Interim Remarks

[pameladean]

I'm working on my trip report. Something in the way my mind works requires me to do detailed accounts from the beginning, which with difficulty I managed to make the day that we left for California rather than the day I started to help Eric pack or the day he decided to move in the first place.

These accounts are going to be mostly very long. I don't use cut tags by the specific request of a few people who I am very glad read my journal and who cannot get to cut tags when they are reading on the road. I suppose I say this by way of warning, and also to let anybody who wants passionately to argue for or against cut tags in this context to do so.

I'm settling in to being home, though not to having Eric so far away; my cat is very dusty; Minnesota is having a drought, which is distressing; the present administration continues in its course of blood and rhetoric, no love, and no style neither, which is also distressing; finances and career are pretty much where we left them.

However, I understand that I am to receive some books in the mail soon, which is cheering.

Also, I've agreed to do a signing on November 14th at 7:00 at Bound to Be Read in St. Paul. I'll make a more detailed announcement with the address and so on a bit closer to the actual date.

Pamela

Comments

[redbird]

I wouldn't expect style, but can you--or somebody please do me love and rhetoric? I can supply the blood, this week, and nobody will be injured thereby.

Or at least a higher quality of rhetoric?

(Can't do anything about Eric's absence, so I'm ranting about Stoppard.)

[pameladean]

I hate to make all that blood go to waste, but I'm committed to non-fiction of the travelogue variety this week.

More seriously, I sometimes think that what I really want to write is, precisely, love and rhetoric without the blood. Compulsory, hell.

Pamela

[redbird]

You're writing a higher quality of material than that tragedian was working with, and I think have a more versatile readership.

Love and rhetoric without the blood.

[raphaela.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to reading the trip report.

Do say, how does one dust a dusty cat?

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

A few days ago our cat Balor emerged from under a bed, well-decorated with pieces of dust -- I carefully carried him outside at arm's length, and as soon as I put him down he shook himself off.

[raphaela.livejournal.com]

Brilliant. I wish I didn't have the cat allergy!

I have a very silly dog. Were she to emerge in a cluster of dust bunnies, she'd make pets of them.

[pameladean]

One of my most common early remarks to Ari, as he explored his new home, was "Thank you for dusting!"

Pamela

[pameladean]

Brushing them works, if they'll let you. Ari is very wilful, and in fact still somewhat dusty.

Pamela

Gentian Question

[(Anonymous)]

I apologize for putting this in your comments, but it's been driving me nuts and I don't have an email address for you. I just finished rereading "Juniper, Gentian and Rosemary" (for what number of times I don't care to think) and the two times the Giant Ants hold a seance Erin writes down variants on the anagram MIDDAY CHIRON. I was sure this meant Something, and even tried running it through an anagram generator (shame) after getting tired of puzzling on paper for a few hours....does it mean Something?

Having to post as Anonymous because I deleted my Livejournal in a fit of pique. That's all right, because now I get to declare authorship of all those terrific poems and fairy tales.

-- moira (russell)

Re: Gentian Question

[redbird]

Likely you can restore your journal if you want (the FAQ says 30 days, but that's a minimum--they don't actually purge the database very often).

Re: Gentian Question

[pameladean]

Honesty compells me to admit that while I remember the effect I wanted, I couldn't actually recall what everything was an anagram of, and had to apply to my resident sweetie, who kindly remembered for me, at which point I hit myself in the forehead, not very gently.

Dominic Hardy. That's what.

Pamela

Re: Gentian Question

[(Anonymous)]

((stunned silence))

OH.

((runs off shrieking))

No, it just feels that way. Oh dear. -- I don't know if I want to resurrect my LiveJournal....I had such a love-hate relationship with it, and I already have an online journal I'm in love/hate with....I might resurrect it and make all the entries private just so I would be able to post on other ljs.

moira ((formerly redredshoes))

Re: Gentian Question

[davidgoldfarb.livejournal.com]

I remember when I first read Juniper, Gentian, and Rosemary that I could tell all the "midday chiron" stuff was anagrams, but I couldn't work out what was being anagrammed. I stayed up late finishing the book, then the next morning on waking up my very first thought was, "'Midday chiron' -- you can get 'Dominic' out of that." So I got out of bed and verified that yes, the whole thing was "Dominic Hardy".

I recall that in the hardcover at least one of the anagrams was botched, there were some dropped letters. I wonder if that was ever corrected?

Re: Gentian Question

[pameladean]

Your reaction was pretty much what I was hoping for from readers.

The botched anagram was not fixed. If the book is reprinted it could be, but I am not exactly in huge demand at the moment.

Pamela

Re: Gentian Question

[faithhopetricks.livejournal.com]

I didn't actually realize until the 2nd reading that it was all anagrams, but I was never able to figure out what. I thought it was made up out of regular words (some kind of warning?), not a name. I'm usually good at those word jumble puzzles in the paper, I swear.

moi (yes, I undeleted it)

Re: Gentian Question

[pameladean]

Welcome back.

I would never myself have gotten it in a million years if I hadn't written the book, if you follow me. I did think of phrases, but the anagrams you get from "Dominic Hardy" were SO COOL I went with those.

Pamela

Re: Gentian Question

[faithhopetricks.livejournal.com]

They were, indeed, very cool (and WHY I didn't think of trying to anagram the words into a name I'll never know). How did you get them? Did you just sit there with a pen and paper and do it or was an anagram generator involved at all?

moi

Re: Gentian Question

[pameladean]

I'd never have the patience for the pencil-and-paper approach, and I have a kind of negative talent in that area anyway, failing spectacularly to see patterns that are right in front of me.

Raphael found me an anagram generator.

Pamela

Re: Gentian Question

[faithhopetricks.livejournal.com]

Did you ever hear that wonderful story about Dorothy Parker and anagrams? She challenged the word "currie," until her hostess went to the kitchen and got a jar of (I think) Blackwell & Crosse Currie (British). Dorothy Parker was not mollified: "What do they know?" she said. "Look at how they spell Crosse."

moi