Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
Yay! got my Eddie tickets for September!
  

    

Looked at the site, just need to see who wants to go and how many tickets I
need to buy!
  

    
Back home after a fabulous vacation for a couple of weeks.  And I had
such a terrific birthday week that I don't even mind being a year
older!  This is the happiest I've been for a birthday in years.

Well, then.  As I owe Davey hugely, I think I'm obliged to report on
the latest Wellie escapades.  

Having made promises one should keep and bought airline tickets, I
screwed up my courage, threw away my cigarettes, and arrived at the
doorstep of the Madison Concourse Hotel for WisCon
(http://www.sf3.org/wiscon/index.html) on Thursday, May 22.  An hour
later, Davey arrived, we hugged, she changed, and then she took me
under her wing and launched me into the wild ride that is WisCon.

Four days later, I had: shared a Macallan or two with Davey, somehow
ended up doing makeup for the "total makeover" booth that Ellen Kushner
and Delia Sherman ran for the fundraiser (you should *see* those two
women sell clothing!--it was a work of wonder), met Mike Ford and the
Lioness Elise, wrestled valiantly with writing a haiku in exchange for
a pair of Elise-crafted earring art (and lost, I think, but she
graciously gave them to me anyway), been initiated into the mysteries
of ooblick, met one of my true heroines in life, had breakfast with one
of my favorite women writers in the world, kept Davey up late by
posing theoretical questions about writers that she couldn't stop
thinking about, met Greg Ketter and the amazing Elizabeth from
Dreamhaven, bought way too many books, eaten Himalayan for the first
time, seen a great number of people you probably admire up on a stage
singing a very silly song, seen the badgers on the walls of the
Wisconsin Capitol building (think "Wind in the Willows goes to the
White House" and then cross your eyes), heard the Lady Poetesses From
Hell--Live and In Hats, heard China Mieville give a speech about the
politics of television (well, sorta) and heard the true version of the
famous Carol Emshwiller writing-in-the-playpen story, been hugely
surprised to see a woman I work with and a man I went to college with
at the Con, met and had countless wonderful conversations with many
fabulous, funny, interesting, wild, wacky, kind, incredibly talented
people, and not gotten nearly enough sleep.

It was overwhelming and fascinating and marvellous.  I loved it.

And much of that was all Davey's fault.  Therefore, in retribution, I
hereby appoint her to Deity status.  She's a goddess among us; doubt it
not.

And it was lovely to meet and talk with Mike and Elise, too.

Words to the Wise:

1.  Do not, under any circumstances, take a drink of *anything* when
Elise Mattheson is reading her poetry, unless you are fond of creating
spectacular fluid effects in public.
2.  Dining with Mike and Elise is a terrific diet plan, as you will be
laughing too hard to eat much.  (Caution: Refer to item #1.)
3.  Davey works awfully hard for a person who isn't really supposed to
be working at a Con.
4.  Do people *really* take you more seriously if you drink scotch? 
That seems rather silly.  I am rebelling against this and want everyone
to know that I am a *silly* scotch drinker and that no one should take
it at all seriously if they see me drink scotch.

Quotes: 

"Goldfish have the right to self determination, just like any other
being.  And the right to use power tools."  --Davey

"Because a bunny just won't stand up and fight like a duck!" --Elise 

(Overheard) 
Delia Sherman, to China Mieville: "How can anyone write without an
outline?"
China: "How can anyone write *with* an outline?"
Delia: "Think of me as an extreme fantasist, China."
China: "Dude!"

"How can we utilize the "eww!" factor, here?" --Lady Poetesses From
Hell

"By the way, I got a postcard from your umbrella." --Elise

"It's okay if you're watching them in herds."  --Davey

And that's the WisCon report.  If ya want more, ya gotta show up the
next time.
  

    
P.S.  Something for all of us to look forward to: there's a Mike Ford
collection on the way!
  

    
Neil: Welcome home.  Twice.  

Holly: For graduating, you get your very own line in a post. 
CONGRATULATIONS!  And I wish you many happy adventures in the brave new
world of college!  Go get 'em, girl.  You'll knock 'em dead.

Bill Squared: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 

Holley: I'm just jealous of anyone who can buy antiques, really.  Out
here in L.A., most of the antiques are either Mission style or Art
Deco, both of which are lovely but neither of which are really my
style.  And all of them are out of my price range.

Mike: re: "Monoluge"-- LOL!  

Erynn: Well, we'd love to meet you if you come out!  And good luck
with writing the one act!  As for quitting smoking... the last time I
quit cold turkey.  This time I seem to be lurching toward quitting.  I
go for a week or so and don't smoke, and then start up again, but I'm
keeping the number of cigs down, so hopefully I'll quit completely
soon.

Christy:  You must see that video!  Christopher Walken doing
improvisatory dance is the best of all possible acid trips.

Mary: Well, I haven't met her, but Tara seems quite funny even cold
sober and online from halfway across the country

Adriana: Sending love and prayers your way.

Davey: You home and safe and well?  Hugs to Chip, too.

-Pam
who is running away from having to be back at work today
  

    
I should have known I'd end up with a Pam-ism for a pseud one of these
days.

Yay for WisCon and lurching toward quitting!  (Is that like fumbling
towards ecstasy?)  What's a Macallan?

Happy Birthday, Pam and William Bills!

Lemme guess... was the favorite woman writer (or perhaps the true
heroine) Kelly Link?  And the admired people singing a silly song sound
like the Rock Bottom Remainders to me, but I'm too crash-wary to surf
around the WisCon site to see if I'm right.  ('Course, if they _were_
at WisCon, we probably would have seen an announcement from <kkg>
somewhere.)

Yes, Davey iz kewwwwl.

Elise writes poetry?  Elise, may we see some?

Did I miss something about Adriana?  You OK, girl?

Time to hit "post" and go waste lots of potential sleep-time reading
stuff all over the Well.  'Night!

-Christy, who hasn't smoked a cold turkey in years
  

    
Hi, Christy.  Yes, I'm ok.  I believe Pam is referring to my situation
with my mom, who has been diagnosed with appendiceal cancer.  Life is
all upside down.  But...I'm good.  Better.  Sense of humor slowly
returning.  

Pam, The Endless missed you at our gig but we still hope to ensnare
you in the future.  I'm so glad you had such a rockin birthday.  I
don't think you mentioned what AGE you are now?  OH, and BY THE WAY,
David and I finally watched Eddie Izzard (dress to kill) and are
completely hooked.  You've ruined us for life.  

I'm sad that Neil was here this weekend and I didn't see him.  I
remember Wolves in the Walls from the NYC stop of the Angel tour and it
has left an indelible impression in my head.  Speaking of that night,
Neil, will we ever hear or see the Blueberry Girl poem again?
  

    
The Macallan is a single-malt Scotch whisky (that is, a Scotch not
blended together from a bunch of other Scotches).  My favorite (at
least of the non-stratospheric price bracket) is Talisker; Elise's,
last time I looked, was sherry-cask Glendronach (which is aged in casks
already used to age sherry).  There are a large variety of them, and
us Scotch snobs (a distinct breed from "Scottish snobs") thend to
insist thereupon.
  

    
Pam & Christy -- Thanks muchly. :-) 'Twas a quiet birthday, which can
be a good thing from time to time.

And Pam, hippo birdies right back atcha. ;D

Currently trying to wrap my head around the possibility of moving.
Eek.
  

    
Pam & Bill--Happy Birthday!

Mike--Looking forward to the new collection!  When?

Adriana--I am so sorry to hear about your mom.  I shall think healthy
thoughts her way!
  

    
I really have nothing to say, other than "The end of the school year
cannot come swiftly enough for me", but I really *needed* to use this
pseud.  If you are utterly bewildered by it's origins, you don't visit
www.neilgaiman.com enough.


Just for the record, if you cut my class more than 20 time in one
semester, you will fail.  Honest.  Even if you're a senior.  Even if
you don't graduate.  Really.  Even if your mom comes and complains. 
Seriously.

Lord, please get me out of here!

Mary (who has time to read?)
  

    <scribbled by dfowlkes Tue 3 Jul 12 10:14>
  

    
He often looks like a Ramone in his pictures.  Other times, he looks
very much like John Lennon.

And in the first picture I ever saw of him (which is now on the top
left corner of most pages on his site), I thought he looked like Eddie
Vedder!

(Just looked, and you're right.  And he's got a Little Mermaid shirt
on -- TOO funny!)

And might I add that he has such beautiful hands.

...It's time for me to leave the office, isn't it?  Christy -- GO
HOME.
  

    

I saw him on a bookcover, and he looked a lean, raffish, handsome
devil.

Please don't tell me he's really very short, and has become fat and
bald since that picture was taken.  (Worse, please don't tell me that
Neil Gaiman is actually a pen name for Danny Devito.)
  

    
What do you have against Danny DeVito?  Danny DeVito is a sexy guy.
  

    
I'm going to have to go with Dan on this one.  I've seen the Ramones
live, and Neil could easily fake his way on stage.
  

    
Joey LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  

    


> Friday
>
> Pamela: We've got a lot of antiques in Houston. A lot of resale shops with
odd pieces selling in the corner. A whole buncha places touted as selling
antiques. A whole buncha house parts and antique places selling stuff from
disemboweled houses. You know. Doors. Windows. The witches hat tower, intact
(I WANTED that one but it wouldn't fit in my condo or on the patio). Then
there are the odd little towns within a couple hours or so drive from here
that have little antique stores on the side of the road or in the town. We're
kind of surrounded by the possibility. I also happen to be lucky in my
friends. In this case, My friends' aunt who used to buy up odd pieces and
refinish them and sell them. A lot of the pieces landed in my friends' house
when the aunt moved into the garage apartment behind it and retired. It's
like going shopping just sitting there in their living room chatting. They've
got an antique upright piano they want to get rid of too but danged if I know
where I'd put that.
>
> What's this film with Christopher Walken doing improv dance? Did I miss
something?
  

    
I think the Christopher Walken thing refers to a Fatboy Slim video
that has Walken dancing (and flying!) all over an office building. It's
pretty groovy, although I don't think it was improvised. At least the
wire stunts weren't.
  

    
I wonder if This & That Resale is still down there on Boone Road?
  

    

The Fatboy Slim video was directed by Spike Jonze and is one of the 
handful of greatest videos I've ever seen. I keep a shortcut on my desktop 
so I can click on it at will. 
  

    
Where where where?  I've been trying to find a link where I could see
it!  (Unless I found one and bookmarked it back at my old office... but
I don't think so.)
  

    
All you Chicago folks seeing Neil this weekend, please give him a kiss
for me!

I'll be camping near Peoria the first week of July, but that's a bit
too late, now, isn't it?

Enjoying the last weekend for over a month where I won't have to be
anywhere,
Christy
  

    
Folks can say "Hi" to Neil for me as well... but I don't think he
wants a kiss from me.

Not that there's anything wrong with that....
  

    
<giggle>