On random things:

[mrsronweasley]

Thank you all for yesterday. All has worked out - I promise! - and is much better. I'm going shopping today to get some actual food, because I don't think I've ever seen my fridge supplies quite that appalling - except for the first semester of sophomore year, when I susbsisted on Ramen. And only Ramen. When I got home for Thanksgiving, my dad looked at me and said: "My God, we need to feed you!" I must have lost something like ten pounds - and with my height, it showed. Blech. Anyway, yeah, all is better and I can concentrate on doing my work, instead of worrying about my next "meal".

Although, this whole ordeal made me realize that my inner sister can berate me all she wants, but this time, it was she who'd been irresponsible - hello, she sent a refund check overseas, she should have used registered mail! That way at least we could track it, and whatnot, but no, she sent it just like that. Thanks, hon. < /sarcasm >

ANYWAY, wow, that was bitter, moving on -

I was rereading a scene from "At Swim" yesterday, in my new lovely signed book, and all was good and dandy until I read something and practically heard tires screeching in my head - they'd changed the U.S. edition! Heads up, Yanks -


The scene I was rereading was the Muglins (altogether now - awwwww...) and after Jim finishes telling Doyler (I am so tempted to call him Danny for some reason...) about Gordie, Doyler says: "I'm sorry, Jim."

All is fine. What does he say in the U.S. edition?

"I'm sorry for you, Jim."

Read that again. It SUCKS. WTF?! Why would he say that?! "I'm sorry for you, Jim"? Why is he sorry for him? Why isn't he just sad and wants to say something somewhat meaningful? Why does he have to come out with an almost demeaning and condescending "I'm sorry for you"? ARGH. I don't know if they changed anything else, but I just remembered that scene so well, I knew that was different. I compared it with my old copy, and sure enough. Those editors suck.


Oh, and by the way - another book rec (me? nevah!): Leonard Cohen's "The Favourite Game". It is gorgeous. I'm reading it right now, rather slowly - for some reason I just can't race through it, I like to leave it for a while, and then come back - and I love it. Up next on my list is his "Beautiful Losers". Such lovely, lyrical prose. Wow.

And, finally, that LJ meme that's been going around.

Person that introduced you to LJ? - sekhmet2

Still friends with this person? - of course!

List everyone on your friends list that you've met in person: aneli8, arborealis, cokerry, dinosaurcostume, firelocks, lizzieluthor, magoo42, prettyannamoon, sekhmet2, spin1978.

List everyone on your friends list you plan to meet this year: Well, let's see. I still haven't had a chance to see stereo_m, dammit all to hell and back, but am obviously planning to; soupytwist (EEE!), akela, perceval - lovely Geekmoot people; also, in two weeks (!!), jadis31 is flying in to see me and Ireland; at some point, I'm hoping that canis_m and I can work out a time when we can meet up when she's over here, and also that rochefort will be able to join us (and drink us both under the table). And maybe zsenya and I can finally meet up and howl when I get back to the States. Oh! And percy_weatherby and I are planning on NYC this summer, along with cabari. Let's hope it all works out...

List everyone on your friends list you've not met BUT with whom you've spoken on the phone: At first I thought that hasn't happened yet, but I completely forgot the howling match zsenya and I had, during the last December NY GAL summit. That was way too much fun.

Anyone on LJ you can't stand? Not falling for that one.

Name one person on your friends list you would most like to meet: Well, I'd love to finally meet rochefort, also remuslover, as well as canis_m,cabari and percy_weatherby, voxmaille, and hell, a bunch of other people. Oh, and soupytwist, of course, but that isn't even a question. It's going to happen. Oh, right. And croupier. Want to meet that crazy wench, too.

Last person you added? Hmmm...lemme see...I'm planning on getting around to adding more people, but the last person I actually added was the only person that I met in RL first, and that would be dinosaurcostume.

Ever banned someone from commenting in your journal? Nope. I don't even know how to do it.

Biggest pet peeve about LJ? Not knowing how to use all the features. But that's my own lack of knowledge, I suppose.


And that's it. I shall now go and sit outside in this beautiful weather and read for my essays. Argh, essays.

Again, thank you guys. You're all wonderful.

Comments

[snoopypez.livejournal.com]

Why the HELL do these people change things that make NO freakin sense to ever have to change?!?!? Spelling, fine, whatever. I prefer UK spelling, but who cares, really. Words that would make Americans think 'whaaa?', fine, just like vice versa. THAT? That is ridiculous. I hate some editors, dude.

Hey, you don't wish to meet me? ;)

[mrsronweasley.livejournal.com]

Oh! Doh! Yes, yes I do. :) Sorry 'bout that - I knew I'd leave someone out...

And yeah, that's just ridiculous. Same with HP. ARGH. I mean, really - "sorry for you"?! Double argh.

Now, go to sleep. :)

[rochefort.livejournal.com]

That book is sacred and should never, under any circumstances, be tampered with. It's like someone rewriting bits of Ulysses – who would have the ignorance to try? And guaranteed, if you've found one bit of tinkering, it won't be the only one. For anyone to think they could go into such a book and start tampering with that text, especially when they're coming at it from a completely different linguistic background, simply beggars belief. But the arrogance of the Fiction Editor knows no bounds – this I know, personally. I'm sure JON is really pleased that, after 10 years' hard slog, someone sitting in an office somewhere has so effortlessly improved his work for him.

[mrsronweasley.livejournal.com]

That book is sacred and should never, under any circumstances, be tampered with.

Agreed. Completely. It's just ridiculous - you're right, it IS like changing "Ulysses". After the man spent ten years writing it, with more than 20 (I think) drafts overall, thinking over every word, every turn of phrase, to just come along and change it for no good reason is beyond appalling. I'm so mad about this right now, I can hardly not fume. It's just...just fucking wrong. I wonder if they even consulted him - probably not, otherwise the change wouldn't have made. And I'm pretty sure it wasn't the only one, too. I'm just afraid to find more now. Ugh.

[soupytwist.livejournal.com]

Am I allowed to go 'I told you so'? :D I'm so glad things are better.

And as for "improving" At Swim - WTF EVER. Stupid editor types. That's definitely sacrelidge, yo. (And is that how you spell it? Ohhh well.) That's worse than the utterly stupid and pointless changes they've made to the US versions of HP.

And... lift to Manchester? LIFT TO MANCHESTER! *dances in joy at mere idea*

As always, love you to bits, dearie.

How quickly we forget...

[fyrelitefoot.livejournal.com]

Don't forget to add me to your "Met in Person" list....after all it was due to you that I bought ASTB after meeting you and the GALs in London.

[canis-m.livejournal.com]

I was going to say yesterday that dude, your friends would much, much rather lend you fifty bucks (er, the equivalent in pounds) than watch you starve, but it sounds like you've worked things out, and will get to buy food, so. Good.

As for tampering, I share your outrage. Then again, I get pissed off about the changes made to the US editions of HP. Might as well Americanize the whole planet while we're at it...oh, wait, we're hard at work on that already.

In other news, I've been thinking about that suggestion of yours--the puppies post-Voldy. I'd really like to write something, but I think I need more input first. At least one more book. Even better would be to wait until the end of the series and do it properly then, after all the results are in. Wormtail's silver hand notwithstanding, I do assume they're both going to live, and I also assume that no other love interests will be brought in for either of them, because to assume otherwise would be a danger to my psychological well-being. But I don't think I have the insight to write post-Voldy now--if I did, it'd be all sunshine and roses, and ridiculous goofiness, and I'd be forced to use the bike shop, because I can't get that out of my head.

And I haven't forgotten that I owe you mail re: the Brighton summit.

[cabari.livejournal.com]

Umm... if you and Houie don't want me there when you get together, that's fine.

Anyway, I really really really hope everything works out for you! Sounds like everything's going to be okay-- now just go do your work, silly girl, and you'll be fiiiine.

I <3 you.

[mrsronweasley.livejournal.com]

Am I allowed to go 'I told you so'?

You're the only one I'm letting. ;)

That's definitely sacrelidge, yo.

Yo, dude, I know! hehe..but it so is. It's just plain ludicrous - and gratuitous. It shouldn't have been done, and that's that.

And yes - a lift to Manchester! Here's hopin'...here's hopin'...

Love you to many many bits, as well. :D

Re: How quickly we forget...

[mrsronweasley.livejournal.com]

*Hagrid voice*

Sorry 'bout that! Hehe...yes, and I'm very excited you did! That was quick work there, I'm quite proud. ;)

[mrsronweasley.livejournal.com]

but it sounds like you've worked things out, and will get to buy food, so. Good.

Yes, food has been bought. Thanks. :)

Might as well Americanize the whole planet while we're at it...oh, wait, we're hard at work on that already.

Oh, don't even get me started on that... My blood boiled every time I saw a McDonald's or Burger King in Italy, and the changes in HP piss me off to no end - and this...this just sent me over the edge. You just don't edit books like that. It isn't done, it isn't right, it's gratuitous and unnecessary, and just plain wrong.

I'd really like to write something, but I think I need more input first.

Hmmm, well that is understandable. I think you could make it work without, though - especially with the bike shop. It would also be original - I don't think anyone's had him working with bikes yet... And I can see him wanting to just relax and do something he'd enjoy doing after the war. I don't know. Sunshine and roses sounds good to me. ;) But, also, there could have been repercussions after the war, and I'm sure that the rebuilding of their world wouldn't be the happiest thing they'd have to do. I could see it as bittersweet. Not that I'm trying to pressure, honestly! Just laying out ideas. :)

because to assume otherwise would be a danger to my psychological well-being.

Ditto. I already have a way of dealing with wives and ex-girlfriends - count to ten, close my eyes, stuff my fingers in my ears and say "lalalalalalala" really loudly ten times. Pretend that none of it happened and move on, oblivious in my shipping.

And I haven't forgotten that I owe you mail re: the Brighton summit.

Hell, I still owe you a review for "Who Wrote The Book", so it's all good!

[mrsronweasley.livejournal.com]

Umm... if you and Houie don't want me there when you get together, that's fine.

No, no, of course we do! Did I make it sound like we didn't? :( Of COURSE I want you there, silly goose.

And thank you. :D I did do some work, indeed - in the sun, and it was lovely. *nods*

I <3 you, too, Alli-butt. :)

[soupytwist.livejournal.com]

You're the only one I'm letting. ;)

*preens* :D

And seriously - I'm SO glad you're ok. Was considering sending you food parcels. *hugs madly*

It shouldn't have been done, and that's that.

*nods* You tell 'em!

And yes - a lift to Manchester! Here's hopin'...here's hopin'...

*crosses fingers, eyes and arms and attempts to cross toes*