FabulousLorraine.com

Monday, October 12, 2009

Very Tired Just Now Assistant...

Home now, feeling slightly shell shocked, if truth must be told. Rather a long day. Or couple of weeks since we are being truthful.

Boss is off to China for a few weeks, and all looks good. Kitty is on a plane and tho she may miss her connecting flight, we have hopes that will work too. I think I miss them. I know I miss them. I got home and fed the Bengals and have been running around since thinking "ok, next, what do I do next, what's up"

Doesn't seem to be anything.

Weird feeling.

I can stop for a moment. But I am not exactly sure how. When weeks get intense, it goes like that. Work, gigs, music, bees, Bengals...And all of a sudden, done.

Not exactly done, the e-mail has worked its way up to monster level, and there are a LOT of people waiting for replies. I have a lot to do, but 14 hours into this work day, in a stretch that hasn't had any time off in a couple weeks now, I think I am justified in saying that for tonight, at any rate, I am done.

Kitty and got to spend a couple hours at the MAUL of America today. After dropping Boss off, before her flight, we had gone looking for the cool spooky store we had been to two years ago in St Paul, but alas, it was gone, so the MAUL it was.

Very fun. I made it out of the Mac store largely un-scathed, makeup people see me and instantly KNOW I am the person they have been waiting for, and know that I Need Them. Not sure I needed the "Primer" but did like the moisture thing, and now have some new lips that help aids research, so I am happy about that.

The entire "Looks, clothes, makeup" bit is something that I am not well up on in this life. I love my long purple hair, and do the hair stylist bit every other month, but makeup, clothes and I are not one with the universe.

I watch Project Runway, and adore Heidi Klum, but when they do the runway bit, if I think "WOW, now there is a cool outfit!!!" you can place your bets that it will be in the bottom three. Likewise, if I think "NO WAY, who would wear THAT!" you have your winner.

Go figure.

Kitty also turned me onto the best shoes ever, Dansko shoes, road veteran that she is, she says 18 hours days were made for these shoes. I think she is right. And for an added bonus, they make them in both leopard print and black patent leather.

Why am I telling you all of this? Well, someone needs to listen, and you are it, I am thinking. This is one Assistant who is full on done, for tonight. Chatter me some nice comments and tell me it will all look better in the morning, sleep will cure a multitude of ills and I will wake and answer emails, ride my pony, get a massage, learn some new music and all will be well once again.

I am thinking it will..

Love and done,
Lorraine

225 Comments:

At 20:14 Dragonsally said...: 14 hours? No wonder you feel shell shocked!

You will feel wonderful tomorrow when you wake up, because you are going riding!
At 20:15 DataGoddess said...: Things will look all sparkly in the snow tomorrow morning, and while Boss is gone you will have time to ride, relax, hot tub, bengal, and still get through the email.
At 20:16 Dragonsally said...: Well damn, ticky box.
At 20:17 Shantra said...: Sounds like you feel the same way about clothes as I do about modern art.. NO WAY anyone could be interested in that.. Way? Wow. Rest well Lorraine, I recommend curling up with a Bengal or five and a good book. Works for me.
At 20:19 Aisha said...: Long days are rough, especially when they start with a layer of snow on the ground. Tomorrow *will* be good.

Tonight, enjoy hanging with your kitties and not responding to e-mails. Tonight, take it off and chill. :)
At 20:19 Aline Martins said...: You will be fine.... all you need is to rest... and you know you deserve some very good time for yourself...

Do what you love. so you can share all these fascinating things with us, Fiends ;)

btw, the girls found out some people are trying to steal the "FIEND" thing....

OR

we are getting popular!

"Personal Friend" t-shirt. s "Personal Fiend" http://bit.ly/personalfiend
At 20:19 Dan Guy said...: Sleep cures everything; sleep and time. Always happy to listen.
At 20:19 Phiala said...: All will be well. Kitty will get home, Boss will get to China, and Lorraine will get a breather.

Even the most fabulous of assistants requires a break now and then.

I'm about to quit for the evening myself. I think I got the database updates working... we'll know in a few minutes.
At 20:19 Ali Trotta said...: You will feel better tomorrow! It sounds like you have an excellent plan for the day. As far as fashion goes, I've always just worn whatever I liked. T-Shirts, skirts, heels, or sneakers--whatever works for you, works. :-)
At 20:26 FabulousLorraine said...: Thank you for the huggles my dear Fiends, you are the best!

And Welcome ALi and thank you.

I have Underworld on, and Venus curled near ne, a fire going and tea nearby. Thinking it might not get any better.

I will relax and let it go, just got extreme this time...
At 20:29 AletaMay said...: Sounds like time for a Big Rest and your plans for tomorrow sound great.

The snow is mostly gone, for the moment anyway.
At 20:31 Kate said...: Sleep - it is a good thing. I still have two recommendations to write, a half dozen journals to write in, and a lesson to plan for tomorrow, so I will pick up the role as Rabbit right now, and you can be Pooh, wondering if you are feeling that you would like a little smackerel of something about now. The answer could be, "Yes."

The hair/clothes/makeup thing is a puzzle. I wear almost (scratch that) I wear no makeup to school. I leave the house at 6:45AM and waving that mascara wand near my eye seems dangerous - well, yesterday one of my colleagues was married and I went the full Grace Kelly - Hair. Shoes. Makeup. Dress. Pearls. From everyone's reaction you would have sworn that my fairy godmother had turned a pumpkin into my minivan. Seriously. Now, this is what my grandmother would have called a backhanded compliment ("Sheeat, girl! Who knew you cleaned up so nice!" also means, "Sheeat, girl! You always look so pathetic.")
So, tomorrow will come. You will sleep the sleep of the righteously sleepy, and I will get back to work.
Job well done, FabLo.
At 20:35 Jane said...: Dansko shoes are the best!

Take a break, you deserve it.
At 20:35 AletaMay said...: It is hard to go from 100 to 0 suddenly. For me it is like some parts of me are still going 100. And there is so often a sort of rough landing after such an intense busy time.

Sleep. Hot tub. Massage. Horses. More Sleep. Maybe also some good curry.
At 20:36 Aline Martins said...: I think I deserved that one too! ;)
thanks for sharing Kate!
At 21:00 ivenotime said...: ahhh, danskos, i am on my third pair of basic black, cuz the concrete, clay and plaster eat them alive, but after15 hrs, no pain, no tired achy feet! enjoy yours, they have saved my legs! its not fashion forward, but i wear heavy wool hiking sox with mine - like smartwool, or redhead or fox river, they provide extra cushioning, keep feet dry as they wick moisture out, and are wonderfully comfy. kinda pricy, but feet are worth it! enjoy your downtime, you have certainly deserved it! Or, hmmm, i have a studio still in chaos, and nonstop days here, if you need to continue, you can always come to michigan..... :) hugs and relaxing thoughts, with good non-missed flights for kitty
At 21:06 EmilyLady said...: We love you, Lorraine. OH! By the way, I totally meant to tell you, Ben went to that gay rights rally in D.C. and saw Lady Gaga; made me think of you straightaway!

And lastly, before I go to bed, you know, just, speaking of the MAUL ... my favorite
quote from the entire MN trip back in June was something Bobbee (Fluffy) said the first night we were there: "Who needs the Mall of America? We got a big-ass Wal-Mart."
At 21:10 mb said...: I was an Assistant for a different sort of Boss, a long time ago. When he would finally get gone, after some 96-hour chaotic departure or other, I'd ignore that the house was turned into a haystack, make sure no water was running and no stoves were left on, and lock the door behind me. Go to my own space and read myself silly... Do what works for you. You've earned it.
At 21:13 Unknown said...: Good shoes are an amazing thing. I cringe when I see someone in teetery heels or flip-flops. Not that there isn't a time and place for sexy heels. ;)

Enjoy the downtime!
At 21:21 Siri said...: Ah, Q - I know that feeling - when you've been running flat out for so long that you didn't even know you were running, and then it's done and you look around saying - where's the fire? Where's the dam bursting? What do you mean the fury is over? And then, the realization that you can breath and get massages and sit in the hot tub and do for no one but you.

And Venus.

And Mim.

And Lear.

And Mab.

And Magic.

But other than that - just you, you, you.

Good luck with that.....
At 21:39 Jess said...: You did good. That's how you know tomorrow will look better than now feels. Tomorrow, you will do good again. I have spoken.

Now is the time for Tired and Venus Belly Rubs. (And hot tub, unless it's snowing.) Have a good rest, Q.
At 21:42 Na said...: Rest well! And watch out for falling ill. Happens to me sometimes on when I go from "100 to 0" as Aleta put it.

Danskos, yes! I've had one pair, actually wore 'em to bits. Will dream of a wine-red pair.

We've had a Canadian Thanksgiving meal today, complete with pumpkin pie. I made banana bread but apparently took it out too soon and didn't notice 'til it was too late to put it back in. Will try again tomorrow. And this evening, to end the long weekend, we all sat and watched some of The Two Towers. I keep thinking, "This is one of my favorite LotR scenes!" Repeatedly. Heh.

There's something I've been mulling over these past few weeks, and that is the inherent potential for enmity between authors and editors. I believe it's an easy thing to fall into but unnecessary. I have had many thoughts, mostly to do with R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Anyone have any smart thoughts on the subject?
At 21:51 One Sock Short said...: Yes, tomorrow will be better. Some sleep to reset your inner pace, then some more reasonable days to keep that pace at less crazy-making levels.

Or, take two ((hugs)) and call me in the morning.

I hear ya about the makeup and clothes. Though you always look pretty together to me. Then again, I've just started 'experimenting' with some lip color. It still feels bold to me when I go that far.

And you *know* I'm all about the sensible shoes ;-)
At 22:01 invincor said...: Well I think you do and did a terrific job. And tomorrow will indeed be better if for no other reason than the snow is supposed to melt. - Steve M in River Falls :)
At 22:34 Beez said...: I've been hearing the praises of Dansko at an amazing rate for the last few weeks. Apparently if you get a ding in the leather that you can't polish out you can send them back in and they will fix/replace them (or so the chefs say).

*hugs*

Rest well, have fun tomorrow.

Do NOT let the email monster eat your day.
At 23:44 Ticia said...: I'm sending ((dream hugs)) while you sleep.

You make the impossible happen and create the space for imagination to thrive.

Take this time to recharge that incredible battery that is you.

Today is your day. Enjoy every second.
At 00:06 vampi said...: well i hope you have a nice restful sleep and the email monster is tamed quickly and easily.
At 00:16 spacedlaw said...: Concentrate on this: day OFF tomorrow!
Hugs and lullabies.
At 00:20 Dragonsally said...: omg, I just went and did something really girly...got my nails done (ie gel falsies) and it feels WIERD. Haven't had this done for nearly 15 years. DOn't know that I will cope at all.
At 00:28 Karen B. said...: Yes, sleep is good! Lots of sleep makes so many things better. And yay for shoes that love your feet.

Oh, and thanks to you a friend thinks one of her cats may be a Bengal (very active, spots on belly, frequently washing the other cat, etc.). It would certainly explain a lot.

Naps & kitties--
At 00:48 Lysandwr said...: dansko feet = YES!!

Just sayin...

Now that the stairs are done, we will start the big move as soon as my last mid-term is done on Wednesday.

This is significant here only because I've been sharing your bathroom remodel adventures and bathtub choices with my mother...

and now...now that we're READY TO MOVE IN!!!....she's thinking she really wants a tub in her otherwise HUGE and wondrous bathroom with TWO closets and and extra vanity.

I just want to move in :) But tub adventures are good, too.

Have a breath, have several....let the felines get reacquainted with having you around for many more hours each day. A win for all of you! Also enjoy ride, massage, et cetera. Sounds right good to me....
At 01:56 Marjorie said...: Underworld, Bengals, Tea and fire sounds like the perfect evening to allow you to wind down after so many hectic days.

Hopefully you are sleeping now, and will wake up to a shuney new day, with time in it for riding, and relaxing.

I'm not into the whole make up thing, either - partly as a hangover from having developed a lot of skin sensitivities (after I broke my leg and had a fibre glass cast, which I turned out to be allergic to) After that, all the make up I had caused me to come up in hives, so I am very wary of the stuff, and only have a lttle of the good stuff for special occassions!

Clothes - I think ita learning what suits you (or the 99% of us who aren't size zero models..)
At 01:57 Marjorie said...: PS - did you & Kitty find the Skellie shop? or did you have to make do with make up and shoes?
At 07:25 anna j said...: So many wise and comforting fiends here :)

Sleep makes everything look better. Going from 100 to 0 sounds like hitting a wall you didn't see coming. Do take care of yourself. Horses and massage sound like wonderful salve.
At 07:43 Lioness said...: I hope you have woken up feeling a little more relaxed today. Take it easy, start out slowly and only do as much as you want to.
You don't want to take ill after all this. (says she with the cough and the sore throat)
At 08:41 dabbler said...: Good morning! I have Danskos I have worn and worn, but didn't know about sending them back for repair... thought they just looked worse and worse over time, despite DH's wizard* polishing skills. He has a pair that really need resoling...do you know if they do that, Beez?

My two best sources have been the Dansko outlet (!) about an hour from here, and, once I knew what I wanted, ebay.

But I do have to say that after several years of wearing nothing but Danskos, I have had to go back to more varied shoe wear,. Seems that as good as the footbeds are, the inflexibility of the shoe overall causes repetitive stress injury to some toe joints. Or at least, it does if you have my seriously-less-than-optimal feet.

*NO, no, the 'wizard' was an adjective...no wizards made shiny here.
At 08:49 Arwenn said...: Hope the ride goes well and leaves you feeling renewed.

I am also clueless in the realms of hair/makeup/clothes so now all I'm ever really going for is "does it look like I did this on purpose?" Low standards are my friends.
At 09:31 One Sock Short said...: Ticky box, at last.

Arwenn, that made me smile.

And I think Ticia has come up with the perfect motto for Lorraine's PA Super Powers School -- "You make the impossible happen and create the space for imagination to thrive."
At 11:28 Wendy Withers said...: I feel you on the "done" feeling. I'm working four jobs right now, so when I feel like I'm "done," it's really just time to get to sleep so I can wake up for work the next morning or time to head to the next job. If I get into the teaching program in New Orleans, it's going to feel like a vacation.

When I lived in Minnesota, I loved going to the Mall of America. My favorite store was the Limbo Lounge; I have no idea if it's still there, since I haven't been back since 2000. I did discover that when you eat the Chinese food in the food court, and it says it's spicy, you might die from eating it, and they have all sorts of cheese curds to buy and eat! (I miss living up North. There are no cheese curds in Florida to be had.)

I hope you enjoy some relaxation and unwinding time.
At 12:09 FabulousLorraine said...: Not sure about this day off, been up since 4 and am going back to sleep. Boss is safely in China, hooked up and all is well. As far as I know anyway.

Monster e-mail has been dealt with, for the most part, and I have put off the plans for tonight, so I can just be DONE and relax...

Chatter me some nice things, Fiends...
At 12:33 One Sock Short said...: Hmmmm, nice things...

It looks like the Graphic Novel seminar at the Newberry might be a go this time. At any rate, it starts Thursday, and I haven't heard it's been canceled again yet. This should be a good thing for the Newberry, bringing in a different crowd than the usual seminars. It should be interesting too, though I don't know what the instructor's approach to the topic will be. I've only recently started reading graphic novels (alas, there goes my fiend cred). Now I wonder what took me so long, since I've long been interested in different ways narrative can be done.

It's a crisp day in Chicago, and I am craving hot apple cider. Must get some tonight.
At 12:38 vampi said...: you totally have fiend cred oss, you were at fiendom, how could you have more fiend cred?

and what makes fiends so awesome is that we all came here for different reasons and found an awesome place to share and make fiends. i am also late to the graphic novel craze. my problem is i crave the words, and then have to force myself to go back and look at the pictures that accompanied the words. because they go together. that's hard for me to grasp.

hooray for connected boss and monster email domination. enjoy your night of no obligations :)
At 12:41 Elaine said...: I have pretty much the same response to the designs the people on Project Runway come up with! I always think the neatest outfits are the ones that are in the bottom, and the ones that are in the top rarely impress me. ^_^

Hope you get to relax a wee bit, now. Sheesh, you've been busy, busy, busy!
At 12:43 Phiala said...: Na asked "There's something I've been mulling over these past few weeks, and that is the inherent potential for enmity between authors and editors. I believe it's an easy thing to fall into but unnecessary. I have had many thoughts, mostly to do with R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Anyone have any smart thoughts on the subject?"

Respect, exactly. It's a business relationship, and should be managed as such. The editor isn't attacking the author, just trying to fix the writing. Conversely, the editor must be doing just that, and not attacking the author.

The biggest problem I've run into is that the author usually has much more invested than the editor (time, money, effort, thought). That works both ways: sometimes the author takes any criticism personally, while others the editor doesn't put a fair amount of effort into the project.

Most of this is from scientific publishing, where I've been author, reviewer, and editor.
At 13:02 FabulousLorraine said...: If you post here and have a kind heart, you have Fiend Cred. Not based on what you do, read, are or anything else. I have spoken!

Hi Elaine! And Welcome...Isn't that funny about Project Runway, I mean I pick the bottom every time, the winners are way not so much...Love the show tho...

Re editors and authors, I once heard Gene Wolfe say, publicly, that the function of his editor was to mail the check and other than that, he had no part in anything.

That said, been working with the same editor with Harper Collins for many years, the wonderful Jennifer Brehl, who is Boss' editor. Not privy to their private talks but I do know he ardors her and would not work with anyone else.

That may not be typical, but it works for us.

Yes, I know I ought to be sleeping, but it doesn't seem to be happening....
At 13:17 Marjorie said...: I was a late comer to graphic novels too - read a couple of Boss's books, and went off to look to see whether this Gaiman bloke had written anything else...
Having heard/read people talking about writing them it sounds to me much harder than writing'straight' books...

Glad the e-mail mountain has been reduced, and that Boss is safely in China, (even if it means there may be no blogs or twttering for a week or so)

editing - no persoanl experience, but I would guess that respect and professionalism are both pretty important, and that personal friendship can come after that's been established..
At 13:26 One Sock Short said...: Well, if you can't sleep Lorraine, I hope you're at least doing something relaxing.

I'm just poking fun at myself. I do find it funny that I may never have gotten into graphic novels if it hadn't been for Buffy Season 8. That motivated me to get used to the differences in reading them. Then I was lucky that the first comics shop I tried was friendly to someone looking lost and saying "But how do I choose?" The guy at Evil Squirrel Comics is happy to make recommendations and doesn't mind if I come back saying I didn't like something he recommended. I could probably get better prices elsewhere, but he totally wins on customer service.
At 13:31 FabulousLorraine said...: I never read a graphic novel until I found myself at a dinner with Boss, Jane Yolen, Chris Claremont, Steve Brust and a bunch of editors in MA,Boss was passing around Black and Whites of his latest Sandman, #16
I think....Was a couple years before I came to work for him.

Read them all that night, they were so cool.

I am doing something nice, not sleeping, but chatting with all of you. Sleep will hopefully happen.
At 13:41 Dan Guy said...: Asimov stuck with the same editor and publisher his entire career, because they had been the first to publish him. I always admired that. I'm glad that Boss found a great editor.
At 13:41 Kate said...: Happy thoughts, eh? I was just thinking it must be something in the air as everyone seems to be having one of those days.

I'm looking for a co-violinist to play a wedding with me on Saturday (the bride has two pieces I can't learn in three days) and someone to switch work shifts with me for the rehearsal. So, mounting dread there, but, manageable?

I hadn't read any graphic novels until Boss's, last year. (Except for Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics, which I read for a theatre course six years ago.) After I saw V for Vendetta I started on Alan Moore, then a friend introduced me to Bone, and loaned me the complete phonebooks of Cerebus. Don't regret taking that plunge.
At 13:41 FabulousLorraine said...: From Marilyn:

Marilyn, The Cat Coach has left a new comment on your post "From Marilyn RE: CA Bengal Rescue":

Thank you Lorraine! This is wonderful of you to post this. I just posted 3 more cats on the site: http://home.pacifier.com/~ltdltd/CALancaster.html

Tomorrow 7 kitties go in for their operations. At this point only 2 will have a place to go after their surgery. The others will have to go back up the mountain until I can find good homes and foster homes.

Thank you everyone for your support. This is truly an awful and difficult situation.
Marilyn
At 13:43 One Sock Short said...: Confession time... I did try a graphic novel several years ago and hated it. I tried it because it was featured on an ALA Read poster. Yes, it was the first Sandman. Only after I learned how to read comics (it is such a different experience), and had fallen for Boss's storytelling and word-smithing skills, did I go back to the Sandman books. Now they're favorites.
At 13:55 Arwenn said...: I was very late coming to graphic novels and so far it has just been Sandman. I didn't like it at first either but I eventually figured out that it requires completely different kind of reading.

I had a similar experience watching ballet - I started enjoying it the moment I stopped trying to follow a linear narrative.
At 14:05 vampi said...: oh i'm a word fail today, i think what i said came across wrong about fiends. i didn't mean to imply those that did not go to fienddom were any less fiends. somehow it made sense when i was typing it, but now i see it was exclusionary, and not what i was going for at all.

what was swirling in my head was how awesome it is that we all came together from different places, sandman, gaiman, lorraine's various musical projects, and mesh our own creativity together to form a very awesome and comforting fiend quilt. i hope that came out better...
At 14:05 Lioness said...: I started reading comics with, I think, Joss Whedon's Fray. I've read all of his comics since then and expanded a bit. Read Sandman 5 years ago or so. But they are not, and never will be the ideal way of reading for me. I too devour the words and then have to remember to look at the pictures. I haven't yet learned to read both as a coherent whole.

As for editing, I've been on both sides in a minor way and can appreciate how hard it is to edit properly. I deal with first time writers and I have to be careful to suggest changes that still allow them to sound like themselves.
And I have written for children and been edited by someone who knows nothing of children and is only concerned about what the adults will think. Not a happy partnership.

Are you still too wound up for sleep, Quiche (may I call you Quiche?) I could see that it might take some time to come down completely.
At 14:05 Dan Guy said...: I have often said that, had I started with the first Sandman TPB, I might never have read the rest. As it was, I started with "Dream Country" and was hooked. P&N is *dark*, and I wouldn't have known quite how to take it had I not read "Sound of Her Wings" already.
At 14:10 One Sock Short said...: Vampi, I didn't read anything exclusionary in the first post, but I love how you expanded on the theme in the second. We are a wonderful mix of characters.
At 14:15 vampi said...: so i'm totally doing the sandman thing all wrong. i think i have absolute volumes 3&4 and i still need to acquire 1&2. i have the first 2 tpb as well. so i have a HUGE gap in the story. i love the absolutes, but they are darn hard to read in bed before falling asleep. let me tell you, it's not cool to wake up snuggled around the hard poky cover or when the huge heavy book thuds off he edge of the bed...just sayin'
At 14:21 spacedlaw said...: I am a comics fiend but then again I am French so it is more or less a given.
At 14:27 anna j said...: I don't remember how I found Sandman, but I do remember they were on the bottom shelf in the college library. I think I read P&N sitting there on the floor, and then took out two TPB at a time. Wake was not there when I got to that part, though, so have never read it. I hadn't read graphic novels before Sandman, and it was years again before I read another graphic novel.

It takes a bit to get back into how to read them when I've been away, and once I do they just go so FAST that I'm left breathless and gasping at the end of it :) I've just recently read a couple volumes of Transmetropolitan, and I finished Watchmen the other night. Might take a break from graphic novels for a bit now.

I do wish I could help a bengal. Hearing about the rescue Marilyn is in the middle of is heartbreaking because it must be so hard. My three kitties and a dog wouldn't appreciate it, and neither would a bengal, I expect. On second thought, the dog might appreciate it. He likes cats.

I don't know about author/editorness, but I do expect it takes respect and understanding from both ends.

Vampi, I didn't read any exclusion in your first post, either. I'm late to fiending, but glad to be here.

And here I am, prattling on...
At 15:07 Kitty Cat said...: loved hearing the stories from people's graphic novel experiences...
well Quichey, this will brighten your day, DREW IS SLATED TO DO THE LADY GAGA TOUR!!
so i am going to see if i can too.
and which means, you can come out to see LG alot!

i miss alla you kitties there...
but it is great to be home with boyfriend and Batty & Kylie.
ps danskos are amazing, you can look for factory seconds here: http://www.danskooutlet.com/
At 16:17 Beez said...: Ooh Kitty- that's about half the price I've been seeing for Dansko.

I'll ask chef about the resoling.

Is there a sleeping Quichie yet? Long soak in warm bath...mmmmm....relax relax relax....
At 16:39 EmilyLady said...: Well, truth be told, I've never read anything outside Boss's Sandman ... I do have a friend who chastises me, reminding me of how criminal this is (not that he doesn't love Sandman himself).
At 17:26 ariandalen said...: Gosh. Y'all are making me feel old.

I started reading comic books back when I was 5 or 6. Someone gave my mother some Archie comic books and a combo Superman with the front cover pulled off, like they do paperbacks. Then I started picking up Kamandi and Return of the New Gods when my paternal grandmother let me, at the grocery store. College meant I really started picking them up, mostly X-Men titles and Teen Titans. Then after college, while money was really tight, I used DH's daily pocket change to buy them. I even have a signed Mage #1, and the signed poster. :)
This means that I have Sandman #1, and almost all of the Sandman individual books, from when they originally came out.
I quit buying comics because I wasn't reading them anymore. Still like them though. :)
At 17:35 ariandalen said...: Hi, mb, invincor, and Elaine! Glad you decided to show the world your inner Fiend! Here is your very own white, buckled jacket. Over there are all sorts of supplies with which to personalize your jacket. :)
At 17:42 fairbetty said...: ah danskos... I have yet to find a pair that fit right, tho. LOVE the arch support, but they always slip on my heel and I don't want blisters!
At 19:22 Martha W. said...: I know what you mean about times when all you can do is ask the air in the room, "What shall I do? What shall I do? What shall I do?". And then after about five minutes you realize you have all kinds of things to do. There must be lots of things that only you can think of. What did you find at the Mac store? Just walking into that mall almost guarantees some sort of make-over, if only in small ways. Did you buy the shoes? Have a happy and restful week. I hope someone reads your Bengal blog and is inspired by it to foster some of those cats. They do seem to be making wonderful progress with the spaying and neutering.
At 19:50 vampi said...: so...every time someone mentions MAC, i wonder what type of makeup apple is selling now. i am so nerdy. also i giggle at the local mall as the fruit store (apple) and MAC are across the hall from each other.

my ipod is totally on crack, i went from Boston to Amanda Palmer. talk about bi-polar, soaring arena rock "long time" to "another year" and back to boston "peace of mind. where all this boston came from is really confusing, i didn't think i even had these mp3's.
At 20:02 One Sock Short said...: Oh, I begin to understand my earlier confusion. I've never heard of MAC (apart from the computer sense).

Just before reading Vampi's post I was asking myself why most of my music is so depressing. I still love it, but, sheesh...
At 20:27 One Sock Short said...: Well, yes, loving the classic female jazz/blues singers does tend to lead to a lot of torch songs...
At 20:43 Uisge said...: OSS - I, too, came to comics as a adult through Season 8 of Buffy. Was given the first few as a gift and got hooked. Then started branching out, mostly into Alan Moore, because I love his stories and wanted to read the original works. It's lovely to have a whole new genre open before you and know you can lose yourself inside for a while.

Hugs and kisses to all. Tea and rest, too.
At 21:19 EmilyLady said...: Time for sleep after bilingual babysitting. They would not go to sleep and so I had to tell them it was definitely time for bed in two languages.
At 21:21 Jane said...: I bought The Doll's House, got hooked and now have all 4 Absolute Sandman. Sandmans? I do tend to read them too slowly or too fast, but love them just the same. They seem like poetry to me - conveying so much with only a few words.

Also read Watchman this year, but didn't have a regular habit of graphic novels.

So many books, so little time...
At 22:16 Na said...: Good to hear peeps have reached their destinations, and that there's Lady Gaga in Q's future. :)

Thanks you spicy-brained ones - much good food for thought re: author-editor. Phiala, exactly, it's a business relationship. And like so many relationships, I am finding first-hand how it differs with each pairing of author and editor. My current thinking is that this editorial work is a kind of midwifery.

Comics and GNs *squeee* I read all sorts of random things as a youngster, then Elfquest regularly. Much later, a grad school friend insisted I read Season of Mists, and that's how I discovered Vertigo and Boss and all sorts of awesome GNs. (Preacher anyone?) And totally love, love, LOVE Fray! And Tales of the Vampires. My new love is Bendis' Alias (nothing to do with the tv show of the same name).

Speaking of publishing, a paper I'm co-author on got accepted, WHOO HOO! And while I like this job I'm doing and the work and I are well suited, the timing is off: it'd be perfect about a year from now. I'm kinda sad, but relieved, too, to realize this. I'll be able to leave things in good shape for the person they hire permanently, at any rate.

/wittering
At 01:53 Marjorie said...: Congratiulations, Na!
At 02:01 Dragonsally said...: Na! Congratulations. That is wonderful news.
At 02:14 spacedlaw said...: Looks like a lot of congratulations are in order today...
Na, Stacy, who else?
At 02:15 Dragonsally said...: what did I miss? What did Stacy do? *goes to reread all comments*
At 02:26 spacedlaw said...: It wasn't in the comments.
Saw the news on FB (and twitter).
At 02:40 Dragonsally said...: Thanks Nat - just found out via google reader. So much talent amongst the Fiends!
At 07:38 EmilyLady said...: Congratulations, Stacy and Na!!
At 08:36 ariandalen said...: Congratulations, Na!

We have dense fog this morning. Last night, too, but we're not supposed to have any rain for a few days.
At 08:50 dabbler said...: Still only an occasional GN reader, though I read comic books all the years I was growing up. And bought Elfquest for the first several runs. In fact, DD learned to read from my early Elfquest comics. They were on the bottom shelf next to my bed. When she was four or so, she'd get up early in the morning, come into my room, and curl up on the rug with them. She is still a fan...as am I.

I love Sandman, but really only relatively recently. I haven't really conquered the flow and way to read pictures/text in an integrated way. I'm so word oriented...

My son is a HUGE GN fan, and keeps working on me....

You know, as I write this, I keep remembering others really like...Hellboy, f'instance. enough.
At 08:55 dabbler said...: Na, I love the image as editor as midwife....

And congratulations to Stacy. The cheetah deserves to be seen far and wide, it's so spectacular.

On clothes/makeup, I've beco me aware that there is little difference these days between the clothes I put on for work, and those I wear on my off days. It's getting rather boring. But comfortable. Have to decide what to shift, because I'd like to feel i look a leetle more professional on work days. But still comfortable. And it's all my perception of myself, pretty much. I think my patients rarely even look at me.
At 09:12 Na said...: Stacy! High five!!!

And thanks you lot. :) One more paper and I think all I did in grad school and as a researcher will be published. :O

Meanwhile - snow. As in more. As in a fresh layer all over the ground and streets overnight. *grumble mutter hrumph* Oh wait ... no, it's still snowing. @#%$!
At 09:21 Siri said...: Morning, Fiendom.

I've got me some mens in to replace a patio door (with 2 door-sized sidelights) today. It's 39 degrees, with no sun. I have no wall in my livingroom, where the door, etc., used to be. This is going to be a chilly day, and noisy. They have to cut and pry and drill and stuff. Oooo - I need to take pictures.
At 09:27 Jess said...: Yay Na and Stacy!

(Na, I thought you were hired permanently. Or am I nuts?)

I'm a late comer to comics and graphic novels. As a kid I got handed-down copies of Archie, Casper, Richie Rich from my cousins, but I never looked beyond that, and my parents never offered to buy anything else. So I grew up thinking that the only comics worth reading came in the Sunday paper (Been a big Bloom County fan for a long time.)

But someone mentioned Understanding Comics--what a terrific book! That's one of my favorites, for years now. It changed my perspective on the whole genre, and on writing. That was the first time I recognised a connection between visual storytelling and prose fiction. Something just kind of went, click, and I started thinking differently about scene structure, and how stories work...it's hard to explain. A little light went on. You know.
At 09:27 anna j said...: Na, I have an ex who really enjoyed Preacher, though it wasn't one I wound up reading. He was the one who encouraged my GN reading the most. We're still friends.

Also, congratulations!
At 11:20 ariandalen said...: I understand exactly what you are saying, Jess. I think it's really interesting how many Fiends are saying that they had a hard time adjusting to graphic novels because they love WORDS. I don't think that is/was the problem at all. I think it has more to do with giving up, or better said, putting aside, a personal vision of what the author has written. We don't always want to make room for someone else's version of what a particular character/item/creature/setting looks like. This isn't true of just graphic novels; it happens with movie/television adaptations all the time. Movie/tv adaptations also add another level of sensory (dis)connection, that of audio. Does the character you love/loathe sound like you imagined? Which version is the better Paul Atreides? Is a story/book the same when you read it at 30 as it was when you read it at 15, 20, 25?
At 12:28 Na said...: This discussion of learning to read comics/GNs is fascinating. Maybe if you read them at a young-enough age, it's easier to adjust to the format? A bit like learning another language? Or perhaps, to follow ariandalen's point, one is less invested in their own version of how it looks/sounds/etc. at a younger age.

Yeah, Preacher, Lucifer, Y, there's a few I've read because my guy got 'em, 'tis true. I think of many as uber-Male.

ariandalen, your last point reminds me of a prof who assigned Brothers Karamazov and told us that we should read it once in youth, once in middle age, and once when we're older, because it's a significantly different book each time. And Little Women now is definitely not the same book I read when I was 12.

Jess - they offered the job to me as permanent, but it takes months to hire to university/gov't and they needed someone immediately, so amended my existing contract for the interim work. Turns out there may be an issue with my residency status anyway. So, "one day at a time," etc. :P
At 12:36 vampi said...: that's not really how it works for me. i love alternate versions of things. i enjoy seeing other's interpret what i've seen, to a point. i mean i don't want someone to crap all over a story or character.

i love the lynch dune movie. i also love the sci-fi mini series. both for different reasons. i loved the H2G2 movie.

I don't have that disconnect with comics, it's more of a focus thing. i get so focused when reading that it's hard to get my attention.

even with the newspaper comic strips, i find i read all the way through then look at the pictures. it's manageable with only a few frames, but not so much in a whole gn.

also, since i'm not a comic-head, i still have to learn a bit how to read it spatially so i read it in the right order, because sometimes hte speech bubbles are not as clear.

this is a fascinating conversation :) love me some fiends today. work is already a big pile of suck.
At 13:10 Arwenn said...: Vampi - I'm with you completely (and sorry you're having a bad time of it at work).

It is still challenging for me to get the words in the right order. I have no problem with the images being created for me since I'm seeing characters as I'm introduced to them there isn't time for me to create my own vision - for me it is a mechanical problem...I have to train my eyes not to jump directly to the words. With music I instinctively listen to lyrics first (when applicable), enjoying the music later.
At 13:14 One Sock Short said...: My experience is more like Vampi's. It really was a matter of learning a different way to read. It takes time to learn the conventions of comics, to recognize those visual cues that tell you when you're not reading across rows as usual. At least it did for me. I can only remember seeing a handful of comics when I was a kid, so this really has been a fascinating experience, exploring this new-to-me kind of narration.

I also enjoy seeing different adaptations of a story. I once confused a video store employee to no end by renting all the film versions of Little Women at the same time. "Did you know these are the same thing?" Ah well, not exactly, and that in itself was interesting to me. Didn't make sense to her at all.
At 13:21 Arwenn said...: Different adaptations are wonderful. I was very pleased that the earlier version of "Gaslight" is included as an extra on the better known Ingrid Bergman version.
At 14:05 dabbler said...: Fascinating discussion!

As I think about it, I find that my dislike of others' visual depiction of the characters in my head, which is absolutely an issue with movies, (and the animations of Pratchett, for instance) doesn't seem to be triggered as much by comics. It seems to me, without having spent a lot of time thinking about it, that OSS's point about conventions in the comics medium that need to be learned to become invisible fits my experience. I also think those conventions have become far more elaborate than they were in the early Super Hero comics I grew up with. The information density of the art seems much richer. I also tend to like the drawing styles that are less crowded...

Which leads me to another question. I've been thinking of this discussion as applying to physical volumes rather than the web comics. So now I'm thinking about how the daily reading of a web comic page is different that the sustained reading of a collected comic.

Implications for pacing of the story is the first thing that comes to mind. Anyone else have thoughts?
At 14:52 Uisge said...: Vampi said "also, since i'm not a comic-head, i still have to learn a bit how to read it spatially"

Agreed - I find I'll start reading by running through text and then going back and looking at the pictures on the page. As I get more used to the format, I slow down and take in the page as a whole, then wind my way through it. There's a learning curve for me every time I open a new GN.

I also find I'm okay with drawn visuals over film visuals for stories I know. I think that has to do with my overall love of animation and my willingness to accept playing around with time/space/shape/activities in drawn format over live action (ie - things that work in cartoons just look silly in live action).

As for web comics, I tend to read them more as serial pieces than as a novel. I the web comics I read regularly (xkcd and something positive) make their point and finish in the panel (even when they are part of a larger storyline). Where as GNs for me I read like a novel, in big gulps until it's gone.
At 15:01 Unknown said...: I love Dansko sandals for summer, they look nice and are super comfortable all day long. I'm mostly a tennies in the winter girl so I can't speak for their proper shoes but I'm sure they're fantastic too. :)
At 15:21 Kate said...: Jess- What I love about Understanding Comics is the way that it's also about understanding art. By defining what a comic is and what it isn't, that book gave me terms and ideas to use in defining other art. How does what a comic is differ from other art?

Dabbler- That reminds me of Scott McCloud's other book, Re-Imagining Comics. He has a great section about how with a webcomic you're not confined to the limits of the physical page, and that artists could do a lot of amazing things online if they wanted to.

Most of the webcomics I read are three panels, just like they are in newspapers. There are a couple exceptions (Nine Planets Without Intelligent Life is one of the more unique ones I know about, and it's not *that* big a difference), but they could be doing really wild and crazy things online. I'm not sure why comics artists aren't. Although I seem to remember Boss saying in the blog something to the effect that he wasn't sure why Scott wanted to have comic pages three miles long. (To which I say, XKCD's Height.)

I prefer a physical fiction book to a virtual one, but, in a comic (maybe because I play so many online games) the difference doesn't bother me as long as the presentation doesn't get in the way of the comic. (Comics that load WAY to large for the browser window, I refuse to read.)

I have less trouble with "how to read comics" after I learned to slow down, read the text, look at the pictures and THEN try to take it all in as a full page piece of art before I moved on (it was Watchmen that forced me to do that- there's so much going on in those pages!). There's no reason to rush, it's not as though there's so much text I'll get lost, or can't go back.
At 15:43 spacedlaw said...: It is so strange to my French eyes to read all those things you have to say about comics.
We, as a nation, like comics. We publish and consume tons of of the stuff each year. For us (and our Belgian neighbours), it is art (comics have their own museums and schools) but most of all they are stories. Real books. Stories told in words and images (and also a lot told in the gaps existing between each frame, which is why they are theorized here as being good for the imagination).
Most of the art is sequential but some of it can be cahotic, and mangas are usually published in the Japanese direction (a really weird sensation the first time. We have books fitting all ages and styles (for instance, the last one I bought (two weeks ago) is drawn by one of the official artists of the French Navy and it's fantastic - not just anybody: this is serious business. So serious in fact that more major publishers are joining the feeding frenzy eahc year).
I started to read comics as a child because my parents read comics and bought them.
Different world, eh?
At 16:39 vampi said...: oh i think you hit on something there Nathalie, my parents did not read comics, and until i was 18, i had never even seen a comic shop. sure i saw the meager displays in the corner of book shops, but the libraries did not have a huge source of comics.

comics to me growing up was the colored section in the sunday paper with garfield and peantus on the front page.
At 16:52 Dragonsally said...: I'm loving this discussion of GNs. Jess, I had the same comics when I was young - with the addition of Batman I think, cos with 3 big brothers, their comics were your comics.
Its funny, but I still build my own image of what the characters look like, despite the graphics. They might be based on the graphics, but they are more if you know what I mean.
At 17:31 Phiala said...: I grew up reading Tintin.

I grew up in a very rural place, but my grandfather lived in a large city. He would come every weekend to go fishing, and each week he would bring me a new stack of books from big-city library. All the Oz books, Tintin, I don't remember what else. Books! Oh, and Asterix, who has permanently warped my idea of early history!

I mostly read GN now due to men in my life: a previous guy introduced me to Sandman, once upon a time. Nick has a lot of GN - Frank Miller, Alan Moore (Watchmen is on my to-read pile), Cerberus. I found Bone by myself, though. The local public library has a decent GN collection, and not all kid-friendly. I applaud them for putting together a YA/adult collection of "comic books".

Oh, and Girl Genius. Of course.
At 17:32 Na said...: Vampi, hope your work day improved, is ending soon, or both.

Nat, comics definitely have not had that status in the U.S.! But something is shifting - it's been trendy for educational publishers to produce GNs as high-interest books for struggling readers. The economic downturn might have stifled that some, though.

Natalie's description of stories told in both images and words reminds of the wonderful book (I've likely effused about before) The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. It alternates sections of text and images, and you have to go through both to get the whole story. It's a YA book, but like the best YA books, you don't have to be a YA to enjoy it. :)
At 17:34 Phiala said...: Oh, I forgot about Classic Comics! Speaking of graphic novels...

And Sally - very exciting development - I found Tim-Tams in my local grocery! They're branded Arnott's in the USA, but are the same thing. Hooray for chocolatey goodness!
At 17:40 Dragonsally said...: Oh, Phiala...don't forget to try the port straw trick with some...bite the ends off, and suck port up through it, then inhale the TimTam. Joyous.
At 17:48 Phiala said...: Port, you say? Sounds lovely.

I did try the straw trick with coffee, with disastrous yet hilarious results.
At 17:51 Dragonsally said...: Yes, port. My uncle taught me and we got very drunk together. I miss him so much.
At 18:01 EmilyLady said...: Ni hao from a creepy library. I hate to speak ill of a library, but this one here is just plain weird and creepy.
At 18:17 One Sock Short said...: In what way, Emily?

I've really been enjoying the GN discussion. Part of the reason I'm looking forward to this seminar is that I find so much interest in the interaction of words and images. Hearing our various experiences with GNs really piques that interest further.
At 18:21 dabbler said...: Emily, I admit to puzzlement. Just how many libraries do you frequent? And how? Around here, we generally have one per couple towns, with quite the distance between....
At 18:37 anna j said...: "comics to me growing up was the colored section in the sunday paper with garfield and peantus on the front page."

Same here, vampi. My parents are voracious readers, but the only comics in the house were the Calvin and Hobbes collections my dad had. I didn't realize that "comics" could be serious until I discovered Sandman.
At 20:25 Chantrelle said...: Hope you'ove figured out how to relax Q!!

Still enjoyint portland, we leave tomorrow. Tonight, Star Wars in Concert!! Ben's beyond excited.

Chat with you all more when we get home and I'm not just on my phone!
At 20:55 EmilyLady said...: Well, Dabbler, there are only so many libraries in this little state; might as well visit them all. I frequent the town libraries every day, but instead of my own town, I went over to a neighboring town I hadn't visited in a while.

OSS, it was full of creepy people and just a really darkish atmosphere ... and the collection of books were skimpy and sad.
At 20:55 EmilyLady said...: Mind you, this wasn't creepy in the good way. It was run-down-ish and mildewy and gray, not colorfully creepy.
At 21:04 One Sock Short said...: Ah, that is sad. I feel sorry for the people who work there and for the people who have no other library they can get to.
At 22:20 AletaMay said...: Congrats Na and Stacy!

Such an interesting conversation about GN and comics.

I think this cold weather is making me sleepy.

Night all.
At 00:20 spacedlaw said...: If I remember correctly from yesterday, congratulations should also go to Kitty, because the Comic Tattoo Book - to which she contributed - won another award.
But details are a tad fuzzy, `cause I need TEA.

And ... A happy Firbday to Marjorie.
At 00:35 KJ said...: Hi! I'm new around here, and you're pretty damned awesome. So there. Enjoy a few moments to yourself!
At 01:50 Marjorie said...: Fascinating discussion about GNs - I had cimics as a child - they aren't seen so much as a part of mainstream literature as in France but there are lots of children's comics (Beano, Dandy etc) so I used to read those, which perhaps is why reading the words and pictures together isn't difficult for me, although on a personal level I think I find the words more important.

I also remember having TinTin, Asterix and Lucky Luke (in fact, Lucky Luke we had in French, which made French lessons much more interesting!)

But I guess I was left with the idae that comics were for kids - as you got older you stopped getting comics and started to get Just17 or Mizz magazines instead, with boys and makeup and clothes, andI got bored.

Only came back to comicbooks through Boss & Sandman - from which I moved on to Lucifer, and John Constantine, and Alan Moore's work.

It's interesting to me that in the last 3-4 years my local library has started to stock GNs and Manga (They keep it all in the YA section, but at least they have it) and my non-specialist local bookshop has GNs, too.
At 02:41 kali_licious said...: Hope you got at least SOME rest, Q.

Kitty is a good friend to turn you on to Dansko's..Best work shoes I ever had. I miss 'em.

Kitty: Big thanks for that outlet link! Congrats to Drew too! (Hope you get to join him with le Gaga:)

I think I started reading comic books when I was in my 20's..I had male roommates who had lots of comics and I read theirs and kept going. Used to read X-men, Wolverine, Lobo, and Elfquest. Didn't pick up Boss' stuff until #70 Ramadan..wherein I promptly became addicted. Picked up Alan Moore on Boss' recommendation too.

Maybe it's because I'm such a visual person to begin with (art student here), but I never had a problem between the words and the pictures. I think in fact the pictures were the initial draw for me in comics. If I saw good art in a book I'd pick it up and see if the words worked too. I'm glad for graphic novels now though..comics are fragile and take up way too much space.
At 07:49 One Sock Short said...: Happy firbday, Marjorie! (throws confetti about)
At 08:55 Arwenn said...: Yay Marjorie!!!! Many happy returns of the day!!!
At 09:10 Phiala said...: Happy firbday, Marjorie!

You will certainly require at least a week of celebrations. Possibly more, since you're feeling poorly. Wouldn't want evil viruses interfering with the fun. I hope you feel entirely recovered already.

I'm glad I took some autumn photos yesterday. Today is cold and rainy, and the forecast is calling for 2-6 inches of wet sludgy snow. With all the leaves still on the trees, that's a very bad forecast, and besides the high risk of downed trees, it will strip the leaves off and spoil the colors.
At 09:20 Jane said...: Happy Firbday, Marjorie. So sorry you're not feeling well. So drown your germs in alcohol (per Ticia) :-) Or celebrate when you've recovered. Didn't we decide that you gt at least a birthday week if not month?
At 10:24 Hellie said...: Loving the chat about GNs. I'm also one for reading all the text first, then going back over it again to take in the pictures and put it all together. But it's always the artwork that attracts me to it in the first place and makes me decide if I want to read it.

It was my fellow misfit friends from school - we bonded over loving the same music, and being thought of as weird by everyone else - that told me about Sandman. I rapidly explored Mr Neil's other works but didn't think of trying other GNs! It was a male influence for me too, my ex,that expanded my GN horixons - he turned me onto Transmetropolitan (the 1st one I religiously went to the store for every month), Hellblazer, Preacher, Invisibles... Now we're not together I don't read GNs so much, but I pick up something every so often that takes my fancy. And I've also just noticed that my library stocks some in the YA section!

Many happy returns Marjorie!
At 11:03 One Sock Short said...: After all this fun GN talk, I'm going to miss the first seminar class tonight. Day before yesterday my neck started bothering me. I got through work yesterday, but had to call in today. The pain is just too much to think clearly. This pain is an old acquaintance, as I have a herniated disc, but it hasn't troubled me this much in quite some time. I hope this flare up goes away soon. I so don't have time for it.
At 11:07 kali_licious said...: Happy Firbday Marjorie!
At 11:13 Hellie said...: Oh poor OSS, what rubbish timing your neck has! Hope you feel better very soon, is there anything you can do to ease it?
At 11:25 Phiala said...: Oh, OSS, that's awful!

I just bought, um, a lot of tulip bulbs. Traumatized by the snow, I guess. (Not just fluffy rain anymore: that's snow out there, in big fat wet flakes.) I wanted to buy everything I saw in the Netherlands, but you can't bring them into the US. I should have ordered them earlier, but deciding on which ones was too challenging.

I did not either decide by buying them all! Just most of them.
At 11:27 One Sock Short said...: Unfortunately, all I can do it wait. Neither heat nor ice packs help. I do have a few exercises from when I did physical therapy for it. But right now the pain is too much to do them. All I can do is wait.
At 11:30 One Sock Short said...: Ah, spring bulbs are a good way to face the early snow. Like planting hope.
At 11:31 Marjorie said...: Thank you all for Firbday wishes. Spent most of the day in a long and fairly dull business meeting, coughing my little lungs out. On the plus side, I did get home a little earlier than usual!

Siri, do you have new doors now? I worry that you are freezing to death over there.
At 11:57 vampi said...: *twirls* marjorie happy firbay!!!!! hope you feel better.

i won't twirl oss, but i do hope the neck feels better.

*tiptoes* oooh tulips! i love tulips.
At 12:15 dabbler said...: Happy Firbday to Marjorie. You, my dear, are not OLD at all!

And gentle hugs to OSS, miserable timing, and pain anytime is not good.

Phiala, We have much the same nasty cold rain you began with. My dear family were planning their usual pre-Halloween camping trip to Jack's Mountain (about 100 mi South of you) but have decided to cancel due to that winter storm warning.
I generally wimp out, as tehy go even when it's 50 and raining, but this time even they decided not to go
At 12:40 One Sock Short said...: Bummer. Called in to say I wouldn't make it to first GN class, only to find out it's been cancelled. Only two other people signed up. It's a shame, since the library really needs to draw in some younger people to its public programs, and this seemed an ideal way to do it.
At 13:32 Marjorie said...: What a shame, OSS! Do you know how/where they advertised it? I wonder whether the people they were hoping to attract knew it was on?
At 14:41 AletaMay said...: Happy Happy Firbday to Marjorie! Hope you are feeling better. Hope your year ahead is filled with wonders.

OSS. So sad about the GN workshop.

It is raining here today. Which is, IMO better than snowing. So yay!
At 16:30 EmilyLady said...: Happy birthday, Marjorie! 声日快了！
At 16:32 EmilyLady said...: And OSS, I'm sorry to hear about the neck pain. What a nightmare. And as far as the GN session? I know a lot of libraries getting big into GN's for the sake of their younger readers, and it does help to get kids reading. I hope more people sign up next time.
At 17:01 Na said...: Happy Firbday Marjorie! Though it is late for the day itself now, in which case, Happy Firbday Week!

Healing, soothing thoughts to you Sock.

Mention of Buffy Season 8 inspired me to go this afternoon and buy two recent issues I'd missed; comic shop conveniently located next to a bus stop, FTW. Heehee!
At 17:23 Kitty Cat said...: is this a Motherless blog?
where is LORRAINE???
and wait wait, SpacedL? another prize for CBT?
happy me!
would love to hear about it!
xoxo
At 18:05 Dragonsally said...: Kitty - I now have a vision of Q as the mothership...

OSS, sending healing vibes for your neck.
At 18:10 EmilyLady said...: Saw another Fiend face today. This one looked like Ellyn. I hadn't seen her until today. As someone pointed out - which one of you was it? - it might not always be coincidence that I run into these likenesses at libraries.
At 19:39 Siri said...: Linda Sock - I empathize - I too have a disc that herniates, so know what it's like - mine is lower - I think neck aches must be worse. Pat pat pat. Sorry about the class, too, but since you had to miss it, anyway....all things happen for a reason? That's what they tell me....

Our Quiche is conspicuous by her absence, but it is not unheard of. I think she's just resting.

Shhhhh - we'll chat quitely, so's not to disturb her.
At 19:43 vampi said...: so what's a good starter gn? is ther e like a gateway gn that leads to the harder more dangerous gn?
At 20:37 Kate said...: Happy Firbday Marjorie!

OSS- I've a friend who has just had herniated disk surgery. He's likely to be out of work for the rest of the year. Hope things don't get too unbearable with you!
At 20:46 Jess said...: Haha, Vampi! You're making me laugh all over the place tonight. :D

Actually, it's kind of nice to start with short stories that have been adapted into graphic novels; it's kind of interesting to start with a story you're familiar with, to see how it looks in another form. BUt even if you're ot familiar with the original story, it's still a fun way to get acquainted with graphic novels-- they're these compact little things you can spend half an hour or so with, and read over and over easily. I really enjoyed the graphic adaptation of Robert Jordan's short story "The Hedge Knight"-- I'm not that crazy about the prose version, to be honest, but something about the illustrated form made the story really compelling for me. It's one I keep going back to.

Or: Mr. Punch and Signal to Noise. Obviously. :)
At 20:54 One Sock Short said...: Thanks for all the well wishes. And company. It's near impossible to distract myself. I can't knit, and can only read for short periods of time, even with small lightweight books. But I can handle my CrackBerry and enjoy the Fiend chatter.

I've taken some p.m. meds, so I hope to at least sleep tonight.

G'night lovely people!
At 22:01 Na said...: 'Night Sock! May tomorrow bring comfort and relief for your neck.

vampi - Bone is a wonderful place to start.

I realize I've been using the term GN rather casually - many "GNs" are collections of a series of monthly issues. Sorta the opposite of a hardback novel being released later in paperback. And some GNs are only ever GNs.

My day was going swimmingly then tonighy: bah-ville. Oh well. Try again tomorrow!

May the new evening/day bring good things to fiends and folks all around.
At 22:03 Na said...: Rats. Typo.

150th!
At 22:27 ariandalen said...: Happy Firbday, Marjorie! Though I suppose from your point of view it's a belated wish. :)

Hope the meds work, OSS. Neck pain is no fun. :( Sorry about the class being canceled, too.

Hmm...seems several Fiends read text first, then look at the pictures of GNs. If I separate the two, I would have to say I look at the pictures first, but I'm not sure that I separate them. Artists that I probably would buy anything they've done are Charles Vess and Michael Kaluta. Even when searching for a new paperback to read, I'm more likely to buy an unknown author based on the cover illustration. I also bought Heavy Metal for several years after college, while they were still monthly, or bi-monthly. I also like Moebius, and could see his influence in the movie "The Fifth Element."
Interesting discussion. :)
At 23:01 ariandalen said...: Superpuppy! Kat! Welcome to Fiendom! Here is your very own white buckled jacket; we each have one. Over there you'll find lots of supplies so that you can personalize your jacket. Note that you may even change the color of the jacket. Like I said, personalize it. :)

Does anyone else detect a spicy scent in the air?
;)
At 00:57 spacedlaw said...: And a happy firbday to our Kitty!
At 01:06 Marjorie said...: Happy Firbday, Kitty!

Perhaps Q is having that well-earned day off?

Or, wht with the snow, is just too busy rwisting straw into firewood and grinding wheat in the coffee-grinder. . .
At 02:09 Dragonsally said...: Kitty? Firbday? Have a wonderful day!
At 06:29 Phiala said...: Kitty-Firbday! Happy Happy! Lots of Fall Fiends (I know, Sally, but they all live in the northern hemisphere.)

We got six inches of wet snow last night. Trees have been falling all over town, and the power was on and off and on and off all night. This is not an auspicious beginning to the winter season. And it's supposed to continue through Sunday. Yuck.

[I would like to formally recognize the irony: So far this morning I have complained about snow on blogs written by people from Minnesota and Alaska. I would like to point out that if I wanted snow in October, I'd move to one of those places.]
At 08:55 EmilyLady said...: 很好啊！声日快了！！！ Happy birthday to Kitty, is what I mean to say.
At 09:55 vampi said...: a most happiest of firbays to kitty. i do hope this mucky sky gives way to sun soon.
At 11:46 ariandalen said...: Happy Firbday, Ms. Kitty! Here's hoping you have a truly wonderful day! :)

For all the Fiends who are writers, Odyssey Writing Workshop will be offering an online workshop. Announcement can be found here.
At 12:09 Uisge said...: I'm also hopeful that the Quiche shaped hole in the discussion is because she's getting some real rest.

Vampi - I found the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to be a great starter GN. Familiar and yet new and cracking good action.

Healing thoughts sent OSS's way.

Phiala - SIX INCHES! I'm so sorry. Too early to enjoy it properly.
At 12:14 Phiala said...: Uisge, no, it's rather a mess. Lots of branches/trees down, power out all over town (now including my house), etc. And supposed to continue.

I believe this weekend will be devoted to hibernating. We might, I suppose, even turn the heat on.
At 12:58 One Sock Short said...: Happy Firbday, Kitty!

Hibernating sounds like a plan, Phiala. Playing with wool will help keep the thermostat down too. Any large projects going on that cover your lap while you work?

Still in a whole lot of pain here, I'm afraid.
At 13:01 Phiala said...: OSS, that just plain sucks. But you knew that, I'm sure. I hope that you recover quickly. Like, say, Now.

No large projects in progress, but that's okay - there's more room for the dog and cat if my lap isn't covered in wool.
At 15:17 spacedlaw said...: Kitty, I could not see it on the Harvey site but this article shows the CBT has having bagged a Harvey. (A tip off from Jody - the stealth librarian).
And I am happy to report that our fiend Martha (the crazy Americo-Estonian girl) has safely arrived in Rome and is now woeing the cats.
At 15:55 Chantrelle said...: Back briefly and then we're off to SF for the weekend.

Had to share the pic of the kitty kitty from the Portland Zoo that ben saw and said, "Awww! That looks like Magic! I miss Magic!" A better pic than what i could get and twitter with my phone.

I love Portland. Couldnt' live through a dreary winter there but it's such a great town.

Hope our beloved queen is getting rest!

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY KITTY!!!!!!
At 17:16 Siri said...: Many Happy Returns of the Day, Miss Kitty - hope you too are doing something grand.

Phiala - ouch - far too early for 6". We've had 1 and that was enough.

OSS - ouch also - sending warm thoughts to unherniate the blasted thing. Oh - blasted isn't very warm. Unherniate, you round disc you.

Hugs, squeezes and pokes to all the rest of you - I'll be off line for several days, traveling. It will be the first time in a long time I'll be totally disconnected, and frankly, I'm kind of looking forward to it. When I get back, I'll know more about our budget crunch - what a joy to welcome me home.

Night, Fiendom.
At 18:14 Dragonsally said...: Irony? We're having a cold snap here too - ski resorts closed 2 weeks ago and since then snow has been dumping down. 40cm worth one night. Instead of being out in shorts and t'shirts I'm rugged up inside with the heater (still) on.
OSS, hope your neck heals sooner.
At 18:23 EmilyLady said...: Have you ever been to RI, Chantrelle?
At 22:33 Fluffy said...: Greetings, Fiendly Ones! Interesting discussion. I've been a comic fan all my life (read them in the paper at breakfast every day) but only got into GNs a couple of years ago - probably because I lost interest in comic books after childhood. I liked all the "kiddie" ones, and Tintin (and the Oz books! The Larkspur, CA library had over 30 of them and I read them all when I was 9. Loved the beautiful Art Nouveau illustrations by John R. Neill.)

I read something Mr. G. wrote about the process of writing a GN and remembered it when I read Jim Butcher's comments about the learning curve for writing his Dresden Files comics. It seems sort of like cinematography and writing combined to me. You have to set up each "shot" including the words.

We have gotten to two bookshelves of GNs - not counting the ones R keeps in her library. And Webcomics! Love Questionable Content and XKCD. Got Revelle a Pintsize hoodie and two other QC t-shirts for her birthday.

I hope Quichie is having a break. I keep wondering when she gets a vacation, and can hear her laughing at the idea.
At 07:40 EmilyLady said...: So can I.

Rhode Island Festival of Children's Books and Authors this morning. Lois Lowry, Mary Downing Hahn, Chris Van Allsburg; and of course my good friend Padma Venkatraman!
At 07:41 EmilyLady said...: P.S. Read Padma's novel, "Climbing the Stairs." Do it.

It's awesome.
At 10:02 FabulousLorraine said...: Hi All! Just back from a couple days of total relax me time, which was sorely needed.

Did what I had to, but mostly, read, yoga and walking and Bengals..

Feeling lots better now, recharged and on my way into work!

Hope your weekends are as good, I'll try and get a new post up tonight...
At 10:07 Phiala said...: Good for you, Q! I know it was needed, and am glad it helped.

I'm sitting on the couch with the cat... watching it snow. Waaahhh!!Jan Moir's Mail
At 10:29 Marjorie said...: So glad you managed to get some me-time, to relax and re-charge, Q :-)

Hope that the -mail monster has not grown too much in your absence.

Do you still have snow, or has Phiala got it all now, instead?
At 11:20 EmilyLady said...: Hi Lorraine!
At 12:02 One Sock Short said...: Two days of you-time, Lorraine? Good for you!!! So glad you had the chance to get some well-deserved R&R.

I'm feeling sorry for myself because it looks like a beautiful day out. Perfect for YarnCon, which I have been looking forward to for months (what with being separated from my beloved Rhinebeck). But here I am at home, in as much pain as ever. And scared it won't go away this time. I cannot afford surgery right now, just can not.

Okay, enough whining. Have a wonderful time at the fest Emily! I can't remember what else is up in the fiendom, but hope it's mostly good all around, or will be soon.
At 12:06 vampi said...: :/ poor oss, i'm thinking about you and i do hope your neck starts behaving
At 12:07 Fluffy said...: Oh, Linda! I hope it gets better. I'm so sorry you're feeling so bad. Is there anything that helps?
At 12:10 EmilyLady said...: OSS, I really hope things turn out okay!
At 14:01 EmilyLady said...: By the way, the Festival was fun; had a lovely time chatting with Padma and they had a great display for "Climbing the Stairs"; they'd formed all the hardcover copies into little staircases (cue pun drums) ... and then I went to meet one of the authors whose work I hadn't really read but figured, "Hey, so long as she's here, might as well say hello," and she seemed to find me a nuisance. But I had fun in the short time I visited.
At 14:02 EmilyLady said...: And of course it wasn't like I talked a lot. It was like a quarter of a minute of saying hello.
At 14:09 dabbler said...: I just bought a car! 2003 Subaru Impreza, pretty blue, brand new rebuilt engine, 69,000 mi.on the rest of it. The new baby of our fleet. Only car of this century, only one under 140,000 mi! It replaces a 1993 Impreza with 217,000 miles. That one will get a new clutch, once I save up the money, and new timing belt, and become the back-up car. Or maybe DD will drive it, though she has her eye on the new one. MINE.

And so's the loan.
At 14:15 dabbler said...: OSS, neck pain sucks, and makes it so hard to do anything at all. Might be time to check in with your doc. There are some alternatives to surgery, and some options for what sort of surgery if unavoidable, including replacement disc, rather than fusions. From what I read, those are way less invasive and quicker healing. Not trying to add misery...just not sure if you knew about them.

((Hugs)) and comfortable sleeping positions wished for you.
At 14:45 Marjorie said...: Oooh, exciting! (and good to have a new and reliable car for winter) :-)
At 14:56 One Sock Short said...: Glad you had a good time at the fest, Emily. Maybe you just caught the one author in a bad moment for her.

Thanks for continued good wishes, fiends. I really need and appreciate them. I'm afraid nothing helps, Fluffy. Pain meds don't do anything. Sleep meds do help at night for a little while, but too much of them has the opposite effect on me. I don't dare take any tonight afer using them for two nights.

I hadn't heard about disc replacement, Dabbler, so thanks for telling me about it. We only talked about fusion before. I'm going to ask my dr about physical therapy. It helped so much the last time. I haven't had this much trouble with my neck since before I moved to Chicago, so I don't know what this dr's approach will be. But I will avoid surgery as long as I can. I just can't afford the long recovery time right now.

I just wish I could knit. Or read for more than a few minutes at a time.
At 14:59 Phiala said...: OSS, that's just awful. I think I've said that, but still. Audiobooks? Podcasts? Or are those not distracting enough? I hope your dr has good ideas, and quickly.
At 15:12 One Sock Short said...: Ah, I've been saving the audio for evenings, when I'm *really* feeling needy. Listened to knitting podcasts last night. May ask Boss to read Fragile Things to me tonight.
At 18:31 Kitty Cat said...: awww thanks everyone for the sweet birthday wishes, i had a great day yesterday and am happy to see that miss Q is back with us---

tonight Drew & I are going to the Scream Awards, which is going to be very over the top, all the cast of True Blood will be there plus Keith Richards etc,
i am just hoping to get an eyeful of Eric the vampire in real life, he is luscious.
Drew is in the closet looking for his very best gear, the invite says dress dangerously. what the &(&@ to wear? ugh.
will report in soon, thanks again for the great shout outs, hope everyone is having a restful weekend---
At 18:55 Dragonsally said...: Ohhhh, you need some Ms Malena clothes Kitty. OMG, you are going to see Stephen Moyer and Sam Trammel and Alexander Skarsgard and the wonderful Aussie actor Ryan Kwanten live! and all the rest of them! I am freaking jealous as a jealous fan girl can be!
*end of drooling rant*

OSS, your predicament sounds just awful so I'm sending you all the healing vibes I can spare.

Lorraine! Hoorah for some time to yourself.
At 19:42 Beez said...: Sounds like a grand birthday Kitty and more fun tonight.

FabLo- YOU time? Seriously? ('bout time).

OSS- The Fella has 3 herniated discs in his back and is strongly in "avoid surgery" mode too. PT has done him a world of good, but he also has had remarkably good results from acupuncture. Ask doc if there's a good integrative medicine clinic to work with- it's frequently less expensive too.
At 19:57 FabulousLorraine said...: I wanted to do a new post tonight, but I forgot my camera with all the pics, and the other Kitty pics are at work, and it was a really long day, and those darn Bengals are creating chaos all over the place.

It's like training for the Bengal Olympics, ALL of them, Lear and Mab are up making noise like monsters, Magic is howling and Venus ad Mim have turned into dervishes.

I'll g into work early tomorrow and do a lovely post for you. Promise!

Feel better OSS, hoping Kitty has fun, and all things tonight are good for all fiends.

Cold here. Like winter. Got fire.
At 21:42 ariandalen said...: To post now...or wait to be #200...

I guess I'll post now. ;)

I've seen lots of cool skull things at Target the past couple of days: tumblers with skulls, plastic plates with skulls, skulls with crowns and a wyvern on each side, table runners, tablecloths, and placemates. Even a purple pillar candle with the crowned skull and wyvern supporters, though Don did find a skull candle with a wyvern on each side at one Target. Unfortunately, it was crunched in on the bottom front and it was the only one. :( There were also two large skull bowls for $24.99. Target also has lots of skelanimal stuff.

This has been a Fiend Service Announcement. Not all items available in all Target stores, and possibly only in the U.S.A. I haven't checked Target online.
At 21:48 ariandalen said...: So glad you got some "Me Time," Ms. Fabulous! You were past due for some.

OSS, ::SIGH:: I can't add anything to what others have already said. Hope you're feeling better sooner rather than later.
At 22:07 FabulousLorraine said...: Thanks Adriandalen, I am sadly behind this season on my shopping. Kitty and I went to a Spirit shop and got some things, and tried to find one we had been to two years ago, but alas, it had gone.

Go figure.

Really tired, but not ready to sleep. Weird.

Bengal Olympics is done. Venus sleeping beside me, Mim on her Beowulf blanket in front of the fire. Nothing heard from the rest of the house.
At 22:57 Na said...: Good on ya', Q, for taking some time. If it's quiet in the rest of the house, hope that's not as in "It's quiet... too quiet." :)

Scream Awards sound highly entertaining!

Sock, I wish you relief. So sorry to hear it's not improving yet. I know neck pain can really sap one's energy, can only begin to imagine the difficulty of a herniated disc.

Mild evening here, had some temps way above freezing today. Huzzah!

And the beasts and I wrapped our week of watching LotR a bit at a time; finally finished The Return of the King. Mmmmmm.
At 00:14 Dragonsally said...: Q, I reread The Long Winter over the last few days, on your recommendation to find out what winter is like where you live, and I have to say...how the heck did they do it? The book has had me mulling over the conditions people survive in. Tenacious things, humans.
At 01:27 vampi said...: what's really amazing is people survived and chose to stay before modern conveniences like snow plows and central heating.

i'm turning into one of "those" people :( today while out for dinner at 10pm, there was a family of 2 "mothers" and 2 small kids. i estimate the age at 8. by mothers, i mean 2 adults of "know better" age. the kids were loud and rambunctious. it was once the kid started describing the "fat" people on the biggest loser that i got so mad i walked over and said "maybe you don't realize how loud you are talking, but we can hear you clearly at our table. it's not appropriate to let your child talk about people in such a degrading manner."
the whole restaurant froze. :( the kid was being quite rude in describing where the contestant was fan and laughing about how it folded over.

was i just being overly sensitive about my weight? when did this become socially acceptable behavior to teach your children? i certainty would not have been allowed to have that kind of conversation in public and in such a rude manner. it's one thing to ask questions about other people in your home, and another to mock them loudly in a restaurant, right?
At 01:47 Dragonsally said...: We wouldn't have been allowed to speak like that either Vampi, not by a long shot. When you were out, on you were on your absolute best behaviour, or else the else being provided by dad.
At 06:17 Marjorie said...: Vampi, I don't think it's unreasonable or oversensitive to say something. Making personal comments about other people, especially so loudly and publicly is unacceptable. Of course, you shouldn't *need* to say anything, becasue the parents should do so!

How did they respond?
At 06:45 Marjorie said...: Can't resist making another comment to bring it up to 200.. I like round numbers.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Very Tired Just Now Assistant...

225 Comments:

Subscribe