Archived Messages from March 27 to April 10, 2000

Just a few words for the notebook. I've been a way for three days, but three days seems to be 3 weeks here---so much written over such a short period of time. Can one of the ladies please explain to me what is this notion of chic flics? Why are guys REAL men if they like movies like FGT? I liked it simply because it was good, good story and characters thats what I look for in a movie. And while I'm on the subject I think PHANTOM MENACE was just not well done. I would say OK at best. Lucas going on and on about how he was waiting for technology to catch up, so he could make the movie he wanted to. This movie can not compare to the other 3! I just could not get over certain things like, a Virgin birth that seems to be just routine;no big deal. And that weak explanation of the force-- mitichlorians or whatever there called. It seems to me that Lucas has to a certain extent fallen victim to what he so warned against:usurping of the human spirit by technology. He just got to caught up in animation and computer graphics and never really told a good story. Beleiving that Lucas is or was one of the most talented filmakers, it makes me angry to see this movie. Sorry about the soapbox

Jerry: hope you have recovered from your dream and that you are now resting comfortably. I haven't been able to get much sleep myself lately--just too much on my mind.

Howard: Your experiences with the dentist are something else! I can mostly say I've had little problem with them and that includes having all four of my wisdom teeth removed at once.

Heather: hoping you are on the mend. It sound like you are again finding your form. I'm still looking for mine.

jack: It's good to hear your friend is well.

Welcome to Mary and Leslie. hope you stay around. Mary don't know if I saw an answer to your riddle but was wondering if the answer was-- Tommorow?

Hi to everyone else. will try to write more frequently

Happy writing
jeff

yo all scribes and scribbets(?!?)
How could you sit in front of the computer in such good weather?
Jack ,I am very impressed by ur resolve to
archive frequently.
I just had a thought-- what if one of us is
CELEBRITY?
Jerry 's UPCOMMING story seems scary and this thought
of mine certainly seems to have a lot of potential.
In fact i am gonna write a story on it.
HI RACHEL, TEEKAY , ALLEIN, JERRY, HOWARD!
AMERICO, WHEREFORE ART THOU AMERICO?
HI MARY, WELCOME !
HEATHER, HOW'S LIFE?
BYE BYE .

HOWARD: So are U, but U already know that.

HEATHER: I can't do the stroy bit although I'd like to, I'm at the workin' house again. On the bright side, it is Tuesday.

Hi ho, hi ho and all the blah blah humbug rest of it.

S.O.E.: Thankyou, and by those words alone I can tell that U R A very YYY person.

Cassandra - actually I've changed her name to Nezumi. It means "mouse" in Japanese. :)
Allein

well, well, mouse babies.
Yeah, they do have that quality about them we like to refer to as cuteness. But the mother eating a weak baby isn't so cute, is it? My hamster ate one of her young once, when I had her as a kid and happened to read all about 'mating your hamsters' in my hamster book. I had a male hamster too, and thought it would be quite fun to have some rodent babies around. I didn't tell my mother until later, and when I told her that my female hamster (Feista) was pregnant, she didn't believe me... at least not until a night 18 days later when Fiesta gave birth the five little pink wigglers. What a proud papa Chippy was! I used to take Feista out of her cage for a break from the babies, and using a tiny silver baby's spoon, I scooped up each baby rodent in turn and looked at them, touched them. I made sure I touched them all so that they would all have the same smell. Later on, the runt was eaten by Feista because it was dying. All I found was one little foot. Iyeeee!
Feista was named so because of her feisty nature. She had repeatedly bitten her previous owner, but for a reason I may never know, she never once tried to bite me.
Must have been Chippy's doting company.

Well, rutting rodents and all,
it is rather a redundant feeling sort of day. Haven't we had enough Mondays?
Give me an extra Saturday and do away with Monday altogether.

Heather

CASSANDRA -- That's three L's ...

Christie- Take your time absorbing the book... I can wait on it for a while yet. As soon as you finish just send me a quick email, and I'll give you my address.

Gariess- I'm pretty sure polysylabic has only one 'b'. Hold on.... yup, one 'b', but it has two L's. Polysyllabic :) And stop being so darned handsome... you're distracting all these ladies from writing.

Allein- My roommate freshman year had a little albino frog named Chloe. Make sure you take good care of her. I'll send an email your way later. I've been away from my computer for at least 3 days (EEK!).

*shrugging* I really have no excuse other than having a string of scorching hot nights! Wooo hooo! And now I've got a lot of work ahead of me... *sigh* Well, at least I allowed myself a nice stress breaker. :)

ta ta you sexy sexy people you

Cassandra

HEY EVERYONE!! My mouse had her babies - there look to be ten or eleven of them, but I don't know. I'd rather not get too close to her because if she thinks the babies are in any danger, she'll eat them. They're all pink and tiny and soooo cute! I'll have a definate count at the end of the week - she might eat some if they're weak or if some die.
Ciao,
Allein

Re: critique area silence. Also, in many cases, critiques are conducted via private email. I still hope to implement a different kind of script for the Workbook so that each story will be a start of a thread and responses to it would be attached after as subheadings. I have the script; just not the time to implement it at this point. Ah for the want of many many nanoseconds to rub togethers. Sometime today I will archive things here. Closing in on 300k is gettting a bit on the high side. I sometime forget what with having a cable modem, but that capability is not open to all or even a minority of minority if we start thinking about conditions around the globe. I will try to make it a point of archiving when things get to 150k. Take care.

Thank you, Riddle Guru,
your words are kind. And your riddles superb.

S.O.E.

Mary, the reason no one has posted anything on the critique page is because Jack just archived the old version and comments, and created a new page for us!
I guess we've all been lounging of late, and haven't gotten the verve to write more shorties. How about a PEP talk?
Ok, I'll start.

Here is my short shortie of the evening, given in pep talk formulation. (I could have been a guidance counsellor, perhaps a former life - then again, I could be hopeless) That was supposed to be sarcasm, BTW.

"...On with the show. We must always get on with the show. Life is theatre, Frances, a dance that has gone on throughout time. There will always be players. Ever the eternal game to be played and foretold! Always a stage to move on, for life is a stage. And there will always be something to live expressely for. It's your choice to take life's sweetness up and enjoy it like a bite of tender fruit. That moment is just one. THere are a lifetime of moments to make. THere will always be an audience, even if it is only yourself. So pick up that pear, or apple, or plum, and taste it." she said, all the while holding an imaginary fruit aloft, circling it in front of Frances' nose.

Frances considered her thoughts. "But what if I make a big mistake?" she asked.

"Frances," her teacher smiled, "Even mistakes are meant to happen."

"What if I don't belong on stage? What if I'm laughed off?"

"Then you start planning your comedy routine," Esther replied.

"And what if I succeed? What then? I'll have to feel like this all the time!" she exclaimed, her costume bunching around her shoulders as she flung her arms up into the darkness that enveloped them in the stage's back wing.

"Whatever happened to 'I choose'?" Esther said, smiling softly at her pupil. "React, and find your actions based solely upon others'. But choose to act, purely out of your own choice, based upon your own values, and your world changes into something you never once dreamed to find real. Success isn't to be feared. You do not have to fight to keep something that has always been yours."

With that her pupil got to her feet, bowed to her teacher, and looked her straight in the eye. "Act two, scene one. Cue me."

Esther gave her a nod. The sigh she had held tight gradually seeped out. "Cue prop change to early evening, and on my count..."

The Actress
(c) 2000, Heather Myles

There's my weird notion of the day.

Sorry, no more riddles.
Heather

JERRY: How horrible, I remember having a pretty horrible nightmare once, I woke up and was too scared even to move and I could barely breathe. Looking back over the dream it wasn't particularly scarey, but the atmosphere of it was just bone numbing.

S.O.E.: Good one, it had me thinking...A coffin, bravo, jolly good.
Also, great poem.

Mouse poo and dental tools,
Bloody gore and gash
--es
Fifty dreams of sleepless nights
Are riddles seen in flash
--es
Vivid and lithe in physique
Running riot in the street;
And teeming with feathered eyelash
--es.



Here is a riddle you may have seen before:

He who makes it does not want it.
He who buys it cannot use it.
He who uses it cannot see or feel it.
What is it?

S.O.E.

Did'ja ever have a nightmare that was so terriable that you feared sleep. So horrid that even thinking about it caused you to break out in a cold sweat? Had one of those last night and maybe, just maybe when the terror subsides, when I am no longer afraid to close my eyes, maybe when I can again relax, I will write a story about it. It does have to do with eating, so it might fit in SM**.

Sleep well, I know I won't.

Jerry

Hello Everyone!

Riddle Guru: It wasn't the answer to the riddle that I liked, it was the riddle itself. I hope I didn't insult anyone's intelligence. It wasn't intended. I do like a challenge so if you happen to know someone who might know a brain sapping riddle...(taunt)

p.s. Loved Kindergarten Cop


Christi,Jerry,Howard and the lot: Thank you for making me feel welcome.

I have one small question: Why hasn't anyone been posting anything on the crit page? Did I miss something?

Hello All.

JACK: That is fantastic news, I'm so glad.

EDDIE: Hi you thilly you.

Hi MARY; and welcome. I think your riddle didn't really need the hint. It is obviously the future, or more precisely, given your clue: Tomorrow. :> Were you not lurking for our mind numbing, genius level riddles? hee hee.

Welcome LESLIE.

CHRISTI: It's not your fault, I did some thing odd to it and I don't know how. Shall try again when at home.

HEATHER: Ooooh Ouchh*

HOWARD: Yaaarghhhh*!

I read once that dentists have the highest suicide rate, but after reading your horror dental stories I tend to think it's murder covered up.

Loved kindergarten cop and the colour purple and Shirley Valentine.

ALLIEN: They capped a baby tooth!!! My how times have changed. Maybe you got someone who was a little too enthusiastic, or perhaps they were saving for that Jamaican holiday.
On the news they are saying that there a mice in almost plague proportions here in NSW. I haven't seen one yet, just some little pooies.

Must go and feed my face.

    Howard: I went into Phantom Menace with few expectations and so came out satisfied. At least, I am assuming by Star Wars 1 you are referring to Phantom Menace. I am not among those that think that Jar Jar must die, but I was a little bemused by the virgin birth inuendo and some other features. Overall I thought it a good first outing for the trilogy. I especially liked Neisson. Anakin as a boy was the real drawback in the film for me. His acting made me wish mightily that the actor playing the boy in Six Sense could have been his replacement. Still, it is enough of a good rompt that I bought the widescreen edition. I am really holding judgment until I see the whole trilogy in conjunction with each other. If you go back and watch the original trilogy I think you will find that the first episode is the weakest of the sequence.

    However, I am very mightily annoyed with Lucas for not releasing it in DVD. Point of fact he has indicated that he will not release any of the Star Wars series in DVD until all are done, sometime in 2005 or 2006. He has given some lame excuse that he is waiting for blue laser DVD that will allow for greater storage or greater security or some such dribble, but is releasing Phantom Menace in Laser Disk in Japan.

    The simple fact is that even if I am annoyed with Lucas for not releasing it in a format that will best play on my TV (five hundred lines), I still remember walking into the theatre on opening day just because it looked like an interesting movie and there had not been anything really exciting since 2001 and then flat out being blown away as the ship flowed by on the big screen and kept flowing and flowing and flowing. I was absolutely hooked. That scene has almost become cliche these days, but at the time none of us had seen anything like it and the rest of the thematic issues including the force and all the rest were novel and riveting. That nostalgia does not quite quit when I am watching Phantom Menace.

Speaking of science fiction. Is anyone here in the Pacific Northwest going to Norwescon 23 . I will be sitting a table hyping Westercon56 and will also be doing paneling such as web design, internet resources for writers and more. Drop by the table and say hello. It would be nice to put faces together with names. Or come to the party we will be having on Friday. If Easter Weekend is a problem, Fran and I will be having a a Social/party at our house May 20th. I have plans to bake a whole salmon, hopefully a Copper River Sockeye if it does not turn out to be too expensive, and generally have a good comfort food social. Feel free to join us.

Hi Mary! Hi Leslie! Welcome to you both! May your stay be long and prosperous!

Would you believe it's still snowing here in upstate New York! We have about 4 inches already, and the wind is whistling it around like it was January! My niece wanted me to till her garden tomorrow, but I don't think I will...

Dentists redux: My next call (for dentures) will be to Dr. Payne. He comes highly recommended, though with a name like that I kind of wonder...

I watched StarWars episode 1 last night -- was disappointed.

gotta go --
howard

Time for Allein's funnies! ::do the funky Sqrlmunk::

Only in America!!

1. Only in America......can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance..

2. Only in America......do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front..

3. Only in America......do people order double cheese burgers, large fries, and a diet coke..

4. Only in America......do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters..

5. Only in America......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage..

6. Only in America......do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place..

7. Only in America......do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight..

8. Only in America.....do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'..

I have a riddle.


"I never was, am always to be,
No one ever saw me, nor ever will
And yet I am the confidence of all
To live and breathe on theis terrestrial ball"

hint:it never comes

Jack - I'm so glad that your friend is okay. :) My mom went to get a biopsy a few years ago and luckily it wasn't cancer, so I sort of know what it's like waiting for results like that. Anyway, I'm just glad that it's over with and everything is okay.

Everyone - I now have a new addition to my family. To be followed by 8-11 other additions. Yes, I just got a mouse today. She's white with red eyes and she's pregnant! :) I'm going to be aunt - well, sort of. I went to a garage sale today and this little girl was desperately trying to find her mouse a home. Her mom didn't want baby mice so it was either get rid of the mouse or turn it loose. My parents don't know my mouse is pregnant - as far as they know, she's fat. I'm acting like I don't know either. After the babies are old enough, I'm going to sell the males and keep the females (they don't fight with each other and tend to be cleaner than males). Anyway, my new mouse's name is Chloe. The only drawback is that I don't have a cage so she's currently residing in a fish bowl. I hope that's okay. I'd like to move her into the cage my gerbils are currently in but they're still living there so I'll have to wait. Has anyone here ever had mice?
Ciao,
Allein

Hey, you guys,

That is good news about your friend, Jack.

I hesitate to add this to the recent discussions but the best dentist I went to was Dr. Auger. I don't know what it is about the name thing, I have a theory that Dental schools don't like to flunk a guy out if he has such a comically appropriate name. Nice horror stories though, guys. Sounds like somebody's been reading too much Stephen King.

I'll talk to you later, I am just taking a break from watching Eyes Wide Shut on my video machine. I can only spend so much time in the bathroom with Nicole Kidman. I wonder what it must be like to show the world one's wiping technique. Movies get very weird.

GS

Just to let everyone know, our friend's result was that there was no cancer. Thanks to all for your prayers and thoughts. This was particularly harrowing for our friend, because her mother died of cancer that began as breast cancer. So, she was perhaps more acutely aware of the potential outcomes than others might be. Well, been a long day and I am off for bed early. Take care.

Greetings scribes and scribettes?

Well I have been away from the notebook for a few days, putting the finnishing touches on the wifes new computer. Got it togather and up and running, then had to take her old one over to my sisters. My sister is upgradding from an old 486 to an old pentium 200, a big upgrade for her, and the wife now has a sparkeling new AMD k6-2 500 MHZ machine. A little faster then mine, but it was her turn to get the new one.

Christi - finished the book and will have it in the mail to Howard on Monday. It was better this time, I think.

Howard - see above.

To all the new notebookers {{{{{{{WELCOME}}}}}}}}

Speaking of dentists, for the first time in my entire life my dentist let me out of his office with nothing more then a good probing. No cavities. First time in over 40 years. Must have done something right. I can sympathize with those now undergoing wisdom tooth extraction, had three removed in one session back in '77 by an army dentist, with nothing more then a few shots of novecane. Last year saw two root-canals and three new caps. Maybe that was why there were no cavaties, probably too many fillings and not enough tooth left. I am the only one in my family with most of my own teeth, my father died with a full set of his own but mom lost hers early as did my sisters. The wife has been using store bought teeth for nearly twenty years now too. Guess I was lucky enough to keep mine this long, and I sure don't want to part with them now.

Hi Eddie, you thillie gooth. I don't think I want to take a look in YOUR mouth anytime thoon. (dribble dribble)

Gariess, How could I possibly NOT know you were handsome?

Heather, Your poor Mommy. :( That's not the kind of treatment a good mom deserves! I protest!

Mary, Hello and welcome! You've got guts if you're joining in after reading all those posts! Don't be scared to get that tooth taken care of just because of our stories; we're just commiserating. Now the bill, on the other hand, THAT'S scary.
BTW, love your Email address!
Again, a warm welcome extended to you and to Leslie, be he/she male or female. (Come on Leslie, the suspense is killing me!)

Gah night all

Hi Everyone! This is my first post (I haven't even been lurking), and I must say you all have me scared to death to have my final wisdom tooth pulled. I don't have the scary stories some of you have relayed, but geez! The last time I went to my dentist,who's name is not very clever, he gave me an estimate on what my last wisdom extraction would cost. Huh. I felt like I was taking my car in for a transmission overhaul. Apparently it is impacted and the roots are wrapped around my jawbone. "That costs extra." Yeah.

Enough about teeth, you all seem to have a very good raport
and I hope that I make a positive addition to the group. Leslie, be you man or woman, I'm glad I'm not the only new kid on the block. I sent you an email yesterday about Washington writer's groups(just in case you were wondering where it came from).

I look forward to being an active member of the Notebook, and getting to know all of you better.

Howard, that is truly horrific.
My grandmother had the same thing done when she was 20, and she's gone through so many sets of dentures since then there's no use counting. She had soft teeth, too - in fact the outermost layer of enamel never formed. My mother is the same way; it's a genetic (so they say) condition, but no dentist will pull all of my mother's teeth. I suspect this is because they make too much money by fixing her teeth every month. My mom has chunks of tooth that break off when she eats. She has so many fillings in her teeth, there is more filling than tooth; hence the chunks falling off hither and tho. She'll be chewing and all of a sudden go 'ooh!' and in a moment, she'll pull the tidbit of once-pearly out. Happens so often the dentist calls HER every month to see if she's lost any more bits. She has asked every dentist she's been to (countless, Watson) if they will just pull all of her remaining teeth but none of them will. They say that the gums will gradually wither away (erode?) without any teeth to keep them between. This is probably why you have so many problems with your dentures, Howard, and the same for my grandmother. SHe finally got magnets implanted and the dentures have metal plates to keep them firmly in place. Or the other way 'round, titanium implants and magnets on the dentures! Must be magnets on the dentures, so if you have them out you don't collect pocket change.

Well, horror stories aside,
I guess I shouldn't complain! There is always a horror story more horrible than our own.

ALas, fair writing pals, it is time to tuck myself into the arms of my duvet and get under my husband. Wait, reverse that! No - wait! That's fine the way it was!

tee hee and ta ta
Heather

Theeth,
Whath about Theeth?
I have never found the need tho go tho the dentiths.
My theeth are stho good itsth justh unbelievable!
Juthst look ath thisth!!






Sthee!!

Lather,
Ed

Oh Heather, oh Howard. I was all set to launch into my root canal stories (I've had six) but I'm ashamed to now. Your stories are truely horrendous, I won't offer mine up. The only thing I really hate about my teeth (they look good--both white and straight) is the pain I have to endure when I get a cavity. For some reason I bypass regular cavities no matter how many times a year I visit old white-coat. I go immediately to tremendous pain that keeps me awake for forty eight hours at time(usually on the weekends when no dentist is open) and it hurts so bad that I can't even move, for every movement causes agony. A dentist once suggested that I do what Howard did, and have them all pulled since I have such soft teeth. I immediately told him to go and screw himself. After hearing your story, Howard, I'm so glad that I did. My best dentist was called, get this, Dr. Chipman. Ouch. And my next one was named Dr. Sparks! I pictured sparks flying from my mouth every time he took the drill to me, imagining him with mad scientist hair, screaming with evil laughter. (Insert Rachel laugh here.)

Wisdom Tooth Fairy, I have a bone to pick with you. Nothing is what I received for my wisdom teeth. I hope you plan on making this up to me in the future.

Allein, Hee hee! Poor Doctor Wrencher, his business must suffer so. Why would anyone with such a name enter into the dentistry profession? He should have been a mechanic! HAW!

Love to you all,
Christi

Howard - Ouch! I would have sued him if that happened to me. My teeth are bad enough as it is and I'm hoping to never get dentures. I have braces right now - not for superficial reasons, but because straight teeth tend to be healthier. I have a problem with my enamel due to the flouride I was exposed to as a child. I've had to have cealants done several times because they don't stay. I've only had one cavity - luckily - and that was on a baby tooth. They capped it instead of just pulling it - a molar that was already a little loose that should have fallen out years ago but didn't and they didn't want to take any chances. Incedently, it cost more to put a cap on it than to pull it out. I hate the dentist, and yet, I want to be a dental hygentist, but all they do is clean teeth really. My orthodontist is a moron. I go in to see him every six weeks and he tells me I need to brush better. I go into my regular dentist about every six months and he says my teeth are perfect (as far as being clean goes). I remember when I was choosing a dentist, I had a choice between Dr. Burson or Dr. Wrencher. I obviously went with the first choice, because I don't want someone named Dr. Wrencher anywhere near my teeth!
Anyway, enough about that - my dental horror stories aren't nearly as bad as yours. Ouch.
Ciao,
Allein

Tooth Fairy -- I can't remember what you left me, but those were rough times, and we were lucky if we got a nickle, Was that you?
Actually the wisdom teeth episode wasn't all that bad, but my adventures with dentists go way back.
When I was 7 years old, my dad took me to old Dr Schmiesky, who decided that I needed a cavity filled in one of my baby teeth. He didn't use novocaine back then, but I was a brave little guy. He was drilling on the tooth (a molar on the left side), and all I heard over the sound of the drill was "OOOPS!" and he turned pale. A chunk had broken off the tooth, and he put the drill right through my cheek. It didn't really hurt all that much, but it was scary. Back then people didn't sue for that kind of stuff, but today I'd probably own him. But it gets better --
I had problems with my teeth (crooked, etc) all through my childhood, but we didn't do the braces thing back then either. Then when I was 21, a dentist (Dr. F) convinced me that because all my teeth were soft, and I had so many problems with them, I should have him pull them all out, and wear nice straight, white, pretty dentures. So, at 6AM one morning he strapped me into the chair in his office, had an anaesthetist friend of his give me a shot of sodium pentathol, and pulled 24 or 25 teeth, including two of my wisdom teeth that hadn't even started to show yet. I woke up with my new dentures in my mouth (so they would heal in place) and I remember the first words I said were "Oh Shit." My jaw was broken in three places, and I was bleeding profusely, and for about 10 years after that I would feel something sharp in my mouth, and have to pull out a sliver of bone or enamel that he had left, that had finally worked its way to the surface.
He is now a used car salesman in Massena.
So there was really nothing in the way when the army dentist pulled my remaining two wisdom teeth.
Now I only go to the dentist to be fitted for new dentures, which is almost impossible because of the way he left my jaw and gums. Most of them won't even touch me after they see what's there, although I did have a specialist offer to do titanium implants (they're really rather nice) for $16,000.
I can eat a lot of mush for $16,000.
howard

Beware, Dear Notebook Writers,
For the following story is true
and GRUESOME.
I should know,
I went to collect the tooth and
to my chagrin,
I had to leave my present
without the usual exchange.

Howard, did you like the present I left you for your wisdoms? You were very brave.

Sincerely, the Wisdom Tooth Fairy

Howard and Christi! This time getting my remaining three wisdoms out (oh, and Jeff too) was not so bad.
However, my first experience with maxilofacial surgery was not under aneasthetic - at least not the general kind.(sleep, know nothing of the tools being used on your vulnerable jaws...sleep) My first wisdom tooth removal experience was none too pleasant: (Put down any food you may want to eat later)
I had to have just the one out at the time, as it was frightfully impacted. I didn't want to spring for the cost of gen. anaesthetic, so just had the ol' novocain. The dentist and his assistant pried my mouth open with what I remember looking like stainless steel (highly polished) jaws of life. Then, after some prying around and muttering, he proceeded to slit open my gums over the impacted tooth. Then he picked up a tool from the surgical table. It was a giant steel chisel-like instrument, you know, the kind Fred Flintstone used to chisel 'The Flintstones' into the rock? Then he took a mallot and, holding the chisel (it had a blunt end, however, and nearly filled my entire mouth) he touched it up against my now exposed vegetation grinder. With an amazingly loud smash, he broke my tooth into small pieces, and dislocated my little helpless jaw. Then the assistant, to add insult to injury, lifted the suction hose (diameter must have been large enough to suck up a small kitten) and slurked up the tooth chunks, gore, and half of my floppy, numbed cheek. I cried while he yanked the last roots free. I cried while he sewed up the mashed remains of gum. I cried all the while the assistant toured me out of the office, telling me how to take care of my now-mutilated face, and gave me a banana 'liquid lunch' shake, because I couldn't talk to tell her I hated bananas and wanted the vanilla. As soon as I walked out of the office, the tears flew out. And I cried all the way home.

You can bet I didn't go back to that %$)#*%)@! surgeon this time. (His real name, to beat all, was Dr. Scrivener) The dentist that did my surgery just this week was very gentle and kind. His real name was Dr. Charles Parker Minett. (Could have been Duet or even Minuetta, but Minett is close enough). He played music while I was being put under anaesthesia. You can bet I had cool dreams. Yes, I was scared, but I knew after it was over I wouldn't be crying without tears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sooooo,
anyone for a Bloody Mary? Ha ha didn't think so.
Howard, I can only imagine what 4 out at once would have been like, wide awake. ****SHUDDER****

G'night, all

oh, yes, before I forget, Welcome Leslie!
Most of the regular notebookers have posted a story or two in the round robin archives (Strawberries and Moon) so check it out and add one of your own if you like - the round robin has been pretty quiet as of late. (guilt, guilt, I said I'd add another but haven't yet.)
It's the novel, everyone. It has me entwined and I am loving it! (minds out of low places, please)

Barrymore in 'Ever After' is a little more of a serious role than 'Never Been Kissed', but not quite what I imagine she could do for a contemporary drama.
I truly applaud the guys for having seen 'Fried Green Tomatoes' to begin with! (Yes, REAL MEN abound this notebook! Hurrah!)
Oh! Allein, if you've ever walked along that older style of railroad, if you manage to get your foot down that far, it's wedged in there pretty good. I think that's why he couldn't get his foot out even if he untied the boot - but it seems he didn't try that hard. Must have been the shock of seeing the train coming. I'd have been surprised myself.
I recommend seeing the rest of the film ,too!
One of my favourite parts is the parking lot scene too. And the saran wrap scene, and also Idgie getting honey from the bee's nest. Very cool.

Well, I'm taking up quite the space here.
See you tomorrow, or Sunday
Happy Weeeeeek END all (filled with Tylenol #3 and hot water bottles ---- but did I mention I haven't had a single bruise? Just swelling...)


Heather

Christi, BTW how did you find out I was handsome. I was keeping that a secret (mostly from those who have seen me.)

GS

One more thing on FGT. I am always more susceptible to films with rural settings. There seems to be something about the rural setting that produces succesful films. FTG and Slingblade, The Color Purple etc. To name a few with a southern setting. My observation is that film makers, and probably actors too, prefer the warmer seasons on locations.
I applaud the makers of Cider House Rules for doing a film in northern New England in all four seasons. I also don't understand why the Academy didn't consider this film for photography or cinematography over American Beauty which deserved the other awards it got but was not especially outstanding in these categories. Well, it's no secret that the voters in the Academy are too busy making their own films to even see all the others. I think mostly they watch the Golden Globes to see how they should vote. If they ever hold the Globes awards after the Oscars they won't know what to do.

Well that might have been a bit more than just one more thing but, hey.

GS

Howard,

Isn't it funny how that parking lot scene strikes a chord in so many people. I remember it in the film because at the time of release the anecdote was circulating around like one of those urban legends. "There was this woman who was looking for a space in a parking lot..." I never did read the book. Maybe the anecdote originated from that.

So Leslie writes TV news. Someone assumes Leslie is of the female persuasion but I have a cousin Leslie who is a guy. And there is also Leslie Nielsen who makes all those zany movies. Then there is the Neilsen rating system which has nothing to do with the name, Leslie.

Wait a minute, I sense a deception here. They don't write TV news on the west coast. They just send the helicopters up to film the police chasing cars on the highways. Well, okay, maybe that's just in LA.

Cassandra,

Just when you thought it was safe to use big words again, here comes Cassandra with her 5000 word dictionary of five syllable words, Don't mess with me, I went to school with Polly Sylabbic. I have to check if Sylabbic has two "b"s.

Later,

GS

Christi - While in Oregon, we passed through Astoria, and it did seem beautiful (it's where Kindergarten Cop was filmed by the way). But, we didn't stay there very long - just long enough to fill up on gas and then cross into Washington - home! :)

Leslie - WELCOME TO THE NOTEBOOK!! Everyone here is really nice - even Jon, though he hides it under a tough exterior, he's really a marshmallow at heart. I don't know of any writing groups in the Seattle area (I'm actually from the Bremerton/Silverdale area). But, if I hear of any, I'll let you know. I called to inquire about one here once but they said that a girl of seventeen didn't possibly have enough life experience to be a serious writer (I try to write, but during school, it must take a backseat). Luckily, I graduate this year and I'll show them life experiance when I go to Japan this summer! ::insert evil laughter here:: Well, that's if I go, I have to get accepted first.
Ciao,
Allein

My oh my. I believe we have the most masculine group of men ever assembled on the web. It takes a REAL man to admit he liked Fried Green Tomatoes. Thanks for showing what you're made of, you handsome heartbreakers. Throwing you all big wet kisses.

Howard - Ouch! No more complaining about dentists from my end.

Cassandra - I'll let you know when I'm nearly done so you can tell me where to send it to. BTW, was it a crapless day or not?

Allein - You lucky, I love Oregon. I dreamt for years of living in beautiful Astoria, the city as pretty as its name, but it wasn't to be. Hot, hot Tucson is where I spend my days, and will probably, forever.
On FGT, you must see it! You'll love it; I bawl like an itty bitty baby and laugh out loud every time I see it.

Hi Leslie! Welcome, welcome. Stick around, this is a really interesting place with a ton of great people.

Hi Rhoda! Glad you're still chuckin' them out.

Teekay - I got your Email. You're cute. Has your head shrunken back down to its normal size yet or should I get a pin? ;0) OOch, that sounds painful! I downloaded your second story but my computer couldn't show it to me. Was it not Word compatible? The only thing I could open it in was Notepad, and it appeared as a bunch of bizzare symbols. I want to read it so badly and now I can't! Please try sending it to me again and I'll try to get it right this time. (I'm pretty sure it was my screw-up.)

Hello to everyone; lurkers, sasquatches (is that the plural form?), cats, etc. Happy day to you all!

Ta ta for now

RHODA: Well girly, watcha waitin' fer? Send it on on.

Leslie,

Welcome to the Notebook. How good it is to see someone who actually gets paid for her writing. Actually, we do have some published authors among us. You should be in good company here, for Jack and Allein live in the Seattle area. Feel free to join in the many conversations here.

Teekay,

I did it! I finished Chapter twenty-two and am well underway with the next one. An amputation followed by a limb transplant did the trick. The patient (victem?) is out of physical therapy now and is ready to roll.

Rhoda

Hello!
I stumbled onto this page, but have been looking for writer's groups/a place to chat about writing for months.

Does anyone know of any creative writing groups in Washington State(particularly Seattle)? Do tell, if so.

My focus is on short contemporary fiction and some poetry, and I'd like to think I'll one day be patient enough to write a novel.

I write for tv news right now, and it's a whole different ballgame than print, but good practice. Still trying to figure out how to incorporate my passion for writing into my day-job.
good to meet you all!
leslie

Hi everyone,
I'm back and I had a wonderful time in Oregon. I was so young when I left that I don't remember anything at all. It's not much different from Washington in environment. I like it there though because there's no sales tax. That's a good thing because I hate having to figure out what something will be with tax. I got some nice souveniers - lots of postcards, a small snow globe with orcas in it, a little dolphin sculpture and a castle sculpture made of sand from the Oregon coast. It rained only one day when we were there and that was yesterday when we spent most of our time in the car comming home.
On the subject - I haven't seen Fried Green Tomatoes. I've only seen one part and that's when the guy is trying to get his foot out of the railroad tracks and doesn't succeed. Why he didn't just take his foot out of the shoe, I don't know.

Cassandra - I agree. Here, the sun is shining making the dew on the grass shimmer. And there are hardly any clouds in the sky. It's going to be a beautiful day. :)
Allein

That was supposed to be 'regain my polysylabic vocabulary'
*laughing* I'm never quite awake until that morning shower...

Oh what a beautiful morning! Oh what a beautiful day! I've got a wonderful feeling things won't be as crappy today. :)

Christi-
I only have a month of school left, so sending it now wouldn't be so bad. You'd just have to send it to my home address. Cause I won't be able to check my college mail...

:) I did a little short story start in Art History yesterday. It felt good to flex the ol' wordsmithing muscles again. Thankfully they're not too out of practice and still hold some flexibility. I just need to regain my polysylabic

Anyways, I've got to get going now. I must shower and eat before partaking in my English class.

see ya later alligator, in a while crocodile...

Cassandra

Hi --

Fried Green Tomatoes? Loved it! Especially the parking lot scene!

Drew Barrymore? I like her, too, and I agree-- she'll do well in serious parts (the right ones). Haven't seen "Never Been Kissed" yet, but it's on the list.

Wisdom teeth? Had mine out when I was 23. A shot of novocaine in each side, some crunch/yank/bleed-bleed-bleed, and I walked back to work the same morning. Those army dentists have no mercy!

Heather -- Teekay had already asked about that other book, and since she sent already "Anything Box" to you, I'll send "Holding Wonder" to her first.

Gary -- I haven't looked for Sasquatch's rookie card yet, but left-handed relief pitcher might have been a good bet. I hear they hunt small game with stones. Gotta be pretty good to survive! That team bus hadda be pretty ripe, though!

back to work
howard

Jeff,
Don't worry about how things work here, mostly they don't.

Heather,
I think you discussed two films, Fried Green Tomatoes and Never Been Kissed. Never been kissed had its moments but I didn't think it was the best use of Drew Barrymore that it could have been. I like Barrymore and I would like to see someone cast her in a more serious role sometime.

Fried Green Tomatoes was co-written for the screen by Fannie Flagg with a seasoned screen writer by the name of Carol Sobieski. Interestingly enough the currently well known Leelee Sobieski also played a role in Never Been Kissed with Drew Barrymore, although I don't think that there is a connection between Leelee (derived from something like Lianne) and the writer. It's an unusual name, Sobieski, all the same, but Leelee was discovered by a talent scout in a school cafeteria in New York which doesn't sound like there was any professional connection. Probably another one of those players to be named later.

GS

Don't know what to say. I'm still not quite certain how things work here and trying hard not to offend anyone.

Heather: I hope you are feeling better. I had my wisdom teeth out a few years ago and the pain except for the first day wasn't nearly as bad as I imagined it, though I my jaw was swollen for about a week. Get better and put some more intresting posts.

Laura: almost forgot to tell you thanks on the suggestions for sc-fi, will pick up some Heinlein my brother recommended Star Ship Troopers.

Christi: Thank you as well for the suggestions.

Rhoda: the movie with Harrison Ford was RANDOM HEARTS.
I agree it was terrible and Harrison Ford was badly miscast or just out of it

JAck: Your friend is in my prayers. I hope all goes well.

Americo: Thank you for bringing up WEST SIDE STORY!
wonderful musical as well as movie. Not the movie of my life but special because it was the first musical I was ever in---your thoughts brought back a lot of old memories.

Hi to Howard, Teekay, Cassandra, and Jerry and Everyone else. And yes, FRIED GREEN TOMATOES was an excellent movie; enjoyed it very much.

My typing skills are bad so got to go
Jeff

Hello everyone!

Hi Jerry. I'm so glad you liked it the second time around. Did you remember how it ended? It surprised the hell out of me the first time. I'd like to read your favorite book, but if it's a keepsake you'd better not send it around. Maybe pick something else that isn't so irreplaceable. If you want to send it though, by all means! I'll read anything you'd care to stick in the mail. :0)

Heather, I'm sure glad to hear you're feeling all right. Sounds like you're on the road to recovery. I didn't want to tell you my experience until I was sure you were. I looked like a boxer who lost the match when I got home. It seems that the dentist took advantage of the fact that I was I.V. sedated and treated me pretty roughly. There was even a giant bruise in the shape of his hand on my neck! Holy cow, were they THAT hard to get out?! We should write a story about nightmare dentists, except for the fact that nobody would want to read it!

Hi S K, I mean Cassandra! Would you like me to send Teekay's book to you when I'm done with it or do you want to wait for summer? You've got time to think about it--I haven't gotten it yet.
Shop smart, shop S-mart!! Cool! Somebody else that liked Army of Darkness!

Rhoda, You are one of those prolific people who I wish would rub off onto me. That, my good woman, is an amazing amount of wordage you are churning out. AND you have time to read and write in the notebook! How DO you do it?!
All agog in Tucson ;0>

Teekay, How could I EVER hate anything you had written. Not gonna happen; not in this lifetime. You KNOW how much I adore your writing. Your story was amazing and I LOVED it! I mailed you all about it. Oh ye of little faith. Actually, if I were you, I'd have been freaked out too. I remember when you were reading mine, I was pacing my house going,"Oh I hope she likes it. What if she hates it? What's taking her so long?!" And you responded within one day! Sorry about the mixup.

Hey, I loved The Fifth Element too. In fact, I bought it. Awesome opossum.
And I agree with everyone here who loved Fried Green Tomatoes. All us girls love it, what about you guys? Is this strictly a chick flick? Give it a chance!

Jack, I'll say an extra prayer tonight.

Goodnight sweet spirits

Teekay, Teekay, THANK YOU! I'M SO EXCITED TO READ IT!!!
Heather (applause for a short post this time?)

Oh! A luggage story.
I went to Quebec for my grade 8 school trip, and we had a blast. My luggage had my Dad's business card in the tag, and he had recently returned from Japan, and they had given him personalized cards with English on one side, and Japanese on the other. When we were leaving the hotel, we all stacked our luggage in the lobby and boarded the bus home. My teacher saw my luggage, but the Japanese side of the card was facing up. There were some Asian tourists on their way into the hotel at the same time we were departing. So my teacher thought it was their luggage and left it.
My suitcase did a tour of Quebec and Ontario before I finally got it back. And to top it off, when I opened it, my shampoo bottle had exploded all over my clothing and souveneirs!

I would have liked to go where that luggage went. Seems she had a great time, and found out what the big O is in suitcase terms.

Oh, Samsonite, why did you send me away?

I hear her thumping in the basement storage. THink she wants to go on another rendevous? Et tu, Brute! Es-que j'puis allez a la salle de bains? Non, j'es que allez a le chez Louis! Salut! (I'm a little rustee)

Ah, Rhoda, do not give up hope that a novel of the size you are writing will be cast aside for the shorter ones. I know that many publishers look for a particular length, but that can't include all of them. There is always an exception to any rule - otherwise what would we write about?

I suppose mine will be in between 60 and 90 K by the time I'm finished. I was aiming for 50K at the least. Barely the batting average, there. But if I haven't gotten everything I wish to write down in 90,000 words, by all means I will be finishing it and sending it off the size it ends up to be, regardless of specificity on any publishers' part. They are the ones who won't see my ms. The publishers that don't put a length limit on a good read will.

Teekay - I agree that I enjoyed the book and the movie 'Fried Green Tomatoes' equally. It is a rare and grand thing. And they could not have picked better actresses and actors for the film, as if the parts were written with them in mind. Like so many Robin Williams' movies - they seem written for Robin and Robin alone!

I still see a mental picture of the actress who portrayed Ruth whenever I hear that name. If I ever hear someone calling 'Idgie' I will expect to see Mary Stuart Masterson!

Poopie nappies, stinky drawers, fouled trousers
and golden falls; Christi, I am still there. But we are potty 'teaching' and soon, God Bless him, soon, he'll be depositing these lovingly nicknamed items into the bowl. (Hey, bribery ain't so bad...) I won't miss the diaper changing, but I already miss the baby years.

Yeah, where are you Randall? It's almost Friday!

Oh, to answer the question posed about first drafts,
Yes, I do almost all of my writing on the computer. If I get an idea, a snippet of dialogue, etc., and I'm not nearby the computer, I just jot it down and incorporate it later. I find writing it out longhand much slower than typing; so much slower that if I have specific words in my head I may forget them by the time I've handwritten the first few lines. I type fairly fast, so it works for me that way.
I wrote my first novel in longhand, worked out kinks in handwriting too, before converting it to the word processor. At the time, it was the 80's and the word pro that I was using was very frustrating and basic. Now they are so wonderful and filled with so many tools and capabilities, I could not imagine writing my novel the long way. Unless I had to!
BUt whatever means works best for each of us, utilize it.
Nothing wrong with handwriting, unless it's my Dad's. He should have been a doctor, it's that illegible. I can thank the stars I'm not ghost writing his auto-biography! (I'd have to request audio tapes)

Ta ta, and a tip o' me hat te you, me loves.
Heather, Irish Sprung.
Ahhh yes, I'm feeling a bit better, thank you everyone, but still facing liquid lunches.

Hello: Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts. It is now a waiting game as our friend waits to hear about the results, hopefully tomorrow. Let everyone know how it goes.

TGIF: Where are you RANDALL? I miss your posts.

RHODA: I totally understand, and whoever ends up sending my book back is quite welcome to send it that way as well. I just want to get it back eventually, I think it will be the most expensive book I own. I was going to send mine to you by sea after they told me the price of postage, but I was in a hurry for you to get it, and I think it's 2 months by sea.

HEATHER: HOWARD'S book is on it's way to you. YAAAAAAAY!
Although rather expensive I think this book thing is a good idea as it broadens our horizons and we read things we wouldn't normally read. Also I think it gives us an insight into each other.
Just wondering, when you write do you use the computer for your first draft?
I write it out long hand and then when it comes to typing it out properly I usually end up with this huge mess that I have to decipher. I would do it on computer initially, but my fingers don't type as fast as the words I want to get down and also when I'm on a roll and cooking dinner or doing something away from the computer, then I'm not restricted.
Hope your feeling less sore.
I have read the book fried green tomatoes. Usually I like the books much better than the movie, but with fried green tomatoes I think one was just as good as the other.
Have you seen 'the fifth element' with Bruce Willis? Brilliant movie.

HOWARD: 'come on, wagon' It went right over my head. I really enjoyed that story, in fact I enjoyed all of them. I would be hard pressed to pick a favourite, but for some reason the last story sticks in my mind. I think it's because it makes you wonder about fate and if it does exist then there's absolutely nothing you can do to change it.
Also, if you haven't already seen it watch 'the fifth element' I am sure you would really enjoy it.

CHRISTI: What a relief, I just thought you hated my story and didn't know how to tell me, you may still do, but at least now there is hope.

Well toodle oo
Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to work I go (sorta)

Howard,

No, no, I am only practicing it on a difficult scene in my book, and the nice thing is I don't need Jack Kovorkian to do it. I might like to discuss controversial subjects and even address them here in weak moments, but I never, never write fiction about them. At this point in my life, my novels are for fun. Perhaps amputation would have been a better word. I just amputated that scene in Chapter 22.

Heather,

This book is very long, 125,000 words, or 500 pages. The length will make it very difficult to sell. Books are getting shorter and shorter due to the high costs of paper and publishing. Word counts depend upon the type of book and the publisher you are looking at. Short romances go about 40,000 words. Historical romances tend to be 70,000 to 100,000. Then there are word lengths in between. I had a perspective literary agency inform me that a publisher will only risk a longer book on a tried and true author with an established record. It is unheard of that anyone considers publishing a first-time author at more than 100,000 words. There are exceptions such as Diana Gabaldon, but they are few and far between.

I was stupid enough to conceive the ideas for this book and the other one, also 125,000 words, years ago when I was ignorant of these marketing realities. Over the past few years, things have gotten even more stringent. At the beginning the projects were much too abitious for my level of skill, and I was probably a fool to write them, but I had to write them, and I feel honor bound to finish them. Yes, they could sell, but the odds are against it.

All my other projects will be shorter and will be written to target a certain market. I can do this now and not feel that my creativity will suffer.

Teekay,

I sent your package today. I had to send it "surface" because air mail was too expensive. I asked the post office attendant if you would get it within a month. She told me you would if you are very lucky. If only that box could talk. Hard to imagine all the fabulous and exotic places it could go on its way to you. It reminds me of the time my father flew out and lost his luggage. They found it in Hawaii. He sighed and complained that his luggage got to go to Hawaii and he didn't.

Got to run,

Rhoda

I'm relinquishing my sassy little nickname for a while yet. Still caring a great deal for my given name, I would not dare leave it for long. :)

I'm going to have to check out some used bookstores over the summer. I'm still looking to see if I can find the second book of Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea trilogy (plus the 3rd if possible...) I think the second one iss called The Tombs of Atun but don't quote me on that. I miss reading so much *snif snif* but it's so hard to do anything for myself with the schedule I keep.

Over the summer you people better send those books my way. *shaking finger*

I'm going to try doing some writing during Art History... wait just let me explain. I meant that it's better then sitting there in a haze of boredom and answering all the questions the teacher asks because everyone else is either asleep or braindead.

Poopies, I have to get moving soon...
But I will be back, you can count on it. *shifty smile*

Love you all!

Cassandra

Christi - I have nearly finished Ender's Game. It is much better then I remember, maybe it is the absence of painkillers and other drugs they had me on when I came home from the hospital, but what ever the reason, it is a very good book. I should be finished this afternoon, or maybe tomorow, depending on how much longer I can stay away from the computer. I will ship it off to Howard, when finished, if he sends me his address.

Thanks much for the book, I guess my favorite is not a work of fiction, but based on a true story. The book is Bitter Harvest, based on a modern day gun-fight in the middle of North Dakota. Not that it is that well written, just that I knew everyone involved, I attended the police academy with two of the officers, and was friends with one of the guys on the other side. I had a passing acquaintance with the rest of those involved, and served as the partner on a police force with the wife of the Highway Patrolman who was first on the scene.

If you are interested in reading it, I can send it to you, but I do want it back eventually, just as a keepsake.

Jerry

Teekay and Howard, Hi you's guys! I just now got all the mail that's been cropping up for days. And I thought nobody liked me. :( I don't know quite what happened, but I see that Teekay has sent me something as early as the third of the month! And Howard did send me his on the fifth. I soooo sorry! I now have your wonderful stories, and will get to reading them within the hour. (I've got to go change a pooey nappie. Love that phrase!) Thanks you two.

AND I haven't even gotten to read the new posts! Yay! So much reading to do.

Happy day all

P.S. for Rhoda!
I find that euthanising (zing?) an entire scene sometimes the only solution if the kinks can't be worked out.
I just print a copy of the original scene, kinks and all, and then erase it from my chapter. I also cut and paste it into a separate file in case I ever want it back in, or think of a way to improve it. Then I try again, either changing some components/angles, or writing a completely different scene. It has worked so far, and I've not yet had to paste anything back in.

BTW; from the sounds of it your novel is either very long, or your chapters quite brief. 21 chapters? eiyee! At the very most I will have ended my novel by chapter 11 or 12. If I write 15 to 20 chapters at the current size, it will result in a novel of rather largess proportion. (somewhere around the 140 K word mark) But that's if every chapter is around the same size or larger. I plan on 10 to 12 chapters. (But then again, who can plan these things precisely?)
It took me a while to find out what the average word count is for a novel, the range being from very short - 40,000 (Jonathon Livingston Seagull might be even smaller) to 150,000 (War and Peace is even longer). I finally found this information in a quite unexpected place in Writer's Market 2000. After all, what IS the average sized novel? There aren't any word counts in a published novel, as far as I have seen. I suppose I could grab a few books and do the math.

There is also the stigma that anything less than 40,000 words is a novelette. Not much market for those.

Good Rantings!
I've gone off at the keys again. Easier than talking at the moment.
Sorry for the lengthy blah blah blah
Heather

Gariess! Thank you - for the life of me I couldn't remember the title of that movie. Never Been Kissed (SIGH) I laughed and laughed when I saw it ~ something that very few comedies do for me these days.

Maybe it's me.
Taking on too many serious notions. Isn't life about having fun... why yes, that was rhetorical.


Scene where I laughed hard enough to warrant my removal from the theatre during "Never Been Kissed": the scene where she is at the bar and she sits down with some Rastafarians and ends up smoking some greenery - and then gets up on stage, slapping herself on the ass (rump?) and dancing up a storm - and her teacher is there.

One plot hole - wouldn't the teacher have wondered how she got into the bar? Maybe I missed the part where it said it was an all-ages show. Wait, something dances through the Tylenol # 3 induced fog...

I seeeeem to recaaaalll that Josie said she couldn't drink as she was under-age?

I think what got me started on a roll of belly laughs was when Josie stepped out of the car on the first day of 'school', and got her feather boa caught in the car door.
I didn't stop guffawing for most of the flick.

Anyhow...

Teekay - LOVE LOVE LOVE Fried Green Tomatoes. SO much so that my husband bought it for me as one of my birthday gifts. That was the year he made me a treasure hunt and hid all my gifts around the house with the kids.
I have the book 'Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe', by Fannie Flagg. Perhaps you would like me to send it to you? It's a bit different than the movie, but not a disappointment by any means. It was a treasure I found at a used book store, among many.

I can't wait to receive the 'Anything Box'! YIPEEEEEE!

Howard, is it too late to have the book you offered sent to me? I'll email my address to you just in case I'm the first!

Christi, thanks for thinking of me and my chipmunk cheeks. I had ice on my one cheek for most of the first day and yesterday I went everywhere with my hot water bottle. I fell asleep watching 'The Phantom Menace', which my husband bought too. I forgot to take the ice away from my face until he woke me up to tell me my sweater was soaked.
So I am hoping I have evaded bruising. My face is swoollen regardless of the pampering. But best of all is the codeine. Unfortunately, no Demerol.
I guess they thought I still needed to function. (Wake up, shower remembering to close the curtain, dress without falling over, take the kids to school without donning a Halloween cape, feed the kids food that is supposed to be warmed, etc...)

Cheerio, campers.
Hot water bottle beckons, and I must heed.
Heather

Rhoda -- You're writing a scene about euthanasia!? That's a difficult subject...

Teekay -- Talking to a wagon refers to the story "Come On, Wagon" in "The Anything Box."

Christi -- I'll check again tonight and resend if necessary.

back to work

Teekay,

I found a box for the book and I should get it in the mail today. I did send Chapter 21. I am still having a horrible time on Chapter 22. I think I need to cut a scene. That is my answer for scenes I just can't get to work, euthenaisia(I know I mispelled that). Put the thing out of its misery. I will see.

Rhoda

Just one other thing. Somebody mentioned a Drew Barrymore movie who's title they couldn't recall. It was "Never Been Kissed."

GS

Howard,
I believe you are right, it was the Indians who named Sasquatch. It was in a trade for a left handed relief pitcher. The deal included a player to be named later and they finally decided to name him Sasquatch. Baseball is wierd, where do they get all these players who don't have names yet?

Rachel,
Sorry you won't be posting so often any more. (Hug)

Christi,
Hi too.

GS

That big, blank spot under my post is just me thinking.

Hallo all you wascaly wabbits,

I have not deliberately been away. Yesterday there was a microwave??? fault in the line and I could not get onto the net. Believe me I tried every 10 minutes or so. It was vewy, vewy fwustwating. Still I am glad that my presence was missed. I must have jinxed myself when I said 'and I will be here again after this here'. If only I would use my powers for good instead of evil :).

RHODA: I found a copy of Jane Eyre in the 2nd hand book shop and I looked at the first few pages and it is sooo not like that taperecording I listened too, the tape recording was really just the bare bones, so now I'm going to read the book. It's been a while since I've looked at the home computer so I hope you've sent me chapter 21. I also hope I've sent 20 back, I think I had it in queued message, but I've done that so many times I can't really remember where I'm up to. So in a nutshell, could you please send 21 if you haven't already. Thankee.
Have you sent me that book yet? I am soooooooooooooooooooo impatient.

HOWARD: I have finished your book and very much enjoyed it. Tomorrow I shall send it on to Heather. I would love for you to send me the other Zena Henderson book. Now don't groan, Australia isn't all that far away, and I've got to ask 'talking to a wagon' what does that mean? :D

JACK: Your friend has all my best healing thoughts.

CHRISTI: I have no idea why, but when I read Jerry's post to you I thought it was your post to me and I was really quite disheartened to think that you had already read my book. I am still going to send you the other one, just as soon as my daughter gets it back from her friend.
You should be getting the 1st book anyday now. I can't wait for you to read it.

HEATHER: Have got to agree with you about Labrynth (is that right) that is one film you could watch over and over.

And also Shirley Valentine, I thought that was wonderful too.

And fried green tomatoes.

Jack, Hope the appointment went well for Fran's friend today. I'm crossing my fingers and saying my prayers.

Rachel, Thank you, and right back at'cha! Hope you got lots of writing done. Me, not a word today. Ah well.

Hi Howard. How ARD you? I am fine, thank you! Ugh. I knew you had to have heard that one before, but I'm just having too much fun! I got called Crusty a lot. Har har. Actually, I am sad because your story never showed up. :( I got your other Emails, so you must have the right address. Wonder what went wrong. I posted my Email again, just in case. BTW, it's funny. I write my short stories exactly the same way. If it's not mapped out in my head and I start too early, I never finish the cursed thing. And they all seem to be stories from my life.

Gotta go, my husband is chomping at the bit. We just bought The Phantom Menace, and he's waiting for me to get off the computer so's we can watch it.

G'night all

Hi -- Another couple of books for the all time list are by Mary Brown -- "The Unlikely Ones," and "Pigs Don't Fly." Both are very well done, and I really enjoyed them.
I agree on "Saving Private Ryan," and a few of the others I've seen mentioned here. There are so many excellent ones!

Gotta go work on something.

howard

Americo! Do we have a mutual muse? I wrote 5 pages today too.
And no, not on the notebook, either.

Thanks Howard, I'm glad my smile is still nice - but it's hard to smile with gauze in your cheeks. YUCK. But I can talk better today, and even drink soup. Yes, drink.
Tried chunky soup but couldn't get the chicken or the carrots down. Broth days. Wish they'd go away.

Got to get myself a little timer like Rachel uses for when I'm writing in the daytime (ulp! Yes, I admit, I've been able to get in a few odd hours during the sunlight lately)... BUT
I almost wrote right through when I was to pick up my daughter from school! Good thing I looked up and saw the time. Just in time.

Movie of my life? Americo, it hasn't been made yet. (Or, perhaps I haven't seen it) Maybe I will take that and put it under my hat for awhile to steam. I could write the script, but I have a funny feeling I'm already writing it.

Editing and more writing on chapter 4 calls! Well, just a little editing - have to make sure I keep the continuity, no dead leads or severed plants. (Plants: as in 'items' deliberately put in by the writer so the reader catches it, and keeps on wondering until he finds the answer later on in the book)

Hey, here's a nifty movie, from a while back;
The Illustrated Man. (Ray Bradbury)
The book is magnifique!
The movie's not bad either. It's not my life's movie, but I am an illustrated woman.

Inkspots, little blots, so delicious and dark
swirls and curly-cues flow upon the stark
-ness of my page,
softly, not in rage
Inkspots, living dots, the meaning of a mark.

C A L L I G R A P H Y

(I don't know, don't ask!)
Heather

Eddie,

I saw the match. Chelsea played wonderfully for ten minutes exactly. (Never saw any team playing so well actually). The rest was not that remarkable. I hope Chelsea eliminate Barcelona (which will only happen if Figo is ill or something) and meet Porto on the next leg. Then you'll see what soccer is. And by the way, for how many goals do you expect Portugal to beat England in June? I like the way the English play football, but I must be the only person on the continent to like it. The most beautiful football in the world is the Brazilian one, and then comes Portuguese football (when the Portuguese are not sleeping, which happens 75% of the matches.)

And this, dear ladies and gentlemen, was the most philosophical post I have ever published on this page. (Hey, I needed a break from my great book!)

Kisses everywhere.

Just popped in to say four words to our dear friend Americo.
The first word is:
Chelsea!!!
The next three are:
Chelsea!
Chelsea!
Chelsea!

Sorry friend, it just came out!!
Later,
Ed

CHRISTI -- How wierd?!?! OOO that smarts! :-) Like I haven't heard it before... I sent you a copy of "Walks In Shadows" a few minutes ago, as an attachment in MS WORD 6.0 It was a fun one to write -- one of those "memory dump" kinds of things that went in one piece from the memory to the keyboard. I guess I tend to do that -- get it done in my head first, then just record the thing as is. It saves on 'sitting-in-front-of-the-stupid-computer' time, and allows me to get other things done while I write. Sometimes I carry a small tape recorder, but most of the time I just "remember" a story. Maybe that's why I like to write short stories!

SASQUATCH -- Are you serious? You really can remember all that from your old ones? We've gotta talk someday about that racial memory thing! And I have to figure out where you fit in with what I think I know... I do know the Indians have stories about you -- they named you, didn't they?

JACK -- We'll be praying for your friend. It's gotta be a rough time.

TEEKAY -- You must be busy -- or tired of us -- or out talking to a wagon. How's things down under? Where can I get a didgerie-doo? I almost bought one from "Elderly Instruments" a while back, dunno if they still carry them, and dunno if they would be as good as the real thing.There's just something about the sound of one of those things, that brings back (maybe racial) memories! That, and the bagpipes! I would love to learn to play the highland pipes!

Gotta run --

howard

Jack - I will focus good thoughts and energy towards your friend. A little update from me. Carol has gone back to work and is doing well!

Gary - I'll be around (smiles). Right now I need to get back to work on a few things. I will be around, I just won't post quite so often. I'm sure the crowd has now burst into tears (grins).

Howard - Thanks (smiles and laughter).

Christi - (smiles) Just be you. You're a sweetie:)

Americo - Keep up the great work.

All - I am off to write (yes, play epic music here - grins and merry laughter)!

Take care all

Rachel

p.s.

On a slightly more serious note. Fran and most likely I will be spending time with a friend who is having a breast biopsy tomorrow after they discovered an anomaly on a mammogram. Not having permission I will not name her here, but ask that all those who are so inclined please keep our friend in your prayers. Having been through this with Fran, it is something I am very close to.

All kinds of different emotions running through my head at the moment.

Rhoda: Yes, Court Jester is the Danny Kaye movie ala the Vessal With The Pestle Is The Brew That is True. Truly one of those kind of movies that is not being made any more and sadly so. The Studio System and the Vaudeville produced a depth of performance that had its own special magic. What is taking place now is equally magical in its own kind of way, but different.

Americo: Stay away and write :-)

Am very very exhausted at the moment. Passed the 200 meter swim with flying colors and floated/treaded water for 10 minutes without a hitch. We started on some snorkel work and discovered that both Fran and I were having a bit of ear squeeze aka failure to equalize. So, did not get a chance to breathe bottled air, but it was still exhilarating looking up from 10 feet below. When I was a kid I loved to swim and was like a fish, but moved away from it when I became very very myopic and could not see. It is exciting to rediscover this and have it go even farther.

Gills and walking to Hawaii. Hmmmm. Not sure where you would go with it, but sounds interesting.

Anyway, hope springs eternal. Made my travel confirmations and arrangements for flying to Hawaii this Fourth of July weekend and then doing a diving trip afterwards, including a night manta ray dive where you can sit at the bottom and watch them gather. Hope to get some great pictures to show everybody. Take care. I am off to bed. Happy, exausted, sore and feeling like I have just walked into the land of the sighted after being blind.

Hi all!

Rachel, I think that's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. (sniff) I don't know if I can live up to that compliment or not! Funny that you picked yellow flowers though; I have blonde hair. :0)

Oh Heather, I'm so sorry for the pain you're surely going through right now. When I got my wisdom teeth out, my face swelled to practically twice its size. Make sure to put plenty of ice on it; I forgot, and that's why the excessive swelling happened. Hopefully you got lots of nice drugs to help you through this. I'm not a druggie, but for tooth pain there's nothing like a nice Demoral . . . or two . . . or ten. Ahhhhhh, now THAT spells relief!

Hi A*! Too bad I'm not going to be on that plane with you. I NEVER pretend to be reading. I'm that annoying person who talks to everyone around me until they want to scream or throw me out of the plane. I love to meet new people and I find out the most interesting stories if I get them talking long enough.

Clayton and Jerry Lee, Hi, nice to meet ewe!

Jerry, Bummer drag! Well, if you read it that many years ago, it's sure to be entertaining again. :( Oh well.

How-weird, (Heeeee!) Thanks for the almost-compliment! And yes, I do have Word 2000. I'm looking forward to finding those books as soon as I can haul myself over to the library. I wanted to request Holding Wonder from you, but since Teekay's already sent me a book I thought I should let someone else have a crack at it.

S K, It sounds like we have the same Mom! My mom is pretty low key, but she just loves it when her daughters get irreverent with the humor. It seems to be rubbing off too; she's been saying some things lately that make me go, "Zoiks!"

Gariess, Hello there.

Teekay, Are you okay? My lower lip is quivering and my eyes are sad; the light has gone from them. I shall be a complete disaster if you don't come back soon. Post, or I'll be forced to sing an offkey rendition of "Memories" every time I come onto the Notebook. Memmmmmries. Like a pic-ture in my miiiiind . . .

Nightie night!

Heather,

You guessed correctly about The Burning Bed. I checked in the Internet Movie Data Beast. The movie was made for TV and diricted by Robert Greenwald who has an extensive filmography as producer of many TV movies. Farrah Fawcett starred in the film and did well.

I like a lot of the movie picks of the notebookers. I think that since the notebook has an anniversary that coincides with the Oscars so well, we should have our own unofficial Oscars in the notebook. I am sure we could do as well as the Academy.

Hi Rachel, Don't lurk, Rachel, just talk to us.

Hi Rosemary, nice to see you posting. Glad that I am not alone being a name messer-upper. I always used to confuse Joan Rhodda and Rhoda Fort.

I'm not sure I saw "Saving Private Ryan" among the notebook picks but if not I will propose it.

I also list:
American Beauty:
Cider House Rules: (Beautifully filmed)
The Beach: for a well fimed movie that failed it's point.
Six Days and Seven Nights: it was very amusing. It rises above a swamp of sickly constructed and faulty romantic comedies.
Also, Thin Red Line: for a good job in cinemetography.
Later,

GS

GS

I am here. I am not feared no not a bit. I am not feared about the flying death even if it looks as grymmr from before. I was only made surprised when I saw in the picture his presence. But we did talk of grymmr and if he could be again. The old ones say no so we are not fear. In memory he is awed and makes afraid. If you could memory him in the air as we and see the burning from his mouth. When he whispers smoke when he speaks bright fire and when he roars burning mountains. In our memory write there is to be about the time of flying death. When the earth was still a young thing before the humans grymmr hunted sent by the old one who was bent.
Many were the yeti in that day and many were the wails of yeti when grymmr sought from the clouds their young. I must not tell more now.

Christie-
Much thanks, I always try to do my best ;)
And I loved Army of Darkness... those movies were the best. Since then I haven't been able to shake the usage of 'Groovy' as a action hero tagline.

My mother laughed so loud over the phone when I read that one to her. She likes it when I'm a little sacreligious with my humor. :)

All these people are coming back. *gasp* *wiping away a tear* And just when I thought the notebook couldn't get any better...

A*
Keep up the good work. You're setting such a shining example for the rest of us.

I've been in this killer good mood since last night. I had a great conversation with someone... and came to a few ephiphonies about life in general. I would share them, but I fear that they're only things that I would understand inside my head, and words may never be able to do them true justice.

Arik-
And oh yeah... I had my "hot night" on Sunday ;)

Luv you all. May your muses walk on velvet paws across your page and spark your nose with tickles of it's tales.

Jerry Lee! - Welcom back! And if there's a marker for beginnings I sure want to know about it, 'cause I've got some of the best ones ever!

Clayton -- Welcome, too! Gotta get out to the workbook and check your stories -- which is better, the first or the second? :-) Don't feel bad -- I've done it too, and someone I know managed a triple a while back!

TEEKAY -- INKSTAND!?!?! I'll get you for that! Only a surge protector so far, but have plans to get a UPS sometime Real Soon Now.

RACHEL -- You've got the cutest smile!

HEATHER -- You've got the cutest smile!

AMERICO -- DOn't stay away so long! If I could write five pages of *anything* in a day I'd be ecstatic!

CHRISTI -- You've got th hmmmm... maybe I shouldn't use that line again right away...
Watch your mailbox and I'll send one soon. Do you have MS WORD? Oh, and those Allan Eckert books should be available in most libraries. You might also like his "Savage Journey," about a young girl lost in the Amazon jungle, and "Wild Season" is an account of the circle of life revolving around a farm pond. He's really an excellent writer.

JACK -- That dragon graphic idea sounds awesome! Too bad it scared Sasquatch away. Funny, though, how some go away and some come back...
And congratulations on the fourth anniversary!

The movie chatter has been great! And each one has reminded me of more movies I'd forgotten but really enjoyed.

I've found an extra copy of Zenna Henderson's "Holding Wonder," that I'll send off to the first requestor who'll promise to keep it circulating. Send me an Email with your address and I'll send it right out.

howard

Christi - just got home from seeing my VA Dr. All went well, but it was a long trip. When I checked the mail IT WAS THERE!! I got the book. Will tear into it (not literly) tonight, although it looks somewhat familiar. I think I read this when I got home from the hospital bac in '93. My daughter brought me a bunch of her books, and as I had nothing else to do, I read every one of them. Will let you know once I finish it, but the cover looks familiar,, as does the name

Yo all!
I haven't been here for a while so I thought it would be nice to drop back in on you all. By reading the posts, I see that congratulations are in order for 4 years of an amazing website! Happy birthday, Notebook!
Jack, good for you for learning how to SCUBA. It is, without a doubt, the most fun you can have while risking the bends. I remember my first time in the swimming pool. It was somehow un-natural to look up at a lifeguard stand from 14 feet down and have no immediate plans to do anything about it. But plunging into the South China Sea was like nothing else in the world! 70 feet down, the water seems to hug you like a giant blanket. You mentioned going into an Alpha state. Let me tell you, that ever since my first dive, the meditative state is no longer something those tree-hugging, crystal-rattling hippies do, its real. The most relaxing thing in the world is coming face to face with a 200 pound Oscar. I hope you enjoy it as much as me.

I started a book once about a strap-on gill contraption that would allow one to walk to Hawaii. Do you suppose there's a market for the START of books? lol =)

Take it easy.
Jerry Lee

Been gone a long time. Didn't go anywhere. I posted a short story. The computer network at school is really crappy and it got posted twice. Sorry. If you want, check it out and tell me what you think.

I should be writing my great book (well, I wrote almost five pages today, I deserve a break) but you people are irresistible.

Those long lists with films lead nowhere. WE'd better concentrate on a single one: the film of our life. Not necessarily the greatest movie in History, just the film we'll never forget because it's associated with a vital remembrance.

WEST SIDE STORY — that's the film of my life. I saw it for the first time with the first woman I loved. She looked like Natalie Wood, or she started looking like Natalie Wood since then. After we saw the movie we went to a park and sang some of the movies' songs to the trees. Night had fallen and it was crisp and the most magnificent November's evening I have ever felt in my veins. Just to rember that I feel shivers in my heart and my eyes well up. I hope there's some sort of error in this English. I could not bear language to be at the level of my feelings. Yes, that's why I like to live in America. That's the greatest movie in the History of the world.

Also thought 'The Burning Bed' was a riveting film. (Was it made for TV?)
And here's a chilling one:
'The Changling' See that one if you ever want to have goosebumps as a permanent skin condition.

ZZZZZZ now
Heather

Well, folks,
I can't talk today, but I can write! My dental surgery went ok... so far the freezing is still in effect so I won't know how painful it will be until ...well, how about never?

My apologies, Rhoda, for attributing your words to another. By the time I finished reading such a long list of posts, I had forgotten the author, but not the point I wished to make. What was that, now? It's gone too.

I can give the 'it was my first time under general anaesthesia, and I was nervous' speil. It's at least credible.

Gauze really does taste like shit.

Americo, so good to see you posting.
If you think I'm beautiful, you should see me today. UGH.

Some favourite movies, regardless of when they were released...let's see:
Labyrinth
The Matrix
Good Will Hunting
Ever After
Better Off Dead
Fried Green Tomatoes
Point of No Return (and Nikita)
Mr. Destiny
An Angel at my Table
Ghost
Braveheart
Rob Roy
ThunderHeart
The Last of the Mohicans (both old and newer versions)
Terminator 2 (Judgement Day)
The Jerk (Steve Martin)
All of Me (Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin)

Well, this could go on forever, and I'm going to go and rest. My face has gone ballooning, and I must pack some lunch for the ride.

Heather

Greetings all,
Jerry,
You're so right about there always being an up side. My six year old Dodge truck, which has been sheding paint like dandruff for the last couple of years, has quite a few lovely dents in the roof and hood. My appointment with the adjusters is in two weeks and the repair will be farther off than that, but at least new paint is coming.

Also, I will no longer be afraid if people throw baseballs at my house. I've already been through it.

Christi,
That name confusion thing has been a pet peeve of mine for years. Probably because I have always been terrible at remembering names. A book by P D James had two female characters whose names started with CH----. (Don't remember exactly what) One character was the good guy and the other was the bad guy. Maybe I wasn't paying attention, but that book gave me fits.

Got to run,
Rosemary

Americo & Eddie - What cheeky men (grins)!

Americo - I think our names look nice mixed as Armaecrhiecl. Gezz.... Mixing our names like that felt a little naught (laughter).

Howard - Smiles back at you.

Rosemary - Av ery good point. I also would like to say how nice it is to see you posting:)

Allein - I'll look forward to the update (smiles) HUGS!

Christi - Thank you. I love my name. When I was a girl I thought it was old fashioned. Now I don't feel that way.
I think your name sounds like a burst of sunshine after a spring shower. I don't know why, but it makes me think of a field of fragrent yellow flowers. I guess its more you and the way you project your energy. What I'm saying is its nice you came.

Garries - Hi you.

Yikes, for a girl who is going to lurk I certainly have a lot to say this morning (blush).

Take care all

Rachel

Favorite movies past and present: I rented one last week-end called LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. It was an Italian movie and wonderful--probably the only Italian movie I have ever liked. I wept through that one. My all time favorites are, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, BEN HUR, THE BIG COUNTRY, SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, THE SEA CHASE with Lana Turner and John Wayne, BRAVEHEART, SPARTACUS, LITTLE WOMEN, SQUANTO A WARRIOR'S TALE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, HONDO, Kenneth Branagh's HENRY V, STAR WARS(all of them), INDIANA JONES (all except the second one), WITNESS, SABRINA (both the Harrison Ford and Humphrey Bogart versions), TRUE GRIT, MULAN, ELIZABETH, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, THE ENGLISHMAN WHO CLIMBED A HILL AND CAME DOWN A MOUNTAIN, and THE AGE OF INNOCENCE.

I could go on and on with that above list. I also like Bette Davis. I like most John Wayne movies. Not mentioned above are several PBS mini-series such as JANE EYRE with Timmothy Dalton as Rochester. I also like both A&E and BBC productions of the PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

Jack,

Is THE COURT JESTER the one with Danny Kaye and Glynnis
Johns? That is a great one also.

I have decided to rent THE SIXTH SENSE as soon as I can get it. It comes highly recommended on the Notebook, so I must see it.

Put those TV's, VCR and DVD players away for awhile, and let us get some writing done.

Happy Writing!

Rhoda

p.s.


Americo: good luck with the book and have a wonderful time in Austria. Oh and sorry about that last long winded post.

    Americo: I have been away from the Notebook for the best part of two days. My what I have missed. I have to shame facedly admit that I completely spaced out our anniversary. This from a loving husband who knows the importance of anniversaries. Oh, well.

Happy Anniversary Notebook

ONE DAY LATE

    On movies. Have to say that it is a perpetually running battle on what my favorite movie/movies are at any given point. I will say that I watched the Sixth Sense yesterday for the first time when I finally got around to plugging the new DVD I had purchased in. I was very greatly blown away by it and will not say any more than that lest I spoil a profound revelation in the course of the movie. It is well worth seeing and not talking about.

    Other than that, hmmmmmmm, just going by movies that I have in my DVD collection and I tend to like to watch - Abyss (especially if you read the Orson Scott Card novelization), the Court Jester, the Matrix, Fiddler On The Roof and a great many more that I am unable to think of at the moment.

    Tomorrow, well, today, we start the wet part of our scuba training. Once I got it through my thick head that doing the 8 laps was not a race and I could use any stroke everything fell into place. The 10 minute treading water component actually will be a true piece of cake since I am a natural floater and almost can go into an alpha state of meditation floating on my back. Breathing air underwater, though. That is a little daunting and breathing air while swimming around Puget Sound is even more intimidating, but I am very much looking forward to it.

    Oh, and the other thing about the dragon and the king dome. I really do not have a lot of time to do it at the moment, but I plan to do a full animated feature of the dragon flying in and having the king dome collapse underneath him, him flying away, bringing the space needle back and putting it in its place. May not happen for a couple of weeks to a month, but think it will be fun. I will be posting it as an mpg or perhaps as a real video so that it will stream comfortably.

Oh, and any of the science fiction or fantasy writers in the Puget Sound area that are planning to go to Norwescon please stop by the Westercon 56 bid table or the Internet Resources for Writers panel that I will be moderating and say hello.

Take care,

Hello All,

HOWARD: I did not go any where I am here and I was here before this here, and if all goes well I shall be here after this here, ya hear?

The answer to the riddle is INKSTAND.
Your turn.

Well seing as every one is talking about movies and I don't wanna be an ol' stick in the mud then I shall deign to tell you mine. They are (deep breath) Little women, Peggy Sue got married, beetlejuice, sixth sense. Wizard of Oz( which I have seen in different parts a quadrillion times because my daughter watches it over and over again.)
Gee I guess that's all I can think of. I would like to see 'an angel at my table' that sounds interesting.

PUSSY: Ooops sorry. Love your curlers though.

HEATHER the trouble maker: I have almost finished Howards book and I shall send it on to you. :)

HOWARD again: Do you have some kind of protector on your computer? The first sign of thunder and lightening at my place and the computers are off instantly.

Okay bye.

Allein,

I have read back in the posts and I saw where you mentioned going to Japan. If you do, remember the experience related by Jerry. Never tell a Japanese cab driver you are in a hurry. I made a few trips to Tokyo in the fifties ( I was hardly more than a boy.) We had recently been throwing bombs at each other for a few years and they ran out first so we won the game (it was the last two that really did it.)

One might say I saw Tokyo as a conqueror, a member of the winning forces. But the Japanese never appeared to me as a conquered people. They always seemed very positive and up-beat. In fact it was only a miscalculation that lost them the war. They should have sent their cab drivers against us and held their armies in reserve. Well, wars have been won and lost in sillier ways.

If you do go, my best advice is not to take any advice from me (courtesy of Groucho Marx.) You see, in my day we got what we wanted with a few candy bars and a pack of cigarettes. Spam use to work in a pinch. I think I will watch the boards and see what you have to say when you come back.

Hello, you all.

GS

Heya everybody!

Hi Americo! I'm so glad that your absence is for a good cause. Your story sounds like a great read. It kills me to have you all writing these novels and me not being able to read them. ARGH!
By the way, I did not think you didn't like me; I was just bemoaning your sudden disappearance. And I thank you for thinking me beautiful. I think you're beautiful too.

Hey Rachel, I could never mistake your name, for it is one of my most favorite on the planet. My little sister shares your wonderful name, and I am convinced that only very lovely people are allowed to have it. (Hug)

Howard, I'm smiling, I'm smiling! Send, send! I'd love to read your Indian stories.
The Alan Eckert books sound like something I really need to get my hands on. I guess when I don't understand something, I just keep reading about it until I can come to some sort of agreement within myself. Violence and hatred are two things I don't think I'll ever understand.

About Shirley Valentine; I just saw it on satellite and loved it! And I love C.S Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. Such imagination! I plan on reading them to my son as soon as he's old enough to understand the words.

Rosemary, Hi, and thank you so much for reminding me of the 'never name two characters with the same first letter' rule. I don't know how many times I've read that, and yet in my latest story, there it is! I'll be hastily renaming them, thanks to you.

Hello to Eddie, who's been coming up with some pretty good one-liners lately. :o.

And hi to Jerry and Allein. ***HI*** Jerry, geeze, haven't you gotten the book yet?! ;) Oh, and maybe pass it on to Howard when you're done, as he mentioned it being next on his reading list.

S.K. Your breathy Marilyn impersonation was the cat's meow. Meeeeeow!
I just can't bring myself to call you sex kitten because I've seen what cats look like when they're doing the deed, and sister, it 'aint pretty. Hee hee! By the way, I thought your recent story in the workbook was a riot! Just forgot to tell you so.

Good night all,
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Rachel - Hiya ((((BIG HUGS)))). I'm on vacation for the next few days so I'll write you a long e-mail when I get back. :)
Allein

Rosemary - While hail is a bad thing, it does have an up-side, for example, last summer we had one of those horrid hail storms, tornados and stuff overhead all that good stuff. Anyhow, I now have brand new shingles on my roof, and a new paint job on my truck. The wifes car goes in for new paint soon. My house has new paint on the siding. All this compliments of the hail storm, and of course American Family Insurance.

Hello,
My part of the country must include the stormy area. We had brilliant bursts of lightning, rumbles of thunders, and hail that was a cross of golf ball and baseball size. It was my first time with hail that large and to tell you the truth, it scared the begeziz out of me.

Rachel,
I think your many-years-long problem with Rhoda's name is an excellent example of why we should never name our characters with the same first letter.

Good writing everyone,
Rosemary

It is raining like a cow pissing on a flat rock, as my grampa used to say. Even Superman couldn't fly across the back yard without getting his "S" wet! And there's lightening and thu
nderrrrrrrrrrrr
'scuse me -- that was a real cruncher!
I love storms!

SASQUATCH, are you still there? Do the storms bother you? Do you stay right out in them or do you find a cave or something? And what about the dragon picture?

CHRISTI -- If you want to read horrifying cruelty, read Alan Eckert's "The Frontiersman" or "Wilderness Empire." They're part of his "Winning of America" series, and they're excellent historical narratives! Yes there was cruelty to the red man, but we got our licks in too! My paternal great grandmother was full Mohawk, and my maternal great grandmother was part Onondaga. "The Frontiersman" is the story of Simon Kenton and Tecumseh. There were tremendous atrocities committed on both sides, and Eckert covers it all pretty well. He's actually one of the better authors I've read, and I'd recommend his books to anyone interested in good narrative. He even gets into fantasy, with "Song of the Wild," about a boy who can project himself into wild critters and see things from their viewpoint. If you're interested in Indian things I've written a couple that I'd send you for a smile.

RACHEL! -- (grins!)

That list of movies was by no means complete -- I left off at least two of my favorites -- "The Secret of Roan Inish," directed by John Sayles, is a wonderful film based on the Irish legend of the Selkies -- seals that transform into humans, and sometimes adopt human babies. And "Shirley Valentine," starring Pauline Collins, is about a housewife from Liverpool who gets tired of it all and runs off for a mad Greek holiday. Pauline Collins is the girl from "No Honestly," "Upstairs, Downstairs," and several other things that wouldn't have been worth mentioning if she hadn't been in them.

RHODA -- I agree completely about CS Lewis' "Mere Christianity." he also wrote a great scifi trilogy, besides the "Narnia" chronicles. Check out Francis Schaffer too!
Another wonderful series is Calvin Miller's "The Singer," "The Song," and "The Finale." Anyone into allegory and poetry should look at that one.

TEEKAY -- Where'd you go?


howard

Jomericussy

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{WELCOME BACK}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Now get back to work on our book!

Jerry

Rachoda,

How could anyone have mixed up your name with Rhoard? It would be the same as mixing it with Heathein or (even worse!) Eddlee. Let alone Jonussy. Your name can only be mixed up with mine, Ameritine.

And here's how I have found a good pseudonym for my next best-seller: Rada Rine -- too feminine, I'm afraid. Never mind, it's about jealousy, treason, alcohol and it also has a scene where the heroine poisons one of her three lovers. No one will recognize the author as a male. A male could never write such atrocities.

PS. Shouldn't I be writing my book about the angels?

Rhodel,
I would never get your name mixed up with Rachas'

Rhoda - Yes, it is hard to stay away (smiles).

Americo - Thank you for the compliment.

All - This is just to ask that you read the name on posts with attention. Rhoda and I have been mixed up more than once. I don't really think that our names look that similar.

Christi - Hi you:)

Howard - How are yah?

All again - Hi!

Take care all

Rachel

People, I am writing a book, and that's why I've been away and shall be till I finish it. Besides, I'm going to Austria on the 15th (just for a week).

I hate travelling, mainly by plane, as I feel like jumping from it after 20 minutes of flight. So boring! The last time I flew, I spent the time asking everyone if Lisbon was still too far. There would be no problem if everyone were not pretending to be asleep.

This last sentence reminds me of Arik. Arik, could you please give a prize to Pussy? She's the most beautiful, the most... but only very intelligent people can see that. I hate her, but she is very pretty.

Howard, there is no censorship here. But not all films made in Hollywood are shown (thank God).

I did not see any remarkable film this year, but I enjoyed "American Beauty". I thought it very courageous. And I thought, if they can show things like this in America, that's because America is becoming a free country. And I was happy that America is getting freer and freer (at least in the film industry).

Rachel and Heather, you are very beautiful. Christi, you are also beautiful. Why did you think I do not like you? That's strange.

TOM, you too, my son Brutus?

More answers when I read all the posts. But kisses to everybody.

Movies! Ooh what a great topic!

I adore watching old movies. I love pretty much anything with Bette Davis in it, anything Alfred Hitchcock--especially 'Rebecca' and 'Rear Window'. The 'Manchurian Candidate' was an awesome thriller that I never tire of. Evil Angela Lansbury, what could be better? I also love sappy old movies. My favorite is the first 'Little Women' with Katherine Hepburn as Jo. I cry every time I watch it. I also love 'The Wizard of Oz' and wish they still aired it on television once a year. And of course the 'Star Wars' trilogy is high on my list. Also 'Ever After', 'Contact', 'The Abyss', 'Star Trek' old and new . . . I've got to stop now. I could go on forever. Oh, I forgot 'Braveheart'. Ahhh, and I forgot comedy!!!! I love comedy! 'Tremors', 'Tommy Boy', 'Office Space', 'Army of Darkness', 'As Good as it Gets', somebody stop me!!!
Oh thank you for bringing up movies. And now you can put a fork in me, because I'm done!

Oh, and Howard, I'm so glad you're reading Seventh Son. It's a wonderful book, and so is the one after it, Red Prophet. Red Prophet was hard to read because of the horrifying cruelty of what was done to the American Indians, but it's an earth-shattering book. It was actually a life changing book for me.

Happy movie watching and happy reading!

Just a few words today before I rush off to work. Movies I like: DEAD POETS SOCIETY, GOOD WILL HUNTING, RED, SCHINDLERS LIST( best movie of the 90's) THE PIANO, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, AMERICAN GRAFFITI, STAR WARS---except The PHANTOM MENACE( BIG LET DOWN!!)

Heather: Rhoda is right that there is free will operating all the time and that the free will is fate--it is a paradox from a western viewpoint, but the eastern mystiques have always have understood this truth. But then the question is for me why is the world so overpolluted with technology--must be a reason for " the tao that can be deviated from is not the true tao". Free will our greatest gift and our greatest curse, and right now I think we use it too irresponsibly--but thats another subject.

Well I got to go so I can go off to work. Bye all
Jeff

Movies!? My very favorite -- "The Wizard of Oz." I saw it in 1946 or 47, on its first or second run through our fair city. One of the most if not THE most vivid memory of my whole sordid past is the scene where Dorothy opens the door and everything *out there* is in COLOUR! I still get goosebumps when I watch it!
Other notables -- "The Longest Day," "Forbidden Planet," "War of the Worlds," "Ben Hur," "Farenheit 451," "Them," -- more recently "Starman," "Close Encounters...," "Braveheart," "Shakespeare in Love," "You've Got Mail," and "Dora Does Duluth."
Okay, I just threw in that last one to see if anyone was paying attention...
There's lots more, but time and space, dontchknow.

SASQUATCH -- Did you ever see a movie?

AMERICO --
Are all of Hollywood's films permitted in Portugal?

howard

Happy Birthday, to you
Happy Birthday, to you
Happy Birthday, Mr Notebook!
Happy birthday tooo you.

Well, with my Marilyn Monroe impersonation out of the way, I'd just like to thank Jack for creating this wonderfully simple vessel, and all the unique personalities here for filling it. *smooch* Much love to our diversity, coupled with a large dose of love to that which unites us: underwear.

I'm quite busy today, so I'll keep this short.

On movies-
loved it: Good Will Hunting, The Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption, Braveheart (even though I knew it wasn't totally accurate), Star Wars, Stargate, Contact... I just saw High Fidelity and I loved it. It was very mainstream, culturally GenX and struck a very true to life chord with me. Aside from the fact that I laughed my butt off.
and I'm sure that there are many many more
hated it:
Titanic (after the 2nd viewing I realized, 'hey, this screenplay sucks goats), almost anything with Steven Segal in it (edit out all the serious dialog and bad acting, and I might actually enjoy the fight scenes), Nearly anything with Julia Roberts in it...
and I'm tapped... I'll try to think of more later

For now, it's off to the dining hall!
Later

Heather,

I, Rhoda, posted that business about fate/freewill, not Rachel. The fact is that there is predestination and free will working all at the same time. That is seemingly a contradiction, but it is true. The best explanation of this concept that I have found is in C.S. Lewis's MERE CHRISTIANITY. I don't wish to discuss it here, but sometime get the book and read it. It isn't very long, but it is the best primer for the Christian faith that I know of save the BIBLE.

I in a way regret that post because I had no intention of getting into a theological debate. Actually I was just grateful that I had the sleep, for it helped me endure a very difficult evening. It was good, and I attributed it to God, but I have no idea how God brought it about or just how much thought he put into it.

You put much in your post that was of interest, and I love a good theological discussion. You are an intelligent person and would be a lot of fun to talk to face to face. But I have found that the Notebook is not a good forum for religious topics, and so I will keep all comments and explanations to myself for the time being. But seriously, I highly recommend MERE CHRISTIANITY. Old C.S. is far more articulate than I could ever be in explaining the most misunderstood, but simplest faith in the world (probably misunderstood because it is so simple).

Well, I must get to work now.

Happy writing,

Rhoda

about my first post of the day - that was supposed to be 'at least not where we leave OUR traces', not 'out traces'!
Sloppy me.
Heather

Whooops! I forgot to add my ten cents in about movies:

I thought 'Good Will Hunting' in '99 was just about the best film! I loved it.
Let's see... did anyone see 'Ever After'? I liked that too. What was Drew Barrymore's other film from last year - I can't remeber the title but it was about her going back to highschool, undercover as a reporter, and I laughed and laughed... it was really a cute movie.
In a literary sense, Good Will Hunting deserved to be rewarded.
I love Robin Williams, no matter what kind of movie he does.
Even the cheesy Disney ones.

Let's see... did I actually see more than 3 movies last year? Titanic. I can see why the bundles of awards were given. So that's 4 movies I saw. I didn't see Mummy, I didn't see Mission to Mars yet either.
I guess most of the movies I am thinking of were 1998 and 1999. I have yet to see the Sixth Sense. It has such high reviews, but that is not a good indication of how well I'll like the film. I agree with Rhoda, and probably others, in that I don't go by what Siskel and Ebert say to choose a movie, I have seen movies that rated highly and thought they were terrible, and vice versa.

Sometimes I agree.

Has anyone seen this movie? "An Angel At My Table"?
It is about the life of a writer, and all of her travels and so on. It is not a Hollywood production, so it tends to be more honest, more baring, and yet not sensationalist. A terrific film. Calming. Kindred. Worthwhile.

Later, lovelies!
Heather

The first time I ever read that a Christian believes in Fate happened right here in the NB!
Rachel, you claimed the post that said 'Teekay' on it for Sunday? You said (And I paraphrase) that as a Christian you know that things aren't chance at all... whether you believe this to be Divine Will, it still shouts 'Fate' to me! After all, it is the same result, and has no signature. THe hand of Divinity, be it three women, (cliche!) or the hand of God. Either way there are so many things without proof. We don't even have any substantial proof of this steering of a soul.
I don't believe in coincedence. What I mean by that is:
I don't believe that anything is an accident. I also don't think it is the guiding hand of a higher power that drives our paths and footsteps. At least not where we choose to leave out traces. I don't doubt there is the Divine spark within us all. As I expound on this, take this lightly, please!
I think it is us, choosing everything, be it conscious or not. Why we decide? How we choose? Simple. We just do.
ANd every other being chooses too. Free Will. It was God's greatest gift to us. THat means there can be no guiding hand to actually STEER us but our own. Otherwise we would be automatons, or Gods' playthings. We are not. If we did not have free will, we would already be perfect. We would not need a body.
But the Divine gives us our free will, and we have chosen to be imperfect. To lie, to delude ourselves, to wander far from home. But we have the power to choose anything, perfection included.
After all, we are the image of the Divine. If we are this image, we must have the same Divinity; otherwise we would be an imperfect image (and God cannot create anything imperfect, remember?) And so our perfection is latent, [undeveloped] but for a select few - remember Buddha, Jesus, etc. If we could not raise ourselves to this perfect state, would Jesus have tried to teach us that we could?
(again I paraphrase) "And greater works than these shall you do." Speaking of walking on water, why the heck not?
Peter did, until he doubted. T