Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
Sickies - Feel better!  Or I'll um, dance.  I'm really quite bad at
it.

Mary - Thanks.  Erm, which one?  :-)  Of course, I was happy today
that we weren't doing group work in my asl class.  I realized that all
the different polishes I was still wearing would have made someone
smack me.  hee.

Jouni - and bright smiles back to the little one.

Got a new muffler today after the old one went loose and lodged itself
against my back tire, causing lots of smoke and an interesting tuesday
rush hour walking along 675.  Met nice people.  My car is now all
quiet and happy, as am I.

Jen.
  

    
Neil--get better.  That's an order.  You are *not* cancelling next
week!   ;-)

Ooooooh, Eddie CDs.  I have yet to try listening to Eddie without
watching Eddie (which is half the fun, so far).  How do you know when
he's punching a baboon?

All the animals with long ears sit on the side of the boat!

Jen--glad your car's better.

JaNell-get well wishs to Cam.  Glad he's got such a good doctor!;-)

Jinx--get better quick!  Isn't that degree in Theology a tempter?  But
in my case, I already have a couple of degrees I'm not using.  I don't
think I could afford another one.

Jouni--welcome back!  We miss you!  Kisses to the small person!

Did anybody see Sweeney last night?  I taped it, and haven't finished
watching it yet.  Digging it so far.

Saw "Amelie" tonight.  *Very* cute movie.

Pamela--am so jealous of Lisa.....

Mary (secretly No Alcohol Lager)
  

    
Is my last post invisible? I'm not asking to sound rude or bitter or
whatever, I'm asking because I seriously wonder...

Neil- I hope you get better soon.

JaNell- I hope Cam gets well soon, too. 
  

    
>>Kelly: I thought they bounced off *cows*.<<

Well, yes, actually, I had meant cows, but cars is accurate, too. (We
got in an accident in Klamath Falls on the way home, too... heh.)

Lioness - we're marveling at your wings and the perceived costs, and
groaning in appreciation of your writing and the walking bug light
effect... eeeeeyuch!

Speaking of costumes, here is a directory for finished the finished
masks, plus one of both of us completely dressed up...
http://www.redplanetsw.com//personal/loiosh/Photos/103101/

And, as a side bonus, the piano which was delivered
today...http://www.redplanetsw.com/personal/loiosh/Photos/110101/piano_at_home.jpg

And then, Neil,... I actually know two doctors who make house visits
_only_ in the Seattle proper area. My doctor will also drop by a
prescription on her way home - I live 2 blocks from her.  :-) So no,
not _the_ last, but certainly one of,...

And finally, a bit of good news. I've not told a soul yet, and don't
intend to (so you SeaGoth lurker you, shush now, okay? :-) for a little
bit, yet,... but I was out today with a friend, and we saw commitment
rings, and I smiled and talked with the shopkeeper for a while about
how cool that was (instead of engagement/wedding rings),... ended up
going elsewhere and buying Mars a ring for the hell of it... came home
and gave it to him. He tried it on all fingers, including left ring.
Well, I pointed out that tho it fit best there, he couldn't wear a ring
there,... I've something planned for that finger. (All very jokingly,
of course - we've been in this limbo of not married not divorced for a
while, and I've had the expectation of staying in limbo a long time...)

He blinked slowly at me and said "Well, you know, a few weeks ago I
realised we really should go back to wearing rings,..." at which point
my heart and jaw hit the floor, and I think my eyes started leaking.

"Erhm, really?" and he nodded yes... "Well, I saw this place at the
Market, custom jewelry,..."

And to make a long, sappy story short... we're going to have our old
wedding bands melted down and cast into new rings, with complimentary
commitment/celebration festivities, as well.

*beams*

I hope all of you who are sick end up well soon, those of you who've
started a New Year have a blessed one, and that you are all just
generally blessed with some of the joy that's found its way to my life.
   :-)

-Kelly, posting quickly before she chickens out
  

    
I just offered in the "Hello my name is..." topic to submit to
fireworks and bonfire burning in return for a round-trip ticket to the
UK -- though I doubt anyone would take me up on the offer.  This
demonstrates that: (a) I am itching to visit England again and (b) I
finally determined which box in the garage contains the flame retardant
suit.
  

    
Kelly - congratulations. It's nice to hear happy stories like that
once in a while. *warm smile*

Erynn - Hello, we see you. *another smile* 

Mary - Amelie is out now? Ok, I must, must, must find out where it's
playing in the area. I saw the trailer on line but for some reason
can't get into the web site and haven't seen any information about it
locally. I'll check the papers this morning... yay!

Neil - Be well, and take your time getting fully better. I'm a bit
concerned about the major anti-biotics... they can mess you up as badly
as the cold... keep listening to Eddie CD's and getting lots of rest
and fluids. The body knows what to do...

Speaking of Eddie, I finally rented The Avengers movie earlier this
week and was delighted to see that Eddie was in it! Then I was
astonished to realize they had cast one of the most brilliant comedians
of our time and cast him as a surly thug with a single line that
wasn't even terribly witty. Cute movie otherwise, though.
  

    
I am very not awake today, thanks to the combo of Benedryl (I lvoe
being allergic to the world. Honest, I do) and staying up until 2:30 am
reading "Marnie." I have no idea why, but I'm obsessed with this story
ever since I first saw Hitchcock's adaptation on the WLFD late-late
show (hosted by Rick Koz! Son of Svengooli!). I've always wondered if
it could be remade today, but I worry that if I were to be, it would be
"Eye of the Beholder" all over again...

Mary: the Izzard cds are nifty, because they record the cds on
different nights than the tapes, and so you get stuff you've never
heard before.
  

    
I live in liminal; it's the only way to fly.

<lioness>: I am just so happy about you in your wings, somewhere in
the world.

Erynn: Sweetie, neither you nor your happiness are invisible.  I was
just popping in for an insto-post last night, so I was waiting to do
"real" responses until this morning.  I am really, really happy for you
and your husband.  Goddess help me, here I go being a dork in front of
half the online world, but LOVE IS IT.  It makes it all worth it.  All
the shit and scary things crawling out of the closets of your life,
all the family holiday dinners, all the dulling and the violence and
the inevitable losses of being alive.  

Love is Bigger.  

I love it when people I care about get found by it.  You, too.  Happy
Anniversary.  Blessings on your next year together.

Kelly:  *beaming back at you!*  I'm glad you were brave enough to let
us know.  We'll all be celebrating in spirit with you and showering you
both with virtual glitter.  (And your masks are fabulous!  If I ever
go to Carnival, you'll be the first person I ask to make my mask.  How
do you fit them to your faces?  Are they built from molds?)

Umm... actually, Kevin and I just celebrated 12 years together on
Monday (not married, just together).  And I still can't kiss him
enough.  Life is good.

Youni:  Hi!!! I missed you!  I'm so glad Yoonas is happy and healthy. 
Fairy godmother kisses to him.  Sending you support while you work so
hard.  Any new artwork you care to share?

Mary:  *sigh*  <pause>  *SIGH*  

But if you could meet her, you'd know she karmically (?) deserved it. 
She's one of the nicest women in the world.  Really.  And she's the
truest kind of fan--she has no ego in it; she just loves their stuff. 
Good things *do* happen to the right people, sometimes.

Tara:  I was link-hopping, trying to find something out about a
certain upcoming birthday, when I found an old article you wrote: "Why
chicks dig...Neil..."  It was WONDERFUL!!!  I really enjoyed it, and I
thought it was very good.  Do you write in the real world?

We are indeed "sad, sick people."  But it's never been so much fun
before.  I'm having a great time.  Thanks to Neil and everyone here in
our happy La Familia.

-P
  

    
And can I just say two more things?  Any objections...?  Um, okay.

1.  The GAP does really large billboards on Sunset in West
Hollywood--as in, they cover the entire side of a several-story
building--of celebrities in GAP.  I drive by them on my way to work
every day.  They're really terrific, in general.  But today... 

...today they put up a _Wicked Gorgeous_ shot of Gary Sinise, which
woke me up like a shot.

Wow.  <Deep breath.  Exhale.>

2.  Not that this is news, but I was too shy to say it before, when
everybody else was talking about it.  (I know, I know, you don't
believe me.  Nobody believes me about this, but I really am shy.)

Tori has such power.

She doesn't demand anything from you, she just channels it so fiercely
that you can't *be there* and not be changed.  Your choices are to get
off the ride or to go all the way with her.

I am so... inspired by her.

-P
"My mother doesn't like me to play Tori.  She says I'm always peevish
after."
--A Dent in the Merchant-Ivory Universe
  

    
Pamela: I write in the real world all the time, and occasionally I get
paid for it. But I tend to get paid for the stuff like "Top Ten Bed
and Breakfast Websites" rather than nifty peachy keens stuff like
interviews with authors, or retrospectives of censorship in comics, or
book and film reviews :) And "The 11th Hour" is one of my fave things I
ever worked on. I just really wish it hadn't stopped. But the
publisher, editors, and contributors all were doing it for free, and
real life kept insisting they get grown-up jobs and such, so it's
currently on hiatus. Mostly, people pay me to make websites these
days... And I write in those times when I'm not working, reading,
sleeping, or eating. Or sometimes, while doing 2 or 3 of the above.
  

    
Cam is better, moving around...
And he'd better be, or he'd miss meeting Bruce Campbell tonight at a
signing here in KnoxPatch.

Hail to the King, Baby!
  

    
Erynn and Kelly- Congratulations to both of you.  It's so great to see
love, and life, working through and out.  Sometimes hearing the real
life stories are better than the fairy tales, and sometimes the fairy
tales turn real, and sometimes life is better.
Sorry.  Just love hearing that.
I was supposed to be married two weeks ago.  I was supposed to be on
my honeymoon now.  But, then, I'm happier, here and now, and, while I
did want it to happen then, I'm reminded that you never really get what
you wanted; you get what once you wanted.
Here's hoping that you always want what you get.

Mary- I agree.  Sometimes the look on Eddie's face is what most
reduces me to hysterics.  I watched *Glorious* again last night. 
"Robin Hood is a myth.  He probably wasn't even named Robin.  He was
probably just... Bin.  And robbing from the rich?"
'Here, I'm Robin Hood.  I rob from the rich and give to the poor.'
'Well.  I'm not rich.  I'm Comfortable.'
'Well.  I can't well rob from the comfortable and give to the
moderatly impoverished.  Thhbbbbppptthh.'
'Here, did you just throw a sword at me?'
'Well, s'posed to be an arrow.  S'posed to go ptwang!  But it went
tthhhbbbppptthh.'
They used to have Eddie sound bites on Napster (Alas.  Poor Napster. 
I knew it well).  And, of course, you can't hear his heels if you're
only listening (one of the main attractions for my ex was, in fact, his
shoes.  Go fig.  Shoulda been my first hint, I guess).

Tara, or Pamela-  Well, can we get a link, p'raps?  Pretty please?

Jouni- Good to see you!  Mad well wishes on your baby and family and
life in general.

Neil- feel better.  Take *all* the antibiotics.  Be well.

JaNell- I just missed his Borders WTC signing.  He was there the
Friday after Neil signed there.  But I was in South Jersey.  *He's* a
guy I'd like to hang out with, too.  "Good, bad.  I'm the one with the
gun."  Tell him I said he's Groov-yy.
  

    
*sigh*
Boring day today... boring, boring, boring. Waiting on software to
show up so I can work on projects. Waiting on meetings to happen so i
can work on other projects. Waiting on this, waiting on that.
Bloody boring.
*feh*
this has been a tedium inspired verbal fart, brought to you by the
mildly annoyed and oddly peeved...
Dan
  

    
wow, Lisa is famous!  HEY HEY HEY, iiiiii have a Bono story tooo!!!
(wow, i sound like Milhouse) Actually, my husband does.  *sigh*  anyway
here it is:

david (said husband) was receptionist for this Big Faceless Money
place in NYC and last year Bono came in to ask for money for NetAid. 
So Bono's waiting to get seen by the Faceless Rich Man and says to
David:  "So...you...doing anything fun this weekend?"  (It was Friday
afternoon) and David said, "Actually yes, my band is playing."  And
Bono's eyes lit up cause here was a fellow musician.  So David says,
"Do you have any advice for a young musician trying to make his way in
the industry?"  and Bono was quiet for a moment and said, "Yes, yes I
do.  Three things:  Three Chords, The Truth, and a Great Hairstylist."

don't you love it?  i love it.
  

    
i would like to say that i love love, and i love hearing about love,
and i love that you people are so loving.  gooooooooo love!
  

    
Will: http://www.the11thhour.com/archives/112000/features/gaiman1.html

It's about a year old, and was actually the first feature I did for
them--or anyone, actually. And I'm not a very good or polished
journalist, so keep that in find too :)
  

    
erynn--soon, very soon, a demo will be available via our website. 
thank you for offering to pay, that is gamazing.  also, WHAMBAM i love
mulholland drive so much.  i'm glad you did too.
  

    
Mary, I like the idea of being Wiccan and having a theo degree.
However, I have three almost 4 already and for the first time since I
got the first one (accounting) and using it.

Jenny, bad at dancing? never, prolly just need to go out and do it
more.

I have no Bono story, but I do have a Bob Weir Story and bestest A
Jerry Garcia story.

Jinxie who has tons of author stories
  

    
Kelly - WOW! Makes the heart happy to hear a story like that, all my
best wishes for the both of you. :)
  

    
Kelly--Congratulations!

Erynn--Congratulations to you. too.  People like you restore my belief
that it can last.  You, too, Pamela.

And I love the Bono story.  

Just got the new Rolling Stone & they do a "Raves" column with Tori. 
Guess which book she plugged?  Yay!

More layoffs at my job.  Must buy lottery ticket.....

Jinx--my buddy Denny (the priest) founded an ecumenical GLBT group
here in Chicago--yes he *is* the coolest person....well, ever--and the
many Wiccans involved are a match for any holder of an M. Div. that I
know.  It's great fun to listen to them discuss theology with priests.

Well, OK, so my definition of fun is probably a little different....

Will--I love that bit.  He's almost funnier when he screws up.

Dan--I saw a sneak preview set up by Premiere, so it's probably
opening this week.

There is just no reason in this world for me to be up at 2:00 a.m.,
but I always am....
  

    
Thanks everyone. I need to see proof that I exist every now and again
(sometimes I'm not so sure and have to pinch myself)

Kelly- Congratulations!

Adiriana- You have a website? Cool! Where is it? 

Pamela- Tori is very powerful and...and...many other things. I could
go on, and on about how much she's been there for me since I was, like,
14. Oh god! I won't because that would be a book. But I will say this:
I took about eight years of piano lessons, so when I got into Tori of
course I got the Little Earthquakes songbook. I was so excited. I
couldn't wait to play The Songs. I didn't have delusions. I knew that
it wouldn't be easy and that I wouldn't play them as well as her. But I
didn't know it would be that hard! I had been reading music and
playing for years! So I took it to my piano teacher hoping that maybe
she could give me some pointers or something. I showed it to her and at
first glance she said, "I don't really want you to be playing this pop
stuff. You need to be challenging yourself." I said, "Um. this is VERY
challenging." Her eyes narrowed. "Just play me something out of it," I
told her. She tried. It didn't go well. I think she was angry because
her ego as The Great Wise Piano Mentor had been threatened or
something. She said, "She isn't doing it right! She's not following the
rules or in the right keys of..." and so on and so on...
I did, however, learn to play the first few measures of a few songs
like "Happy Phantom" I would play it over and over again until my mom
yelled at me. I also loved the beginning of "Upside Down" until I
realized she was playing it with one hand and not two. How?! 
I'd love it when some my friends  would try to downplay her talent and
pass her off as "another boring chick singer" or whatever. With my
fellow musician friends, I'd just laugh, whip out the book and say,
"Then play this muthafucka!" I have yet to see anyone successfully play
one of the songs. These people (myself included) could play Bach,
Chopin, all the greats, but they couldn't play Tori. I think that says
a lot. 

Ugh. Sorry. Didn't mean that to be so long.

Hermmm- Jinx- You have a Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia story? 

I was ging to post more, but I think I've exceded my the limit.
Bye-bye.
  

    

I am determined to be able to play All The Girls Hate Her and Over It.

I can play Bells For Her, and most of Horses, and I have my own version of
Winter from before I had the sheet music. But Over it... man, that's hard.

I've been playing piano for 16 years now, on and off. Learned most of it on
Billy Joel. Tori is tough. I get annoyed at the sheet music to a lot of
them, though- not true enough to the original. For instance, Yes,
Anastasia's piano music.

I don't have her Bee Sides book, nor anything after Pele. I probably should.
  

    
Mary - Sat down and started watching Sweeney but then couldn't finish
because had to do other things.  Taped a later showing and looking
forward muchly to watching it tonight or tomorrow.  Really enjoyed what
I did see.

Erynn - Not invisible, and many congrats.  

Kelly - And many congrats for you too.  

Pamela - And here they are for you as well.  

hope I didn't miss anyone...

Some of my friends have been very bitter and dissatisfied about their
relationships lately and it makes me glad that somewhere some things
are going right for someone.  

I too missed Bruce Campbell.  Didn't know he was coming until he was
already gone.  "This is my BOOMstick."  heehee

Jinx - Bad.  I had a very big growth spurt one year and I cannot walk
without bumping into everything, much less get everything to work
together long enough to dance.  I'm pretty introverted anyway, so even
if I could I probably wouldn't.  I mean, I can do the dances that
count, hokey pokey, etc.  So that's okay then.  Although I might take
tango lessons one day for the hell of it.  Okay, far too much about me
and dancing.  

Does anyone else have the problem of trying to decide which posts to
respond to, if any?  It's like... I'll respond to a few and then feel
bad for not responding to others even though I have nothing to
say/add/whatever.
  

    
I just finished Bruce Campbell's autobiography.  It was very
interesting and fun -- he's a witty and sincere writer.  I learned a
lot.
  

    
        Neil, question has arisen in the comics conference I'd love to have
your input on: Apparently they're moving ahead on the Hellblazer movie
somewhat, and we're all having a merry old time arguing over who should
play our beloved John. (That's beloved at a distance.  If we actually
loved him on a personal-contact level we'd all be dead in some
unnecessarily hideous manner by now.) So, purely in fantasyland, if you
were given Magic Casting Powers by the Magic Casting Fairy in charge
of Magic Casting, who'd you like to see play John Constantine?  I ask
because I've always liked your take on ol' John; it cleaves closer to
the way I myself see the character than most other writers' have done.