Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
DanGuy--I suspect that Mr. Ford is one of the 3 funniest human beings
on the planet.  Which story/book is that one from?  

I'm particularly fond of one from one of Spider Robinson's Crosstime
Saloon books involving a drink with a tree branch for a stirrer.  When
Doc asked why their was a limb in his drink, he was told, "Because it's
a Hickory Daquiri, Doc."  Appalling, no?

tinymonster--glad you're feeling better.  Sounds like it was icky.

hamilton--yay!  3 books instead of one!  yay!

Go, Neil!  When school gets out for summer, winter break, or spring
break I do the same thing.  It's amazing a.) how many hours I can sleep
when I'm really tired, and b.) how much better I feel for 24 hours of
wearing pajamas.  It is the cure for what ails you.

Mary (Reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon)
  

    
 (tinymonster)I'm envious of the Octobery garden in the dressing gown
part. He obviously knows how to relax esp. when a nap might happen only
if it's not too exciting.  
And I'll be at the discussion.  Got email saying I'm on the list.  (h
b t m, h b t m ...) 
  

    
The boy and I saw Martha's play. <madman> was also there. I liked it.
A very fun fun night. And now to pass out of exhaustion.
  

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

    
Ooh, seeing Martha's play must have been fun!  Congrats, Martha and
Dan W.!

Mary -- Thanks!  Icky is right; when I moved, my chest made sneaking,
creeping, crumpling noises.  Thankfully, it wasn't wolves.  ;)

(hamilton) -- What's "h b t m"?

Yes, he does seem to know how to relax.  :)  It does my heart good to
see it after a tour like that, and to see that he (wisely) chose sleep
over blogging many nights.  Three relentless weeks on the road and he
mananged not to get sick; he must be doing something right!

I do agree about the puttering-in-pajamas thing.  I do that a lot when
I have a free weekend after several hectic ones.  In fact, I have an
aromatherapy massage scheduled for this evening, after which I intend
to go home to some fine wine, a comfy full-sized guest bed, and _Anansi
Boys_.  May even order in some sushi.

Mary and Other Dan -- I guess I will have to check out _How Much for
Just the Planet?_ sometime.  I like ST:TNG, and I have to admit, JMF is
one of the only people I've seen who can rival Neil or Steve Taylor in
consistently witty wordplay.

I saw _MirrorMask_ last night!  :D  It was a fine fun time.  An hour
and a half of animated Dave McKean art is, admittedly, pretty weird;
sometimes I felt like ripping off the ceiling and letting some sun in,
like I'd been indoors for too long.  (You'll have that when the sky is
made of newspaper.)  But there was some great imagery in there, and I
was rather proud of McKean on his first feature.  I hope he gets to do
more.

(Incidentally, when I first saw a shot of the Orbiting Giants (among
other scenes), it reminded me a lot of the old Squint Records site by
Jonathan Richter (http://www.jonathanrichter.com/).  Some of his stuff
for Sixpence None the Richer has that look, too.  So there was some
pre-Gaimanworld familiarity there for me, too.)

Stephanie Leonidas is delightful!  She was pretty convincing as two
different characters, too.  (I don't think that really gives anything
away.)  I think we've got another gifted teenage actress on our hands,
and I hope (and think it's likely) that we'll be seeing more of her.

All in all, it didn't make me want to eat Neil's kids, but it was
great to see it on the big screen with some friends.  Much fun was had
by all.
  

    
And Neil -- My friend Tara said to tell you she liked your movie.

And congrats on the Quill Award (even if it is for a non-existent
book).
  

    
The "almost five year old" in me was getting out of hand.  Too giddy
about the up-coming birthday thing thus hbtm=happy birthday to me...
I'm not usually that giddy about b-days.  This year, though, came up
special in a weird way.  My first three initials -- MMV -- are this
year in roman numerals.  I only have them because 20 years ago I dumped
all but my first name and took my grandmother's first and middle names
for my own. (here's a poem of hers I found
http://wannawrite.editthispage.com/2000/10/19

Sweet things are happening this year.  Mostly, I think, because I
decided to be someone who writes.  Maybe it's a good year because she's
been waiting for me to take the plunge and make the commitment to be
seen outside of my journals.
  

    
You go girl!

So judging from one of your recent pseuds, you're going to be 53?
  

    
I was reading through the months of Neil's journal I'd missed and came
across the announcement of Jill Thompson's new book which includes
both Death and the Sandman.  I haven't seen the book but, wasn't Dream
a character belonging exclusively to Neil? Or is she using the new
Dream?
  

    
I thought DC owned the Sandman rights.
  

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

    
Oh, I wouldn't expect there to be a video of my play.  Maybe if the play
suddenly got such huge crowds that there was money to burn!

Thanks, guys, for coming!  Last night was a night I missed (I'll be there
Saturday and probably tonight).

I really should start getting ready for the interview....
  

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

    

One of my friends actually asked Dan if there was going to be a video of
Manumission and he said he didn't think so.
What I told Dan, and what I just sent Martha a little message saying, was:
'That was pretty fucked up, yo.' A very weird idea, very well done.
  

    
Dan was explaining that there would not be a video of the performance
because (among other reasons), video footage of stage plays generally
sucks and contracts would have to be written up because of the Actors'
Equity Union (er, I think I got that right). If any video is taken it
would be strictly for archival reasons.

Ah, they got *you* doing the interview, Martha? Well then I won't
worry. :) (not that I would have much any way, but it's always nice
when I know I can trust the interviewer to be at least somewhat
entertaining. :P)
  

    
tinymonster>>  Yes we are!
  

    
I think MANUMISSION is a strapless evening dress!

But then, I think everything's a strapless evening dress.

I am insanely jealous of people who get to see Marthaplays.  Or
Stagewalkerplays.  When I win the lottery......

Um, "Nice Hair"?  Hysterical!  Now we know how Neil contacts the Elder
Gods......and where he gets the heads......

hamilton--your grandmother was an amazing poet.  Here's a link to
another one of her poems I found  
http://ccms.ntu.edu.tw/~karchung/poemsS01B.doc .  I hope it works--it's
a Word document.  I found it through Googling Mae V. Cordery.

Smegging off now to go look at pretty fishies at Old Town Aquarium. 
have a great weekend, y'all!

M.

P.S.  I'm late, but I hope the High Holy Days were lovely for those
who celebrate them.
  

    

I have acquired the Mirrormask soundtrack. I am now listening to various
versions of "Close To You" back to back. Tomorrow I fly to Nashville for,
among other things, my brother's birthday, for whom I have a book signed by
Neil which says "Dave, Happy Birthday".
Life is good.
  

    
 (the-roane) Yes, and thank you.  I saw that site and was intrigued to
find her between Lovecraft and Locke.  Kind appropriate for this
group, eh.
  

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

    
 (dfowlkes)I imagine your life insulated with the wit, wisdom and
vision of all those incredible voices.  I imagine your children playing
among all that whispering like the voices of angels preparing them for
all that is to come.  
What a lovely life.
  

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

    
Dan

I think reading to them and allowing them to pick their reading
material freely really helps. I have 3 out of 3 readers - even if what
they choose to read isn't always what I would have picked myself (I
have 1 out 3 who goes for the same kind of 'free for all reading' I go
for).

One thing I do though is limit their television time. I know... bad,
bad me. 
  

    
I have two late readers in my life.  Both male. Both discovered Harry
Potter and went bananas.  They weren't *non* readers, just not
interested readers, not willing to focus on reading or challenge
themselves.  The first HP "victim" ended up reading more books of
fictionalized science like Crighton [sp] and stuff like Dan Brown. 
Both also have physical limitations that challenge reading as a freely
chosen activity.  And both have free access to television.  
The second one watches tv with captions.  He stayed on children's
books every chance he got till Harry.  

Don't know what the next equivalent to that bit of magic will be, but
I hope it's brewing out there somewhere.
  

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