Delusions of Grandeur

Delusions of Grandeur

Random thoughts by Deoris

Monday, February 03, 2003

Writing Successes: Sunday Brunch, a pretty big Amazon post, and a whole bunch of editing for Themiscrya.

Music Playing: Xena: Warrior Princess, Season Four and both disks of Season Six. (I think I like Four best, it has a bunch of stuff from "Adventures in the Sin Trade", an Amazon episode.)

Bizarre Quiz of the Day: Courtesy of Eden, who was a 27.


My personality is rated 28.
What is yours?




Well, it has been a few days. Sadly, not much has changed. At least, not that you'd notice overtly.

I made a lot of changes to the Amazon forum, most of it just color and wording and arrangement. Made a couple of graphics for them, too. Made another signature tag, gave someone a "promotion" to the position of Quilla Archila, (Master Fletcher) and demoted someone from the coveted "daughter of Ares" role. It's busy when the Queen's on vacation!

I did do quite a lot of editing today, too. I swear, if any Amazons are reading this, please learn to use a stinking comma. There were no commas where commas should be and a lot of commas where no comma should go. I won't even mention the spelling. (Okay, I will. I just have to. No offense meant, Soraya, but for a University chick studying Writing/English or whatever....) A dear jumped out at Soraya, you see. Apparently, Soraya forgot she could shoot the dear, and let it go. It turned out all right, a "cool rabbit" came hopping by and she shot that. (It was meant to be: Cool! Rabbit for dinner! .... but was written: cool rabbit for dinner) I was cracking up. Thanks, Ray, for the entertainment. (I'm sure she's pleased.)

So, putting the Amazons aside for tonight, let's move back to yesterday's Sunday Brunch. They were really HARD prompts! I couldn't think of anything better than writing about this woman who works for the "Globe Trekker" people (PBS. I'm old.) doing these 15 minute "speed-tours". One in particular I've seen at least three times. It's entertaining, but I inadvertantly memorized it. So, my apologies to the girl (I don't even know her name, although I remember Justine and Ian who do the 45 minute part of the show!) and to the show and to, well, the reader.

After the writing, there "should" be a new way to post comments. More thanks to Eden for finding it. I haven't much hope, since the code is nearly the same as the first one I tried was. And I can't seem to master how it works. Mind, it's supposed to "fill in the blanks" automatically. If it is, I missed it. So, my apologies if it's nasty.

Tell a story about a character trapped in a situation they did not create. 15 min

Lynn sighed and checked her watch again. She’d been in this line an hour already and it looked to be an hour more at least.

Another announcement came over the speakers, prodding people to have their passports and travel documents ready. Lynn had completed hers on the airplane, a practice she’d made a habit over the years. She could see three people ahead of her hastily scribbling on the papers, using various bulky items as hard surfaces.

“What do you think, Robert?” she asked.

“Looks like a good time to remind them to have their things ready,” the cameraman answered. He had the bulk of their combined luggage loaded on a cart, keeping the precious, and expensive, gear close to hand. “Want me to set it up?”

The line inched forward. They moved with it. “Yeah, I think it’s worth yet another repeat. Things have gotten dicey in airports this year, but nobody seems to think it’s a big deal.”

Robert unloaded the main camera and loaded it with film while Lynn primped and groomed using her makeup kit. It took ten minutes; she was supposed to look like the average traveler fresh from the plane, not some super model.

Tell about a conversation you, or a character, wished you’d had, or wished had gone differently. 15 min

The line moved again, and Lynn suddenly wished she hadn’t suggested the scene. She and Robert were nearing the head of the line, which would make a great shot, but she could feel her makeup melting in the heat of the Taipei airport.

“Let’s get it over with,” she said. If only Robert hadn’t been so willing to shoot this, then they’d simply slink through the line to the other side, and out onto a bus into the city.

“Rolling,” he informed her.

“At the airport, have your passport,” she held the item up in front of her. “And documents ready. The lines can be long and the new baggage checks take several minutes to complete,” she smiled inanely, ignoring the roll of sweat behind her ear. She did a “C’mon,” move, turned around toward the desk and paused. “Cut!” she said.

Robert dropped the camera from his shoulder. “Got it, nice take. Let’s get one of you handing the girl your documents.”

“If we ever get up there, of course.”

“Right,” he smiled. He put the camera on top of the luggage and shoved the cart forward the three feet they’d gained during the shot.

“Should say something about wearing cool clothes, do you think?” Lynn asked.

He shook his head. “Your outfit makes it clear, and we won’t have time for that much, anyhow. This is just a fifteen-minute special. Can’t have everything in that time.”

“And you just know Ian is out doing an hour-long. Wish they’d let me do that.”

“They will, Lynn. Justine and Ian have a year on you, that’s all. But I’ve seen the fan mail, you’re gaining on them.”

She smiled. She supposed all the camera folk had that speech ready to mollify the talent. “Thanks, Robert,” she said.

They inched forward again. She could see the uniformed young girl behind the glass now, a sure sign they’d be through in the next half-hour.

@xxx{{========> <=========}}xxx@ (thanks, Chrysippe!)

I did warn you about the quality there. Try and leave a comment, if you dare!




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