My fannish week - now with bonus lawbreakage!

[gwyn]

I have had a really pretty good week in fandom, overall. It started out last weekend with a get-together in honor of the_shoshanna's visit to Seattle at montanaharper's house. Much fun and food was had by all (I think I drank all her Pepsi), especially when we started recounting Psychos We Have Known and Hated in fandom. It was by turns funny and kind of cathartic, because once you got your memories of the psycho you had dealt with, purging yourself, so to speak, then someone else would recount their psycho story and you would feel better knowing that theirs was actually considerably worse. The thing I love about fans in a group is that a) you don't have to explain your jokes to others, b) no one cares when you're all shouty and overtalking because they're doing it, too, and c) fans are so well-read and articulate most of the time, and we get to use words you just don't really hear in conversation much otherwise.

Then on Tuesday I stopped by to help katallison give some meds to the kitty, and before I had to go we had a glass of wine and were commiserating about our inability to have some self-esteem about what we do. We decided we need to find some kind of exorcist or shaman to purge us of this problem.

On Wednesday, I went to get my new iMac. My goodness, it is shiny. I still haven't even taken the protective plastic film off it because I haven't been home enough to really use it, but what little I did do, it was just so amazing to look at. At 24 inches, the screen is only 3 inches smaller than my damn HDTV. I still don't know exactly what FrontRow is, but I was just randomly opening new apps to see what they looked like, and this took me to a listing of movie trailers that opened up full screen on the computer. They looked marvelous and better than on the TV, in fact. I was mesmerized and wasted a huge amount of time watching trailers for movies I don't even care about. I plan today to install some of my newer software that I haven't used yet, and then migrate things over. Besides the display, the thing I'm enjoying most about the computer is, oddly, the keyboard. It's wafer-thin (say in Monty Python voice), and has these flat keys, but they have excellent touch response and more function keys than before. Best of all, they are not spaced too closely together, as the keyboards are for the last iMac iteration. The old Mac extended keyboard was my all time favorite, but the past few years Apple has been getting it wrong, wrong, wrong (don't even get me started on the short stubby little Bondi Blue G3 keyboards with the round mouse) and it's nice to see that they are back in keyboard stylin' business.

Then yesterday was the fannishiest of all. astolat is in town for a convention, and a small group of us (sherrold, wickedwords, and feochadn) were able to get together with her for dim sum lunch. I picked her up at the hotel and managed to get us lost over on the east side because I had bad user input -- for some reason, I had thought they street was different than it was, and so I was driving around stupidly before Shalott whipped out her internets and found the correct street for me. After lunch, I offered to take her into downtown Seattle, especially to the market, before she had to be back for an event. I found a parking spot right in front of this little French cafe that I adore and we agreed to maybe stop by and have a drink after we toured the market. So we trundled off down the incredibly steep hill (it's the workout tour of Seattle!), and found this beautiful jewelry stand that has been there for 33 years and which I have been by thousands of times but never stopped to look at things. It's always so great to find something you've overlooked, when you look at things through someone else's interests. Shalott found a beautiful, unusual set of jewelry, and then we decided to head back up the steep hill to the cafe.

We got to the top of the hill, and she said, "Where's your car?" That complete sinking feeling of dread came over me as I realized I had parked on 1st Ave., right before rush hour, and they had towed my car. My baby Beetle!! Gone at the hands of merciless tow-truck-drivers! I was so upset and discombobulated and humiliated at my stupidity that at first, I didn't know what to do, which I actually said out loud. Fortunately, Shalott had her wits about her and she said, "There's a phone number on the sign" which of course, there was, and of course, I had completely not looked at when I parked, like the dumbass I am. Way to go to make a good impression on your friends from out of town! Get lost, then get your car towed. I was so, so embarassed. So I called them, then had problems with the phone number (really, would it kill them to listen to their messages so they can discover that it crackles and you can't actually hear all the number?), then we had to get a cab, so we walked into this bar (it's really hard to get a cab on the street in Seattle, your best bet is usually to find a cab stand but there weren't any nearby) for a number.

The bartender was wonderful and she actually immediately punched in the number ("you got towed?") and called one for me, and gave me the card for the lot where the car would be. But of course, the drunk guy sitting at the end of the bar had to try to flirt (he'd been eyeing Shalott like she was candy) -- he shouted, "You got towed? Why'd they do that?" and I said, "Because I was stupid." He had no idea what to make of that, so he suggested we sit and have a drink to wait for the cab, but I thought it might be a tad better to wait outside. The cab driver who picked us up was incredibly chatty, and the two of us were sitting there for the short ride saying "yeah" "definitely" almost in stereo the whole way, I think hoping he would stop talking if we just agreed with him.

Shalott was beyond gracious about the whole awful thing, and she even insisted on paying for the impound, which I feel horrible about but she was adamant. (Seriously, you are getting a nice dinner in Chicago and some really good wine for this!) I have never felt so stupid -- I've lived in this city all my adult life, and I know downtown like the back of my hand, and I have no idea what the hell I was thinking. I know they clear the street at 3!! I was just so... well, as someone pointed out to me last night, I was having a good time. Apparently me + good times = stoopit. Anyway, we got the ticket for me to pay later (because as they point out on the ticket, I BROKE THE LAW), and trundled off back to the hotel in nasty rainy rush hour, and then had a brief drink in the bar, before she had to head off to an event and I had to head off to gattagrigia's for Torchwood watching.

And OMG, I just have to say, I am really enjoying that show more and more (even though, yeah, it's TEH DUMB) and Jack and Ianto = OTP woobie sexy love and I couldn't be happier with things and I don't want to hear other people harshing what I'm enjoying so much. Shalott and I had talked in the car about what we love about Jack as a character, and the 51st century sexuality, and by the end of the day, I was feeling like maybe, just maybe, I might turn really fannish about the show. I haven't had anything that gave me that feeling and that other people could share with me for some time (there are things I feel very intensely about, like The Wire and Charlie Jade, but they are so small and don't have that fannish network that I kind of feed off of and absorb), so I kind of hope that maybe it takes.

And with any luck, maybe I'll even want to write again. I keep hoping. So, what else... Oh, yeah. Shalott and I talked a bit about the OTW, and I told her that I've steadfastly avoided anything about it for a long while because I just lalala don't want to hear people going on about why they think it's a bad idea. I just prefer to wait for things to start, and then see if I can get involved, but I just really have not wanted to listen to the crap some people sling at it. I think it's fabulous, and please to be going away now thank you if you have "issues." And obviously, I'm not boycotting LJ today. I respect your decisions if you are, but... well, I don't think there are good alternatives right now for the thousands of people in fandom to stay connected this way. I've got other journals, and if we end up playing at journalfen or insanejournal, then I'll wait and see, but I think IJ is going the way of GJ. No, I don't believe LJ is being run well. I think they've been colossal asses lately. I hate what I think SUP is going to do and their contempt for users. But until, as merryish said today, they start setting fans on fire, I can't see an alternative for such a large user base. I dunno.

And I wish everyone a (something) Purim and Good Friday (I'm never sure if it should be solemn or joyous wishes on these days!). BPAL did their lunacy update yesterday and their April Fool's update and I'm in perfume heaven. No money, but I have to find some for the Tiki Lounge scents, OMG.

Comments

[sweet-ali.livejournal.com]

Purim's a joyous holiday, filled with costumes and plays and cookies. So always Happy Purim :)

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

That's really good to know! I can barely keep track of the Christian holidays, and that was what I was raised with. I love that icon, btw. That is really great.

[deejay.livejournal.com]

Towage = Arggghhh!

*insert hug here from someone-hopefully-not-labeled-a-psycho*

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I will happily receive virtual hugs. Honest, l was just so thrown. It was the first time I have ever had that happen to me. I don't know what it is, but even though I have a perfect driving record, I don't have much luck with the parking.

[destina.livejournal.com]

Hee, you had quite a day, didn't you? *g*

I'm shopping for an iMac soon. I've never had a Mac. I'm afraid I won't like it and that all the people who said, "Oh, it's so much easier to vid on a Mac!" will turn out to be just crazypants. Soon we will see! You make it sound very shiny and wonderful.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

You know, as much of a macolyte as I am, I'm always hesitant to tell someone they're going to love something that's really different from what they're used to. I think the thing I enjoy most about Macs (and you know as well as anyone that I have tons of tech troubles with my own) is that people have clearly paid attention to making things integrate with each other. That's a big thing for someone like me. But it can be hard in other areas, and I never could get files to demux with the programs I had. It's like anything, I guess -- things to love, and things not to. The best thing is that you'll have a Barkley for support. I could not have done computer vidding without her and Killa. I would have given up.

[klia.livejournal.com]

All I can say is, I switched to a Mac almost 4 years ago, and have never been happier with a computer in my life. *I* think vidding is easier with FCP (but I mainly cut, and don't do a lot of effects/transitions), and it isn't insanely crashy like Premiere was, either, which has been a *huge* relief. After I got my Mac, keiko_kirin and thevetia also made the switch, and Keiko has said she thinks FCP is easier, too. FWIW.

iMac Envy!

[cattraine.livejournal.com]

That is so on my Bling list!

Re: iMac Envy!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I know! I can't believe I have it! I will say that I'm more than a bit frustrated by migrating things over -- it hadn't turned out to be as easy as everyone said. But I'm sure I can soldier on by taking long breaks to look at the bling. ;-)

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

Your fannish week sounds excellent! I am so happy for all of these things (except, obviously, the car towage, which sucks.)

*hug*

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

And hey, this week I joined OTW! Looking forward to it.

[rainkatt.livejournal.com]

Argh for the car getting towed. Distraction happens to the best of us, though.

Have you tried hanging out at our_torchwood? (I think I got that right.) It's for love of all things TW, and no flaming or acting like silly shippers who can't even BEAR the mention of another pairing. It seems sensible and fun, and they cut-tag all ep posts for those of us who are on the BBCA schedule.

Yay for new iMac!! How fun! Your week sounds lovely.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I hadn't heard of the comm, no, so thank you for that. I definitely avoid things lately because of the childish contingent that seems to come along with most popular fandoms these days, so an adult place would be most welcome.

[rainkatt.livejournal.com]

I've enjoyed what time I've spent over there; since I'm on the BBCA schedule, I'm a bit behind, but I have gone to ep discussions/reviews/character posts and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I've not seen a bit of flouncing or name-calling, and I was made very welcome when I wandered in and sort of whined my way through a comment on the intro post.

I'm not participating much, because it's hard to squee so far after the fact, but I love the character posts so much that I've Netflixed Season One, just to see whether I see any of that stuff. (Watching visual media is not easy for me, nor is reading graphic novels. I respond to words on a page much more easily.)

I hope you enjoy it there!

[varina8.livejournal.com]

Rush hour towing is the pits. My deep sympathy. Hope shiny new Beatle suffered no scuffing.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Would you believe I've been too cowardly, even a week later, to look under the car? I just don't know if I want to see what the underside looks like. I can't imagine it didn't get some kind of roughing up. Poor little Nikita!

[klia.livejournal.com]

Arrrrrggghhh, what a bummer that you got towed. But isn't it great to have cool friends like N who don't hold mistakes against you?

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I swear to god Shalott and I have some kind of weird matter/antimatter vibe thing going on where we cannot inhabit the same space related to food or cars -- worse if it's both. The first time I met her was when she was in my car for the Battle of Carl's Jr.! I mean, I ask you!