A Hazardous Occupation

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Many good wishes to all my friends for a lovely holiday, whether you're spending it with family or friends or just staying in with a good movie. I hope the day is peaceful and satisfying for each and every one of you. I was assigned the dessert duty, so the pies (pecan and sugar-free apple) are baked, and the Boy Scout popcorn is packed and ready to be delivered. We'll go over to my parents' house for lunch and I'll spend the afternoon fighting with all the other relatives to hold my sweet baby niece. But the thing I think I'm most thankful for is online shopping, so I don't have to leave the house on Friday at all!

I watched all three nights of AMC's version of The Prisoner. Bad enough that Jim Caviezel played Six in a bizarrely wimpy fashion, and that we had to spend half the time delving into Two's psychology. But the ending...oh, the ending.

I stayed around for THAT???????

If I don't get the DVD set of the original for Christmas, I'll buy it for myself in January and cleanse my palate. Because right now I feel sullied.

During the filming of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, Orlando Bloom broke a rib, John Rhys-Davies developed an allergic reaction to his makeup, Viggo Mortensen chipped a tooth while filming a fight sequence and Sean Astin stepped on a shard of glass that was sticking up from the riverbed and had to be airlifted to hospital. Gee whiz, acting is dangerous!


I was a crazy fan of The Prisoner back in high school, so I was both excited and nervous about the remake. I didn't manage to stay awake last night (danced all day at faire and could barely keep my eyes open to drive home) but I'm watching tonight. The hardest part is how very different the entire story is. I'll stick it out to the end, I suppose - it's only one more night. And Ian McKellan is worth the time just by himself. But really, this version isn't shaking my devotion one little bitty bit.

Folks, thank you so much for the expressions of support for my friend. In addition to being completely gobsmacked, she was also worried that she was being ungrateful to their efforts, so knowing that other people felt as she did about it made a world of difference.

One of her smarter friends went over today to help unrearrange and get things back to where they were. And tonight the instigator is going over for her well-deserved Come-to-Jesus talk.

Should be fun.

To produce the desired drugged-out effect for his role in Ferris Bueller's Day Off as the drug addict in the police station, Charlie Sheen stayed awake for more than 48 hours before the scene was shot.

My sister brought my royal niece to visit me this weekend, and they came to faire with us yesterday. I loved getting the chance to see them. Anastasia is a little more grown-up every time, and it just blows my mind. I was scheduled to dance today as well, but I switched days with another dancer so I could stay home and spend time with my family today. Which turned out to be a better call than I expected. During the first show on Saturday, I was performing an arabesque and suddenly felt my hip pop in a painful and somewhat frightening way. I finished the day, dancing only the very easiest dances with the troupe, but today I know I did something. Dancing is right out; walking is accomplished with effort. My husband thinks I've strained a tendon in my hip, and has ordered me to take it very easy for the next few days. I'm not sure I know how to do that!

I ran into the programming director for ConCarolinas at faire yesterday, and we started talking about media guests for the upcoming event in 2010. She had a couple of great names on the line, but my suggestion, James Marsters, is too expensive. Maybe if I held a bake sale.....

When shooting the V For Vendetta fight in Victoria Station, the stunt-men literally moved in slow motion on set whilst David Leitch (Hugo Weaving's stunt double) moved in real time - thus making it seem as if he was moving much faster then the Fingermen.

Yesterday I had a lovely birthday. Lots of wonderful greetings and wishes from friends close and far, and my parents sent me a gorgeous arrangement of flowers:



Later on a student arrived with a huge stuffed bear and a note. Apparently there's a new thing at school - whenever someone has a birthday, they get to have the Birthday Bear!



I don't keep the Bear - he stays with me until the next staff member has a birthday, at which time he will go to that person. Isn't he cute?

Then I got home and checked the mail, to find my very first royalty check! Whoo hoo!

My son gave me a copy of Watchmen, and my husband gave me a fabulous ring from Steampunk Jewelry - similar to this, but with a tiny silver skull & crossbones on it. I wore it to work today, and even though nobody really understood it, they agreed that my dearly beloved knew me well. *grin*

*****

Today we welcomed a new regular to the Magical Words blog - fantasy author A J Hartley will be posting on the first Friday of every month, and he started today. Go take a look! And late today, I got some fantastic news - my dear friend davidbcoe has sold a new series to Tor!! It's a fantasy mystery, set in 17th century Boston. He says it's "Harry Dresden meets Samuel Adams." When I know more (like when you can run out and buy it!!), I'll definitely be sharing. In the meantime, please lift a glass to my friend!

The language spoken by Leeloo in The Fifth Element was invented by director Luc Besson and further refined by Milla Jovovich. By the end of filming they were able to have full conversations in this language.

This morning I felt like it was going to be a day of serious suckage. No special reason for feeling that way - probably a combination of the time change, the overcast sky and the fact that it was Monday. The day was pretty ordinary. But when I got home, I found a package from my wonderful editor, containing The Dame and Boneshaker! When my husband came home, he told me he'd received a 3 1/2% raise. And then I sat down to check email, only to see one from my terrific agent, telling me I have a royalty check on the way!

I swear, I'm going to buy a lottery ticket right now.

The house used to film the movie Poltergeist is located in Simi Valley, California. The family who owned it when the movie was filmed still live there today. They are braver than I would be. Or maybe they just never watched the movie.

If you happened to miss it, we interviewed writer and editor Danielle Ackley-McPhail on Magical Words last Friday. Danielle is, among other things, the editor of the wonderful Bad Ass Faeries anthologies!

As usual, we had not a single trick-or-treater last night. We live out in the country, so we've never had anyone come to the house. It was also raining. We did, however, play our game last night. I worried that I might fall asleep again, since I'd spent the day dancing at faire. Instead I managed to stay awake and have a great time. Yes, beatrizwench, I will eventually be journalling it so that you, too, can join the Beetle in laughing at my complete lack of decent die rolls.

NaNo began today, so off I go to slap some words on paper (metaphorically speaking, of course.)

Ta, y'all.

Conceptual artist Ron Cobb who came up with the idea that the creature in Alien should bleed acid. This came about when writer Dan O'Bannon couldn't find a reason why the Nostromo crew just couldn't shoot the alien with a gun.

We were watching a commercial for the upcoming film 2012 the other day. Apparently the date for our certain destruction is December 21st, a few days before Christmas. Christmas is the bigbigreallybig to-do in my family, so this news was upsetting.

Misty: We have to open presents a week early that year.
Todd: Why?
Misty: Because I'm not going down without my presents.
Todd: Hey, at least I get my birthday first.
Misty: *makes rude noises and walks away to make the changes in her pocket calendar*

Seriously, if the world's going to end, why not do it mid-January, when it's cold and bleak and there's nothing to do anyway?

In the film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, Bill and Ted claim that they need Eddie Van Halen in their band to make it better. After the film was released, Van Halen jokingly said he would have joined their band if they had asked.

Last night was the first audition practice for my troupe. Our director teaches a new dance to the troupe and to the hopefuls, over the course of two class meetings, then we have to perform that dance on the night of actual auditions. We had a ball learning the first half of the dance. We have a large group of hopefuls this time around, and they all look great.

Today was the first required teacher furlough day for my district, so I took the opportunity to go visit Blue Ridge High School in Greer SC, to book talk Mad Kestrel. I had to get up verrry early to make the drive, but the kids were great, and I had a really good time talking with them and answering questions about writing. Ms Heckman and Ms Stephenson, the media specialists, were such fantastic hosts, and gave me a lovely gift bag when I left. As soon as I got home, though, I kicked off my shoes and collapsed onto the couch for a nap. Now my beloved has gone for Chinese takeout for dinner, so I can continue being a slug.

And what do slugs drink? Coffee. I think I shall go and brew some right now.

At one point in the film Memento, Leonard (Guy Pearce) passes in front of a comic book store with the Batman logo displayed prominently on the window. Five years later, Memento director Christopher Nolan would helm Batman Begins and later The Dark Knight. Wow, how did they know???

Dancing this weekend was hard in the cold, but lots of fun. Unfortunately my shoulder, which seemed to be healing, now is hurting again, and Sunday night I discovered I'd somehow caught pink eye again (I work with kids all week and spent the weekend playing with kids at faire, so I could have picked up the pink eye cooties anywhere at all.) At the moment I feel as if spontaneous combustion is probably on the horizon.

For the last three weeks, my computer's been acting strange. We thought I might have a virus, but the virus scan couldn't find one, and the symptoms didn't fit anything we could find on teh interwebz. I'd been dealing with the problems until last night, when we realized it was the keyboard. I was using my favorite old ergonomic split keyboard, and it was giving up the ghost. Did I mention it was ancient? I was very sad to say goodbye to it, but now everything is humming along as it should.

Sunday was my 23rd wedding anniversary, and since I had to dance, my husband took me out for sushi Friday night to celebrate. On our way home, he turned in the wrong direction. I thought maybe he was going to try to get to EarthFare before they closed, but he drove right past. A few blocks further, he turned onto the street he lived on when we were dating, and stopped the car next to the tree we were standing under when he proposed to me all those years ago.

I have the most romantic husband. *sigh*

In the movie Road House, the song "These Arms of Mine" by Otis Redding is playing during the love scene with Patrick Swayze and Kelly Lynch. It was also the song playing in Dirty Dancing during the love scene between Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Gee, I guess when something works...

Sorry I haven't been around. Monday morning, I reached up to get my towel after my shower, and cramped my right trapezius like nobody's business. That's always the way it happens to me - I never have any exciting, unusual accidents. I'm the one who sprains her ankle falling off the one-inch lip of a driveway, or cuts her fingers on copy paper. My back is getting better, slowly, but wow. You never think about all the good things your back muscles do until you hurt one. The worst part is the occasional sneeze...OW!

We saw Zombieland. The zombies are very, very icky, and I admit I had to turn away a few times. But seriously, it was fun. Cardio!

Okay, that's all I've got for now. Working on two projects that I'm determined to finish by tomorrow night, so I'll be up for air again later. And yes, I'm scheduled to dance this weekend. Both days. We'll see if I can manage - I may end up doing more emceeing than dancing, but I'm hopeful.

In one scene of The Usual Suspects, Hockney says in response to Fenster, "What did he just say?" That was Kevin Pollak the actor speaking, not his character; he actually did not understand what Benicio Del Toro said.

Last week in my Magical Words post, I mentioned that one of the reasons I'd be a terrible famous person was because "I would drive my trusted lieutenant crazy sending her out to buy me Cherry Twizzlers and Starbucks coffee." So what did my trusted lieutenant do? Showed up Saturday with a pound of Ethiopian Sidamo beans and a bag of Cherry Twizzlers. I'm so lucky!

Opening weekend has come and gone, and I danced successfully. I scampered over to the henna booth just before cannon, so that I could have Erzulie's symbol on my back. The artist did an exceptional job! I saw lots of old friends throughout the day, which is one of the nicest reasons to go to faire. The weather held - no rain and mild temps. And as is our tradition, after the final show of the day we all trooped up the hill for Italian ices. Yummy! There was one weird moment - a group of women in belly dance clothing were wandering the faire, telling patrons they were the troupe and would be performing on the Fairhaven stage (at the opposite end of the faire from our stage.) We asked around to see if they were an artiste du jour, but no one seemed to know anything about them. I was a bit perturbed - pretending you're an act when you're not is highly impolite. Not to mention one of them was wearing see-through pants with only a short panel skirt. Yeah, that's appropriate for a family show. *rolls eyes*

Today I'm home from work so I'm finishing some projects (not to mention the occasional load of laundry.) If you have the day off, enjoy!

In the Total Recall fight scene after Quaid (Arnold Schwarzeneggar) visits Rekall, the sound of breaking bones is actually celery being twisted and broken. This is the kind of thing that makes me never want to eat salad again.

Today I missed a deadline. Not something I'm used to doing, and I hated myself for letting it happen. Fortunately, the editor is a fabulous woman who didn't mind extending it a few days for me. Because she is a goddess!

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's back to the keyboard for me. I mustn't let her down.

Brendan Fraser was Cornelia Funke's personal choice for the role of Silvertongue in the movie Inkheart, as he was her inspiration for the character. She even dedicated the second novel of the trilogy to him and sent him a signed copy. Yay! I'm not the only author who gives books to actors she likes!

So the roof situation turned out to be less urgent than I feared. We have a little more time than we thought, so we won't have to go into hideous debt with the bank or charge a roof to our credit card. Whew.

My media specialist has been absent all week (family issues) so I had to work alone. I didn't eat any lunch, and I couldn't take a potty break until nearly two! But there was a bright spot in the day...more new books showed up. They aren't actually catalogued yet, so I only took two: The Encyclopedia of the End and Ink Exchange. *sigh* Nothing like shiny new books to lift a girl's spirits. Even if I do have to give them back eventually.

The "39 Lashes" scene in Jesus Christ Superstar was so realistic that Ted Neeley's mother walked out on it. She had never laid a hand on her son, and could not bear the sight of him being whipped and tortured, even though she knew it was just acting.

Just when there's light at the end of the financial tunnel, it turns out to be a runaway train barrelling toward you instead. Apparently we have to replace our roof, in addition to a few other repairs around the house that we can't do ourselves. How we'll pay for it is anyone's guess. *sigh*

If you don't see me at faire as much this season, you know why. I'm getting back to work now.

Apparently The Mummy was just shy of being a soft-core porn film. The white nightgown Rachel Weisz (Evelyn) wore when the ship was attacked became transparent when it got wet and had to be digitally painted white during post production. And with the exception of a loin cloth and a few pieces of jewelry, Patricia Velasquez's (Anck Su Namun) costume consists entirely of body paint which took 14 hours to apply.

We spent the weekend in the Lowcountry for my niece's christening.



She didn't even cry until the christening part of the service was over. In other words, once the attention was off of her...a woman after my own heart. *grin*

I'm getting back to work now. In the meantime, you know how writers are always looking for a fabulous, original new promo idea? Well, Douglas Clegg has found one. It's seriously addictive. I mean it. Don't blame me if you miss your next deadline!

Keanu Reeves played John Constantine in the film Constantine. The appearance of John Constantine in the comics was based on the singer Sting. Okay, sure, I can see the resemblance...if I close my right eye and turn all the lights off.

I'm so delighted! My dear, fabulously talented friend faithhunter is not only an extraordinary writer, but in her spare time makes jewelry. She created a lovely custom necklace for me to wear when I dance at faire this season. It has an ancient Greek look to it, very exotic. I just picked it up, and I don't want to take it off! I'll be posting pictures soon (after dress rehearsal, when the whole costume will be ready) so keep watching this space.

*dances around the living room*

The game show in The Running Man was based upon an early 1980's Japanese game show called Trans American Ultra Quiz, in which contestants were tortured in various ways. The prize went to whichever contestant could stand the pain/humiliation the longest.

I wish I could afford to stay home all day and write. Since that's not presently in the cards, I have the next best thing - a job in a library. And my favorite day on the job is always the Day The Book Order Comes In. Which was today. We unpacked and processed five boxes of shiny new books, eight of which came home with me to be read. (See, I told you it's the next best thing!) Sitting on my desk right now are The Thirteenth Child, The Crossroads, Nathan Fox: Dangerous Times, Roar, Interworld, The Hunt For the Seventh, The Red Necklace and How To Ditch Your Fairy.

I still haven't decided which one to start with. They're all so pretty....

After filming wrapped for Sleepy Hollow, actor Michael Gambon wanted to keep his severed prop head so he could send it to interviews and dinner parties in place of attending himself. Hee! This guy sounds like fun.

I voted today.

Sure, it was a small local election to fill a vacated House seat, but I still went. If anyone wonders why we have loudmouths and entitlement whores running our state, I can now tell you why. Because no one comes out to vote! My polling place had three screens set up, one helper to guide us. My husband and I walked in, and the ladies at the check-in table were almost giddy to see us. It shames me. My state is already pretty much a laughing stock in the nation, and now I see that everyone around me is too busy to bother changing anything.

But at least I voted.