On quickies.

You all rock. Just browsing through your entries and such, I really really want to comment, but have an essay to write, and am starting to wonder where my priorities lie (amazing as Friday night/Sat. morning was, what with stereo_m turning all purple and telling the birds outside her window the shut the fuck up while files were lost, and computers crashed, and all we wanted to do was just be in the same friggin' room so we could use gestures, at least, in order for me to FINALLY understand HTML and trying to hold heart and soul together, helped along by percy_weatherby, remuslover and arabe1la, while some guy next to me stank up the room and made me want to barf while the amazing Manics soothed my ears, I should have gone to bed much earlier. Much much earlier.)

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I may be scarce for the next few days, and if you don't see me, don't worry. I just need to recuperate and get my act together. In fact, it should be over rather quickly, since the essay's due tomorrow.

Oh, and ere I go - simster mentioned my name to Jamie O'Neill. Any other takers? Anyone, anyone? I am well on my way to a restraining order. Go me.

Oh, and you, my dear? Are still amazing. Glad you woke up. The living world needs you. *mwah*

And thank you all for all the compliments - they are VERY VERY appreciated! Believe me.

(Oh, blacknarcissus2, yeah, the two R/S icons came from my sketches. They came in handy, after all. Bwahahahaa...

On the making of...

I am here and now procrastinating. My essay has finally started going and stalled. But as I plan on being here most of the night anyway, and it has to be done by 3pm tomorrow, I am not much worried.

Let me tell you all a story (one of many!) on how The Kingdom was built. stereo_m, I’m pretty sure, has all the AIM conversations saved, in fact, and once she comes back fully, she might want to entertain you with some highlights. (The funniest, of course, and most poignant, being the endless hours before the final stone was erected. If you thought something dirty about that last word, wait till you see the AIM conversations.)

In any case, if you all look at the index page, you will see a short little disclaimer of sorts - contact us, blah blah blah. Up until about an hour before the unveiling, that wasn’t there. What was there, however, needs explaining.

When the page was just being constructed, Moa had put the 'Purpose' and the 'Truths' up, and at the bottom had put down just one word: ‘bottom’. The ‘bottom’ wasn’t explained to me. At first, I bristled, having somehow connected the word with the evil psyches of those who continuously plague us with continuouslywhipped!Remus. Then we laughed. ("Teehee, it says ‘bottom’ at the bottom of the page, we’re ten! Teehee!") The ‘bottom’ stayed. And stayed. And stayed some more.

The day before the unveiling, I had emailed Her Magistrativeness with some things that needed fixing (oh, the GODDAMN LISTS), and pointed out that I had noticed a typo somewhere. We needed to add an ‘s’ to a word, except I, being me, misstyped that and it came out as “we need an ass...err...” The ‘ass’ stayed, as well, because I knew that my perv would appreciate that one.

I later got an email back from Bum (bottom...ass... *shakes head*), telling me that she’s fixed some things, and laughing at my typo. She also added: “check out your ‘ass’...”

I wondered. Up until I went back to the page and scrolled to the bottom. There, for all the world (me) to see, the ‘bottom’ had been changed, and ‘ass’ had taken its place. That was the moment tears filled my eyes and I knew that we were meant to be.

I got my ass. It was later mentioned that what she ACTUALLY had meant to do was mark that space for the disclaimer that was added later. Too bad we had to replace it, really. Would’ve been highly amusing to the rest of you.

Hey, it was funny at the time, ok?

Oh, and look!

Your lust object is Legolas. After the battle,
he'll find a nice, quiet, dark and CLEAN
room[because dirt in hair is a big no-no], lay
you down and... wait, marriage comes first with
elves. Right, after the battle, go get your
parents consent [and his of course], have a big
wedding [because this is Legolas and I'd doubt
you'd ever want to divorce him, therefore this
will be your only wedding and then it has to be
big] followed by a night of sweet love-making
then two whole weeks of him shagging you
senseless. Sounds like a plan?


Which Helm's Deep soldier do you wanna shag?
brought to you by Quizilla

Works for me...

*bangs head on her copy of At Swim*

simster has just killed me. From a 6,000 mile distance, he has killed me. With a very heavy book - impaled upon my own sword! Here's a, er, highlight from his visit to Jamie O'Neill's reading in San Francisco. I swear to God, this man will soon have a restraining order against me, and I didn't even DO anything! Good lord, what have I started?!

(The only reason I'm not linking to Sim's post itself is that there are BIG FAT SPOILERS at the beginning of the entry. Here's the part of the reading that nearly did me in. I howled with laughter and then I pawed at the ground because there was really nothing left for me to do. Sim, you're a dead man. Thank you.)

~*~

I got in line and waited. Mr. O’Neill eventually came out and sat down and began signing. Now this is exactly why I never felt compelled to go to a book signing. I have all these questions about the book, so many things I want to ask him – about his life, his inspiration for the book, etc. And what do I say when it’s my turn?

Me: “Hello, Mr. O’Neill,” I say shakily. He looks up at me with a welcoming smile. “I really enjoyed your book.” [I’m so articulate, aren’t I?]

JO: “Oh, thank you,” he smiles more as I hand him my book.

Me: “A friend of mine highly recommended it to me. I believe you know of her. Liz? She sent you a drawing a couple weeks back.”

JO: His eyebrows shoot up. “From Brighton?” he blurts out. [Still breathing, Liz?]

Me: Smiling, I say, “Yes, that’s her. She’s been recommending the book to everyone she knows –- and even to people she doesn’t know.”

JO: He leans back in his chair, grins, and shakes his head looking very, very amused. “I need to hire that girl as my publicist.”

Me: “I’m sure that would make her very happy. When I told her you were coming to SF she encouraged me to come see you in person, and I must say I’m very glad I did.”

JO: His smile widens. “Well, thank you.” He thinks a bit then says, “There was another girl in NY. Melissa, was it?”

Me: I nod.

JO: “Yes, I remember she had just finished the book.” He says this as if it’s a fond memory for him. He quickly comes back to the present. “And what’s your name?”

Me: I give him my name.

JO: “Would you like me to write it along with the inscription?”

Me: “Yes, please do.”

So he signs the book and hands it back to me, all smiles. This guys sure smiles a lot.

Me: “Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.” And I didn’t even intend to say this; I swear it just came out: “And Liz says hi.” [Checks Liz's pulse.]

JO: Huge smile, showing all teeth. “Well, thank you. And please tell her I said thank you.”

Me: “I will.”

Then I left. I wanted to stay and ask him so many questions but I didn’t want to hold up the line. Plus, I imagine you never say what you want at these things. You have all these questions, but as soon as you try to ask them, the only thing that comes out of your mouth is, “I enjoyed your book.” Doh!

~*~

*dies*

That's it. I have blown any chances I ever might have had for retaining my dignity when it comes to this man. I will either be thrown in prison for other-person-stalking or become his publicist and have a pint with this man every Friday night.

*goes back to her &*%£"£$$$ essay*