or
possibly some other geometrical figure.  High and not-thick, yeah, but
not threatening to punch holes in the stage, either.
  

    
"Did you actually *go* wassailing?  I've always wondered what
that entailed."

Well, I don't know... I suppose if it means fighting my way thru
throngs of people in desperete search for a Halloween costume, while I
try desperetely to get the things I needed to finish my own costume,
then yes.   :-)

I'm making Mars' mask right now... I wish I had the digital camera, so
I could show you how impressed I am with myself.

-Kelly
  

    
Will - the mousey moniker showed up long after Piggy packed her punch,
so it wasn't me. Maybe Rizzo? As for Lost Causes, thanks. The band
kind of disassembled and restructured itself, so Bastet's Dream is no
more, but the SF Midi Mafia has a lot more structural integrity than it
used to. And I'll get more opps to work with the rest of the band this
way, which is really cool because Paige is having much too much fun
with synthy sounds. Yay!

Lioness - I rather like the thought of Tori wearing shape-shifting
shoes. I wonder if any of them have little butterflies and faeries
floating in their soles. :)

Pamela - I'm fierce? :P

Kelly - I encourage you to get a digital camera. You'll find no end to
uses for it. And I'm not just saying that because I want to see the
mask. 

squeaks, who last used her digital to take photos of Devil Bunny for
his next web page update.
  

    
Neil--Is World Horror Con the one where Jonathon Carrol and Dave
McKean are also attending? Or am I getting my cons mixed up? Now I must
plot and plan how I can get my grotty little mitts on that story...

Everyone--You simply must go here
http://www.alphalink.com.au/~surreal/2new/momo.htm and here
http://au.geocities.com/modernoddities/. I went yesterday and spent two
hours gazing at the most astonishing things I'd ever seen. Not to
mention contributing to the Museum of Collected Longing, the Directory
of Nicknames and a recipe for a spell to capture a heart as an exhibit.

Michelle--You just reminded me, I have the most WONDERFUL photo of
Goldie and Devil Bunny (and Sir Bastard's knee) from my trip. Must send
it to you...

Tree
Who is about to tell her client that their website is 'extremely well
intentioned'--consultant-speak for utter crap.
  

    
Pamela--yes, it was me.  And thank you for the offer!  But Mr. Chabon
is yet another attendee at the Humanities Festival in 2 weeks (with
some apparently short-haired Englishman who hangs around here on
occasion) so I was going to ambush him then ;-)

Neil--you rock.  I realize it's been said before, but it bears
repeating.  A lovely and fair solution to the ongoing Miracleman
imbroglio--gracefully done.  And you can wire up a network!  Are you
any relation to Ace Rimmer?  <What a guy!>

Sorry--obscure Red Dwarf reference.

Will--I found that post condescending to you and offensive.  I don't
understand why anyone would think that that was an appropriate way to
communicate, but I don't understand a lot of things about the Web......
 
Mary  (PISSED that she's not going to Madcon)
  

    
Oh, forgot--wassailing.  It entails getting a group of singers
together & traveling from one house to the next, serenading them with
wassailing songs.  Then they give you wassail.  Then you go to the next
house.  And they give you wassail.  At some point you fall down, one
assumes.  <sigh> As a singer, I find it a great idea.  I wish it would
come back in style.....
  

    
     Jinx -- Jonathan Carroll et alia are guests at the World Fantasy
Convention, which is in Minneapolis 31 Oct -- 3 Nov '02.  (This year's
is next weekend in Montreal.)  The homepage is at

www.dreamhavenbooks.com/wfc.html

and there's more general information at 

www.worldfantasy.org

And just to keep it on-topic, Neil will be Toastmaster.
  

    
topic? Actually, I think that the mob itself is the topic now.
So... let's talk about me.

*grin*
  

    
This is the second time Neil's mastered the toast for WFC,isn't it?
  

    
>>Kelly - I encourage you to get a digital camera. You'll find no end
to uses for it. And I'm not just saying that because I want to see the
<<

Oh, we have one Squeaks - Mars just had it. (Actually, he says it was
under the other cameras, but I disbelieve.) So, waiting for the last
layer of flame to be put on,...
http://www.redplanetsw.com/personal/loiosh/Photos/102701/firemask_inprogress.j
pg

:-)
-Kelly